At the beginning of April, Li Yaonan's term of office finally expired. In a blink of an eye, he had been in Yunnan for nearly eight years. Looking at the thriving scene of Yunnan, a feeling of pride arose spontaneously, because it was he who personally created this land into its current splendor.
Li Xu has also grown from a two-year-old child into a handsome young man. Sun Ruisi has taught him very well. His words and actions are measured and he looks more calm. He can also help Li Yaonan with big and small things.
"Father." Li Xu walked in from outside with a faint smile on his lips.
"Well! How did you do with your homework today?" Li Yaonan was extremely satisfied with his eldest son. He pointed to the seat next to him and asked him to sit down and talk.
Li Xu smiled and said, "Today's homework has been completed. Master said that I can give it a try in two years."
"Just make your own decision." Li Yaonan would never force his children in these aspects. He would only guide them on how they would grow up, but he would not interfere.
Li Xu thought for a while and replied, "I want to wait and see."
Li Yaonan understood, looked at him with a half-smile, and jokingly said, "Why? Still want to win a small prize?"
Li Xu smiled shyly and nodded gently: "My father was the third place in the imperial examination. I will never lose to you."
"Ambitious." Li Yaonan nodded in praise. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart that children in ancient times were so damn precocious. When he was ten years old, he was still running around the house under the beatings of his grandfather.
"I will never let you down." Li Xu raised his chin slightly, with a flash of determination in his eyes.
Seeing that he was being raised by an adult, Li Yaonan felt unfulfilled and said, "Take care of your brother when you have time. This kid is getting more and more unreasonable."
Li Xu's handsome face twisted, and he wilted. He said dejectedly, "I know."
Li Yaonan was puzzled. They were children from the same mother, so why were they so different? When he mentioned Li Xi, he couldn't help but feel a headache. Even if the devil pretended to be a good boy, he couldn't change his trouble-making nature.
"Has he gotten into any trouble recently?" Li Yaonan asked calmly, feeling somewhat worried. It was still okay now in Yunnan, as he could handle the child's misfortunes. But if he returned to the capital, he was afraid that the child would get into big trouble, and it would be too late if he didn't educate him when he was young.
Li Xu's expression remained unchanged, and he said sullenly, "No, my second brother has been very well behaved recently."
Li Yaonan sneered. It would be a miracle if Li Xi was well behaved, but he was indeed very well behaved in front of him. If Lord Liu had not come to him with tears and complained, he would never have known that his son was so capable that he almost set someone else's house on fire.
While the father and son were talking, a servant came hurriedly to report that Liu Zhizhou was there to ask for a meeting.
Li Xu's heart tightened and he secretly prayed for his brother, hoping that nothing would happen to him.
Li Yaonan raised his eyebrows and glanced at his son: "Come with me to take a look."
Liu Zhizhou was troubling, walking back and forth in the hall. When he saw Li Yaonan coming out, he said hastily, "Master Li, you must make the decision for me."
Li Xu had a bad feeling in his heart, and his worries just now soon came true.
"Master Li, I only have one child in my family. I beg you to show mercy and save him. I beg your second son to let my child go."
Li Yaonan frowned. This was not the first time he had encountered such a situation. He felt that it had become a habit for him to wipe his son's butt. He said gently, "Don't get excited, Master Liu. If you have something to say, please speak slowly."
"How can I not be excited?" Lord Liu was so anxious that he completely forgot that it was his superior in front of him. He said hastily, "The child rode into the mountains and hasn't come back for several hours. I have sent people to look for him. They are only a few years old, but they dared to take risks. If anything happens to them, my family will be extinct. Lord Li, I beg you not to let your child go out and harm others."
Li Yaonan was in a bad mood. He could scold his own child, but if it was someone else, he would definitely be unhappy. He said calmly, "I will send someone out to look for her. Sir Liu, please go back. Xi'er went out to visit your mansion for no reason, but now she is missing. I hope Sir Liu will take good care of the guards in your mansion."
Liu Zhizhou looked embarrassed. He was anxious and spoke without thinking. But could he be blamed for the children running out of the house? The guard was given laxatives and now cannot get out of bed. The culprit must be the second son of the Li family.
Li Yaonan was actually quite anxious too. This kid was getting more and more daring, he was simply outrageous, so he quickly summoned all the guards and sent out the bailiffs to look for him.
Li Xu's heart was pounding and he secretly mourned for his brother. This time he couldn't save his brother.
When Lin Yixuan got the news, he immediately went to search Li Xi's room. Sure enough, the ten-arrow crossbow that her husband had rewarded her with a few days ago and the small sword that he had given her last year were no longer in the room.
Lin Yixuan angrily found her husband and blamed him for giving the child such dangerous things.
Li Yaonan touched his nose. His husband had agreed to giving the child toys at the beginning. However, if his husband was angry, he would definitely be wrong. He hurriedly comforted his husband: "Don't worry, the child is smart, nothing serious will happen."
Lin Yixuan frowned: "How can I not worry? Xi'er is only seven years old now. What if she encounters a wild beast?"
Li Yaonan became ruthless and decided to discipline Li Xi strictly this time when he returned.
In the evening, the Li Mansion was full of people. They did not dare to cause trouble to Lord Li, and all directed their attacks towards Prefect Liu. If it were not for the birthday banquet of the young master of the Liu family, the child would not have disappeared.
Liu Zhizhou complained bitterly and felt from the bottom of his heart that Lord Li’s second son was simply a disaster.
The group of people were extremely anxious. As time passed, they became more and more anxious. In the evening, the guards finally came back with the children. They were all extremely dirty. They were discussing the day's battle results excitedly, not realizing that they had done anything wrong.
When Li Xi returned to the mansion and saw the situation in front of him, he immediately felt like retreating.
The parents held their children and checked them carefully. Even the slightest wound made them feel heartbroken for a long time, but at least they were safe and sound.
After finally sending the uninvited guest away, Li Yaonan looked at his son and prepared to deal with his naughty child.
Li Xu gave his younger brother a look that told him to take care of himself. In his heart, he actually thought that his younger brother should be taught a lesson.
"Father, dear." Li Xi saw that the situation was not good, smiled widely, and said sweetly: "I was very filial today. I specially hunted a fox and a hare for you."
Lin Yixuan's heart softened. He was relieved that the child was fine. Seeing the child's dirty appearance, he couldn't bear to punish him. He hurriedly said, "Are you injured? Let daddy take a look. You are such a jerk. What if you encounter danger?"
"Don't worry, Dad. I'm very capable." After passing this test, Li Xi couldn't help but feel proud: "Thanks to my good teaching, we have gained a lot. If it weren't for the fox, I would have returned long ago."
"Really? Xier is really capable." Li Yaonan said with a smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
Li Xi secretly exclaimed, "Oh no! My father is not as easy to fool as my own father."
"Daddy." Li Xu looked at his daddy pitifully, hoping that he could help him. He was very dissatisfied with his father's hard-heartedness and he never fell for his coquettishness or trickery.
"It's no use even if you call us ancestors." Li Yaonan picked up his son and went straight to the outer courtyard while he was crying and shouting.
Li Xu closed his eyes, knowing that his brother was going to be punished.
Lin Yixuan smiled. Although he felt sorry for the child, he would never interfere if his husband wanted to enforce the family rules in terms of discipline, as long as it was not carried out in front of him, otherwise he was afraid that he would not be able to control himself. The child was really naughty and it would be good for him to learn a lesson. He was so bold and reckless when he was young, what would happen if he grew up
Li Yaonan grabbed his son and "pa pa pa!" began a meal of stir-fried braised pork.
"Wow--" Li Xi cried out of breath, and felt very resentful towards his father in his heart. He cried so miserably, but his father was still so cruel.
"Do you know you are wrong?" Li Yaonan looked at him coldly. He actually admired the boy's flexible attitude, but it was a pity that he did not use his thoughts in the right way.
"I know I was wrong." Li Xi answered with sobs. After all, he was just a child, so how could he not be afraid of pain.
"What's wrong?" Li Yaonan raised his eyebrows. He had heard this countless times. Li Xi was the typical person who would actively admit his mistakes and never repent.
"I shouldn't have instigated them to go to the mountains." Li Xi looked at his father timidly and admitted his mistake very readily.
"What else?" Li Yaonan had a blank expression on his face, waiting to see what tricks he could come up with.
"I shouldn't have given the guards laxatives." Li Xi thought about it carefully and realized that he could not hide this from his father, so it would be better for him to confess and get leniency.
"What else?"
"You shouldn't let your family worry."
"What else?"
"And... you shouldn't have stolen someone's horse."
"You've also learned how to steal things." Li Yaonan raised his voice unconsciously, his anger rising.
Li Xi immediately shut his mouth, feeling annoyed, as he thought his father already knew.
"What else?" Li Yaonan did not hide his anger.
Li Xi was really about to cry: "No more, no more, I know I was wrong, wow, my father doesn't love me anymore, I am a child that no one loves."
Li Yaonan was furious and frowned, "Shut up, who did you learn this from?"
Li Xi stood up obediently, his buttocks still aching. He felt that under his father's five fingers, all his eighteen martial arts were useless. He blinked his big eyes and said sincerely: "Father, I really know my mistake."
Li Yaonan was too lazy to look at him. He was completely desperate for his second son. If this kid could repent, even a sow would climb a tree. After thinking carefully for a moment, he thought that it was better to guide than to block. This child had already determined his nature. It might not be a good thing to let him change his nature. He looked at his son calmly and said, "You only did one thing wrong today."
Li Xi was stunned and his eyes widened. He wondered if his father had taken the wrong medicine.
Li Yaonan slapped him in anger and said angrily, "You idiot, you have the ability to make mistakes, but you don't have the ability to cover them up, and you let others come to your door. You must remember that you should do everything within your ability. You can make mistakes, but don't let others catch you. Look at what you have done. If you have the ability, clean up your mess."
Li Xi opened his mouth so wide that his chin almost dropped to the ground. He began to stutter and swallowed his saliva before saying, "Father... Father means..."
Li Yaonan glared at him and taught him a lesson: "If you have the guts to cause trouble, do it perfectly and don't let me clean up the mess behind you."
"But..." Li Xi was very conflicted. Shouldn't his father teach him that it's wrong to cause trouble? In fact, he was just having fun today and didn't think he was wrong. But facing such a father, he couldn't deny that he felt a little happy and liked him very much.
"No buts. Starting tomorrow, you are not allowed to go out. Stay with me and learn how to deal with things. You must remember that some mistakes can be made, and some mistakes cannot be made. After returning to the capital, if you dare to act like this again, I will show you how I will deal with you."
"Are we going back to Beijing?" Li Xi's eyes sparkled, but then he felt reluctant to part with his friends.
Li Yaonan looked at him calmly: "The transfer order will be issued in the next few days, don't have any bad ideas, just stay at home."
"Yes." Li Xi lowered his head and responded weakly. He knew that as long as his father gave the order, he would never be able to sneak away.
The next day, Li Yaonan went door to door to apologize to everyone and also paid for his son's horse theft. He felt very bad about having a naughty child at home. He was exhausted and educating his child was more difficult than his job in the yamen.
In the following days, Li Yaonan brought his two sons with him and taught them the art of thick black.
Li Xi went from being listless at the beginning to being enthusiastic later on, looking at his father with great admiration. In his little heart, he thought he understood, no wonder he could never beat his father, it turned out that his father was a master. He thought his father's methods were worth learning.
Li Xu thought deeply and again. After listening to his father's explanation, he would ponder it carefully, and then go deeper into it from all aspects, recalling the methods his father used in handling official affairs, and felt that he had gained a lot.
Half a month later, Li Yaonan received a transfer order, ordering him to return to Beijing at the end of the month to report on his work.
The couple were not surprised by this. Lin Yixuan had already packed his travel documents. This time he left, he might never come back. They first went to Yizhou to say goodbye and meet Lin's mother and elder brother. After coming back, they held a big banquet in the house, which lasted until May 28th before Qi Chen returned to Beijing.
When he left, the people of Yunnan saw him off for ten miles, and many of them were so excited that they cried. The people rushed to give mountain products and local specialties to the beloved Lord Li.
Li Yaonan was sad and reluctant, so he and his group left Yunnan.
It was the first time that Li Xu and Li Xi experienced separation. The joy on their faces was quickly replaced by sadness, leaving only a deep reluctance.
Lin Yixuan was also feeling uncomfortable. He didn't miss the capital city at all. Only when he looked at his husband beside him did he feel a little relieved.
Li Yaonan gently hugged her husband and said, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Lin Yixuan's eyes darkened and she leaned tightly in her husband's arms. If he had some hesitation three years ago, now he was absolutely sure that her husband had guessed his secret.
"I'm not afraid. I'm just worried that the royal fight will involve you." Lin Yixuan said softly, with a hint of worry in his eyes.
Li Yaonan smiled, his brows full of confidence: "Don't you still believe me?"
"I believe it." Lin Yixuan looked at her lover tenderly. Her husband had created many miracles in Yunnan, so how could she not believe in him? However, at this time in her previous life, the prince had already fallen. There were too many changes in this life, and she could not predict the future. How could she not be worried
Li Yaonan scratched his nose and said with a smile, "Don't worry, your husband will definitely earn you a first-class imperial title."
Lin Yixuan was amused by him. Her husband was always so considerate, taking care of all his worries and never asking about any of his secrets. Everything touched him deeply, as if as long as he was with his husband, he could truly feel at ease and become worry-free.
The author has something to say: Thank you, I will continue to work hard.
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