Si Que slowly raised his eyelids and glanced at Cui Yu, then retracted his gaze and picked up a roasted chestnut to peel.
This inexplicable glance made Cuiyu feel a little uneasy. She subconsciously glanced at Lin Yingying, and seeing that Lin Yingying was smiling, she felt inexplicably relieved. She stopped talking and shut up.
Si Que peeled the sugar-roasted chestnut in his hand and handed it to You Yuzhi.
You Yuji didn't raise her hand either, but leaned forward slightly to be fed by him. Then she looked down with a smile and said in a gentle voice, "Rulin's painting is very good."
Rulin was the lady who had just presented the painting as a gift.
Her face was still red from Cui Yu's words, and after hearing You Yuji's words, she could only bite the bullet and stand up to express her gratitude. Then she hurriedly sat down with her head lowered, wishing that the banquet would end soon so that she could go home and cry.
There was a thoughtful woman who immediately presented a gift on behalf of her family with a smile, thus defusing the awkwardness.
As for those who hated Cuiyu, they were obviously disappointed. Cuiyu just scolded her and didn't punish her. Everyone gradually figured out that it was because of her good relationship with the Queen that His Majesty would be lenient.
The tributes continue.
You Yuji looked around the hall. Apparently, after Cuiyu's scolding, these unmarried beauties had temporarily calmed down and stopped flirting. You Yuji turned her head to look at Si Que, not knowing whether he would be disappointed. In the past twenty years, he dressed up as a girl, trying his best to cover his face with a veil and a white veil, but he still couldn't avoid being stared at by many men. Those stares made him disgusted. Now that the girls were looking at him with affection, it was a kind of compensation. If these happy eyes could make him happier, it would be a good thing.
You Yuji once again looked at Si Que's special red dress with admiration. She always liked to dress him up to look better and more eye-catching, so that he could receive more admiring looks as a man.
As for what Cui Yu was worried about, You Yuzhi was not worried at all.
The ceremony of marriage is a lifelong contract. Trust is the premise. There are many things between two people that don't need to be said explicitly. Even if they have never spoken, they are already tacitly understood.
If this unspoken contract is broken by one party, the marriage between the two will come to an end.
Halfway through the lunch, Madam Jing approached You Yuji with a smile on her face, leaned over and whispered that You Jiamu had already entered the palace.
"So fast." You Yuji was stunned, then joy appeared in her eyes.
Madam Jing smiled and said, "His face was covered in dirt. He must have rushed back without stopping. I ran straight over and gave him a mirror, and persuaded him to wash his face first."
You Yuji curled her eyes, missing him terribly after not seeing him for three years. Anyway, the lunch was halfway through, so she let the guests enjoy themselves and left. At first, she walked slowly, but once she left the banquet hall, she immediately quickened her pace.
As for Si Que, he had wanted to leave long ago. When You Yuji left, he stood up with her. This made many people in the hall look gloomy.
However, when they learned that it was You Jiamu who entered the palace, they immediately understood. In recent years, the two brothers of the You family have become famous on the battlefield.
Si Que stole the throne by grafting flowers and trees. Emperor Chen, who was determined to unify the world, was too eager at the beginning. Although he conquered many countries, his foundation was never stable. Si Que inherited the merit of unifying the twelve countries, but he also inherited a mess. After six years, the world was only slightly stable.
In the past few years, You Heng has become the commander-in-chief, leading a strong army to guard the mountains and rivers. You Jiamu joined the army at the age of twelve and followed You Heng. At the age of fifteen, he stopped following You Heng and led his own army. Unlike You Heng's bold use of troops, he was famous for his cunning in deploying troops and generals, and often won by unexpected and risky moves. Many times, the game that outsiders thought was a sure loss was won by him in an unexpected way. If you count carefully, no matter how many times he was trapped in the dragon's den in the past three years, he did not lose a single battle. Many people have seriously studied his way of using troops.
You Yuzhi ran back to Tanxiang Yingyue and met You Jiamu who was walking out.
The brother and sister stopped at the same time and looked at each other with smiles.
Three years ago, You Jiamu had grown very tall. I thought he had reached his peak height at that time, but unexpectedly, he had grown even taller when he returned three years later.
You Yuji suddenly remembered that many years ago, his younger brother was still a tiny ball. He sat on his father's lap, stretched out his hands and gestured, and shouted in a baby voice: "Daddy, when can I grow as tall as you?"
His father patted his head with his big hand and laughed: "Wait until you are about seventeen or eighteen!"
My younger brother is eighteen years old this year. He is much taller than my father, but unfortunately my father can’t see.
You Yuji collected her thoughts, smiled and said softly: "Jiamu has really grown up."
Yes, I've finally grown up. I should be able to protect my sister now, right
You Jiamu just thought about it in his heart, but he was too embarrassed to say it out loud. He scratched his head with embarrassment and just called out, "Sister."
Even his voice had completely changed into a man's deep and rich accent, vaguely like his father's.
You Yuji nodded slowly, hummed softly, and asked, "Have you met mother?"
"Yes. I saw the stars, too."
At this time, Si Que came over slowly. You Jiamu greeted him with military etiquette.
Si Que raised his hand to support him and looked at him for a while longer, wondering whether his head would continue to grow and whether he would grow into another You Heng.
When You Jiamu stood up, he hesitated for a moment and called out "brother-in-law".
Si Que nodded, then frowned and asked, "Did you bring her the mechanism mentioned in the letter?"
"I have. I just gave it to Xingxing."
Si Que asked again: "Is it two servings?"
"Of course!" You Jiamu said immediately.
He still knew this taboo. Four years ago, he gave a handmade walnut to Que Yuan who asked him for it, but didn't give one to Yu Shu at the same time, which made Si Que very unhappy. Since then, whether it was someone who took the initiative to give something, or Yu Shu or Que Yuan asked him for something, he had to prepare two. If there was only one, he would have to give it to no one.
"Okay, stop talking here. Let's go inside and talk." You Yuzhi said softly.
Several people walked in, and You Yuji said softly as they walked, "We can stay in the capital for a while longer this time."
"Yes, I can stay for a long time," You Jiamu nodded and said without hesitation, "Then sister, please help me find a wife when you have time."
You Yuji looked at him in surprise, unable to help but laugh, and said with eyes curved, "You've really grown up, and now you want to get married. What kind of person do you like? Do you have anyone you like?"
"No. I don't have any interest in the air. The army is full of men." You Jiamu said, "I want someone who is good-looking and gentle."
You Yuji looked at him carefully and saw that he was serious. After being in the army for a long time, he was indeed different from the young masters in the capital. This was too blunt.
Before they entered the house, they heard Que Yuan's giggling. She was playing with the mechanism her uncle brought her and was very happy.
Yu Shu had a similar one, and he was also amazed at the ingenuity of the mechanism, but he obviously didn't like it as much as Que Yuan.
Mrs. You was also there, sitting beside them and looking at the two children with a smile.
Que Yuan couldn't let go of the forearm-long mechanism, muttering to himself: "If I ask Tingyun to get me some poison to apply on the mechanism, wouldn't it be even more powerful!"
As soon as You Yuji stepped in, she heard Que Yuan's words. She couldn't help but glance at Si Que. Si Que actually smiled and said, "Let Tingyun come to the palace tomorrow and let her research special poisons for you."
"Okay!" Que Yuan was very happy.
Yu Shu frowned and looked at his sister with some worry, afraid that his sister would play a prank on him again.
You Yuji quietly tugged at Si Que's sleeve and whispered, "Nannan is only six years old, why did you let her make poison..."
Si Que said "Oh", walked in and sat down on the chair, looking at his daughter innocently: "Your mother won't let you."
Que Yuan blinked, and then blinked again. After the third blink, her eyes turned red. She walked to You Yuji with grievance, took You Yuji's hand and shook it gently. She didn't say anything, just raised her face and looked at You Yuji with a wronged and innocent expression.
You Yuji looked at her very familiar expression, helplessly held her and sat down on the soft couch, and said to her daughter seriously: "You are still too young to play with those things."
"I'll be obedient. I don't want it." Que Yuan was about to cry. She snuggled in You Yuji's arms with red eyes, rubbing her soft little face gently against You Yuji's shoulder, looking sensible and fragile.
You Yuji touched her head, a little reluctant. She took a step back: "If you want to make those poisons, that's fine, but you have to let Tingyun teach you first. Wait until she says you have learned enough, then I will let you touch it, okay?"
"Okay!" Que Yuan smiled with his eyes curved, looking like an innocent child.
She rubbed You Yuji's face happily, then snuggled in You Yuji's arms again and winked at Si Que mischievously.
Si Que smiled and withdrew his gaze. He reached out to call Yu Shu, and when Yu Shu came over, he held him on his lap.
—As children, how can the sister sit on the parents’ laps while the brother stands beside them
Que Yuan quickly got down from You Yuji's arms and pulled his uncle to fiddle with the mechanism. You Jiamu explained it to Que Yuan very patiently.
Si Que put down the jade scroll on his lap and asked him and his sister to go find their uncle together.
You Yuji noticed Si Que's actions. She was silent for a moment and ordered: "Let Zhuo Wen..."
She changed her words: "Let Zhuo Wu come to the palace."
Madam Jing just agreed when Bao He said with a smile, "It's also appropriate to let Zhuo Wen do it, since he stays in the Poison Tower all day anyway."
You Yuji also laughed and asked, "Zhan Xue still ignores him?"
Baohe covered her mouth and smiled while nodding.
You Yuji and Si Que came halfway through the banquet, while You Jiamu rushed into the palace at full speed, so naturally he hadn't had lunch yet. Without You Yuji's instructions, Madam Jing had already given them instructions. Not long after, lunch was served. Avoiding the families of the courtiers outside, eating alone as a family was naturally more relaxed and enjoyable.
After the meal, You Yuji turned to look at Si Que and asked, "Are we leaving soon?"
"I can leave anytime."
You Jiamu asked in surprise: "Where are you going?"
"I've built a horse farm. Let's go for a run." You Yuji explained with a smile, but she was eager to try it out. She knew Si Que had built a horse farm for her, and today she could finally go.
"Can we go too?" Que Yuan asked with bright eyes.
"Okay, but you have to be obedient."
"Okay!" Que Yuan was very happy, "Bring Da Huang and Da Hei with you!"
Da Huang is the big dog she raised, and Da Hei is the big dog that Si Que forced on Yu Shu. They were born from the same litter and look almost the same.
Before setting off, You Yuji changed out of her skirt and put on the riding clothes Si Que gave her. She suddenly realized why Si Que wore a red dress today. It turned out that it matched her red riding clothes.
You Yuji changed her clothes and walked out, vaguely hearing the sound of horse hooves.
Si Que had said that he had prepared a horse, so she walked out quickly to see what the horse Si Que had chosen was like. As soon as she stepped out, she was shocked to see Si Que in red sitting on Xuan Ying's back.
After not seeing each other for many years, she recognized Xuanying at a glance. Xuanying also recognized her at a glance and let out a long hiss.
"Xuanying..." She walked quickly over, patted its neck affectionately, and happily reminisced with it for a long time before she handed her hand to Si Que and couldn't wait to sit on it.
She turned her head in Si Que's arms and asked happily, "Did you bring Xuanying all the way to the capital as a birthday gift for me?"
"Not really." Si Que frowned and leaned over to whisper in You Yuji's ear, "The birthday gift I give you is myself."
You Yuji was slightly startled.
"Isn't it enough to look good after dressing up so carefully?" Si Que sighed, "Sister, do you really not want to have a good meal?"
His slender white fingers slowly twisted the collar of his shirt that was pressed tightly against his chest.