Ci'er's eyes widened, looking at Jiafu, waiting for her mother's answer.
Jiafu said: "The capital is very far from us, and it takes many days to get there. There is a big house in the city, and the roof is covered with glazed tiles. When the sun shines, it will be shining brightly. The emperor lives there. Inside. He is in charge of people and affairs in the world, which is different from ordinary people. It is his duty for his mother to make clothes for him on his birthday. Your father…”
She was at a loss for words, and was still thinking about how to explain to her son. Ci'er's eyes lit up: "I know, my father is distressed for my mother's hard work, so I'm not happy!"
Jiafu stayed up for a few nights in order to make the Shouxi clothes. Pei Youan was really distressed and became more and more unhappy.
Ci'er is only three years old. She doesn't like to talk much on weekdays, but she is very intelligent. Jiafu suspects that Pei You'an looks like her son when she was young. The son asked and answered himself, heaved a sigh of relief, and was about to change the subject when he heard footsteps coming from the door, and Pei You'an came in.
Ci'er was leaning on Jiafu's arms. Seeing her father coming, she hurriedly got up and called her father. Pei You'an nodded, sat next to him, and asked him about his morning practice. Ci'er sat up straight and answered one by one, her voice was immature, looking at her father's expression, but very serious.
Pei You'an said, "Father just went to see the archery target. Ci'er shoots well, and she has not only shot twenty arrows. It's just that Ci'er has just started to learn, so you don't need to do too much, as long as you shoot twenty arrows with your heart. But, do you remember?"
Ci'er admired her father very much. In the eyes of this little boy, this man was omnipotent, and he looked up to him like a mountain. Receiving the praise, his eyes showed joy, and he nodded vigorously.
Pei You'an smiled, touched his son's little head, and turned over the book before going to the bookshelf against the wall.
Jiafu took her son back and continued to feed him snacks. The spoon was brought to his mouth, and Ci'er put it in her mouth and swallowed it. Seeing that her mother continued to feed her, she seemed a little embarrassed, and secretly glanced at her father's back. , leaned into Jiafu's ear and whispered softly: "Mother, my hands are not sore anymore. I'll eat it by myself. Daddy said, Ci'er is three years old, and she has to eat by herself..."
Jiafu knew that his hands were sore when he practiced archery, so he fed it himself. Seeing that his son had finished speaking, he stretched out his hand and asked for a spoon, so he had to pass it over.
Ci'er scooped up the small snacks in the bowl and ate it with her mouth open. There was no food left, and there was some juice on her mouth. Jiafu wiped his mouth for him.
Pei Youan came over and asked Cui Yinshui to lead his son out.
Jiafu knew that he should have something to tell her, so she didn't object, she helped Ci'er put on her shoes, and put a thick little cloak on the outside, watching Cui Yinshui lead him out and closed the door. Then he turned his head and complained: "Ci'er is only three years old, you see you detain him, when you come, you are like a little master, I just feed him a mouthful of food, he is afraid that you will say him! With you Are you a father like that?"
Pei You'an smiled, sat next to Jiafu, and tapped her head lightly with a book: "A loving mother is a spoiled child! It is enough for you to spoil him, I know it well." After speaking, she glanced at Ci'er and ate it. The rest of the empty bowl took her to his lap: "I'm hungry too. You only have Ci'er in your eyes, you don't care about me! I've been in for so long, you just feed your son and don't listen to you ask me Hungry or not."
Jiafu glanced at him, pushed him away, and said, "Yes, yes, it's my fault. Lord Pei, wait, I'll go get you something to eat. If your hands are too sore, I won't do it anymore. Hey you… "
She was about to climb down from his lap before she twisted her body, and his waist was held by him. With a hoot, she was placed on the beautiful couch under her.
Pei You'an pressed down.
"It's delicious. I'll eat you..."
Jia Fu was suppressed by him, struggled a few times, and then became submissive.
After a long while, Pei Youan finally let go of her and said something serious. After the opening of the spring fair tomorrow, he will set off for the border spring tour.
The weather is getting warmer, and in order to prevent the Hu people from raiding in the warm spring, at this time of the year, he will personally go to the border to inspect the border. There are several prefectures under Longyou's rule, and the borders are tortuous and long, and a trip back and forth takes at least half a month.
Sure enough, when Jiafu asked, she was very reluctant to know that she would not be able to return until the middle of next month, but she also knew that this was his responsibility, so she told him to go early and return early, so he got up and packed his bags for him. Pei You'an didn't go out during the day, and stayed in the mansion, accompanying Jiafu and her son.
In the evening, Pei You'an sat at the desk in front of the lamp, Jiafu took a bath for Ci'er, took her son to sit on the couch, took out the chess box, and played chess with him.
This set of chess is a toy that Pei Youan gave to his son for his third birthday. There are thirty-two chess pieces in total, two generals on horseback, two lions, four horse-drawn chariots, four horses, four camels, and sixteen sitting figures who act as soldiers. Carved out of wood, it is lifelike, simulating the battle between the two sides. Ci'er liked it very much. When she kept it like a baby, and learned the rules from her father, she was fascinated. She took it out to play every day. Sometimes she asked Jiafu and Cui Yinshui to accompany him. Shi Chen, if it wasn't for Jiafu to interrupt, he wouldn't even eat. At the beginning, Jiafu accompanied her son and could still win him, but recently it has started to struggle, and if you don't pay attention, you will lose.
After a while, someone in the house had something to do, and Jiafu was called away by Sandalwood, so he asked Pei Youan to replace him for a while, and then ordered him again.
Pei Youan put down his Chinese slip, walked over, got on the couch, and sat opposite.
Because Pei You'an was busy, except for the first two days, when he took time to teach his son, and went out with him a few times, he has not been with him recently. Ci'er looked a little excited, knelt on the couch, her small body was straight, her eyes were staring at the chessboard with seriousness, just like everyone's master style.
Pei Youan finished walking with his son, and it was almost the time that Jiafu told him to go back to the house to sleep. Seeing that his son seemed unfinished, he looked at him eagerly, and his heart softened for a while, so he accompanied him to the next game. , Halfway down, the former staff surnamed Yang, now used by Pei Youan, came to find him and asked a question, Pei Youan put down the chess piece, called his son to wait, went out by himself, and came back after a while, and found that his son was lying on the chess board. He fell asleep on the table, and a small hand was still tightly clutching the chess piece of the riding general.
Pei You'an removed the chess piece from his son's hand, picked him up, and sent him to the small bedroom next door, put his son on the bed, gently took off his coat, covered him with the quilt, and was about to go out, when he heard behind him. There was a vague childish voice: "I still want to play chess with Daddy, and it's not over yet—"
Pei You'an turned his head and saw that his son was trying his best to open his sleepy eyes, rubbing his eyes, as if he was about to get up, came back in a hurry, lay on his side beside him, and patted his back lightly: "Ci'er is sleeping well. Then Daddy remembers the game of chess, and will play with you next time."
Ci'er closed her eyes, and after a while, she opened her eyes again and whispered, "Don't worry, Daddy, Ci'er will accompany her mother."
Pei You'an met his son's bright eyes, and a warm current slowly poured out of his heart. He lowered his head and kissed his son's forehead gently. In front of his son, he was always restrained as a father. Ever since she could remember, she only remembered that her mother always loved to kiss her cheeks, but her father never kissed him. Tonight was really the first time, and I couldn't help feeling happy and shy in my heart. On his father's shoulders, motionless.
Pei You'an kissed his son's forehead, and said softly, "Your mother loves to cry, but father gave her to Ci'er. When father is not around, Ci'er wants to make mother happy and not let her cry."
Ci'er hummed: "Ci'er will protect her mother and prevent her from crying."
Pei You'an smiled, brought his son's small body closer to him, patted his back lightly, and coaxed, "Go to sleep."
Ci'er closed her eyes and slowly fell asleep in her father's arms.
Pei You'an stared at his son's sleepy little face, and after a moment's trance, Fang regained his senses and got out of bed lightly.
The next day, Pei You'an left the Jiedushi's mansion, brought a team of soldiers, and left Suye City, leaving Yang Yun and two other capable deputies to maintain order in the city and protect the mansion.
Her husband is gone, and it will take some time to return. Jiafu is naturally reluctant, but this is not the first time. She thinks that half a month will pass soon, not to mention that there is a son by her side who wants her to take care of it, and she will soon be gone. Dispel the loss in my heart. The next day, I accompanied my son to practice calligraphy in the room, wrote a piece of paper, and Cui Yinshui, who was waiting by the side, praised the young master for his good calligraphy.
Three years ago, Jiafu originally only promised to keep Cui Yinshui until Chunnuan, and then she gave birth to Ci'er. During that time, Pei You'an was busy taking care of Jiafu's body and had no time to pay attention to Cui Yinshui. In the warm spring season, he begged in every possible way, and he was about to die. Jiafu couldn't bear to force him to leave again. Pei Youan couldn't beat her, and Cui Yinshui's face was as thick as a city wall. One eye closed, so he stayed.
This eunuch was as careful as a hair, and took good care of Ci'er. Jiafu also saw that he was really kind to Ci'er, and as time passed, he didn't notice any changes in him, and gradually he stopped. prevent him from getting close to his son. Now that three years have passed, Cui Yinshui has long since become Ci'er's personal companion.
"Mother, it's so lively outside, I've finished writing and want to go out and play for a while, okay?" Ci'er begged Jiafu.
Jiafu saw her son looking at her eagerly, thinking that at the end of the year, the city is so lively for half a month. On weekdays, when you go out of the city, the summer is wild and yellow, and the winter is icy and snowy, how can she bear to refuse her son, so she nodded and agreed.
Ci'er jumped off the chair and jumped up and down. She was overjoyed. Cui Yinshui was busy preparing the carriage. Jiafu called Sandalwood Xiang and Ding Ma, who came over to work. Several people heard that they were going to the market. They were all happy and changed their clothes. Because Yang Yun was not in the mansion today, Jiafu ordered two other guards to accompany him. Little things, Jiafu took Ci'er to see the juggler again, and at noon, she returned with all her excitement.
On the way back, Jiafu took Ci'er in the carriage with Cui Yinshui by her side.
Ci'er was still unfinished, especially the trick that Fang had just seen, and she couldn't forget it, leaned into Jiafu's arms and said, "Mother, Cui Ban'er said that the market in the capital is much more lively than ours, and it happens every day. The tricks there can make birds flying in the sky and fish swimming in the water. Mom, when can we let dad take us to the capital? I want to see what the capital looks like."
Jiafu glanced at Cui Yinshui.
Cui Yinshui laughed embarrassingly: "I just said a few words casually, and the young master will pay attention..."
Jiafu hugged her son and sat on her lap: "In the future, when your father is free, he will take you to the capital, okay?"
Ci'er nodded with a look of longing, and the group returned to the Jiedu Envoy's Mansion. After eating, Jiafu felt a little tired after walking around for a long time. Seeing that Ci'er was still playing with the toys she bought at the market, she was not sleepy at all, so she told Cui Yinshui to play with him. She went back to her room and squinted for a while. eye. When she woke up, she called out to Sandalwood, and Sandalwood came in to help her comb her hair. When Jiafu saw her strange expression, she seemed to hesitate, so she asked.
Tanxiang whispered: "In the afternoon, a man from the capital suddenly came to the mansion, that is the man from the palace. I wanted to call my wife, but I didn't let me. Outside."
"Eunuch Li? Li Yuangui?"
Gave was taken aback.
"Yes. Cui Yinshui calls him godfather."
Jiafu's heart skipped a beat, and the hairs on her body stood on end.
I never thought that the emperor's longevity was just around the corner, and Li Yuangui came to him at this time. He hurriedly asked his son and learned that Cui Yinshui had led Ci'er to the front. Clothes, hurried forward, stepped into the front hall, and actually saw Li Yuangui standing there, wearing ordinary clothes, bent over, talking to his son, not knowing what to say, with a respectful look He looked like he was with Cui Yinshui next to him.
When Jiafu saw that her son was still there, she breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly called out, Ci'er turned her head, saw her mother coming, ran over quickly, took Jiafu's hand, pointed at Li Yuangui and said, "Mother, he said He knows his father and mother. He also said that Ci'er has a grandfather, and he lives in the big house in the capital that mother said. The grandfather misses Ci'er very much, and he is sick. He wants to take Ci'er to see the grandfather. "
"Mother, is what he said true? Does Ci'er really have a grandfather in the capital?"
Ci'er looked up at Jiafu and asked.
Jiafu raised her head, saw Li Yuangui walking towards her with a smile on her face, hugged her son, and quickly took a few steps back, suddenly seeing her son's confused face, and realized that he must have noticed his nervousness, afraid of scaring him. , calmed down, squatted down, smiled and said, "Mother and he have a few words, Ci'er will go back to the room with Aunt Tanxiang first, and wait for the next mother to find you, okay?" After that, I ordered Sandalwood to take Ci away. Son.
Ci'er nodded, looked back at Li Yuangui, and went back three steps.
"Eunuch Li, why are you here?"
As soon as Ci'er left, Jiafu didn't care about etiquette anymore. She was really frightened by what her son said just now, so she asked.
Li Yuangui greeted Jiafu with a respectful look on his face, and said: "Madam, don't worry about it. The purpose of this slave's visit was just as the little son said. Long live the fifty thousand autumns, and I miss the little son very much, so I sent him away. After the slaves came over, I would like to ask the madam to bring the young master to the capital. If it is convenient for the madam, can I leave today? Don’t worry, madam, the care on the way has been arranged properly, and everything is based on the suitability of the madam and the young master. "
Jiafu glanced at Cui Yinshui, Cui Yinshui hurriedly lowered his eyelids and lowered his head, not daring to look at her.
Jiafu said, "I need to know the father who knows how to speak Ci'er."
Li Yuangui's expression became more and more respectful, and he bowed: "Master Pei has something to do, and I'm afraid that I have no time to separate at the moment. Madam, rest assured. After Master Pei's patrol is over, the slave will inform Master Pei of Madam Pei and the young master's whereabouts."
Jia Fu's heart is bright.
Li Yuangui was thinking that Pei You'an was away, so he came directly to "invite" himself and his son to Beijing. Even if Pei You'an didn't happen to go to the sidelines this time, he would have used other methods to transfer others away.
"Eunuch Li, Ci'er's father is not here. I'm afraid that it will be inconvenient for me to enter Beijing with Ci'er."
Jiafu stared at the big eunuch opposite and said.
Li Yuangui bowed again: "Long live, I really miss the young master. Also, please don't embarrass your servants."
The emperor did not let Li Yuangui directly take out an imperial decree, perhaps for him, it was polite enough.
Jiafu was silent for a moment, and said, "I understand. Father-in-law arrange it."
Li Yuangui heaved a sigh of relief and showed gratitude: "Thank you Madam for your understanding."
Jiafu took Ci'er into the carriage and said that she would bring him to Beijing first, and he would follow when her father came back.
Only then did Ci'er feel relieved. She tightly hugged the chess box she brought out of her arms and said, "Mother, when I see Grandpa Huang, I will teach him to play chess, and his illness will get better."
Jiafu looked at her son's innocent eyes, suppressed the turbulent emotions in her heart, smiled and nodded.