After Feng Ye's departure, Yuan
Sikong was depressed for some time.
He had promised to
exchange letters with Feng Ye, but he didn't know how to put pen to paper, so
he decided to paint a winter scene and send it to Feng Ye when the land was
covered with silver and the snow was hanging on the branches.
Yuan Nanyu could see that
Yuan Sikong was depressed and knew what was going on. He didn’t feel good in
his heart, so he had to make him laugh in different ways: "Second brother,
look. Look at me."
When Yuan Sikong turned
his head, he saw that Yuan Nanyu had lifted his functional leg to the back of
his neck and was giggling at him.
Yuan Sikong shook his
head helplessly, "It seems that your arms and legs are still flexible even
after being bedridden all these days."
"That's natural. I
was forced to practice martial arts by father when I was four years old, and
I've only been lying down for a month." Yuan Nanyu said while boxing on
the bed with powerful moves, which were presentable.
Yuan Sikong mocked,
"Oh? You've been practicing martial arts for so many years, yet you
actually fell down the stairs. What have you been learning?"
"I was scared by
father." Yuan Nanyu made a funny face.
"This incident also
gives us a warning. In the future ..."
"Aiyo, stop, stop!"
Yuan Nanyu covered his ears exaggeratedly, "Second brother, you are really
becoming more and more like father."
Yuan Sikong laughed,
"What's wrong with being like father? Father is a good man."
Yuan Nanyu's eyes lit up,
"Second brother, you laughed. You finally laughed!"
Yuan Sikong touched his
face, "Haven’t you seen me smile before? You look like you've seen a
ghost."
"Ever since Little
Highness left, you've been sulking all day long."
Yuan Sikong sighed
lightly and smiled again, "Parting is always missed."
Yuan Nanyu muttered,
"Second brother has me. Don't think about him anymore."
"Okay, I won't think
about him anymore. Today is a good day, how about I take you out for a walk?"
"Sure."
Yuan Sikong helped Yuan
Nanyu put on his thin jacket first, then put on his crutches and helped him to
walk outside.
As soon as they went outside,
they saw the ginkgo tree, a century-old tree that held the memories of the Yuan
family's children from childhood to adulthood. Now that it had been climbed by
the King’s son, it was even more revered. Yuan Sikong couldn't help but smile
at the thought.
"Second brother?"
"Ay." Yuan
Sikong helped Yuan Nanyu and walked towards the courtyard.
The two of them chatted
casually.
"Big brother has
joined the military this year. He looks so handsome in his armor and
sword." Yuan Nanyu said enviously, "In a few more years, I want to be
like him and father, guarding Guangning City."
Yuan Sikong looked at
Yuan Nanyu with surprise, "Why are you suddenly enlightened today? Didn't
you use to only think about playing?"
Yuan Nanyu curled his
lips: "Who said I was only thinking about playing? I have been studying
and practicing martial arts. This time, I was even more inspired after seeing
the Feng family army's amazing might."
Yuan Sikong said with
relief, "It's great that you can think like that. Maybe when our Yu'er
grows up, he can even win a martial arts scholarship."
Yuan Nanyu suddenly said
excitedly, "If second brother gets a scholarship in literature and I get a
scholarship in martial arts, then our Yuan family will be famous all over the
world."
Yuan Sikong laughed,
"The scholarship is not as easy as you said. However, as long as you work
hard, you can succeed."
"Mm!" Yuan
Nanyu nodded his head vigorously.
As they walked out of the
small courtyard, they suddenly heard a sound of argument coming from the main
house, and the two of them looked at each other.
In the four years Yuan
Sikong had been in the Yuan family, he had never seen Yuan Mao shouted a word
at Yue Qingshuang before. Even though he was strict, cold and harsh, this man
gave all his tenderness to his childhood-sweetheart wife.
Yuan Nanyu tensed up,
"Why are father and mother quarrelling?"
"This ..."
At this moment, the door
of the house was strongly opened. A graceful and beautiful, light-yellow
silhouette rushed out. When the two took a closer look, it was Yuan Weiling.
Yuan Weiling's flushed
pretty face was filled with anger. There were tears in her eyes as she buried
her head and rushed out.
"Ling'er!" Yue
Qingshuang chased. Her voice was full of anxiety.
"Ignore her!"
Yuan Mao's tone was also unkind, "Let her figure it out on her own."
Yue Qingshuang stood in
the doorway awkwardly. She saw the two of them just in time.
Yuan Sikong asked with the
shape of his mouth, "What's wrong?"
Yue Qingshuang eyed and signaled
them to go and find Yuan Weiling.
Due to the inconvenience
of Yuan Nanyu’s crutches, the two of them walked slowly, but they still found
Yuan Weiling, who was quietly wiping her tears under the ginkgo tree.
Yuan Sikong helped Yuan
Nanyu sit down and sat cross-legged beside Yuan Weiling. He took out a
handkerchief and handed it over.
Yuan Weiling took the
handkerchief and wiped her tears so hard that she rubbed her delicate skin red.
Yuan Nanyu whispered,
"Sister, what's wrong?"
Yuan Weiling kept sobbing
and didn't say anything.
"Is it... father has
spoken to you about marriage?" Other than that, Yuan Sikong couldn't think
of anything else.
Yuan Weiling nodded, and her
eyes moistened once again.
Yuan Weiling was born
extremely beautiful. Although her fierce temperament and beauty were
broadcasted in Liaodong, from the age of thirteen, the people who requested for
marriage never stopped. Yuan Weiling was different from ordinary daughters. She
was involved in martial practices since young and was bent on joining the army.
There was a women's army in the Sheng dynasty, but they did not become a major
force. Most of them were people who met with many difficulties in their lives
and were driven into a corner. In contrast, there were people who became
rebellious just like Yuan Weiling.
A few years ago, Yuan Mao
could still graciously decline because she was young, but now that Yuan Weiling
was about to turn eighteen, which daughter could be this old and not have a
marriage contract? Moreover, Yuan Weiling is the eldest daughter. If she
doesn’t get married, Yuan Shaoxu will not be able to marry a wife. No wonder
Yuan Mao and Yue Qingshuang became anxious.
Yuan Weiling choked up
and said, "What high-ranking official of a noble relative? I don't want to
marry someone I've never even met."
"But father is
probably determined this time." Yuan Sikong took Yuan Weiling's hand and
said softly, "Sister, father has offended many people who have come to the
door to propose marriage for you. You also have to understand father. He
definitely has chosen a very good family.”
Yuan Weiling flattened
her mouth, "What if I don't like him? What if he's stupid and ugly? What
if he's a good-for-nothing?"
Yuan Sikong felt sorry
for Yuan Weiling, but there was nothing he could do. He could only try his best
to comfort her, "Sister, tell me who father has told you about. We will go
and see secretly if that person is worthy of you. If he is not, then don’t
marry him."
"Yes, we'll help you
go and see." Yuan Nanyu said indignantly, "If he really isn't good
enough for big sister, we'll go together and beg father to withdraw the marriage."
"I don't know, I
didn't even listen." Yuan Weiling wiped away her tears, "If only I
were a boy. Shaoxu and you all can do whatever you want, but not me. I also
grew up studying and learning martial arts, how am I inferior to you all?"
Yuan Sikong and Yuan
Nanyu looked at each other, both feeling helpless. There was only one daughter
in the Yuan family, and she was the treasure of the whole family, but father is
superior to the children, and it was an ancient custom. No one could disobey
Yuan Mao.
The two of them
accompanied Yuan Weiling and sat under the tree until dark and her emotions had
stabilized.
That night, before going
to bed, Yuan Sikong cleaned Yuan Nanyu's body. Yuan Nanyu said sullenly,
"Second brother, one day in the future, will you and I also marry a woman
we have never met?"
"Well, we have to."
"Then what kind of
woman do you want her to be?"
Yuan Sikong froze. He
hadn't considered this question before, and when it was brought up, he suddenly
realized that he had no imagination for his future wife. He only hoped that the
woman would be gentle and filial and would satisfy Yuan Mao and Yue Qingshuang.
He didn't care whether she was beautiful, virtuous, whether she had a good
family background or talent. He hesitated for a moment: "As long as Father
and Mother like her."
"You ... Don't you
want to marry a wife you like?"
"I listen to
father." Yuan Sikong put down the cloth towel, dressed Yuan Nanyu, and
teased, "What about you? What kind of wife do you want to marry? I didn't
even notice, Yu'er is already thinking of spring*
ah.”
Yuan Nanyu blushed and
said loudly in defense, "I'm not thinking of spring! I don't want to get
married at all. I just asked randomly because I saw big sister worried about
her marriage today."
Yuan Sikong laughed,
"I was just joking. Look how anxious you are."
Yuan Nanyu gave a serious
"hum", "When Father gives you an ugly wife, I’ll see whether you
will still listen to Father!"
Yuan Sikong teased,
"It doesn't matter if I marry an ugly monster, Yu'er just have to marry a
beautiful woman."
"Second brother you
... you only know how to rely on glib talk and bully people nimbly!"
"HAHAHAHA!!!"
-----
Yuan Weiling’s marriage
was finally settled. The other party was from a famous family. Their ancestors had
been ministers of state, and now they also had people in the imperial court as
officials. The son was very talented, in no way condescending to Yuan Weiling.
Although the man's family was not in Guangning City, it was only a day's travel
away. The two parents chose an auspicious day to propose marriage, agreeing
that next year, when the weather was warm and the birds were singing and the
flowers were fragrant, the marriage would be consummated.
It had been a long time
since the Yuan family had had such a happy event. The whole residence was
filled with cheerfulness and dispelled much of the winter chill.
To welcome the
prospective in-laws, Yuan Sikong got up early in the morning and helped Uncle
Chen and his wife with the cleaning. The Yuan family only had these two servants.
Uncle Chen looked after the house and did odd jobs, while Aunt Liu cooked and
did skilled work. Although they were both old, Yuan Mao could not bear to
dismiss them, saying that they were servants, but in fact they were more like
family.
After a long day's work,
the entire residence was cleaned up. Newly bought lanterns were hung, and a
table of good wine and food was prepared to welcome the guests.
It was a rare occasion
that Yuan Mao changed out of his light armor and put on a set of beautiful
robes. He was just over thirty, handsome and tall, but he usually wore armor
and a helmet, which made him look cold and unapproachable, but now he had
dressed in a robe with dark blue embroidery, it brought out some nobility.
Yuan Sikong praised him,
"Father, you look really good today, like a general in regular clothes."
Yuan Mao was in a very
good mood and said with a smile, "Really? Father rarely wears such
clothes. Seems like I can wear them more often in the future."
"You must wear it
more often. You're really a pair of good-looking couple when you stand with
Mother like this." Yuan Sikong winked at Yue Qingshuang.
Yue Qingshuang covered
her mouth and laughed, "Kong'er knows how to talk."
"Hey, the in-laws
are here!" Uncle Chen stood at the doorway, looked far away, and yelled
excitedly.
Yuan Mao took Yue
Qingshuang's hand, "Let's go."
Yuan Mao and his wife
were in the front, and Yuan Shaoxu led his two younger brothers in the back,
ready to welcome the guests to the door.
At this moment, a figure
suddenly darted into the door and almost bumped into Yuan Mao. The crowd was
startled because it was not the prospective in-laws they had been expecting,
but a serious-looking Hu Baicheng.
Before Yuan Mao could
open his mouth to ask, Hu Baicheng had already said urgently, "Lord
Qianhu, something bad is happening!"
thinking of spring*[思春]---have desire for the opposite sex
Edited on 11 Apr. 21 (Emzie)
Edited on 2 Jul. 21 (Ari)
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