Chapter 497

If I say I'm just here on a pure envoy mission to improve relations between our two countries, will you believe me, little master?

To be honest, I don't really believe it." Pei Di answered seriously.

Anyway, that's what our Majesty said, so just listen to it, little master.

... And you, what's your purpose? Did you come along to protect your Majesty?

I'm still a subject; when His Majesty gives an order, shouldn't I follow?" the Ninth Eunuch retorted, "But I do genuinely enjoy coming to Great Zhou, to see an old friend I haven't seen in a while."

Pei Di neither affirmed nor denied.

The Ninth Eunuch looked up at the blue sky and white clouds of Great Zhou and suddenly sighed, "The sky here is indeed much prettier than that of the Xu Xu Kingdom."

After saying that, his gaze fell on Pei Di: "Even a little bird can fly higher and gain more freedom."

Hearing the Ninth Eunuch's words, Pei Di unconsciously recalled his distant past, the days he still spent in the Xu Xu Kingdom.

Living under someone else's roof was indeed not good, but it was also a very important part of his life.

Looking back now, there is mostly just feeling.

His childhood and adolescence were like walking on thin ice, but he ultimately hadn't suffered too much grievance, nor any real harm, which could be considered a great fortune amidst misfortune.

Yeah, the little bird should still return to its original homeland.

Ninth Eunuch: "I should also head back; changing clothes can't take too long."

Pei Di also went back, having forgotten that he came out with another purpose: to see where the emperor of the Xu Xu Kingdom had run off to.

As the Ninth Eunuch said, this time the Xu Xu Kingdom came here simply to add a bit more depth to the friendship between the two countries; the marriage alliance he proposed was also within the range acceptable to the Son of Heaven of Great Zhou, and the atmosphere between the two sides was harmonious.

Until the banquet dispersed, the atmosphere remained harmonious.

It was a false alarm!

Everyone let out a sigh of relief.

Jingcheng was also very peaceful today.

"Speaking reasonably, I was worried not only about you just now, but also about our two children," Gu Rongjin said to Mu Yuanzhi.

"I only worry about the kids; what age am I?" Mu Yuanzhi said, somewhat speechless, "I think it's just that Fei Yi kid trying to mess with us."

"What age? He still treats you like a maiden who hasn't left the inner chambers!" Gu Rongjin took his wife's hand, "Our little Yuanzhi is still so young and beautiful, still the number one beauty of the capital! Of course, second is our little Tong!"

Gu Yutong: "Dad, you don't need to bring me along when you flatter Mom, even though I also think Mom is the number one beauty of Jingcheng, but when you say it it sounds like blatant brown-nosing!"

Gu Rongjin: "Little girl, don't you feel uncomfortable if you don't contradict your dad for a day? You can twist any fact into flattery."

"Not only are you worried, but this General is also worried about his own sister."

Qi Shihuai, who had somehow joined the chat, nodded.

"How strange, our General Qi actually worries about his sister? Is it because he's over fifty and finally grew a conscience?" Gu Rongjin teased.

"Do you see this General as looking over fifty?" Qi Shihuai spread his arms, "Where would such a suave and debonair general look like that?"

"Come on, you're too old for important duties; His Majesty doesn't even let you go to the battlefield, right?" Gu Rongjin continued.

"That's because His Majesty wants to give you a chance for your son to rack up military merit."

"My son's opportunity is something he earned himself; old and useless General Qi, don't gild your own reputation!"

Mu Yuanzhi: "Let me say a fair word, General Qi indeed still looks in the prime of his life."

"It's the sister-in-law who speaks the truth; some people just love to spout lies with their eyes open, not knowing if it's jealousy."

"What would I be jealous of you for? Jealous of your age?"

"You'll have that day sooner or later."

"Too bad by then you'll be sixty."

"You two fifty- or sixty-year-old geezers, stop arguing; everyone's gone, are you going to stay on night duty at Shanglin Park?" Yunjing Lou walked over, amused.

Gu Rongjin and Qi Shihuai turned their heads at the same time.

"What's up, little Lou, were you demoted to guard the gate at Shanglin Park?" Gu Rongjin asked with a sharp tongue.

Yunjing Lou: "As the Commander, I'd like to remind you that the Zhongyuan Festival is coming; don't come home so late."

Gu Rongjin raised his eyes to signal Yunjing Lou to look at the monk: "We have a great master here; no demons or monsters can get close."

"Amitabha." The monk put his palms together in a salute, "I'm just a lowly monk."

"Our great master is formidable yet humble and courteous."

Qilin couldn't help but laugh.

"Humble and courteous?"

"Putting on an act!"

"And the act is so unconvincing; at a glance it's obviously a demon monk!"

"Go back, senior sister; it's indeed quite late," Qilin said.

"Wait a moment, little Qilin, where do you live?" Gu Rongjin asked sincerely.

Qilin without hesitation: "Of course it's the Grand General's residence!"

Gu Rongjin directly said: "Don't you think you're a bit in the way?"

Qilin shook his head: "No!"

"Don't you even look at the protagonist's face?" Gu Rongjin said more bluntly.

"Isn't the protagonist my senior sister? Her complexion is fine," Qilin snorted.

"Shouldn't the protagonist of the Grand General's residence be the Grand General himself?" Gu Rongjin jabbed his son with his elbow.

Mu Yumo: "The head of the household is naturally Mother."

Mu Yuanzhi: "Right, it's always been me."

"You're all bullying me." Gu Rongjin was very displeased.

"Who let you bully our little Qilin?" Mu Yuanzhi said.

Gu Rongjin gritted his teeth staring at Qilin: "You little brat!"

Despite the fuss, Qilin still stayed with the monk that night in the Grand General's residence, which was huge; Mu Yuanzhi cleared out the long-unoccupied West Wing for Qilin and his companions to stay.

"Stay as long as you like, treat this place as your own home, and little Yuanzhi will be delighted too," Gu Rongjin said with a smile.

Qilin: "Finally you said something human."

I, your master, have always treated you well.

Thank you, Master!

Did I hear right? Suddenly you're so well-behaved?

Qilin: "You don't want to call me master? Then I won't call you!"

You little imp!

Mu Yuanzhi looked at the two mischievous master and disciple, her smile helpless.

Gu Rongjin finally treated Qilin like a child, yet she still ended up treating him like a little imp?

A month later, the long spring holiday arrived, and Mu Yuanzhi and company set out on a journey to the Southern Frontier to search for the spring.

Before departure, Cao Cixiu and Pei Si also came.

Gu Rongjin counted the heads and said, "With this many people, we're almost matching an envoy."

Shouldn't this rare holiday be just for him and his wife to be lovey-dovey? Yet the monk and Qilin are also here, and now we have to bring these two along as well!

Oh right, I forgot to mention, Pei Shangling is here too! Qilin shook the little ceramic jar hanging at his waist.

Gu Rongjin: ……

Mu Yuanzhi laughed as she grabbed Gu Rongjin's shoulder: "A new adventure is coming, cheer up."

"With you around, I'm happy anytime!" Gu Rongjin happily kissed her.

-End-