Müßige Blumen und Schatten

Kapitel 65

Xu Shirong patted the head of her son, who was sitting upright beside her, and said with a smile, "Ping misses his father terribly. Especially recently, knowing that he's coming back soon, he keeps asking me about his father every few days."

Everyone laughed. When Ping saw that he was being laughed at, his little face turned slightly red, but he remained sitting still, his small body motionless.

Seeing Yang Huan's behavior in public, Xu Shirong couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. He thought to himself that Yang Huan was a complete spoiled brat; he wondered what had gotten into him to produce such a rigid and proper son. At only four years old, he acted like a little adult all day long, much to his grandfather's delight, who said he was far more promising than his father. Whenever he had free time, his grandfather would personally take him to the study to teach him. Surprisingly, for such a young age, he was exceptionally intelligent, able to read the Thousand Character Classic fluently, and when asked about its meaning, he could explain it clearly and eloquently. This delighted Grand Commandant Yang, who wept tears of joy, repeatedly saying it was a blessing from their ancestors, and from then on, he devoted even more effort to teaching him.

After everyone finished speaking, seeing that the old lady looked tired, they all took their leave. Xu Shirong took Pingge's hand and led him to the outer veranda. Without waiting for the wet nurse to follow behind, she picked him up and hugged him tightly, kissing him and saying, "Pingge is still so young. It breaks my heart to see him sitting in the study reading and writing all day long. How about I talk to your grandfather tomorrow and ask him to rest for a few days?"

Ping shook his head and said, "Mother, I often hear Sister Xi admonishing Brother Qing that learning is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. I think that's very true. I'm not tired."

Seeing him like this, Xu Shirong sighed helplessly, "I wish you would be a little lazier. You little one is so opinionated, you don't even listen to your mother."

Pingge suddenly shouted, "Mother, I know Father is a great hero. When Father comes back, I will definitely listen to him. Is that alright, Mother?"

Xu Shirong smiled without saying a word, and reached out to tap his little forehead. Seeing that the maids and wet nurses behind him were also suppressing their laughter, Pingge blushed again. After hesitating for a moment, he leaned close to Xu Shirong's ear and whispered, "Mother, what is my father like?"

Xu Shirong thought for a moment and smiled, "Your father is tall, and his eyes are just like yours, as if they can speak. He's smart and capable. Brother Ping will definitely like him when he meets him."

Ping's eyes sparkled, and he wrapped his arms tightly around Xu Shirong's neck, saying, "Mother, I want to hear more about Father. I'll sleep next to you tonight."

Xu Shirong glanced at the wet nurse behind her, and seeing that she seemed about to speak, she stopped her, smiling and agreeing. That evening, the mother and son lay side by side, and Xu Shirong racked her brains to tell Pingge some stories about Yang Huan's past deeds. Of course, she only selected the parts that could establish a positive image, such as his fearlessness in eliminating the local tyrant, or his selfless act of going into the sea to protect the seawall during the repair work. Pingge listened with great excitement, waving his little hands and feet around. Xu Shirong continued to tell stories until the end of the second watch of the night, when she saw him fall into a deep sleep, his hands and feet draped over his body, his little mouth slightly pursed. The way he slept was exactly like Yang Huan in the past.

Xu Shirong, filled with tenderness, kissed his forehead, helped him tuck in the blankets, and lowered the brocade curtains. Lying there, she couldn't sleep. One moment she was thinking about how Yang Huan had been gone for over three years, their only interaction being letters exchanged between them; the next she was thinking about his triumphant return to the capital in half a month, wondering what their reunion would be like. Her heart pounded with excitement, and she touched her face, finding it growing hot.

Xu Shirong couldn't sleep. She got out of bed, lit a lamp, poured herself a cup of water, and drank it down. Only then did she feel a little calmer, though her face was still burning. She couldn't help but lean over to the dressing table, carefully examining her reflection in the mirror. Seeing her still with her hair piled high like a raven's nest, her skin smooth and lustrous, her brows alluring, and her eyes conveying emotion, she couldn't help but sigh softly. Looking down, she saw a neat stack of letters in the drawer, all written to her over the years. She took them out, sat before the candlelight, and stared blankly for a while. Then she pulled out a few letters and began to read them again.

"Autumn scenery beyond the Great Wall is different, wild geese fly south from Hengyang without a backward glance... The Qiang flute plays a mournful tune, frost covers the ground. No one sleeps, the general's white hair and the soldier's tears. My dear, this is a poem I happened to see Lord Fan composed late at night when he was sleepless. Though I am not talented, seeing this, my heart is also filled with sorrow. I only wish that our Great Song army will soon drive out the enemy... I miss you, my brother Ping..."

"Jiaoniang, some time ago you led your troops to launch a surprise attack on the Western Xia army and recaptured the defenses of Qingzhou. You started building a city on the spot, and in a short time a new city was built. Lord Fan named it Dashun. This city is located between the Song and Xia borders, and its position is extremely important. It must be guarded with all our might... Thinking of you..."

"Jiaoniang, I, along with Lord Fan's eldest son Chunyou and several soldiers, were captured. Because of my identity, they held me captive for several days. We happened to meet Luejing, a strategist from Western Xia whom I had previously spared. He secretly led me to Ninglingge, the deposed crown prince of Western Xia. His wife, Mozang, was taken by his father, Yuanhao, and made empress. He himself was deposed and harbored resentment. I promised him that if he killed Li Yuanhao, I would guarantee his ascension to the throne of Western Xia before the Song emperor. The deposed crown prince was persuaded, and the next day he seized an opportunity to break into Li Yuanhao's palace, slashing his mouth and nose. Li Yuanhao bled to death… People from Western Xia have been surrendering to our Song Dynasty in succession, and Western Xia's peace envoy has been dispatched from Xingqing Prefecture to Dongjing… I think of you day and night…"

Xu Shirong read the letter over and over again, stroking the frayed edges of the paper with her hand. Although his letter contained only a few words and the language was plain, she still felt lingering fear when she thought about it.

Suddenly, the lamp on the table flickered and became much brighter. Xu Shirong listened to the faint sound of the night watchman's drum coming from outside, carefully folded the letter again, put it back in the box, and was about to blow out the candle to rest when she suddenly heard a knock on the door.

Xu Shirong was somewhat surprised. At this hour, who in the manor would come to knock on her door in the west courtyard? Usually, Xiao Que, fearing she would be lonely, would sleep in the side room outside her room at night, saying it would be convenient to call her if needed. However, last month, upon learning that Er Bao was also returning with Yang Huan, Xu Shirong had already prepared a dowry for her and sent her back to her former brother and sister-in-law's place, just waiting for Er Bao to return and marry her. Therefore, although there were other maids and wet nurses living in the rooms inside and outside the courtyard, she was all alone in her own room.

Xu Shirong straightened her clothes, took the candlestick, and went to the door. She responded softly as she reached out her hand to the door. As soon as she opened it, she was stunned. She couldn't hold the candlestick properly, and it fell to the ground with a thud and went out.

Xu Shirong stood there, her body trembling slightly. The person she had just seen through the door was none other than Yang Huan, whom she had longed for day and night for the past three years! In that brief glance, he was still the person she had been thinking of, only now his brows held a more resolute air. In the few years that had passed, he had completely transformed into a handsome and dashing man.

Yang Huan didn't say a word, but suddenly hugged her tightly. In the darkness, the two embraced tightly, their lips touching, as if they wanted to meld each other into their own bodies.

After a long while, Xu Shirong finally broke free from his mouth, panting, and said, "How could you..."

Before she could finish speaking, Yang Huan scooped her up in his arms and whispered, "I missed you terribly and couldn't wait to see you. I couldn't wait to travel slowly with them, so I rode back on horseback. I just told my family not to disturb my parents. They'll know I'm back tomorrow." With that, he walked towards the bed.

Xu Shirong gripped his shoulders tightly, her heart pounding with joy. As they neared the bed, she suddenly remembered her son was still sleeping inside and hurriedly said, "Ping-ge is still sleeping in the bed curtains..."

Yang Huan was taken aback, then kissed her forehead hard again before putting her down and gently lifting the curtain himself.

Xu Shirong picked up the lamp, relit it, and put it back on the table before going to the bedside and looking at their son with Yang Huan.

Yang Huan stared at Ping Ge, who was still asleep, for a long while before turning to Xu Shirong and hesitatingly saying, "Is it really... my son? When he left, his legs were so weak that he could barely hold him, and now he's grown up so much..."

Xu Shi suppressed a laugh, gently tapped his shoulder, and said, "If he's not your son, then whose son is he? Are you trying to deny it?"

Yang Huan chuckled, leaned down and gently kissed Ping Ge's cheek, then lowered the brocade curtain, stood up, and took Xu Shirong's hand, saying, "Jiao Niang, you've really suffered these past few years... Have you ever thought of me?"

Xu Shirong felt a slight pang in her heart, but smiled and said, "I wasn't missing you at all. I have Ping-ge with me, life is so comfortable."

Yang Huan pretended to have a stern face and said, "Hmph, no wonder I saw people picking their ears every day in the Northwest, saying they were itching because their families missed them. But I hardly ever felt that itch. So you never think of me at all. Let me teach you a lesson!" As he spoke, he grabbed her hands and pulled them into his arms, then lowered his head and bit them hard.

Xu Shirong chuckled softly, yet afraid of waking Ping-ge on the bed, she half-accepted and half-refused. The two of them were entangled until they were breathless, and Yang Huan whispered hoarsely in her ear, "I can't take it anymore... let's go to another room..."

Xu Shirong's face flushed and her heart pounded. He picked her up again and was about to leave for another room when she suddenly heard a sleepy voice behind her say, "Mother, who is he? Why is he holding you like this?"

The two froze and turned around to look. They saw a small head peeking out from the gap in the tent. Who else could it be but Brother Ping?

Xu Shirong quickly pushed Yang Huan away, and Yang Huan reluctantly put her down. Xu Shirong hurriedly lifted the curtain and sat down next to Ping Ge, patted his head, and said with a smile, "Ping Ge, he is your father. Quickly call him father."

Yang Huan squatted down in front of Ping Ge, grinning, "Good son, call me 'Dad' so I can hear you." But Ping Ge just stared at him blankly for a long time, then suddenly pouted and said, "You're not my dad! Before I went to sleep, my mother told me that my dad is a great hero, and he'll be returning home in a few days, wearing armor and riding a tall horse, looking very majestic… I just saw you bullying my mother. My dad would never bully my mother! You're not my dad…" He then started waving his hands and kicking at him wildly.

Yang Huan exclaimed in surprise, stood up from the ground, and threatened, "You little brat! How dare you not acknowledge me as your father! If you keep yelling, I'll make your mother give birth to three or five more younger brothers and sisters. Then they'll all be vying to call me father, and we'll see if I still want you, you little brat!"

Ping had been holding back his tears because he was a little man and had to protect his mother. But now, after being threatened like this, he couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears.

Xu Shirong felt sorry for her son and pinched Yang Huan's ear hard before quickly hugging Ping Ge herself, wiping his tears with a handkerchief, and coaxing him to lie down and sleep. Ping Ge sobbed and pointed at Yang Huan again. Xu Shirong quickly gestured for him to leave. Yang Huan was annoyed but didn't dare to upset Jiao Niang, so he had no choice but to go out and stand guard by the door. He waited until almost four in the morning before hearing the door creak open, and Jiao Niang stepped out.

Yang Huan was overjoyed and pulled her into an empty room. Xu Shirong leaned on his shoulder and chuckled softly, "I thought you'd grown up a lot these past few years. I just realized you're getting younger and younger. You even bully your own son..." She trailed off, having swallowed his words.

...

The following text is omitted.