Смертная любовь в эпоху Северной Сун

Глава 155

Without answering, he still looked at Rongyue with a blank expression, but the darkness in his phoenix eyes revealed his displeasure.

"What's wrong?" Had she done something to offend him again?

Seeing that Rongyue still looked clueless, he seemed a little annoyed. He suddenly reached out his fair little hand and quickly touched Rongyue's lips, then awkwardly turned his cold little face away.

Oh, so you wanted a good morning kiss!

Rongyue chuckled to herself; what an eccentric child.

She cupped his beautiful face in her hands and leaned down to gently approach him.

As the soft breath drew closer, he held his breath, his heart pounding. He could feel the gentle warmth on his face and clearly calculate the distance between those delicate pink lips and him—three inches, two inches, one inch, half an inch…

Just as Rongyue's lips were about to touch his cheek, he suddenly turned his face away without warning, and Rongyue's lips unexpectedly pressed against his red lips.

Xing Tong was startled. Her first thought was that she had been taken advantage of. Her second thought was that he had done it on purpose.

But then I thought about it again and found it funny. Being harassed by a kid seemed like a joke no matter how I looked at it.

He was just a child, and perhaps he was trying to express his love for her in this way. Of course, this love was the love a child has for his mother.

Thinking of this, Rongyue felt relieved, and the unhappiness in her heart just now was swept away.

"Mommy, Gouwa wants one too! Gouwa wants one too!"

Just woken up, Gouwa domineeringly pulled Rongyue close, hooked his arms around her neck, and gave her a few big, wolfish nibbles. Salty, sticky drool hung from the corners of his mouth. He glared at his round, almond-shaped eyes, proudly raising his chin at his nominal older brother beside him, looking smug.

Looking at the drool hanging from Gouwa's mouth, he turned his face away in disgust, thinking to himself: I really don't know how this woman can put up with this drooling kid!

"Sister, Xiaoyao wants one too! Kiss!" Dongfang Yao, who had just run over from the West Warm Pavilion, seemed to have just gotten up. She was still wearing her slightly open pajamas. She pouted and ran towards Rongyue, wrapping her arms around her tightly.

Blocking Dongfang Yao's approaching red lips, Rongyue said with slight annoyance, "Didn't I tell you to knock before coming in? Xiaoyao, you're being disobedient again!" (There are four bedrooms in the main house, each a separate room, but the East Warm Pavilion and West Warm Pavilion are exceptions, separated only by a door. Originally, the West Warm Pavilion was designed for Gouwa, to be her bedroom when she grew up. But Dongfang Yao made a fuss and refused to live in the other two bedrooms, hoping to live in the East Warm Pavilion like Gouwa. After being scolded by Rongyue, he felt wronged. He had no choice but to compromise and settle for the West Warm Pavilion, which was closest to the East Warm Pavilion, and this time he was determined not to compromise. Unable to bear his fuss, Rongyue had no choice but to give in.)

"Sister..." She looked at Rongyue with a wronged expression, her beautiful eyes blinking slightly.

"Never mind, I'll be more careful next time." Unable to bear Dongfang Yao's pitiful expression, Rong Yue softened her tone. Seeing that his slightly open robe exposed a large expanse of his chest, she frowned slightly and reached out to pull the robe tighter around him: "You don't even know to be careful in this cold weather. If you catch a cold, you'll suffer!"

He grinned foolishly, his eyebrows curving, and leaned forward, planting a kiss on Rongyue's cheek with a soft "plop." Then, like a thief, he quickly pulled his head back, cautiously watching Rongyue's expression.

His hands paused slightly.

She caught a glimpse of Dongfang Yao's cautious demeanor out of the corner of her eye. Her eyes flickered slightly, but her hands continued their work. With a light turn of her fingertips, she tied a pretty bow and fastened his sash.

"You need to take care of yourself from now on, understand?"

Seeing that Rongyue didn't get angry at her, Dongfang Yao's beautiful eyes lit up with joy, and she nodded happily, repeatedly agreeing. Some were happy, some were angry.

Seeing that Rongyue did not reprimand Dongfang Yao for his 'outrageous' behavior, a red light flashed in his phoenix eyes, and his thin lips pursed coldly...

After noon, the warm winter sun made people feel great.

Leading a group of 'children'—Gouwa, Baobao, and Dongfang Yao too—carrying an iron shovel, eggshells dyed black with ink, and a small wooden stick dyed orange, and wearing gloves, Rongyue led her group to a large, open field behind the house.

"Mom, what's a snowman?" Her almond-shaped eyes widened with curiosity, her watery eyes brimming with a thirst for knowledge.

He posed the question that the other two had been asking.

All six eyes, yearning for knowledge, simultaneously turned towards Rongyue.

"A snowman, hehe, of course it's a person made of snow!"

"A person made of snow? Can snow turn into a person?"

"Well—" Rongyue drawled, then chuckled mischievously, "You'll find out when you're done."

She rolled a snowball about half a meter long, then pushed it around. Rongyue looked back at the three people who were still in a daze, and waved to them with a smile: "What are you still standing there for! Come and help me roll this snowball!"

"Oh, snowball, snowball—" Gouwa and Dongfang Yao cheered, the two of them, one big and one small, running towards Rongyue one after the other...

"Childish!" The words escaped her alluring lips, but though she said it, her phoenix eyes showed no impatience. She then took off running with Gouwa and the other two towards Rongyue...

A flash of silver light appeared, and the gray wild rabbit that had just been hopping around in the snow tilted its head to the side and slid to the front. After twitching a few times, it stiffened, leaving a conspicuous bloodstain in the pure white snow.

Suddenly, a series of cheers and applause, as loud as thunder, erupted from afar, resounding loudly in the silent valley.

With a hearty laugh, he sheathed his bow, dismounted with a graceful gait, and took the game that the guard had just retrieved. He waved it in front of Tuoba Hao: "Hao'er, the ninety-ninth game. Just one more, and we'll have accomplished our mission!"

Tuoba Hao's bright phoenix eyes were full of admiration: "Father is so amazing! Father, when I grow up, I want to become a great hero like you!" He waved his little fist, making a solemn vow, his little face full of determination.

Amused by Tuoba Hao's childish words, he said, "So this is what makes a great hero? Hao'er, you've never seen a real hero!"

“A true hero? In my heart, Father is a true hero! Father’s archery skills are so amazing, Hao’er is sure that no one in the world can match Father! Father once said that heroes are the strong, and no one can compare to Father, so Father is a great hero!”

"Your Highness is absolutely right! His Majesty is wise and mighty, a hero of all time, unmatched by anyone!" The accompanying military advisor hurriedly chimed in, flattering him.

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty! Long live the Emperor!" The others echoed, showering him with flattery.

Unfazed by the fawning and flattery of the crowd, Tuoba Chen patted Tuoba Hao's head and laughed, "So, according to you, if anyone can defeat Father, then Father is not a hero?"

"Is there anyone whose archery skills can surpass Father Emperor's?" Tuoba Hao's phoenix eyes widened in astonishment, his expression filled with disbelief and suspicion. He had heard the old general recount how his father was an unparalleled archer, hitting the bullseye every time, and that no prey he set his sights on ever escaped! Back when he was still a prince, who didn't know of the divine archery of the Second Prince of Ziye City? How could anyone possibly surpass Father Emperor's archery skills!

"There are heavens beyond heavens, and people beyond people. Who can say for sure what will happen in this world?" He murmured softly, a thin layer of melancholy appearing on his handsome face: "Once upon a time, someone like this passed through my life..."

"Father, look! A sika deer!" The excited shout interrupted Tuoba Chen's reverie about the past.

"Chase!"

...