In June of the sixth year of Tianhe, Xu Si returned to the dynasty.

Xiao Huaishuo originally planned to lead the courtiers and nobles to Jingkou to greet him in person, but Xu Si traveled lightly along the way, and did not send someone to deliver a letter to him until after crossing the river. By the time Xiao Huaishuo received the letter, Xu Si was almost on the outskirts of Jiankang City.

Xiao Huaishuo was helpless, and felt that it was also expected. had to follow Xu Si's wishes and slightly reduce the battle, and only led the courtiers and princesses out of the suburbs to greet them according to the etiquette system.

The palace city was still not fully repaired, and Xiao Huaishuo divided the East Palace into two in advance, leaving the north courtyard for Xu Si to live in.

Xu Si was tired of saddle horses along the way, and after entering the city, he only briefly met with a group of women, and then dispensed with the rest of the etiquette, leaving only Liuli and Ruyi to speak.

After Zhang Guifei was martyred, Xu Si naturally took over the responsibility of taking care of Liuli. And Liuli and Xu Si experienced the fugitive life after the fall of Jiankang together, knowing that Xu Si treated her wholeheartedly, although she was still reserved and restrained when facing Xu Si, she could also receive kindness. The mother and daughter also had some heartfelt words.

Xu Si mentioned the marriage that the Son of Heaven chose for the two sisters before his death, and said to Liuli, "It just so happens that Gu Liu is also in Jiankang, can you see people?" ”

Liuli said, "See." Although it is difficult to settle in the end, I can't help but admit it, "People are fine." Since it was chosen by Daddy, of course I don't have much to say. ”

…… Her feelings about Gu Jinglou were complicated, but in the final analysis, this marriage was the last thing she could see and touch left behind by her dead father. Even if Gu Jinglou doesn't like her anymore, she always has a sense of closeness to him in her heart.

Xu Si said, "When filial piety is out, if you feel that you are still happy with each other, then set the marriage." ”

Ruri nodded silently.

Xu Si said again, "Are the two sisters Yuhua and Yuyao living in your mansion now?" ”

Yuhua and Yuyao are the two little princesses left by Vimo. Liuli said, "Yes, they have no father, and they have to have an elder to take care of them." Big sister is far away, Erlang...... His Majesty is not married yet, and it is not like a word to take two little nieces and nephews to live. She looked at Ruyi, "The four girls are very busy again, so I took them to my house." ”

Did she say something about the scene, Ruyi answered, "Originally, they lived with their mother-in-law Guo Guiren, but Guo Guiren went home. They are still young and cannot be supported by their elders...... But you can't always live in the third sister's house. ”

Xu Si naturally understood what Ruyi meant, and she was about to mention this stubble, so she said to Liuli, "I want them to move to me and live with me." Liuli was in a hurry and was about to speak, Xu Si raised his hand to stop her, and said, "I know you are reluctant to let them go, but listen to me first-you are a little girl who has not been out of the cabinet, how do you know how to take care of the child?" What's more, you will always get married in two years, so why don't you let them live with your aunt and uncle when the time comes? Anyway, their uncle is still there. What's more, I'm also the grandmother of both of them. ”

Xu Si is now the justifiable queen mother, and she is actually the grandmother of these two little girls.

Liuli also calmed down immediately - for the two little princesses, following Xu Si was indeed the best choice.

He said, "Well, I'll send them in a minute." She hadn't thought about it earlier. Realizing it at this moment, her face was a little red for a while, and she said, "I should have taken them to pick you up, but Yuhua was a little uncomfortable, and Yuyao was too young to get up early...... "She is really not good at taking care of children, and she always feels that they are estranged from each other, and it is difficult to communicate honestly. is more loving and affectionate, and it is inevitable to accommodate them in everything.

Xu Si smiled, "It's not in the way, there is no reason for children to get up early in the morning and travel long distances." ”

Liuli got up and said, "Then I'll go back and tell them about it first, and you can rest early." ”

Xu Si didn't leave her alone, but said, "Go back and let the old grandmother show the big girl first, is it disgusting with the summer or what, the child can't tell where it is uncomfortable, and the experienced old lady will know it at a glance." ”

Ruri said, "I wrote it down." ”

Ruyi got up together, pressed Liuli on her, and said, "You can stay and talk to your mother for a while." ”

――On this day, Liuli and Xu Si were indeed talking, but Ruyi didn't speak much, only chatting with him. Ruri knew they were taking care of her mood.

Ruyi also appreciated, "Well, then I'll send you out first." ”

Ruri nodded.

After sending off Liuli, the mother and daughter can finally be alone again.

Of course, the East Palace and the Ciqiu Hall are different, but as long as this person comes, no matter how strange the place is, it seems to have a reassuring meaning immediately.

Mother and daughter stared at each other, confirming each other's safety, and after a moment their eyes turned red. Xu Si raised his hand and touched Ruyi's cheek, opened his mouth several times, and finally only said two words, "...... Lost weight. ”

Tears welled up in Ruyi's eyes, but he still didn't say anything. only stepped forward and wrapped around Xu Si's neck and hugged her hard.

She was already taller than Xu Si, and this hug made Xu Si retreat, but made Xu Si laugh. Xu Si raised his hand and patted her on the back, and said, "Okay, don't cry, carefully let people see the joke on you." ”

Ruyi said, "Hmm." This sound seemed to be joyful and aggrieved, with some delicate tail notes, like a kitten being coquettish. But it's done inadvertently.

Xu Si couldn't help but smile and touched her hair again, and the right to smooth the cat's hair. Ruyi felt embarrassed only after being coquettish, and hurriedly let go of Xu Si, raised the back of his hand and quietly rubbed his tears. However, when I looked back, I saw Xu Si looking at her with a smile, her eyes were loving, and tears welled up again. Fortunately, I was finally able to speak this time, "A-Niang, I miss you so much." ”

Xu Sidao, "...... I miss you too. ”

Xu Si's emotions were rarely exposed, and she didn't expect her to express her chest so bluntly, and tears rolled down. Xu Si smiled and helped her rub it, put his arm around her shoulders and said, "Come into the house...... A-Niang brought you good things. ”

The recent situation of each other was mentioned in the letter earlier, and Xu Yi conveyed it again and again. But when they met at this moment, they couldn't help but ask each other again and again. I always feel that after the catastrophe, I can see each other again with such a full beard and full tail, which makes people can't believe that it is God's mercy, but it seems to be in a dream.

Even Xu Si, who is so reserved, can't help but shake Ruyi's hand again and again.

On this day, the sky is slightly cloudy, the air is warm and moist, there are dark bamboo reflecting the windows and the breeze flowing through the house, so quiet and comfortable that you can hear the birdsong and the stream. They just talked about the past of the disaster, and also talked about the recent situation after peace. It's like a dream.

Ruyi finally talked about her encounter with the Son of Heaven in the Water Hall - she couldn't save the Son of Heaven that day, but witnessed his death, and that heavy pressure was always on her heart. Ruyi didn't say it to anyone, not even Erlang, she only had the courage to confess in front of Xu Si.

When Xu Si learned about the last condition of the Son of Heaven, he couldn't help but lose his mind for a moment. She didn't say anything, just tears rolled down her face, and she wiped them away. She barely showed any sorrow, but the tears were real.

She rarely shed tears about something.

Ruyi couldn't help but pause, "Ah Niang......"

Xu Si sighed, "...... His temperament really didn't change until he died. She rubbed Ruyi's hair casually and said, "Didn't you take out the will he asked you to take out?" Ruyi nodded, and Xu Si said, "Then it will be considered as the completion of his request." Take care of Erlang more in the future, just live up to his wishes. ”

Ruyi said, "Hmm." ”

Ruyi intuitively felt that Xu Si's feelings for the Son of Heaven were just mediocre, especially when he later learned some of the past events between them, and he felt that with Xu Si's character, it was difficult to have any feelings for the Son of Heaven - but Xu Si still cried for the Son of Heaven after all. And at this moment, Xu Si's tone when he talked about the Son of Heaven was indeed a clear understanding that only old husbands and wives would have.

She knew that this question was inevitably disobedient, but she still couldn't help but want to ask, "Auntie, do you like Daddy very much...... The Emperor? ”

Xu Si was stunned for a moment. After a pause, he said, "...... Liked. ”

“…… And then? ”

"Later, ah......" Xu Si seemed to be recalling, and it seemed that he was just simply distracted, and his tone was calm and flat, "It's ridiculous." It is not in vain that he has made me a confidant, and I can understand the reasons for everything he does. So I don't want to hate...... The Son of Heaven and ordinary people are not the same kind of people in the first place. So it's not about liking it or not. ”

……

They talked until the end of the day. Gradually, after the past is finished, he talks about the work at hand.

Ruyi said that she was planning military supplies for Xiao Huaishuo in Nanling, how she subdued Hejiazhuang, how she fought all the way from Hejiazhuang to Xuancheng, and then went to Gu to join Xiao Huaishuo, and then talked about what she did for the reconstruction of Jiankang City. Xu Si only listened with a smile.

Although Ruyi was not praised by others when she did this, seeing Xu Si listening to it at this moment, she couldn't help but look forward to her affirmation.

And Xu Si only sighed at the end, "It's so good......"

That's nice......

It is praise and gratification, but more is nostalgia and admiration.

Ruyi suddenly thought that she had never heard Xu Si talk about her own youth—she must have been young too, what was she like at that time? What kind of encounters and expectations did she have? What did she do and what was the result?

But after thinking about it, she still didn't ask - the Xu Si she knew was the most beautiful and intelligent woman in the world, but it was a pity that the karma was not good, and she was trapped by people for half her life. Xu Si's youth, the ending is bound to be not so good.

But if you really want to investigate it, most of the caravans and connections that Ruyi has on hand were originally inherited from Xu Si. The reason why she was able to walk farther was only because Xu Si had paved the most difficult part of the road for her. What she is doing should be what Xu Si expects and wants to do.

In the end, the journey was tiring, and Xu Si was a little sleepy after chatting. When they were near, they had a simple lunch together, and Ruyi served Xu Si to sleep, and fanned her to repel mosquitoes next to her. At the beginning, Xu Si still talked to Ruyi without a match, and gradually fell asleep.

In the midsummer of this year, there was no order from the Son of Heaven to drive away cicadas for her, and in the afternoon when the cicadas were singing endlessly, she was still resting on the pillow mat and dreamless for a while.

If she is well asleep, he will put down the mosquito net for her and light a soothing incense. Only then did he quietly go to the apse to bathe.

After bathing for a while, she came out of the shower, and saw that Xu Si was still asleep, so she didn't wake her up. She only picked up one from a box of books that Xu Si brought back to her from Xuzhou, and went to sit at the stone table in the bamboo forest outside to read.

Xiao Huaishuo walked through the bamboo forest path, and saw Ruyi reading under the forest from a distance. The bamboo forest is tall and dense, and the shades of green are scattered and colorful. She is the only one wearing a plain white gauze dress, like black hair, sitting in it. When the wind passed, his clothes were light, like a fairy.

Xiao Huaishuo paused for a moment, then turned to her.

As she approached, she looked up at the sound. Seeing that it was Xiao Huaishuo, he closed the book and got up. She wanted to show respect for the new emperor, but she was used to being close to him since she was a child, and she was a little out of step for a while, so there was a moment of silence.

"A-Niang is still resting." She just said, "Are you done over there?" ”

-- The news that Xu Yi brought from the front line from Xuzhou seems to be that the Eastern Wei Dynasty intends to negotiate peace. Therefore, after welcoming Xu Si back, Xiao Huaishuo did not stay with him for a long time, but went to the former court to listen to the report of Xu Yi and the envoy.

Xiao Huaishuo felt her restraint, so he didn't show his face, and complained willfully as always, "I'm done listening, it's still early to finish my work." I felt that it was almost noon, so I hurried over to accompany A-Niang and you to lunch, but you didn't wait for me. ”

This tone is really a long time gone, Ruyi couldn't help but smile, and said, "When A-Niang wakes up in a while, we will have another meal with you." ”

Xiao Huaishuo saw her laughing, and laughed along, so he said slowly, "Just let A-Niang sleep for a while, it won't hinder me to wait here for a while." ”

They sat down across from each other.

Ruyi didn't say much, only asked about the progress of Northern Xinjiang, but Xiao Huaishuo didn't like to tell her these things - because of the news conveyed by Xu Yi, he always felt that Ruyi was actually asking Xu Yi about asking these questions. So after a few moments, they were relatively speechless.

Ruyifu was about to pick up the book again, but Xiao Huaishuo subconsciously raised his hand and held it down.

Ruyi looked at him suspiciously, Xiao Huaishuo endured it for a few endurances, and then pressed his temper and said, "I can't find time to read on weekdays, so I have to read it here?" Talk to me. ”

"I've been really busy lately, and I'm almost running out of time to read." Ruyi smiled and asked, "What do you want to talk about?" ”

"It turns out that Sister Ah has been very busy lately, and I thought you were deliberately avoiding and alienating me."

He suddenly attacked, and he was caught off guard, and he was stunned for a while.