Chapter 167 – Sweet and Refreshing Daily Life (I)

Xuyu and Pei Xiaoyuan successfully arrived in Hexi, the administrative area of Liangzhou.

This was a remote and barren land, yet its geographical importance was self-evident. Here, the northern Di and western Rong tribes intermingle, with Hu and Han living side by side. Only a few years had passed since the last great war, and once again, conflict had rising again. Although peace had now been restored, the situation left behind was exceedingly tangled, with countless urgent matters demanding resolution.

The first year after taking office was very busy. Pei Xiaoyuan reorganized the frontier army, revived the war-desolated agricultural settlements, and tirelessly worked to drill and train the troops. Xuyu helped her husband to pacify the residents and promoted cultural enlightenment.

Moreover, although Xifan and Beiting now have He Du and Ashina in charge, who pledge allegiance to Chang’an and maintain overall stability, under the grand tents of the tribal chieftains there were still many tribes, each with its own warriors. The inherently complex alliances make it difficult to unite hearts and minds. Submission today, rebellion tomorrow—such things were as common as daily meal. The nearby chieftains all know the names of Pei Xiaoyuan and the Supreme Grand Princess. They vie to visit and pay their respects, ostensibly to greet and establish ties with the imperial envoys and the couple, yet perhaps not without harboring secret intentions to test the waters.

Unlike Pei Xiaoyuan, who had been upright and diligent since childhood, Xuyu was naturally more carefree and spontaneous. Yet, constrained by her status, she too often found herself accompanying her husband in dealing with the various local chieftains, whether in meetings or banquets, using a mix of grace and authority to extend imperial governance and cultural influence.

After half a year of busy work, the couple finally had some free time and began their winter life.

By the eighth or ninth month of autumn, signs of frost and wind had already begun to show in these borderlands. Now that winter had fully set in, the north wind howled, and the snow weighed down the grasslands. Livestock chewed on the hay stored up through summer and autumn within their pens, while people huddled inside felt tents and houses warmed by stoves. Cats and dogs curled up lazily in front of the hearth, unmoving, and townsfolk rarely ventured far unless absolutely necessary. Many of the passing camel caravans had also paused their journeys, constrained by the weather. With the year’s end drawing near, the marketplaces near the city gates bustled with crowds each day, appearing even livelier than before.

The Military Commissioner Mansion in the city was also filled with a festive atmosphere to welcome the New Year’s Eve. Lanterns were hung in front of the door and in the corridors, and the steward led the servants to prepare various New Year’s goods. Just yesterday, the special envoy sent by the young emperor to wish the aunt and the master a happy New Year also arrived. For the master, there was a treasured bow and an exquisitely crafted horsewhip adorned with tortoiseshell and golden threads. Fearing that his aunt might not be accustomed to life in this new place, the young emperor also sent tribute tea, tribute wine, tribute rice, spices, colored silk, brocade, fur-lined coats—everything one could imagine, enough to fill over ten carts. Xiao Hu’er, who was only a little over one year old, was also conferred Kaiguo County Baron with a fief of 300 households. Along with these gifts, the envoy brought clothes, hats, shoes, and socks made by He shi for Xiao Hu’er, and news of everyone’s well-being. From yesterday until tonight, Yang Zai’en led the household in tirelessly sorting and storing all the gifts in the warehouse, ensuring everything was in order.

The entire household was immersed in the joyous anticipation of the year’s end—everyone, that is, except one person, who sat in silent sorrow.

Qingtou himself wasn’t quite sure when it started, but he was probably overwhelmed by Zhu’er’s sweet and crisp calls of “Brother Qingtou”. They were both from the same hometown, and it was with her that he’d spent those earliest days, traveling together from Ganliang to Chang’an. Over the years, his heart slowly settled on her. Back in Ganliang, he told himself that once the mistress had a bit of leisure, he would ask her to arrange things, to grant him Zhu’er’s hand.

Unexpectedly, before he could find the right opportunity to speak, a thunderbolt struck.

It turned out that Zhu’er had already taken a liking to the son of an accountant in the mansion. That boy could read and write, and worst of all, he was fair-skinned and delicate—how could a dark-skinned, rough-edged fellow like Qingtou ever compare? Just a few days ago, the accountant had gone to see the mistress on his son’s behalf. The mistress called for Zhu’er and asked her intentions. It turned out that Zhu’er had long favored the young man’s gentle, refined ways. The mistress nodded on the spot, agreeing to the match and setting the wedding for the end of the year.

Poor Qingtou—his secret love hadn’t even had the chance to take its first breath before it was snuffed out. He could only suspect that his prayers back then had not reached the ears of the emperor above. Time had passed, and there was no remedy to be found. What stung him even more was that, once she had the mistress’s blessing, Zhu’er brought that young man right to him. The boy knelt and kowtowed, calling him “Sixth Steward,” and Zhu’er happily introduced him, saying he was truly a fine person, had done great deeds as steward, and treated her just the same as before—closer even than a brother.

With tears in his eyes, Qingtou could only smile and accept her as his sworn sister on the spot. Just before that, the green falcon had left him and flew away with a female falcon, probably to build a nest on the cliff somewhere, and probably would not return until the next spring when the eggs were hatched. Qingtou realized then that it had been an omen all along.

The young eunuch named Zhao’er, whom Yang Zai’en had brought with him, used to serve the master at the Yongning Mansion, handling some of his personal affairs. He and Qingtou got along quite well. Only this little eunuch knew Qingtou’s secret feelings and sympathized with him deeply. These past few days, seeing Qingtou sighing and brooding with a gloomy face, he even tried to persuade him to follow his own example and take the path of a eunuch—saying that once you entered the eunuch’s gate, all the troubles of the heart would vanish. Yang Zai’en happened to overhear this and gave Zhao’er a good scolding. Later, while making idle conversation, he mentioned the matter to the mistress. The mistress felt sorry for Qingtou, but she knew it was too late, and besides, a forced melon is not sweet. To comfort him, she called him over and, right there and then, promoted him several ranks at once, making him Third Steward. But even this could not ease the sorrow in Qingtou’s heart. He himself suggested that he be sent to deliver the New Year’s gifts to Ashina Khan.

The journey to Ashina’s royal tent was no small undertaking—especially with ice and snow sealing the roads. Delivering the New Year’s gifts was by no means a pleasant errand. Once he departed, it would likely be two or three months at the earliest—until spring—before he could return. Xuyu couldn’t bear to see him suffer such a long, harsh journey, but he was adamant. She thought it might do him some good to get away for a while, rather than stay and watch Zhu’er’s wedding, which would only deepen his distress. And so, that very day, Qingtou led people, left behind the place of heartbreak, and set out for Beiting.

The days were shorter in winter. By the afternoon, not even four hours have passed, and the sky had already darkened, signaling the arrival of another long night.

Pei Xiaoyuan finished his border patrol and returned to the city in the snow. After separating from He Jin and others who were traveling with him, he returned to the Military Commissioner Mansion.

Every household in the city had already closed their doors, the streets were covered with snow, and not a single soul could be seen. He was also hungry, but thinking of her at home warmed his heart, prompting him to urge Jinwuzhui to run faster. Jinwuzhui took through the wind and snow, racing back home. The gatekeeper happily welcomed him in and said, “Madam thought you would be back in two days, but you came back early!”

Because it was the last border patrol before the New Year, this time he went quite far, taking almost half a month. After leaving the capital, it was the first time he was separated from her for such a long time. He didn’t feel anything when he was busy, but now that he returned to the city and entered the house, he suddenly felt overwhelming sense of longing and couldn’t wait to see her immediately. He handed Jinwuzhui to his attendant, stepped over the accumulated snow, passed through the front hall of the government office, and went straight to the living quarter in the back courtyard.

After finished preparing the New Year’s gifts during the day, Xuyu took a bath and sat by the warm stove, letting her hair dry. Feeling too lazy to comb it, she picked up a paintbrush and used it as a hairpin to tie her long black hair behind her head. Seeing that it was getting dark outside the window, she told the maids to go rest, and then she closed the door herself and prepared to spend this winter night with her son.

Xiao Hu’er was growing very fast. Now he could not only walk on his own, but also utter some simple syllables.

Xuyu treasured this child, who had been with her since he was in her womb—her firstborn son. Sometimes, when Qingtou wanted to hold the little master, she couldn’t help but worry he’d be too rough and might drop him, so she always had to give careful instructions before she felt reassured. Without He shi here, she couldn’t bear to have him sleep elsewhere at night, even though there were other trusted nursemaids around. Therefore, she had a small alcove set up in her room, with a little bed, so she could look after her son through the night. Recently, since Pei Xiaoyuan had gone away, she had simply taken to sleeping there with her son every night. After dismissing the maids, she would sit with him on the bed, laying out one by one the tiger-head hat, the little jacket, and the tiny shoes He shi had made for him.

Xiao Hu’er seemed to love the tiger-head hat at first sight—he grabbed it and wouldn’t let go. Xuyu placed the hat on his head, and it fit perfectly. He really did look like a little tiger—extremely cute and adorable. She couldn’t resist picking up his chubby arms and legs and giving them playful little bites, making “ah-woo, ah-woo” sounds. Little Tiger was quick to catch on; right away, he started making “ah-woo, ah-woo” noises of his own. After playing a while, Xuyu cradled her son in her arms and softly sang a lullaby. Nestled against the warm, fragrant softness of his mother’s chest, Xiao Hu’er’ eyelids slowly drooped until he fell fast asleep.

After Xuyu had lulled her son to sleep and settled him in for the night, she herself felt no trace of drowsiness. She moved to the table, lit the silver lamp, and picked up the half-finished painting she had been working on. Listening to the howling northern wind outside the window, her thoughts were scattered and preoccupied. Eventually, she put down her brush.

Just then, the voice of the maids Jiu’er and Luyu came from outside—it sounded as though someone had arrived. There came a soft but insistent knock on the door: thump, thump. She turned around, not to mention adding more clothes, she didn’t even have time to put on shoes. She dropped her brush, got off the bed barefoot and ran to open the door.

A sudden rush of icy wind swept in as she pulled the door open, and there in the doorway stood a tall figure wrapped in a heavy black fur cloak.

She cried out in surprise: “Why are you back tonight?”

Pei Xiaoyuan stepped inside, closed the door, blocking the maids behind him. Then, he picked her up, lifted her feet off the ground, leaned close to her face, and gave her cheek a heavy kiss.

He was covered with the chill of wind and snow, while she was dressed in light spring clothes. When her warm body pressed against him, the person shivered.

“Damn it! It’s my fault. Are you cold?” He realized this and, feeling guilty, hurried to set her down.

Unexpectedly, she hooked her arms around his neck and refused to go down.

He had no choice but to wrap his arms around her waist and hips again to prevent her from falling, saying, “My body is cold—” At this time, feeling her bare feet, he asked, “Why did you come out without shoes—”

Before he could finish his words, his mouth was already covered by the heat of her passionate kiss.

Because of the warm air in the room and the mingling of their breaths, the ice and snow that had settled on his hair and brows soon melted, turning into cold, wet droplets that trickled down his broad forehead, dampening her flushed, warm face.

“Does the Princess miss me?”

When their kiss finally broke, he lifted her in his arms and carried her back into the inner room, settling her on the edge of the bed. He crouched down, carefully helping her slip her feet into her shoes. As he raised his head, he gave her foot a teasing squeeze and asked in a low voice.

In private, aside from calling her “Hao’er,” he still liked to use this old title for her. No matter how much time had passed, no matter if her hair had turned white as snow, she would always be the little princess he had first met all those years ago.

Xuyu smiled without answering. He asked those questions over and over again, and after another round of pestering, he finally got her to admit it, and only then did he smile and stop.

She stood up and helped him take off his coat. Knowing that he returned early, he must not have had dinner yet. She also put on her clothes and was about to go out to ask someone to prepare him a meal, but she saw him sitting on the bed and starting to fiddle with their son. She hurried to stop him.

“Don’t! It will be difficult for him to fall asleep again if you wake him up now.” She knew her son’s habits well and said in a low voice.

However, her husband didn’t care: “It doesn’t matter. If he doesn’t want to sleep, I’ll coax him! I want to hear him call me Father.”

Before he left the city this time, his son could already walk by himself and call her “Mama”. Yet, no matter how he tried to coax him to say “Father,” Xiao Hu’er refused to open his golden mouth. Then, on the day of his departure, when she took their son to see him off, Xiao Hu’er suddenly blurted out “Father,” taking him by surprise and delight. These past days away, he had kept thinking of that moment over and over.

Seeing how stubbornly delighted he was, Xuyu just shook her head and let him be. She went out and told the servants to prepare a meal for him. When she returned, sure enough, Xiao Hu’er had been roused from sleep, and the two of them were already playing together. With his father’s encouragement, Xiao Hu’er was babbling “Father, Father” nonstop in his soft, baby voice. His father looked overjoyed.

“This child is extremely intelligent and has won my heart. He will become a great man in the future!” the father made such a judgment.

Xuyu glanced at him.

The praise was still in his ears. After he had eaten and bathed, night had deepened. Yet, no matter how much he tried to coax him, their son simply refused to sleep. But she had completely left her son to him and was now off to the side, absorbed in her painting. Pei Xiaoyuan couldn’t help but smile bitterly, feeling very regretful.

“Hao’er!” He began to call for help behind her.

Xuyu ignored it.

“Indulging a child makes him hard to manage—especially a firstborn son. Xiao Hu’er isn’t so young anymore; it’s time he learned to sleep on his own. Why not have a nursemaid take him tonight—”

“Nonsense! My child is still young! If he’s keeping you up, you can go sleep elsewhere tonight!” she shot back without even turning her head.

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