"…" That was likely. Powerlessness and dejection swelled in Feng Qingbai's heart. He bowed and searched for the woman's lips. "Hmm, I won't stay too long. Just the span of a kiss. Okay?"
"Feng Qingbai…" Liu Yusheng's legs went limp at once.
The man seized her lips, gently nibbled, licked, and sucked. Their breathing intertwined and gradually turned rapid, their hearts thumping faster.
The temperature in the air started to rise…
The young girl opened her lips to welcome his plunder. Feng Qingbai was about to taste deeper when a knock sounded on the door.
"Nannan? Nannan, are you asleep?"
Liu Yusheng froze and immediately pushed the man away.
Feng Qingbai, "…"
After calming her breath, Liu Yusheng replied, "Second aunt, I'm about to sleep. What's the matter?"
"I'll sleep with you tonight. You've been away for so long. I'll have a chat with you."
"Huh? Oh, okay! Auntie, please wait. I'll light the lamp first." Liu Yusheng was flustered. She nimbly pushed the man towards the window. "Get out! Hurry up! Don't get caught!"
"…" Feng Qingbai wanted to hit someone.
They obviously loved each other, but this outcome made it look like they were having an affair!
It gave him the impulse to take a stand right this minute, but with his little girl panicking, he just regarded her and then his heart melted. How could he embarrass her?
The dignified regent escaped through the window and left like a thief.
He thought he was depressed enough, but lo, when he reached the second courtyard, a surprise was waiting for him.
His future father-in-law and second uncle Liu were tapping on the door of his room.
"Uncles, my uncle should have fallen asleep. He must be bone-weary from the long journey home these days. It's difficult for Uncle to awaken once he falls asleep." A boy stood in their way beside the door.
"Can such a loud rap on the door not even wake him up? How deep must he be sleeping!"
"He's dead beat. How can he hear it? He's probably even motionless!"
"You also traveled a long distance together. Why can't I see that you're exhausted?" He was alive and kicking till now and still has the energy to stop them!
Feng Mohan paused, "My little uncle is getting older…"
Feng Qingbai fiercely pinched his brows. He flew twice again and jumped into his room from the back window.
He untied his coat, threw it on the bed, smoothly flipped the neatly iterated quilt, and walked out to open the door.
"Uncle Liu, what do you want from me this late?" The room door babbled open, and Feng Qingbai stood inside in his white clothes. At first glance under the moonlight, he looked sleepy.
Liu Da suspiciously sized the man up and down. Liu Erlin even directly probed toward the room to check. "Were you sleeping? Really asleep?"
Feng Qingbai nodded.
"I'll sleep with you tonight." Liu Dalin was about to enter the room when Feng Qingbai blocked him.
"Uncle Liu, I'm not used to sleeping with others." The comforter was cold, and a fool could tell that there was no one there at all.
"Then you sleep alone, and I'll sit next to you."
Liu Erlin immediately took a stand, "Brother, I'll accompany you for a chat tonight!"
"Uncle Liu is an elder. How can I sleep and let you guys sit overnight?" Feng Qingbai felt helpless, then said, "How about this? You sleep together with Mo Feng. His room is next door. If Uncle Liu isn't at ease at night, you can also come here and tuck the quilt for me."
Mo Feng, who was shot while lying down, "…" It's over. Uncle must have heard when I said he's getting older. This is revenge.
The two Lius, "…" Was this kid careless or intentional? Did he realize that they were here to keep an eye on him? And what reason did he give, tuck him in? Why did it sound so absurd?
But they all knew that this kid disliked sleeping with others since childhood. They shouldn't make it difficult for him. Sleeping next door was fine, as long as they could keep an eye on him!
This night, Feng Mohan was pitifully squeezed into the corner of the bed. Imperial Uncle knew full well that he was also used to sleeping alone since childhood and had never squeezed into a bed with another person. He was dead sure that this was retaliation. It was too much! Feng Mohan was brimming with resentment until he fell asleep. In his dreams, he dreamed that he was crying and shouting his grievances.
Early in the morning, the noise of people in the courtyard broke the silence.
Grandma Liu got up early in the morning and prepared the joss sticks and paper money. Together with Chen Xiulan Du Juan, they kept busy with the offerings for worship.
When everything was ready, she went to the second courtyard to call Feng Qingbai to get up.
Feng Qingbai would go and pay respect to his mother today.
Liu Yusheng also tagged along. He didn't return for so many years, so he must have missed his mother deep inside. However, he couldn't come out of his free will and couldn't even return to pay his respects.
Whenever the Qingming Festival arrived, he stood alone in the cold imperial palace. Did he suffer in his heart?
On the way to the cemetery, they met many villagers along the road. Grandma Liu explained that they were going to pay her respects to their ancestors, so that they could bless the family with all the peace and prosperity, and rounded off the matter.
It was still the same hillside.
Behind the mountain was still a lonely tomb.
Because of the passage of time, the grave should have collapsed, then it was piled up with dirt and well maintained.
The grave was cleaned up very well. Weeds on the grave were cut off, and then only short weeds grew. An open space in front of the grave was cleared out for burning joss sticks and paper money. There was also some paper money scattered there after the previous rituals.
Feng Qingbai clenched his fists, wordless gratitude surging in his heart.
In the years he was away, the Liu family has been helping him to worship his mother and did his share of filial piety on his behalf.
They never left her alone and even when nobody came to offer her incense.
Feng Mohan followed behind without speaking all the way. The atmosphere was already bleak for worshiping ancestors.
It was so bleak that deterred people from laughing or relaxing.
When he saw the simple and humble grave, a sourness inexplicably welled up in his heart, and he thought of his parents.
They were the royal family, and after their death, they had a place in the imperial tomb.
Every year, the royal family would pay tribute to their ancestors. He would bring a full court of civil servants to offer incense to them and recite inscriptions on memorials, thus proving that their descendants remembered them.
But as a member of the same royal family, his uncle's mother could only lie here alone, like a lonely ghost. Her name wasn't cleared until her death.
Perhaps for fear of reprisals, even a tombstone wasn't erected.
Imperial Uncle must be suffering deep inside.
Perhaps even worse than him.
Under such comparison, leaving aside his uncle's harsh coldness to him, he actually felt somewhat sorry for him.
After placing the offerings one by one in front of the grave, lighting the incense and candles, and pouring a cup of wine, Grandma Liu looked at the small grave mound before her and sighed.
Wanrong, Axiu is back. This child we haven't seen for nine years has grown into an adult.
He grew up well, handsome, and tall. His eyes look especially like you, steady and sensible.
Everything is going well for him, so you can rest in peace under the nine springs.
Feng Qingbai walked to the front of the curtain, lifted the hem of his coat, and slowly kneeled. Seeing this, Feng Mohan also walked beside him and kneeled.
Here in Xinghua Village, he wasn't the emperor. He was just Feng Qingbai's nephew.
A half-grown, naive little boy.
This kowtow was not to please, nothing else.
It was his respect for a mother.
Respect for a mother who willingly left behind wealth and glory for her child.