Chapter 617: Gratitude
After getting off the horse, Qi Haoran threw the reins to Fei Bai with a dark expression. Fei Bai hurriedly turned around and stuffed the reins to Xiao Ting while he followed fearfully.
Qi Haoran quickly walked to the main courtyard and stopped at the door. Seeing him try his best to put on a smile, Fei Bai said in a sobbing voice, “Master, you might as well not smile.”
Qi Haoran glared at him and stood at the entrance of the courtyard for a long time. In the end, he still forced a smile and entered. As soon as he entered, he went straight to the sun-facing east wing where two rooms were combined into one. Mu Yangling and the child were indeed here. The kid was still running around the house sweating profusely and waving the wooden sword in his hands.
Seeing his father enter, Little Bear waved his wooden sword and charged at him. Qi Haoran dodged his sword and lifted him up, then said with a smile, “Brat, you’re so capable now. You even know how to use a sword.”
Mu Yangling said with a smile, “How would he know how to use a sword? The kid is just playing around. You can teach him martial arts when he’s a few years older. Didn’t you say that you started practicing martial arts when you were three years old?”
Qi Haoran saw that Mu Yangling was smiling and her smile was not as forced as a few days ago. He was happy, but on the surface, he still said carefully, “Indeed. Shall we also teach him martial arts when he turns three?”
“Yes, you can teach him when the time comes. This child is gradually getting stronger. I plan to teach him how to use his own strength first.”
Seeing that Mu Yangling’s expression was calm, Qi Haoran heaved a sigh of relief. He didn’t mind that his son was too warm and directly carried him to sit beside her. He said with an ingratiating smile, “I remember you used to say that you used to knead small stones and mud to learn mastery over your strength. I’ll get someone to prepare these things later.”
Mu Yangling nodded.
Seeing that her expression was calm and her eyes were gentle, Qi Haoran reached out to hold her hand and slowly caressed the calluses in her palm. “Why are you in such a good mood today?”
Mu Yangling glared at him and said, “When have I not been like this? You’re thinking too much.” After a pause, Mu Yangling asked, “Why? Is it not good for me to be like this?”
Qi Haoran hurriedly nodded and said with a foolish grin, “I mean, this is great.”
Seeing his dazed look, Mu Yangling couldn’t help but be amused. Seeing that his wife was happy, Qi Haoran also laughed joyfully. However, the Little Bear in his arms was furious as he couldn’t break free from his father’s arms no matter how hard he struggled. Seeing that his parents only cared about talking to each other and ignored him no matter how much he shouted, Little Bear let out an angry growl and smacked his father’s face.
The couple was stunned by the loudness of the slap. Feeling his face turn slightly numb, Qi Haoran touched the right side of his face. Mu Yangling saw that Qi Haoran’s face was rapidly turning red, and soon a small handprint appeared.
Little Bear took the opportunity to break free from Qi Haoran’s embrace and cried angrily. From time to time, it would look at Mu Yangling with tears in his eyes and complain with babyish noises.
Qi Haoran asked in a daze, “What did he say?”
Mu Yangling quickly went forward and pulled Little Bear over. “He said that you’re too hot, causing him to sweat all over. He’s uncomfortable.” Mu Yangling touched the child’s back clothes and realized that he was drenched in sweat.
Only then did Qi Haoran realize that his chest was also wet. Realizing how much the child had sweated just now, he felt a little apologetic and hurriedly said, “I’ll get someone to get hot water to wash him and call the imperial physician over to check on him lest he falls sick, given Qiannan’s hot and stuffy climate. He’s sweating too much.”
After taking a shower, Little Bear was changed into dry clothes and finally felt comfortable. At this moment, he did not pester anyone. Seated on the couch, he saw his father taking a seat upon the couch with his wet hair. He got up and walked to his side, then touched his face with his small hand and kissed the cheek that he had slapped. Soon, Qi Haoran’s face was covered in saliva.
Qi Haoran’s face flushed red, but his heart was filled with warmth. He carried his son and placed him on his knees. “It doesn’t hurt. If you’re not feeling well next time, just punch me.”
When Mu Yangling came over with a dry towel and heard this, she couldn’t help but push him and chided, “What nonsense are you spouting? You’re leading the child astray.”
As she wiped Qi Haoran’s hair dry, she said to her son, “Since you’re strong, you shouldn’t casually hit people in the future, understand? I’ll teach you how to control your strength later.”
Nobody knew if Little Bear understood her words, but he kept nodding hard.
Qi Haoran, who was carrying his son, was a little worried. He asked in a low voice, “Why isn’t he able to speak yet? He’s already one and a half years old and will turn two after the new year.” If one were to consider his nominal age, the child would already be three years old this year.
Mu Yangling had never raised a child, but she had been asking around to see what it was like for other children. When she heard this, she said, “Boys tend to start speaking later. It’s common for them to speak after turning one or two. The imperial physician also said that there’s no problem.”
Qi Haoran nodded.
Little Bear suddenly pushed his father’s hand away and climbed onto the couch to play with his oys. Qi Haoran blinked and pinched his ear. “Why are you suddenly unhappy?”
Seeing this, Mu Yangling fell into deep thought.
At night, after the couple coaxed the child to sleep, Mu Yangling said in a low voice, “In the future, don’t criticize your son in his presence. Although the child is young, he might understand what you’re saying. We have to praise him more.”
Qi Haoran nodded. Seeing that Mu Yangling had turned around to sleep, he could not help but ask, “Did Zijin come today?”
“Yes.” Mu Yangling yawned and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Qi Haoran said with a sour expression, “Did you think it through because he persuaded you?”
Not noticing the jealous look on Qi Haoran’s face, Mu Yangling nodded and said, “Yeah.”
Qi Haoran’s heart seemed to be soaked in jealousy as he muttered, “Why did you heed his words and not mine?”
Mu Yangling had undergone a rollercoaster of emotions today and had made up her mind to treat Qi Haoran well and protect this family. Hence, she was extremely sleepy. At this moment, she was drifting off to la-la land, so she did not hear Qi Haoran’s muttering. She only said subconsciously, “He said that you’re good to me. I’ve also thought it through. As long as we work hard, I’m sure we’ll have a good life together.”
Qi Haoran muttered unhappily, “Do you really need someone else to tell you how good I am to you…” Turning around, he saw that Mu Yangling had already closed her eyes and was sleeping soundly. He pulled her into his embrace and found a comfortable position to fall asleep.
Although he complained, he was actually grateful to Fan Zijin. Hence, for the next few days, whenever Qi Haoran appeared in front of Fan Zijin, he would not be stingy with his smiles. Knowing that Fan Zijin did not have a good appetite and that the food in the military was rough, he specially asked Fei Bai to specially buy lunch from a restaurant in the city and send it to Fan Zijin.
After eating for a few days, Fan Zijin could not help but ask one day, “Where did your master get the money?”
Xiao Ting, who came to deliver the food, was stunned when he heard this. He immediately replied, “Young Master Zijin, don’t worry. Our master gave me his own silver and didn’t charge it on the public account.”
“Mm, does your master have private savings?” Fan Zijin asked curiously.
“No, but our master paid for the restaurant food with the monthly allowance he just received this month. He said that Young Master Zijin’s stomach is not good. The food in the army is rough and doesn’t digest easily…”
“Alright.” Fan Zijin waved his hand to interrupt him. “I understand. You can leave.”
Knowing that Qi Haoran spent money freely and he did not have much monthly allowance, Fan Zijin wondered if he should find an excuse to send some money to him. Later on, he thought about it. This kid had not been soft-hearted when asking him for money on official matters recently. If on top of that he gave him money privately, Qi Haoran might ask for even more money for the official matters.
Fan Zijin suppressed his thoughts and decided to let Qi Haoran suffer a little for now.
However, Xiao Ting’s face was bitter, not knowing what he had said wrong. When he came back and told Fei Bai about that conversation, he was scolded. When he returned home dejectedly, he bumped into Rain, who was in the Princess Consort’s room.
Rain asked, “What’s wrong with you? You didn’t do your job well and were reprimanded?”
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