We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 394: Do Not See Me Off

When Xiao Mo returned to the Frost Prince Manor, it was already evening.

The setting sun fell, spilling across the entire world.

At the entrance of the Frost Prince Manor, a man who had changed out of his armor and into casual clothes sat on the steps, holding a wine jar.

Different from the manʼs appearance on the battlefield with his overwhelming blood qi, at this moment, having changed into ordinary clothes, the man looked like a common wealthy gentleman, or perhaps an ordinary martial artist.

”Youʼre back.”

Seeing Xiao Mo, Xiao Shi raised his head to take a drink of wine and smiled.

”Father.” Xiao Mo bowed in salute, then asked, ”Why is Father sitting at the entrance?”

”Naturally waiting for you,” Xiao Shi said with a smile, ”Are you free? How about we take a walk together?”

”If Father invites, of course I can,” Xiao Mo nodded.

”Then letʼs go.” Xiao Shi put down the wine jar, stood up, patted the dust off his body, and walked into the manor.
Xiao Mo followed beside Xiao Shi.

The two casually chatted about matters on the battlefield, exchanging some views.

Xiao Shi also asked what His Majesty had said to Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo answered truthfully, as there was nothing to hide.

After Xiao Shi heard the conversation between his son and His Majesty, he couldnʼt help but fall into brief silence, though he didnʼt say much more.

As the two walked, without realizing it, Xiao Mo discovered they were getting closer and closer to his motherʼs courtyard.

Xiao Mo glanced at his father beside him and found that his father seemed to have no intention of leaving.

Half an incense stickʼs time later, Xiao Mo and Xiao Shi arrived at Zhou Ruoxiʼs courtyard.

Although Zhou Ruoxi was now the mistress of the Xiao household, she still lived in this ordinary small courtyard.

Quite a few branch family members had urged Zhou Ruoxi to move into the Xiao Manorʼs main residence, saying this small courtyard wasnʼt worthy of Zhou Ruoxiʼs status but Zhou Ruoxi only smiled faintly, saying she was already used to it.

When Zhou Ruoxi saw her child return, a trace of joy flashed in her eyes. However, when Zhou Ruoxi saw the man beside Moʼer, her heart couldnʼt help but jump, and she quickly called out to Cuicui in the kitchen.

Zhou Ruoxi walked forward and curtsied, ”This concubine pays respects to the Prince.”

Cuicui also hastily stood behind her and bowed, ”This servant pays respects to the Prince.”

”There are no outsiders here. No need for such formality,” Xiao Shi said with a smile, ”Just now, Xiao Mo and I were strolling around the manor, and without realizing it, we ended up here. I hope weʼre not disturbing you?”

”...” Xiao Mo was momentarily speechless.

Just now, it had clearly been him leading the way, deliberately walking here.

Thinking of this, Xiao Mo raised his head and glanced at his father.

Could it be that Father felt awkward about coming to Motherʼs courtyard, so he specifically brought him along to ease the awkwardness?

”Of course not. Please sit, Prince,” Zhou Ruoxi invited Xiao Shi into the courtyard and said, ”Please wait a moment, Prince. This concubine will go prepare tea for you.”

”No need,” Xiao Shi shook his head and glanced at the kitchen, smelling the aroma of food wafting from it, ”Are you about to have dinner? Do you usually cook yourselves? Why not leave it to the servants?”

”This concubine usually has nothing else to do, so I cook with Cuicui together. After so many years, Iʼve gotten used to it,” Zhou Ruoxi answered, ”Itʼs already evening. If the Prince doesnʼt mind, would you like to stay for dinner together?”

”Since youʼve said so, Ruoxi, then I would be remiss to refuse,” Xiao Shi smiled and agreed.

”...” Zhou Ruoxi was stunned for a moment.

She had only asked out of politeness, but unexpectedly, the Prince actually agreed immediately...

”Please wait a moment, Prince. The food will be ready soon,” Coming back to her senses, Zhou Ruoxi curtsied again and hurriedly pulled Cuicui into the kitchen.

During the incense stickʼs time while Zhou Ruoxi was cooking, Xiao Shi stood up and slowly walked around the small courtyard, his gaze revealing calm and gentleness.

Soon, the food was ready.

In the courtyard, the family of three ate dinner.

This kind of family dinner with three people was Xiao Moʼs first time, giving him a rather unaccustomed feeling.

Xiao Mo asked Cuicui to sit down and eat together, but Cuicui kept shaking her head and refused no matter what.

Finally, it was only after Xiao Shi said something, telling her to sit down and eat together, that Cuicui nervously sat on the chair, taking small bites of the food.

After dinner, Xiao Mo sensed that his father seemed to want to say something to his mother, so he found an excuse and left with Cuicui.

After Xiao Mo and Cuicui left, only Xiao Shi and Zhou Ruoxi remained in the courtyard.

Zhou Ruoxiʼs expression appeared somewhat constrained.

After all, Xiao Shi had spent very little time with Xia Qingke before, let alone with Zhou Ruoxi.

Now that the two were alone, naturally it felt somewhat awkward.

”During this time, itʼs been hard on you,” Xiao Shi slowly spoke, ”I know that matters in the Xiao Manor are numerous, not to mention the trivial family matters of the branch families that still require your decisions.”

”No matter how hard this concubine works, itʼs not as hard as the Prince,” Zhou Ruoxi smiled and shook her head, ”Moreover, these are all things this concubine should do. However, only after becoming the mistress of the Xiao family did this concubine understand how difficult it was for the First Madam back then.”

”Youʼve all had it difficult,” Xiao Shi sighed, ”If not for all of you, with me constantly on campaign, who knows what chaos the household would have fallen into.”

Zhou Ruoxi turned her head, blinking as she looked at Xiao Shi and asked, ”Does the Prince have something to tell this concubine today?”

”I wouldnʼt say thereʼs anything in particular. Itʼs just that people, only at certain times, can see some things clearly.”

Xiao Shi took a sip of tea and breathed out deeply.

”The other concubines married me because of my power and status, and I gave them power and status, helping their fathers rise in the world, letting them live in glory and luxury, without worries about food and clothing but only you and Qingke make me truly feel guilty.

Qingke was the only daughter of the former Prime Minister Xia. She gave up the position of imperial consort to insist on marrying me, yet I might not see Qingke even once every two or three years.

And you were originally the daughter of a city lord, could have married a man of equal standing, but in the end I took you as a concubine, staying in this courtyard every day.

You two are different, yet very similar.

Youʼve never cared about glory, luxury, or power. You only wanted to live stable lives but I, of all things, am the one who cannot give you that.”

”The Prince speaks too seriously.”

Zhou Ruoxi gripped her dress and shook her head.

”This concubine was sent to the Prince by my father, not exactly taken by force. After coming to the Xiao Manor, although this concubine is a concubine, Iʼve never been mistreated. This concubine is already very content. Most importantly,” Zhou Ruoxi raised her head, looking outside the courtyard, ”After this concubine had Moʼer, Iʼve never felt lonely.”

”Sigh, itʼs precisely because you and Qingke have this kind of temperament that I donʼt know what to do even more...”

Xiao Shi sighed again, finished the tea in his cup, and stood up.

”Ruoxi, Iʼm leaving.

In the past when I left, I never said goodbye to you.

This time coming to your courtyard, itʼs both to chat with you and to bid you farewell one last time.”

”Is the Prince going on campaign?” Zhou Ruoxi stood up and asked.

Xiao Shi shook his head, ”Not on campaign. Rather, in a few days, I need to return to the Northern Frontier. This time returning to the Northern Frontier, Xiao Mo must go too. But donʼt worry, Xiao Mo will return soon.”

”Then when will the Prince return?” Zhou Ruoxi asked.

If it were before, Zhou Ruoxi wouldnʼt have asked this but somehow, at this moment in Zhou Ruoxiʼs heart, an indescribable worry arose.

Hearing his wifeʼs inquiry, he didnʼt answer. He only bent down and bowed deeply to his wife with a smile on his face.

Watching her husbandʼs bow, Zhou Ruoxiʼs eyes wavered, somewhat dazed.

This was the Qin Kingdomʼs final farewell rite between a man and his wife when leaving home.

Very ordinary but this was the first time.

”Do not see me off.”

Xiao Shi straightened up, turned, and left.

Zhou Ruoxi came to her senses and took a step forward with her embroidered-shoe-clad feet, but Xiao Shi had already gone far.