CHAPTER 237: CHAPTER 158: IT ENDS AS IT BEGAN

Because of guessing lantern riddles, the ever-competitive father was won over by mother, a petite woman, time and again.

At that time, mother was wearing a mask, and naturally, so was father.

But even so, he was still drawn to the beautiful eyes beneath the mask.

Watching her leave with the reward from guessing the lantern riddles, he followed all the way, seeing her release a lotus lantern by the riverside, and then he ordered someone to buy an identical one...

Ill-fated love.

They’re all ill-fated love.

Whether it was the Grandmaster or Aunt Ashi, they only had these two words whenever they talked about them.

Yelyu Lie told this piece of old history to his little dear.

Yun Chunnuan suddenly understood, "Mother started this way... then ended this way..."

This was not a question, but a certainty.

She understood why the Barbarian General suddenly cried like a child.

She gently elevated her tiptoes, wiping away the tears on his face, "Husband, shall we go tomorrow night to send mother off, okay?"

He didn’t answer, but suddenly embraced her.

Bending down, burying his face at the crook of her neck.

The tall figure trembled as if a snowy mountain were collapsing, yet he exerted all his effort to restrain himself, not making any sound.

Yun Chunnuan gently stroked his back, "Let them out, I won’t make fun of you."

Suppressing sobs came intermittently.

The first time seeing him like this, Yun Chunnuan felt a pang in her heart.

"No..." not knowing how long they cried, his voice still quivering, "Not send... mother, I don’t want to... but I..."

"Then, shall we from afar see her off, okay?"

He cried, and she couldn’t hold it anymore, with a soft nasal voice.

"Not saying goodbye, we’ll also wear masks, so others won’t notice, just... just from afar..."

A single ’goodbye’ made him crumble again.

When will the farewell be?

Nobody knows.

Where Nanqi is as mentioned by the future mother-in-law, no one knows either.

Farther than Great Xia, it would take at least two months to visit...

The small countries around Bianliao were all eyeing, and afar there was a Great Xia, constantly watching her husband’s every move.

He cannot leave.

Not mentioning ten or eight years, at least for three or five years, truly she won’t see him.

Even she couldn’t bear parting after just a month together, let alone his mother who’s given birth to and raised him...

"Nuannuan, I... did wrong..." His choked voice echoed by her ear, "Only till this moment have I realized the feeling of longing for parents in your dreams. I once thought I could make up for it with all my might, but..."

Parents were something Yun Chunnuan dared not touch for a long time.

She yearned for the parents, grandparents, everyone she dearly loved from that world.

But she could never go back.

Thinking brought no use, nor could anyone understand that feeling of never returning, never meeting again...

If it were usual, right now Yun Chunnuan would have long been crying heartily in the Barbarian General’s arms.

But seeing him this vulnerable, she had to stay strong.

She slightly tilted her head, blinking.

Tears disobediently flowed along the reddened margins of her eyes into her hair, yet she smiled and said, "So, husband is happier than me then. Mother may have left, but we can still go to see her, let’s not be sad then.

After the fifteenth passes, I plan to first lease a shop, then head to Lower Street to hire some workers, then that piece of grassland... hmm!"

Her plump lips were suddenly sealed with a scorching kiss.

She tasted the salt of tears but didn’t reject his frenzied kisses...

*

On the fifteenth of the first month, the entire Royal City was an expanse of glowing trees and silver flowers, with no corner unadorned by lanterns lighting up the streets.

Magnificent carriages and horses flowed back and forth on the roads, and bustling crowds intermingled.

Even the city gates, usually shut tight during curfew hours, were opened at this time.

In the city were not only the people of Bianliao but also foreigners from neighboring countries.

Everyone’s face carried a mask, yet it couldn’t hide the visible smiles and cheer from their eyes.

And among them, two individuals weren’t stopping at any lantern display or standing to watch dazzling acrobatic performances, heading straight for the Datong River’s meeting point between the main street and Upper Street.

By the riverside, many held Kongming lanterns, writing wishes upon them, watching them ascend into the sky, as if carrying their dreams, soaring higher and higher.

In the river, there were lotus lanterns released by little couples, drifting along the stream, not knowing where they’d end up.

"Husband!"

Just then, Yun Chunnuan suddenly grabbed the Barbarian General’s hand.

Realizing her voice was somewhat loud, she quickly lowered it and said, "Across the river, in the southwest corner, is mother with the King?"