I smiled at him for some reason.

This smile, the face, which had been stiff for a long time but had not been expressed, and even the smile was almost impossible to make it.

Only then did I realize that I was just crying.

But now, all the tears have been blown dry, and there is no trace left. All that is left is his stiff smile now.

He said softly, "What's wrong with you?"

I reached out and stroked my tight face, and then smiled and said, "It's okay."

"It's really okay?"

"fine."

He looked at me for a while, reached out and touched my cheek gently. He felt the tightness and stiffness. His fingers paused, and repeated his question: "It's really okay?"

“…”

I lowered my head and avoided his gaze. I was silent for a while. I didn't answer his question. I just asked, "Are we going to pick up Li'er?"

"……Yes."

"good."

I stood up slowly while holding the edge of the couch. He reached out and held my arm. The two of them looked at each other, but they didn't say anything. They walked out in silence.

After the vernal equinox, the daytime became longer and longer. Even at the Youth hour, the sky was clear. We sat in the carriage and listened silently to the pier as the monotonous sound of the wheels bumping. Looking around, the bright sunshine shone on the boundless Yangtze River. The breeze rose and the waves rose and floated. The clear river water reflected the sunlight reflected thousands of dazzling lights, as if a gorgeous galaxy was standing in front of us.

The wind, which swept the water from the middle of the river, also blew on our cheeks.

But at this time, I couldn't feel the coolness and moistness at all, just looking at the other end of the Yangtze River.

No ship crosses the river yet.

Why not come back?

Where did they go? After playing for so long, did they forget the time, or—

As if feeling the anxiety in my heart, Pei Yuanxiu gently took my hand and said softly: "Don't be anxious, it's not time yet."

I looked up at him.

"Li'er follows him-no matter what, nothing will happen."

“…”

"Don't worry."

“…”

I bit my lower lip and nodded slightly.

Of course, I also know that Li'er will not get into trouble with that man. After all, he is the Supreme Lord of Jiuwu. The guards around him are only a lot more than we came to Jiangnan. Besides, Yangzhou is his own territory, so there is not much danger to speak of. I also know that this is the first time that their father and daughter have truly reunited in so many years. Li'er may not know the reason, but I can imagine that from the fact that he would get off the boat to see Li'er yesterday, he could feel his almost impulsive fatherly love and desire for this daughter.

None of these are what I worry about.

What I am really worried about is what if he refuses to return Li'er to me?

Li'er is his biological daughter and a royal princess. A man like him will never let his bones fall out. Otherwise, he would not have sent troops to Jiangnan for those years, and this time he would not have risked his life to Jinling to see his daughter. If so—

I dare not imagine what will happen!

I dare not guess whether this matter will become the prelude to a complete confrontation between the north and the south, or even the war!

Thinking of this, my cold sweat came out, and Pei Yuanxiu, who was holding my hand, immediately felt a coldness in his palm. He looked down at me, but did not comfort me anymore. After all, any verbal comfort at this time was empty, and he only accompanied me and looked at the other end of Jiang Liu.

Time passes by little by little.

My anxiety is getting heavier and heavier.

I began to regret it.

Do I trust him too much, believe that he will not imprison Li'er, and believe that he will not bear to let us separate again?

What if he goes back on his word? What if he takes Li'er away like this? Although it is impossible to say who robs who is weak on the Jiangnan and Jiangbei now, Li'er is just an ignorant little girl after all. If he wants to imprison Li'er, just like imprisoning me, then Li'er will never be able to return to me again!

What if he really does this?

Thinking of this, my tears almost began to spin in my eyes, and the starry-toned Jiang Liu in front of me was completely blurred by tears.

And just like the tears surging in my eyes, I suddenly saw a small black shadow appearing on the other side of the river, slowly bumping with the ups and downs of the river.

That's-

I suddenly opened my eyes wide and held my breath. Pei Yuanxiu, who was holding my hand, immediately grabbed my hand and whispered: "Qingying, look!"

I opened my eyes wide and didn't even dare to blink, for fear that in the blink of an eye, the black shadow would be swallowed by the river and disappear into the tears in my eyes. And just like that, I watched it grow bigger and closer little by little, and I could even hear the loud horns of the boatmen on the bow, the exquisite carvings of the hull, the snow-white waves aroused when riding the wind and waves!

As the boat got closer and closer, my heartbeat became more and more intense. In the end, I was almost unable to breathe.

And the figure on the bow of the boat that waved at us vigorously had clearly come into my eyes.

It’s Li’er! It’s Li’er!

I looked at the ship in ecstasy, looked at the small figure, subconsciously reached out and hugged Pei Yuanxiu's arm, choked so hard that he couldn't speak. He was very calm, and just smiled and patted the back of my hand, saying, "Look at you, you look like a child than Li'er."

I couldn't speak, so I could only bit my lower lip desperately, and watched as the ship finally docked on the dock.

Pei Yuanxiu walked over with me and saw Li'er happily walking down the boat. His little face was flushed and he smiled like a blooming flower. When he saw us, he immediately ran over happily: "Mom! Dad!"

I squatted down and carried her into my arms.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content later! That soft and soft little body exuding a boiling hot body temperature. When I hugged her into my arms, all my fear and anxiety were dispelled by her breath and body temperature. I seemed to have a complete soul and world. Only at this moment can I feel a trace of tranquility and a long-lost heartbeat.

My Li'er, she is back!

A tear slid from the corner of her eyes, but immediately sank into her black hair and disappeared in an instant.

Anyway, she came back and my daughter was not taken away. It was so nice!

Although I was hugging me, Li'er's mood was obviously different from mine. She probably wouldn't understand what kind of torture her mother had suffered just now. When she heard her silver bell-like laughter ringing in her ears, my previous sadness and fear also disappeared at this moment. In a place where she couldn't see, she reached out and gently wiped the corners of her wet eyes.

When I looked up, I saw the boat that was still surging slowly with the river.

Pei Yuanhao stood at the bow of the boat and looked at us calmly.

I know that he can see everything very clearly and easily see through people's hearts. So just now, my tears may have been hidden from many people, but they cannot hide from him.

My fear was beyond his eyes.

But he just looked so far away, looking calmly. Although the river flowed under his feet, his eyes were as calm as there was no trace of turbulence.

At this time, Pei Yuanxiu gently held my arm, helped me up, then lowered his head and said to Li'er, "Why did you come back so late? Do you know how worried your mother is about you?"

When Li'er heard this, she was a little timid and had no explanation.

In fact, she did not exceed the time she had agreed upon before, but she just couldn't see her. Every minute and every moment were too much torment for me.

At this moment, a few more people walked down from the boat in front, but Wu Yanqiu came over with a few servants, and the servants were all holding tall brocade boxes in their hands.

That's-

When I saw it, I frowned.

So, he looked down at Li'er, and he was already a little stern as he spoke: "Li'er, what's going on?"

Li'er opened her eyes wide and looked at her, as if she was scared and did not answer me immediately.

I said, "Did you forget what your mother taught you?"

“…”

"How can you get someone to buy you so many things?"

"Mom, I--"

Li'er was anxious to explain, but she seemed to not know how to explain, and her little face suddenly turned red. At this time, Wu Yanqiu walked up to us, bowed and said with a smile: "Madam, don't misunderstand Miss Li, these were not bought by Miss Li for the owner."

"..." I looked at him with a frown.

"These were bought by the owner himself. They were originally given to Miss Li, but Miss Li kept remembering her wife's teachings and refused to accept these gifts, so the officials now bring them and handed them over to the wife and the young master."

“…”

"Please accept it for both of you."

“…”

For a moment, I looked at his smiling face in silence, and then looked at the brocade boxes piled up in the hands of the servants, not knowing how to deal with it.

What is gratifying is that Li'er has always followed my teachings. When a girl is away, no matter how much she likes something, or is poor, she cannot receive money without merit, and asks casually or accepts gifts from others. After all, this will have a lot to do with her life and feelings in the future. I hope she will be a reserved, even precious girl in the future, and will not think that it is a great favor just because of any material gift or emotional gift from anyone.

But--

I frowned slightly and looked at the brocade boxes.

These are gifts from a father.

But there is another "father" in the distance, next to him.

Thinking of this, I turned my head and looked at Pei Yuanxiu who had been standing beside me. At this moment, he was slowly raising his head and looking at the mountains of brocade boxes.
Chapter completed!