When Yu Chi Cheng came galloping on his white horse, I had already woken up in the carriage and finished my breakfast.
The carriage stopped for a moment, and then Yu Chi Cheng happily squeezed into it, holding a gray - furred hare in his hand.
"Here, I'll give you an extra treat for lunch today. How about roast rabbit? I spent ages catching this one this morning."
I saw the morning dew on his body. Thinking about how agile hares are on the boundless prairie, it's easy to shoot one but difficult to catch it alive. I couldn't help but feel touched.
But the gray hare was struggling in Yu Chi Cheng's hand at the moment. It was so furry and really pitiful. I felt sorry for it, so I said, "Rabbits are so cute. How could you eat it?"
Yu Chi Cheng wondered, "If we don't eat it, are we going to keep it all the way? No, no. Rabbits stink too much. It's not convenient in the carriage."
I retorted, "Why not? In the Great Yong Palace, my father kept a nest of rabbits for my mother."
Hearing this, Yu Chi Cheng laughed. He looked at me with bright eyes. "So Xi He hopes I'll also keep a nest of rabbits for you, just like your father did for your mother?"
Hearing this, my face blushed. I thought he was so naughty. I said, "Anyway, I don't care. I won't eat this rabbit."
Yu Chi Cheng sighed, "I knew it would be like this. So I caught it for you to play with."
After saying that, he stuffed the rabbit into my arms. The carriage door was closed, so we didn't have to worry about the rabbit running away. I took the rabbit and stroked its soft fur. Then I smiled and looked at him, asking, "Are we really going to keep the rabbit?"
Yu Chi Cheng said, "No, no. After you've had enough touching, I'll let it go. Wild rabbits are different from domestic ones. They're hard to raise."
I looked at him with a smile and praised, "I knew it. Brother Cheng is the best."
Yu Chi Cheng stayed with me in the carriage for a while and then got off to ride his horse. At noon, we reached a small town, so we finally didn't have to eat dry rations.
On the following journey, Yu Chi Cheng was afraid I would be bored, so he always tried his best to make me happy. The most spectacular thing was that once he rode his horse specially to take me to watch the setting sun over the long river. I was shocked by the magnificent scenery between heaven and earth. I stole a glance at the person behind me and felt extremely at ease.
More than a month passed quickly. Before long, we arrived at the imperial city of the Great Yong.
My father and mother heard that I was coming back and had been waiting at the second gate outside the palace early. As soon as my elder brother saw my carriage enter the first gate, he waved to me from afar, "Xi He, Xi He!"
At this time, the imperial guards of the Great Yong were standing neatly on both sides of the road. Looking at the familiar scenery in the palace and my father, mother and others waiting in front, I happily poked my head out and waved to them. It was really so familiar. I was back again. Yu Chi Cheng rode his horse beside my carriage. His handsome appearance on the horse immediately caught Xi Yao's attention. Xi Yao shouted, "Brother Yu Chi, you're here too!"
Yu Chi Cheng nodded slightly to her.
When we got closer and my carriage stopped, my elder brother couldn't wait to help me get off. "Xi He, you're finally back!" Yu Chi Cheng dismounted and went to greet my father and mother. "Uncle, I've brought Xi He back safely."
My father patted him on the shoulder and said, "You've had a hard journey." My mother just gave him a gentle smile and then came towards me. "My dear Xi He, you're finally back!"
As soon as my mother moved, Xi Yao and Zi Zhen surrounded me. Xi Yao said, "Second sister, was the Northern Cold fun?"
Zi Zhen said, "Second sister, Zi Zhen missed you."
I was just helped off the carriage by my elder brother when I was hugged by my mother, Xi Yao and Zi Zhen. I immediately felt the warmth of home. I laughed while being hugged by them. From afar, I saw my father and Yu Chi Cheng looking at me with smiles on their faces. I felt even happier and said, "The Northern Cold was really fun. I was happy every day there. I missed you all too!"
My mother let go of me and took my hand. "Mother has prepared delicious food for Xi He. Come on, let's go back to the palace first."
My elder brother couldn't help but say, "Mother is really so partial. Usually, no matter how I begged, mother never wanted to cook. But as soon as she heard that Xi He was coming back, she immediately prepared this and that. She's happier than during the New Year!"
Hearing this, I rubbed against my mother. "Mother is so nice! I love mother the most."
As we were talking, we had walked in front of my father. I called out "Father!" and then trotted two steps forward to hug him. My father immediately put his arm around me and stroked my head. "You naughty girl. You almost scared me to death before."
I looked up and coquettishly said, "Father, Xi He didn't do it on purpose."
My father sighed helplessly. "Alright, alright. It's good that you're back! After the welcome banquet, go back to your palace to freshen up and have a good rest."
I quickly nodded and then let go of him.
Our family walked in noisily, chatting and laughing. Seeing us chatting so cheerfully, my father asked the sedan chair prepared in advance to follow beside us in case we got tired.
Yu Chi Cheng walked beside my father and said, "Uncle, I have something to talk to you about Xi He."
My father looked gentle, but he said, "We'll talk about this another day. You've come a long way. You must be tired. Go back to the palace and rest first."
Yu Chi Cheng had no choice but to nod and stop talking.
Hearing this, I looked at Yu Chi Cheng, but he gave me a reassuring look.
I then withdrew my gaze and continued to talk to Xi Yao and Zi Zhen who were around me. Maybe because I had been away from the Great Yong for too long, as soon as I came back, everyone's attention was on me. No one cared about Yu Chi Cheng who came back with me. At this moment, he was walking quietly beside us alone, as if he had been left out.
When we returned to the palace, it was just about the time when the sun was about to set. The afterglow of the setting sun stretched our connected shadows long. Only Yu Chi Cheng was alone. I couldn't help but steal a glance at him. I saw his tall figure covered in golden light. His straight posture looked solemn and noble, just like a solitary god, extremely beautiful yet lonely.
It was natural for him to feel lonely when he came to the Great Yong alone. Fortunately, during the welcome banquet prepared by mother, everyone took good care of him. In front of so many people, I was naturally too shy to talk to him too much. He didn't mind either. Only occasionally when our eyes met, we would quickly look away, as if we were telling each other our secrets.
After the welcome banquet, because my father and mother hadn't seen me for a long time, they accompanied me all the way back to the Twin - Born Hall. Xi Yao and Zi Zhen originally wanted to stay in the Twin - Born Hall to play, but my father was afraid I would be tired, so he said goodbye to me early and took them back to the Cypress - Perching Palace. The huge Twin - Born Hall immediately changed from being lively to being peaceful as usual.
After everyone left, my elder brother said to me, "Xi He, why did that kid from the Yu Chi family come too? I just saw you looking at him all the time. Did he bully you on the way?"