Chapter 1428 - 774: Nursing (Double Chapter) (2)

"I was deceiving you all, and indeed I succeeded."

"Between you and me, there's no need for such trickery," Chen Yi said softly, "A Lord who is not discreet loses his ministers."

Qin Qingluo also said in a soft tone, "A minister not discreet loses themselves."

..............

Early the next morning, the sky had not yet fully brightened, and a hazy light filtered through the window paper.

The bed still held a lingering warmth, carrying the scent of last night's entanglement.

Chen Yi turned over on the bed, subconsciously reaching out beside him, only to find it empty.

He opened his eyes and turned his head.

Qin Qingluo had already gotten up.

She sat with her back to the bed, in front of the dressing table, dressed in her usual attire with a leather belt around her waist, outlining a graceful figure. Her long hair cascaded down her back like an ink waterfall, and she was carefully combing her hair with a rhinoceros horn comb. The mirror reflected half of her face, focused and calm, with the laziness and occasional softness of the night having faded away, restoring her usual solemnity.

Chen Yi didn't make a sound, just lay there on his side, quietly watching her.

The morning light streamed through the window lattice, casting a golden edge on her hair and shoulders. The sound of the comb passing through her hair seemed to soften his heart, yet inevitably made him feel a sense of melancholy.

In two or three days, he would be setting off to head north to the Western Jin.

This journey would take him thousands of miles away, with an uncertain future and unknown return date...

Just as his thoughts began to drift, a series of young calls came from outside the room.

"Daddy, Daddy! Yue'er, Yue'er is looking for Daddy!"

Footsteps pitter-pattered towards the door, followed by a rapid knocking, the little one energetically banging on the door.

Qin Qingluo paused in her actions, glanced at Chen Yi, and he hurriedly put on his pants and a shirt, then the graceful woman slowly got up and opened the door.

A large shadow loomed from above, Qin Yue hesitated for a moment, paused, then slowly withdrew her hand from knocking, interlocking her fingers in front of her stomach.

"Why are you making such noise so early in the morning?"

Qin Yue shrank her neck, seemingly guilty, but the little one didn't back down. She was quite aggrieved, and after a moment, mumbled, "Mom said... Daddy is leaving, Yue'er, Yue'er wants to see Daddy."

Seeing her daughter like this, Qin Qingluo's eyes softened slightly, she sighed lightly, and moved aside,

"Come in."

As soon as she crossed the threshold and saw Chen Yi sitting on the bed, Qin Yue quickly ran over and threw herself into his arms.

"Yue'er... what's wrong?"

She hugged tightly, and Chen Yi gently patted her little head.

"Daddy, Daddy don't go..."

Qin Yue's eyes trembled, and tears flowed like a breached dam,

"Yue'er doesn't want Daddy to leave!"

Hearing this, Chen Yi's emotions were mixed, he smiled repeatedly, but couldn't find the words to say, so he could only keep patting her head. But the more he did that, the tighter Qin Yue held on, afraid that if she let go, Daddy would disappear.

After a good while, Chen Yi felt his chest already half-wet, Qin Yue's crying gradually quieted, seeming to calm down a bit. Chen Yi lifted her up so she could stand on his thigh and gently said:

"Daddy isn't leaving, Daddy is just going on a trip, you know?"

"A trip?" The little one wasn't quite sure what that meant.

"Daddy is going to another place to play, and will be back soon." Chen Yi coaxed, thought for a bit, and in a compensatory tone, added: "Is there anything Yue'er wishes for, anything she wants, Daddy will get it for you, okay? Just let Daddy go on the trip."

As he said this, Qin Yue's tears stopped, she tilted her head and looked at Chen Yi.

Her daughter's round eyes were full of liveliness, with long eyelashes still wet with tears, it was unclear what she was thinking, as she pursed her little mouth again and again.

Chen Yi waited patiently, looking at her adorable appearance, his heart softened to a puddle.

Yet Qin Yue still didn't move, contemplating for a long while, and Chen Yi was endlessly puzzled, he suddenly recalled a previous promise. Wondering if by analogy, Qin Yue wanted him to call her Daddy in return?

Small children have selective memories, perhaps she just remembered? Even if she did, he certainly wouldn't agree, and would have to break his promise.

While Chen Yi was thinking about how to handle this, Qin Yue seemed to have finished thinking, her little face was a bit nervous, her chubby little hand reached out and tugged at his clothing.

"Daddy, shirt off, off."

"Huh?" Chen Yi was startled, not quite understanding, but he still took off his shirt, "Yue'er, be good, it's fine as long as you don't cry."

"Okay, okay, not crying." Qin Yue nodded.

A warmth spread in Chen Yi's heart, Qin Yue, though so small, was surprisingly understanding. He couldn't help but hold Qin Yue a bit closer,

"My Yue'er is so good and filial."

"Yes, yes, Yue'er is the best, the most filial."

Qin Yue leaned her little head forward, lowered her gaze, no longer looking at him, her eyes gradually focused on one point.

Then, she opened her mouth wide and bit down.

"Yes, Yue'er is the best, the most filial... Whoa!"

...............

Walking through the flower garden path, past the veranda, rows of extinguished lanterns hung on either side, still exuding grandeur. Chen Yi glanced sideways at the sight of the Prince Mansion, feeling reluctant to leave.

Leaving inevitably brings sorrow, but Chen Yi inadvertently thought that when he left the Capital City he felt sad, leaving Yin Sword Mountain he also felt sad, and now leaving the Prince Mansion he still felt sad... He suddenly felt deeply guilty, having no choice but to sigh to himself.

A sharp twinge came from his chest.

"Damn, it's really damn..."

Chen Yi kept rubbing his chest, it really hurt a lot.