We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? - Chapter 357: Mother Can Finally Let Go

In the kitchen of a courtyard within the Xiao Manor, Zhou Ruoxi was preparing food while her maidservant Cuicui assisted her mistress.

Usually, Zhou Ruoxi would only make one or two dishes to eat together with Cuicui. After all, there were only two of them and they didn’t eat much. However, today’s dishes were quite sumptuous because Zhou Ruoxi knew that after her child returned to the capital, he would definitely come home for a meal.

“Mother, your child has returned.”

As the sun was setting, Xiao Mo’s voice came from outside the courtyard.

Zhou Ruoxi heard her child’s voice and hurriedly transferred the food from the pot to a porcelain plate. She wiped her hands and rushed out. “Mo’er has returned, and Her Highness the Princess has come as well.”

“Auntie Zhou…”

Qin Siyao curtsied, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

“Mo’er, have the Princess sit down. The food will be ready soon,” Zhou Ruoxi said with a gentle smile.

“Auntie Zhou, I… I’ll also come help you,” Qin Siyao lifted her skirt and hurried into the kitchen with small steps. She looked just like a young daughter-in-law wanting to perform well in front of her mother-in-law, hoping to gain her approval.

Xiao Mo sat on a stone stool, looking at everything in the courtyard.

Since Xiao Mo’s birth until now, everything in the courtyard seemed to have not changed in the slightest, remaining exactly the same as before.

And every time he returned home, looking at all these familiar things, Xiao Mo would feel extremely calm inside, as if everything in the world could slowly be set aside.

As if the killing on the battlefield was separated from him by an entire world, so distant.

How could Xiao Mo not understand?

A large part of the reason Mother refused to live in the Frost Prince Manor and even refused to move from this courtyard was because she wanted to give him a familiar home that had “never changed” every time he returned, so he would have a place where he could rest and stay.

“Mo’er, have you been waiting long? The food is ready.”

About the time it takes to burn one incense stick later, Zhou Ruoxi and Qin Siyao came out carrying the food.

Xiao Mo stepped forward to help take the hot dishes from his mother’s hands.

Cuicui brought out the bowls and chopsticks, and the family sat around the stone table in the courtyard eating dinner.

The food Mother cooked still tasted the same as before, without the slightest change but how could time possibly keep everything as it was?

Xiao Mo raised his head and faintly saw that amid Mother’s waterfall-like hair, a strand of white hair had already grown.

Only at this moment did Xiao Mo realize that Mother was already forty-seven, nearly half a century old…

And how long was an ordinary mortal’s lifespan?

“Young Master, what’s wrong? Why does Young Master seem to have some worries despite returning triumphant?” Cuicui asked with a smile, seeing the young master with lowered brows.

“It’s nothing,” Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head. “I was just thinking that Aunt Cui is already in her forties. Are you really not going to find a family to marry into?”

“Young Master, you really are!” Cuicui pouted. “What do I need to find a family for? If I encounter someone bad, wouldn’t I regret it for a lifetime? Rather than that, it’s better for Cuicui to keep accompanying Mistress. That’s much more carefree.”

“You,” Zhou Ruoxi also shook her head and sighed, saying to Xiao Mo, “Mother also introduced several marriage prospects to your Aunt Cui before, but your Aunt Cui didn’t agree. So that was that. It’s good to let Cuicui stay by my side to keep me company.”

“Young Master, now that Mistress has said so, you can’t drive me away,” Cuicui hurriedly hugged Zhou Ruoxi’s arm.

“How would I dare drive Aunt Cui away?” Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head.

In Xiao Mo’s view, Aunt Cui not marrying was also a very good thing.

“Speaking of which…” Cuicui looked at her young master, then at Her Highness the Princess. “Although Young Master is a cultivator, he’s already over twenty years old. When will you get married? Cuicui is still waiting to hold a little young master.”

As Cuicui’s words fell, Qin Siyao, who was already somewhat shy, lowered her head even further, eating her food in small bites.

Seeing this scene, Zhou Ruoxi and Cuicui exchanged glances, feeling that something seemed to have happened between the two.

“Today, I actually came to tell Mother and Sister Cuicui about another matter,” Xiao Mo smiled and took out the imperial edict. He stood up and respectfully handed it to his mother. “Mother, His Majesty has already bestowed a marriage upon your child.”

“Eh?” Zhou Ruoxi was stunned for a moment and hurriedly wiped her hands on herself before taking the edict.

As she read, crystalline tears formed at the corners of Zhou Ruoxi’s eyes. She looked at her child and Siyao with gratification, her voice trembling. “Good, so good, truly wonderful…”

Cuicui also hurried over to look at the edict, then happily bowed to her young master and the princess. “Congratulations, Young Master! Congratulations, Your Highness! Cuicui wishes you both a joyful union and to grow old together! And to have seven or eight chubby little boys!”

“Aunt Cui…” Qin Siyao blushed and tugged at Cuicui’s arm.

The originally lively and cheerful young woman had now become somewhat shy, but already seemed to have the bearing of a wife.

“Let’s eat,” Zhou Ruoxi gently wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes. “This is truly a wonderful thing.”

Zhou Ruoxi gently stroked the edict, showing a joyful smile.

Xiao Mo didn’t know how long it had been since he’d seen Mother so happy.

After the family finished dinner, Xiao Mo first sent Qin Siyao back to the Princess Manor.

For the next few days, Xiao Mo wouldn’t return to the Frost Prince Manor but would stay at the Xiao Manor to keep his mother company. However, not long after, Xiao Shi summoned Xiao Mo.

When Xiao Mo returned to the courtyard again, night had already fallen deeply. However, Mother was still sitting in the courtyard with the imperial edict of His Majesty’s marriage bestowal on her lap, her eyes looking at the stars in the sky.

“Mother,” Xiao Mo entered the courtyard and bowed. “Mother hasn’t rested yet?”

“Not yet,” Zhou Ruoxi smiled and shook her head, patting the seat beside her. “Would Mo’er be willing to chat with Mother?”

“Naturally,” Xiao Mo nodded and sat down beside his mother.

“Mo’er, do you know what Mother worries about most in daily life?” Zhou Ruoxi looked gently at her child.

“Your child’s safety?” Xiao Mo asked.

“Mm.”

Zhou Ruoxi nodded.

“In this world, there is no mother who doesn’t worry about her child’s safety. When you went to the Iron Tiger Army, Mother worried. When you went on campaign, Mother worried even more. When Mother learned you were alone defending Yanmen Pass, day and night she inquired about news of you. Fortunately, heaven blessed you and you returned safely. When I learned you were returning triumphant, Mother thought she could finally breathe a sigh of relief. But later, Mother discovered there was still one thing she couldn’t let go of. That was your marriage.”

Zhou Ruoxi gently stroked the edict on her lap and said softly, “Mother is merely an ordinary mortal with a lifespan of no more than a hundred years. But Mo’er, you’re different. You’re a cultivator, and your martial talent is astonishing. They all say that in the future, your realm will reach heights ordinary people cannot imagine. Mother should be happy for you. But instead, Mother has become increasingly worried. Worried that you’ll walk further and further away with no one to accompany you. Worried that there’s no one by your side to take care of you. Worried that when you have troubles, you can only bury them in your heart with no one to confide in. And now, Mother can finally let go…”

As she spoke, Zhou Ruoxi gently patted her child’s head, just as when he was three years old.

“You have a cold temperament and are rather stubborn. Although many young women like you, and many people have come to Mother to arrange marriages for you, if you don’t like them, what use is marriage? Moreover, of those young women who want to marry you, how many do so because of your power and position? Fortunately, you met a girl like Siyao. Siyao is a good girl with a good temperament. When you’re hard, she becomes soft. When she cries a little, your anger dissipates. And Siyao is also easy to please. As long as you say a few kind words, she becomes happy again, just like before. Moreover, do you know that Siyao originally didn’t believe in or worship Buddha? But during the time you were on campaign, Siyao set up a Buddhist shrine at home, chanting sutras and praying for you.”

“When she had free time, she learned cooking from me and kept me company, chatting so I wouldn’t be lonely. When she learned you were alone defending Yanmen Pass and nearly met with disaster, Siyao secretly ran out of the city. After returning, she was punished by His Majesty and could only be confined. During this period of confinement, I visited Siyao several times. Siyao told me that she saw your shoes in the army were somewhat worn and wanted to make you a pair of shoes. So Mother taught her. Siyao actually learns things quite quickly, but when it comes to cooking and needlework, she’s a bit slow. But no matter how many pairs of shoes Siyao ruined, she still didn’t give up.”

Speaking of this, Zhou Ruoxi smiled. “I suppose this bit of stubbornness was also influenced by you.”

Xiao Mo lowered his head, recalling how Siyao had been making shoes when he saw her today.

“Now it’s good…”

Zhou Ruoxi smiled as she looked at her son.

“Siyao is also a cultivator, and her talent shouldn’t be inferior to yours, Mo’er. In the days to come, you two can accompany each other. Even if one day Mother passes away, she can rest assured.”

“Mother, don’t speak such words,” Xiao Mo shook his head.

“Heh heh heh, why can’t I speak of this? Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all part of heaven’s decree.”

Zhou Ruoxi raised her head and looked at the night sky.

“Mo’er, I’ve heard that after people pass away, they transform into stars. Years from now, when you raise your head to look at the sky, perhaps Mother will be watching you and Siyao.”

“Mother…”

“Alright, alright, let’s not talk about this anymore,” Zhou Ruoxi placed the edict back in her son’s hands. “It’s late. Go rest quickly. Mother will sit in the courtyard a while longer. Remember, you must not bully Siyao in the future, or Mother won’t forgive you.”

“Yes. Mother should also rest early,” Xiao Mo took the edict, stood up, bowed, and slowly walked into his bedroom.

In the courtyard, Zhou Ruoxi sat with her hands folded on her lap, quietly watching the ink-black night.

Not long after, Zhou Ruoxi sensed something and extended her slender hand.

White petals drifted down from the air, landing on the lady’s palm and gradually melting.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

Zhou Ruoxi coughed a few times, raised her head, looked at the white flowers floating in the air, and a gentle smile curved at the corners of her mouth.

“It’s snowing…”