We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?-Chapter 394: Do Not See Me Off

When Xiao Mo returned to the Frost King’s residence, it was already evening.

The setting sun sank, spilling its light across the whole world.

At the gate of the Frost King’s residence, a man who had taken off his armor and changed into plain clothes sat on the steps with a wine jar in his hands.

Unlike the way he looked on the battlefield, wrapped in blood qi from head to toe,

now that he had changed into ordinary clothes, he looked like a common wealthy elder, and also like an ordinary martial man.

“You’re back.”

Seeing Xiao Mo, Xiao Shi tipped his head back and took a swallow of wine, then smiled.

“Father.” Xiao Mo cupped his hands in salute, then asked, “Why are you ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) sitting at the gate?”

“Naturally, I was waiting for you.” Xiao Shi said with a smile. “Do you have time? How about it—want to take a walk together?”

“If Father invites me, of course.” Xiao Mo nodded.

“Then let’s go.” Xiao Shi set the wine jar down, stood up, patted the dust off himself, and walked into the residence.

Xiao Mo followed at Xiao Shi’s side.

The two of them chatted casually about matters from the battlefield, trading a few views with each other.

Xiao Shi also asked what the king had said to Xiao Mo, and Xiao Mo answered truthfully. There was nothing to hide.

After hearing his son’s conversation with the king, Xiao Shi could not help falling into a brief silence, but he did not say much.

As they walked, without realizing it, Xiao Mo discovered they were getting closer and closer to his mother’s courtyard.

Xiao Mo glanced at the father beside him and found that his father did not seem to have any intention of leaving.

Half a stick of incense later, Xiao Mo and Xiao Shi arrived at Zhou Ruoxi’s courtyard.

Although Zhou Ruoxi was now the principal mistress of the Xiao clan, she still lived in this plain little courtyard.

Quite a few from the collateral branches had urged Zhou Ruoxi to move into the Xiao Residence’s main courtyard, saying that this small courtyard simply did not match Zhou Ruoxi’s status.

But Zhou Ruoxi only smiled faintly, saying she was already used to it.

When Zhou Ruoxi saw her child return, a trace of delight flashed through her eyes.

However, when Zhou Ruoxi saw the man beside Mo’er, her heart jolted, and she hurriedly called Cuicui out from the kitchen.

Zhou Ruoxi stepped forward and dipped into a curtsy. “This concubine pays respects to Prince Xiao.”

Cuicui also hurriedly stood behind her and saluted. “This servant pays respects to Prince Xiao.”

“There are no outsiders here. There’s no need for so much ceremony.” Xiao Shi said with a smile. “Just now, Xiao Mo and I were strolling around the residence. Without realizing it, we strolled over here. I haven’t disturbed you, have I?”

“...” Xiao Mo was speechless for a moment.

Just now it was clearly his father who had led the way, deliberately walking here.

Thinking of that, Xiao Mo lifted his head and glanced at his father.

He thought, could it be that Father is embarrassed to come to Mother’s courtyard, so he deliberately dragged me along to ease the awkwardness?

“Of course not, Prince Xiao. Please, have a seat.” Zhou Ruoxi invited Xiao Shi into the courtyard and said, “Prince Xiao, please wait a moment. This concubine will go make tea for you.”

“No need.” Xiao Shi shook his head. He glanced toward the kitchen, then breathed in the aroma of food drifting out from inside. “Are you about to eat dinner? You usually cook it yourselves? Why not hand it to the servants below?”

“This concubine has nothing much to do on ordinary days, so I cook together with Cuicui. After so many years, I’m used to it.” Zhou Ruoxi replied. “It’s already evening. If Prince Xiao does not mind, would you like to stay and eat dinner with us?”

“Since Ruoxi has said so, then I will be impolite only by refusing.” Xiao Shi smiled and agreed.

“...” Zhou Ruoxi froze.

She had only asked out of courtesy, yet she did not expect Prince Xiao to agree at once.

“Prince Xiao, please wait a moment. The dishes will be ready soon.” Regaining herself, Zhou Ruoxi dipped into another curtsy, then hurriedly pulled Cuicui into the kitchen.

During the time it took Zhou Ruoxi to cook a stick of incense, Xiao Shi rose and slowly walked around this small courtyard, his gaze calm and gentle.

Soon, the dishes were done.

In the courtyard, the family ate dinner together.

For Xiao Mo, a dinner like this—three people at one table—was a first, and it gave him a feeling of unfamiliarity.

Xiao Mo had Cuicui sit down to eat with them, but Cuicui kept shaking her head, refusing no matter what.

In the end, it was only after Xiao Shi said a word and told her to sit and eat that Cuicui nervously sat down on a chair and ate in small bites.

After dinner, Xiao Mo sensed that his father seemed to want to say something to his mother, so he found an excuse and left together with Cuicui.

After Xiao Mo and Cuicui left, in the courtyard, only Xiao Shi and Zhou Ruoxi remained.

Zhou Ruoxi’s expression looked somewhat constrained.

After all, the time Xiao Shi had spent accompanying Xia Qingke in the past could be counted on one hand, let alone accompanying Zhou Ruoxi.

Now that the two of them were alone, it was naturally a little unfamiliar.

“These days, you’ve worked hard.” Xiao Shi spoke slowly. “I know there is no shortage of affairs in the Xiao Residence, and that is not to mention all the domestic trifles from the collateral branches that still need you to decide.”

“No matter how hard this concubine works, it is not as hard as Prince Xiao.” Zhou Ruoxi smiled and shook her head. “And these are all things this concubine should do. Moreover, since becoming the Xiao clan’s principal mistress, this concubine has finally understood just how difficult it was for the First Madam back then.”

“You were all not at ease.” Xiao Shi sighed. “If not for you, with me fighting year-round outside, who knows what a mess the household would have turned into.”

Zhou Ruoxi turned her head. Her eyes blinked as she looked at Xiao Shi and asked, “Prince Xiao came to find this concubine today—do you have something you want to say to this concubine?”

“It’s not that there’s anything in particular. It’s just that people... only when they reach certain times do they see some things clearly.”

Xiao Shi took a sip of tea and let out a long breath. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“The other concubines and lesser wives married me because of my rank and power, and I gave them rank and power—helped their fathers rise step by step to the clouds, let them enjoy wealth and glory, food and clothing without worry.

“But only you and Qingke make me truly feel guilty.

“Qingke was the only daughter of the previous Grand Chancellor Xia. She could have taken the position of an imperial consort and refused it, insisting on marrying me, yet I might not even see Qingke once in two or three years.

“And you were the daughter of a city lord. You could have married a man of equal standing, yet in the end you were taken by me to be a concubine, staying in this courtyard day after day.

“You are not the same, but you are very alike.

“You never cared about wealth and glory, or about power. You only wanted to live a stable life.

“But I, of all people, am the one who could never give you that.”

“Prince Xiao is overstating it.”

Zhou Ruoxi pinched at the hem of her clothes and shook her head.

“This concubine was sent to Prince Xiao by Father. It cannot be counted as Prince Xiao taking me by force.

“After coming to the Xiao Residence, although this concubine was a concubine, I have never been mistreated. This concubine is already satisfied.

“And most importantly...”

Zhou Ruoxi lifted her head and looked beyond the courtyard. “After this concubine had Mo’er, I have never felt lonely.”

“Sigh... it’s exactly because you and Qingke both have this kind of temperament that I find it even harder to know what to do...”

Xiao Shi sighed again. He finished the tea in his cup and rose.

“Ruoxi, I’m leaving.

“In the past, when I left, I never said goodbye to you.

“This time, coming to your courtyard was to talk with you, and also to give you a final farewell.”

“Prince Xiao is going to war?” Zhou Ruoxi rose and asked.

Xiao Shi shook his head. “Not to war. In a few days, I’m going back to the Northern Wasteland. On this return to the Northern Wasteland, Xiao Mo must go as well, but don’t worry—Xiao Mo will return very soon.”

“Then when will Prince Xiao return?”

Zhou Ruoxi asked.

In the past, Zhou Ruoxi would not have asked that.

But for some reason, at this moment, a worry she could not name rose in her heart.

Hearing his wife’s question, he did not answer. He only bent at the waist and, with a gentle smile, gave his wife a deep bow.

Watching her husband’s salute, Zhou Ruoxi’s eyes trembled, and she went blank for a moment.

This was the farewell salute a Qin man gave his wife when leaving home.

Very ordinary.

But this was the first time.

“Do not see me off.”

Xiao Shi straightened, turned, and left.

Zhou Ruoxi came back to herself and took a step forward in her embroidered shoes, but Xiao Shi had already gone far away.