Wishing You Eternal Happiness

Ci'er's eyes were wide and round as he gazed at Jiafu, waiting for his mother's answer.

Jiafu said, "The capital is very far from here. It takes many days of travel to reach it. There's a big house in the city with a roof covered in glazed tiles that sparkle brightly when the sun shines. The emperor lives inside. He governs all the people and affairs under heaven, different from ordinary folks. Making clothes for his birthday is my duty. Your father..."

She hesitated, still thinking how to explain to her son, when Ci'er's eyes lit up: "I know! Father is unhappy because he feels sorry for Mother working so hard!"

Jiafu had indeed stayed up several nights to finish that birthday garment, and Pei You'an had grown increasingly displeased at seeing her exhaustion.

Though only three years old and usually quiet, Ci'er was remarkably perceptive. Jiafu suspected Pei You'an must have been just like their son as a child - not easily fooled. As she struggled to explain his father's displeasure, the boy answered his own question, giving her relief. She was about to change the subject when footsteps sounded at the door - Pei You'an had entered.

Ci'er had been nestled in Jiafu's arms but quickly scrambled up upon seeing his father, calling out "Father!" Pei You'an nodded and sat nearby, inquiring about the boy's morning practice. Sitting ramrod straight, Ci'er answered each question in his childish voice, his expression utterly serious as he watched his father.

Pei You'an said, "I just checked the archery targets. You did well, shooting more than twenty arrows. But since you're just beginning, there's no need for excess. Twenty careful shots each time is enough. Remember that."

Ci'er worshipped his father. To this small boy, the man could do anything, towering like a mountain to be admired. Pleased by the praise, his eyes shone with happiness as he nodded vigorously.

Pei You'an smiled, ruffling his son's hair before moving to a bookshelf against the wall to browse some volumes.

Jiafu pulled Ci'er back into her lap to continue feeding him snacks. When she brought another spoonful to his lips, the boy swallowed it then seemed slightly embarrassed as he stole a glance at his father's back. Leaning close to Jiafu's ear, he whispered softly, "Mother, my arms don't ache anymore. I can feed myself. Father says... Ci'er is three now and should eat by himself..."

Knowing his arms were sore from archery practice, Jiafu had been helping him eat. Seeing his outstretched hand for the spoon, she reluctantly handed it over.

Ci'er scooped up the remaining snacks himself, eating every last bite with big mouthfuls. Jiafu wiped the juices from his mouth when he finished.

Pei You'an approached and had Cui Yinshui take the boy out.

Understanding he likely wanted to speak privately, Jiafu didn't object. She helped Ci'er with his shoes and added a thick little cloak before watching Cui Yinshui lead him out and close the door. Turning back, she complained, "Ci'er's only three! See how restrained he is around you - turning into a little scholar the moment you appear! He wouldn't even let me feed him one bite for fear of your disapproval. Is this any way to be a father?"Pei You'an smiled and sat down beside Jiafu, lightly tapping her head with a book: "A doting mother spoils the child! You pamper him enough—I know my limits." As he spoke, he glanced at the empty bowl Ci'er had left behind and pulled her onto his lap. "I'm hungry too. You only have eyes for Ci'er and don't care about me! I've been here so long, and all you've done is feed our son—not once have you asked if I'm hungry."

Jiafu shot him a sidelong glance and pushed him away, saying, "Yes, yes, it's my fault. Lord Pei, just wait—I'll go fetch you something to eat. If your arms are tired, I might even feed you..."

She tried to climb off his lap, but as soon as she turned, he caught her by the waist. With a yelp, she found herself lying across the chaise longue beneath them.

Pei You'an leaned over her.

"Beauty is a feast. I'll just have you..."

Pinned beneath him, Jiafu struggled briefly before yielding.

After a long while, Pei You'an finally released her and brought up a serious matter. Tomorrow, after the Spring Market opened, he would set off for a border inspection.

As the weather warmed, to prevent the northern tribes from taking advantage of spring to raid, he personally inspected the frontier defenses every year at this time. The Longyou region governed several prefectures, and the border was long and winding—a round trip would take at least half a month.

Sure enough, when Jiafu asked, she learned he wouldn't return until mid-next month. Though reluctant, she knew it was his duty and simply urged him to return early before rising to pack his belongings. Pei You'an stayed in the residence the entire day, spending time with Jiafu and their son.

That evening, as Pei You'an worked by lamplight, Jiafu bathed Ci'er and sat with him on the couch, taking out a chess set to play.

This set had been Pei You'an's gift for their son's third birthday. It consisted of thirty-two pieces: two mounted generals, two lions, four horse-drawn chariots, four horses, four camels, and sixteen seated wooden figurines representing soldiers—all intricately carved to simulate a battlefield. Ci'er adored it, treating it like a treasure. After learning the rules from his father, he became obsessed, playing daily—sometimes with Jiafu or Cui Yinshui, other times alone, sitting for hours if not interrupted, even skipping meals. At first, Jiafu could still win against him, but lately, she struggled, often losing if she wasn't careful.

After a while, a household matter called Jiafu away, summoned by Tanxiang. She asked Pei You'an to take her place and reminded him that if she hadn't returned by mid-Xu hour, he should put their son to bed first.

Pei You'an set aside his documents and walked over, climbing onto the couch to sit opposite Ci'er.

Busy with work, Pei You'an hadn't played with his son much beyond the initial days when he taught him the rules. Ci'er seemed excited, kneeling upright on the couch, his small back straight and eyes fixed solemnly on the board, exuding the air of a seasoned master.Pei You'an finished a game of chess with his son, and it was almost the time Jiafu had reminded him of. Just as he was about to tell the boy to go to bed, he noticed his son’s eager, pleading gaze, clearly wanting more. Softening, Pei You'an agreed to another round. Midway through, Yang Yun—a former advisor under the Yang family, now serving Pei You'an—came to discuss a matter. Setting the chess piece aside, Pei You'an asked his son to wait and stepped out. When he returned moments later, he found the boy asleep on the chess table, a small hand still tightly clutching the knight piece.

Pei You'an gently took the piece from his son’s grasp, lifted him up, and carried him to the adjoining small bedroom. He laid the boy down, carefully removed his outer robe, and tucked him in. As he turned to leave, a drowsy, childish voice murmured behind him, “I still want to play chess with Father… We didn’t finish…”

Pei You'an turned to see his son struggling to open his sleepy eyes, rubbing them as if trying to sit up. He quickly returned, lying beside him and patting his back. “Ci’er, it’s time to sleep. Father remembers the game—we’ll finish it next time.”

Ci’er closed his eyes, but after a moment, he opened them again and whispered, “Father, don’t worry. Ci’er will stay with Mother.”

Meeting his son’s bright gaze, warmth slowly welled up in Pei You'an’s heart. He leaned down and gently kissed the boy’s forehead—a rare display of affection from the usually reserved father. From the time Ci’er could remember, his mother often kissed his cheeks, but his father never had. Tonight was truly the first time, filling the boy with joy and shyness. He nestled his head against his father’s shoulder, motionless.

Pei You'an kissed his forehead again and said softly, “Your mother cries easily. Father entrusts her to you. When I’m not here, you must cheer her up and keep her from crying.”

Ci’er nodded. “Ci’er will protect Mother and not let her cry.”

Pei You'an smiled, drawing his son closer and patting his back. “Sleep now.”

Ci’er closed his eyes and, cradled in his father’s arms, slowly drifted off.

Pei You'an gazed at his son’s peaceful, youthful face, lost in thought for a moment before quietly slipping out of bed.

The next day, Pei You'an left the Military Commissioner’s residence with a troop of soldiers, departing Suyeh City. He left Yang Yun and two other trusted deputies to maintain order during the Spring Market and guard the residence.

Though Jiafu felt the ache of her husband’s absence—knowing it would be some time before his return—this was not the first time. She reminded herself that the weeks would pass quickly, and with their son to care for, she soon shook off her melancholy. The following day, as she supervised Ci’er’s calligraphy practice, Cui Yinshui, standing nearby, praised the young master’s skillful brushwork.Three years ago, Jiafu had initially only agreed to let Cui Yinshui stay until spring. But after Ci'er was born, Pei You'an had been fully occupied with caring for Jiafu's health and had no time to pay attention to Cui Yinshui. Seizing every opportunity, Cui Yinshui took care of everything inside and outside the household with meticulous attention. When spring arrived, he pleaded desperately, even going so far as to swear he would rather die than leave. Unable to harden her heart to force him out again, Jiafu relented. Pei You'an couldn't resist her either, and coupled with Cui Yinshui's thick-skinned persistence, he reluctantly turned a blind eye and allowed him to stay.

The eunuch was extraordinarily attentive and took excellent care of Ci'er. Jiafu could see that his affection for the child was genuine. Over time, as she noticed no suspicious behavior from him, she gradually stopped preventing him from getting close to her son. Now, three years had passed in the blink of an eye, and Cui Yinshui had long become Ci'er's inseparable companion.

"Mother, it's so lively outside. I've finished writing my characters—can I go out and play for a while?" Ci'er pleaded with Jiafu.

Seeing her son's eager gaze, Jiafu thought about how the city was only this bustling for half a month each year. Beyond the city walls, summer brought barren wilderness and yellow sands, while winter was a frozen wasteland. How could she bear to refuse him? So she nodded in agreement.

Ci'er leaped down from his chair, bouncing with joy. Cui Yinshui hurried to prepare the carriage. Jiafu called for Tanxiang, Muxiang, and Ding Mo, who had come along to help. Hearing they were going to the market, they all happily changed their clothes. Since Yang Yun wasn't in the residence that day, Jiafu summoned two guards to accompany them. The group left the Military Commissioner's residence and headed to the market, stopping here and there to buy many things. Jiafu even took Ci'er to watch a magic show. By noon, they returned, thoroughly satisfied.

On the way back, Jiafu and Ci'er rode in the carriage with Cui Yinshui by their side.

Still brimming with excitement, especially about the magic show he had just seen, Ci'er nestled in Jiafu's arms and said, "Mother, Cui Ban'er told me the markets in the capital are much livelier than ours, bustling every day. He also said the magic tricks there can conjure birds flying in the sky and fish swimming in the water. Mother, when can Father take us to the capital? I want to see what it's really like."

Jiafu glanced at Cui Yinshui.

The eunuch gave an awkward smile. "I just mentioned it in passing, and the young master took it to heart..."

Jiafu lifted her son onto her lap. "When your father has time in the future, we'll go to the capital together, alright?"

Ci'er's eyes sparkled with longing as he nodded. The group returned to the Military Commissioner's residence. After lunch, Jiafu, feeling a little tired from the morning's outing, noticed Ci'er was still playing with the toys they had bought, showing no signs of sleepiness. She instructed Cui Yinshui to keep him entertained while she retired to her room for a short nap. When she woke up past the hour of the Sheep, she called for Tanxiang. The maid entered to help her comb her hair, but Jiafu noticed her strange expression, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Tanxiang lowered her voice. "This afternoon, someone from the capital suddenly arrived at the residence—it's that Li Gonggong from the palace. I wanted to call for you, but he stopped me, saying to let you rest. He's still waiting outside now."

"Li Gonggong? Li Yuangui?"

Jiafu was startled.

"Yes. Cui Yinshui calls him godfather."

Jiafu's heart skipped a beat, and a chill ran down her spine.Never in her wildest dreams did Jiafu expect Li Yuangui to visit her at this time, with the emperor's birthday approaching. In a flurry, she asked her son and learned that Cui Yinshui had taken Ci'er to the front hall. Panicked, she immediately had Tanxiang help her tidy her hair and quickly changed clothes before hurrying forward. As soon as she stepped into the front hall, she indeed saw Li Yuangui standing there, dressed in plain clothes, bending slightly as he spoke to her son. Whatever he was saying, his demeanor was exceedingly respectful, with Cui Yinshui standing by his side.

Relieved to see her son still there, Jiafu quickly called out to him. Ci'er turned and, seeing his mother, ran over excitedly, grabbing her hand and pointing at Li Yuangui. "Mother, he says he knows Father and you. He also said I have a grandfather emperor who lives in the big house in the capital you told me about. Grandfather misses me very much and is even sick. He wants to take me to see him."

"Mother, is it true? Do I really have a grandfather emperor in the capital?" Ci'er looked up at Jiafu and asked.

Jiafu raised her head and saw Li Yuangui walking toward her with a smile. She quickly embraced her son and took several steps back. Noticing the confusion on his face, she realized he must have sensed her tension. Not wanting to frighten him, she steadied herself, crouched down, and smiled gently. "Mother needs to talk to him for a moment. Ci'er, go back to your room with Aunt Tanxiang first. I'll come find you later, alright?" She then instructed Tanxiang to take Ci'er away.

Ci'er nodded, glanced back at Li Yuangui once more, and reluctantly left, turning his head repeatedly as he went.

"Eunuch Li, what brings you here?"

The moment Ci'er was gone, Jiafu abandoned all pretense of formality, her heart still racing from her son's earlier words.

Li Yuangui bowed respectfully to Jiafu. "Madam, there is no need for concern. My purpose here is exactly as the young master said. His Majesty's fiftieth birthday approaches, and he misses the young master dearly. Thus, he sent me to invite you and the young master to the capital. If it is convenient, might we depart today? Rest assured, all arrangements for the journey have been made, prioritizing your comfort and the young master's well-being."

Jiafu glanced at Cui Yinshui, who immediately lowered his eyes and hung his head, not daring to meet her gaze.

"I must inform Ci'er's father," Jiafu said.

Li Yuangui bowed even deeper, his tone deferential. "Lord Pei is currently occupied with duties and may not be available. Please do not worry—once Lord Pei concludes his border inspection, I will personally inform him of your and the young master's whereabouts."

Jiafu understood perfectly.

Li Yuangui had deliberately come when Pei You'an was absent, intending to "invite" her and her son to the capital. Even if Pei You'an hadn't been away on inspection, he would have found another way to ensure his absence.

"Eunuch Li, without Ci'er's father here, I fear it would be inappropriate for us to travel to the capital."

Jiafu fixed her gaze on the eunuch before her.

Li Yuangui bowed again. "His Majesty truly longs to see the young master. I beg you not to make this difficult for me."

The fact that the emperor hadn't sent Li Yuangui with an outright decree was, perhaps, the height of courtesy from him.

After a brief silence, Jiafu said, "I understand. Make the arrangements, then."

Li Yuangui exhaled in relief, his face showing gratitude. "Thank you for your understanding, Madam."Jiafu took Ci'er onto the carriage and said she would take him to the capital first, and his father would follow once he returned.

Only then did Ci'er feel reassured. Clutching the chess box he had brought with him tightly, he said, "Mother, when we see Grandfather the Emperor, I'll teach him how to play chess, and his illness will get better."

Jiafu gazed into her son's innocent eyes, suppressing the turmoil in her heart. She smiled faintly and nodded.