Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 611
In the backyard of the Duke's Mansion.

Li Qinzai had a courtyard where he lived alone. After he left Beijing, Cui Jie and Qiao'er lived in it.

The courtyard is not big, and the inside and outside of the house are quite simple. There are two guest rooms for the master, two huts for the servants, and a separate kitchen.

In the coldest season of winter, a charcoal stove was built in the house, and the fire was burning vigorously. A chimney extended from above the stove to the outside of the house.

This chimney was also invented by Li Qinzai. It is said that it can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

So Li Qinzai referred to it as smoke and poison, and now Cui Jie understood it, and understood that something that can expel smoke and poison must be a good thing, and she is not afraid of poisoning when she sleeps at night with a fire burning.

At this time, Qiao'er was snuggling up by the fire, sleeping deeply.

The fire roasted his cheeks red, like two juicy big apples, making people want to take a bite.

Qiao'er is very busy every day. In addition to the daily homework that Li Qinzai explained before he left, Cui Jie also urged him to practice calligraphy and play the piano.

Occasionally, Li Ji would call him to the study, hug him on his knees, grab a book on the art of war, and teach him the art of war in the simplest language. Qiao'er was dumbfounded when he heard it, but Li Ji still enjoyed it.

As the Chinese New Year was approaching, Li Siwen and his wife also returned to Chang'an from Runzhou, and it was even more lively now. The couple held Qiao'er almost every day and refused to let go, and would slap him on the cheek when they were cold.

While loving Qiao'er, Li Cuishi was also very concerned about Cui Jie's belly condition. She asked her several times whether she was pregnant, but Cui Jie always told her that she was not pregnant.

Li Cuishi immediately looked disappointed, Cui Jie asked her helplessly, your son is on a long business trip, and I got pregnant secretly at home, isn't it very appropriate?

Only then did Li Cui realize that it was really inappropriate, so she immediately put away her disappointed expression and continued to be full of expectations.

There is also an uncle Li Jingye, a future British prince who is even more dandy than Li Qinzai, who is omnipotent in eating, drinking, and having fun.

Fortunately, Qiao'er was still young, and Li Jingye didn't dare to risk the world's disgrace by taking him to brothels and drinking wine, but he often taught Qiao'er how to ride horses, and occasionally took him out to hunt in the city. After killing a lot of pheasants and hares, Li Jingye was chased and killed by an angry Li Jiman in the courtyard when he returned home.

But in contrast, Qiao'er likes to play with this uncle very much. He firmly believes that the uncle is the most playful person in the world, and he can play better than his father. His father is too lazy. A paralyzed patient with hemiplegia lying on his back, very boring.

The family is too big, Qiao'er is very busy, and his daily schedule is fuller than his father's.

Looking at Qiao'er's sleeping face, Cui Jie smiled at the corner of her mouth, and couldn't help stretching out her hand to pinch it gently, it was soft and tender, and she was extremely sympathetic.

The child's skin is pink and tender, as if it could overflow with a light pinch, Cui Jie couldn't help being happy, and pinched it again...

Qiao'er finally woke up, rubbed her sleepy eyes, saw that it was Cui Jie, and couldn't help asking, "What's Auntie doing?"

Cui Jie smiled lightly and said, "If you don't do anything, I just like to pinch your cheeks. When you grow up, your cheeks will not be so tender."

Qiao'er didn't know how precious the word "tender" was, but she obediently stretched out her face and said, "Auntie can pinch as often as she likes, but don't use too much force..."

Cui Jie giggled, not being polite, rubbing Qiao'er's face with both hands, kneading his face into various distorted shapes, Qiao'er didn't struggle, and let her rub it.

"Okay, get dressed quickly, there is good news today, let me guess." Cui Jie smiled and blinked.

Qiao'er suddenly regained his energy, and blurted out without thinking: "Uncle, do you want to take me out of the city for hunting?"

Cui Jie was startled, pointed at his head resentfully, and said: "From now on, you should stop playing with uncle with those unremarkable things, and read more books is the right way."

Qiao'er was discouraged and said: "Then what good news is there? You don't want to practice calligraphy again, do you?"

Cui Jie snorted, and said: "Your father has been away for more than three months, but you don't even ask, you have no conscience."

Qiao'er opened her eyes wide and said in surprise, "Father has returned to Chang'an?"

Cui Jie was also full of joy, and said: "I went back to the government to report. Your father has returned to Chang'an. At this time, he is entering the palace to report on his work. After the report, he will go home. Get ready quickly, wear the best clothes, and greet him." Your father is back."

Qiao'er jumped up from the bed, he didn't care about the beautiful clothes, but dragged out a string of pheasants and hares killed with a slingshot from the porch outside the door. Fortunately, the weather was cold, and these dead prey hadn't stink.

Cui Jie's pretty face suddenly turned pale: "When...when did you hide these things under the entrance? How long have you been hiding them?"

Qiao'er proudly puffed out her chest: "This is the prey I shot with my own hands with a slingshot. Of course I have to show my father a look. When my father comes back, I will present him as a prisoner."

Thinking of the corpses of these prey hidden under the living room, Cui Jie took a deep breath and kept muttering to herself.

Not his own, not his own, wait for his own father to come back and beat him...

Hurriedly changing Qiao'er into a new set of clothes for the New Year, Cui Jie tidied up his belt carefully, and couldn't help but rubbed his little face, and said with a smile: "You are really a handsome boy from my Li family, When I grow up, I don’t know how many girls have been obsessed with it, but don’t learn from your uncle who is obsessed with love all day long and has a bad reputation.”

Qiao'er was puzzled and said, "What is 'Fengyue'?"

Cui Jie poked his head and said, "Don't ask, you will know when you grow up."

After Qiao'er put on her clothes, she ran out of the house like the wind and came to the front yard, then sat on the stone steps outside the Duke's mansion, propped her chin with both hands, and obediently waited for Li Qinzai to come home.

Cui Jie sat alone in the room for a while, she couldn't hide the smile on her face, after more than three months of lovesickness, today the family was finally reunited.

Thinking of Li Qinzai's inevitable love and joy at night after Li Qinzai came back, Cui Jie was looking forward to it and shy, her toes were red.

Calling a maid to boil water, Cui Jie took a bath before Li Qinzai came back, changed into the most beautiful clothes after washing, and stuffed a sachet into her bosom, letting her skin absorb the smell of the sachet.

When husband and wife reunite, the sense of ritual is very important and must be paid attention to.

The moonlight tonight must be beautiful.

…………

Tai Chi Palace, Anren Hall.

Before Li Qinzai reached the gate of the palace, he saw Li Zhi wearing a yellow robe and a fox cloak, standing at the foot of the stone steps outside the palace, looking at him with a smile on his face, his gentle and kind eyes seemed to melt the ice and snow in Guanzhong .

Beside Li Zhi, Empress Wu was also dressed in gorgeous clothes, watching Li Qinzai with a smile.

Li Qinzai was taken aback. The Tian family and his wife stood outside the palace gate to welcome the courtiers. This kind of treatment is the kind of treatment that only the founding elders can get.

Li Qinzai quickly stepped forward to salute: "Your Majesty, Empress, I have ordered you to go to the Northwest. Your Majesty and the Empress will come out of the hall to meet you, and you will be defeated."

(End of this chapter)