Chang'an is good

Chapter 664 Extra 2——Sister (Li Xiao)

The name Li Xiao has experienced countless ups and downs, but Li Xiao's experience is just the opposite.

Li Xiao's life was short and narrow.

His short and narrow life was exceptionally peaceful, and he could never imagine that there would be a more peaceful and quiet life experience in the world than his.

The person who gave him this peaceful life was his elder sister, Li Shang.

My sister's life was not peaceful. She took away his name and also took away the hardships that belonged to him.

He and his sister had known each other before he was born, so he and his sister should be the closest people in the world.

He is very similar to my sister, yet completely different.

The similarity is in appearance, and that's all.

My sister is strong, but he is sickly. My sister is never picky about food, but he always has no appetite for ordinary food.

When he was three years old, he lay in his mother's arms, half asleep and half awake. There was wind and snow outside the window, and there was no charcoal fire for heating in their home. The housekeeper asked for it in vain, but was instead ridiculed and humiliated by words. After returning empty-handed, he apologized to his mother in tears.

The mother did not complain or get angry. She continued to pat him gently. After a long time, the mother slowly spoke. Her tone was quiet and flat, just like the winter snow falling quietly outside the window.

My mother said something called "survival of the fittest".

This made the young Li Xiao nervous for a while. He was so weak, would he become food and be abandoned?

But the fact was just the opposite. Because of his frail body, he received a lot of attention and favor from his mother, and a lot of protection from his sister.

My sister has had a lot of strength since she was young. This strength is not only in her body, but also in her eyes.

Sister was really good at protecting people, and he enjoyed her protection very much. Sister was as tall as he was, but whenever he stood behind her, he always felt as if he had nothing to fear.

He thought so when he was a child.

As he grew up, he still believed this and became even more determined.

From the age of six or seven, he and his elder sister gradually realized that they were different from other princes and princesses. Their residence was remote, damp, full of insects and ants, close to the elephant park, and often had a pungent smell.

Li Xiao felt that there was nothing wrong with this, he really liked those docile elephants.

My sister said that she also liked elephants, but bad is bad and unfair is unfair.

My sister also said that if others have it, they should also have it.

He asked his sister, "How can I get it?"

The equally young sister was also stumped, but she said seriously, "Let me think about it."

Although she hadn't figured out a solution yet, her sister had already started asking him in advance: "Ah Xiao, what do you want?"

She looked confident that she would get it for him as soon as she thought of a way.

He replied: "I want to be with my sister and mother forever."

"This is easy." Sister was not satisfied with his answer: "Anything else?"

He then replied, "I want a whole box of lychees." This way, his sister wouldn't have to give him hers.

"This is also simple." Sister sat on the porch railing, her hands on her sides, looking up at the dark night sky: "Wait, I will think of a way."

"Think carefully about what else you want, and remember to tell me anytime." Sister told him, "Ah Xiao, you have to follow me closely."

This is what my sister often said. She told him to stay close to her so that she could protect him.

Li Xiao really liked being his sister's follower, so he always agreed seriously. That time, after he nodded in agreement, he also asked his sister: "Sister, what do you want?"

My sister sat on the fence, swinging her legs, her eyes sparkling: "I want a sword."

My sister said, "If I take it, no one will dare to bully us anymore."

The seven-year-old sister didn't have a sword yet, and Li Xiao didn't know how to get one, so they were still bullied.

Since the age of five or six, Li Xiao had been attending classes with the other princes, but he was in poor health and often missed classes. In addition, he liked to sit at the back, hoping that no one would ever notice him, because once they did, they would bully him.

When the class was over, he would always pretend to pack up his pens and ink, and would not dare to stand up until the princes had all left, laughing and joking. Whenever he was the last one to leave without being embarrassed, he would breathe a sigh of relief, feeling that he had escaped a disaster.

But not every time you can be lucky enough to escape.

The person who took the lead in bullying him was the third prince.

The third prince’s original mother was a very ordinary person, but since he was born, he had been raised by Empress Changsun and treated as her own son.

The children in the palace knew how to distinguish between the pros and cons from a very young age. Many princes, as well as the royal family members and princes who studied with them, liked to gather around the third prince.

Li Xiao didn't.

It's not that he doesn't want to, it's that he doesn't dare.

Those people always ridiculed him as a jinx and a sickly person, and the mocking words and expressions day after day were no less severe than the fists landing on his body.

Li Xiao didn't dare to get close to the Third Prince. Instead, the Third Prince disliked him more and more. Whenever he was angry, he would vent it on the young Li Xiao.

Li Xiao was so scared that he even hoped that he would get sick one day so that he could skip classes.

Once, he was shivering with chills due to a high fever and asked his mother in tears if he could skip class.

His elder sister was standing by and seeing that he was really scared, she also helped him to beg their mother.

His mother's tone of voice was always gentle when she spoke to him, but the tone of her correction left no room for negotiation: "Don't say such stupid things."

His mother told him that as long as he was the emperor's son, he had to go to school.

If he didn't go, his father would completely forget about them, mother and son.

If that happens, they will be trapped here for the rest of their lives.

Li Xiao was filled with fear and despair, and could only nod obediently with tears in his eyes.

Those extremely frightening days that seemed to have no end came to an end unexpectedly one day.

One day, Li Xiao was teased by the third prince and others and fell into the water.

He fell seriously ill, and when he regained consciousness, he saw his sister wearing his clothes.

From then on, he stopped going to class as he wished, and his sister went in his place.

He was afraid that his sister would also be bullied, but his sister would always proudly tell him who she had taught a lesson to.

Afterwards, her elder sister always told her that the adult surnamed Chu praised her again, although he also hit her with a ruler.

Li Xiao admired his sister even more. Tutor Chu was the strictest. His sister was really amazing.

My sister was becoming more and more like a boy, but Li Xiao would occasionally ask his mother fearfully: Will the emperor know? If he knew, would he punish my sister?

The mother shook her head gently: "No."

Did she not know? Or did she not want to punish him? Li Xiao felt that there was a hint of emotion in his mother's eyes when she answered him that he could not understand.

Then they moved to a new residence, his mother was promoted, the palace servants brought him many rewards he had never seen before, the food became more diverse, the clothes were exquisite and soft, and there was no shortage of charcoal fire in winter.

Li Xiao knew that most of these were won by his elder sister. Everyone said that his father liked his elder sister named Li Xiao very much.

Li Xiao felt that his sister was amazing, but sometimes he was confused: "Sister, you became me, then who am I?" "I'm just pretending to be you." The sister, who had grown taller, corrected him: "Ah Xiao, you will always be yourself, Li Xiao."

"What about you, sister?" Li Xiao asked again, "You always pretend to be me, so who will be Li Shang?"

Ajie played the fake Li Xiao, and he played the real Li Xiao, so where did Li Shang go?

My sister seemed to be stumped by this question as well. There are very few questions that can stump my sister.

His sister had no time to argue with such a trivial issue. She was too busy, getting busier and busier, until one day he heard that his sister had volunteered to join the army for training.

He went to find his mother, but she had no intention of stopping him.

Twelve-year-old Li Xiao began to seriously think about his mother's thoughts and wishes for the first time.

Year after year, Prince Li Xiao's reputation became more and more famous. His elder sister won one beautiful victory after another, which made the emperor very happy and the court excited.

All the forces hostile to the Changsun clan surrounded his elder sister. Li Xiao knew that his mother's lobbying was also behind this.

While my sister was fighting on the battlefield, my mother never stopped her planning and deployment.

My elder sister became the crown prince and my mother became the queen mother.

His busy mother no longer paid as much attention to him as before, but he just felt relieved. His mother's favoritism in the past also made him feel guilty towards his sister.

My elder sister had asked the emperor for permission early on to allow the frail and sickly Princess Chongyue to leave the palace and build a residence to recuperate.

Compared to the palace, life outside the palace is undoubtedly freer.

The servants who serve him personally are all his sister's confidants, the nanny who teaches him poetry, books and etiquette is his mother's person, and the girl from the Duan family who serves as his study companion is also a trustworthy person personally selected by his sister. He does not have to be restrained or pretend, and only needs to do what he likes every day.

If he were to be called lonely, he wasn't that lonely. The experience of being weak and bullied since childhood, as well as the longing for his mother, made Li Xiao prefer to live alone - or rather, he preferred to live with his sister, but the opportunity to do so was rare.

When my sister was in Beijing, she would often visit him.

Every time at that time, the elder sister would sit on the stone steps and relax, Duan Zhenyi would sit next to her, and he would stand on the stone steps and listen to their conversation with a smile.

Young Duan Zhenyi always loved to make a fuss. She was very energetic when she was secretly reading storybooks, but she always fell asleep when doing needlework, as if the needle and thread were sewn on her eyelids.

Duan Zhenyi talks a lot. When her sister is not around, she always chases him and asks about her sister's past and her childhood.

Duan Zhenyi was very afraid of ghosts. There was a side courtyard in the princess's mansion that she had never dared to set foot in. But because her elder sister lied that there was a ghost there, she really believed it and reminded him to be careful.

Duan Zhenyi was very beautiful, but she always held her chin with her hand and said regretfully that she was indeed a little bit inferior to her sister and him.

During those few years as a teenager, Li Xiao heard Duan Zhenyi's voice everywhere.

Until one day, the voice said goodbye to him.

Duan Zhenyi is getting married and will marry into the Duke Zheng’s Mansion of the Wei family.

It was a very good marriage.

Li Xiao nodded without saying anything more.

The young man’s heart is just like his quiet and silent life.

The sudden disappearance of the lively noise made people who were not lonely feel a little lonely.

As spring turned to winter, looking at the scenery in front of him, Li Xiao began to want to go out and take a look, and do something for his sister. He knew that his sister's life had become increasingly difficult since she became the crown prince.

But sometimes he would wonder, even if he really went out, what could he do for his sister?

That day Yuxie told him that her sister had moved the intelligence organization to a restaurant, and even the Queen Mother did not know about it.

After hearing this, he told Yu Xie not to tell his mother, and then said with a smile: "Maybe I can be a cook."

Yu Xie also smiled: "Your Highness can at least be a military advisor. Your Highness is well-educated, and it is not impossible for him to be in charge of the affairs of the building."

This is nothing but an empty assumption.

Li Xiao felt that he owed his sister a lot. His sister acted in the identity of Li Xiao, but the real Li Xiao never gave anything. He only lived under the protection of his sister for many years, but could not do anything for her.

But the elder sister said to him: "I also took your identity without your permission, didn't I?"

Li Xiao wanted to say that this was not his sister's choice.

But how could my sister not know?

The elder sister only said to him: "This is the best way. Everything is fine now. That's enough. Ah Xiao, we are family. There is no need to talk about debts."

But outside, a storm is brewing.

My father was ill, and at first everyone thought it was just an ordinary illness, after all, my father was still in his prime.

But Li Xiao sensed something unusual and he suspected someone, that person was his mother.

It was impossible for Li Xiao to betray his mother. His first thought at that time was to try to live longer.

Only when he is alive can he cooperate with his sister at any time.

Not long after, my father passed away.

His body had already been exhausted.

After a winter rain, the young Li Xiao fell on his sickbed and never got up again.

His elder sister had secretly left the capital to handle some affairs on the orders of the Queen Mother, and she should be on her way back, but he couldn't wait any longer.

He lived a silent and inactive life, as plain as water, but at this moment of his death, he had an extremely strong desire.

In a trance, Li Xiao's eyes were dark, but a few stars flashed, and he heard the voice of his young sister again.

——"Axiao, what do you want?"

——"Ah Xiao, you have to follow me closely."

Li Xiao can now answer his sister what he wants.

In fact, his sister had already answered the question for him—he just wanted to follow his sister closely.

He hoped that there would be an afterlife. He knew that he had never done any good deeds, but fortunately he had never made any mistakes. He wanted to have the opportunity to follow his sister, no matter what his background was, no matter what his identity was, no matter how much suffering he had to go through to gain such an opportunity.

He can exchange everything for it, but please leave him a healthy body so that he can stay close to his sister.

He has never had any greedy thoughts in his life, and all his thousands of thoughts have turned into just this one dying wish. I wonder if it can be allowed?
As consciousness faded, the darkness in front of my eyes dissipated and turned into a vast expanse of white. The boundless white distorted time, as if a long period of time had passed in a flash.

The last wisp of consciousness was pulled, and it seemed as if I heard a voice dimly: "Is this your father?"

……what?
"Want to fight me?"

……what?
The whiteness of the snow disappeared, and everything returned to endless silence.

Heavy snow covered the entire capital. In the backyard of Dengtai Tower, a young man holding a stack of books walked quickly to a study room and knocked on the door: "Boss!"

Meng Lie's voice came from the study: "Come in."

The snow is still falling, everything is silent and unaware, but the cycle of time has never stopped.

……

Extra +2
(Do you remember the fleeting thought when Ning Ning named Ah Che? It can’t be considered a true reincarnation, it’s probably just a wisp of obsession flowing through the soul~ But you can understand it however you want.)
The next chapter will be about the wedding.