Too high to reach

Chapter 406 Extra: The Boy Returns Home
"Miss!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince has already entered the palace, while Third Master Mo went straight home!" a maidservant reported as she entered.

"Finally home..." Mo Yi breathed a sigh of relief. "Although I know nothing will happen, I still can't shake this feeling of unease. Three years have passed since I left, and I didn't even come back for the New Year. Sigh..."

She was talking to Consort Tian, ​​sitting next to the cradle.

There was a five- or six-month-old baby in the cradle.

"Second Brother, Third Brother. Your cousin, the Crown Prince, and your uncle are back!"

She mentioned Erlang... and a three-year-old boy next to her put down the bowl of mung bean paste he was eating.

She jumped and hopped, screaming, "My cousin and uncle are back!"

"Crown Prince Cousin! Little Uncle!" Then, they circled around Mo Yi, Consort Tian, ​​and the cradle, calling out.

Mo Yi and Consort Tian exchanged a frown and quickly advised, "Alright, alright! Keep your voice down, or you'll wake your little brother..."

"Wah..." The boy in the cradle opened his mouth wide and started crying.

"See...did I wake you up?" Mo Yi quickly shook him again...

Mo Yi had two children in three years, both sons.

Mo Yi felt that Erlang's personality was exactly like the prince's; he never knew what fear was, stubborn and impulsive, and had boundless energy. He never walked properly, always running or jumping... Every night, he was so exhausted that he would lie down and fall asleep instantly. This made Li Jing extremely envious.

"There are so many boys around, who do you think is like him! Hurry up and grow taller, so that Mr. Mo can have a headache..." Mo Yi could only complain in a low voice.

“Mother…” Three young men and women entered the room.

Princess Wenxiu Xiangxiang, Princess Wenying Qianqian, and Prince Ping Shaoge'er.

Xiangxiang is already ten years old, and she's taller than most girls. The beginnings of her beauty are already showing in her features. She's intelligent, excels in all her subjects, and possesses a natural air of pride.

Qianqian is a little girl who is over eight years old. She has a round, rosy face and clear, bright eyes, showing that she has grown up carefree.

Shao-ge'er now holds the title of Prince. He is handsome with delicate features, quiet in nature, and always impeccably clean. Mo-yi looked at him, then at Er-lang, who was soon covered in dirt, and sighed, "Shao-ge'er, if only your brother were as civilized and clean as you..."

"Brother!" Erlang ran over and grabbed his arm as soon as he saw his brother arrive. "Let's go play ball!"

Shao-ge'er said with a smile, "Wait a moment, brother just finished school and wants to talk to Mother for a while..."

"Did everything go smoothly today?" Mo Yi, who had just given birth to two sons, was a little plump and carefully looked at the three of them.

"Reporting to Mother, everything went smoothly." Xiangxiang came over and helped her push the cradle. "Xiangxiang's writing was praised by the teacher today... Shaodi's... was alright too! Qianqian..." She covered her mouth and laughed.

Qianqian had a thick skin and didn't care.

"Mother, I just heard that my cousin, the Crown Prince, and Uncle Bao have returned?" Shao Ge'er asked, as he was very fond of calligraphy.

"Yes! Your cousin has gone to the palace. Uncle Bao has gone home. In a little while, Mother will have someone ask the teacher for leave. You two can rest tomorrow and meet with them."

"Great!" Qianqian was the first to jump up.

In the palace, Li Jing was watching the young man enter through the gate.

Approaching thirty, he had grown a short beard and lost his former "steel" and domineering air, becoming much more refined. Because he spent all day sitting and handling official business, even riding a horse had become a luxury. Therefore, he was fatter... well... more robust than before.

The case was closed three years ago.

Leaving aside the affairs of the court, the harem was also in turmoil for a while. Especially Liu Su, the chief eunuch who had served the emperor almost his entire life. Due to his injury, he endured several months of suffering before finally passing away.

All these things combined left the emperor feeling depressed, and he fell ill again.

So, after recovering from his illness, he never regained control of the court affairs he had left behind.

But precisely because of this, as the saying goes, "a carefree life brings peace of mind." Despite his frail and unsteady body, he managed to persevere for three years.

Anian bowed respectfully, his movements dignified and elegant: "Nephew greets Imperial Uncle!"

Li Jing was somewhat stunned... This, this is still that mischievous monkey? Before he left, he clung to him for a long time and wouldn't let go!
But now, he stands tall and elegant, with an imposing presence. His head is a head and a half taller than before he left!

Slim waist, broad shoulders, long legs, and a perky butt.

It didn't become much prettier... but this energy!
He was gentle and profound, like an elder brother.

Effortless and resolute, just like myself.

But those eyes, when they smile, the pupils become obscured, revealing a cunning glint, just like her older sister's…

He truly embodies all the best qualities of the three of us brothers.

"Hmm..." Li Jing nodded, stroking his short beard in approval.

He'd done this countless times, and Mo Yi had scolded him for it. "Why are you acting like an old man!" she complained. "Even my father doesn't act like that!"

But he felt that this was a good way to express his emotions, and he would do it from time to time when he was carrying Mo Yi on his back.

"He's quite tall! And looks very sturdy; he must still be practicing martial arts!"

“I haven’t put it down. Uncle, you’ve gained a bit of weight…” Li Nian raised an eyebrow.

"Nonsense...that's not true!" Li Jing was annoyed. Anian, with her usual playful grin, said, "I heard that my aunt gave me two younger brothers...congratulations, Uncle! I'll come visit tomorrow!"

Li Jing snorted, still the same mischievous monkey.

"Okay. Let's go, I'll take you to see your royal grandfather first!"

The uncle and nephew walked back, and were now almost the same height. "You're considerably taller than your father!"

"Lots of activities, lots of food. And there's calligraphy here..."

When they arrived at the emperor's bedchamber, the eunuchs were reading to him...

Li Jing always managed to see the Emperor, so he didn't think much of it.

When Anian looked again, she felt that her grandfather had aged drastically, was so thin that he was just skin and bones, and had an aura of impending death about him.

"Grandson pays respects to His Majesty!" He knelt down and kowtowed.

"Get up." The emperor looked at him with his cloudy eyes and stretched out his hand. "Come here, let me see you..."

He liked to refer to himself as "朕" (Zhen), because it meant that although he no longer did anything, he was still the ruler of the world.

When faced with important matters, Li Jing would still come to him for "consultation" and "advice," and he would actively make decisions.

However, how it was carried out afterward... if he doesn't get a reply in the short term, he'll forget...

The Emperor carefully observed Li Nian, as well as the interaction between him and Li Jing, and the emotions that were evident between them.

He used all his wisdom in his life, but he still couldn't understand why Li Jing was willing to abdicate.

The history books about this position were all written in blood!
Sigh, I don't want to think about it anymore!
"This child has such beautiful eyes! Seventh Prince... he's almost of marriageable age, it's time to find him a wife... I think the Ministry of Rites should handle it! In the end, I'll make the final decision! Nian'er, what do you say?!"

“Of course, it’s Grandfather who makes the decision!” Li Nian squinted happily. “Officially, you are the Emperor. Personally, you are the grandfather. It’s perfectly legitimate for you to make the decision!! Just remember to find a good-looking one for your grandson!”

The Emperor, pleased with himself, glanced at Li Jing. "What good is beauty? Your principal wife must be from a prestigious family, gentle and dignified..."

He kept rambling on, and Li Nian nodded exaggeratedly in agreement, looking like she was saying, "You're absolutely right!"

Li Jing snorted coldly from the side... This mischievous monkey, his personality is just like his sister's.

……

Song Jiayou accompanied them on their trip. Now, he was accompanying Mo Bao home, his future looking promising.

But when the Mo family saw the ink treasure, they were all dumbfounded.

The chubby little guy from before is now: tall, fair-skinned, handsome, and slim. His charisma is absolutely top-notch…

He completely crushed Mo Da, who always acted like a "young talent".

The two brothers, Mo Rushan and Mo Ruhai, watched with great interest.

Cunning as ink and as shrewd as a mountain, his eyes immediately lit up, and he stroked his chin, pondering his marriage... This time, he must marry someone of high status.

His transformation was so drastic that even Wang didn't dare rush over to cry.

Another point is that her life revolves entirely around Xu Kang-ge'er...

……

The next day, Li Nian came to the Prince Qi's residence, and Mo Bao also came.

Seeing them, Mo Yi exclaimed, "Now I finally understand what it means to be completely different! Mo Bao, how did you lose weight?"

She gave birth to two children in a row, and although she didn't look fat, her clothes were all too tight...

"Lots of homework, lots of things to do, lots of places to go. Some roads can only be traveled on foot... Sister, look how sturdy I am."

"Then why is she still so fair-skinned? Look at Anian..."

“Auntie, instead of praising me, you’re criticizing me! Who’s like him, always covering his face with a cloth wherever he goes…” Anian glared at Mo Bao.

"Disrespectful to elders..." Mo Bao would also tease him.

"I haven't even had a chance to compliment him yet, he's really tall!"

Li Nian was very happy. "With Mo Bao by my side, I eat better! And I'm definitely moving around more. I think I can still grow taller! I'll definitely surpass my uncle!" He beamed with pride.

In Mo Yi's presence, his composure and maturity faded, replaced by the liveliness of a young man.

"Besides, my nephew has swum across major rivers! He's amazing!"

After chatting for a while, Mo Yi finally asked, "When do you plan to go back to the Liu family?"

"I'm going back tomorrow."

"Yes, the kindness of raising and nurturing should not be taken lightly!"

(End of this chapter)