Chapter 10 – Tyrant VS National Teacher (10)
However, Mo Yi wondered how long this person would stay in the palace. Just as Mo Yi was thinking about it, he saw the person in front of him already picking up the bowl and eating heartily.
While eating, he complained to Mo Yi, “Kid, don’t keep calling me ‘you’ all the time. I’m a few years older than you, at least in terms of pastries. Come on, call me Brother Jin and see how it sounds.”
Mu Jin raised his eyebrows, playfully teasing the child.
Surprisingly, this time the child didn’t get angry at his words. Instead, he hesitated for a moment and actually called out softly, “Brother Jin.”
“Good boy!” Mu Jin listened to the address and instantly smiled with joy.
He quickly picked up several chopsticks of dishes for the child, signaling him to eat as well.
Watching Mu Jin eat with relish, Mo Yi blinked his eyes.
For some reason, he felt a bit delighted about the familiar address they had developed.
Unable to hold back a smile, Mo Yi also started eating the delicious meal in front of him.
However, after being full and satisfied, Mu Jin still didn’t leave even after the palace attendants had tidied up the room.
Mo Yi looked at Mu Jin, who was leisurely sipping tea with a puzzled expression.
After a while, he finally saw Mu Jin yawn wearily.
Thinking of bidding him farewell and encouraging him to rest early, Mo Yi was surprised when Mu Jin walked casually to his bed, directly took off his outer garment, turned over, and got into bed.
He patted the bed, saying matter-of-factly, “Mo Yi, come over and rest! Children who sleep late won’t grow tall, you know!”
Hearing Mu Jin’s words, Mo Yi wanted to retort but seeing that the other had comfortably closed his eyes, he hesitated.
Although he felt it was inappropriate, the warmth of that person’s embrace made the child suddenly reluctant to let him go.
Mo Yi bit his lip and had a conflicting battle within his heart.
But in the end, he couldn’t resist the desire in his heart. Carefully, he climbed onto the bed.
Sure enough, as soon as he got on the bed, Mu Jin pulled him into his arms.
The youth’s aura still brought a sense of security.
Mo Yi couldn’t help but think, if he really had a brother who cared for him, would it be like this?
Relaxing, he closed his eyes, burying his head deeply in Mu Jin’s neck.
He just hoped that Mu Jin could stay with him for a longer time, even longer.
In his heart, he hoped for this, but little did he know that with Mu Jin’s stay, it would be a lifetime.
[Seven years later]
People say after the rainbow clears and the rain stops, the autumn sky becomes clear, and the mountains are dyed with new green eyebrows.
Such a refreshing scene is a common sight in the outskirts of Xi Ling City during autumn.
A tall and seemingly large young man, wearing soft armor, is riding swiftly on a spirited horse, heading towards the camp.
The young man looks about seventeen or eighteen, with sword-like eyebrows and sharp, light amber eyes.
When he approaches the tent, he dismounts with a fluid and graceful movement.
Perhaps thinking of the person in the tent, his brows soften a bit.
Opening the curtain, a young man in white clothes is lazily sitting on a couch inside the tent.
A pair of large cat-like eyes show a hint of confusion, and shallow dimples give a touch of childishness.
He looks much younger than his actual age, making it impossible for anyone to guess his real age.
With one hand holding a wine jug and the other supporting his cheek, he shakes the empty wine jug in a somewhat dissatisfied manner.
Raising his eyes, he finally notices the tall young man entering the tent.
He immediately reveals a brilliant smile, and the two dimples seem to ooze sweetness.
Mu Jin cheerfully says, “Mo Yi, why are you back so soon? Any gains?”
Originally a clear tone, it carries a bit of huskiness due to intoxication, making Mo Yi’s ears slightly numb.
Feeling a strange warmth in his ears, Mo Yi helplessly called out, “Brother Jin.”
As usual, he couldn’t do anything about Mu Jin’s informal appearance.
Seeing that Mu Jin was about to fall off the couch with his head tilted, Mo Yi hurriedly took a few steps forward and directly pulled him back.
Mu Jin, seizing the opportunity, embraced the youth’s waist, seemingly accustomed to such actions.
Little drunkard! Mo Yi sighed in his heart, but anyway, Mu Jin had been like this for seven years.
The two spent a lot of time together, and their relationship became even closer.
However, it was unknown when Mu Jin developed this drinking habit.
It seemed that since he was fifteen or sixteen, he often sneaked into the kitchen to steal and drink wine.
After reaching adulthood, Mu Jin became even more addicted to alcohol.
Even Mo Yi couldn’t stop him, so he had no choice but to reluctantly allow him to drink a small pot of wine every day.
Fortunately, Mu Jin didn’t care what others thought, and he listened to Mo He’s persuasion.
If he saw that Mo Yi was truly unhappy, he would show a somewhat pitiful look and cherish every drop of that small pot of wine he drank every day.
On weekdays, Mu Jin always complains about not having enough to drink. This time, taking advantage of the autumn hunt to relax, Mo Yi wanted to let Mu Jin relax, and did not restrict his drinking.
Little did he know, this guy ended up soaking himself in the wine barrel.
Days passed without seeing anyone in the hunting ground, spending each day hiding in the tent and drinking.
Mu Jin, beside him, seemed oblivious to the youth’s frustration, still swaying his head with a smile.
Hanging on the other person, he hummed, “Yi er, get me another jug of wine.”
Seeing this, Mo Yi frowned slightly and solemnly said, “No, Brother Jin, you’ve already had quite a bit today.”
“I remember, you’ve been drinking since breakfast.”
Hearing Mo Yi’s words, Mu Jin pouted and muttered, “The older you get, the less lovable you become.”
Clearly, when he was young, he was so easy to deceive. Whatever he said was taken as the truth.
When teased, he even knew how to show his claws, a lively wolf cub in front of him.
But somehow, over the seven years, this kid had become more and more upright.
Always busy managing everything, even though he was six years younger, he lectured like a little old man.
Could it be that there was a problem with his upbringing?
Mu Jin rubbed his chin and looked at Mo Yi.
Glancing at the other’s figure, he wondered what the kid had been eating behind his back.
But at the age of fifteen, he surprisingly grew taller than himself.
The originally slender figure had also developed over the years, looking very strong.
If the two of them stood together, people might believe Mo Yi was older.
On the contrary, he still looked like he was sixteen or seventeen.
Watching Mo Yi busy in the tent, Mu Jin sighed.
He felt that as an elder brother, he was really incompetent, always being taken care of by the other.
At the beginning, he used to take care of the child’s life himself.
But somehow, at some point, their positions had reversed.
However, Mo Yi was indeed much more attentive than him, and he seemed to enjoy taking care of everything around him.
Over time, the lazy Mu Jin just went along with it.
But since the kid grew up, his appearance became more and more similar to Senior Qiong Qi.
Mu Jin rested his chin on his hand, looking at Mo Yi in front of him, and couldn’t help but think of the past Qiong Qi, a fleeting nostalgia in his eyes.
Looking at the already broad back of the other person, Mu Jin’s face turned slightly red.
In his heart, he couldn’t help but look forward to when his own child would grow up completely.
Although in less than three years the other would come of age, he was a bit impatient at the moment.
However, at this moment, Mu Jin didn’t notice that the young man in front of him, once again seeing that familiar nostalgic expression in Mu Jin’s eyes, lowered his head, concealing the melancholy in his eyes.
Since he was very young, Mo Yi had noticed that as he grew up, Mu Jin would sometimes look at him absentmindedly.
Although his gaze was on him, it seemed to be seeing another person through him.
He always speculated who Mu Jin was looking at, wondering if it was because of that person that Mu Jin treated him so well?
Unable to resist the curiosity but afraid to ask, he feared that the answer would be the one he least wanted to hear.
So, Mo Yi endured his curiosity, pretending to be deaf and mute, but still couldn’t stop the faint pain in his heart.
Over the years, Mo Yi was no longer the child who could be bullied.
Since living with the Empress Dowager, his health had indeed improved a lot.
Later, Mo Yi found that the Empress Dowager genuinely loved him, and he was grateful. His filial piety towards the Empress Dowager became more meticulous.
With the deepening relationship between the grandmother and grandson, Mo Yi’s status in the palace also soared.
However, facing the flattery of the palace maids, he paid no attention.
Because he knew that in this palace, only the Empress Dowager and Mu Jin truly treated him sincerely.
Having seen the complexities of the world early on, Mo Yi did not care about those shallow sentiments.
In this world, the only important people left for him were the Empress Dowager and Mu Jin.
Thinking this way, he saw Mu Jin pick up a small bowl from the table and pour some clear water into it.
Then, he took out a porcelain bottle from his pocket, took out a dark red pill, and dissolved it in the water.
Looking up, he beckoned to Mo Yi and said, “Come, Yi’er, drink this medicine.”
Mo Yi nodded at the words and obediently walked over to take the medicine bowl and had a sip.
The medicine in the bowl was slightly bitter, with a fresh lotus leaf fragrance and an indescribable fishy-sweet taste.
It made it hard for people to discern what exactly was in it.