Chapter 199
The two of them helped with the arrangements for their grandson's wedding. It was already autumn, and Zhuzhou was far away. Liu Yizhu didn't want her to catch a cold on the road, so they decided to stay a few more days in the capital city.
The following year, as spring approached, he had a royal physician examine her to ensure that she was fit for travel before setting off with her once again.
Zhong Liangyu hosted a banquet at the renowned Guanhai Pavilion in the city to welcome them and offer them some respite. Li Mingwei stood on the high platform, gazing at the endless blue sea in the distance, unable to suppress a sigh of amazement.
The sea breeze blew fiercely, causing her hair to quickly become disheveled and her stance to waver. Liu Yizhu hurriedly shielded her: "The wind is too strong, let's go inside first."
"Alright."
Li Mingwei reluctantly entered the house, feeling slightly better as she looked at the sumptuous meal on the table.
"These are all seafood dishes. Sister-in-law, see if they suit your taste. If not, we can change them."
"Okay."
Just as she picked up her chopsticks, Yang Jingyuan walked in from outside, surprising her for a moment: "What are you doing here?"
Yang Jingyuan plopped down on a chair, panting heavily: "I came to see you all."
Zhong Liangyu explained: "He resigned from his official position and plans to return to his hometown with his family. He came to bid farewell to me a few days ago and had just left not long ago. When you sent the letter saying you were arriving soon, I passed it to him, asking if he wanted to meet you all before leaving."
Receiving the letter, Yang Jingyuan settled his family, then rushed back alone, arriving just now.
He slumped back in the chair: "I'm getting old, tired after two days on the road."
"You've been on the road for half a month, it's normal to be tired." Zhong Liangyu poured him a cup of hot tea and advised him to drink it and take a break.
Liu Yizhu stared at his large belly and joked, "Wasn't life in Xuzhou quite comfortable? Why return to Shuangan Town?"
"The new provincial governor in Xuzhou is a bit radical, I couldn't handle it."
"How radical?" asked Liu Yizhu.
"Why do you care?" Yang Jingyuan glanced at him sideways. "You've resigned, it's none of your business."
Liu Yizhu raised an eyebrow, "It's not my business, but my son can handle it."
Rolling his eyes, Yang Jingyuan said, "I get it, your son is capable, enough said."
Nevertheless, it wasn't a big deal. New officials often come in with a lot of energy, wanting to make some achievements. If successful, it might not be a bad thing.
Differences in political views among officials were common, so Yang Jingyuan wasn't too concerned. He had heard that Liu Yizhu had resigned from his post, and he was somewhat eager himself. Now, it was just a matter of seizing the opportunity.
He toyed with the teacup, "Going back is also good, I can still go to Chengzhou occasionally to have a drink with Tang Jue."
Zhong Liangyu frowned, "You two never stop when you get together. At your age, you should drink less."
"I know, I know, why are you more nagging than my old lady at home?"
"You!"
Li Mingwei covered her mouth and chuckled, while Liu Yizhu reached out and pinched the back of her neck. She obediently lowered her head and focused on eating her food.
Liu Yizhu looked at Zhong Liangyu, "What about you, will you also return to Shuangan Town in the future?"
"I won't go back." His family business and connections are mostly in Zhuzhou, and his wife is also from a prominent local family, so staying behind would be better for the future development of the Zhong family.
Li Mingwei nodded, indicating her understanding.
It had been a long time since they had seen each other, and perhaps after this parting, they may never meet again. During this rare reunion, they cherished each other's company, even though the food had gone cold and they couldn't stop talking.
Li Mingwei had already finished eating. She sat quietly in her chair, listening to them pour out their hearts, but her mind drifted away, the sound of the sea being whipped by the wind, hitting the rocks over and over again, so clear in her ears.
She hesitated for a moment, then quietly slipped out and had a servant take her to a nearby beach.
Liu Yizhu glanced at her, thinking she had just gone to the restroom, and didn't pay much attention. But when she didn't return after a long wait, he went out to inquire, only to find out that she had already left. He quickly informed the other two and went after her.
Li Mingwei imitated the fishermen on the beach, took off her shoes, rolled up her pants, and stepped on the wet sand, leaving behind a trail of happy footprints.
"Mingwei!"
When Liu Yizhu arrived, he saw her barefoot in the water, his face immediately darkening. He quickly went up to her, wrapped her in a cloak, and brought her back to the shore.
He sat her on a rock, touched her cold feet, used a handkerchief to wipe them, helped her put on her shoes and socks, and said displeasedly, "Do you want to drink medicine again? I'll find a doctor for you later."
"I don't want to, medicine doesn't taste good."
"Then why were you stepping in the water? It's still cold out, the wind is strong, and your health isn't that great. You might get sick if you're not careful."
Li Mingwei smiled at him, handed him the seashells she had just picked up, and said, "Here, these are for you."
"I don't want them!"
"Oh~" Li Mingwei pouted, "You're so stingy."
She blew the sand off the seashells, put them back in her arms, and since he didn't want them, she wouldn't force it. She had only picked up these two, and she would feel reluctant to give them away.
"Let's go." Liu Yizhu helped her stand up. "Let's go back."
Li Mingwei refused to get up from the ground. "Don't go, you promised to take me to the beach to watch the sunset, why are we going back already?"
"We can still see it from up there."
"The wind is too strong up there."
Liu Yizhu carefully felt the strength of the wind here, reluctantly sat down beside her, hugged her, and quietly waited with her.
The sun gradually sank in the west, the sky was filled with the glow of the sunset, and the sea was also dyed orange-red. Li Mingwei leaned on Liu Yizhu's shoulder, watching the sun slowly disappear below the horizon, gently biting her lip.
"Liu Yizhu."
"Yes?"
"In the future, I want to be the one to die first, okay?"
Liu Yizhu frowned, hugged her tighter, and said, "Don't talk nonsense."
"I mean it."
People will eventually die, unable to escape, but she couldn't accept that one day, he would slowly lose his breath by her side, just like this setting sun.
She whispered, "I will feel very sad, you wouldn't want me to be so sad, right?"
"Then would you want me to be sad?"
Li Mingwei straightened up boldly, "If I'm already dead, you won't see me being sad anyway."
Liu Yizhu covered her mouth with his hand: "Stop being so stubborn."
He didn't want to hear her say these things.
"Wu wu~"
Li Mingwei struggled to push away his hand covering her mouth, trying to make him let go, but Liu Yizhu stood firm and carried her back when she stopped struggling.
If he ever agreed to take her to see the sunset again, he would be a fool!
"Get up early tomorrow, I'll take you to see the sunrise."
Li Mingwei...
In the early morning, as the first rays of sunlight spilled down, everything around gradually became brighter, the sea shimmered with dazzling waves, exceptionally bright, but no matter how beautiful the sunrise was, it eventually set.
Over the years, Liu Yizhu accompanied Li Mingwei to travel through the rivers and mountains of the great Chu, until she became less mobile, and they returned to the capital.
They lived next to Shuhua Academy, listening to the sound of students reading next door every day, the laughter of young men and women playing, feeling content in their hearts.
Although Li Mingwei found the capital boring, with children and grandchildren around, it was still enjoyable. With the company of many descendants, they passed through the last stage of their lives together...
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