Chapter 13 Wherever my heart is at peace is my hometown

Although Liuzhi Garden is quiet, the weather is naturally unpredictable due to its geographical location facing north and south. It was still windless and rainless just now, but snowflakes fell at that time.

People who can't sleep have their own reasons, which have nothing to do with the bright moon and clear wind, nor the snow and frost.

After the Yin hour, Tingsheng and Lu Yuan had already washed and changed clothes as usual, and stood outside respectfully waiting for Xiao Jingyan to get up. Although they were not in the palace, they dared not break the rules.

Xiao Jingyan also stayed up all night. If he was not worried that Changsu did not get enough rest, he would probably have a lot of things to tell Changsu last night.

Tingsheng stood outside the door and heard some movement inside, so he knocked on the door.

Jingyan heard the knock on the door and thought it was Tingsheng, so he asked, "Is it Tingsheng?"

"Yes." It was not convenient for Tingsheng to call Jingyan "Your Majesty" outside.

"Come in." Jingyan had never asked Tingsheng to call him father, so even if he faced such a blunt answer from Tingsheng, it was nothing.

Tingsheng walked in alone and asked Lu Yuan to wait outside.

Not seeing Lu Yuan beside Tingsheng, Jingyan immediately understood Tingsheng's intention.

"Your Majesty, your son greets you." Tingsheng lowered his voice, but still performed the etiquette that the monarch and his subjects should have.

Xiao Jingyan nodded, indicating that Tingsheng did not need to be so restrained. Although he knew that Tingsheng was being polite, it was indeed too unfamiliar between father and son.

"Tingsheng, what do you want to talk to your father about?" Jingyan deliberately used the word "father" which he had never used before, but Tingsheng did not show any resistance and still half-lowered his head.

"Your Majesty, your son came here today to discuss something with your majesty."

Although he did not verbally oppose this title, he still used the word "your majesty" to address Jingyan.

Jingyan's heart tightened, and his throat was even more uncomfortable. He wanted to cough twice, but he didn't make any sound.

"Your Majesty, I have decided to follow you to Jiangzuo League." Tingsheng said word by word.

This decision made Xiao Jingyan feel disappointed. After all, he never thought that Tingsheng would choose to stay in Jiangzuo League. Although he knew that Tingsheng had a deep relationship with you, he gave Tingsheng the status of the emperor's adopted son. Even if Tingsheng could not become a wise king in the future, he would never have less than other princes. Just because he was the flesh and blood of Brother Qi, Xiao Jingyan could not be cold to this child in his life.

"Your Majesty, Tingsheng did this just to follow his heart." Tingsheng said with his head down.

Xiao Jingyan said nothing, but he still couldn't understand the child's thoughts in his heart, and looked straight at Tingsheng.

"Your Majesty, Tingsheng did this just to follow his heart." Tingsheng said with his head down.

Xiao Jingyan said nothing, but he still couldn't understand the child's thoughts in his heart, and looked straight at Tingsheng.

Tingsheng didn't dare to look up, feeling a little panic in his heart. He paused, thought about what he cared about most, and said slowly, "There are three reasons why Tingsheng decided to follow you back to Jiangzuo League. First, Tingsheng is willing to learn from you and establish the foundation of being a man." He bit his lip, frowned, and continued, "Second, you have no children, Tingsheng is willing to serve you, be filial to you, and save you from loneliness. If I go back to the palace with your majesty, you will be left alone to bear the pain, even if it is gorgeous clothes and delicious food, Tingsheng will find it difficult to bear it." When it comes to the third reason, Tingsheng is nervous and has deep guilt, but he still has to say it, "Third, for Tingsheng, even if the palace is magnificent and rich, it is not as peaceful as half a day in Su's house." After Tingsheng finished speaking, he slowly raised his head. This was the first time in all these years that he and Xiao Jingyan were completely frank and disregarded the consequences. He knew that Xiao Jingyan would not be furious, let alone blame him for it, but the more this happened, the more guilty Tingsheng felt. Emotions are not fair. Even if Xiao Jingyan tried his best to be good to Tingsheng, his status as the emperor had already divided all emotions into two sides. No matter how hard Tingsheng tried to ignore Xiao Jingyan's status as a monarch, he could not forget that he was a slave of the Yeyou Court.

Xiao Jingyan looked at Tingsheng seriously without blinking. On the one hand, he was moved by Tingsheng's sincere feelings for the teacher, on the other hand, he lamented that Tingsheng looked down on fame and fortune, and on the third, he was immersed in the sadness brought by his own power.

Xiao Jingyan took a few breaths, and finally had to look up to the child in front of him. He thought that wealth and honor were the best compensation for this child, but only seeking peace of mind was what this dissatisfied young man really wanted. This was what Changsu had mentioned at the beginning, but he had never noticed it.

"Okay, Tingsheng, good boy. Father promises you." Xiao Jingyan instantly loved Tingsheng even more, and inadvertently used the word "father" to call himself, but the reluctance in his words finally came out. "If you want to return to the palace in the future, you can go to the residence of General Meng. Don't worry, there are people there who can take you to the palace at any time. Remember, father's place will always be your home, understand, Tingsheng!"

Tingsheng nodded heavily and bowed deeply to Jingyan, "I know, father... Your Majesty." The father who was on his lips did not call out.

Xiao Jingyan squeezed Tingsheng's shoulders tightly, deliberately ignoring Tingsheng's address to himself, "Tingsheng, you have really become a lot stronger in the past two years. You are no longer thin and weak at that time, and have become a handsome young man." In his words, he did not lose his manly spirit.

Tingsheng breathed a sigh of relief, excited to finally say what he thought in his heart, but he could not ignore the sadness in Jingyan's warm eyes. Thinking of Xiao Jingyan's love for him in the past, the unreserved trust, Youer's words "I really envy you" suddenly rang in his ears.

Tingsheng paused, looked at Jingyan sincerely, and knelt straight on his knees, "Xiao Tingsheng will always be your Majesty's adopted son."

"Father is really happy that you can think so." Xiao Jingyan's eyes flushed instantly, restrained his emotions, patted Tingsheng's shoulder, calmed down, and said, "Since you have decided, go to the master and make it clear. The master is still waiting for your decision."

"Your son obeys." Tingsheng bowed his head, stood up, and started to walk towards Changsu's room.

Looking at Tingsheng's departing back, Xiao Jingyan seemed to see an old man. That kind of light, even in the darkest corner, is still dazzling and cannot be ignored.

On the other side

Mei Changsu knew that Jingyan would have to leave today, but he couldn't stay, so he asked Li Gang to help him change clothes early in the morning, wiped his face with cotton cloth, and was ready for Jingyan, Tingsheng and others to come to the house to say goodbye to him.

"Sir, it's us, Tingsheng and Luyuan." Tingsheng knocked on the door outside and said steadily.

"Let them in," Changsu said to Li Gang.

Li Gang nodded and put the things he had prepared for the two yesterday aside, thinking that the two must be here to say goodbye.

When the door was opened, a chill came, and it was already snowy outside. As soon as the two children entered the room, Li Gang quickly closed the door. Tingsheng and Luyuan stood by the stove for a while, and did not rush to salute. It was not until the coldness on their bodies was reduced that they dared to walk in front of Changsu. Of course, this also means that the two children are not so restrained. They don't need to be perfect in front of Changsu, as long as they are considerate and casual.

Changsu looked at them with a warm smile on his face, his eyes full of pampering and concern.

The two stepped forward and bowed their hands, bowing slightly, "Greetings, sir."

Changsu nodded and asked them to sit down, no need for courtesy.

Tingsheng and Lu Yuan looked at each other, and after confirming that what they said must be what the other party was thinking, Tingsheng spoke first, "Sir, yesterday you asked Tingsheng and Lu Yuan if they were willing to go to Jiangzuo League with you. We have made a decision."

Changsu listened very seriously, his heart was calm, no matter what the result was, it was expected.

Tingsheng took a breath quietly, looked at Changsu, with a hint of uncertainty in his eyes, not knowing whether his decision would really be accepted by Changsu, but since he had decided to follow his heart, let's try it once and take a tentative step forward.

"We decided to follow you back to Jiangzuo League," he said, and took another breath secretly.

Although Lu Yuan on the side had never spoken, his hands were already clenched with sweat, and he was also uneasy for a long time.

Hearing the decision of the two sons, Changsu's eyes were calm and warm, and even the smile on his face did not change at all, and all this made Tingsheng and Luyuan feel relieved.

"You have decided, right?" Changsu's expression was still kind to their decision, but only he knew the complexity in his heart, "Do you know that once you go to Jiangzuo League, even if you return to the palace in the future, what you have now will no longer exist. Do you really regret it?"

"No regrets." The two young men answered without hesitation.

"Sir, for Tingsheng, only peace of mind is the most important."

"The same is true for Luyuan."

Mei Changsu suppressed the excitement in his chest, looked at the two children in front of him seriously, and said with relief, "Well, good children, you have really grown up. It seems that in the past six months when I was away, this big buffalo really taught his children well." Tingsheng and Luyuan heard the first half of the sentence very clearly, but when it came to the second half, even Li Gang, who was standing closest to Changsu, could not hear what Changsu said.

Tingsheng and Luyuan looked at Changsu with a slightly questioning look.

Changsu smiled faintly, still trying to interrupt, "Oh, I was going to bring you some books, since you have decided to follow the teacher back to Jiangzuo League, then I won't rush to give you these books, but I'd better teach you little by little."

The two nodded, their eyes sincere.

In any case, Tingsheng still had to see Jingyan off, so he hurriedly left Changsu's room.

He lowered his head as he walked, and even Tingsheng himself couldn't explain what he was thinking. What exactly is peace of mind? Staying away from government affairs and ignoring the intrigues and schemes is peace of mind? Or staying by the teacher's side and only doing academic work will make you feel at ease? Or will you feel at ease if you don't dwell on the past and spend your life in Jiangzuo League? What exactly is peace of mind? Many years later, Xiao Tingsheng finally understood what true peace of mind was, but now he is still uneasy.