CH 124.1

Chapter 124.1 – Innocent and Cute

With the fireworks launched early, the New Year’s Eve family banquet also naturally ended earlier.

This was a good thing for Qi Yang and Lu Qipei. They did not want to stay overnight in the palace, so they took advantage of the time not being too late yet to take the carriage back to the princess’s mansion.

While they returned home, Qi Yang told Lu Qipei, “I wonder if Ah Sheng is already asleep. She might not be able to stay up late at her age.”

When the two of them returned to the mansion and summoned the maid to ask, Lu Sheng was indeed already asleep. She had dinner with Zhi Ting and the others, and stayed up to wait for the New Year until 9pm, then couldn’t help falling asleep. Children can grow up quickly precisely because they have enough sleep. Zhi Ting and the others certainly would not force Lu Sheng to stay up, so when she fell asleep, they carried her back to rest.

Qi Yang felt a bit regretful about this, feeling that the two of them still came back too late. Then, she took Lu Qipei to watch the sleeping little dumpling together, and gently tucked her in before leaving, returning to her own courtyard to continue waiting for the New Year.

Without the child, their New Year’s Eve celebration was a bit less lively, but there was no lack of warmth and affection.

The two of them sat in front of the brazier while chatting about all kinds of things. They never lacked topics to talk about, but it was rare that they could have a conversation like today, one that didn’t mention Xie Yuan or the court, only about romance.

Time passed by without notice, and soon midnight arrived. Because the two of them had returned to the mansion early, the servants of the princess’s mansion did not dare go back and rest early. Seeing that the time was almost there, they came to pay their New Year’s greetings.

Lu Qipei and Qi Yang sprinkled another wave of red envelopes, and finished welcoming the New Year amidst faint sounds of firecrackers. After that, they finally returned to their room to rest.

It was a beautiful night, and they had a good dream. By the time they woke up the next day, it was already dawn.

Lu Sheng came over early in the morning with the rabbit in her arms, and waited for a while before the two of them came out. The child, who was playing with the bunny’s ears in boredom, suddenly had her eyes light up. She put down the rabbit and went up to greet them, followed by a string of New Year’s greetings.

All the New Year’s greetings were taught by Zhi Ting, but it was quite seeing a child do it so seriously.

Qi Yang couldn’t help but bending down to pick up Lu Sheng and pinch the child’s pink cheeks. “Ah Sheng is so clever, why did you come here so early today?”

Lu Sheng obediently accepted it, then said bluntly, “It’s getting late, Ah Sheng has been waiting for a long time.”

The child’s misty black eyes opened wide and she explained seriously, as if accusing the two adults of waking up late and thinking she woke up too early. Being stared at by her clear eyes, Qi Yang felt a bit embarrassed for some reason and did not dare to look at her, and slightly moved her gaze away.

And even more embarrassing things were waiting for her. Because Qi Yang tilted her head and she was holding Lu Sheng in her arms, her snow-white neck was slightly exposed, and the child could see a few mottled red marks on it with a glance. Of course, Lu Sheng didn’t know what they were, so she reached out to touch it and said, “Has Your Highness been bitten by mosquitoes? There’re so many bumps!”

When she heard this, Qi Yang’s face turned red, and her snow-white neck also turned crimson. Especially when Lu Sheng’s small hand touched her neck, she immediately threw her at Lu Qipei and hurriedly fixed her collar.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Sheng changed arms. Her hand was still stretched out, her eyes blinking with a blank and innocent look on her face.

With a certain something being exposed by the child, Lu Qipei blushed a little. But she still pretended to be serious and told her, “There are no mosquitoes in winter, and Ah Sheng should not tell others about Her Highness, understand?”

Lu Sheng was confused, but she had excellent eyesight. She listened to Lu Qipei’s instructions, but instead of nodding obediently as usual, she tilted her head to look at Lu Qipei’s neck. They also had red marks that were partially covered, so she insisted, “Uncle is lying, there are mosquitoes in winter, and Uncle has also been bitten!”

On the side, Qi Yang’s reddened cheeks finally cooled down a little. When she heard the child’s righteous accusations, for a while she didn’t know whether to feel ashamed or annoyed. Lu Qipei also uneasily tugged at her collar, covering up the small mark that accidentally showed up. “No, Ah Sheng is wrong.”

Lu Sheng felt a little aggrieved hearing this, but she didn’t dare to pull Lu Qipei’s clothes. She went to look at Qi Yang again, but the latter was too embarrassed to look at her. The child had no choice but to break free from Lu Qipei’s arms, and ran to pick up the rabbit sullenly.

Qi Yang rolled her eyes at Lu Qipei several times, and the latter obediently lowered her head and silently admitted her fault.

The young couple had a visual fight, but Her Royal Highness The Princess was soon coaxed. But after coaxing the big one, Lu Qipei obviously needed to coax the little one as well. She walked over and touched the child’s head, saying, “Ah Sheng, can we talk about it?”

Lu Sheng was quite obedient. She was clearly sulking right now, but she still turned around and looked at her when she heard Lu Qipei’s words.

When she saw this, Lu Qipei said, “Ah Sheng will keep this a secret for me and Her Highness, and today we’ll take you out to play, okay?”

Children always loved to play. Previously, Lu Sheng had been staying at the mansion and didn’t think much about it. But after Qi Yang and Lu Qipei took her out a few times, the little dumpling had clearly developed an infinite longing for the world outside the mansion. Although she didn’t understand the secret behind being bitten by mosquitoes at the moment, it was clearly worth it that this small matter could be exchanged with an opportunity to play.

Lu Sheng quickly nodded, her previous gloom cleared away, and she got up happily while holding the rabbit.