Chapter 81 (END) (2/2)

Pei Xiao Niao cried louder because his little sister bullied him again.

‘Second sister, you shouldn’t bully first brother,’ Pei Wen Hui said. ‘First brother, you shouldn’t wipe your snot on second sister’s dress.’

Pei Wen Hui looked down at his older brother.

Pei Xiao Niao looked out the window and missed his imperial uncle more because his little sister and little brother joined forces to bully him. His father loved Xiao Rui and his mother loved Xiao Hui. Only his imperial uncle loved him. He cried more pitifully as the horse carriage travelled further away from the imperial city.

Pei Jin looked at his three lively children and he smiled.

‘Shi Ning, should we conceive another child?’ Pei Jin asked.

‘No!’ Yan Shi Ning said.

Yan Shi Ning thought her youngest son was good and obedient. Her oldest son and daughter were fire and water, they gave her a headache. But Pei Khan was the most behaved and helpful when Pei Khan was her children’s ages. She worried about leaving Pei Khan on his own in the imperial city.

‘Pei Jin, do you think Pei Khan can cope on his own in the imperial city?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

‘Shi Ning, you should believe in Pei Khan’s capabilities,’ Pei Jin said.

Yan Shi Ning nodded her head. Pei Khan was the most suited to be the emperor even more suitable than Pei Jin. Pei Khan was fair, merciful, decisive and calm under pressure.

Pei Jin believed Pei Khan would be a good emperor. The last ten years were tiring for him and he was happy he finally could live a peaceful life with his family away from the palace.

‘Pei Jin, have you ever regretted giving up the throne?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

‘Shi Ning, have you ever resented me for not giving you the opportunity for the world to admire you?’ Pei Jin asked.

‘What do you think?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

‘Wife, it appears you don’t like being admired and you hate palace protocols,’ Pei Jin said. ‘So your husband is willing to give up the world to make you happy. Besides, your husband never cared about power and money.’

‘Husband, will you die if don’t pretend to be a gentle and kind person?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

Pei Jin smiled and kissed Yan Shi Ning.

Pei Xiao Niao turned his head away from the window and saw his parents were kissing each other again. He shook his head. ‘Father, mother, do you know how old you both are? Father, mother, don’t you both know how to control yourselves?’

Pei Wen Rui knocked her older brother’s head. ‘First brother, move your head out of the way.’

Pei Xiao Niao rubbed his sore head and cried. ‘Second sister, you hit me again.’

Pei Wen Hui ignored his noisy older brother and older sister. He silently chewed on melon seeds.

In the palace Pei Khan stood above the tallest tower where no one could see him cry while he watched the horse carriage slowly disappear.

***

End of Chapter Eighty-One