"At last, the peach was eaten by the sprout."
Khan Bojing's feet that almost crossed the doorstep paused and he turned around with new found determination. "We'll give our respects another day."
Li Wei giggled as he closed the door, pulling her back into the small house. "Yebai, what are you doing? We don't have time. Yebai, come back to your senses."
Khan Bojing settled onto the bed and held her in his lap. He pressed his head on the back of her neck, unwilling to part. "No, Peach needs to teach Sprout who ate whom."
"The sprout ate the peach."
His teeth grazed her earlobe, his voice, a husky whisper, "Say that again?"
"The sprout ate--" Li Wei couldn't finish her statement, laughing as he possessively pressed her onto the bedsheets.
His dark eyes challenged her. "Sweetheart, I dare you to say one more time."
She laid still, listening to the hammering of their hearts in the quiet morning. Contrary to his suggestive warning, his body hovered above respectfully. To his surprise, she tugged on his collar until their was no space in between.
Mischievous glints appeared in her eyes. "Peach really did as he said and waited to be eaten by Sprout. Such a good peach is unbearably loveable."
"In that case, I have no complaints. It'll be as you say, my wife." Khan Bojing was suddenly reminded of a certain memory. To be "loveable," he really liked it. He liked being loved by her. "The peach was indeed, eaten by the sprout."
"Just like that?" Li Wei found it amusing his stance changed so quick.
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he leaned down and brought a kiss upon her lips. Slowly, with excruciating patience and care, his tongue delved beyond her parted lips. He rubbed the sensitive roof of her mouth and sucked her lips until they were slightly swollen.
Their lips remained touching even after the kiss came to an end. He smiled against her and finally, replied, "Just like this."
---
In the dining room of the main house, Father and Mother Xu sat side by side. Father Xu held his wife, whose eyes glazed with tears. Without asking, he knew. Such a short reunion this was, who knew when they would reunite again?
Li Wei carefully poured tea and offered it to his mother. "Mother, please drink tea."
Similarly, Khan Bojing did the same. "Father, please drink tea."
Father Xu and his wife shared a meaningful glance, then drank the tea together. There was a sweet initial taste before the bitterness washed over. This tea symbolized the reunion of two families, but today, they would also part.
Khan Bojing kneeled in front of his parents and kowtowed with heavy movements. "Father, mother, please forgive this unfilial son."
Mother Xu reached out to raise him to no avail. He stubbornly refused to move even an inch. "Mother, I'm not a good son. I'm undeserving of your love and care. You are of old age, but I can't be with you. When the circumstances are no longer against us, I will come back and bring you to live with me. I will come back. Promise you'll wait for me."
Mother Xu's tears dropped. She pulled her son into a warm hug and this time, he relented. "Yebai, mother only has you. I only have you in the world, I'll go nowhere else."
Li Wei's heart ached at the sight of the mother and son's tearful parting. When Mother Xu's arms opened, she gladly accepted the hug. "We'll be back, mother. Rest assure and take care of your health. One day, we'll reunite under a brighter sky."
Shortly after breakfast, the four people went out. By the trail, amidst the bamboos, they said their goodbyes. The old Xu couple watched their son and daughter in law walked away until they became no more than dots in the distance.
When they passed the curve of the trail, Khan Bojing gestured to his back. "Xiao Wei, I'll carry you."
"It's okay, I'll just walk. You're tired too," She refused this time.
His eyes lingered at her legs before looking up to her face. "You sure?"
"Khan Bojing, you're shameless!" Li Wei hid her face behind her hands. She did struggled a little bit, but he didn't need to point it out! And so openly suggestive at that!
Khan Bojing held back his laughter and placed her on his back. Very casually, he continued walking with ease. "We're husband and wife now, don't be shy. Next time, we'll be at home. We won't do it just once..."
Her mouth slightly opened ajar and her cheeks burned although such intimacy was natural between husband and wife. To do it with him and to have him spoken it aloud, these were two very different things. Li Wei laid her head on his shoulder and hit him. "Husband, you're being mean again."
Khan Bojing kept the rest of his thoughts to himself. "Alright, how about I tell you of my childhood?"
"En. Husband, you're the best!"
"Since you're my sweetheart, I'll tell you a secret..."
---
In the evening, they were promptly back in the capital. Specifically, three people sat around the table. Even more specifically, Yue Shangwu's lips pressed together. "So..."
Khan Bojing hurriedly poured a cup of tea. "Father, please drink tea."
Yue Shangwu's first response was the suddenly frozen steaming tea. Then, very calmly and with great danger in his tone, asked, "You think this mere cup of tea can satisfy me?"
Khan Bojing glanced at Li Wei, "..."
"Master, don't be so scary!" Song Yishan casually skipped into the room. After him, Li Fahrin and Hui also came in and sat down. San'er, along with the other maids, carried in trays of food.
"Congratulation, both late and ahead of time. Who will believe that soon, my niece will be an esteemed princess consort?"
Li Wei placed food on her aunt's plate. "Aunt Rin, thank you. Whatever title I carry, I'll always be your niece and you'll always be the best aunt in the world."
Alas, the prince still didn't dare to take a seat and that grumpy old sorcerer didn't care to let him either. Li Fahrin glared at the prince who stood properly straight with his hands clasped together. "Khan Bojing, ah, Khan Bojing. Although you're a prince, I'll come find you if you mistreat my precious niece! Don't underestimate the connections of the Li family!"
Khan Bojing smiled, quietly agreeing to Li Fahrin's statements.
"Big brother, congratulations!" Song Yishan patted the prince on the shoulder before whispering, "Bojing, soon you'll go to sleep warmly every night. You'll return home everyday to someone waiting. You won't relate to Ye Dequan and I anymore. We are so pitiful, don't forget us, brother."
Khan Bojing's reaction was stuck between laughter and disbelief. "Why would I think of you guys? You're on your own, I have someone special."
Song Yishan wrinkled his nose, as if he was terribly bullied. "Brother, how can you be so heartless?"
Li Wei couldn't bear to watch Khan Bojing stand there alone as if being punished. She silently pulled him next to her and placed food onto his plate. Immediately, he brightened up. The short dialogue between Song Yishan and himself was already pushed to the back of his mind.
The couple's loving interaction didn't pass Li Fahrin's sharp eyes. "Aiya, my eyes can no longer take these two lovebirds. Please spare us singles in the room."
Everyone laughed, enjoying the meal and lively conversations. All, but one, that was. The man in the center was still shrouded by dark clouds.
Later in the night, three people once again gathered. Li Wei watched the flames of the fire danced, feeling warmed from its comforting heat. She reach out and held her father's hand. "Father, I want you to give us your blessings."
Yue Shangwu's mood visibly improved when she talked to him. His voice was calmness mixed with a sense of protectiveness, "Of course, my child, you always have my blessings in whatever choice you make. To marry one's daughter off is always hard for a father, especially since we've only reunited not too long ago. I want to support you, I want you to be happy."
"But, you are sacrificing a lot for him. You are giving up a carefree life, leaving your family, and choosing not to carry our family's legacy to be with him. What will he do in return for you?" Yue Shangwu's tone instantly turned cold as he indirectly addressed the other person.
Naturally, Khan Bojing understood. "Father, thank you once again. Before we left, I suddenly asked for Li Wei's hand in marriage and you still kindly agreed. Just as before, I will continue to show you that I am a person worthy of your trust and hopes. Just as before, I will take care of Li Wei and show her I am a person worthy of her love and sacrifices."
"I have no problems with you. To be frank, I'm not fond of your father. I'm afraid under his coercions, my daughter will be one of many," Yue Shangwu stated honestly.
Khan Bojing's eyes met with Li Wei's gaze across the distance. The words he spoke next were especially to her, a vow he gave to her with her father as the witness, "I am a person of one heart, I can only love one woman. As long as I live, I'll marry no one else."
The older man spoke no more, but also didn't move.
The worries on the older man's face weighed down his heart. Without hesitation, Khan Bojing placed everything else aside. Whether it be his status, his honor, or his anything, nothing else was more important. Whether it be now or whenever, he would drop everything to hold onto his most beloved.
Other than his parents, he had never kneeled down to anyone else. Tonight, he bowed down to his father in law's feet with utmost respect and sincerity. While his head pinned firmly against the ground, he made another promise, "If I fail to protect Li Wei, come kill me personally."
After a long moment of silence, Yue Shangwu tipped the cup of tea into his mouth. There was no need for words. That action in itself already delivered its clear message.
They had become one family.