Su Yuxin was amazed. This horse surprisingly possessed such intelligence. Feng Yao picked up Su Yuxin and performed an aerial somersault, smoothly seating himself on the horse's back. Heixiao was about to protest. Initially unwilling even for Su Yuxin to touch it, let alone ride it. It was Feng Yao who had tamed it, willingly accepting him as its master, marching with him through battles. For others who dared to mount it, Heixiao was willing to toss them off and risk their demise. In the past, in the northwest, before encountering Feng Yao, countless people had been thrown off its back.
"Do you still want to find a little mare?" Feng Yao reined in the horse's bridle, sheltering Su Yuxin in his embrace, and coldly questioned. Heixiao snorted in frustration. What sort of hero threatens a horse with just one sentence? Have the guts to say something else. Despite being infuriated, Heixiao ultimately compromised. Helpless, Feng Yao had pinpointed its weakness.
Feng Yao departed with Su Yuxin through the rear gate, dashing eastward. Shengjing had no curfew, hence even at midnight, the streets remained illuminated. However, departing from Shunqing Street towards the east, the number of pedestrians diminished gradually. Approximately two quarters later, Heixiao stopped at the foot of a hill. In actuality, this wasn't a natural hill but a later construction, not tall, comprising only a thousand steps. Previously, a nine-story pagoda stood atop it, named the Star-Picking Pagoda by the emperor. The implication was that ascending the pagoda would grant access to plucking stars. For a time, the city's elite vied to ascend the tower, unwilling to yield. Consequently, incidents of trampling and falls occurred frequently. Apart from the frequent quarrels among the young masters, it involved their families' disputes in the court. Every court session involved reports about this location, with ministers steadfast in their stances. Eventually, the emperor, left with no choice, had the tower demolished. With the absence of the Star-Picking Pagoda, nobody was willing to make the effort to climb up again. Given the strength and time required, it was more enjoyable to spend time elsewhere. Consequently, the hill lay abandoned, its surrounding shops vacated, leaving a tranquil atmosphere.
Originally, the emperor intended to demolish this hill. However, since demolishing it would consume manpower and resources, and it didn't impede anything, it was eventually left alone. Since it was a matter from earlier years, Su Yuxin had never visited this place before. Today was her first time. Fearful of tiring her, Feng Yao didn't let her climb on her own, instead carrying her in his arms, displaying light skills to ascend.
Su Yuxin clung tightly to Feng Yao's neck. Initially apprehensive, she gradually began enjoying the sensation of flying over rooftops. Upon reaching the summit, Su Yuxin was still not satiated. Feng Yao found a clean, smooth rock to sit on, placing Su Yuxin on his lap, and pointed to the sky. "Look, isn't it beautiful?"
Su Yuxin had been absorbed in the sensation of leaping over rooftops and hadn't noticed anything else until Feng Yao's words prompted her to lift her head. Instantly, she was struck by awe. The black sky, the vast Milky Way, seemed almost within reach. Viewing the stars here was a completely different experience. On flat ground, the starry sky seemed unattainable, but now, it felt within reach.
"So beautiful," Su Yuxin's excited eyes sparkled. She had never seen such a beautiful starry sky before. Each golden star twinkled in its respective place.
"If you like it, I'll often bring you here, alright?" Feng Yao encircled Su Yuxin, a smile playing on his lips.
"Okay, okay," Su Yuxin nodded eagerly, then pointed to a star in the sky, saying, "That star, I recognize it, it's the North Star. The old nanny said it's the brightest star in the sky, guiding directions. Beside it is the Big Dipper, resembling a ladle..."
As Su Yuxin chattered on, Feng Yao listened, smiling, his eyes becoming increasingly tender. "The old nanny also said that after people die, they become stars in the sky, guarding their loved ones," Su Yuxin moistened her lips. "She said my mother is in the sky, watching over me."
Initially, Su Yuxin didn't have much impression of Lu Shiyen as she was only three when Lu Shiyen passed away. Moreover, due to Lu Shiyen's excessive pampering, she didn't feel much attachment to her birth mother. However, the old nanny often mentioned that her mother was gentle and kind, a famous talented woman in the capital. Initially indifferent, it was only after experiencing life and death in her previous life, gaining insights, that she began longing for her biological mother.
"Your mother-in-law watches over you in the sky, and I protect you on Earth," Feng Yao tightened his embrace, letting Su Yuxin lean entirely on his chest, feeling his heartbeat.
"So, I'm very happy," Su Yuxin smiled brightly, as if all the stars in the sky had lost their colors. That smile came from the depths of her heart.
In his heart, Feng Yao silently vowed that he would exhaust all efforts to trade it for her smile throughout her life. The two cuddled together, pointing and discussing the stars. Feng Yao shared various legends about the stars with her.
Initially, Su Yuxin listened with great interest, responding excitedly from time to time, but gradually, she only responded after long intervals, until eventually, there was no response, only the soft sound of breathing.
Feng Yao stopped speaking, gently shifting to cradle Su Yuxin in his arms, covering her securely with a cloak. Looking down at Su Yuxin's clean, innocent sleeping face, Feng Yao's heart was filled with tenderness.
Su Yuxin slept soundly this time. Since her reincarnation, except for the first day with Feng Yao, she had slept poorly in the subsequent days. Her dreams were haunted by past events and various tragedies. Several times, she woke up screaming, tears soaking her pillow. However, nestled in Feng Yao's embrace, feeling his strong heartbeat and warmth, she dreamt without interruption throughout the night, sleeping until dawn.
The only discomfort was that her posture upon waking caused a bit of stiffness in her waist and back. It seemed she also had a slight stiff neck.
Feng Yao was adept in martial arts and often stretched and exercised before. Hence, he understood some massage techniques. With a few simple rubs and pats, Su Yuxin felt the soreness in her neck disappear.
"How do you know everything?" Su Yuxin asked, her eyes shining.
"I learned it from my master before," Feng Yao smiled.
"Could you teach me?" Su Yuxin tugged at Feng Yao's sleeve.
"Why do you want to learn this? If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, I'll massage it for you," Feng Yao touched Su Yuxin's hair.
"When you're tired, I can help you then," Su Yux
in said.
"As long as you're by my side, I'll never feel tired," Feng Yao kissed Su Yuxin's forehead. "Then I'll always be by your side, making you energetic every day," Su Yuxin raised her head and kissed Feng Yao's chin, blushing.