After eating medicinal cuisine for more than half a month, I had no appetite for other foods. However, around noon, Xie Qingwu still had someone prepare a relatively light meal for me—dumplings.
I rarely eat with others, so I felt a little awkward, and a hint of unease appeared on my face.
Xie Qingwu, thinking I had no appetite, pushed another bowl of porridge towards me.
" Xiexie, brother."
"If you don't like the food you eat on weekdays, you can ask the kitchen to change things up. You don't have to eat the medicinal cuisine if you don't want to."
"Is that alright?" I was somewhat surprised, but worried that my elder brother had made the decision before the mistress of the house, and that once he returned to the border, everything would be back to normal.
"Yes, you're almost fully recovered, but because some residual energy is blocking a few acupoints, you feel tired and strained. It will get better in a while."
Xie Qingwu's words were like a warm spring breeze, soothing the unease that had been building in my heart for so long. Of course, I was afraid of living like this forever. If I could be a normal person, who would want to be trapped in a courtyard for the rest of their life?
How did you know, brother?
"My father asked me to tell you that now is the time."
I don't know what to say. If only I could communicate with the young master across time and space via brainwaves, I could tell him that his family has always been quietly caring for him.
"Brother, when will you be back from this trip to the frontier?"
Seeing my elder brother remain silent, I knew that this matter was far from being resolved.
But, I'm a time traveler! I read plenty of novels in my past life, and I even followed the trend and memorized some essentials for time travel, but I'm only interested in weapons. After reading some male-oriented novels, I feel like I could build a dynasty!
No, no, no, the Marquis's mansion has already become too powerful and its influence is overwhelming. To take up advanced weaponry would be tantamount to suicide.
If the emperor had been any more ruthless, it would have been only a matter of time before the Marquis's family was exiled to Lingnan under some pretext.
The atmosphere suddenly turned serious. After a long while, Xie Qingwu chuckled, patted my head, and teased, "What? You're reluctant to part with your older brother?"
Actually, there's a bit of truth to it. After all, Xie Qingwu handsome, and he even included me in his group.
Although my second brother looks refined and gentle, he is actually a man of his word and will not ask for my consent once he has made a decision.
"A bit, and the frontier is so dangerous." Swords and blades have no eyes; what if I get cut on the face?
We had lunch at the farm. I hardly walked at all; I was carried around by the older brother the whole time, like a child who hadn't grown up yet. Plus, the young master was frail and very thin, so the difference in their physiques was huge.
It was quite awkward at first, being constantly hugged and carried around, which didn't look good.
But then I discovered it was absolutely wonderful; after a short stroll, I wasn't even tired!
My older brother not only fed me from time to time along the way, but also took me to the stream to fish for shrimp in the afternoon.
These are activities that I would consider extremely boring in modern times, but compared to my experience of being stuck at home for more than half a month, even watching people fish for shrimp is very interesting to me!
When I got home that evening, I was in a good mood. But when I heard that I was to attend a palace banquet in a few days, my reaction was. "Won't there be a poisoning incident?"
That's how it's portrayed on TV.
There might be cases of infidelity leading to arrests.
Or perhaps it will depict an ancient palace intrigue.
Never mind, I won't encounter so many things in real life, I don't need to think too much about it.
Over the next few days, my older brother took me for walks outside the city during the day and strolled around the less crowded streets at night.
My older brother's vacation is almost over. Although it was fraught with danger, I'm still worried about his safety, since he took care of me for the past few days.
On the night before my older brother left, I decided to give him a few drawings.
Xie Qingwu took the blueprints and his expression changed immediately. "Where did you get these things?"
"I found it while reading at home, thinking it might be useful for my older brother."
In the Great Yan Dynasty, gunpowder and such were already available, but cannons were not yet available. The range of cannons was about 200 meters. I gave my elder brother a blueprint for cannons and repeating crossbows. As for weapons with extremely long ranges like bed crossbows, I didn't remember them at all!
Its structure is just too complicated! I thought about it for ages but couldn't figure it out!
I admit I was showing off before. People who travel through time are lucky if they can remember one or two useful things, but I actually thought about dominating the dynasty!
My harem dream shattered instantly; one should know one's place.
Does Dad know?
"Have no idea."
Xie Qingwu stared at me for a long time, then suddenly chuckled, "You little rascal, you were just waiting for me to finish and come back, weren't you?"
"Hmm, but won't this make the person above us even more wary of us?"
"No, with you here, the one upstairs certainly wouldn't dare to make any rash moves."
Me: "?" What does that mean?
After Xie Qingwu received the blueprints, he went to discuss them with the Marquis. The Marquis also had his trusted confidant make a copy to test the effect.
The next day, my storeroom was filled with countless treasures again. The Marquis also came by, roughly asking if I wanted the right to authorize the two weapons.
It wasn't my invention, so of course I can't take it. Besides, wouldn't taking it be suicide?
I don't know martial arts, and my survival skills are practically zero. If that person in the palace sends someone to kill me, I'll just have to die again.
"However, wouldn't having these things in our hands only make the Marquis's mansion sink deeper into trouble?"
"Why should a child like you worry about these things? Do you really think your older brother and uncles are just sitting around doing nothing? In short, everything has two sides, but as long as you are powerful enough, no one can hold the Marquis's mansion in their hands."
I can see that the Marquis is not a blindly loyal person.
What he meant was: the loyalty of the Marquis's household depends on whether the emperor is truly sincere.
Great, great! I love this kind of family atmosphere!
"Anyway, Zhou'er, don't worry too much. I won't Xiexie you, but you can take a look at the things in my storeroom when you have time, and take anything you like."
I'm not really interested in gold and silver jewelry; enough is fine with me.
The young master's storeroom is already overflowing with things! The old marquis's treasures are all in his storeroom; he could never spend them all in several lifetimes.
"Your older brother left you a fox cub before he passed away?"
"Hmm, Father, can't I raise it?"
"No, I wanted to ask if you like anything else..." The Marquis's concerned tone was somewhat hesitant.
"I'll ask my father for some nicer things when I'm done playing," I said, and then I started to yawn.
The Marquis immediately sent someone to help me rest, and then he went out.
I'm not jealous that the young master has a father who cares for him from afar, but I still feel a little confused.
Later I figured it out: they're both my father, so being filial to either of them is the same as being filial to the father.