705 Staying for Dinner
Su Xiaolu cared a lot about her sister.
Zhou Zhi cared about everything Su Xiaolu cared about.
Su Xiaoling was shocked by this gaze. She thought that Zhou Zhi was indeed unparalleled in intelligence. How deep were his thoughts?
Su Xiaoling looked away and smiled gently. “Of course I don’t mind. I was just looking for an opportunity to thank you. You’re Brother Heng’s younger brother. You’ve helped him a lot. You also take good care of Xiaolu outside as her Fourth Brother, just like my eldest brother and second brother. Ah Zhi, thank you so much.”
Zhou Zhi smiled. “No need to thank me.”
Su Xiaolu hugged Zhou Xuan. Zhou Xuan was smiling happily at her. The little girl’s personality was outgoing and playful.
Therefore, she wanted to stay for dinner and see the two little girls more.
Zhou Zhi walked to Su Xiaolu’s side and watched the children with her.
Su Xiaolu was already used to it. She said to Zhou Zhi, “After the new year, it’s time to prepare for your last detoxification. Therefore, after the new year, let’s go to Qinghai and catch a big Kun together. We don’t have time to go this year, so we have to go after the new year.”
The big Kun had no natural enemies in the sea. They had huge energy on them. Since energy could help Zhou Zhi regenerate his limbs, it was definitely necessary.
“Okay, we’ll go after the new year.”
Zhou Zhi replied with a faint smile.
“After the new year? Then the diplomatic mission…”
Su Xiaoling thought of the diplomatic mission this time. Zhou Zhi was the target of this diplomatic mission. If nothing unexpected happened, Zhou Zhi should be preparing to get married after the new year.
Zhou Heng had mentioned this matter to her when he talked about the diplomatic mission just now.
“That’s right, the diplomatic mission!”
Su Xiaolu also thought of the diplomatic mission. She looked at Zhou Zhi. “Fourth Brother, are you going to get married?”
It was normal for Zhou Zhi to get married. In a political marriage, it was normal not to talk about feelings.
But for some reason, Su Xiaolu felt a little strange, but she didn’t think too much about it. She just thought that this strange feeling was a pity for political marriage. After all, she still vaguely remembered that in her previous life, her country was already in an era of marriage freedom.
“It’s not me.”
Zhou Zhi smiled at Su Xiaolu. The diplomatic mission was indeed here for a political marriage, but he was not the target.
When Zhou Zhi said this, Su Xiaolu and Su Xiaoling were stunned.
Zhou Heng was also stunned for a moment. Marriage was usually chosen among princes of the right age. Now, the only one of the right age was Zhou Zhi.
He already had the crown prince consort. He had asked around. The princess of the Li Dynasty had a valiant and proud personality. How could such a proud woman be willing to be a concubine?
As for the other princes, the oldest was only 12 years old. They were not old enough for a marriage alliance.
Zhou Heng was puzzled.
He was about to ask when Zhou Zhi had already changed the topic.
“Xiaolu, I recall that you took in a disciple in Qinghai.”
Zhou Zhi smiled and mentioned An Lie.
Thinking of An Lie, Su Xiaolu smiled. “Yes, I took in a disciple in Qinghai. His name is An Lie. Speaking of An Lie, it’s quite an interesting story. I don’t think I’ve told you before.”
Zhou Zhi smiled. “You didn’t.”
Su Xiaoling was still thinking about the marriage, but when she heard Su Xiaolu talk about her journey, she was also interested. “Xiaolu, you have a disciple?”
Zhou Heng also looked at Su Xiaolu.
Su Xiaolu continued, “It was an accident that I took this disciple.”
“At that time, he wanted to plot against me… At that time, An Lie…”
Su Xiaolu talked about getting to know An Lie and taking him in as her disciple. The outcome of An Lie’s uncle, An Cheng, still made Su Xiaolu sigh.
An Lie and An Cheng were actually kind people.
The few of them listened with relish. Su Xiaoling looked a little envious. She would probably never have the chance to see the things Su Xiaolu had seen in her life.
“When I think of An Lie, I think of my Junior Brother again. I wonder how he’s doing now. At that time last year, Uncle-Master Niu was still alive.”
Su Xiaolu sighed softly. Looking back, many things had changed, but only a year had passed.
Uncle-Master Niu had already passed away. He was no longer in this world.
“Niu will definitely be fine.”
Su Xiaoling knew Little Niu. Madam Zhao had mentioned him to her last year. During the new year, Su Xiaolu brought a young man back. He was blind and was missing a hand.
She said that he was dressed as a little Daoist priest and left alone one day after the new year. When she mentioned it, Madam Zhao sighed and was worried.
“A while ago, your Junior Brother went to Southern Mountain Village.”
Zhou Zhi mentioned Little Niu.
Su Xiaolu looked at Zhou Zhi anxiously. “Really? When did this happen?”
There must be a reason why Little Niu would go there.
“It was the day after we first entered the mountains. He stayed at your aunt’s house for a while.”
Although Zhou Zhi had entered the foreign land, he still received news from the outside world.
Currently, the messenger pigeons from the outside world could not fly into the foreign land. In the future, when the foreign land and the outside world completely fused, the messenger pigeons would be able to enter. It would be more convenient to receive information from outside than now.
When Zhou Zhi mentioned Su Xiaozhi, Su Xiaolu knew what was going on.
“No wonder Auntie changed.”
Su Xiaolu already understood why she felt that Su Xiaozhi was a little different and why she apologized to her that day. She just did not know what Su Xiaozhi realized from her fateful encounter with her Junior Brother.
No matter what, Su Xiaozhi had completely changed. It was quite good.
Her Junior Brother had actually gone to Southern Mountain Village alone. He was amazing. He would definitely succeed in these twelve years.
Su Xiaolu was in a good mood and silently cheered Little Niu on in her heart.
“Our aunt, she…”
Su Xiaoling did not know what had happened in Southern Mountain Village. Even if Su Chong and Su Hua knew, they would not tell her because there was no need to.
What happened over there had long had nothing to do with them.
However, Su Chong and Su Hua did not say anything to Su Xiaoling because they did not want Su Xiaoling to worry. When they were young, much of their happiness was given by Su Xiaozhi.
Su Xiaolu hugged Su Xiaoling’s arm and said with a smile, “Sister, don’t worry. She’s fine now. Shou and Yang respect her very much. Aunt has also changed a lot. As long as she’s not the same as before, everything will be fine.”
Now that Madam Wang and Old Master Su had passed away, everything would get better.
“That’s good.”
Su Xiaoling did not ask further. She could tell that Su Xiaolu was not lying to her. She did not have to ask further. In life, be it her aunt, Su Xiaozhi, or her and Su Xiaolu, they would eventually have to make their own choices. They would take different paths. Kinship was like a big tree. They would not be on the same branch forever. They would separate at a certain point and grow on their own.
“It’s time for dinner. Let’s go eat together.”
Zhou Heng spoke gently. Unknowingly, the sky had already darkened and it was time for dinner.
The few of them ate together. During this time, the two little girls, Zhou Wei and Zhou Xuan, were crying. Su Xiaoling wanted to get up, but Zhou Heng reached out and pressed the back of her hand. He smiled and said, “I’ll go take a look. You guys eat.”