Chu Qianli thought for a long time, and finally accepted this fact in disappointment.
Not being a descendant of the Lan clan, she could not learn the Lan clan's secret arts at all.
Therefore, the matter of eternal youth had nothing to do with her.
Alas, what a pity.
However, she soon remembered something else.
Her gaze fell on Lan Qing again, and for a moment, her fingers felt restless and wanted to twist.
Lan Qing glanced at her sideways and snorted coldly, "I am twenty-two this year, and my cultivation is still shallow."
"Amazing, at twenty-two, you've cultivated to be more powerful than a seventy-year-old elder."
From now on, eternal youth and the like would be a piece of cake for Lan Qing.
So enviable.
Lan Qing couldn't be bothered with her.
Chu Qianli finally composed herself, and her gaze shifted to Feng Dingchu.
"Ninth Uncle." She called him Ninth Uncle with utmost obedience.
"Ninth Uncle, since you've said all this, and you're here to see me off today, it means you actually agree, right?"
"Five years," Feng Dingchu snorted coldly.
Chu Qianli pouted, "Can it be ten years?"
"Three years..."
"Five years it is! We'll definitely be back after five years! In a month, you'll let Jin Rui leave. I've already told him that I'll wait for him before going to play."
Five years was better than nothing.
Five years was enough for them to travel far and wide.
After so many tribulations, everyone was tired.
Five years, consider it a good vacation for themselves.
Lan Qing seemed somewhat helpless, "Everyone else is scrambling to be emperor and seize territory, but you two are so humble."
"How about I give it to you?"
"How about you take it?"
Chu Qianli and Feng Dingchu exchanged glances.
Now, Feng Dingchu was also helpless.
They were all people who loved to play and had no interest in the imperial court.
As Chu Qianli said, she had already played for more than ten years, and giving up five years was enough.
"Then, Ninth Uncle, Xiao Qingqing, I'll be going now."
Chu Qianli walked to a large tree nearby, led the horse that Fulong had arranged for her, and leaped onto it.
"Ninth Uncle, Xiao Qingqing, we'll meet again!"
The horse galloped into the wind.
In the wind, her voice seemed to linger: "After five years, I'll have my son come back to take your place, bye-bye!"
"..." Feng Dingchu's face stiffened. Only after Chu Qianli, the person and the horse, had completely disappeared from his sight did he remember to ask the man beside him, "What did she say?"
"She said that after five years, she'll have her son come back to take your place."
"That darn girl!" Feng Dingchu stomped his foot in anger, almost crushing the large tree at his feet!
What was the point of having a four-year-old child come back?
At that time, he would be worried and would have to teach the child the way of governing every day.
By the time the child grew up and could manage on his own, who knew when that would be!
"That darn girl, come back here!"
But he couldn't catch up anymore!
The righteous way is one foot high, but the devil's way is ten feet high. In the end, he was still defeated by this girl!
Lan Qing patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "Perhaps, after five years, you'll like being a regent? Or perhaps, after five years, they'll have a change of heart and come back to save you, right?"
There was always tomorrow.
Five years.
Who could know what the scenery would be like after five years?
At least now, they had a home, a country, family, and friends.
If they could be at peace, couldn't life be lived happily?
Feng Dingchu let out a long sigh, looking in the direction Chu Qianli had ridden away. He was helpless, yet also somewhat relieved.
In the past year, that girl had suffered so much and endured so many grievances. At least, she was happy now.
If she could remain happy forever, and carry this burden for them her entire life, what did it matter?
He suddenly raised his hand.
Lan Qing felt a weight on his shoulder and his expression changed drastically, "Feng Dingchu, what are you doing?"
"Everyone else is gone, someone has to stay to keep this old man company."
Feng Dingchu looked at him sideways and smiled, "Southern Ming has a State Preceptor, how can our Northern Ming not have one? Anyway, your sister is even more formidable than you. Let her be the State Preceptor in Southern Ming, as for you..."
He curled his lips, and that smile made everything around him instantly dim, "You stay in my Northern Ming and be our State Preceptor."
"I won't do it..."
"That's not up to you."
Feng Dingchu grabbed his collar and leaped lightly.
That figure in plain white, like a gust of wind, floated towards the palace.
The wind blew.
The two arguing voices still drifted in the wind:
"Feng Dingchu, let go of me!"
"A State Preceptor should have good manners and not say such words."
"I just love saying it, what can you do about it?"
"Alright, for you, my Northern Ming's State Preceptor is allowed to use foul language."
"I'm not your Northern Ming's State Preceptor."
"Tomorrow you will be."
"Let go, or I'll get rough."
"Only if you can beat me."
"Feng Dingchu!"
"Call me Regent."
"Scram!"
"Heh..."
Life was so plain, perhaps having someone around to bicker with was also a good thing.
Five years, it seemed, wasn't that difficult to endure, was it?
Facing the wind, Feng Dingchu's smile deepened.
Tonight.
The clouds were light and the wind was gentle.
Tomorrow would surely be a bright and sunny day.
Everything was just beginning.
(The End)