binnovel Chapter 1201 No More Barriers Between Mother and Son
Chapter 1201 No More Barriers Between Mother and Son
Ma Chao snorted, still feigning anger on his face, but turned to the servants who rushed over and instructed them: "Prepare some snacks and meat for them to eat, and send them home. Tell the ladies that the children made a fuss here for a while, and that they can rest assured."
The boys cheered at the mention of food, and as they were led away by the servants, they didn't forget to turn back and make faces at Ma Chao. Dian Man, being dragged along, muttered, "I didn't hear anything..."
Ma Chao looked at the still-playing teenagers, a helpless smile on his face. He then straightened his expression and shouted, "Go and eat something, then go home! What time is it? Your mothers are probably tossing and turning at home worrying about you. If you don't go home soon, you'll get a beating! Hurry up, go away!"
A group of boys laughed and responded, running off in twos and threes, but Ma Yue stood still. Moonlight fell on his thin shoulders, his figure lonely, his previous lively energy gone.
Ma Chao stepped forward, his tone softening slightly: "Yue'er, why aren't you leaving?"
Ma Yue lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly. All his playful energy from before was gone. His voice was thick with nasal tone, as forlorn as a wild grass that had been struck by frost: "Father... I have no mother anymore."
These words struck Dong Bai like a needle. Her heart tightened, and she quickly stepped forward, squatted down, and gently pulled the child into her arms, stroking his back with her palm: "Yue'er, don't say that." Her voice trembled almost imperceptibly, "From now on, I will be your mother."
Ma Yue raised his head, his eyes filled with loneliness: "Mother...they all have their mothers to hold while they sleep. But my mother is lying in the tomb outside the city...I miss her."
Dong Bai's heart felt like it was being crushed, aching terribly. She hugged the child tighter, resting her chin on the top of his head, her voice gentle yet firm: "Yue'er, listen. From now on, I'll be your mother. I'll hold you as you sleep at night, tuck you in when it's cold, and fan you when it's hot, okay?"
Ma Chao stood to the side, a deep sense of guilt flashing across his face. Tonight was supposed to be his wedding night with Dong Bai, but he had inadvertently touched the deepest wound in his child's heart. He stepped forward, his rough hand gently resting on Ma Yue's head, his voice slightly hoarse: "It's all my fault, always making you suffer."
Ma Yue nestled in Dong Bai's arms, his body trembling slightly. Dong Bai patted his back, repeating over and over, "Mother's here, Mother's here..."
After Ma Yue was named heir apparent, everyone in the household treated him with utmost care, but he harbored his own thoughts. Despite his young age, his mother had passed away early, and the lack of warmth he felt was like a fine thorn, always pricking his heart unexpectedly. Usually, he always held his head high, speaking with a stubbornness beyond his years, but it was merely an attempt to use this hard shell to cover up the unease in his heart.
A few days ago, he came to Chang'an from Jiangdong. Before leaving, his uncle Gongjin held his hand and repeatedly told him, "Yue'er, when you get there, be careful in everything you do. Be wary of the people around you. Don't easily trust anyone. Except for your father, you must think three times over what others say." He nodded heavily at the time and kept these words firmly in mind.
But how could a child's heart withstand such warmth? The aunts around his father treated him so well, always showing concern and care, always saving him a share of the good food, and quietly tucking him in if they saw he had kicked off his blankets at night. That concern was warm and genuine, making him want to get closer, yet he always remembered his uncle Gongjin's words, keeping a wary distance.
The children's antics under the bed tonight were his own idea. He wanted to see what kind of person this newly arrived Aunt Dong—no, now he should call her Mother—was. He deliberately disturbed his father's wedding night, though he was actually quite nervous, but he just wanted to test the waters.
Just now, she held him in her arms, her eyes filled with genuine worry. Especially when she treated him, the natural tenderness she showed didn't seem feigned.
Ma Yue clutched the hem of his clothes, his mind reeling as if two little voices were arguing. One said, "Governor Zhou said we can't trust strangers." The other whispered in protest, "But she seems like she really would be good to me..."
He recalled how Aunt Dong had looked at him earlier, her eyes filled with no impatience, only a gentle smile, as she softly called him "Yue'er." In all his life, apart from his mother in his hazy memories, no one had ever called him so tenderly.
Ma Yue sniffed, secretly making a decision in his heart. If this Aunt Dong continued to treat him with such sincerity, if she could truly love and protect him like a biological mother, then... then he would accept her as his mother.
Ma Yue raised his head in Dong Bai's arms, his clear eyes fixed on her, the stubbornness on his face gone, and he softly uttered a single word: "Mother."
This "Mother" carried less distance than the previous "Mother," and more of a soft, dependent tenderness, like a pebble dropped into Dong Bai's heart, rippling out warm waves. Tears instantly welled in Dong Bai's eyes, falling hot onto Ma Yue's head—she knew that behind this "Mother" lay the child's unwavering trust. She nodded vigorously, her voice choked yet clear: "Oh, Yue'er, my dear Yue'er."
She held Ma Yue tightly in her arms, as if trying to make up for the warmth the child had been missing. Ma Yue snuggled against her and whispered in her ear, "Mom, can I stay here tonight? I want you to hold me while I sleep."
Dong Bai's heart melted completely. She nodded hurriedly, her voice trembling with tears but full of joy: "Good, good, Yue'er, you'll sleep with your mother tonight." She carefully placed Ma Yue on the bed covered with brocade mattress, her fingertips gently unbuttoning his clothes, her movements so slow as if she were afraid of breaking a precious treasure.
Seeing this sudden intimacy, Ma Chao initially wore a wry smile—this wedding night had turned into a tender moment between mother and son. But seeing the tears in Dong Bai's eyes and hearing Ma Yue's soft "Mother," a smile finally crept onto his lips. He stepped forward, gently smoothing Dong Bai's stray hairs, and whispered, "Slow down, don't let the child get cold."
Dong Bai looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears, yet her smile was radiant, and she softly hummed in response. Ma Yue lay in the soft bedding, looking at the gentle faces before him, a long-lost smile of peace appearing on his face.
Dong Bai, dressed only in a plain-colored undershirt, with her hair loosely tied up, gently embraced Ma Yue. Her movements were extremely light, her palms warm as she patted the child's back, humming a folk song from Longxi, the melody as gentle as a stream flowing through the fields.
Ma Yue stirred gently in her arms, burying his head further into the warmth of her clothes, finding the most comfortable position. "Mom, you sing so beautifully," he murmured, his voice as soft as cotton, filled with drowsiness. This child had never felt such comforting warmth since he could remember, as if a drifting boat had finally sailed into harbor. A faint smile played on his lips, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, until finally he drifted completely into sleep.
Dong Bai lay on her side, maintaining the patting posture, before daring to slow down her movements after a long while. She looked down at Ma Yue's sleeping face; the little guy's brows were relaxed and his breathing was even. She carefully reached out to tuck the blanket around him, her fingertips brushing against the top of his soft hair, her eyes almost overflowing with tenderness.
Ma Chao lay beside her, quietly watching the scene. Candlelight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on Dong Bai's profile. Her plain dress was still warm from the child's touch, and stray hairs trembled gently with her breath. He raised his hand and gently stroked her shoulder, his fingertips brushing against her warm skin beneath the fabric. His voice was incredibly gentle: "Bai'er, I'm so sorry you've suffered like this on your wedding night."
Dong Bai turned her head, her eyes still brimming with the warmth from before. She gave him a reproachful look, her voice low and gentle: "What nonsense are you talking about?" She raised her hand and placed it on the back of his hand, palms touching. "We have a long life ahead of us. What's a wedding night?" She glanced at Ma Yue, her eyes sparkling. "You didn't see how he looked when he called me 'Mother' just now. My heart is sweeter than honey."
Ma Chao gazed into the light in her eyes, a light warmer than candlelight and brighter than starlight. He took her hand in his, gently pressed it to his lips, and whispered, "I didn't understand."
The moonlight crept into the tent through the window, falling on the three of them, making the air feel sticky and warm. Dong Bai lay back down, gazing at the sleeping Ma Yue by the moonlight, then turned to look at Ma Chao beside him, and suddenly smiled.
The candlelight inside the tent gradually dimmed, until only a few embers flickered in the darkness. Ma Chao lay on his side, watching Ma Yue sleeping soundly in Dong Bai's arms. The little guy was breathing evenly, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, suggesting he was having a sweet dream. Dong Bai's hand was still gently resting on Ma Yue's back, but the movement had long since stopped. Clearly, he too was succumbing to sleepiness, his eyelids were heavily closed, and stray hairs from his temples fell down, gently tickling Ma Yue's cheek.
Ma Chao reached out and carefully tucked Dong Bai's stray hairs behind her ear. When his fingertips touched her warm earlobe, Dong Bai's eyelashes trembled, but she didn't wake up. She just leaned closer to him, and her other hand unconsciously gripped his sleeve, as if she had found a safe and secure support.
Ma Yue seemed startled by the noise and stirred in Dong Bai's arms, burying his head deeper into the warm embrace. He mumbled a soft "Mother" in his sleep. Dong Bai responded in his sleep, and gently patted his back with instinctive tenderness.
Seeing this scene, Ma Chao felt as if his heart had been warmed by water, melting completely. He didn't move, remaining in that position, listening to the even breathing of the two people beside him, the faint scent of soapberry from Dong Bai's hair and the babyish smell from Ma Yue lingering around his nose, and unconsciously closed his eyes.
Nothing happened that night. As dawn approached, Ma Yue rolled over, slipped out of Dong Bai's arms, and groggily snuggled towards Ma Chao, eventually lying across the middle of them, his little feet still draped over Ma Chao's legs. Dong Bai, influenced by him, also moved closer to the middle, gently resting his head on Ma Chao's shoulder.
When Dong Bai woke up first and saw the scene before her, she couldn't help but laugh. Ma Yue was clinging to Ma Chao like a little octopus, and she herself was nestled on Ma Chao's shoulder. The restraint and awkwardness of last night had long since dissipated with sleepiness. She carefully moved aside, wanting to pull Ma Yue back to her side, but as soon as she reached out, Ma Yue woke up, rubbed his eyes, looked at her, and called out "Mother."
The way she called out "Mother" was natural and affectionate, devoid of yesterday's probing, and filled with complete trust. Dong Bai's heart softened instantly, and she responded with a voice so gentle it could melt water: "Awake? Are you hungry?"
Ma Yue nodded and reached out to hug her. Just as Dong Bai pulled her into her arms, Ma Chao woke up. Looking at the mother and son leaning on each other, a smile appeared on his lips. He reached out and ruffled Ma Yue's hair: "You rascal, you are the commander of my Young Lin Army."
Ma Yue snuggled closer to Dong Bai, but instead of pulling away as before, he looked up and made a face at Ma Chao, making both of them laugh.