Chapter 239 – The Long-Awaited Grand Wedding
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* side note: its been a while since last translating, so hopefully I didn’t accidentally change how I translated things. I didn’t do a good job keeping track :S
Ye Shuyan sat on the horse, and the black cat that had been nestled in his arms had betrayed him long before catching up with Xia Yuqing and the others, rushing into Xia Yuqing’s embrace.
At this moment, when Ye Shuyan heard Feng Tingye’s slightly displeased question, he didn’t react much and maintained a faint smile on his face. “Isn’t this on the way? Your Highness, you’re being a bit stingy, aren’t you?”
“On the way? From the border all the way to the capital, Young Master Ye, you’ve really had a smooth journey, haven’t you?” Shao Zitang sneered, a hint of coldness in his eyes.
Ye Shuyan remained unfazed and said, “This is fate.”
“… ” The group was rendered speechless by Ye Shuyan’s unyielding response. This old antique who had lived several decades longer than them truly had a thicker skin than the city wall.
Xia Yuqing lifted the carriage curtain and observed the situation outside. Seeing that Feng Tingye and the others had some complaints about Ye Shuyan but ultimately didn’t take any action, she couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
To be honest, Xia Yuqing was not accustomed to the sudden appearance of Ye Shuyan as her great-great-grandfather. Especially whenever she saw his face, which was still young compared to hers.
Xia Yuqing definitely wouldn’t admit that she was affected by Ye Shuyan’s tender and completely mismatched young face. Great Grandfather, is it really okay to act so young in this day and age?
Xia Yuqing’s attention was completely drawn to the people outside the carriage, completely unaware of the hidden turmoil within the carriage.
Sitting opposite Xia Yuqing, Big Baby squinted his eyes and stared intently at the black cat that was constantly following behind his sister, like a shadow.
Ever since Ye Shuyan reappeared, this black cat had once again attached itself to his mother and sister. The attachment to his mother, he could tolerate. After all, Royal Father had been busy dealing with that old man in young boy’s clothing recently and had no time to spare for his mother. But why was it clinging to his sister? Did it really think it could get away with it?
As Big Baby thought this, the coldness in his eyes deepened. Unfortunately, the main culprit of all this mischief was still unrepentant and teasing him.
“Xiao Hei, Xiao Hei… Kekeke…” As soon as Second Baby sat next to Big Baby, Xiao Hei swiftly leaped up from the ground and pounced directly into Second Baby’s arms, happily sticking out its tongue and licking Second Baby’s face, making Second Baby burst into laughter.
Snap! Seeing this, the veins on Big Baby’s forehead burst in an instant. Without much thought, his hand reached out and accurately grabbed Xiao Hei by the neck, pulling it backward.
Second Baby suddenly felt light on her body and blinked in confusion. When she raised her head, she saw Big Baby expressionlessly lifting Xiao Hei, preparing to throw it out of the carriage, which startled Second Baby. “Brother, please don’t.”
Big Baby’s actions paused for a moment due to Second Baby’s plea. But in that hesitation, Xiao Hei seized the opportunity, its sharp claws scratched Big Baby’s hand.
“Ah…Dudu!” Xia Yuqing, who was attracted by the commotion, was startled when she saw this scene. She hurriedly approached to check the injury on Big Baby’s hand.
“It’s okay, it’s just a superficial wound. It’s not too deep. Remember not to touch water for a few days, okay?” Xia Yuqing carefully examined the wound on Big Baby’s hand and then took a clean handkerchief to bandage it, only then did she relax a bit.
Big Baby didn’t respond. His eyes were fixed on Xiao Hei in Second Baby’s arms. The once fierce Xiao Hei seemed to have realized that it had made a big mistake and was trembling in Second Baby’s embrace.
Seeing this, Second Baby immediately softened. With her round little face tilted up, she pitifully pleaded, “Brother, Xiao Hei didn’t mean it. Can you forgive it, please?”
Seeing her Second Baby like this, Xia Yuqing’s heart melted into a puddle. She joined in and persuaded, “Xiao Hei didn’t do it on purpose. It scratched you because you scared it earlier, Dudu. Let’s forgive it this time.”
With a serious face, Big Baby looked at the three pairs of eyes staring at him pleadingly. After struggling for a moment, he reluctantly compromised, “For the sake of Second Baby and Mother, I’ll spare you this time.”
“Oh yeah, Brother is the best!” Second Baby cheered and held Xiao Hei close to Big Baby. “Xiao Hei, Xiao Hei, quickly thank Brother.”
Xiao Hei obediently meowed at Big Baby, and just as Big Baby thought he might have been overreacting and was about to forgive it with great magnanimity, he saw Xiao Hei sneering at him from an angle where Second Baby and Xia Yuqing couldn’t see. It had a provocative look on its face.
…
The smile on Big Baby’s face froze, and the veins that had just calmed down on his forehead burst once again. Silently, he reached into his pocket.
“Dudu, don’t act impulsively! This thing is indeed too dangerous to keep. Confiscate it, confiscate it!” With Xia Yuqing’s exclamation, chaos erupted inside the carriage.
Afterward, for some unknown reason, an eerie silence lasted for a few seconds. Then, an earth-shattering cry resounded, “Wuwah, Brother is a meanie, Brother is a meanie!”
…
Big Baby’s face turned bright red with fury. His eyes looked sinisterly at the culprit who caused this tragedy, grinding his teeth.
D*mn it, someday he will stew this d*mn fat cat alive and make cat soup out of it!
Unbeknownst to everyone, a fierce battle among the little ones quietly unfolded.
During the journey in Xia Country, they didn’t encounter any troubles. After a series of hardships, they finally returned to the capital of Ye Country.
Upon their return, Yun Xi planned to go back to the palace with Xia Yuqing. But as soon as they entered the city, He Wenzhong mentioned that Mother He hadn’t seen Yun Xi for a long time and missed her dearly.
When Xia Yuqing heard this, she saw it as a great opportunity for Yun Xi to please her future mother-in-law and improve their relationship so she waved her hand and allowed Yun Xi to accompany He Wenzhong to visit the He family before returning to the palace.
As for Xia Muyun, it goes without saying that with the arrival of Leng Ruofeng’s child, they couldn’t stay at the inn any longer. After consulting everyone’s opinions, somewhat embarrassed, they followed Leng Ruofeng back to the Prime Minister’s residence.
Fortunately, Lady Leng and Lord Leng had learned about Xia Muyun’s pregnancy when Leng Ruofeng got the news. Shocked and delighted, they were overjoyed that their son, who had always had difficulty with relationships, not only had found a girl he loved but also had a child on the way. But on the other hand, they blamed their son for being reckless. He had impregnated their future daughter-in-law and let her run around with a baby in her belly, putting both her and their future grandchild in danger. They were filled with worry and anxiety.
Thinking about this, the elderly couple wanted to discipline their own son severely. Unfortunately, before they could do so, Leng Ruofeng had an unusual impulse and went to Xia Country alone.
The poor couple anxiously waited in Ye Country, worrying about their son, daughter-in-law, and future grandchild. Fortunately, they later heard news from the palace that the Queen had sent a letter, assuring the safety of their future daughter-in-law and granddaughter. The couple then learned that the young lady from Xia they were concerned about was actually the Queen’s own sister, the Third Princess of Xia Country! Although the couple was surprised, they didn’t have much of a reaction. As long as the children came from a decent family, had good character and appearance, and were liked by their son, the most important thing now was the safety of the mother and daughter. Oh, they had been longing for a grandchild for a long time!
Since they learned that Xia Muyun and the others would return to the capital, the elderly couple faced east every day, gazing into the distance for a quarter of an hour. They had been eagerly anticipating their return, so there was no way they would let Xia Muyun and their precious granddaughter stay outside. As soon as they heard that they would return in a few days, they had the rooms prepared in advance.
Knowing that Xia Muyun would be bringing the child with her, the elderly couple were overjoyed and hurriedly rushed to the door to personally welcome them.
As soon as Xia Muyun stepped down from the carriage with the support of Leng Ruofeng, she saw the two of them and became even more embarrassed.
Although she had left Xia Country in a hurry due to the dangerous situation with her eldest brother, it was still a source of guilt towards these two people. After all, when she temporarily resided in Ye Country, they had treated her exceptionally well. But in the end, she hadn’t told them anything about being pregnant with their grandchild, and she was even unmarried at the time. Now that the child had been born, she didn’t know how they would feel about her, whether they would consider her… shameless?
Just when Xia Muyun was unusually anxious, she suddenly felt a slight tightening of the hand holding hers. The cool touch of those slender fingers transmitted a sense of calmness, instantly calming her down.
Madam Leng and Lord Leng apparently noticed Xia Muyun’s nervousness and approached them with the same amiable smile as before. “Miss Xia, you’ve returned? Was the journey smooth? Did you encounter any trouble?”
Seeing the genuine joy on their faces, Xia Muyun’s nervousness dissipated slightly, and she apologized, “Madam and Sir, you can just call me Yun Er. The journey was fine, and we didn’t encounter any trouble.”
Madam Leng and Lord Leng couldn’t ask for anything more and affectionately called out, “Yun Er.”
After calling her name, their eyes remained fixed on the baby in Xia Muyun’s arms, their gazes burning with excitement that Xia Muyun couldn’t ignore.
Seeing their eager expressions, Xia Muyun couldn’t help but find it amusing. The anxiety she had felt throughout the journey dissipated a lot. She moved the baby in her arms closer and whispered, “Baby, these are your grandparents.”
“Yes, yes, yes, we are your grandparents!” The two elderly people, who had been eagerly anticipating a grandchild, became ecstatic. They couldn’t wait to hold this soft and adorable little thing. After all, she was their precious granddaughter!
The baby was already two to three months old and couldn’t speak yet. She just stared at these two strangers who were so focused on her with her big, dark eyes. After observing them for a while, she smiled, revealing her toothless, pink gums.
“Oh my, our granddaughter smiled at me, Husband, did you see that? Our granddaughter smiled at me!”
“I saw it, I saw it! Our granddaughter smiled at me too, she’s so lovely!”
“Yes, yes, she’s really adorable!”
Seeing their joy over their granddaughter’s smile, Xia Muyun felt relieved. She tentatively asked, “Would you like to hold the baby, Madam and Sir?”
The two people, who had been fixated on the baby, suddenly looked up, their eyes almost blinding Xia Muyun with their brightness. “Can we?”
“Of course, you are her grandparents, so of course you can hold her.” Xia Muyun smiled faintly as she handed the baby over to them.
The two of them carefully took the baby into their arms, smelling the sweet scent of milk on her and noticing that she wasn’t shy at all. With her grape-like black eyes fixed on them, they couldn’t help but find her incredibly cute. Their hearts immediately melted into a puddle. “Oh, my sweet little grandchild, how can you be so adorable?!”
Madam Leng held the soft baby in her arms and turned her head with delight to Lord Leng, exclaiming, “Husband, look quickly! This child’s eyes are so beautiful, just like Yun Er. She will definitely grow up to be a beauty.”
Lord Leng also wanted to hold his granddaughter, but he didn’t dare to compete with his wife, and he was clumsy with his hands and feet. He had no idea how to hold such a small little thing and was afraid of accidentally dropping her so he could only stare dumbfounded and say, “Mmm, look her eyebrows and nose are quite similar to Feng Er.”
“Yes, her mouth is a bit like Ruofeng’s, but her face resembles Yun Er more. She’s really adorable.”
As Xia Muyun listened to the excited discussion between the couple about who the baby resembled more, she felt a sense of relief. This child usually cries when she sees strangers, but today, not only was she not afraid of her grandparents, but she also kept smiling. It was evident that the bond of blood was truly a remarkable thing.
Feeling relieved, Xia Muyun’s heart fluttered slightly, and she smiled at the person beside her. “It seems like they prefer the baby over you. Did you see? They have been focused on the baby the whole time and haven’t even glanced at you.”
Leng Ruofeng looked at the excitement in Xia Muyun’s eyes and raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. He succinctly replied, “The allure of a generation gap.” With that, he reached out and gave Xia Muyun a playful pinch at her waist, despite his cold and stern expression.
Xia Muyun’s legs almost went weak from his pinch. Her face turned slightly red, and she glared at him, a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. This guy really couldn’t take a joke. They were still outside, and yet he dared…
“By the way, have you given our precious granddaughter a name?” Madam Leng, while playing with the baby and making her giggle, suddenly remembered something and turned to ask.
Upon hearing Madam Leng’s question, Xia Muyun hurriedly replied, “We haven’t had a chance to decide yet. Neither of us has any good ideas. How about the two of you help us choose a name?”
During their time in Xia Kingdom, Xia Muyun was constantly in danger and didn’t have the energy to come up with a nice-sounding name for her child. Although they had randomly chosen a few, none of them were particularly satisfying. Later, Leng Ruofeng became annoyed and simply said that they should let her grandparents choose the name. They would be more than happy to do so, and that settled it.
The couple was more than willing to choose a name for their precious granddaughter. They nodded repeatedly and said, “We’ll choose, that’s fine. Naming a child is not a trivial matter. Let us think about it carefully.”
Seeing that the two of them were still planning to stand by the door, Leng Ruofeng frowned and couldn’t help but remind them, “Mom, Dad, let’s discuss matters inside the house.”
As Leng Ruofeng pointed it out, Lord and Madam Leng finally realized that they had inadvertently blocked the entrance without inviting them inside. They were so happy to see their daughter-in-law and granddaughter that they forgot to welcome them properly.
“Oh, look at us! Muyun, you must be tired after such a long journey. Come inside and rest. Especially you, Muyun. You’ve just given birth not long ago and have been camping out like this. It’s not good for your health. I’ve already instructed the kitchen to prepare some tonics for you to replenish your body. They say giving birth is the most taxing on a woman’s body, and I heard you had a difficult delivery. If you don’t take care of yourself, it could be dangerous,” Madam Leng said, concerned.
Xia Muyun didn’t expect Madam Leng to be so caring towards her. She felt warmth in her heart and smiled lightly, saying, “Thank you, Madam.”
Madam Leng, however, seemed a bit displeased and pretended to be angry. “We’re all family now, there’s no need to call me Madam and create distance.”
Xia Muyun was taken aback and felt a bit embarrassed. After a while, she finally uttered a word, “Mother.”
“Good child, good child,” Madam Leng exclaimed happily.
Lord Leng, not wanting to be left out, chimed in, “What about me?”
After Xia Muyun called her mother, she felt less awkward, so this time she responded straightforwardly, “Father.”
“Alright, alright, let’s all go inside,” Madam Leng and Lord Leng were satisfied and promptly entered the house while holding the baby.
Leng Ruofeng stepped forward and embraced Xia Muyun’s waist, succinctly saying, “Let’s go.”
“Yes,” Xia Muyun replied.
In the Prime Minister’s residence, the family gathered happily, enjoying their reunion. Meanwhile, in a certain part of the palace, the atmosphere was bustling and chaotic due to the return of someone.
“My beloved Lu Rui, your Niang Niang has returned…ed…ed…ed…ed!”
With a familiar long roar, the movements of those under Lu Rui’s command halted abruptly. Xiao Bai, who was sunbathing in the courtyard, also jolted up, his eyes shining as he turned his gaze towards Xia Yuqing’s direction. Everyone in the Xiefang Palace stopped what they were doing, staring with wide eyes and open mouths at the person who made the sound.
As soon as Xia Yuqing returned to the palace, she immediately headed for her own residence, Xiefang Palace. As she approached the door, she saw a young girl in a green robe standing at the entrance. Her eyes lit up, and she leaped forward, intending to pounce on the girl. However, halfway through her leap, she felt a gust of wind swiftly pass by her side.
Crash! Xia Yuqing was startled, and she quickly applied the brakes, narrowly avoiding throwing the Xiao Hei in her arms due to inertia.
“Miss Lu Rui, it’s been over a year since we last met, and you’ve become even more beautiful. Throughout this year, I’ve been constantly thinking of you, experiencing for the first time what it means to feel as though a day without seeing you is like three autumns apart. Lu Rui, my longing for you is like the surging river, continuous and flowing towards the sea, never to return. Lu Rui…”
Silence filled the air as everyone witnessed this sudden turn of events. They were dumbfounded, unsure of how to react.
“Ugh…” The first one to react was Xia Yuqing. She couldn’t help but gag at the sight of her Second Senior Brother’s shameless lies and excessively sweet words. It sent shivers down her spine and gave her goosebumps all over her body.
“Oh dear, Junior Sister, what’s wrong with you? Such a strong reaction. Could it be… you’re expecting again? That’s too fast! Although Dun Dun said she wanted a younger sister, you don’t have to rush for another child as soon as you return to the country. How can I handle this pace? No, I need to step up my game too! Miss Lu Rui…”
“…” You are pregnant! Your whole family is pregnant. Can’t you see how repulsed I am by you?”
Moreover, Second Senior Brother, let me tell you, you’re not cut out to be like Senior Brother. Your attempts at romantic words don’t evoke any affectionate feelings; they just make me feel creeped. Lastly, I have to remind you that even Senior Brother, a seasoned warrior, can stumble and fall in front of the palace maids, let alone someone like you who is new to this. Do you really think you can hit the target with just one attempt? Don’t even think about it!
Xia Yuqing silently despised Yun Zhongyue while holding Xiao Hei in her arms. As expected, right after Yun Zhongyue’s final lamenting and romantic call, Lu Rui couldn’t take it anymore. She trembled all over, forcibly resisting the urge to smack him in the face with the object in her hand, and gritted her teeth, “Young Master Yun, could you please remove your hand from my body first? I can’t move.”
Upon hearing Lu Rui’s reminder, Yun Zhongyue realized that he had grabbed the young lady’s arm in his excitement and hadn’t let go. He let out a nervous laugh and quickly released his grip, saying, “Ahaha, I was just too excited to see Miss Lu Rui… Ouch…”
“…” Ouch, that must have hurt. The onlookers had a dumbfounded expression on their faces.
Xia Yuqing also looked at Yun Zhongyue with sympathy. Second Senior Brother, I told you it wouldn’t work, but you didn’t believe me. You’re suffering now! Lu Rui didn’t show any mercy. Well, I mean, she didn’t spare his feet.
Lu Rui straightened her disheveled clothes and glanced disdainfully at the person hopping around while holding his lower body. She coldly snorted and quickly walked towards Xia Yuqing.
“Niang Niang, you’re back. I’ve missed you and Little Princess so much.” Lu Rui warmly greeted Xia Yuqing.
Just as Xia Yuqing was about to respond, she heard the joyful barking sound, “Woof woof woof…”
As soon as it heard Xia Yuqing’s voice, Xiao Bai dashed out from the backyard, but what it didn’t expect was… its long-awaited master was holding a black cat in her arms!
!
The enthusiasm sparked by Xia Yuqing’s return seemed to have been doused with a bucket of cold water, completely extinguished.
What followed was extreme panic and raging anger. Master… master had actually brought home a new pet and didn’t want Xiao Bai anymore!
“Oh my, Xiao Bai, you’ve gotten fat again after a year of not seeing you? Come here and let me pat your little butt. Let’s see if you’ve gained weight,” Xia Yuqing said, turning her head. Soon, she felt a weight on her feet, somewhat surprised. This little guy had actually gotten heavier!
Upon hearing Xia Yuqing’s words, Xiao Bai’s ears perked up from beneath its white fur. Its two bright eyes looked at Xia Yuqing, barking excitedly. Ah-woo, the master really does still like this lord. I won’t be abandoned.
With this thought, Xiao Bai regained its confidence and walked up to Xia Yuqing, raising its head toward the small black cat in her arms, barking in a self-important manner.
“Woof woof woof…” Newcomer, don’t be too arrogant. You should know that I’m more familiar with this place than you. You have to call me Big Brother from now on, got it?
The heterochromatic eyes of the small black cat glanced at the fat dog who was trying to show dominance from the beginning, revealing a hint of disdain in its gem-like eyes.
“Meow…” Idiot!
Xiao Bai’s ears suddenly perked up, accompanied by its raised white fur. What did that D*mn cat just say? It’s clearly just a cat, yet…
“Woof woof woof…” You’re an idiot. Your whole family is a bunch of idiots!
“Meow…” Stupid!
“Woof, woof, woof…” You! You come here! This lord wants to challenge you one-on-one.”
“Meow…” Can’t be bothered with you.
“…”
“Huh? What are they doing?” Xia Yuqing looked puzzled as she watched the two interacting with each other, quite lively.
“…Niang Niang, it seems like they’re communicating.”
Xia Yuqing was taken aback. She looked at the small black cat in her arms and then glanced at Xiao Bai squatting on the ground, looking expectant (actually, grinding its teeth and glaring) and understood something. “So, you can understand each other’s words. It’s so lively and they get along really well.”
“…” Lu Rui, standing by the side, couldn’t help but twitch her mouth. Niang Niang, which eye of yours see that these two animals get along well? Didn’t you notice that Xiao Bai’s fur is standing up in anger, looking like it wants to devour the other one?
“I’m relieved that you two get along. Xiao Bai, this is Xiao Hei. He’s a new friend who recently arrived at our palace. Xiao Bai, as an elder, you should take good care of Xiao Hei and not bully him… Wow, Xiao Bai, what are you doing?”
Before Xia Yuqing finished speaking, Xiao Bai, who was originally squatting on the ground, targeted the moment when Xia Yuqing bent down and pounced on the small black cat in her arms.
“Woof woof woof…” Look down on me, look down on me, die!
Xia Yuqing was startled by the sudden pounce from Xiao Bai and fell to the ground with a scream.
“Niang Niang!” The maidservants by her side were also taken aback and hurriedly rushed forward to check on her.
For a while, the entrance of Xiefang Palace became chaotic. After a while, calm was finally restored, but Xiao Bai…
“Xiao Bai, how could you randomly pounce on Niang Niang? What if you hurt her? Today’s dinner is canceled. Reflect on your actions behind closed doors!” scolded Lu Rui, full of frustration.
“Xiao Bai, Xiao Hei just arrived and doesn’t understand anything. How could you, as an elder, bully it? You’ve really disappointed me,” Xia Yuqing said with a pained expression.
“…” The onlookers remained silent but collectively looked at Xiao Bai with condemning gazes.
Xiao Bai felt stung by the gazes of everyone and silently squatted in a corner, shedding tears in the wind. Sobbing, it seemed that its owner didn’t love it anymore. She only laughed with the newcomer and ignored the old friend’s tears.
It must be because Xiao Bai has become too fat and can no longer be easily carried like before. Sobbing, its owner doesn’t want it anymore. From now on, Xiao Bai would be like those neglected concubines in the harem, living alone in seclusion, lonely until the end. Sobbing…
In the previous second, the delicate and weak Xiao Hei pretended to be bullied in Xia Yuqing’s arms, but in the next second, when Xia Yuqing and others couldn’t see, it rolled its eyes at Xiao Bai huddled in the corner. How dare this one act so arrogantly and show off? It really doesn’t know its own limitations. Hmph, watch how I deal with you in the future.
Big Baby, who followed closely behind Xia Yuqing while holding his sister’s hand, saw this scene and his eyes flickered slightly. It seemed that he could find some allies to use for his own purposes. That despicable dead cat even caused his beloved pistol, which he had treasured for a long time, to be confiscated by his mother. If he didn’t properly repay it, how could he face himself? Hmph…
While chaos ensued in Xia Yuqing’s surroundings due to her return, there were also hidden undercurrents. On the other hand, Feng Tingye, upon returning to the palace, didn’t rush back to the Qianqing Palace. Instead, he directly headed towards Cining Palace, where Zhang Sunshi was.
When Feng Tingye arrived at Cining Palace, Meixi happened to be coming out from the inner chamber, carrying their lunch. She was surprised to see Feng Tingye and quickly bowed in salute. “Your Majesty.”
Feng Tingye smiled and asked, “Where is the Empress Dowager?”
“The Empress Dowager just finished lunch and is currently reciting sutras in the meditation hall. Your Majesty…”
“I’ll go by myself. Aunt, you can go about your own tasks,” Feng Tingye interrupted.
“Ah!” Meixi responded and respectfully retreated.
Feng Tingye pushed open the door and walked into the inner chamber. The room was filled with the fragrance of incense, and the sound of wooden fish being struck repeatedly filled the air.
Zhang Sunshi, hearing the commotion, was puzzled by Meixi’s departure and return. She paused in her movements and turned around, saying, “Meixi, what…”
As soon as she turned her head, she saw Feng Tingye standing behind her. Zhang Sunshi couldn’t help but be surprised and delighted as she stood up and said, “When did you come back? You should have informed me in advance. I would personally receive you. What about Qing Er and the others?”
Feng Tingye smiled and calmly replied one by one, “I just returned. I heard that you have been in seclusion recently, so I didn’t want to disturb you. Ai Fei and the two children, I let them return to Xiefang Palace first.”
Upon hearing Feng Tingye’s words, Zhang Sunshi understood that he wanted to speak to her privately. She dismissed Xia Yuqing and the others and asked, “Ting’er, do you have something to discuss with me?”
Feng Tingye nodded and got straight to the point, “Empress Dowager, the Princess of Shu has passed away a few months ago.”
Zhang Sunshi trembled all over. In fact, she was not entirely unaware of Yun Shan’s situation. When she heard that Feng Tingye and the others had left Shu to go to Xue Kingdom, she had already anticipated it, but she had been unwilling to admit it. Now that she had received confirmation from Feng Tingye, she suddenly realized that the little girl who used to call her sister and was always by her side was truly no longer in this world.
“Empress Dowager, before the Princess of Shu passed away… she left this behind.” Feng Tingye saw a tinge of sorrow in Zhang Sunshi’s eyes and sighed lightly as he took out a letter from his sleeve.
If Yun Zhongyue were here at this moment and saw this letter, he would surely be greatly surprised. This… wasn’t it the same letter he had stolen from the Princess’s residence?
Zhang Sunshi suddenly looked up, looking at Feng Tingye with astonishment. It took her a while to react, as if she had been struck by lightning. She hastily took the letter from Feng Tingye’s hand.
Upon seeing the familiar handwriting and the signature on the envelope, Zhang Sunshi could no longer restrain herself. Even her fingertips trembled slightly.
Feng Tingye didn’t linger and bowed, saying, “Empress Dowager, I just remembered that there are urgent matters from the previous dynasty that require my attention since I’ve been away for a long time. I will return to Qianqing Palace first, and I will bring Ai Fei and the others to accompany you for dinner tonight.”
Zhang Sunshi forced a smile and nodded, “Go ahead.”
Feng Tingye turned and left, closing the doors to the inner chamber behind him.
As soon as Feng Tingye left, Zhang Sunshi couldn’t wait any longer and opened the letter in her hand. The more she read, the redder her eyes became, and tears started to roll down her cheeks.
After reading the last line, Zhang Sunshi finally seemed overwhelmed. She sat down on the ground, sobbing softly, and called out in a hoarse voice the name of the person who wrote this letter, “Shanshan, Shanshan…”
Feng Tingye stood silently outside the door, listening to the sound from inside. He let out a deep and melancholic sigh.
The letter he gave to Zhang Sunshi was indeed the same letter Yun Zhongyue found in the Princess’s residence. It was because of this letter that Yun Zhongyue began to suspect the relationship between the Princess and Zhang Sunshi. Later, the letter remained in his possession.
He didn’t tell Zhang Sunshi that the letter was stolen, and perhaps the Princess never expected this letter to be delivered to Zhang Sunshi after her death. He also didn’t tell Zhang Sunshi that he… had actually read the contents of the letter long before.
Actually, the Princess may not have been completely unaware of the incident with the red flowers back then. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked Zhang Sunshi in the letter if the red flowers were intentionally arranged by her. The letter had been kept hidden, as she feared getting a definite answer that would extinguish the last bit of hope in her heart. On the other hand, she also feared receiving a negative answer that would cause her years of hatred to collapse overnight. What would she have left to live for? What would she have to support herself moving forward? At that time, she… couldn’t turn back anymore.
It must be said that humans are such contradictory beings. However, all of these matters are no longer important now.
“Your Majesty,” Meixi couldn’t help but feel uneasy and turn back.
Feng Tingye shook his head at her. At a time like this, it was better to let the person inside calm down. He believed that once they got through this, the grudges of the previous generation would truly come to an end.
As Feng Tingye expected, by the time they were approaching dinner, Zhang Sunshi’s emotions had visibly calmed down. With Xia Yuqing by her side, entertaining her and the two children acting cute and well-behaved, the smile on Zhang Sunshi’s face became even more profound.
The dinner was enjoyable except for Xu Lao mentioning that their apprentice’s child had audaciously entered Jin Lao’s tutelage and cursing the old man for lacking principles and even abducting their child, everything else was harmonious.
Feng Tingye and Xia Yuqing, the couple who caused constant worry, returned to court. The happiest person was undoubtedly the current Grand Tutor, Yan Ran.
D*mn it, these two troublesome individuals have finally returned. Now he could be relieved! The freed Yan Ran was determined to get married, resolutely determined!
Early the next morning, the resolute Grand Tutor marched into the study, declaring to Feng Tingye that he would retire from court and get married. After enslaving him for so long, he wouldn’t allow anything else this time. He must marry Li Yuan and that was final! Otherwise… he would die to make a point!
Feng Tingye remained extremely calm as he watched Yan Ran, who was making a fuss about getting married. He lazily yawned several times before reluctantly approving Yan Ran’s request under his persistent gaze, and with a good mood, he arranged their wedding.
Now, Yan Ran couldn’t help but feel ecstatic. He was finally going to get married! It wasn’t easy at all!
News of Yan Ran’s impending marriage quickly spread, and Leng Ruofeng furrowed his brow, feeling indebted to Xia Muyun for a wedding. He discussed the matter with Lord and Lady Leng.
The elderly couple agreed wholeheartedly with Leng Ruofeng’s proposal. They believed that since the two had children together, they should have a concrete and formal union. They decided to hold the weddings on the same day as Yan Ran.
Once the news spread, the entire capital city of Ye Country knew that the two pillars of the court were getting married on the same day. With this, the city lost two talented and handsome young men, breaking countless hearts of young women.
The simultaneous weddings of two influential and pivotal young talents in front of the emperors could only be described as grand. The day was filled with red wedding sedans and a ten-mile-long wedding procession, creating a magnificent and envy-inducing spectacle.
Yan Ran couldn’t stop smiling the entire day. He greeted every guest with a radiant smile, which made the people in his residence worry that he might get a cramp from excessive smiling.
However, in the evening, when Yan Ran saw a wave of troublemakers who were determined to stir up chaos at the wedding banquet, he couldn’t find a reason to smile anymore. His lips twitched involuntarily.
“Why did all of you come to me? Aren’t you supposed to be with Ruofeng?” Yan Ran stared at Xia Yuqing and the others, who were eagerly approaching him, with a stiff expression. He had a bad feeling about this!
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