Chapter 59 The person you love, when are you and Madam Wang planning to get married...?

Shen Minghuai led her into the house, saying, "It's best not to know the secrets of the officials; that way, you can be safe."

Wang Yan still felt that this was just a pretext, but he couldn't get any information out of her.

Seeing that she didn't believe him, Shen Minghuai continued, "If something really happened, Madam Xu and Brother Zhu wouldn't be able to keep it from you."

Yes. The two men who saw her recently didn't seem to be hiding anything. If something had really happened, things wouldn't be so peaceful around them.

Do you still remember Lady Shang?

The sudden mention of that name felt both strange and familiar to her. Since receiving her letter announcing the good news, the two had had no further contact. Wang Yan asked suspiciously, "What, is she getting a divorce?"

Shen Minghuai chuckled and told her that Prince Wei was getting married the next day and he had to attend the ceremony, though he seemed rather reluctant. She, on the other hand, really wanted to go, and since she couldn't leave Jishengtang for the time being, she had no choice but to ask Shen Minghuai to deliver her wedding gift.

The Prince of Wei's wedding was a grand affair, with a full house of noblemen and officials, but only a handful of relatives and friends. However, the area outside the Prince's residence was far more bustling than inside. Rumor had it that the merchant's wife was exceptionally beautiful, a rare beauty, and everyone was waiting at the gates of the Prince's residence to catch a glimpse of her.

As Shen Minghuai entered the Prince Wei's residence, he was bumped into. It was a young girl, wearing a black hat, silver earrings, and black clothes, who did not resemble a Han Chinese.

A-Guo, panting heavily, leaned on her knees. "I'm sorry! I'm not late, am I?"

Shen Minghuai glanced inside, wondering when Qian Xu had recruited foreign retainers, when he heard the woman say again, "My name is Aguo, and I come from the southwest."

Just then, Qian Yao came out from under the eaves, greeted the two of them, and smiled even more broadly than the groom. After introducing the two to each other, they were led inside by the maids of the Prince's mansion.

A Yi girl, who appeared by chance, unintentionally became the most eye-catching presence at the wedding banquet. While the Prince of Wei composed a poem, the Princess fanned herself, but the eyes of the many guests followed the foreign woman; everyone knew she was brought by the Prince of Su. After the ceremony, the banquet began. The women gathered around A-Guo were all curious about her clothes, but when they saw the Prince of Wei approaching with a silver cup, they all dispersed.

"May I ask how you are addressed, madam?"

Aguo first offered a greeting, "This humble woman, Aguo, greets Your Highness and Your Highness."

Ignoring the people around him, Qian Xu asked A-Guo, "Did you come with Fourth Brother?"

A-Guo lowered her gaze and replied, "A-Guo comes from the southwest and has been favored by His Highness Prince Su. This time, I came to the capital for a trip because I have never seen a royal wedding ceremony, so I wanted to broaden my horizons."

Qian Xu laughed and said, "Fourth Brother is just kind-hearted. He'll help anyone in need, no matter who they are."

Shang Nianyao did not leave with Qian Xu, but stayed where she was and said to A Guo, "The silver crown you gave me is very beautiful."

A-Guo looked up and smiled back, "I'm glad the Princess is pleased!"

"Someone else gave me a set of jewelry, just like you." Shang Nianyao was genuinely surprised when the gold and silver pieces were carried into her room.

Ah Guo exclaimed with delight, "What a coincidence! Who is it, and who is it here?"

Shang Nianyao walked past her and glanced at the seats in the distance. "We'll have a chance to meet again in the future."

Shen Minghuai left the banquet early with his father. Since being dismissed from his post, Shen Dingchen would never accept an invitation that he could refuse, and he would never stay long at banquets he had to attend. He spent his days playing with birds, playing chess, and practicing calligraphy by the pond, and rarely stepped out of his mansion.

Before Shen Minghuai had even entered the courtyard after returning to the mansion, a snow-white ball of fluff pounced on him.

"Brother!"

Shen Minghuai removed the tassels from her hair bun, saying, "A-Wan has grown much taller."

"That's because my brother hasn't seen me for a long time." Han Xiwan then called out to the person behind her brother, "Father."

Because Shen Minghuai was not in the capital in August, Han Xiwan, who was supposed to come to celebrate his birthday with him, missed him terribly after not seeing him for almost a year and kept urging Han Shi to come early for the New Year and stay for a longer period of time.

Han Xiwan held her brother's hand in one hand and her mother's hand in the other, looking expectantly at Shen Dingchen, "Mother said we can have a good New Year this year, Father, do you want to come along?"

Shen Dingchen bent down and gently rubbed Han Xiwan's face. "Of course, Father will be with you."

Shen Minghuai sat down on the porch with Han Shi in his arms, then went back inside to fetch a hot water bottle. Han Xiwan was pulling her father along the porch to build a snow lion.

"Did Mother ever regret it?"

With a smile of satisfaction, Madam Han turned to look at him. "Regret? Why would you regret it?"

"If you hadn't left back then, you might be living a similar life as you are today."

Shen Minghuai also had such peaceful and happy days, but they were extremely short-lived yet so precious that he remembered them for many, many years. When he was five years old, his father and mother had their first argument, and the quarrels became more and more frequent until his mother wrote a letter of divorce and left the house. At that time, he was twelve years old, standing still in the snow, watching his mother's resolute back, shedding the last tear of his childhood.

“Your father and I are not a good match. This is better for both of us.” Madam Han’s eyes were filled with undisguised guilt. “Only you will suffer.”

Shen Minghuai learned from others that when his father passed the imperial examination, many prestigious families sought sons-in-law from among the successful candidates, but he chose his mother, who had slapped him. How could such a fate have led to this situation?

Did Mother ever love Father?

Han frankly told him without hesitation, "Of course I loved you. It wasn't that I didn't love you when I left, but that I didn't love you as much. Fortunately, I left decisively and didn't let things get out of control, otherwise I wouldn't be sitting here today."

Having received his mother's reply, Shen Minghuai looked up at Shen Dingchen. He had no idea what his father's answer would be, for he couldn't bring himself to ask.

Following his gaze, Madam Han said, "Your father was the same. No, perhaps back then, he loved me more deeply than I did. I'm not just bragging."

Shen Minghuai didn't understand. If that were truly the case, how could his father have let go back then? Han, drawing on her own experience, told him that the one who loves more deeply is often more willing to compromise. Because they can't bear to, because they care. But what if neither of them is willing to let go?

Madam Han laughed and said he was silly, "Then let's get married. When do you and Madam Wang plan to get married?"

The unexpected question caught Shen Minghuai off guard, leaving him speechless. Marriage... he hadn't even considered it yet.

"She is still seriously ill, this is not the time to talk about this."

"Still recovering from a serious illness?!" Madam Han suddenly stood up, eager to go to the Prince's residence to visit him.

Shen Minghuai quickly persuaded Madam Han to return, "She is not in the Prince's residence right now. Mother should have seen it on her way here; her portrait is plastered all over the capital."

Madam Han frowned and said, "That piece of paper is pure nonsense. How could such a good child like her do such a thing? Now that you know where she is, take good care of her."

Shen Minghuai lowered his eyes to look at his mother, "Why are you so sure, Mother?"

Mrs. Han patted his hand, "Because you are a good boy too."

"Brother, come quickly!"

Shen Minghuai took over Shen Dingchen's position, and the father stood behind the mother. With the help of her elder brother, Han Xiwan's snow lion was quickly completed.

"Ah Wan, would you like to go see someone with your brother?"

Han Xiwan looked the snow lion over and over again, her face beaming with joy. "Who is it?"

"The person my brother likes."

"Doctor, can my daughter be cured?" Madam Han stared anxiously at Xu Ning'an.

"this……"

She's in perfect health. Xu Ning'an looked at the little boy in front of her again; he looked just like a little glutinous rice ball... Suddenly, Madam Han grabbed her hand and pointed at it with three short fingers and one long finger.

"Come with me."

The mother and daughter followed Xu Ning'an around to the backyard, where Shen Minghuai had been waiting for a long time.

"Brother!"

Han Xiwan let go of her mother's hand and ran over. Shen Minghuai straightened her clothes, gave her some instructions, such as not to make too much noise, exchanged a glance with Han Shi, and then led his sister away around the corner.

Wang Yan had just woken up from her afternoon nap. With her hair disheveled, she strolled to the door, intending to see what was going on, when she saw Shen Minghuai's figure quietly appear.

"You've arrived."

Shen Minghuai strode into the room, took off his sable fur coat and draped it over her shoulders, saying, "Be careful not to catch a cold."

Wang Yan smiled and pulled his fur coat tighter, only then noticing a child carrying a kite following behind him. "This is..."

The little boy looked up at her, his eyes unblinking, his eyes, which could hold all the curiosity about the world, were now filled with admiration.

"Sister, you are so beautiful."

Wang Yan couldn't help but chuckle, "Thank you, A-Wan has such a sweet tongue. Unlike your brother."

Han Xiwan shook her head and said very seriously, "Brother once said in his letter that you are a very good person, but I didn't know you were so beautiful."

Wang Yan glanced at Shen Minghuai, then leaned down to Han Xiwan and asked, "Is it really that good-looking?"

Han Xiwan nodded heavily. "Awan doesn't lie. Sister is still sick, so don't stand outside. It's cold, you'll catch a cold. Let's come inside."

Wang Yan was led into the house by Han Xiwan's small hand, and Shen Minghuai, who followed behind them, never stopped smiling. After she sat down by the stove, Han Xiwan handed her the kite.

“My brother taught me to make this; I’m giving it to my sister.”

Wang Yan took the bluish-purple "fish" and examined it closely, saying, "Ah Wan is so skillful. Your brother can even make kites?"

"My brother is skilled in so many things." Han Xiwan was very proud of her brother and listed all of Shen Minghuai's strengths. He was knowledgeable in astronomy and geography, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, archery, and spear fighting, and was also adept at making tea and cooking.

Shen Minghuai chuckled and corrected her, "My brother uses a sword, while my mother uses a gun."

Han Xiwan chimed in, "That's right. My brother uses a sword, and my mother uses a spear. What does my sister use?"

"Sister also wields a sword." Wang Yan stared at the kite, lost in thought. Yunyi had been taken away by Jiang Wan, and she still didn't know her whereabouts.

Shen Minghuai whispered to Han Xiwan, "She has a Falling Flower Sword technique, it's very beautiful."

Han Xiwan's eyes immediately lit up, and she pestered Wang Yan to see it for herself. Shen Minghuai gently reminded her, "Have you forgotten? Your sister is sick."

"Then I'll come again after you've fully recovered, sister. You must get better soon, sister."

Han Xiwan took Shen Minghuai's hand and said goodbye at the door. After seeing the brother and sister off, Wang Yan was listless and dispirited, but unexpectedly Shen Minghuai returned.

The man pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear, "What's wrong?"

Wang Yan glanced down at his waist, looking lost and disappointed. "The Cloud Robe is in Jiang Wan's hands."

The person behind her paused, loosening their grip on her waist. "I'll find it for you."

Wang Yan turned her head with delight, "Really—"

Shen Minghuai leaned down and kissed her, but only briefly. Wang Yan pursed her lips, then quickly planted another kiss on his lips before burying herself in his chest, her face flushed from the stove, unable to calm down. She could faintly hear laughter; without even looking, she knew he was laughing at her awkwardness.

Was there a Yi woman at yesterday's wedding banquet?

Wang Yan broke free from his hand and turned around, placing both hands on either side of her cheeks, palms and backs touching.

Shen Minghuai smiled leisurely and followed slowly, "Yes."

"Isn't her clothing very special?"

"yes."

"I wonder what her hometown is like..."

"I come from the southwest, my hometown is Juzhou." Aguo walked in the market with a young woman wearing a lambskin hat.