48 Chapter 48◇

I've heard that daughters-in-law are supposed to wake up at the same time every morning and evening.

Qin opened her mouth, as if to say something, but Old Marquis Duan came out and stopped the farce, "Shut up, everyone. It's not easy for the whole family to get together. What kind of mess is this? Jingchuan has his own ideas about what's going on in his room. As his parents, we shouldn't interfere too much."

Originally, Qin Shi was feeling somewhat down after what Feng Ran said, but upon hearing this, she suddenly felt a surge of anger and roared, "Do I want to interfere? Is it wrong for me to want a grandson? From a young age, Jing Chuan determined that she was not destined for longevity. Do you think the Crown Princess looks like a good mother?"

"Shut up! Is this something a mother should say?" Old Marquis Duan also lost his temper and almost pointed at Qin's nose and cursed her.

Qin's face held a half-smile, but she ultimately refrained from further clashing with Lord Duan in front of everyone.

Upon hearing this, Feng Ran muttered under her breath, "Which charlatan said that my husband will definitely live to be a hundred years old?"

Duan Jingchuan's expression throughout the night was truly remarkable. Perhaps he had once held expectations for the Qin family, but those expectations suddenly vanished today, leaving only the joy of Feng Ran protecting him.

He suddenly didn't want to spend New Year's Eve with this group of people who were either insincere or hostile. In previous years, he had spent it alone, but this year he only wanted to spend it with his wife, and that would be enough.

"Madam, let's go back." Duan Jingchuan didn't care what others thought, and stepped forward to take Feng Ran's hand and gently squeeze it.

Duan Jingchuan was already numb to Feng Ran's reflexive pinching and kneading, and he tended to let her do as she pleased.

Feng Ran readily agreed, since she didn't like it here either, where she couldn't lie down or breathe.

Although the old Marquis Duan was reluctant to part with Duan Jingchuan, seeing the mother and son gathered together in a way that seemed to be a matter of life and death, he sighed and said, "You two should go back. Princess Consort, take good care of Jingchuan."

Before leaving, Feng Ran left a very polite remark, "Mother, I've heard that daughters-in-law are supposed to wake up at dawn and dusk. I've decided to start being a good daughter-in-law from tomorrow."

Lord Duan's hair stood on end at those words, and he suddenly remembered his silver spear that had been easily broken.

But Qin seemed to have won a victory, and the corners of her downturned mouth turned up again, as if to say, "I'm going to set some rules for you."

Duan Jingchuan and Feng Ran walked quite a distance away when the old Marquis Duan's usually mild expression darkened. "You should both go back first. I need to have a word with my wife."

The concubines were thinking that after the young master left, their children could go up and try to win his favor, but unexpectedly, the old Marquis Duan announced that the party was over.

This was the most difficult New Year for the children born out of wedlock and the concubines. They dared not breathe loudly or say more than a few words, for fear of incurring the wrath of Madam Qin and Feng Ran, and even worse, incurring the dislike of the old Marquis Duan.

What appears to be a profusion of flowers is actually a collection of individual efforts, and their delicate beauty, unable to withstand the test of time, is ultimately short-lived.

Lord Duan sighed, “Madam, it is true that I was wrong about what happened back then, but it was also your fault. The only one who shouldn’t be blamed is Jingchuan. I’ve seen you ignore Jingchuan all these years. It’s just that Jingchuan is special, so I didn’t force him to do anything. But now Jingchuan has obviously improved, and the reason is obvious to all. What do you mean by pouring cold water on him now?”

Qin Shi's face turned extremely ugly after her thoughts were exposed, and her words lacked confidence. "I didn't. Wu Fengran is indeed unsuitable to be the Crown Prince's consort. Although I have my own selfish motives, how is Hua'er any less capable than Wu Fengran?"

"No matter how good Miss Biao is, if Jingchuan thinks she's not good, then she's not good. Do you understand that?" Old Marquis Duan was a little tired. His wife had been stubborn all these years, which was not usually apparent, but he did not expect her to become so inflexible when it came to Feng Ran.

"He just hasn't seen a woman before and was bewitched by her. What's wrong with a prince having three wives and four concubines? I didn't ask him to divorce his wife and marry someone else!" Madam Qin was unconvinced and insisted on taking a concubine for Duan Jingchuan.

Lord Duan had a headache, but could only say firmly, "You can't interfere in this matter. I forced him to marry, and we promised that there would be no next time. There's no reason to break our promise just because the person he marries isn't suitable. The Duan family can't go back on our word."

What happened next had nothing to do with Duan Jingchuan. He was now feeling a chill run down his spine, not because of Feng Ran's fierce and predatory gaze.

"Madam...Madam..." Duan Jingchuan couldn't help but recall the time they first met, and he was so nervous that he couldn't speak.

"Husband...husband!" Feng Ran replied happily, but her eyes never left Duan Jingchuan's face.

Duan Jingchuan desperately wanted to cover Feng Ran's eyes. Feng Ran's eyes were bright, without a trace of dust or lust. Based on Duan Jingchuan's understanding of her, he knew she was definitely having thoughts similar to incest, feeling that certain situations were more effective than incest, and that she was getting a little carried away!

He thought, no, he didn't want to!

What should have been a heart-stopping event took on a different meaning when it happened to the lady. Those crystal-clear eyes, that pure, yearning gaze, made the darkness in his heart feel utterly ashamed...

The emotion in Duan Jingchuan's heart and the burning desire in his lower abdomen vanished in an instant. He wanted to express his gratitude to his wife, but she probably wanted more...

"Madam, have a sniff." With a long arm, he resignedly pulled Feng Ran into his embrace.

Feng Ran chuckled, readily embracing Duan Jingchuan and gently pressing her chest against his chest, saying with a soft smile, "Husband, I wasn't thinking about that~"

Haha, if you didn't think of anything, you should have pushed it away. What's with all this fluffy stuff rubbing against my neck?

"Let me tell you about my childhood." Duan Jingchuan didn't want to bring up that period, but there were some things he wanted Feng Ran to know from him.

Feng Ran frowned. "If you don't want to think about it, you don't have to say it."

"But I want to tell you, can you understand this feeling?" Duan Jingchuan was also afraid of Feng Ran. Feng Ran seemed to be very obedient to him and protected him in every way, but she really did not play by the rules.

He didn't even know what Feng Ran's intentions were in treating him so well now. Even if one day Feng Ran told him that she was attracted to his so-called immortal aura, he wouldn't be surprised, after all, this was Feng Ran.

But he had his own selfish motives; he wanted to get closer to Feng Ran.

Can you understand this feeling? What is it that you don't understand? A great deal of doubt appeared in Feng Ran's eyes.

Duan Jingchuan had no intention of answering Feng Ran's questions, and instead recalled a past event he was unwilling to mention.

The Duan family was full of generals. When he was born, the old Marquis Duan was already the renowned Marquis of Dingbei. The handsome and ever-victorious general naturally attracted countless women to flock to him.

His mother, Qin, was one of them.

When Lord Duan was young, he was not as composed as he is now. He had a common male flaw: he loved beautiful women. Although Qin was from an ordinary family, she was a rare beauty and fell in love with him at first sight. Regardless of this, Lord Duan married her.

After entering the house, Qin discovered that the famous Marquis Duan's harem was not clean at all, with a full range of concubines and maids. At that time, she was still young and confident in her appearance, so she reluctantly accepted it.

After the marriage, in order not to have her favor taken away by other women, Qin took the initiative to go with the army to guard the northern border with Lord Duan. Lord Duan naturally agreed. A month after the marriage, Qin moved away from the capital. She never expected that the concubine in the mansion would become pregnant. That child was Duan Yuze.

Left with no other choice, Qin Shi couldn't make a scene, so she reluctantly made her a concubine. Lord Duan felt he was in the wrong, and the two of them enjoyed a period of loving companionship.

The good times didn't last long, and Qin soon became pregnant. She suffered from severe morning sickness and had no choice but to be escorted back to the capital.

Soon, Duan Jingchuan was born. Qin Shi corresponded with the old Marquis Duan at the border with great anticipation, expressing her longing. However, the border was in crisis for several years, and the old Marquis Duan had no opportunity to return to the capital to visit his family. Two years passed in the blink of an eye.

Like a little girl, Madam Qin eagerly awaited Marquis Duan's letters every day. Hearing the praises of Marquis Duan throughout the capital felt like they were praising her, making her feel incredibly happy.

Lord Duan did return once along the way. Qin wanted to go with him, but Duan Jingchuan was only two years old and couldn't withstand the long journey. None of the concubines or maids in the family came along, so Qin felt at ease. Two more years passed.

The northern army achieved a minor victory, and Lord Duan went to the capital to receive his reward.

The expectant Qin family was met with a devastating blow: Lord Duan had indeed returned, but he was accompanied by two pregnant concubines and a son born out of wedlock.

This made Qin blush completely. However, although Lord Duan, who was wholeheartedly devoted to fighting for the country, was invincible on the battlefield, he was not so wise when it came to matters in the home.

Perhaps because Qin Shi had lost her radiance from managing the household affairs over the years, or perhaps because Qin Shi's aggressive demeanor was not obedient enough, in any case, after Lord Duan returned to the capital, he never went to Qin Shi's room even once.

Qin Shi lost favor just like that.

Later, something happened again. When Lord Duan returned to the northern border, Madam Qin refused to stay at home. She only promoted Concubine Xu, who had returned first, to the position of managing the household, while she abandoned Duan Jingchuan and Lord Duan and went to the border.

Five-year-old Duan Jingchuan grew up alone in the back courtyard. Duan Jingchuan didn't continue speaking, but Feng Ran could guess what he meant.

Was Aunt Xu a kind person?

It's hard to say.

Although Xu Yiniang has not shown any ambition over the years, one should not forget that she is the one who truly bears the eldest son. With the vast wealth of the Dingbei Marquis's mansion, a concubine of humble origins would absolutely have reason to scheme and plot.

The past was both clear and blurry for Duan Jingchuan. Unlike the chilling memories he used to have, this time there was a pair of warm little hands holding his hand the whole time.

Duan Jingchuan quickly regained his senses and looked down at Feng Ran. "These things are what I've pieced together from what other people have said over the years. My father has tacitly agreed to it, so it must be the truth."

A note from the author:

Qin is a hopeless romantic, and also a self-deceiving person.

In reality, many people blame their unhappiness on their children, but what have these young children done to deserve this?

I really hate hearing nonsense like, "It's all because of you, otherwise I would have gotten a divorce long ago and found happiness long ago."