Chapter 609 You Believe Me

Xie Zheng couldn't figure out her temper, and his voice lacked confidence.

"The day after that night, I woke up to find it right next to my pillow. I'm sorry, I probably have something that sword likes on me. I'll bring it earlier next time."

Xie Zheng lowered his head, one hand unconsciously grabbing the fabric, twirling two fingers together. "The Taoist priest said I spoke nonsense that day. If you blame me..."

"Do you intend to keep being nice to me?" Song Chunxue interrupted him, thinking she was being gentle. "We've already talked things out, but you still keep giving me things. Now you've given Sanwa a priceless jade pen. What are you thinking?"

She spoke these words without much emotion, even with a hint of abruptness, which made Xie Zheng think that she was very angry.

“Don’t overthink it. I’m just used to treating people around me like this. That pen isn’t worth much; it symbolizes rising to higher positions, nothing priceless, just a few taels of silver.” He was getting a little anxious. “I only see you as my senior brother, nothing more. Maybe in the future, I won’t be staying here anymore, you…”

"Are you going back to the capital?"

Suddenly, Song Chunxue became much more clear-headed. She hadn't known what to say just now, but now it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, and her thoughts became crystal clear.

It seems she doesn't need to ask the questions she wanted to.

"A decree suddenly arrived from the capital, summoning me to the capital," Xie Zheng answered truthfully, looking at her with surprise and uncertainty.

"Uncertain return date?"

"Hmm, maybe, perhaps..."

"I understand. When will we enter the capital?"

"Two days later."

Song Chunxue lowered her head, having made up her mind, and her tone unconsciously became gentle.

"This is a good thing. You're originally from the capital, but you left in a bit of a hurry. You should have a farewell drink. If I hadn't come to ask, were you planning to leave quietly?"

Xie Zheng felt uneasy, but still answered gently, "You will be going to Jiangnan soon, and I don't want to delay your trip."

Song Chunxue stood up, feeling a chill in her heart. It turned out that she was the one who was enthusiastic, and it was only when the other person was about to go to the capital that she started to get restless.

That's good, no loss or regret was caused.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to the Taoist priest?"

The previous turmoil has subsided, and the area has returned to calm, or even stagnant.

"We've already had a farewell drink with our senior brother who just left."

"Oh, I see." Song Chunxue couldn't help but chuckle. What a fool of a son-in-law. She must have been cursed tonight.

However, she did gain something, and was no longer kept in the dark and confused.

"That's all, Lord Xie. Please rest early. Farewell."

"..." Looking at her expression, Xie Zheng felt uneasy, always feeling that her smile was strange and sarcastic.

"I only found out this evening; I didn't mean to hide it from you..."

"It's okay, I'm not blaming you. I wish you all the best in the future."

After saying that, she walked out the door and flew away on her sword.

"A bright future?" Xie Zheng murmured. "Could it be that she thinks I'm not coming back?"

He was just ordered to go to the capital for a wedding banquet and then go home to visit his family. Why is she being so sarcastic?

Never mind, she's probably upset that he stole someone else's sword.

You must return it promptly in the future; that sword is someone's treasure.

...

At noon, Song Chunxue took her three sons to the Hu family to propose marriage.

The Hu family were merchants, but they were not registered as merchants, which speaks volumes about their status.

Song Chunxue naturally couldn't be stingy. After inquiring around, she decided to bring twelve boxes of goods. She had consulted with the shopkeepers from various sources before finally settling on the deal.

Hu Wanying's parents and Hu Wanyu were all present. They didn't say much and agreed to the marriage, but all the formalities of marriage could not be omitted.

Today's visit is the first of the six betrothal rites: betrothal.

After that come the steps of asking the name, accepting the auspicious omen, presenting betrothal gifts, setting the wedding date, and the wedding ceremony.

The three letters are the betrothal letter, the gift letter, and the welcoming letter.

In fact, farmers have everything except for formal greetings and welcoming letters, but it's nothing compared to what wealthy families have.

Song Chunxue naturally had no objections and chatted with Hu Wanyu's parents for half an hour. She originally thought that the Hu family would look down on her family, but she didn't expect them to be so enthusiastic and extremely supportive of the marriage.

During this time, she noticed that Hu Wanyu really wanted to talk to her alone, but Song Chunxue skillfully avoided her.

After returning home, Song Chunxue went to Sanwa's house to pack her things.

She fed the chestnut horse hay, went to the shop and bought a lot of useful snacks, as well as last year's honey, to eat with guokui (a type of flatbread) on the road.

She set the departure date, and her senior brother must have known, but he hadn't been seen yesterday or today.

Forget it, Song Chunxue didn't care about him. Anyway, she was going to ride a horse to Jiangnan tomorrow, and she could go by herself.

This was her long-cherished wish, and she wouldn't change it even if knives rained down from the sky.

With her mind made up, she felt much more at ease. She returned to Sanwa's house, told Mulan some things, and advised her to take good care of herself during her postpartum period and not to rush into making a decision.

Before going to bed that night, she placed a bag of silver under Mulan's pillow.

Just as she was about to wash her feet and hair and go to sleep, her senior brother knocked on the courtyard gate.

My senior brother stood outside the door leading two Akhal-Teke horses.

"Lord Xie said this horse is for you to ride, and you can return it to him when you get back. I had some errands to run and came back late. I hope you're not angry, Junior Brother?"

"Why should I be angry? I'll still go out tomorrow even if I don't see my senior brother."

"..." The Taoist priest touched his nose. "I heard from Lord Xie that..."

Where should we meet tomorrow?

"North Gate".

"See you tomorrow morning." With that, Song Chunxue closed the door.

"..."

The Taoist priest stood at the door, and he hadn't finished speaking yet.

He had already hinted that Lord Xie would return, so why was she still angry?

The next day, at the North Gate of Jincheng.

Song Chunxue accidentally overslept. Leading her chestnut horse, wearing a linen cloak and a straw hat, she saw the Taoist priest and Lord Xie waiting for her at the door from afar.

"I've already led one horse, so why are you leading another one?" the Taoist priest asked, puzzled.

"Are you planning to ride that Akhal-Teke horse around town?" Song Chunxue disagreed. "Although there are fewer of these horses now, there are always people who appreciate them. I don't want to cause myself any trouble."

Xie Zheng, holding a bundle in his hands and sporting a light stubble on his chin, carefully handed it over.

"I heard you have a storage bag, so it shouldn't be too heavy. You can use all of this on the road," he added gently. "I hope you won't refuse this small token of my appreciation."

"I don't want it." She stared at the bulging bundle in his hand and refused without even thinking.

Xie Zheng instinctively asked the Taoist priest for help.

"They've been preparing all night and are even planning to travel with us. Don't be ungrateful."

Song Chunxue glanced at it indifferently.

The Taoist priest took one foot back and said, "Xie Zheng went to the capital only to report back, it's not like he's not coming back. Why are you so angry?"

"..." Whoever has a bad temper, that's just how she is.

Besides, what does Xie Zheng's return have to do with her?

Why blame her now that things have changed?

The Taoist priest gave Xie Zheng a wink.

The next moment, Song Chunxue's wrist was gripped tightly, and the knot on the bundle hung in her palm.

Xie Zheng wore a scarlet bullfighting robe bestowed by the emperor today, which was particularly bright in the summer morning light. The bullfighting pattern was similar to the python pattern, except that the two horns curved downwards like horns. He had never worn it on ordinary days.

“I was foolish that day. Let’s have a good talk when we get back from the capital,” he said, his gentle voice trembling almost imperceptibly, his warm hand holding her wrist. “Chunxue, trust me, I’m not one to give up easily.”