Chapter 22 Marriage

After that day, Shen Qingmeng quickly found several decent-looking small houses. After Chu Wangshu felt better, she took him to see them and they settled on one that suited their taste.

The residence consisted of only one main house and two side halls, along with a small courtyard. The courtyard had a pond and a pavilion. Although it was not large, it had all the necessary facilities, and the rooms all faced the sun. The two side halls, though called side halls, were only slightly smaller than the main house and not much different.

Shen Qingmeng originally planned to take Chu Wangshu out for fun after he recovered, and maybe they would return to the capital. In addition, she wanted him to interact with more people and make the escort agency more lively, so she didn't go to see the house. She forgot that there were some people who didn't quite understand things.

It seems that having her own place to live would make Chu Wangshu more comfortable.

Physician Li was also brought to live with Shen Qingmeng. He was a lonely old man who had quit his job at the Imperial Hospital, and he lived in a rather cramped place with his young apprentice in the pharmacy. But he refused to live in the main room and chose the side hall that was very close to the vegetable garden, saying that he could plant some herbs in the spring and tend to them to pass the time.

Shen Qing dreamed of finding some more things for Chu Wangshu to do, because people tend to overthink when they are too idle, but he couldn't afford to overwork himself right now, so he could only... sacrifice himself.

Shen Qingmeng asked Chu Wangshu to teach her to read the Book of Poetry.

After listening to a few sentences, she started kowtowing to Chu Wangshu. Later, she couldn't take it anymore, so she wrapped herself in the blanket, snuggled into Chu Wangshu's arms, and thoughtfully draped the blanket over him as well: "I can't take it anymore, I need to sleep. You can continue reading... Ah, it's even more pleasant to listen and sleep at the same time."

She probably really couldn't understand these flowery words. All she could remember was the phrase "a gentleman's pursuit." Luckily, she was determined enough not to stay in the court as an official, otherwise, falling asleep in court every day would have been truly terrible.

Once Chu Wangshu had recovered somewhat, he told Shen Qingmeng that he wanted to visit Uncle Shen.

The two of them went to the mountains outside the capital the next day, carrying a lot of paper money.

Shen Qingmeng had previously said that she wanted Shen Ning to experience the feeling of unexpected wealth falling from the sky in broad daylight; just thinking about it was exhilarating.

Shen Qingmeng took two plush cushions and casually placed them on the ground in front of Shen Ning's grave, then beckoned Chu Wangshu to sit down: "Come, let me introduce you to my father!"

"This..." In Chu Wangshu's mind, one should kneel down in front of a tomb.

"Oh dear, my father loved me dearly. He never made me kneel before anyone while he was alive. Now that he's gone, do you expect me to kneel and chat with him?"

Even so, Chu Wangshu still respectfully kowtowed to Shen Ning's tombstone before sitting down like Shen Qingmeng.

“Come on, let me introduce you,” Shen Qingmeng lit the fire and began burning paper money: “My father knew before that I cared about you, but it was a bit of a pity that he didn’t get to see you.”

Conversing with the deceased, someone he had never met, left Chu Wangshu somewhat at a loss. After much hesitation, he finally spoke, "Uncle, my surname is Chu, given name Yueqing, courtesy name Wangshu. I have long admired Qingmeng... I am so sorry that it has been so long since I came to see you..."

Shen Qingmeng looked at him and laughed, "You're acting like the teacher has called on you and you're standing up to answer a question."

"Is...that so?" Chu Wangshu had never been to school and was not familiar with the scene described by Shen Qingmeng.

"Probably so. Anyway, when I was woken up, I was even worse off than you. I could barely say a word," Shen Qingmeng handed Chu Wangshu a stack of paper money and told him to burn it with him so he could warm his hands by the fire.

She turned to the tombstone and said, "Father, you see, my lover really is a fool."

"Don't worry, your daughter is very happy every day now, and everything is fine at the escort agency. Our senior brother has probably taken over; our family practically dominates the escort agencies in the capital. Now that the dynasty has changed, things are much more peaceful, and escorting goods is much easier, but the commissions are indeed a bit lower. Fortunately, the last thing your daughter needs right now is money."

Shen Qingmeng continued to ramble on to the tombstone for a long time, feeling more and more that Chu Wangshu and Uncle Li had done a truly wonderful job treating her throat!

"Qingmeng," Chu Wangshu suddenly called out to her, "What do I need to prepare to become your son-in-law?"

Shen Qingmeng turned her head and squinted.

Could it be that Wanwan and Zhang Cheng are about to get married, and that's upset him?

"Hmm... I don't know, I haven't thought about it."

Aside from the tedious formalities, marriage is nothing more than exchanging betrothal gifts, adding some dowry, and changing residences. As for the things needed for the wedding, she believed that Chu Wangshu had already prepared them.

Chu Wangshu had long since handed over all his belongings to Shen Qingmeng, and the two had been living together for a long time. Apart from not having a marriage certificate, not having gone through a wedding ceremony... well, they hadn't even shared a room yet, so it was practically the same as being married.

Shen Qingmeng clapped her hands and helped Chu Wangshu up: "What's all this talk about being superfluous? Once you're fully recovered, we can just have a wedding ceremony, and then set up a few tables to make it more lively."

Later that evening, Chu Wangshu solemnly discussed a problem with Shen Qingmeng—he did not want, or rather, could not, have a child.

On the surface, the Chu family lineage in the north has been extinct, and there will be no more astrologers in the world.

But if Chu Wangshu really has offspring, and if the rumors of a preordained marriage are true, then this misfortune will only be passed down.

Chu Wangshu took Shen Qingmeng's hand and stroked it: "Besides, childbirth is too painful."

He had been tormented by illness for so many years, and was exhausted both physically and mentally. He didn't want Shen Qingmeng to suffer even the slightest pain.

"Then let's not have it. I'll ask Uncle Li to get some medicine tomorrow." Shen Qingmeng didn't have much of an opinion about having a child. The two of them living happily together for the rest of their lives was quite nice.

Chu Wangshu shook her head: "That medicine is harmful to the body."

Shen Qingmeng then noticed that Chu Wangshu was acting strangely; he seemed to be forcing himself to stay awake.

"You...you took the male contraceptive medicine that came from Cangning?" Shen Qingmeng immediately helped Chu Wangshu lie down on the bed: "No, that stuff is for male concubines, it's very potent, why did you take it!"

Chu Wangshu smiled and hugged Shen Qingmeng: "I can't... let you bear the consequences for me."

“You can’t just take medicine randomly, your body has only just recovered,” Shen Qingmeng said anxiously, patting Chu Wangshu’s back. “Shall I ask Uncle Li to take a look? Where do you feel unwell?”

“I asked, and Uncle Li said that I might have a fever... I'll be fine after a nap.”

Shen Qingmeng could only hug him tightly and pat him gently to comfort him, but her voice was already trembling with anxiety: "Chu Wangshu, you must not do this again!"

"Okay... I'll discuss things with you first in the future, and then..."

“That’s not what I meant! I meant you must not hurt yourself again, for whatever reason.”

"But I don't want you to take medicine. It's so bitter and painful..."

"Alright, I don't blame you anymore. Go get some sleep," Shen Qingmeng naturally knew what Chu Wangshu was thinking, and there was nothing she could do to help him now. She could only stay with Chu Wangshu and hope that he could sleep a little more comfortably.

Chu Wangshu had long said that divination should not exist, but there were no contraceptives for men in Daqing. Now that Cangning had unified the world, many new things had naturally come, but Shen Qingmeng hadn't expected him to be so ruthless towards her.

Shen Qingmeng first heard of this medicine three days ago when the Magnolia Garden opened. The music hall had both men and women, so naturally the medicines used were more comprehensive.

Looking at Chu Wangshu, who was still frowning in her sleep, Shen Qingmeng couldn't help but whisper, "Are you stupid?"

Chu Wangshu seemed to be talking in her sleep or responding to Shen Qingmeng: "Uncle Li didn't say it was this uncomfortable..."

Before Shen Qingmeng could speak, she heard him say, "Luckily, it was the medicine I took."

Sigh, he probably really is an idiot.

Fortunately, the medicine did not have any major side effects, and Chu Wangshu recovered as usual after two days. She only felt dizzy occasionally, but it was nothing serious.

However, Shen Qingmeng then called Physician Li and Chu Wangshu "an old scoundrel" and "a young scoundrel," and talked about it for a long time, repeatedly warning the two of them.

When Chu Wangshu fainted and collapsed into Shen Qingmeng's arms again, she said helplessly, "Don't eat any more strange things, or I'll keep feeding you bitter herbs!"

“Okay,” Chu Wangshu quickly changed the subject: “Let’s make some dough later, and we’ll make steamed buns for breakfast tomorrow!”

Shen Qingmeng really couldn't do anything about him. Looking at that face, she couldn't bring herself to say anything to blame or refuse him.

Moreover, what Chu Wangshu did... was indeed because he didn't want Shen Qingmeng to suffer in the slightest.

Five days later, Shen Qingmeng took Chu Wangshu back to the escort agency and went to the stables.

“Its name is Matuan. I raised it. It’s very obedient,” Shen Qingmeng said, stroking a brown horse. “Get some hay to feed it and get to know it better. I’ll take you horseback riding in the suburbs later.”

"Riding a horse?" Chu Wangshu hadn't thought about it, but she still obediently picked up the hay and carefully offered it to Ma Tuan's mouth.

"Put your hand back a little, don't let it bite you!" Shen Qingmeng held Chu Wangshu's hand, placing it at the end of the hay: "Of course we have to ride horses. Do you see any family that doesn't ride horses when they get married? Do you really expect me to bring a sedan chair to pick you up?"

"Well, it's not impossible," Chu Wangshu said with a slightly shy smile.

He didn't care much; as long as he was with Shen Qingmeng, it didn't matter how he got in.

Of course, that's because Chu Wangshu had never ridden a horse before. After Shen Qingmeng took him for a ride on a horse in the suburbs, he fell in love with the feeling.

In the howling wind, there is the scent of freedom.

Perhaps it was because Chu Wangshu carried Shen Qingmeng's strong scent, or perhaps it was because Shen Qingmeng was always by his side, but in any case, Ma Tuan was indeed very obedient. Chu Wangshu sat on the horse, while Shen Qingmeng led it from below. The two rode around the outskirts of the city for a while, but soon he said it was too cold and asked Shen Qingmeng to get on the horse to warm him up.

In the end, it was even Chu Wangshu who, holding the reins and carrying Shen Qingmeng, rode Ma Tuan back to the escort agency.

Shen Qingmeng couldn't help but sigh. Her lover was incredibly intelligent. He learned everything so quickly and was also very skillful. She really had gotten a great deal...

But in Chu Wangshu's heart, he was the one who was climbing the social ladder, and Shen Qingmeng was his only hope and salvation in this life.

On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, Shen Qingmeng, dressed in her wedding gown, rode a horse to Li's Pharmacy to pick up her groom.

As Shen Qingmeng smiled and extended her hand to Chu Wangshu, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

She seemed to have been waiting for this moment for a long time.

More than a year, more than this lifetime.

Regardless of past lives, in this moment, in this life, I am sure to have a fulfilling and happy life.

Everyone said that the adopted daughter of the deceased head镖师 of Shen Family Escort Agency had married a distant relative of Doctor Li of Li's Pharmacy. It was unclear whether the gift chests along the way were dowry or betrothal gifts. The two newlyweds rode together on one horse and laughed heartily the whole way.

—End of text—

Author's Note:

The story of Shen Qingmeng and Chu Wangshu ends here. There are two more side stories. One tells the story of their daily life after marriage, and the other briefly talks about their past relationship. They are not long, and the two side stories together are less than 4,000 words. They were posted at midnight.

I still want to give you a slight spoiler: in his past life, Chu Wangshu pulled Qingmeng out of the mire, and in this life, Qingmeng is the only light in his dark world. How can that not be considered a give-and-take? hhhh [starry eyes]

Hmm... Although "Touching the Moon" in this column is the first book I actually finished writing, it's still the first tree I planted on Jinjiang Literature City, so I still want to write some random thoughts. If you're really interested, you can check out my ramblings [eating melon emoji]

My initial thought of writing stemmed from the fact that I sometimes couldn't afford food, so I wanted to cook for myself. I genuinely don't understand things like the struggle between those who don't speak, the competition between females, or rotten cucumbers. Besides, I prefer stories about ordinary people without special abilities, where everyone has something to say.

My preferences are simple: a female protagonist who is charming, independent, and has her own social circle; strong but not to the point of being a fake; and a male protagonist who is respectful, not narcissistic, clean, self-loving, can be charming, and might even be a little cunning, and has a slightly weaker constitution. So, it might be a bit similar to other genres, but that's definitely what I write. Although I know my tastes aren't mainstream, I don't want to write popular themes. After all, it's really fun writing for myself [starry-eyed].

Honestly, I've always felt that falling in love with the heroines in my stories is as easy as breathing. Every girl is wonderful, has her own unique charm, and is capable of handling things on her own (I really hate heroines who only hold others back, wait for the male lead to save them, and revolve around him).

Everyone has different motivations for writing, and this stubborn mule is a bit different; I only want to write what I want to write. I hope there are like-minded people who enjoy reading my work and appreciate my writing style. If you like my writing and appreciate my style, then let's be friends!

Why did I stop writing at the wedding part? Because I really don't know how to write *that* kind of thing.

I've never been in a serious relationship, I don't even know what kissing feels like, and what I'm writing is pretty immature, but consider it a record of this age group, it's not bad.

The book "Returning Home on a Snowy Night" was actually a very small idea. The name comes from the fact that we died on a snowy night in our previous life and were reunited on a snowy night in this life.

Initially, this was just a continuation of the romance between General Chu and Qingmeng, so the content wasn't very long. At first, I thought it would only be around 50,000 or 60,000 words, but as I wrote, it reached 90,000.

Around the second year of junior high, I had this idea: the overt storyline is a young general and a top-tier actor, but underneath, it's about a chivalrous knight-errant fighting for justice in a chaotic world? Something like that, a mentor-student relationship. I won't go into details, but if you're really interested, you can check out my author page; it's available for pre-order, and I'll start publishing it sooner or later, haha. However, I've always felt my writing skills for describing ancient settings are lacking, so I'm thinking of practicing more, saving up my drafts, and then publishing. Also, my mind is a bit scattered; I haven't thought through the specific plot in detail. This year, I plan to finish publishing my two existing books, maybe plant a little grass on that withered sapling, and then finish my graduation thesis before starting the next one.

(This is what happens when someone doesn't have an outline: they have tons of inspiration but are too lazy to write an outline. When this book was approved, they had 20,000 words in reserve, and then they just wrote it all out, finishing it in half a month.)

Well, but I must first admit that in their past life it was a tragic ending (BE). From the very very first moment I had this idea, it was a tragic ending for them.

But as everyone knows, it's not easy for a tragic ending to get approved. So I wrote this reincarnation story first, and then continued writing.

As we all know, campus romance novels aren't easy to finish, so I haven't actually finished that one yet. Once this one is finished, I'll go back to finishing that one.

This is a campus story about science students in a small town in Northeast China. It's guaranteed to be a refreshing read. I won't over-hype it, but it's definitely different from typical campus novels (my female lead always outperforms the male lead academically!!! She's amazing at science!!!), and it also has the added humor of a typical Northeasterner [starry-eyed].

Okay, okay, I've said so much, I'm really too talkative.

That's about all I wanted to say. If my stories have brought you even a little bit of joy or pleasure, then I've found a like-minded person, and I'm incredibly fortunate!

See you next time, my friends! [heart]