Chapter 56 No matter what, she and I will never be apart…

Snowflakes drifted down, gradually breaking the slender branches. The charcoal brazier in the house crackled and popped. Qin Lizheng's back bent low, his eyes submissive, answering whatever Min Qin asked.

As he answered, the young man still had the cloak the girl had taken off earlier draped over his arm, and a bundle hanging from his shoulder. This sight seemed rather strange.

No matter how he took the blame, Qian Jinnian still wore a distant smile, took a sip of his hot tea, shifted his posture, and said cryptically, "Commander Qin, are you saying that my darling... and Yingyi are mutually in love?"

"Hmph, young people, I know. I've been young once too. Young people are full of energy and it's normal for them to act impulsively. But when it comes to marriage, it's a different story."

Qian Jinnian glanced at Qian Yingyi, whose face was clearly crumbling, and his heart softened.

Her words still seemed venomous as she turned to look at Qin Lizheng and asked, "The most talked-about topic in the capital these days is the exoneration of Editor Qin. I know the Qin family is full of loyal ministers, and I admire them greatly. But Commander Qin, these are two different things. If she's going to get married, I have to choose the most suitable person for her in every way. As parents, we always want the best for our children, don't you think?"

These words weren't very pleasant to hear, but Qin Lizheng wasn't displeased.

He knew that if he were to marry his daughter, whom he had cherished for over a decade, to a cruel official like himself who had risen to power by stepping on others, he would certainly not agree.

Therefore, Qin Lizheng pondered for a moment before slowly straightening up and staring at Qian Jinnian. "Lord Qian, after listening to so much you have said, I have no words to defend myself. However, I do have a question I would like to ask you."

Qian Jinnian glanced up at him and said, "Ask away."

Qin Lizheng pursed his thin lips and asked, "Do you know why Yingyi insisted on returning to Jinling with Old Master Qian when she was ten years old?"

Qian Jinnian was taken aback, frowned and remained silent. He knew perfectly well why his daughter insisted on going with the old man.

He looked at Qin Lizheng, "What do you want to say?"

Qin Lizheng stood quietly in place, raising his gentle eyes to look at Qian Yingyi, who was looking down and not speaking. A sigh escaped his lips. "For so many years, have you known that Yingyi has been having nightmares? She was born with a sincere and pure nature. How could she accept the sudden death of her loved ones? I think I can understand this feeling. And it is precisely because I understand that I know why she has been delaying her return to the capital."

“I never boast, but this is the only thing I can say frankly to you: no one in the world understands her better than I do. The fact that she can return to the capital so happily this time must mean that her heart has been untied.”

Qin Lizheng softened his voice a little, "Lord Qian, you are wrong about one thing. I am young and impetuous, but I did not act on a whim or on impulse. Yingyi is a treasure to you, and she is the same to me. That is why I understand everything about her. I understand her struggles and helplessness, and I understand her love, hate and joy."

After a pause, Qin Lizheng smiled again and said, "As you know, everyone in the court calls me a lackey of the government, and everyone avoids me. Because I want to seek justice for my brother, I feel like I'm no different from a living corpse."

Gradually, he paused briefly before walking towards Qian Yingyi. He took her hand and held it tightly, never letting go. "But I agree with one thing you said: I may not be the best person in the world for her, but I am certainly the most suitable."

"Similarly, she is the only one in the whole world who truly understands me."

He said, "Only by her side can I be my complete self again, rediscover my humanity. Similarly, only by my side can she show her most genuine self. We are inseparable..."

Under the astonished gazes of everyone in the hall, Qin Lizheng said, word by word, "It's impossible for them to be separated."

Qian Yingyi was momentarily dazed.

Soon, she saw her brother pointing at Qin Lizheng with a burning look in his eyes, but his tone was less aggressive, "Let go of me, don't hold my sister's hand."

The hands that were gripping his own tightened even more, "Never."

Min Qin had been observing quietly for half a day and had long since realized that her daughter's heart was completely devoted to Qin Lizheng, and that she had also seen the other side beneath the ruthless exterior of this commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Min Qin was already aware of the perilous experience her daughter-in-law had during childbirth in Jinling. After thinking it over carefully, she said, "Our family has always been composed of civil officials who dislike fighting and killing. Commander Qin, I'm not trying to spoil the mood, but as you know, in this world, the identity of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is something that all officials fear most, and it's not just about you."

Qin Lizheng's eyes were deep and his expression became even more serious. "Madam, I am not good at speaking, and I will be frank with you. In the capital, in the face of these sycophantic families, only power can make people respect you. If I could marry Yingyi, in the entire capital, and even in the thirteen provinces, no matter where she goes, I will not let anyone make her suffer the slightest grievance. This is something that the sons of ordinary officials cannot do."

Qian Jinnian observed him quietly for a while, then let out a cold laugh, "You're so young, yet you're so arrogant!"

Because he was holding Qian Yingyi's hand, Qin Lizheng nodded instead, "It's not arrogance, it's my heart that cherishes Yingyi. She is an exceptionally good girl, and it would be an honor for me to marry her."

Qian Yingyi blinked, secretly figuring it out. She glanced at her parents, then looked at her brother with a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

Qian Linye lazily crossed his arms and chuckled, "Silly boy, still not recovered? Your good A-Zheng has passed the test with your parents. You two were making a huge fuss in Jinling, and you're acting like you've lost your soul over such a small conflict. Do you think I can't see through you? When I came back earlier, I told my parents everything."

Qian Linye happily ruffled her hair, "It's not that simple to just marry you. Of course, he has to get past his parents first. But they're not evil spirits from the underworld, they won't break up a loving couple. Hey, hey, okay, why are you crying? Don't cry!"

Qian Yingyi wiped away two tears that clung to her chin, looking dazed. After a while, she came to her senses, glared at her parents and brother, stomped her foot angrily, and said in a sobbing voice, "Fine! You all ganged up on me! You can't play me like this!"

Min Qin's smile widened. "A joyous occasion is upon us. How old are you? Why are you still crying? Now that you're back, stay home. I've missed you terribly. If you keep crying, then... I'll have to postpone those elaborate rituals."

Upon hearing that they were going to delay, Qin Lizheng's heart skipped a beat. He quickly went to wipe away Qian Yingyi's tears, whispering soothingly, "Don't cry...don't cry..."

A sweet feeling welled up in Qian Yingyi's heart, and she playfully punched his shoulder, saying, "What do you know! I'm just happy!"

Everyone in the hall burst into laughter. After a while, Qian Jinnian suppressed his laughter and looked at Qin Lizheng, saying, "I'll explain this to your parents later and ask the matchmaker to come over. My precious baby must be married off with the most solemn wedding ceremony."

Qin Lizheng smiled and quickly responded.

Qian Linye raised an eyebrow at him, his eyes finally lessening in their fiery intensity, though still carrying a warning, "If you dare to treat my sister badly, you can expect to be skinned alive!"

Qian Yingyi rolled her eyes at him, scoffed, and excitedly pulled Qin Lizheng into the garden, leaving behind the words, "Dad, Mom, brother, you guys chat first, I'll take Azheng to see Tuanjie!"

When she came back to life, the hem of her skirt, as she ran, resembled butterfly wings, swirling in the snow with a dazzling beauty. Qin Lizheng was overjoyed, and as she pulled him along, step by step, towards perfection, his heart, which had also come back to life, beat even faster.

Unlike Jinling, when snow falls in the capital, everything is covered in white, as if silver is being spread across the earth. On December 28th, Qin Qingshan and Ren Wanqiu invited a matchmaker to their home.

Because the Emperor highly valued Qin Lizheng and also intended to promote Qian Jinnian further, the officiant was Zheng Shangyi from the palace. Zheng Shangyi stood in the ancestral hall and announced:

"Qin Qingshan's son, Li Zheng, has grown up but is still unmarried. He has been engaged to Qian Jinnian's daughter, Yingyi. Today, we are about to formally accept his marriage proposal. I am deeply moved."

Immediately, Qin Qingshan and his wife presented the marriage certificate and betrothal gifts to the gate of the Qian residence, where Zheng Shangyi came out to greet them. Afterwards, the betrothal ceremony and the setting of the wedding date took place. The wedding date was set for the first month of the lunar calendar, with the earliest and best day calculated by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau: the first day of the second month.

Qian Yingyi felt it was a little too fast, but Ren Yuqing, holding Tuanjie'er, chuckled and said, "Your mother-in-law and father-in-law have been very worried about your marriage. They prepared your wedding dress and dowry long ago. After careful consideration, you can happily get married after going through these formalities. It's not too fast."

Qian Yingyi clicked her tongue in surprise and remained silent for a moment.

Once the wedding date was set, the two relaxed completely. On this day, the snow stopped, and the streets were swept clean, leaving only snowflakes. Qian Yingyi, wearing a ginger-yellow cloak, was led by Qin Lizheng and strolled around the capital twice before turning into a restaurant under the Drum Tower.

Now everyone knows that the two are engaged. The waiter, whose eyes are as clear as ice beads, hurriedly and considerately took the two's cloaks and led them to the private room on the second floor.

Qian Yingyi stopped in her tracks, looked around, and said with a grin, "I don't see many people here, why don't we sit over there!" She then pointed to a square table in the corner.

Qin Lizheng nodded slightly, turned his back, stepped down the wooden ladder, and led her across.

No sooner had the two sat down than the door to a private room in the corner of the second floor creaked open, and a drunken figure stumbled out, grabbing a jug of wine and chugging it down his throat without uttering a sound. The waiter behind him called out, "Oh dear, young master, young master Zhou, you really can't drink anymore. If the Marquis sends someone to question you, our little shop won't be able to explain itself!"

Just then, the waiter serving Qian Yingyi handed over the menu with a smile, full of energy and a loud voice, "Miss Qian, what would you like to eat? I know you're used to Nanjing food, how about trying this duck?"

The drunken figure paused, stood on the wooden ladder, and suddenly glanced at Qian Yingyi. After seeing her features clearly, he yelled and shoved the wine jug into the waiter's arms. Then, he lifted his robe and rushed down to Qian Yingyi.

"Yingyi? Yingyi! It really is you!" The young man, about eighteen or nineteen years old, with red lips and white teeth, wore a headscarf and a sky-blue robe. His eyes were sharp. "After all these years, you still look exactly the same as when you were a child!"

Qin Lizheng raised an eyebrow, understanding what was going on, and rested his elbow on the table, remaining still.

Qian Yingyi was startled by the young man, shrinking back in surprise, "...Who are you?"

"You don't remember me?!" The boy's eyes were red, clearly showing signs of drunkenness, and he angrily slammed his fist lightly on her table. "Yu Zhou, it's me, Yu Zhou!"

Yu Zhou pointed to the Drum Tower not far away, his voice muffled with grievance, "We used to play there every day when we were little, don't you remember?"

Qian Yingyi furrowed her brows slightly, trying to clear her mind. Although she didn't quite remember those fun activities, she knew who Yu Zhou was—her brother-in-law's younger brother, and the youngest son of Marquis Yu. So she chuckled awkwardly, pretending to remember, "Oh...it's you. Sorry, my eyesight hasn't been very good lately, I didn't recognize you at first. What are you doing here?"

Yu Zhou pursed his lips, let out a drunken hiccup, and groggily approached her, plopping down on the bench. He grumbled, "Why are you getting married? Why are you getting married?! Why are you getting married?! Waaah—"

Before he could finish speaking, he burst into tears, and incoherent words kept escaping his lips: “I’ve loved you for so long, waiting for you to come back. I finally made it to winter, thinking that the end of the year was approaching and you should come back. I begged my father to arrange a marriage for you, but when he returned home that day, he said that you already had someone you loved!”

"That bastard Qin Lizheng!" He clenched his fist in anger, as if releasing a pent-up resentment. "Just you wait! What's that saying again? Flies don't land on eggs without cracks. Even if I'm just a fly, even if the egg is perfectly intact, I'll wait and see if it cracks open! Yingyi, is he good to you? Hiccup... If he... if he's not good to you, just come to my house and I'll beat him up for you! Beat him to death!"

"Why are you here all alone? Where is Qin Lizheng?"

Qin Lizheng lazily crossed his arms and glanced at him, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yu Zhou, you tried to steal my girlfriend right in front of me and even called me a dog. You've got some nerve."

Yu Zhou suddenly shuddered and turned his head, sobering up halfway. He clearly recognized the two men earlier and was somewhat afraid of Qin Lizheng, but remembering Qian Yingyi was there, he didn't want to lose face in front of the girl, so he stubbornly shouted, "What! I scolded you! You stole my..."

Before he could finish speaking, the servant behind him was terrified and hurriedly covered his mouth. With great strength, he pushed him away while grinning at the two men, "Sorry, sorry, my young master is very drunk, ha...haha, the Marquis will deal with him when we get back. Commander Qin, Miss Qian, I apologize for disturbing you."

Qian Yingyi was both amused and exasperated. She watched as Yu Zhou was stuffed into the carriage, then looked away with a smile in her eyes. Unexpectedly, she met Qin Lizheng's ambiguous smile again, and she felt a chill run down her spine. "It's...quite a coincidence."

She knew Qin Lizheng's jealousy all too well. So she casually ordered some food, and during the meal, she intentionally or unintentionally changed the subject, no longer mentioning Yu Zhou who had suddenly appeared.

As dusk fell and the sun set in the west, its lingering rays slanted into the eaves and tiles of the houses, then shone onto the ground, like golden silk on a white jade plate, full of cool yet magnificent light.

When Qian Yingyi came out of the restaurant, she had eaten a little more than she was full. She waved to the coachman and said that she would take her time and walk back slowly.

Her home was close to Xizhi Street, so the two took a shortcut. Along the way, Qian Yingyi kept talking nonstop, glancing at Qin Lizheng out of the corner of her eye. He continued to respond, with the same unchanging expression, which made her heart pound. She always felt that he was plotting something bad.

As expected, when they approached the Qian residence, Qin Lizheng grabbed her from behind the side gate, pinning her against the wall. His warm fingers gripped her hand tightly, their fingers intertwined.

Qian Yingyi exclaimed softly, then quickly added with a hint of pleading, "I don't remember him at all! Don't tell me you've been jealous the whole way here!"

She stared intently at his lips, which were drawing ever closer, inwardly cursing his cheesy tone while simultaneously harboring a hint of anticipation. She gently closed her eyes.

To her surprise, Qin Lizheng simply hovered over her face and nuzzled her cheek, his nose brushing against her cheek as he inhaled her scent. Then he pulled her into a tight embrace, his warm body instantly enveloping her. He sighed, "I'm so lucky to have won your heart so early. My dear Yingyi, you're so wonderful, so many people like you. I can't help but be jealous."

After a moment of quiet embrace, she reached into her bosom and pulled out a delicate little bottle. She scooped some face cream with her fingertips and applied it to her face, her thumb circling her cheek as she spoke in a low, tender voice, "It's so sour that I forgot to wipe your face. Is the capital very dry? Has your face been feeling uncomfortable these past few days? This face cream is something I got from Consort Zheng. It's a good thing from the palace. How do you feel?"

Qian Yingyi let him wipe her face, and seeing his slightly upturned eyelashes when he lowered his eyes, she felt very happy, and her tail was about to swell up to the sky.

Her face was cupped in his warm hands, and her words, tinged with relief, lifted her high, instantly dispelling any trace of her pleading. She took the initiative, wrapping her arms around his waist and rubbing her damp face against him. "It smells so good, I love this scent."

Then, a slightly teasing voice floated in his ear, "I've figured it out, you're not just jealous, you're also a little nervous."

"Qin Lizheng, you're going to marry me, why are you so nervous?"

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Author's Note: Another sweet chapter! I'm the nemesis of insulin, hehehehe

I estimate it will be finished by tomorrow.

After spending so much time in the South, when I go back to the North, I have to put on lots of face cream!