Chapter 39 I Will Marry You in Grand Style

Inside the Qiao Family Compound, in the artificial hill pavilion.

The clear water flows in front of the pavilion, the blue stones are like a painting, and the man and woman standing in the pavilion have a liveliness and elegance that cannot be depicted in any painting.

Li Chengxun was still dressed in white. Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting shadows of bamboo leaf patterns on his robes.

Ji Qingwu turned to look at him and said softly, "Young Master Li, I must apologize to you first."

Upon hearing the word "apology," his tone turned cold: "Miss Ji, whatever decision you make, you don't need to apologize to me."

Ji Qingwu's gaze moved from his exquisite profile to his bent fingers hanging at his side.

Even though she cares a lot, she pretends to be indifferent.

She coughed lightly and then said, "I just came from the old lady's place. I heard that you have agreed to our marriage proposal."

Normally, a woman would be somewhat shy and hesitant when talking about marriage. But Ji Qingwu asked so directly, looking openly at Li Chengxun's strikingly handsome face.

Noticing her scrutinizing gaze, Li Chengxun turned around, and the two stood facing each other.

The woman had fair skin and a gentle expression. Her face was shrouded in mist, and a faint fragrance wafted over on the breeze. His expression changed slightly.

Li Chengxun paused for a moment, then lowered his eyes and said, "Miss Ji, Madam Qiao is right. I have already agreed to this marriage. If you refuse, then you refuse. You don't need to apologize to me."

"Who said I refused?" Her voice was filled with doubt.

Li Chengxun looked up at her and saw that her face was full of smiles, and her eyes were bright and lively.

He frowned and asked, "Then why should I apologize?"

Ji Qingwu said regretfully, "I have to break my promise to visit Hanshan Temple together. Something came up and I can't go with Young Master Li."

Li Chengxun seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, "It's alright, we'll have another chance to go to Hanshan Temple in the future."

later......

Ji Qingwu understood the meaning behind his words: there was still a future for them, and they had a lot of time ahead of them.

"I have another question for Young Master Li, but I don't know if it would be presumptuous of you."

Li Chengxun nodded and said earnestly, "Ask me any questions, and I will answer truthfully."

"I've been married and had children, you should know that. Why would you agree to discuss marriage with me?"

Ji Qingwu wasn't looking down on herself, but rather that in this world, in the eyes of outsiders, she was nothing more than a widow with a child and a bad reputation. How could she possibly be worthy of marrying a top scholar?

She really wanted to know what Li Chengxun was thinking.

He seemed to know her concerns and said directly, "Xianyang has an open-minded culture, and remarriage is common. Of course, one should marry someone they truly love. I've heard that Miss Ji runs a clinic in Nanchu, which allows her to protect herself during wartime. Such a resilient and talented woman—"

The man, whose features resembled the bright moon in his arms, bowed respectfully.

“I have received your instruction and I think about it day and night.”

Caught off guard by the confession, Ji Qingwu looked at his face and said with a smile, "There's no need to toss and turn thinking about it."

Seeing her gentle expression, Li Chengxun suddenly called out softly, "Qingwu."

May I call you that?

Ji Qingwu looked back at him and said, "You've already called me that, and you still have to ask me? If I said no, would you stop calling me that?"

His hearty laughter rang in my ears, his face as clean as snow on a clear mountain, and his eyes reflected only her.

"Grandma Qiao means that she hopes we can make an engagement as soon as possible. There's no rush for the wedding date. Qingwu, what do you think?"

Setting a date with marriage in mind may lack some romance, but it provides a sense of security.

Ji Qingwu was deep in thought.

"Qingwu, after I pass the imperial examination, I will marry you in a grand ceremony and bring you into the family of the top scholar. After that, I will not interfere with what you do."

“I can personally teach the children. If you still want to open a clinic, I will choose a shop for you. If you want to stay at home, I will trouble you to manage the household affairs. Is that alright?”

In just a few words, the future is painted in such an enticing way.

Not confined to the inner quarters, she can do whatever she wants.

Ji Qingwu was also tempted.

"good."

After they finished talking, Ji Qingwu turned and left first.

Li Chengxun's gaze was fixed on the distance, not on her back.

The artificial hill is high up, offering a panoramic view of the front hall. The Qiao family's many guests are as numerous as carp crossing a river.

Only by climbing high can one see further.

*

Cining Palace.

Shi Xi entered the hall, knelt beside the couch, and massaged the Empress Dowager's legs with his hands.

"Your Majesty, I was almost late. Please forgive me."

"You weren't actually late, so what crime have you committed?" The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, smelling the burning pear wood incense, and asked, "Tell me, what delayed you?"

"I went to the Imperial Garden to collect fresh flower petals for you, and I happened to hear the eunuchs serving in front of the Emperor gossiping."

Seeing Shi Xi acting mysteriously, the Empress Dowager opened her eyes and said, "Everyone else, please step back."

"Your Majesty, that little eunuch said that among this year's successful candidates in the imperial examinations, there is one who is not only exceptionally talented but also exceptionally handsome. He has already been sought after by countless noble ladies as their son-in-law."

The Empress Dowager hummed in response, her reaction remaining indifferent.

Shi Xi lowered his head and continued, "Even the Emperor praised this man's brilliant writing during the morning court session today. He's likely to be the top scorer in the palace examination."

The Empress Dowager sat up in surprise.

Even the emperor praised him highly? Emperor Wusu was not one to easily praise others.

He even deliberately chose to say this during the morning court session, which suggests that he is only one step away from becoming the top scholar, and is just waiting to be selected in the palace examination.

"Is he really that handsome?"

The Empress Dowager has a daughter, Princess Qingyun, who is approaching the age to choose a husband. For the past two years, the Empress Dowager has been keeping an eye on which family has a suitable young man.

It was like searching high and low without finding it, only to have the top scholar appear right before your eyes.

Shi Xi said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I heard that the Qiao family is also very fond of this person."

"Never mind the Qiao, Li, or Cui families," the Empress Dowager frowned and said, "No one from any family can cross my Qingyun Pass!"

Shi Xi used skillful force to massage her hands diligently, and said softly, "Empress Dowager, it just so happens that Her Majesty's birthday is in a few days. Why don't you invite that top scholar to come and have you and Princess Qingyun take a look first?"

The Empress Dowager comfortably closed her eyes and slowly said, "Very well."

*

Early on the third day, Ji Qingwu went to the Princess's residence to deliver a visiting card.

The servant led her through the mansion gate and down the long corridor.

A muffled roar came from the left, startling Ji Qingwu so much that he trembled.

Following the sound, you could see a man, half-naked and burly, wearing only black trousers, practicing boxing under a tree in the neighboring yard. His punches were powerful and shook down many leaves.

Those fists, the size of sandbags, could, without exaggeration, kill Ji Qingwu with a single punch.

"Miss Ji, this is the Prince Consort."

It turns out that this tall and mighty man was General Yuchi, the husband of Princess Huachang, Yuchi Lianping.

Regardless of whether the other party saw him or not, Ji Qingwu bowed through the fence and quickly followed the servant.