Chapter 49 Chapter 49 I hope to be with her forever, forever together...
Jiang Hexue did not respond, perhaps he was reminiscing, or perhaps he was stunned by the sudden words.
Shen Qingchen waited for a while before whispering, “Qiong Qiong?”
The only response he got was the sound of long and even breathing. He lowered his eyes and saw that the girl in his arms had her eyes closed and her body was moving slightly up and down. She was actually asleep.
Shen Qingchen couldn’t help but bend his lower lip: “Drunkard.”
"No matter who you are, no matter if you're right or wrong," he leaned down slightly, nuzzling her cheek. "I'm on your side, unconditionally."
Jiang Hexue made a soft "hmm" sound, as if responding to him.
"Why not have some conditions?" Shen Qingchen rarely went back on his word, so he quietly hugged her tighter.
"You are not allowed to drink or eat alone with Master Fu... You are not allowed to be alone with him." His voice was very soft. "That shouldn't be too strict, right?"
Jiang Hexue arched her back restlessly in his arms and pressed her legs against his waist like a tyrant.
"Forget it, I won't bother you." Shen Qingchen supported her ankle, and waited until she was completely asleep before he turned over and got off the bed quietly, closing the door and leaving.
"Inform the academy's administrator tomorrow," he instructed the attendant guarding the gate. "The Marquis of Changping's second son, Fu Wang, is impetuous and unruly, neglecting his exam preparations. We will add two more teams of guards to the academy from now on. We will ensure he remains under strict supervision and live up to the Marquis of Changping's high expectations."
-
The snow fell sporadically all night long. When Jiang Hexue woke up the next day, the snow had stopped and the accumulated snow had been swept to the roadside by the road sweepers.
The sky is clear and blue, it's a good day for traveling.
Jiang Hexue was still in a low mood, so he simply became a hands-off boss for a few days, leaving He Fu and He Xin to prepare incense in the store, and he went to Renshu Temple with Shen Qingchen to pray.
Renshu Temple is located in the eastern suburbs of Kyoto. According to legend, the previous emperor was stupid and wicked. In the early years of Emperor Hengshun's reign, there was a chaotic time and barbarians invaded. The neighboring country Long was poor and weak and unable to fight back, so it had to seek a ceasefire through marriage.
The barbarian king was cruel and bloodthirsty, and the noble families were unwilling to give up their precious daughters. Unfortunately, Emperor Hengshun did not have a princess of the right age at that time.
When the country was in danger, Su reluctantly gave up a beautiful and intelligent girl to marry into the royal family to help relieve the country's worries.
I also heard that the girl had the greater good of her country and family at heart and volunteered to marry into the royal family to help the country out of its difficulties.
Emperor Hengshun was very pleased and named the girl Su as Princess Renshu. In order to commemorate her great achievements, he renovated the Renshu Temple.
Because most lovers who come to Renshu Temple to pray have achieved their goals and have harmonious marriages, Renshu Temple is still very popular and has become a sacred temple for praying for marriage in the suburbs of Beijing.
"I always feel that this rumor sounds a bit strange." Jiang Hexue frowned after listening to Shen Qingchen's calm narration. "What happened to Princess Renshu later?"
"The year after the marriage, she was tortured to death by the barbarian leader."
Jiang Hexue gasped: "It's so pitiful, and so serious... ridiculous, so ironic!"
"Her marriage was so tragic, yet the temple dedicated to her is being used to pray for a better marriage. This feels more like a humiliation than a memorial."
Shen Qingchen said "hmm" and did not continue. He just took a small piece of red pomelo from the glass cup on the table and fed it to her lips.
The red grapefruits at this time of year were sweet and juicy, sour but not astringent. Jiang Hexue ate several pieces from his hands and chatted for a few more words. Then the carriage slowly stopped outside Renshu Temple.
Renshu Temple was built on a low hill outside Beijing. There were ninety-nine stone steps to climb. They had arrived early, and there was still wet snow water on the steps, which gave off a cool and moist luster in the winter morning light.
Jiang Hexue lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped on it tentatively.
It's slippery and not suitable for climbing.
"I'll carry you." Shen Qingchen extended his hand to her.
"No need." Jiang Hexue glanced around.
At around noon, many carriages were parked outside the popular Renshu Temple, and many pilgrims came to greet the two of them.
"There's no need to be so formal in a place of seclusion." Shen Qingchen refused calmly, then looked at Jiang Hexue. "I'm worried you'll fall."
"Someone will probably gossip about you." Jiang Hexue realized that he was the one who was arguing with her reputation. "No, I'm not a toddler. I need to be careful not to fall."
Shen Qingchen didn't insist anymore and just stretched out his hand to her, but Jiang Hexue blinked and didn't hold it. Instead, he bent his arm and put it in his arm.
"This way, my husband doesn't have to worry about me falling." She met Shen Qingchen's stunned gaze and smiled. "Others will also feel that you and I are very affectionate, more obvious than holding hands."
The young man next to him did not respond immediately, but his cold ears turned a light red because his little thoughts were exposed.
The silver ear bone studs shone with fragmented light, and his amber pupils were reflected by the snow, making them clear and bright, with tiny ripples of smile.
"Okay." Jiang Hexue heard Shen Qingchen answer.
-
In front of the vermilion gate of Renshu Temple, there are two tall ancient pines on the left and right, lush and green, with branches intertwined with each other, and on them are densely tied red silks, with the names of lovers written affectionately next to each other.
"Zhaohua, let's write one too." Jiang Hexue bought one from the young Taoist priest and took the wolf hair brush dipped in ink. "Write your name and tie it tightly for good luck."
"You write first." Shen Qingchen pressed a corner of the red silk for her.
Jiang Hexue carefully raised the tip of his pen and wrote seriously: "Uh..."
I felt dizzy when I mentioned the third stroke.
"I haven't written with a wolf hair brush in a long time." She paused and quickly glanced at Shen Qingchen. "You know, charcoal pens are much more convenient than brushes. I've been using charcoal pens to write Qianxiangfang's orders these days. It's understandable that I'm a bit rusty this time."
"It's okay." Shen Qingchen comforted. "In Renshu Temple, everything works if you are sincere."
Jiang Hexue then finished writing his name and handed him the brush like it was a hot potato: "Your turn."
Shen Qingchen nodded, dipped the brush in ink, placed the wolf hair brush slightly tilted on the edge of the inkstone, and gently swept it from the belly of the brush to the tip to wipe off the excess ink.
He leaned forward, placed his wrist lightly on the table, and began to write.
The clear and fluent handwriting appears on the red silk.
Jiang Hexue stared at him as he wrote, watching him write his name neatly. He then dipped his brush in ink again and wrote in the empty space between their names...
Be together forever and grow old together.
Her face flushed immediately: "Other people only wrote two names."
Shen Qingchen raised the corner of his lips slightly towards her, without saying much, he just picked up the red silk and let the cold wind blow it dry.
Jiang Hexue came forward and blew along with her lips: "It will be faster this way."
Shen Qingchen turned her eyes to the side, curled her lips again, then imitated her movements and leaned over to blow.
Jiang Hexue suspected that he was still drunk from yesterday, and today he kept making her dazed. Her cheeks were always hot and her heartbeat was always unnaturally fast.
Her cheeks were puffy and her eyes were wide open, like a well-fed koi in the backyard of Renshu Temple.
"Done." Shen Qingchen suppressed his smile, took her hand, and put the red silk into her palm. "Qingqing, come and hang it."
-
There were many pilgrims in Renshu Temple in the afternoon, so Jiang Hexue simply followed Shen Qingchen's suggestion and stayed here for a few days to relax.
After having the vegetarian meal, he slipped back to the side room for a nap. He didn't get up until the young Taoist priest came to serve dinner.
"It's snowing again." She went out in her embroidered shoes, snuggled under Shen Qingchen's umbrella, and reached out to take a piece of white snowflakes. "I want to build a snowman."
"The snow will be heavier tonight." Shen Qingchen covered her hand, letting the cold Qionghua melt into water in her palm. "Wake up early tomorrow, together."
Jiang Hexue nodded, looked down at the scattered flickering torches on the mountain path, and said, "There should be no one in the hall now. I'll go and pray."
"Wait for me outside." She was afraid of the dark and didn't dare to go back by herself. After Shen Qingchen nodded, she entered the hall and closed the door lightly, leaving a narrow gap for fear.
"I, Hexue, a believer, come here today with a sincere heart to pray, hoping that Princess Renshu will have mercy on me and bless me..." She held three lit incense sticks in both hands, closed her eyes and recited silently.
He prayed for himself first, then for Ruan Yueyi, Jiang Xingcong, and Jiang Heye, and then mentioned Fu Wang's Spring Examination before he opened his eyes and was about to get up to light incense in the censer.
She had just taken a step when she heard a small noise outside. She turned around and saw Shen Qingchen leaning against the vermilion pillar through the gap.
It was rare for him to be in such a relaxed and leisurely posture. He had his head lowered and was casually playing with the red jade bracelet on his wrist.
Jiang Hexue turned around and knelt before the statue of Princess Renshu. She couldn't help but curl her lips and said, "Princess, I was so obsessed with etiquette that I neglected a very important person."
"He is the husband of the believer."
"He's an excellent man. Although he looks cold and a bit old-fashioned, he's extremely gentle and considerate to women. He's a delicate and steady person, and you can't fault him at all."
"I hope the princess will bless him with a smooth life, free from illness and disaster. If you can make him smile more, it would be even better."
"He's really beautiful when he smiles." Jiang Hexue couldn't help but smile, then she pursed her lips as if feeling it was inappropriate and looked serious.
"I hope the princess will not despise my greed and bless me to fulfill my wish..." As she spoke, she felt guilty about having made five wishes, and her tone softened. "Why not give up one?"
"Princess, could you please just let go of the fact that Fu Erlang passed the imperial examination?"
-
After exiting the main hall, Jiang Hexue trotted towards Shen Qingchen.
He was still leaning against the pillar. When he saw her, a faint smile appeared on his lips and he opened his arms towards her.
Jiang Hexue hesitated, and did not fly over to hug him. She just lifted her skirt and walked towards him: "This is not a place for seclusion."
"It's okay." Shen Qingchen, who was shy even when feeding her in front of others, said this time, stretching out his arms to hold her in his arms, his tone a little hoarse and nasal. "Give me a hug."
He was very strong, his hands were wrapped around her waist, as if he wanted to crush her in his arms, completely losing his usual restraint and gentleness.
"What happened?" Jiang Hexue felt a little pain from his embrace, but she didn't struggle and asked softly. "Tell me?"
"I just want to hug you." Shen Qingchen gradually withdrew his strength. "Wait for me for a moment?"
Jiang Hexue nodded and watched him enter the hall and close the door tightly, blocking her view.
The whole hall was filled with dimly lit incense and candles, but Shen Qingchen did not take any incense. She just sat cross-legged on the brocade cushion in the center.
"Today is the seventh day of the first lunar month in the twenty-second year of Yongjia. It is the sixtieth day since I married her." He said this after a long silence.
"The last time I came was on the third day of the first lunar month. I tell you, Hexue is good in every way, except that she doesn't love me."
"But now, perhaps things are a little different." Shen Qingchen looked at the statue of Princess Renshu and smiled. "At least I am more important than her old friend."
"I also want to ask for a marriage with you."
"Can you bless her and me to be together forever and grow old together?" He stood up, knelt down devoutly, and whispered.
"Mother."
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The author has something to say: I typed more than 20 plagiarized articles on a certain webpage today [burst into tears] and I felt so cold [burst into tears]
So I decided to randomly drop a mini-theater when I write a story in the future!!!
Also, I'm thinking about the extra chapters (although I only wrote a little bit in the main text [poor]). Do you guys have anything you want to see? Feel free to leave more comments. Currently, I can only think of the childhood sweetheart if line [heart]
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