Chapter 79 Sweet as honey, for the rest of my life I will answer you…
"Are you really not planning to go back?"
Shen Minghuai peeled an orange and handed it to him, saying, "You still have to observe the mourning period and return to your post."
Wang Yan quickly swallowed the sweet orange in her mouth and threw the remaining half back. "Liar! I'm not going back with you."
Shen Minghuai helped her straighten her slipped cloak and then said, "I'll take you back to Yangzhou after I've finished my duties."
Wang Yan held his face with both hands and said seriously, "If you lie to me again, I'll break your legs so you can never run away again."
Shen Minghuai showed no fear whatsoever, and just kept smiling at her.
"What are you laughing at! I'm serious."
Shen Minghuai looked down at her, his eyes overflowing with surging emotions, and whispered, "I would gladly accept it."
Then, he leaned in and kissed her, prying open her lips and teeth. Their tongues intertwined in her mouth, stealing every last breath from her, as if he wanted to tell her the pent-up longing of the past two years. The arms around her waist tightened, and Wang Yan gripped his clothes so tightly that they became crumpled and crumpled, almost suffocating her.
A moment later, the two, their breaths ragged, pressed together. Shen Minghuai's fingertips caressed her slightly swollen, red lips, glistening with moisture, stirring his heart. Just as the blush on her cheeks lingered, neither of them could calm down for a long time, and they whiled away most of the day in the room.
When Li Changling returned home that evening, he saw that the two of them had completely disregarded the boundaries between men and women, and he was instantly chilled to the bone. He had only been out of the city for two days, and the cabbages he had brought back to the field had already been eaten by pigs.
"Stop pretending. Do you really think I can't tell?"
Wang Yan blinked, surprised, and asked, "What did you see?"
Li Changling gritted his teeth, his gaze towards Shen Minghuai particularly sharp. "If you dare to do that again, I'll make sure you regret it."
Shen Minghuai bowed and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Lanzhi."
Wang Yan patted Li Changling on the shoulder, reassuring him that she should handle her own affairs. If that day ever came, she would not be soft-hearted again.
Li Changling remained noncommittal, saying he didn't believe it, then left a letter and disappeared. There were still many places in Dayue he hadn't yet set foot in; this time he was going to visit the Liao River. Only the two of them remained in Wanchun Garden, yet it didn't feel desolate.
Wang Yan went to Linjiangxian to manage the accounts during the day, while Shen Minghuai read and wrote in the garden. He calculated the time precisely, appearing at the entrance of Linjiangxian at the hour of You (5-7 PM) to ride with her to the Twenty Bridge, then walked back to Wanchun Garden along the South River. From the rustling reeds in autumn to the west wind whipping up frost and snow, Wang Yan wrapped herself in a sable fur coat. They no longer strolled along the river but drove directly home.
That day, Wang Yan and the cook scoured the fruit and meat markets early in the morning. Upon returning to Linjiangxian, they busied themselves arranging various matters for the winter banquet. As soon as she got into the carriage, she leaned on Shen Minghuai's shoulder and fell asleep. Only when he led her off the horse stool did she realize that the gate in front of her was not the gate of Wanchun Garden, but it was not unfamiliar.
Wang Yan followed him into Danxiang Garden in a daze. It was as if she had entered a completely different world, entirely different from the scenery of the peony banquet held three years ago, except that the large expanse of peonies was still there. Only when she realized that he had bought the garden did her sleepiness truly dissipate.
Every part of the garden that could be moved was renovated according to her preferences, and the Danxiang Garden was refurbished. Wang Yan ran from one end of the garden to the other, overjoyed. Although she had longed for this peony garden for a long time, she had never considered buying it. It was said that it was originally priced at 100,000 strings of cash. She was living comfortably in Wanchun Garden; how could she bear to spend so much money to buy back a house?
“Aying”.
Wang Yan turned around at the sound and saw Shen Minghuai, dressed in a silver fur coat, walking towards her step by step, clutching the jade pendant he had not yet given away back then, and another one already tied to his waist.
"That day you asked me if I still liked you, but what exactly is liking, what is love, perhaps there is no fixed answer. If possible, I hope that from now on I can travel with you through mountains and rivers, stroll with you along the South River, admire this peony garden with you, and listen to the snow with you by the window. My answer will be for the rest of my life. Will you be my wife?"
Wang Yan climbed onto his neck and kissed him without hesitation. The kiss was tinged with her tears, salty and wet, yet her heart was no longer bitter. Her kiss was initially haphazard, but under his guidance, she gradually found the rhythm. When their lips parted, it was as if they had drunk most of the wine, yet were still not satisfied; her crimson lips, set against her porcelain-white face, appeared even more vibrant.
"Tie it for me."
Shen Minghuai bent down and tied the jade pendant around her waist, just like back then. The scent of ambergris dissipated, and the fragrance of cedar and jasmine lingered at her nose. It turned out that it wasn't that he didn't like it anymore, but that the box of incense had run out.
Wang Yan smoothed the tassel on her jade pendant. She had always been curious about the connection between the two jade pendants. Hers was a wind sweeping across the bright moon, while his was clearly a mountain.
Shen Minghuai placed his jade pendant on her and explained, "With a gentle breeze and a bright moon, the jade mountain will naturally collapse."
Silent love flowed into her heart like a gentle stream, and Wang Yan threw herself into his arms again, her bright eyes filled with laughter.
"Chen Yiqian, why didn't you call yourself Shen Yushan back then?"
Shen Minghuai replied in a serious tone: "Shen Yiqian, courtesy name Yushan."
Shen Yushan was thus carried to Yunxi Mountain by her moonlit breeze. Wang Yan's original intention was for him to pay his respects to his master and mistress before descending the mountain, while she would stay until New Year's Eve. However, her master was hospitable and repeatedly declined, so Shen Minghuai had no choice but to accept. That evening, Feng Huaisheng retrieved the osmanthus wine buried under the tree. Upon learning that Shen Minghuai had passed out after just three cups, his reaction was exactly the same as Li Changling's.
"You get drunk after just three cups? Are you really that drunkard's apprentice?"
Before pouring wine for Feng Huaisheng, Wang Yan quickly laid down three rules: "Master, you must not force him to drink, and you yourself must not drink too much either; you must not challenge him to a duel either, because his martial arts skills are not good enough, and if you don't know your own strength, you will hurt him."
“Ha—” Feng Huaisheng said loudly, “Madam, look at this, it’s not even a step away yet, and the elbow is already turning outwards.”
Wang Yan frequently placed food into her master's bowl, saying, "Of course, I need to inform my parents and then have our horoscopes matched, but this one should be done."
Feng Huaisheng gently tapped her head, "You're the most talkative one, so I'll grant your wish, okay?"
Men's words are indeed not always trustworthy. Wang Yan returned from moon-gazing with Ying Juntang, only to find Shen Minghuai already passed out drunk in the courtyard, muttering her name. Feng Huaisheng, who had been amused for a long time, quickly stopped laughing and helped him back into the house, quietly closing the door behind them.
Shen Minghuai grabbed her hand and rambled on incoherently, but only the word "Aying" was pronounced clearly. Wang Yan had intended to make a bowl of soup to sober her up, but he pulled her forcefully, causing her to fall onto him. The strong smell of osmanthus wine made her dizzy. Shen Minghuai slowly opened his eyes, his gaze unfocused, which momentarily disoriented her. She leaned close to his ear and this time clearly heard three words.
"Kiss me."
Wang Yan quickly covered his mouth and eyes, saying, "Let's get rid of the smell of alcohol first."
Shen Minghuai held her firmly, pressing her against him, and cupped her hands, rubbing them against him. His already handsome face was now incredibly alluring. His tone softened further, and he said persistently, "Kiss me."
Wang Yan succumbed to her lust once more, supporting his shoulders and gently kissing his rosy lips. Like a child finally getting candy, his breathing gradually calmed, and he actually fell asleep holding her. Drunk people are generally fearless.
Such a relaxed sleeping face was rarely seen on Shen Minghuai's face. Wang Yan traced his eyebrows, nose, and lips with her hand, becoming more and more satisfied with the look. So much so that when Ying Juntang brought over the hangover soup, she remembered this thing she had forgotten under the temptation of his good looks.
New Year's Eve was just around the corner. Shen Minghuai's upright and polite demeanor had won the hearts of his master and mistress, especially his excellent culinary skills, which were comparable to his mistress's. Virtuous wives were everywhere, but virtuous fiancés were a rare sight.
After eating the local delicacies and staying up all night to welcome the New Year, another year had passed. Feng Huaisheng laughed at her, saying that she had spent three consecutive New Years at Yunxi Mountain, and that they were closer to her than to her own parents. When her family was mentioned, Wang Yan couldn't help but feel a little melancholy. Because of the power struggles, she had been separated from her parents for many years and had not been able to fulfill her filial duties. Now, as the new year began, she believed that the wise ruler he hoped for would lead the Great Yue to peace and prosperity.
Wang Yan smiled brightly, "I won't be here this year. Master and Mistress will miss A-Ying, won't they?"
As soon as the New Year was over, they set off on their journey. They arrived in Luoyang on the tenth day of the second lunar month, and the following morning, Shen Minghuai took her to pay respects to Wenzheng Gong, his father, who was buried there.
The cemetery was silent, with new green shoots spreading from the branches and spring flowers already blooming in profusion, leading all the way to the tomb. Wang Yan followed Shen Minghuai to offer incense and wine, then performed the kneeling ceremony, after which Shen Minghuai burned the prayer text that had been written beforehand. Throughout the entire process, not a single word was spoken, only the spring breeze hissing in their ears, accompanied by the crackling sound of flames devouring their longing.
Wang Yan turned to look at Shen Minghuai several times, but he showed no intention of letting her speak, until he led her out of the mausoleum. This trip seemed to be for the sake of propriety. Wang Yan only knew that in Shen Minghuai's heart, Wenzheng Gong was a strict father, but to the people, he was a benevolent official who cared for the people and helped the nation. Perhaps it was precisely because he had dedicated most of his life to the court and the people that he was unable to be a good father. But father and son are ultimately father and son; only the two of them truly knew the complexities of their relationship.
The journey from Luoyang back to the capital took less than two days. Upon entering the city, Wang Yan rushed back to her residence without hesitation. Last year, she had only briefly returned to the capital for two days before leaving again in haste. Now, no one could prevent her from enjoying the company of her children; she could stay peacefully for a month, a year, or even longer.
Since passing the imperial examination and becoming a corrector in the Secretariat that year, Wang Zhen has been highly regarded and has now been promoted to Academician of the Dragon Pavilion, about to be appointed to Xuanzhou. His future is truly limitless.
Wang Yan was very happy for him. His elder brother was realizing his ambitions step by step. The choices he made were always the easiest to stick to, as long as he followed his heart.
The day after returning to the capital, Shen Minghuai went to the palace to resign. The new emperor first reprimanded him, saying that instead of reporting to the Ministry of Personnel after the mourning period, he came to resign. Clearly, this attempt to resign was unsuccessful.
As a lowly official with a nominal salary, Shen Minghuai was willful and never went on duty. Upon hearing the news of his impending marriage, Madam Han rushed to the capital. Among his many uncles, she chose the one closest to the capital and then visited him with gifts to propose marriage. The Wang family agreed, and Madam Han immediately proceeded with the selection of their birth dates, the auspicious date selection, and the preparation of the betrothal gifts, always radiant with joy. After the betrothal gifts were presented, the next step was to set the date. Madam Han was busy for two months, finally settling on the auspicious day for March of the following year.
Before leaving, Wang Zhen was filled with regret. Wang Yan had not been able to attend his wedding banquet, and as her elder brother, he had also lost the opportunity to send her off on her wedding day. Wang Yan teased him, saying that she would definitely be there for his next wedding. Sure enough, before she could finish speaking, Wang Zhen nodded his head.
Amidst anticipation and trepidation, the days flew by like leaves. What troubled her most wasn't the style of the phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, but the guest list. Xu Ning'an, A'Guo, and Xie Ji were no longer in the capital, and Shangguan Yu, Zhu Yao, and Yan Xun had never been there before. Some of them were now in charge of their family businesses, while others had wandered the world, their whereabouts unknown. The capital was far away, and she wasn't sure if their friendship could withstand the long journey. Wang Yan's greatest worry was that no one would accept the invitations she sent out. The Dali Temple official, who was usually idle at home, frequently visited Yun Qiju. Seeing her distress, he assured her that at least one person would attend the ceremony.
Who is it?
"Brother Lanzhi."
Wang Yan was so angry that she tried to hit him, but Shen Minghuai didn't dodge and just hugged her and laughed. Then he comforted her perfunctorily, saying that all these people would come and that she could invite them without worry.
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Author's Note: The finale airs tomorrow morning at 9 AM, remember to check it out! [hugs][hugs][hugs]
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