Chapter 178 The Grand Finale
Before they knew it, Zhao Xiao was ten years old.
When the Crown Princess ascended the throne, Zhao Yu was appointed Regent.
With the new dynasty newly established, Zhao Yu and the Duke of Zhao were extremely busy every day, as many new policies still needed to be promulgated.
Zhao Xiao is currently attending classes at the clan school of the Duke's mansion. He goes there early every day, returns at noon for lunch and a rest, and completes his studies in Jingcheng Academy in the afternoon.
When Zhao Xiao was five years old, he moved to Jingcheng Courtyard by himself.
Jingchengyuan is not far from Heyunyuan.
When Xiaoge'er first moved there, Xu Chumian was quite worried.
For the past few days, they waited until Xiaoge'er fell asleep before leaving with Zhao Yu.
Xu Chumian was happy to go through all that trouble, and Zhao Yu accompanied him.
Xu Chumian has gradually gotten used to the fact that her son hasn't lived with them for the past few years.
Zhao Yu had long been fed up with Zhao Xiao monopolizing Xu Chumian's time.
From the moment he returned home after his shift, Zhao Yu only wanted to be with Xu Chumian. Even when Zhao Yu went to his study to handle official business, he would ask Xu Chumian to grind ink for him.
Over the years, Zhao Xiao and Yan Yan maintained constant contact, exchanging letters every two weeks or every month.
At night, Xu Chumian leaned against Zhao Yu's chest.
Holding Zhao Yu's hand, she couldn't help but say, "He'an, what do you think about us proposing marriage to the Yu family?"
Zhao Yu's eyes were half-closed.
"The two children are still young, and for now they are just playmates. No one can predict what will happen in the future."
Xu Chumian understood this principle.
But the two children are growing up, and if there is no marriage agreement, and they continue to correspond... Xu Chumian is worried that people will gossip about Yan Yan.
Zhao Yu hugged his wife tightly.
"Don't think about it anymore, go to sleep."
Xu Chumian reached her delicate hand into Zhao Yu's chest and smiled.
Zhao Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, "Chu Mian."
Xu Chumian whispered, "He'an, let's have another daughter."
Xu Chumian wants to have another daughter, so she can have both a son and a daughter.
Zhao Yu disagreed, saying, "Zhao Xiao is enough."
Xu Chumian pursed her lips, sat up, and looked in Zhao Yu's direction.
Zhao Yu: "Chumian, you faced a dangerous situation giving birth to Xiaoge'er. I can't let you go through that again."
Xu Chumian bit her lip. "That's because I wasn't feeling well back then. I'm much better now, He'an. I want a daughter."
Xu Chumian lay down and hugged Zhao Yu's waist tightly.
For years, Zhao Yu has been taking contraceptives.
Otherwise, given the frequency of their interactions, it's impossible that they've remained completely silent all these years.
Zhao Yu sighed softly.
Xu Chumian followed up, her voice soft and gentle, "He'an, okay?"
Zhao Yu never gave in, but he still couldn't outmaneuver Xu Chumian.
In early December of that year, Xu Chumian was diagnosed with pregnancy.
In September of the following year, Xu Chumian gave birth to a daughter.
Several months into her pregnancy, the child was very well-behaved, rarely causing Xu Chumian any trouble, and had virtually no pregnancy symptoms, making her an easy child to care for.
As soon as his daughter was born, the emperor bestowed upon her the title of Princess Fuhua.
Zhao Yu named his youngest daughter Zhao Yun.
Before going to class every day, Zhao Xiao would visit his younger sister at Heyun Courtyard, and the first thing he did after school was also to visit his younger sister.
Like Zhao Xiao, Zhao Yun didn't cry much after birth. He spent his days eating and sleeping, occasionally whimpering.
Zhao Yun's favorite person is her mother, not her wet nurse. The youngest daughter sleeps with her mother every night.
Every day when Xu Chumian wakes up, Xiao Zhaoyun blinks his big eyes and grins at her.
Zhao Yu was quite jealous.
This man is jealous not only of his son, but also of his daughter.
Xu Chumian found it amusing.
"Zhao Yu, how old are you?"
Zhao Yu remained noncommittal.
After giving birth to Zhao Yun, Xu Chumian's figure remained largely unchanged, and her complexion became even more rosy.
The Heyun Courtyard is always bustling with activity.
When Zhao Yun was one year old, she had to sleep alone under her father's strong pressure. The little girl sobbed and cried incessantly. She didn't want to sleep alone; she wanted her mother.
Waaah, you bad daddy.
Zhao Yu held his daughter to comfort her.
"You can only grow taller if you sleep alone. Your brother has slept alone since he was born."
Little Zhao Yun couldn't understand, and with his big, dark eyes wide open, he accused his father.
In his daughter's eyes, Zhao Yu had become a 'bad father'.
That's fine too.
Bad dad is bad dad, kids have quick memories and will forget about it soon.
If this continues, Zhao Yun will affect the couple's life.
From Zhao Yu's caring little cotton-padded jacket to a leaky vest.
Little Zhao Yun cried for three whole nights before she got used to falling asleep on her own. Every morning when she woke up, the first thing she did was go to find her mother.
Xu Chumian kissed her daughter, feeling both amused and exasperated. "She's already crying after just one night without seeing her mother?"
Zhao Yun hugged his mother's neck tightly.
Like her brother, Zhao Yun was able to talk and walk very early. The little girl looked like her mother, but her temperament was just like Zhao Yu's.
Once the little girl started to have her own ideas, she became very clean and picky about food, and no one could force her to do things she didn't want to do.
Too much rigidity leads to breakage, so Xu Chumian had no choice but to keep a closer eye on her daughter.
Zhao Yu is a complete doting father.
With his father's support, Zhao Yun acted like a little devil every day, causing chaos in the mansion and teasing cats and dogs all day long, just like Zhao Xiao before.
As long as his daughter was happy, Zhao Yu would spoil her, which was very different from how he treated Zhao Xiao before.
In response, Zhao Yu simply explained that women are inherently subject to many restrictions, so it's fine for her to be a little wild while she's still able to play around. If she's allowed to play around for the rest of her life, Zhao Yu and his wife can still provide for her.
When Zhao Yun was eight years old, his older brother Zhao Xiao got married to Yu Yanyan, the daughter of the richest man in the world.
On her wedding day, Zhao Yun was dressed up as a flower girl. She watched her brother welcome the bride and saw her new sister-in-law enter the house.
Throughout the entire process, Zhao Yun obediently held her mother's hand.
Over the years, Zhao Xiao and Yan Yan have maintained contact. When Zhao Yun was about five years old, Yan Yan even came to the capital. Not long after, the two families got engaged.
The Li family still lived next door. On the day of Yan Yan's wedding, her biological father, Li Yang, saw her from afar once, but did not even have the chance to offer a toast.
Yan Yan basically acted as if Li Yang didn't exist.
After all the guests had left that night, Zhao Xiao went to the bridal chamber.
Yan Yan lives in a courtyard not far from her parents. Tonight, she refuses to leave and insists on sleeping in her old room.
After Zhao Yu and Xu Chumian put their daughter to sleep, they stood in the yard for a while.
Twenty years have passed, and Zhao Yu has more wrinkles around his eyes, making him even more dignified and composed than before. Xu Chumian, on the other hand, has a graceful demeanor, like a radiant peony.
The moon was hidden behind the branches, and the two stood hand in hand.
The faint sound of firecrackers could be heard from inside the mansion, creating a festive atmosphere everywhere.
Their story continues.
(The End)
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