Hearing this, Shangguan Yanran felt a little better. She sat up straight on his lap and looked at him quietly. "Won't you think I'm offering myself up and look down on me in the future?"
Fu Rongchen's heart tightened. "I cherish you so much, how could I look down on you?"
Shangguan Yanran pursed her lips. "But, I was the one who initiated our relationship. I even traveled all the way to Xuzhou to find you. To others, that might seem like I'm belittling myself. Don't you feel that way?"
Fu Rongchen frowned and pulled her closer into his arms. "Why would you think that? Although you've been the one taking the initiative in this relationship, I'm very happy. Besides, my feelings for you are no less than yours for me." He paused, then said somewhat awkwardly, "Actually, I've had feelings for you for a long time, but I'm so much older than you that I didn't dare to have those kinds of thoughts. So it's my great fortune that you took the initiative."
"Also, after our relationship was established, I was the one who took the initiative most of the time," he added.
Shangguan Yanran was stunned. "You've had feelings for me for a long time?"
"Hmm." Fu Rongchen felt somewhat ashamed as he thought about his unspoken thoughts.
At that time, because of the large age difference between them, he always tried to avoid her, but he never faced his own inner thoughts.
It wasn't until she distanced herself from him that he realized his mistake and understood his own heart. He simply loved this girl and wanted to be with her for life.
Hearing him admit it, Shangguan Yanran finally felt at peace.
This relationship isn't something that can be achieved if she's the only one in love.
...
Regarding the establishment of family camps in the border town, Xie Jingrun used forceful methods to ensure that the court officials dared not object. With Prime Minister Shangguan Boyan taking the lead, the matter was quickly approved.
The next issue is funding.
Because Rong Qingqing had made a promise in Suzhou that she would be in charge of the funds, she refused Xie Jingrun's offer to divert funds from the national treasury and instead contributed all the gold that the Lan family had left her.
With the income from her several shops over the past two years, she has made a considerable fortune. Now, her wealth has multiplied several times over, but she plans to donate it all to build family camps for the soldiers of Suzhou.
However, building a family camp was not that simple. It required a continuous influx of money later on. Therefore, in order to raise more funds, Rong Qingqing specially held a palace banquet and invited all the noble ladies and young women in the capital to the palace.
With Shangguan Yanran and her wife taking the lead, the noble ladies and young women all generously donated money.
After the palace banquet, Rong Qingqing raised a sum of money from them.
Once the funds were in place, the imperial court issued its orders.
To prevent anyone from embezzling funds, Xie Jingrun specifically assigned Jiangzhou to supervise the investigation.
After this matter came to an end, Fu Rongchen and Shangguan Yanran's marriage was also settled, with the wedding date set for March of next year.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it was March of the following year, the day of Fu Rongchen and Shangguan Yanran's wedding.
Rong Qingqing was about to give birth, so she did not attend the celebration, but instead sent a generous gift.
The Fu residence was unusually lively today, with many high-ranking officials from the imperial court in attendance.
As everyone eagerly awaited, the groom finally brought the bride back.
Amidst the sounds of firecrackers and drums, the two bowed to heaven and earth.
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