marry
Thanks to the joint efforts of Xu Ruoyan and Pei Jue, the government of Daqing quickly got back on track. Li Wen originally wanted to retire early and return to his hometown, but Xu Ruoyan and Pei Jue persuaded him to stay for a few more years.
"Lord Li, look around the court, who doesn't listen to you? Besides, our abilities are limited, and we can't govern this country without you."
Xu Ruoyan held Li Wen's hand and kept talking in front of him, while Pei An and Li Siming followed behind, nodding frantically.
Xu Ruoyan then turned and glared at Pei An, who was pecking at rice like a chick to the side: "Ahem... Pei An, why don't you come over and become my disciple!"
Pei An was a little confused: "What do you mean by becoming a disciple? Lord Li is already my teacher..."
Xu Ruoyan was so anxious that she grabbed his ear: "After we pass the throne to you, can we manage without Lord Li's help?"
Even Pei An, who wasn't the brightest, understood Xu Ruoyan's meaning now. He strode forward, knelt down before Li Wen with a thud, and bowed, saying, "Please give me your guidance, Lord Li!"
Seeing that everything was arranged, Xu Ruoyan and Pei Jue secretly slipped out of the palace on a quiet night and returned to their home in the capital.
When Xu Ruoyan pushed open the heavy door of her home again, she felt as if she had been transported to another world.
She dusted off her hands and beckoned Pei Jue to come in: "Come in quickly, why are you standing outside?"
Pei Jue grabbed her outstretched hand as he stepped over the threshold: "I was wondering if Pei An would be worried if we just left like this."
"Hey, you don't understand, do you?" Xu Ruoyan smiled mysteriously at him. "This is called forcing a duck onto a shelf. If we told him to his face, he definitely wouldn't let us go, so we had no choice but to resort to this."
The two went inside, turned on the lights, and looked around. They found that Sanqi and the others had taken good care of the house while they were away. There was hardly any dust anywhere, as if they had never left.
Xu Ruoyan tiptoed to the side room again, and peered over the table. She saw the three little ones curled up together, fast asleep.
"It's time to move to a bigger house. If they stay here any longer, there won't be enough room for them to sleep."
Pei Jue thought his wife's words made a lot of sense and decided to go see a house the next day.
After a quick wash, Xu Ruoyan collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. She buried her face in the blankets and took a deep breath, then rolled around happily in the blankets a couple of times.
Pei Jue rarely saw his wife so happy, so he stood by the bed and watched her smile indulgently.
"Ugh!" Xu Ruoyan threw off the covers, sat up abruptly, and sighed deeply. "It's so much more comfortable at home!"
After saying that, she patted the empty space next to her: "You come up too."
Pei Jue hurriedly took off his shoes and placed them neatly by the bed. Then he climbed onto the bed on both hands and feet and sat down next to Xu Ruoyan.
Xu Ruoyan leaned on his shoulder naturally and asked, "What are your plans next?"
Pei Jue thought for a moment and realized that he really didn't have anything else he wanted to do. The real patricide had died at his wife's hands, and his puppet brother, whom he had been controlling, had escaped, so he didn't plan to look for him anymore. Pei An had taken the throne, and with Li Wen and a group of ministers assisting him, the future of Daqing was bright. He really had nothing left to worry about.
"What does Madam intend to do?" He decided to ask Xu Ruoyan's opinion first.
"As for me..." Xu Ruoyan hugged his waist tightly, rubbing her face against his arm affectionately. "I originally wanted to find a secluded paradise with you and live a simple life, but I can't bear to leave the people here and my pharmacy. They all need me... So I still want to stay in the capital for now, which will also help Pei An. As for what happens in the future, we'll talk about it later."
Pei Jue nodded in agreement, "I think Madam's idea is excellent."
Seeing his agreeing expression, Xu Ruoyan couldn't help but chuckle: "What did I say that you don't think is good? I think you're just trying to appease me."
Pei Jue held her shoulders and rubbed his forehead against hers: "Madam, you are wronged. I really think this is a good idea. As far as I am concerned, it doesn't matter where we go, as long as I can stay with you. Besides, there are things you love to do here."
Xu Ruoyan pursed her lips, blinking her bright, sparkling eyes as she stared at Pei Jue. Seeing that Pei Jue was also looking at her, she tilted her head, leaned in, and gave him a quick kiss.
Having a husband who completely affirms you is just so wonderful!
She couldn't resist and leaned in to give him another quick kiss.
"Hey, why is your face a little red? Is it hot?" Xu Ruoyan pinched his cheek, pretending to be innocent, and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Pei Jue tightened his grip on her waist, suddenly closing the distance between them.
"Yes, summer is here."
As he spoke, he lowered his head slightly, cupped Xu Ruoyan's head in his large hand, and kissed her.
In a daze, Xu Ruoyan felt the summer dampness seeping into her body, urging the seeds in her heart to take root and sprout. The spreading vines tightly wrapped her heart and Pei Jue's together, making it almost impossible to breathe.
Just a second before her reason was about to be overwhelmed by her emotions, she heard Pei Jue whisper something in her ear.
At first glance, she didn't react; she just felt an itch in her ears, so itchy that she shrank into Pei Jue's arms.
A few seconds later, her heart suddenly pounded.
"Ayan, shall we get married?" Pei Jue asked.
Then, she heard her own voice:
"good."
...
Regarding the marriage, Xu Ruoyan, considering Pei Jue's special status, originally only thought that the two of them could find a quiet place to hold the ceremony. However, she accidentally let it slip to Pei An, who couldn't keep a secret. Pei An went back to the palace and made a big fuss about it, insisting on holding the most grand wedding ceremony in history for his sister-in-law, a ceremony that was unprecedented and would never be repeated.
"Xiao An, there's really no need to make such a fuss. Let's keep it simple." This was the umpteenth time Xu Ruoyan had earnestly advised Pei An, but Pei An was still excitedly busy with this and that. Lately, he had been speaking with great energy and high spirits, and Xu Ruoyan even wondered if he was going crazy.
"Fine, even if it doesn't have to be very grand, at least the three letters and six rites should be done!" Pei An was still very unconvinced.
Xu Ruoyan sighed and said, "I don't have any family on my side, so we can skip the marriage proposal."
“That’s true!” Pei An’s expression immediately became very serious. “But the betrothal gifts and betrothal presents are still necessary. If my brother doesn’t have the money, he can get it from me.”
Xu Ruoyan tugged at Pei Jue's sleeve, somewhat amused and exasperated. She really couldn't persuade this little devil.
Pei Jue patted her hand reassuringly, then looked up at Pei An and said, "Just listen to your sister-in-law. Let her do whatever she wants."
Pei An was completely defeated. He muttered in disappointment, "Alright then, let's just have the wedding ceremony then."
Xu Ruoyan was immediately happy.
She hated complicated ceremonies, and besides, she believed that marriage and life were matters between two people, and there was no need to make a big fuss for others to see.
"Oh, by the way," she nudged Pei An, who was looking dejected, "aren't you angry that we're just dumping all this on you like this?"
Pei An's pouting lips hadn't yet disappeared. He absentmindedly fiddled with the tassels hanging from the edge of the tablecloth and asked, "Why are you angry?"
"It's like... it's like taking away your freedom, assigning you things that none of us want to do. Besides, managing a country is no small matter," she said, feeling increasingly embarrassed and unable to look Pei An in the eye. "Don't you think we're being selfish?"
“Hmm? Not at all,” Pei An shook his head. “I’ve grown up and it’s time for me to share your burdens. You entrusted me with the throne because you trust me, and I can’t let you down.”
He laughed heartily, trying to comfort Xu Ruoyan, who was still feeling guilty: "Besides, I have Lord Li to assist me, and you are all with me, so I have nothing to be afraid of."
A few days ago, they officially held the abdication ceremony, passing the throne to Pei An, who became Emperor Qingyuan. However, the ceremony was rushed that day, and Xu Ruoyan didn't get a chance to say a few words to Pei An or ask for his thoughts, so she had been feeling uneasy ever since. Now, seeing that he didn't blame them, Xu Ruoyan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling relieved and proud of Pei An.
Although she had never crossed paths with Pei An before, she felt extremely honored to witness his growth and become one of the people he trusted most.
“By the way,” Pei Jue reminded, “Although Song Mingyang and the others didn’t help us much this time in Jiangnan, you should remember to owe them a favor. Don’t be too harsh on them about the saltworks; they are powerful and will be your valuable helpers in the future. We’ve paved the way for you.”
Pei An nodded solemnly, his youthful spirit evident on his face.
"Don't worry," he patted his chest with great confidence, "Leave it all to me, I definitely won't let you down!"
The wedding date was chosen by Pei An after consulting the imperial advisor, who selected the most auspicious day. Before the ceremony, he said that since his sister-in-law refused his wedding gift, he would build a mansion for the two of them. Xu Ruoyan knew that if she refused again, he would really be heartbroken, so she accepted the gift and quickly moved in with her whole family.
So on the 20th day of the fifth month of the first year of the reign of Emperor Qingyuan, Xu Ruoyan and Pei Jue, as they had discussed a few days earlier, did not carry out those complicated ceremonies, and did not even invite a master of ceremonies. They simply planned to hold a wedding ceremony in their new home, witnessed by Pei An and Zhu Ying, and that would be considered their official marriage.
However, just as the two stood facing each other in the main hall, a commotion arose outside.
Xu Ruoyan ignored all the formalities and lifted the red veil to look outside: "What's going on?"
The next second, she saw a large group of people appear at the bend in the road.
She craned her neck and squinted to see what was going on. She noticed that the person leading the group was Sun Yulin, followed by Li Siming, who was supporting Li Wen. Behind them were some familiar faces. She looked closely and realized that most of them were people who had received treatment from her.
"What brings you here?" She waved excitedly at them, lifting her skirt as she went to greet them.
Sun Yulin saw her from afar and called out to her, "How could we not come to such a big event as your wedding?"
He excitedly jogged along, but was so excited that he almost couldn't stop and bumped into Xu Ruoyan.
"Huh?" He suddenly remembered something, "Isn't it forbidden for the bride to lift her veil?"
Xu Ruoyan smiled and patted his shoulder: "I don't have that many rules here."
She looked at Li Wen, who had followed behind her, and gave him a proper bow: "Lord Li, you've come too."
Then she went to the back and greeted the uncles and aunts who had arrived.
"Look at me, I didn't expect so many people to come, and I didn't even have a banquet." Her smile was full of apology.
Sun Yulin quickly waved his hand: "It's alright, it's alright, we're just here to give you our blessings. Are you about to get married?"
Pei Jue stepped forward promptly, gently put the veil back on Xu Ruoyan, then took her hand and led her to the center of the hall, where they stood facing forward once more.
As soon as the newlyweds' ceremony was about to begin, the villagers who had been crowding on both sides quieted down and looked at the young couple standing in the middle with smiles on their faces.
Upon seeing so many people arrive, Pei An immediately adopted a haughty demeanor, solemnly cleared his throat, and announced, "First bow to Heaven and Earth—"
Pei Jue turned his head to the side, watching Xu Ruoyan until she knelt down steadily, then turned his head and joined her in a devout bowing forward.
"Second bow to the parents—"
The two turned around at the same time and bowed deeply to Li Wen.
Originally, since both of their parents were absent, this step was naturally skipped. However, after seeing Li Wen arrive, Pei Jue and Xu Ruoyan knew what they should do, and Pei An knew as well.
Li Wen's cloudy eyes seemed to clear at that moment. With tears in his eyes and trembling lips, he gazed at the newlyweds, his eyes filled with love and joy, as if he were looking at his own two children.
Pei An cleared his throat again, the loud sound echoing in the room and startling a pair of sparrows on the roof.
"Husband and wife bow to each other—"
As Pei An's voice faded, Xu Ruoyan slowly turned her toes, and through the veil, she could vaguely see Pei Jue's face.
She gripped the red silk in her hand tighter and tighter, and at that moment, she felt tears welling up in her eyes.
With a gentle bow and a melodious "The ceremony is complete," she didn't want to wait another second. Lifting the veil, the first thing she saw was Pei Jue's smiling eyes. Pei Jue had once told her that they would share these eyes she had healed; they were a place forever transparent to her.
"Let's come see the fireworks!"
With a shout from Sun Yulin, the crowd inside the room began to surge out. Amidst the commotion, Xu Ruoyan tiptoed and gently kissed Pei Jue's lips.
"Husband, let's go watch the fireworks."
Pei Jue was taken aback for a moment, then grasped her hand tightly and whispered, "Okay, Madam."
It seemed Sun Yulin had collected all the fireworks and firecrackers in the city. Before they even stepped out of the main hall, they could already hear the crackling sounds.
Outside, the villagers who had come to watch the ceremony huddled together in twos and threes, excitedly pointing at the colorful fireworks in the sky and talking about something. A huge firecracker rang in their ears, startling Xu Ruoyan. She couldn't help but move closer to Pei Jue. Pei Jue looked down at her, smiled, and covered her ears with his hands.
Just as the sound of firecrackers gradually faded away, the noise around Xu Ruoyan was replaced by Pei Jue's soft breathing.
"I wish to find one heart to love, and stay together until our hair turns white."
She didn't reply, but just smiled happily and nestled in Pei Jue's arms.
Surrounded by her loved ones and friends, she couldn't imagine a scene more worthy of tears.
She had thought more than once: if she couldn't go back, would she have to spend the rest of her life in this place? After all, her parents and her old friends were not here. On the other side of the world, there were still things she cared about.
But at this moment, her answer was clear.
She decided to stay here and use all the remaining time to truly experience the word "love," whether it's the love between partners, the love between family members, or the love between friends.
As the fireworks exploded in the clouds, the flickering light caused her a moment of disorientation. She seemed to see herself when she first arrived here, feeling somewhat lost and afraid.
But you probably haven't thought about it, she said to herself.
This place offers a lifetime of beautiful scenery.
—The End—
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