Chapter 171 Bathing Together
Despite saying this, Xie Qi trembled even more violently than Chen Yuanzhu.
He carried the person back and forth in the pool for a few steps, and only after calming down his shyness and joy did he slowly sit down in the water along the pool wall.
Moonlight streamed into the bathroom through the window. Xie Qi looked down at the person in his arms and gently placed a kiss on her shoulder.
When Shen Yuanzhu opened her eyes, she saw that Xie Qi's usually cold and aloof brows, when he was silent, seemed to have softened as if blushed.
Their wet hair was tangled together in the water. Xie Qi, suppressing a blush, carefully braided Chen Yuanzhu's hair back together.
This meticulous and ambiguous torment left both of them somewhat flustered.
After thinking for a moment, Shen Yuanzhu put her arms around Xie Qi's shoulders and stopped staring blankly at him.
Her initiative always gives Xie Qi enough surprises and makes his heart flutter.
Suddenly, his heart seemed to stop beating. He stood frozen for a long time before slowly pulling the person into his arms.
Shen Yuanzhu's fingers curled slightly as Xie Qi carried her back to her room.
The gauze curtains on the wedding bed were replaced with more breathable thinner gauze. Xie Qi put his arm around Chen Yuanzhu's waist and gently placed her in the bedding.
Their lips met, their breaths mingled, and Xie Qi's eyes were filled with tenderness and deep affection.
After a passionate night together, Xie Qi did not sleep a wink.
He didn't want to let the person go, nor did he dare to close his eyes.
He feared that this was just a hallucination he experienced in his loneliness, and that once he opened his eyes, everything would vanish.
Xie Qi used both his hands and feet to wrap around Chen Yuanzhu, like a sticky plaster.
It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that he realized this wasn't just a dream, but that he was actually holding his beloved in his arms.
Luo instructed Ling'er and Xiaozhi not to let the two of them come and disturb them, and the two of them got a good night's sleep.
Shen Yuanzhu was awakened by Xie Qi's entanglement. He was wrapped tightly in her arms like a snake, and she hated him so much that she tried to pull Xie Qi's hair as soon as she woke up.
"You're awake? Are you hungry?"
Xie Qi lowered his head and slowly released the person.
Seeing Shen Yuanzhu glaring at him angrily, he remained calm, only blushing as he uttered tender and affectionate words.
Shen Yuanzhu had no objection to consummating her marriage with Xie Qi, but since they had missed each other before, she would let fate decide.
The two people on either side are already husband and wife, and it's only a matter of time before they consummate their marriage.
She just didn't expect that Xie Qi would be so clingy after their intimacy.
She sat at the desk, intending to sort out the accounts of Xie Cui Fang over the past half month, but Xie Qi was right next to her, either touching her hair or tugging at the purse at her waist.
He was curious about everything, even when Shen Yuanzhu took the cosmetics, Xie Qi would keep asking her questions.
It wasn't until Xie Jingyuan's marriage was hastily arranged and he was asked by Xie Jingyuan to help that Shen Yuanzhu finally found a moment to catch her breath.
Everything went smoothly at Xiecuifang, and Chen Yuanzhu, having some free time, prepared a generous dowry and went to the Jiang family.
"No, we can't accept this."
Zhou He frowned deeply as she looked at the box full of jewelry and ornaments.
When Jiang Zao saw them, she hurriedly shook her head: "Sister Yuanzhu, I can't accept these things, they're too valuable."
"Silly girl."
Upon hearing this, Zhou He laughed and said, "You can't call her Sister Yuanzhu anymore. After you marry Xie Jingyuan, you'll be Yuanzhu's third aunt."
Jiang Zao blushed and shyly hid away.
Seeing that Zhou He refused to accept her dowry, Shen Yuanzhu took the jewelry box to the Jiang family's courtyard, intending to hand it over to Jiang Zao in person.
When she finally found him, she discovered Jiang Zao sitting blankly under the tree, his face filled with sorrow and devoid of joy.
"What's wrong with Xiaozao'er? Are you shy or scared because you're getting married?"
Shen Yuanzhu sat down next to Jiang Zao and asked softly.
Jiang Zao clutched her clothes and cautiously peered into the room. Seeing Zhou He discussing her marriage with the old woman beside her, she said softly, "I don't know either."
Shen Yuanzhu didn't ask any further questions, but simply sat quietly with her in the same spot.
After a long while, Jiang Zao finally stammered, "Sister Yuanzhu, what kind of person is Xie Jingyuan?"
Shen Yuanzhu thought for a moment and only said what a young woman would like to hear: "Third Uncle, he is very much loved by Grandmother. He is humble and polite, and has a handsome appearance. If you marry him, you will enjoy endless wealth and honor in the future."
"Yeah?"
Jiang Zao was not in high spirits and said with her head down, "But he is, after all, a merchant."
Because of her lowly status as a merchant, she inexplicably felt inferior to the other woman after marriage.
Jiang Zao felt sad, thinking that she was really useless and couldn't compare to that other one in any way.
She twisted the hem of her dress, her eyes filled with sadness.
Shen Yuanzhu thought for a moment and said softly, "Although merchants are lowly, at least they can be guaranteed food and clothing. When living in this world, one should not always look at others or compare oneself with them."
"If you're always comparing yourself to others, then all you'll find is dissatisfaction."
Once you become attached, you will never be satisfied. When your talents and abilities do not match your ambitions and desires, all that will remain is pain and resentment.
But Shen Yuanzhu also understood Jiang Zao's thoughts.
Zhou He was Lord Jiang's lawfully wedded wife and had managed the Jiang family for many years, but in the end, Lord Jiang married another woman and treated his illegitimate daughter with utmost care and love.
Jiang Zao watched this day and night, feeling resentful. Naturally, she wanted to gain the upper hand in the marriage to wash away the grievances and injustices of the past years.
However, if she marries Xie Jingyuan with a thousand unwilling thoughts, she will only become more and more miserable in the future.
Shen Yuanzhu opened the makeup box in her hand and took out a pure gold peony hairpin inlaid with rubies.
This hair ornament is too ornate and expensive for Jiang Zao now, but it would be just right if she wore it on her wedding day.
The gold body is repeatedly forged with pure gold, making each peony petal as thin as a cicada's wing, layer upon layer, just like a real peony in bloom.
Shen Yuanzhu shook the hairpin in her hand, the cloisonné flower stamen trembled slightly, and the tassels made of golden scales below made a lively sound.
She gently placed the hair ornament in Jiang Zao's hair and said softly, "Little Zao, you only need to look at what you have, and that will make you happier."
"Your third uncle is much older than you and has a lot of money. You will have a good life in the Xie family."
Since the marriage is already arranged and cannot be changed, one must find a way to find the best solution in adversity and then live comfortably.
It doesn't make sense to make things difficult for yourself before you've even faced difficulties for others.
However, it was uncertain whether Jiang Zao would listen to these words. After saying a few words, Shen Yuanzhu stopped there.
Some things you can only figure out on your own.
After giving the dowry to Jiang Zao, she returned to the Xie family.
Xie Jingyuan and Jiang Zao's wedding preparations were complete, and their wedding day was fast approaching.
The Xie family was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and even though Xie Jingyuan's wedding was arranged in a hurry, there was nothing wrong with it.
It seems that Xie San Niang had been waiting for this day for a long time and had been preparing for it for many years.
The grand and lively wedding hall made Xie Qi unable to resist tugging at Chen Yuanzhu's sleeve.
"We got married so hastily, were you ever angry about it?"
He was feeling very upset and couldn't help but stick the Shenyuan Pearl to his heart.
Shen Yuanzhu felt hot and annoyed by his body pressing against her, so she pinched his waist in anger.
As the two were playfully bickering, Xie San Niang was helped in by Hua Nan Zhi.
Shen Yuanzhu looked up and, startled by Xie Sanniang's expression, took a step back...
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