His voice was deep and firm: "But later, seeing how persistent you were, I also wanted to try to understand your thoughts. I first found some women who had given birth and asked them about their pregnancies. Only then did I learn about the hardships that women go through during the ten months of pregnancy."
I also remembered when my mother was pregnant with Qingze and Qingyu, she couldn't eat or sleep, and in the end, she even had difficulty getting out of bed.
I also heard from doctors that many women die from difficult childbirth, and some who barely survive are left with chronic illnesses, leading to shorter lifespans.
He leaned down and pulled her into his arms, his voice filled with unprecedented solemnity, "Ah Zhao, you are too important to me. Even if I feel regretful sometimes, I will never let you take such a risk, because I cannot bear the consequences."
After hearing what he said, Meng Zhao couldn't help but shed tears again. She was so lucky to have met such a compatible person.
Seeing her start to cry again, Shen Qinghe came over to comfort her, "Don't cry, and don't blame yourself. This isn't me giving in to you; it's something I myself have accepted." He paused, his voice becoming even gentler: "You might not believe it, but ever since I learned about the dangers of childbirth for women, I don't even want Qingyu to suffer like that in the future."
Meng Zhao was stunned upon hearing this, and even forgot to shed tears. She had always believed that a person should have the right to decide whether or not to have children when they reach the age of marriage. She admired those who were willing to bring new life into the world, and she never felt that she was wrong to choose not to have children.
In this life, one should choose one's own path, neither interfering with others nor being interfered with by others.
But to her utter surprise, Shen Qinghe, a native of ancient times, was even more open-minded than she was from modern times. Meng Zhao stared at him in disbelief, her eyes filled with an incredulous light, and then smiled brightly: "Shen Qinghe, I think I've really fallen in love with you."
This statement came suddenly, yet it was also a natural progression. The vast difference in their upbringing shaped their completely different values. Meng Zhao, living in another world, was always separated from this world by an invisible barrier, making it difficult for her to truly integrate.
She naturally liked Shen Qinghe, but perhaps not that much. It wasn't until this moment, with the resonance deep in her soul, that she truly felt what it meant to love someone who was perfectly compatible with her.
Upon hearing this, Shen Qinghe's heart pounded loudly. He absolutely adored the way she looked, with eyes only for him. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he cupped the back of her head with one hand and leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was filled with a long-suppressed passion, yet it was so tender it made one's heart tremble. Meng Zhao closed her eyes and responded firmly.
However, although their relationship deepened, the Shen family was thrown into turmoil because of this incident. As a mother, Gu Lanying knew best that her son had no "wife-killing or child-killing" fate. She, who was usually mild-mannered, was so angry that she hit her son and forced him to clarify the matter.
But it was all too late. Although Princess Danyang later confessed to His Majesty that he was arranging marriages haphazardly and that she had long lost interest in Shen Qinghe, who was "outwardly glamorous but inwardly boring," and that His Majesty would no longer consider arranging a marriage, Shen Qinghe had already personally admitted before the Emperor that his fate was flawed. If he were to change his mind now, it would be a crime of deceiving the Emperor.
Having no other options, Gu Lanying could only take a roundabout approach. "It's fine if I don't marry a principal wife, but taking a concubine isn't exactly deceiving the emperor, is it? When the position of principal wife is vacant, it won't be unfair to the young lady. Once she becomes pregnant, we can register the child under Qingze's name, so it won't be considered your offspring." After saying this, she said resentfully, "Anyway, it's our own business, and outsiders have no right to interfere. Let them say whatever they want."
But Shen Qinghe just knelt silently in front of the hall, enduring Gu Lanying's beatings and scoldings, refusing to give in the slightest.
Later, Meng Zhao couldn't bear to see Shen Qinghe suffer all this alone, so she wanted to tell Gu Lanying the truth, but Shen Qinghe stopped her, saying, "Mother is angry right now. If you tell her the truth now, no matter how much she loves you, she will still be angry. Anyway, you are about to set off for the Western Regions. Why don't you wait until Mother calms down and we can talk about it when you come back?"
Meng Zhao tenderly touched the red marks on his face: "But isn't this too unfair to you?"
Shen Qinghe held her hand, his eyes full of tenderness: "She is my mother. She went through so much trouble to bring me into this world. Even if I made her angry, or if she was unhappy and hit or scolded me, I would be willing to endure it, as if it were repayment for the suffering she endured when she was pregnant with me. But you are different. I can't bear to see you suffer even the slightest grievance. Listen to me, when you come back from the Western Regions, I will definitely persuade my mother to be well."
Hearing him say that, Meng Zhao could only nod. On the day of departure, at dawn, the group gathered outside the city gate. Gu Lanying pulled Gu Changwu aside and gave him detailed instructions, but her gaze always avoided the direction where Meng Zhao was.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Meng Zhao couldn't help but look at Gu Lanying. Seeing that she remained silent, a pang of sadness welled up in her heart. Meng Dashan, who was beside her, reminded her, "Zhao Zhao, the carriages and horses are all ready. We should set off."
Meng Zhao nodded and was about to turn around and mount her horse when Gu Lanying suddenly broke free from Granny Sun's support and staggered forward to grab her sleeve.
“Godmother…” Meng Zhao turned around and saw that Gu Lanying’s eyes were filled with tears and her lips were trembling but she could not speak. Her heart warmed and she immediately opened her arms and hugged her tightly: “I’m sorry.”
“Silly child…” Gu Lanying patted her back, her voice choked with emotion, “When have I ever blamed you? I only hope that you will come back safe and sound.”
Meng Zhao nodded emphatically and buried her face in Gu Lanying's shoulder: "Don't worry, godmother, I will definitely come back as soon as possible."
Gu Changwu, who was standing nearby, also stepped forward to comfort her: "Sister, don't worry. I know the roads in the Western Regions well. I will definitely bring Zhaozhao back safe and sound." As he spoke, he patted his chest, which made Gu Lanying burst into laughter through her tears.
Before setting off, Meng Zhao walked openly to Shen Qinghe, and all his unspoken words were ultimately summed up in one sentence: "Wait for me to come back."
Shen Qinghe nodded solemnly, her voice firm: "No matter where you go or how far you go, you must remember that I will be waiting for you to come back."
The rising sun cast a golden halo between them, elongating their shadows. In the distance, camel bells rang, and the caravan was ready to depart. Meng Zhao glanced at him one last time, then turned and mounted her horse. Shen Qinghe stood there, watching her figure gradually disappear from sight, waiting for her return one day.
-------The End-------
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