Chapter 38
That day, a rare guest arrived at the Xi residence. Xi Yimin and Leng Xueran, who were playing with their children in the garden, heard from a servant that the daughter of Master Gu was visiting. Upon hearing this, their eyes lit up, and they said in unison, "Please come this way." Gu Xiyan entered the garden and, seeing only Xi Yimin and his family of three, was somewhat disappointed. After looking around and not seeing the other person, she suddenly realized and quickly bowed, asking directly, "Young Master Xi, do you know where Qi Ziyue is?" Seeing Gu Xiyan address him as "Young Master" so formally, Xi Yimin smiled without any formality, "Xiyan, you are Qi Ziyue's wife, so why be so formal? From now on, just call me Brother Xi and Xueran Sister-in-law." Gu Xiyan didn't get the answer she wanted, so she quickly asked again, "Brother Xi, do you know where Qi Ziyue is?" Leng Xueran, who was standing nearby... She chuckled, "Xi Yan, sit down. Why are you in such a hurry? We won't do anything to Zi Yue. According to custom, she should be out handling business matters and will return home for lunch. Xi Yan, please stay and have lunch with us." Upon hearing this, Gu Xi Yan sat down without any hesitation and replied, "Thank you, sister-in-law." Leng Xue Ran looked at the unpretentious woman. Her hair was styled in a high ponytail, she was dressed in a martial arts outfit, and she held a sword. Anyone who didn't know her would think she was a female knight-errant. She had big eyes, a high nose, and naturally red lips. As she spoke, dimples appeared on her cheeks. She was a beauty. No wonder Qi Zi Yue couldn't forget her and was so distracted. From just a few words, one could see that this woman had a straightforward and unpretentious personality. She smiled and said, "Xi Yan, Zi Yue told you that she will be going out of town to handle business in a few days."
"What! She dares to leave Fengcheng? I'll break her legs!" In his excitement, he forgot that the person beside him wasn't family. He gave an awkward laugh and sat down. Xi Yimin, who was sitting next to him, turned his head and suppressed a laugh. She seemed to be a feisty woman. Qi Ziyue was in for a rough time. But it didn't seem as impossible as Qi Ziyue said. It was entirely possible. Xi Yimin turned to look at Gu Xiyan and smiled, "Xiyan, I didn't want her to leave Fengcheng either. She begged to go herself. I don't know why." Hearing this, Gu Xiyan wanted to curse Qi Ziyue again, but she immediately stopped herself. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a servant outside call out, "Young Master Qi is back! The young master and mistress are in the back garden." A moment later, the person appeared in his sight. He hadn't seen her for several days, and she looked thinner and more haggard. Gu Xiyan moved her lips, but ultimately remained silent. When she came to his side, Qi Ziyue was incredulous to see the woman he had been longing for day and night there. He stammered, "Xiyan." Then he thought, perhaps she had come to ask for a divorce. Overwhelmed with indescribable sorrow, he stood there silently, waiting for his beloved's verdict.
Seeing that no one spoke, Leng Xueran asked, "What are you standing there for, Ziyue? Xiyan is looking for you. It's almost lunchtime. Eat and then go back to your room to talk." Before Qi Ziyue could speak, she called Xi Yimin, who was holding the child, to have lunch.
After lunch, Qi Ziyue led Gu Xiyan to his room. As soon as the door closed, Gu Xiyan burst into a tirade: "Qi Ziyue, you've got some nerve! Daring to disappear for days and then trying to run off to another city? Give me a reason, or I'll make you regret it!" Xi Yimin, who was eavesdropping nearby, covered his mouth with a sly grin. Qi Ziyue then stammered, "Xiyan, I could tell you didn't want to see me, so I didn't dare bother you anymore, lest I anger you."
"Who said I don't want to see you?" After blurting it out, she realized it was inappropriate, her eyes reddening as she continued to scold, "Qi Ziyue, you are not allowed to leave Fengcheng without my permission, and you must come to the Gu residence every day."
"Why? It's inconvenient for you to go on dates with others while I'm here." Qi Ziyue saw that the woman in front of him had reddened her eyes and seemed to be about to cry, but he didn't dare to go forward to hug her and comfort her, because he felt that he was no longer qualified, so he also said what he wanted to say.
"I was just angry that you lied to me. Such a big thing, and you didn't even tell me. How can I live with you after this? I love you for who you are. I don't care if you're a man or a woman. I'm just angry that you lied to me. Others can lie to me, I don't care, but you can't lie to me." Tears streamed down her face, making Qi Ziyue's heart ache. He quickly hugged the woman and coaxed, "Xi Yan, I thought you didn't want me anymore. I was afraid you wouldn't want me anymore, so I did that to lie to you. But this is the only thing I'll never lie to you about again. Xi Yan, please forgive me?" Qi Ziyue said, both joyful and heartbroken. "I can't forgive you. You'll have to coax me for the rest of your life." He said haughtily, then hugged the woman tightly in return.
An hour later, Gu Xiyan came out of Qi Ziyue's room, followed by Qi Ziyue, who was behaving himself like a child who had made a mistake. So what if he made a mistake? After taking Gu Xiyan back to the Gu residence, he went to attend to his afternoon business.
Xi Yimin and his wife lived a very comfortable life. Qi Ziyue managed their business, and servants took care of the household affairs. They were completely hands-off managers and trusted their servants and Qi Ziyue completely, leaving everything to them. They spent their days with their child and Leng Xueran. Sometimes the child was cared for by a wet nurse, and the couple would go out to play, having a wonderful time. That day, Leng Shouqing smiled and said, "Yimin, why didn't you take Xueran out to play today?" Xi Yimin, of course, knew his intentions and chuckled, "Father-in-law, the capital has been urging you to return several times. Aren't you afraid the Emperor will blame you for your delay?" Leng Shouqing's face darkened, and he said angrily, "It's only been a few days! I haven't even had enough of my granddaughter yet! I plan to set off for home in another day. So, you and Xueran can go out again today, let me take care of my granddaughter for one more day." Sitting next to Xi Yimin, Leng Xueran smiled and said, "Father, we won't go out today. We'll stay and keep you company. You can take care of the child, okay?" Hearing this, Leng Shouqing said softly, "Xueran is so good. I wanted Xueran to spend more time with you, but I was afraid Yimin would try to take the child from me." Xi Yimin, standing to the side, said innocently, "So that's why I..." "He's superfluous, but don't worry, Father-in-law, I won't fight you for him today. I'll have plenty of time to hold him in the future, and I'll often bring Xue Ran and the children to visit you in the capital." Hearing this, Leng Shouqing smiled, his face crinkling with wrinkles, and then said childishly, "I really envy Yimin. His wife and children are by his side, unlike me, a lonely old man. It's so pitiful." Hearing this, Xi Yimin and Leng Xue Ran exchanged glances and comforted him, "Father, you're welcome to come anytime you want. If you want to settle here, Yimin and I would be delighted." Seeing that the two understood the deeper meaning of his words, Leng Shouqing said with a smile, "That's exactly what I'm thinking, but it will have to wait a few years. The new emperor has only recently ascended the throne, and there are still many things that require my assistance. Once the emperor is able to handle things independently, I will come to Fengcheng to find you. I also want to be surrounded by my children and grandchildren."
Leng Shouqing had been gone from Fengcheng for several days, and the two still missed him. Looking at the woman in his arms, whose mood was somewhat downcast, Xi Yimin comforted her, "Xue Ran, how about we go to the mountain to see Mother when the child is one year old, and then go to the capital to see Father?" Hearing her beloved's heartfelt words, Leng Xue Ran snuggled closer to him, whispering against his neck, "Okay~" Her breath on Xi Yimin's neck sent shivers down his spine, his heart fluttering. He gently laid her down and whispered, "Xue Ran, I want to~~~"
The next day, the sun was high in the sky, and neither of them had gotten up yet. At lunchtime, seeing Xi Yimin's radiant face, Qi Ziyue chuckled, "Young Master, is there some good news? You look so rosy-cheeked." Hearing the teasing, Qi Ziyue replied seriously, "Young Master, wasn't I having some good news the other day? With my beloved by my side, every day is a happy occasion." Another mouthful of dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection). Qi Ziyue regretted asking. Leng Xueran, standing beside him, shyly rolled her eyes at Xi Yimin. Her back was still a little sore; she shouldn't have indulged him. She turned to eating seriously, not saying a word. Qi... Ziyue continued, "Young Master, I have something I'd like to discuss with you." Xi Yimin laughed heartily, "Tell me." Qi Ziyue hesitated for a moment, then said, "I mentioned before that I wanted to go to another place to manage my business, but now I don't want to go anymore." Xi Yimin, thinking it was something serious, quickly agreed, "Then you won't go." Qi Ziyue stammered, "Young Master, I also want to buy a residence outside the manor so I can move out. Is that alright?" Xi Yimin grinned slyly, "But..." "Any good progress with Gu Xiyan?" Qi Ziyue blushed upon hearing this and replied, "Yes!" Seeing the shy Qi Ziyue, Xi Yimin teased, "The wedding is already done, what's there to be shy about? The world is at peace now, and there's no need for Ziyue to guard the mansion, so I grant your request. If you need more money, just tell me, and I'll cover it." Qi Ziyue gratefully replied, "Thank you, young master. I have enough money. I've made quite a bit of money doing business with you over the years. It's no problem to furnish the mansion and hire servants; there's still plenty left over." Xi Yimin had also asked Qi Ziyue about Gu Xiyan's current situation. Xi Yan was still testing her, but she was also happy for her and congratulated her, saying, "Then I wish Ziyue has won the heart of his beauty." Qi Ziyue blushed and said, "Thank you, young master, I certainly will." Leng Xueran, who was standing to the side, heard this and asked in confusion, "Xi Yan hasn't forgiven you yet? I see you running to the Gu residence every day, and you always come back so happy. I thought you had already won the heart of your beauty." After saying this, she covered her mouth and smiled slightly. Qi Ziyue respectfully said, "No, it's just that Xi Yan said she wanted to see my performance before she would live with me." So Gu Xi Yan was still testing her? In fact, she had already forgiven her. She just wanted to give her a profound lesson and see if she would dare to deceive her again. But the single-minded Qi Ziyue couldn't guess. She only devoted herself to giving and obeying. It's true that love makes people blind and foolish.
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