Chapter 83 She is my wife
Huo Zheng said, "Chunzhi and I have worshipped heaven and earth and performed the Zhougong rites, so naturally I regard her as my wife."
Song Anlan almost bowed to heaven and earth with Chunzhi.
However, many things in this world can go a long way towards error.
If Huo Zheng was late on the wedding day, Song Anlan and Chunzhi would have worshipped heaven and earth in public and become husband and wife. Even he, the King of Chang'an, could not forcibly take Chunzhi away.
It just so happened that he came.
It was the uncles of the Song family who reported the news of Chunzhi to King Chang'an, asking him to appear at the most critical moment and take Chunzhi away.
Song Anlan knew that Chunzhi had been staying in the villa in the south of the city these days, but as a mere merchant, he could not compete with the King of Chang'an. Just looking at his status and position, he could not act rashly.
What's more, the way Chunzhi looked at Huo Zheng was completely different from when she looked at him.
Whether it is affectionate or not, whether it is love between a man and a woman or love between brothers and sisters, you can tell at a glance.
So Song Anlan didn't bother Huo Zheng and Chunzhi these days, but he didn't expect that there was a perfect match between Chunzhi and Huo Zheng. Chunzhi actually made Huo Zheng helpless so quickly that he had no choice but to send her back to the Song residence. Even Huo Zheng himself condescended to come along.
Song Anlan met Huo Zheng's gaze and asked, "If you truly considered Chunzhi your wife, you should have cherished her. Why did you let her fall into the river and nearly drown?"
Huo Zheng was silent for a moment before he said in a low voice, "This is a matter between her and me. It's not your turn as an outsider to criticize me."
Song Anlan said: "You might as well ask Chunzhi, in her heart, are you an outsider, or am I an outsider now."
After spending more than half a year together, Song Anlan already knows Chunzhi quite well.
She had no romantic feelings for him, but he treated her as a brother.
After Song Anlan knew that Chunzhi was the person that Prince Chang'an wanted to find by sending the navy of Nanzhou to block the river, he sent someone to secretly return to Nanzhou to investigate.
He knew Chunzhi was an orphan, that she had been betrayed by Lu Jingyun, the top-scoring high school student, and that Chunzhi had been married to the hidden Prince of Chang'an...
He even guessed that the child in Chunzhi's belly was Chang'an Prince Huo Zheng's.
Song Anlan kept Chunzhi in the Song residence, firstly out of kindness, and secondly because he was attracted by the complicated relationship between Chunzhi and Prince Chang'an.
Song Anlan knew that he was going to die soon, and Song Wan'er was frail and sickly, and her innocence would definitely not allow her to keep the Song family's vast wealth, so he could only set his sights on Chunzhi.
Chunzhi was of low status, and even if Prince Chang'an liked her very much, he would not marry her as a princess. He would only make her a concubine or keep her as a mistress outside. However, given Chunzhi's personality, she would certainly not be willing to do that.
Song Anlan thought of marrying Chunzhi and giving her and the child a legitimate identity. When he died, Chunzhi and the child would help Wan'er to protect the family business. If they couldn't, he would take action when King Chang'an came to find them.
The Song family is very wealthy. If Prince Chang'an wants to ascend to the supreme throne, he will have to spend money. He does not care about the monk's face, but the Buddha's. Even if he does not consider the Song family for helping him raise Chunzhi and the children, he must treat Wan'er well because of the Song family's piles of gold and silver.
Unfortunately, Song Anlan had planned everything, but he didn't expect Huo Zheng to come so soon.
Now that he is still alive, he has to face the aggressive King Chang'an.
Huo Zheng's heart was boiling with rage when he heard this, but he showed no sign of it on his face.
Having forced Chunzhi to stay in the villa in the south of the city for so many days, he knew very well that Chunzhi had long regarded the Song brothers and sisters as very important and treated him as an outsider.
These words coming from Song Anlan's mouth were particularly infuriating.
Huo Zheng, however, was always expressionless. He simply said in a deep voice, "For the past six months, I've been searching for Chunzhi's whereabouts. Young Master Song is well-informed and would have known about it. So, what exactly are your intentions in deliberately hiding her in the Song residence?"
Song Anlan naturally would not tell King Chang'an about his plans. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly started coughing again.
Young Master Song coughed for a long time before he managed to calm down.
Song Anlan said hoarsely: "I just want to give Chunzhi a home."
Huo Zheng raised his lips with a hint of sarcasm, "Song Anlan, have you been called a good man for so long that you really think you are kind and gentle?"
Merchants value profit and will not get up early without profit.
Huo Zheng didn't believe that Song Anlan kept Chunzhi in the Song residence without any ulterior motive.
Song Anlan smiled and said, "At least that's how Chunzhi sees it."
Huo Zheng's eyes turned slightly cold, "You can only lie to her."
"I never lied to Chunzhi," Song Anlan said. "When I said I wanted to marry her, I explained the pros and cons to her. I also said I wanted to entrust her with the Song family's vast wealth, as long as she treated Wan'er well. Prince Chang'an, what about you?"
Huo Zheng was silent.
He and Haruji had concealed their identities from the very beginning. Although he had to lie to her, he really did it.
It was the coldest time of the year, and even though there was a stove in the hall, Huo Zheng still felt very cold.
Song Anlan covered his sleeves and coughed for a long time before speaking again: "Even though I am full of calculations, I have made it clear to Chunzhi that if she doesn't want to, I will not force her. Whether it is on the day of the wedding or now, as long as Chunzhi is willing to go with you, I will not stop her."
His frankness made it impossible for Huo Zheng to complain.
In Chunzhi's eyes, Young Master Song was perfect in every way. Even if Song Anlan revealed all his plans to her, she would only think that Song Anlan was seriously ill and had many difficulties, so she could forgive him no matter what he did.
Song Anlan said: "If Chunzhi wants to stay in the Song residence, I will take good care of her."
This means that I will not deliberately go against you, nor will I be afraid of you.
Huo Zheng laughed instead of getting angry, "Song Anlan, do you really enjoy helping others support their wives and children?"
Song Anlan's expression remained gentle. "If you keep raising it, it will become yours. Why not?"
Huo Zheng looked at Song Anlan with a serious look in his eyes. When their eyes met, their glances flashed like lightning.
Huo Zheng just tested Song Anlan.
From his answer, it was clear that the child in Chunzhi's belly was not Song Anlan's at all.
The child is his.
After Huo Zheng confirmed it, he curled his thin lips slightly.
Song Anlan didn't know why Huo Zheng's mood suddenly brightened. He said, "I can give Chunzhi a legitimate identity and make her Madam Song. You said you would take her as your wife. Do you dare to announce to the world that you, the Prince of Chang'an, are going to marry a commoner?"
Huo Zheng remained silent.
Even if he was willing, his father, the emperor, and his mother would strongly oppose it, and there were also his half-brothers who hoped he would make a mistake...
Song Anlan spoke again: "Can you give Chunzhi the three letters and six gifts and marry her formally?"
Without waiting for Huo Zheng to speak, he made his decision, "Prince Chang'an, you can't."
Song Anlan said, "So, why don't you let Chunzhi stay in the Song residence? I don't have much time left. If she becomes Mrs. Song, she will be able to manage the Song family property. If you two are truly in love, you can still be together even without the name of husband and wife..."
"I can." Huo Zheng interrupted her in a deep voice, "Three letters and six ceremonies, a formal marriage, I will not give Chunzhi less than what I deserve."
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