Chen Qiu and Ye Chen talked about everything from their first meeting to their marriage.
Ye Chen said: "It seems that God is helping me. At first I had to observe mourning, and later I helped the emperor with his affairs. The emperor also wanted to grant me a marriage, but I refused! Only then can I wait for Qiu'er!"
Chen Qiu looked at Ye Chen and asked carefully: "Is it... because of Miss Gu?"
Ye Chen shook his head and said, "If I had asked at that time, the emperor would not have refused, and she and I could have been together smoothly, but I always felt that I was not ready, and I didn't expect it to drag on for three years."
"Later, her family arranged a marriage for her. If I had asked the Emperor for her, he would have reluctantly agreed. But I still didn't do anything. Maybe I didn't care enough!"
"It wasn't until later that my grandmother arranged a marriage between you and me. You know, I wasn't happy about it, but strangely enough, I didn't make a big fuss!"
Chen Qiu sneered and said, "You fought with Master Chen over Miss Gu, but the whole of Kyoto knows about it, and you still say you don't care? You didn't argue with Grandmother because you felt that since it wasn't her, it didn't matter who it was, right?"
"Otherwise you wouldn't have treated me like that on our wedding night!"
Ye Chen looked at Chen Qiu, his eyes full of bitterness. How could his Qiu Er be so smart? How could she express his worries so accurately?
Ye Chen smiled bitterly and said, "Qiu'er, stop making fun of me. To be honest, I have never regretted what I did before marrying you, but for me now, that is just the past and has nothing to do with me anymore."
"The only thing I regret till now, the only thing I can't forgive myself for, is what I did to you on our wedding night!"
Seeing that the two of them were chatting and returning to that day, Chen Qiu grabbed Ye Chen's hand and said, "Okay, why are you going back to that day again? We agreed to look forward and not think about the past. From now on, neither of us will mention what happened that day, okay?"
Ye Chen took Shen Qiu's hand, which was holding his, and kissed it on his lips. He let go after a long time and said, "Thank you, Qiu'er, you are my salvation!"
Ye Chen looked up at Chen Qiu and said, "Where's Qiu'er? What delayed you until now?"
"You are already nineteen years old this year. Many people your age in Kyoto are already mothers, right?"
"Qiu'er, can you tell me about it?"
Chen Qiu smiled and said, "I came back from the northwest at the age of twelve to show my filial piety to my parents. Every year around Qingming Festival, I would leave from the northwest for Kyoto, and after Double Ninth Festival, I would leave from Kyoto for the northwest. Which family in Kyoto would accept a woman who was so out in the public eye?"
"Although the Yong'an Marquisate is quite good in Kyoto, my father and brother are far away in the northwest desert. Marrying me won't be of much help to my husband's family."
"When I just came of age, my grandmother mentioned a few families to me, but I made comparisons in my mind and evaded them!" Chen Qiu said the last sentence very softly, but Ye Chen still heard it.
Ye Chen felt more and more like he was immersed in a honey pot and couldn't close his mouth!
My heart was filled with sweetness, and my hands unconsciously hugged Chen Qiu.
It was Mingyue who called them outside to have dinner, interrupting their increasingly ambiguous atmosphere!
At the dinner table, Ye Chen ate while looking at Chen Qiu, and even Chen Qiu's mother couldn't bear it anymore.
"Ahem... well, bro, I'm leaving for the northwest tomorrow. Can you guys leave half an hour later? I want to talk to Qiu'er. I don't know when we'll see each other again!"
Ye Chen looked at Shen Qiuniang and said, "Okay, it's my duty. I will send someone back to tell my grandmother, mother-in-law, don't worry."
Chen Qiu asked doubtfully, "Why are you in such a hurry? Can't you stay a few more days?"
Shen Qiuniang sighed and said, "You also know that your father and brother can't do anything without me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have to run back and forth for those years!"
"Also, your father wrote to me saying that something happened in Qi County. He didn't say what it was, but just said that things were not stable. I have to go back as soon as possible. I'm worried about the two of them being left alone in the northwest to take care of them."
Chen Qiu smiled and said, "Well, with mom here, dad and brother don't have to worry about anything. I'll clean up for you after dinner!"
Shen Qiuniang said: "It's almost finished."
"Just talk to your mother!"
After dinner, Chen Qiu stayed in the house talking with Wang Linfang. Ye Chen was locked outside the door, holding the bell in his hand, looking at it and smiling foolishly.
Shen Qiu's mother warned Shen Qiu inside: "Qiu'er, I think this son-in-law is a good person. Those rumors about him in Kyoto don't seem to be credible. You should live a good life with him. When you get married, you should put your husband's family first and your husband as your heaven."
"Also, he's a Duke, high in status and favored by the Emperor. There are many women who covet him. Given his status, being a concubine is a respectable thing for him!"
"Look at your second sister. She tried to talk to her uncle several times at the dinner table. Fortunately, her uncle only has you in his heart and eyes! You..."
"Okay, Mom, I get it. I won't dwell on this and I won't put myself in a difficult position. Okay? Don't worry. Pack up quickly and don't leave anything behind." Chen Qiu interrupted her mother as she couldn't stop talking.
Shen Qiu's mother tapped Shen Qiu's forehead and said, "You, by the way, the important thing is to get pregnant as soon as possible, don't you understand?"
Shen Qiu didn't expect her mother to say this suddenly, and her face turned red instantly. The two were talking inside when they suddenly heard a noise outside.
“Brother-in-law, why are you standing outside alone?” It was Shen Rouyun’s voice.
"Brother-in-law, where is my sister? Why did I leave you alone in the hot sun? My sister is so inconsiderate. You will get heatstroke." Ye Chen didn't say anything, and Shen Rouyun continued.
"Get out of here!" Ye Chen suddenly roared!
Shen Qiu quickly opened the door and ran out, asking, "What's wrong?" He looked at Shen Rouyun and said, "Why is my second cousin here?"
When Ye Chen saw Chen Qiu coming out, he went forward and hugged Chen Qiu, sniffing Shen Qiu's hair and saying, "Let me smell it, Qiu'er, that thing is too choking." Shen Rouyun was so angry that her teeth were grinding.
Shen Qiuniang blushed at Ye Chen's words. Was her son-in-law too much? There were so many maids and servants, and his mother-in-law was still around. What was going on behind the scenes?
Chen Qiu blushed and pushed Ye Chen away and said, "What's wrong? I heard you yelling. Who made you angry?"
Ye Chen glared at Shen Rouyun and said, “It’s okay, I just can’t stand the smell of vulgar powder, and my second cousin is a little closer to me.”
Then he said to Shen Qiuniang, "Mother-in-law, it's getting late. We should go back. We will go to the city gate to see you off tomorrow morning!"
Chen Qiuniang thought that she had explained everything she needed to, so she said, "Yes, it's getting late. We can't go back too late this time. You should leave quickly."
"Hey, um, son-in-law." Before leaving, Shen Qiuniang called Ye Chen and pulled him aside.
"Qiu'er is now in your care. You must treat her well. Don't look at her as silly, she has her own ideas! I have no right to ask about your past affairs, but since you treat Qiu'er well, I will be bold for once."
"Qiu'er is simple-minded. She won't change her mind. Don't let her down, or even ten cows won't be able to pull her back!"
Ye Chen bowed to Shen Qiuniang and said, "Don't worry, mother-in-law, I understand. I will never let Qiu'er down!"
Shen Qiuniang nodded with satisfaction.
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