When they stopped to rest by a lake, Fang Qing asked a question.
Fang Zhu clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"As for Tibet, please ask the Emperor to grant me and Princess Min'er a marriage."
Fang Qing's expression was one of utter shock.
Two years have passed, and Princess Min'er still hasn't given up.
"Looks like it's true love."
Fang Zhu glared at her, annoyed.
Fang Qing coughed lightly and asked, "Brother Fang Zhu, are you not satisfied with this marriage?"
Fang Zhu nodded.
If they were satisfied, would they have waited until now to be betrothed by the Emperor?
If he truly loves someone, he will naturally rush to have the emperor bestow a marriage upon him.
Fang Qing could also see Fang Zhu's resistance.
“The Emperor has decreed this marriage; it seems inappropriate to disobey the imperial decree,” Fang Qing said.
Fang Zhu stared at the lake without saying a word.
Fang Qing looked at Zhao Shi'an and shrugged.
Zhao Shi'an poured Fang Zhu a glass of wine.
"If you are willing to give up your career, you can boldly defy the imperial decree. The Grand Marshal is old and there is an urgent need for someone to take over in the Northwest, so the Emperor will not take your life."
Fang Zhu remained silent.
"It seems that you are not entirely against marrying Princess Min'er."
Fang Zhu finally looked at him.
Zhao Shi'an was right.
Although he disliked the marriage, he was not opposed to using his career to defy the imperial decree.
"Then marry him."
Fang Zhu's face turned dark.
"I can't ruin someone else's daughter."
Zhao Shi'an scoffed.
"She is clearly still deeply in love with you. Are you just ruining her life by rejecting her again and again? Perhaps marrying you is the best thing for her."
As a woman, Fang Qing couldn't stand these words, so she nudged Zhao Shi'an's arm to stop him from speaking.
“I think Fang Zhu’s concerns are valid, so let’s explain it to Princess Min’er.”
Fang Zhu shook his head.
“I’ve said this countless times over the years. If she had listened to me, we wouldn’t be in this situation where the marriage was arranged.”
These two are sworn enemies.
Fang Qing didn't know what to say.
"How about I have a proper talk with Princess Min'er after we get to the capital?"
"Do you have any good ideas?" Zhao Shi'an asked.
"No, I just wanted to talk to her from a woman's perspective and analyze the pros and cons of her marriage with Fang Zhu."
Zhao Shi'an really didn't want Fang Qing to interfere in Fang Zhu's affairs, after all, outsiders can't really understand other people's feelings.
Since Fang Qing had said so, he expressed his support.
They then continued on their journey.
They also received an imperial edict from the capital, urging them to speed up their return to Beijing.
Fang Qing could also see how anxious the Emperor was.
After another half month of travel, they finally arrived in the capital.
The emperor even sent people to meet them.
After spending the night at an inn outside the city, they entered the capital early the next morning.
After Fang Zhu entered the city, he was summoned to the palace by the emperor.
Fang Qing and Zhao Shi'an returned to their residence.
Zhu Ci was banished from the capital for offending the emperor, and the imperial mansion he was granted was naturally taken back.
Now the house is back.
However, it is no longer the butler's residence, but has become Zhao Shi'an's private property.
Nothing had changed inside the mansion; even the servants were the same ones they had left with.
Fang Daniu and his wife were waiting there, and when they saw Fang Qing, they couldn't help but wipe away their tears.
After not seeing each other for three years, Fang Qing noticed that the couple had both aged.
Both Fang Daniu and his wife were reserved, and even if they had a lot of longing in their hearts, they would be too embarrassed to say it out loud.
They went inside first, and Fang Qing took the initiative to tell Fang Daniu and his wife everything that had happened in Yongzhou over the past three years.
"You've really worked hard. I heard that conditions in Yongzhou are tough. Look how thin you've become."
Fang Qing patted Zhao's hand reassuringly.
“With my brother here, what hardship could I possibly endure? Besides, the lives of the people in Yongzhou aren’t that difficult these days. I’m just stronger now, not thinner.”
As Zhao spoke, her gaze fell on Fang Qing's stomach, and she didn't say anything when she saw Zhao Shi'an there.
After breakfast, Zhao said she wanted to go home, and Fang Qing saw them off at the mansion.
Zhao took the opportunity to ask Fang Qing about her pregnancy.
Fang Qing was stunned for a moment before realizing that they were asking about the child.
"I don't intend to take it."
Even in today's technologically advanced world, childbirth is still a very risky thing for a woman, let alone in ancient times.
She wanted to stay with Zhao Shi'an for longer, so there was no need to take the risk of having a child.
Zhao was clearly taken aback by Fang Qing's answer; she was stunned.
"What are you saying? How can you not want a child? Don't you think about Shi'an?"
Fang Qing hasn't actually asked Zhao Shi'an for his opinion yet.
But she felt that Zhao Shi'an respected her.
Zhao looked quite helpless.
"I think you've lost your mind..."
"Mother!" Fang Qing interrupted her, "Does that mean if I don't say anything, the child isn't your daughter?"
Zhao's expression was complicated.
"If you don't have children, people will laugh at you."
Zhao's voice grew softer and softer.
That's just how she is.
Moreover, she has a child, but only one child, Douya. Even now, many people in the village still point fingers at her.
"Let them laugh, it's up to them. We'll live our own lives, Mother, so don't worry about it."
Zhao's expression clearly showed that she had not been persuaded by her.
"I can't be your boss anyway. You should talk to Shi'an about this. I think Shi'an has never had a kind relative since he was little, so he must like children."
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