That's why I took it upon myself to arrange their marriage. When the imperial decree arrived at the Yun residence, the Third Miss Yun was confused and refused to marry the Second Prince, even threatening suicide.
Later, Chu Xiao personally went to the Yun residence to explain, and the Third Miss Yun burst into tears of joy.
The Yun family members had only just recovered from their shock. In the third year of their marriage, they gave birth to a son, who was then granted the title of Prince.
Imagine the scene at that time, and You Ran couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Also, Yueyue's marriage to your brother was a sensation in the entire capital city."
You Ran became even more interested, "Tell me about it!"
"You left him so many shops and estates, and he used them all as betrothal gifts."
In order to make your brother's status worthy of a princess, your mother specially requested an official position from the Ministry of Revenue based on the imperial decree that granted him the title of county baron. He was appointed as a fifth-rank assistant minister.
They even renovated the original Su residence to use as their wedding house.
Unexpectedly, Yueyue was reluctant to leave the Princess's residence, saying that if she left, the residence would become an empty house, and insisted that her brother move in.
Your brother didn't care at first, but your mother was unhappy. After all, he was the head of the Su family's branch in the capital, and she insisted on holding the wedding at the Su residence.
Upon learning this, the eldest princess moved back from the Imperial Preceptor's residence overnight, and the Imperial Preceptor also moved into the eldest princess's residence.
Thus, Yueyue was able to marry into the Su family smoothly. On her wedding day, the procession was so grand it could easily be described as a twenty-mile-long red bridal procession, moving from the Princess's residence to the Su residence in a magnificent spectacle that made countless people envious and awestruck!
You Ran asked happily, "So, do they have children?"
"Yueyue is quite something. For the first two years, she loved to have fun, traveling around with your brother while searching for you. She didn't want children at all."
In her third year back in Beijing, she accidentally fell while playing with her little brother and was ruthlessly chased away by her mother. In a fit of anger, she vowed to have two children in three years, which would drive her mother crazy.
And indeed, they had two children in three years! The eldest princess was overjoyed!
Yu Ran's heart was practically soaring to Kyoto. What had she missed all these years?!
Empress Dowager Zhou continued, "Your brother is even more remarkable. After Yueyue became pregnant, he could only stay in the capital and start officially reporting for duty at the Ministry of Revenue."
In just three months, he impressed everyone in the Ministry of Revenue with his unparalleled abacus skills. Whenever the Ministry of Revenue had a project they couldn't make a decision on, they would come to him for advice.
I find this very strange. He was clearly a student of the Imperial Advisor, and many things could be calculated with a simple finger-reading. Why does he insist on using an abacus? Yet, his calculations are always accurate, and his political achievements are remarkable!
In just three short years, he rose six ranks, becoming a second-rank Left Vice Minister! Old Man Lu was all smiles, saying he had a worthy successor!
We walked and talked along the way.
My heart was itching all the way.
From Empress Dowager Zhou, she also learned about the situation of Yun's other siblings. You Ran couldn't help but sigh that God had really arranged everything perfectly!
At the same time, she felt regretful that she had missed out on so many good things for her family because of that scoundrel's cover-up, which was really not worth it!
It's truly unfair to punish yourself and your child for the mistakes others have made!
The carriage traveled for almost half a month before stopping to rest in a small town.
The two little ones had been having a blast traveling and playing all day. After dinner, they were given a bath by You Ran and then fell fast asleep in bed.
When traveling, You Ran personally takes care of her two children, and at night she doesn't feel comfortable letting them sleep alone, so she sleeps in the same room with them.
After finishing her work, You Ran prepared to rest.
Suddenly the window moved, and a figure climbed in.
You Ran was startled and immediately jumped up to protect the bedside, shouting sharply, "Who dares to challenge me?!"
She knew that on their way back to the capital, besides the visible guards, there were also many hidden guards protecting them. The fact that this person was able to break through the guards' defenses showed that his strength was not to be underestimated.
The man straightened up and slowly turned around.
You Ran was stunned.
By the moonlight, she could clearly see that the person who came was Chu Heng.
He looked haggard, unshaven, and travel-worn, but his eyes were full of joy, along with a hint of unease.
You Ran lowered her gaze and saw that his black-trimmed robe was covered with mud and water spots, and that his waist seemed to have become even thinner.
Although she had made up her mind to return to the capital and knew that she would see him after returning, she never expected it to be so soon. She was not mentally prepared.
She turned her face away, unsure of what to say for a moment.
Chu Heng took two steps forward, his arms slightly outstretched, wishing he could immediately pull the person in front of him into his arms.
But she turned her face away, her entire body clearly displaying her resistance.
He felt a pang of pain in his heart, pulled his hands back, put them behind his back, and clenched his fists.
He opened his lips, and finally uttered the name he had called countless times in his dreams, breaking the silence of the room, "You Ran—"
You Ran suddenly turned around, straightened her back, and looked at him with a half-smile. "Hmm, should I call you brother or teacher, or... Your Majesty?"
She didn't do anything wrong, so why is she acting like she's ashamed to face anyone?
Chu Heng paused, then said gently, "Whatever you say."
He then added, "As long as you... no longer leave without saying goodbye."
You Ran scoffed coldly, "In any case, the Emperor is no one to me, and my senior brother refuses to marry me no matter what. Where I go is my own business, so what if I leave without saying goodbye?"
Even if she left without saying goodbye before, what did she do wrong?
Chu Heng choked, speechless.
She's right. She wasn't wrong in the past, and she's even less wrong now.
He was the emperor, and she had no official status.
He could no longer be Wen Yuanbai, nor could he marry her under the guise of being her senior brother.
but--
He said in a low voice, "You Ran, I... Over the past few years, I have been constantly repenting for not telling you sooner that I am Yuan Bai and that Yuan Bai is me."
When I first returned to the capital, I thought about being honest with you, but every time I was about to speak, I could feel your disgust for the Crown Prince. I was afraid that if I spoke, I would be rejected by you, so as time went on, I dared not speak.
Then... while you refused the arranged marriage, you said you wanted to marry me, no, marry Yuan Bai, and I was even more at a loss for words..."
He explained the crux of the matter in a few words and decisively stated, "I made a mistake in this matter, Youran, and I am willing to dedicate the rest of my life to it."
He paused, then said, "And the whole world, to make it up to you, okay?"
You Ran's heart skipped a beat, and she raised an eyebrow, saying, "What if I don't even care?"
She didn't care about men anyway.
She never had such ambitions for the world.
Besides, what would she need the whole world for? To work herself to death every day, getting up early and going to bed late, to govern it?
Chu Heng moved closer. "As long as you nod, I will immediately send someone back to the capital to draft an imperial edict to welcome you back with the honors due to an empress."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com