With my sister-in-law in the woods
Lee Soo-man hadn't seen Lady Lee for many years, and when he suddenly saw her aged, deathly pale face in the crystal coffin, he was startled.
“Mother is only in her fifties. I thought she was in good health. How could she have aged so much?” Li Xiuman sighed repeatedly.
Zhang Chunfeng didn't mention that Li's death was mainly due to being confined to the house for a long time, missing her elder brother Qian Lao Er, and eventually falling ill from depression.
“Mother loves wealth and honor, so I’ll burn more for her, that’s enough. Don’t cry,” Zhang Chunfeng said casually, his tone even colder than when he was arranging Zhang Chuntian’s funeral.
Li's funeral was much grander than Zhang Chuntian's. Zhang Chunfeng, tired of kneeling on the prayer mat every day, had only performed the ceremony a few days prior, after which she would lazily lie down and read various books.
Li Xiuman knelt alone to keep vigil. Zhang Chunfeng tried to persuade him several times, but Li Xiuman remained the same, so she stopped trying to persuade him.
Sometimes, while Li Xiuman was kneeling and keeping vigil, Zhang Chunfeng would slowly walk over with Xiao Sui.
"Xiao Sui, look at your father, so foolish, kneeling until his knees hurt and he still kneels like that," Zhang Chunfeng laughed.
Xiao Sui became increasingly clingy to Zhang Chunfeng. Usually, she would open her arms to Li Xiuman when she saw him, but now that Zhang Chunfeng and Li Xiuman were together, she actually moved closer to Zhang Chunfeng.
Upon hearing Zhang Chunfeng's words, Xiao Sui immediately nodded and ran to help Li Xiuman up.
"Father, get up." Xiao Sui tugged at Li Xiuman's sleeve.
"Xiao Sui, this is your grandmother. You should kneel down and kowtow too."
Xiao Sui broke free from Li Xiuman and shook her head. "I already kowtowed before. Mother is right. If someone is dead, no matter how many times I kowtow, they won't come back to life. I won't kowtow anymore."
Li Xiuman glared at Zhang Chunfeng, "Why do you want her to call you 'mother'?"
"I didn't say that. She's become smart and insists on calling me that," Zhang Chunfeng said smugly. "You've raised her for a year and she still hasn't learned to speak a complete sentence. How about I raise her for a few months?"
Lee Soo-man curled his lip, "She's teaching her all sorts of nonsense. Her mother is her grandmother, and she hasn't even learned the meaning of filial piety."
Zhang Chunfeng wasn't annoyed at all, a smile playing on his lips. "Filial piety can't put food on the table. Besides, once someone dies, they're dead. Your knees will hurt from kneeling, and you won't be able to do many positions at night. It's just tormenting you."
Lee Soo-man's face immediately turned crimson. "You, you shouldn't say such things here."
Zhang Chunfeng was still smiling. He squatted down next to Li Xiuman and whispered in his ear, "My mother threatened to kill herself to prevent me from seeing you. If she truly cared for me, why would she do such a thing? Now that she's dead, I've fulfilled my filial duty." With that, he gave Li Xiuman a quick kiss on the cheek.
Startled, Lee Soo-man quickly pushed the person away and reached out to wipe the lipstick mark off his cheek.
Zhang Chunfeng was still smiling, and reached out to pinch Li Xiuman's shoulder. "I've been feeding you all sorts of things for months, how come you haven't gained any weight? It must be because you insist on kneeling here every day, and your body is too tired to gain weight."
Lee Soo-man didn't answer. "If you're not going to kneel, then take Xiao-sui and leave. Mother will be buried in a few days."
Zhang Chunfeng sighed, "Fine, if you don't want to listen, then forget it."
During the day, Li Xiuman wouldn't listen, but at night Zhang Chunfeng would torment him even more. Eventually, Li Xiuman couldn't even kneel down anymore, and his waist and knees ached and ached, so he simply gave up.
After the Li family's Buddhist ceremony ended, the Zhang family's house was also built.
Zhang Chunfeng, having finally found some free time, intended to take Li Xiuman and Xiaosui around, but that day he suddenly received an imperial edict from Zhao Yongjin.
When Zhang Chunfeng left the capital, Zhao Yongzheng returned from the Yunnan-Guizhou region. After arriving back in the capital with bags full of rare treasures from that region, he couldn't find Zhang Chunfeng and immediately became extremely anxious.
He didn't care whether Zhang Chunfeng was in mourning or not, and issued six imperial edicts in succession, urging Zhang Chunfeng to return to the capital immediately!
Zhang Chunfeng was extremely disgusted. No matter how unwilling she was, she could not ignore the Crown Prince's decree. She had no choice but to discuss returning to the capital with Li Xiuman.
Ultimately, she was still afraid that Lee Soo-man would reject her, so she took him to the riverbank where they had secretly pledged their love.
We parted in October, and now it's October again.
"Sister-in-law, do you still remember what I said here back then?" Zhang Chunfeng asked tenderly.
This made Lee Soo-man feel embarrassed. "Of course I remember."
"Since you remember, shouldn't you stay with me for the rest of your life?"
Lee Soo-man hesitated for a moment, then said, "That is the way it should be."
"Then let's marry, sister-in-law."
Zhang Chunfeng remained tender, his words as gentle as a spring breeze, each one penetrating Li Xiuman's heart like countless hammers nailing him to the spot.
Li Xiuman stood there, his body stiff. He knew that Zhang Chunfeng would say those words sooner or later, but knowing it in his heart and actually hearing it were worlds apart.
In the past, he only worried about how to answer if Zhang Chunfeng asked, given his identity. Now, hearing those words, his heart burned like a fire, almost bringing tears to his eyes.
Lee Soo-man's lips trembled, "I..." He always hesitated before speaking.
“Sister-in-law, don’t worry about anything. Don’t ask what outsiders think, and don’t say it’s unreasonable. I just want to ask you if you are willing from the bottom of your heart.”
Zhang Chunfeng stared intently at Li Xiuman, their hands clasped together and placed over Li Xiuman's heart.
After so many months of feeding, Lee Soo-man had only gained five pounds compared to before. There was still little flesh on his chest, and you could hear his heart pounding nervously at a rhythm that was completely unlike his usual one.
"If it's just from the heart, I... I'm willing." Lee Soo-man said, turning his face away awkwardly. They had been husband and wife for so long, yet Lee Soo-man was still shy.
Zhang Chunfeng raised an eyebrow. Li Xiuman was about to speak again when Zhang Chunfeng suddenly pulled him, their noses touching. Zhang Chunfeng turned his head and kissed Li Xiuman's lips, which always seemed hesitant.
Li Xiuman was stunned. This was outside! Everyone in the village washed their clothes by the river, and the road was just a few meters away. Li Xiuman quickly nudged Zhang Chunfeng.
"Spring breeze, do not let anyone see you."
"From now on, you will be my wife. So what if others see us?" Zhang Chunfeng didn't care. He wrapped his arms around Li Xiuman's waist, rested his chin on Li Xiuman's shoulder, and kissed Li Xiuman's chin with his head turned to the side.
Lee Soo-man's eyes darted around like a spinning top, constantly scanning his surroundings.
"Even if it's a wedding, it's in broad daylight, and doing such a thing is really inappropriate."
“We’ve kissed before,” Zhang Chunfeng said, his hands getting restless as he slipped inside Li Xiuman’s clothes, his warm palms rubbing Li Xiuman’s skin.
Li Xiuman was taken aback by Zhang Chunfeng's words and immediately recalled the time when the two of them kissed by the river, which Li Shi had witnessed. Three years had passed since then, filled with sorrow and hardship. A wave of sadness washed over him, and he inexplicably wondered if he and Zhang Chunfeng could truly marry.
"Spring Breeze, I'm afraid I'm not good enough for you. You're the Grand Secretary now. Ah, be gentle." Lee Soo-man was suddenly pinched hard and bent over.
Zhang Chunfeng loved Li Xiuman's flushed face and teary eyes. The riverbank was lush and green, and she felt relaxed and happy. She immediately pulled Li Xiuman into the depths of the woods.
"My lady, don't worry. I will petition Her Majesty to grant you to me. With Her Majesty's bestowal of marriage, what can anyone say?"
As Zhang Chunfeng spoke, she took off her outer robe, found a relatively flat spot, laid it down, and pulled Li Xiuman to sit down.
Poor Li Xiuman was completely preoccupied with the thought that their marriage would alarm the Empress. He didn't realize that Zhang Chunfeng had already pinned him down and pressed his knee between Li Xiuman's legs.
"Your Majesty? Do I still need to talk to Your Majesty? I am just a commoner, how could she bestow me upon you?" Lee Soo-man asked anxiously, but Zhang Chunfeng intertwined his fingers with Lee Soo-man's and kissed him from the tip of Lee Soo-man's nose, where there was a beauty mark, all the way down to the Adam's apple that bobbed as he spoke, and then to the trembling chest.
“Logically speaking, marriage is a private matter.” Zhang Chunfeng took a bite of something that looked like a red bean and continued, “But now that I am the Grand Secretary, I naturally have to discuss such matters with the Empress. As for how to discuss them?”
Zhang Chunfeng chuckled and ate even deeper, causing Li Xiuman to tremble in pain.
"Sister-in-law has really lost weight; she doesn't eat meat as well as before," Zhang Chunfeng complained. Li Xiuman, eager to know a solution, casually promised, "I'll eat more from now on. Tell me quickly what to do about this."
“Of course I will tell you the truth. Now it’s just me and my sister-in-law left in this world. If I don’t marry you, do you want you to grow old alone?” Zhang Chunfeng got up and slowly squeezed in.
Lee Soo-man frowned slightly. "Tell me the truth? Chunfeng, I still don't understand. Ah, Chunfeng, you!"
Lee Soo-man screamed, only then realizing that the two of them were already in the woods.
"You'll understand when the time comes, sister-in-law." Zhang Chunfeng smiled, pressed down the restless Li Xiuman, then changed his expression and asked softly, "I'm just afraid there will be gossip, sister-in-law, please don't take it to heart. Remember, I'll take care of everything."
Li Xiuman was stunned, unable to figure out what Zhang Chunfeng was up to. He didn't have time to think about it either, as waves of heat surged from his lower body, making him wish he could bury his face in the ground to avoid being discovered.
The commotion continued until dinner time, when the two finally emerged from the woods. Zhang Chunfeng put the bracelet back on Li Xiuman's wrist. Despite Zhang Chunfeng's outer robe being spread on the grass, Li Xiuman still felt a sharp pain in her waist.
Feeling unwell, Li Xiuman walked with a slight limp. Rubbing her lower back, she felt incredibly pampered. In the past, when working in the fields, she would simply collapse and sleep when exhausted. How could she be so easily worn out by the grass after only a few months of sleeping on a luxurious bed?
Li Xiuman thought about it for a moment, then realized that working with Zhang Chunfeng like this was actually much more tiring than toiling in the fields. Field work was only superficial, while working with Zhang Chunfeng was physically demanding; his whole body couldn't take it. Thinking this, he turned to look at Zhang Chunfeng, who was leading him.
Perhaps it was because he was in a good mood, but Zhang Chunfeng's brows and eyes were relaxed, and the irritation that used to linger between his brows had largely disappeared. Viewed from the side, his peach-blossom eyes were alluring, and his nose was high and straight like jade; his profile truly resembled that of a celestial being descended to earth. As Li Xiuman gazed at him, he suddenly realized that Zhang Chunfeng was only twenty years old, while he himself was already thirty.
Lee Soo-man unconsciously pursed his lips, then remembered what Zhang Chunfeng had said: this meat wasn't as good as before.
"What are you thinking about? You were just peeking at me, and now you're all heartbroken?" Zhang Chunfeng laughed, then pinched the soft flesh of Li Xiuman's neck again.
Lee Soo-man forced a smile, "I only think that Chunfeng is only twenty, while I'm already thirty. What if Chunfeng gets older in a few years..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Zhang Chunfeng frown unhappily, and Li Xiuman wisely shut his mouth.
Li had said these words too many times before. It seemed that everyone thought that Zhang Chunfeng, at twenty years old, was still too young and would have more choices in the future.
"Did I do something that made you suspect I might change my mind?" Zhang Chunfeng asked seriously.
Lee Soo-man shook his head. "Spring Breeze, that's not what I meant."
“Sister-in-law, you really have no idea how much I love you.” Zhang Chunfeng sighed softly, which made Li Xiuman feel guilty, as if he had been judging a gentleman by the standards of a petty person.
“Chunfeng, I really didn’t mean that. I didn’t suspect you. It just suddenly occurred to me,” Lee Soo-man explained, but he noticed that Chunfeng’s expression worsened when she heard the last few words. After thinking it over, Lee Soo-man stopped and lowered his head to kiss the corner of Chunfeng’s lips.
"Spring Breeze, don't frown. I really didn't mean anything by it."
Zhang Chunfeng maintained a cold demeanor, but his peach blossom eyes couldn't hide his smile.
"not enough."
Lee Soo-man resigned himself to his fate and kissed the road a few more times.
"not enough."
Lee Soo-man said helplessly, "Chun-feng, we've only been here a few days... Wait for me to rest for a few days."
"Take a few days off, and then what?"
"Then I'll make it up to you properly."
"How can we properly compensate them?"
Li Xiuman, unsure of what Zhang Chunfeng wanted to ask, hesitated before replying, "Whatever Chunfeng says, goes."
Zhang Chunfeng immediately smiled and said, "Okay, in a few days, sister-in-law will have to sit on it and rock it herself."
Like a firework exploding in his heart, Lee Soo-man's face flushed crimson. This kind of relationship between them had only occurred three years ago when Zhang Chunfeng was about to leave; he had never been so proactive. Normally, he would give in to Zhang Chunfeng's advances, but rarely took the initiative. Firstly, it was just his nature; secondly, he always felt that such a posture, like Zhang Chunfeng making him kneel, meant she would see everything. How embarrassing!
"So you were waiting here?"
Zhang Chunfeng laughed heartily and flicked Li Xiuman's nose with his finger, "It's all because my sister-in-law doesn't believe me, which makes me so sad."
Li Xiuman didn't reply, but Zhang Chunfeng took Li Xiuman's hand and kissed it, saying, "Sister-in-law, you never need to worry. You're the only one for me in this life."
Lee Soo-man was slightly stunned. He felt as if he were floating on clouds, his body light and his mind a jumbled mess. He forced himself to calm down, but he couldn't help wondering what he had done to deserve Zhang Chunfeng's love for him. What was so special about him?
Thinking this, he asked again, "Spring Breeze, what is it about me that you love?"
“My sister-in-law Xinyue is a wonderful person.” Zhang Chunfeng said frankly.
Lee Soo-man was stunned again, thinking that Zhang Chunfeng's words were utter nonsense. If he loved him as a whole person, then what was there to love about him?
Zhang Chunfeng couldn't help but laugh at Li Xiuman's dazed expression. She admitted that when she first met Li Xiuman, she was initially attracted to him. She had never seen such a handsome man before and couldn't resist wanting to get closer. Later, when Zhang Chuntian married Li Xiuman, she originally intended to end things, but then she saw how honest he was, being bullied by everyone. He was like a blood bag being drained by Shen Shi and then by Li Shi, yet he still felt indebted to everyone.
As Zhang Chunfeng looked at Lee Soo-man, who had initially intended to give up, he wanted to get closer again. But once he got close, he realized that he was attracted to Lee Soo-man as a whole.
Previously, she was filled with worries, restless, and insincere. But as soon as she got close to Lee Soo-man, her whole heart and soul felt like they had entered a warm harbor, completely settling down. From beginning to end, she was simply filled with joy.
"In my eyes, the whole world is mute, only my sister-in-law and I can speak."
Lee Soo-man was even more confused, yet the two of them had already arrived at the Zhang family's residence.
"Give the order to pack our things. We're returning to the capital the day after tomorrow," Zhang Chunfeng instructed the maid.
Upon hearing the news of returning to the capital, Xiao Sui immediately jumped up, "Father, are we going back to the capital with Mother?"
Lee Soo-man nodded. Zhang Chunfeng grinned mischievously and said, "That's right, once we get to Kyoto you can go to school, aren't you excited?"
The young girl grabbed onto Lee Soo-man's clothes and ran around in circles.
"Going to school! I want to go to school too! Xiao Sui is so happy!"
Zhang Chunfeng chuckled, "Starting school at three and continuing until almost twenty, and you're happy? You're really not very smart."
Lee Soo-man: "......"
He didn't argue with Zhang Chunfeng, but instead took Xiao Sui's hand and played with her. His child was at his knees, his beloved was by his side, and the osmanthus blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom.
Lee Soo-man took a deep breath and felt that this day was exceptionally sweet.
Three days later, Zhang Chunfeng led Li Xiuman on their journey back to the capital.
Meanwhile, news of Chief Minister Zhang's marriage to his widowed sister-in-law spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys. Storytellers, opera singers, women and children, and people chatting after meals all talked about it.
The Grand Secretary marries his own sister-in-law! How strange!
As the story spread, it eventually reached the ears of people in the capital.
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