Chapter 42 My Remaining Life With Her "What did you say?" Just a moment ago...
"What did you say?" The chubby little boy who was just snuggling in her arms was a baby she had raised since he was a baby. Although he wasn't her biological child, she had spent more time with him than with her own daughter.
“He is, after all, the only bloodline of the Zhang family. Jiangnan is so far from the capital, it’s not easy for the two old people to see their grandson. I want Siliang to come home!” Zhao Linzhang knew she was reluctant.
"Will he cry and make a scene if he leaves suddenly? How is the Zhang family doing?" Shen Yunrong was full of worry. But this was their flesh and blood, and there was no reason for him to go to Jiangnan with them, making it difficult for their grandparents to see him.
“Then the wet nurse will go to the Zhang family with you. Although the Zhang family is not a high-ranking family, Siliang has a younger uncle who should be sixteen or seventeen years old this year. He can also shoulder the burden of the family.” Zhao Linzhang gently pulled her to sit on his lap, his sweet fragrance soothing her after a long day of travel.
"Since his surname is Zhang, we can invite him to stay in Jiangnan for a while when he's a bit older!"
Do you know why his name is Siliang?
Why?
"Her mother's name contains the character Liang!"
"So that's how it is!" There really are men with such deep affection.
"He knew there was danger that day, but he still rushed in, clearly not intending to live!" Zhao Linzhang still remembered his expression of facing death.
He couldn't understand it at the time: was it worth it for a woman?
"He's so foolish. He's not only a woman's husband, but also the son of elderly parents and the father of a young child like Siliang. How could he disregard all of that and only pursue the love in his heart!"
Zhao Linzhang didn't expect her to think that way. Other women, upon hearing that someone could be so devoted to another woman, couldn't help but sigh in admiration, but Shen Yunrong's face was full of disapproval.
"He was deeply affectionate and a person who valued relationships greatly!"
“No, he is a coward. If he has no parents to support him or no children to feed, his resolute departure would be a way to fulfill their bond.” Shen Yunrong couldn’t understand how he could abandon his child and leave him alone in this world.
"What you say makes sense. Even if I'm gone one day, you must live well." Only when you have someone you love do you realize that even in death, you want them to live well.
"Nonsense, speak properly. What if I leave first?"
It would have been better if he hadn't spoken. Zhao Linzhang remained silent. He couldn't bear to think about life without her. He began to understand why Si Liang's father had tried to kill himself.
"I won't let you leave first!" Zhao Linzhang said in a deep, muffled voice, as if he were speaking to her, but also to himself.
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. Shen Yunrong didn't want to talk about this topic anymore, so she got up from him and said, "The twin flowers don't want to leave the manor. When the time comes, Your Highness can see where there is a suitable place for them."
"Mmm!" The soft, fragrant woman in his arms paid no attention to what he was saying about flowers. Zhao Linzhang's eyes were only on the pearl flowers swaying in her dark hair. He reached out and pulled her back into his arms.
"I said that day, it's your turn to press me down!" Zhao Linzhang's hot breath sprayed on her earlobe, watching her small ear slowly turn red, and he contentedly took it into his mouth.
"You're going crazy! How can you do this here? Someone will see us!" Shen Yunrong hurriedly pushed him away. The door wasn't closed, and the maids could see them from the doorway.
"Time is too short. Once we reach Pingnan, I will formally marry you." Zhao Linzhang picked her up and slipped into the inner room. No one would come in without his order, but the woman in his arms was always shy, so she could do whatever she wanted in the inner room.
"Mmm!" Shen Yunrong leaned softly against him. She had always trusted him and believed everything he said.
This time, Zhao Linzhang pressed her onto the bed, but instead of taking advantage of her, he unbuttoned his clothes in front of her, revealing his strong and muscular upper body.
He then lay down beside her and said, "Today, you can do whatever you want!"
He was the one who benefited, yet he spoke as if Shen Yunrong had gotten the advantages. She propped herself up and saw his righteous and awe-inspiring appearance, and immediately had an idea.
He laughed and said, "Then it's a deal, you can't go back on your word later!"
Zhao Linzhang closed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips: "Anyone who goes back on their word is a little dog!"
He looked just like the man in the cave that day. Shen Yunrong suppressed her smile and slowly traced his eyebrows and eyes with her fingers.
Feeling an itch on his face, Zhao Linzhang couldn't help but peek through one eye. Seeing her focused expression, as if he were something she cherished, he opened his eyes.
"I'll do anything!" That gentle nod sent a burning sensation through him, making him desperately crave her embrace and kiss.
"You know, you closed your eyes like this that day too!"
Speaking of that day, Zhao Linzhang, his blood boiling with excitement, couldn't help but squirm. Shen Yunrong exclaimed in surprise, "You were like that the same day!"
"Then you should treat me the same way you did that day!" Zhao Linzhang regretted it; her dawdling was driving him crazy.
"That day, close your eyes." Shen Yunrong mimicked the way he always kissed her earlobe, the corner of her mouth, and then her neck.
As the man's breathing quickened, she gently bit his Adam's apple, which had bobbed a few times: "Not today, I'm not feeling well!" With that, she turned and got off the bed.
Zhao Linzhang suddenly opened his eyes, his face full of disbelief. He watched her run away and laughed, "Little liar!"
The imperial edict conferring the title of prince arrived the next day. After Zhao Linzhang received the edict, everything that needed to be packed up in the prince's palace was packed up. Large items were first moved onto the ships, more than a dozen ships in a grand procession.
Zhao Linzhang stood at the bow of the boat bidding farewell to his colleagues, when a familiar gaze was hidden behind the carriage curtain.
He summoned Xiao Zheng, secretly steered the small boat to the shore, avoided the crowd, and bowed under the ebony carriage: "Your Majesty!"
"There are too many people outside, come in!" A dignified voice rang out from inside; it was none other than the current emperor, Zhao Linqun.
"I am deeply grateful to Your Majesty for coming to see me off today!"
"We grew up together since we were little, and I have always regarded you as my own brother. Don't blame me!" The emperor patted Zhao Linzhang's hand, his eyes filled with reluctance.
"Your Majesty, I understand. It is already a great favor that I can stay in the capital to be by Your Majesty's side!"
"The Empress Dowager still has some reservations about your princess consort. I will grant you the marriage when she is in a good mood and agrees!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Take good care of yourself!"
"Your Majesty, you should also take care of your health. Your humble servant will take his leave now!"
As they boarded the ship again, Zhao Linzhang's eyes reddened. As royal brothers, they had no other choice.
As Shen Yunrong emerged from her mother's cabin, she saw Zhao Linzhang standing on the deck, the wind whipping his headband high, his figure inexplicably forlorn.
This is the home where he grew up, where his family and friends are all. If the emperor does not recall him, he may not be able to return for three to five years, or even ten years.
She took the coat from the maid's hand, walked gently behind Zhao Linzhang, and draped it over his shoulders, saying, "It's windy, Your Highness, don't catch a cold!"
Zhao Linzhang turned around, pulled her close, and smelled her familiar scent, which greatly relieved his inexplicable irritation: "How are you, Madam Chen? Are you seasick?"
"Mother is fine, there's nothing wrong!" She could sense the man's mood had eased somewhat: "Has the Emperor arrived?"
Zhao Linzhang suddenly changed his expression and disembarked. Shen Yunrong could only guess that only the Emperor could make him act this way.
"Well, my relationship with my elder brother is not as outsiders think. He treats me very well!" Zhao Linzhang recalled that although he was the one who was always beaten when he was young, his elder brother always protected him.
"Yes, His Majesty must also be reluctant to part with you!"
"By the way, where is Ruoyu?"
"She was very happy when she first boarded the ship, but she fell asleep as soon as it set sail! If Siliang saw so many ships, she would be very happy too!"
Shen Yunrong felt heartbroken whenever she thought of Si Liang's heart-wrenching cries. When his wet nurse carried him onto the carriage, he saw that neither she nor Zhao Linzhang had gotten on. The little boy understood everything, and his last cry of "Mother!" almost made her chase after him. It was Zhao Linzhang who pulled her back: "We'll bring him back in the future. Trust me, I promise I'll bring him back!"
"Thanks to you these past few days!" He was worried that she wouldn't know what to do, but she was so clever and managed to get everything in order.
"I didn't do anything, and there's a lot I don't understand. You'll have to teach me slowly in the future!" Shen Yunrong was best at doing chores, but she just didn't know how to deal with the women of officials' families.
"You're so amazing, it's me who should be asking you for advice!" If Zhao Linzhang had any regrets, it was that he couldn't marry her in the capital.
As they were talking, Xiao Zheng rushed over to report: "Your Highness, it sounds like someone in the distance is calling for help!"
The boat had only traveled half a day's journey. The other boats on this river, like theirs, were probably also traveling south from the capital.
"Go see who it is, and save them if you can!" Zhao Linzhang also saw a small boat moored by the river, with someone on board waving a red cloth.
Xiao Zheng quickly returned: "Your Highness, it's a woman from the household of Magistrate Jiang of Yongshan County in Jiangnan. She went to seek refuge with Magistrate Jiang, but the boat is leaking!"
Zhao Linzhang asked in surprise, "Can't a county magistrate's wife afford a decent boat?"
"They must have never traveled far before, how would they know what a good boat is? Let them get on the boat first, this boat is leaking and will sink!" Shen Yunrong had been on a boat before, but these girls who usually didn't leave their homes knew nothing about what a good boat was, so they just followed along when they saw others getting on.
"Fine, take them to the boat behind!" Zhao Linzhang didn't want to think too much about how it was such a coincidence that their boat was leaking right in their waterway. He could save them if necessary, but if things didn't go well, he would throw them back into the river. The boat behind was the one that the Wangfu steward and his maids were on.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Xiao Zheng accepted the order and left.
Zhao Linzhang was not usually so cold and ruthless. Shen Yunrong asked in confusion, "Your Highness, is there something wrong with them?"
Everyone knows that Zhao Linzhang has been demoted to Jiangnan, and the position of his concubine is vacant. Countless eyes are watching him. In the past few days, he has turned down several groups of colleagues who wanted to send women to him.
He felt there was something wrong with every woman he encountered on the street.
However, Zhao Linzhang said this with a hint of arrogance, and then said carefully, "Be careful. You should also be careful with these women in the future." He didn't want to come back to his room one day to find other women there. These noble ladies loved to give other wives beautiful maids.
Shen Yunrong chuckled and said, "You really are just like what people outside say!"
What are they saying about me outside?
"They see women like floods and ferocious beasts, but where are there so many cunning women!" Little did they know that their fleet happened to be passing by when the ship was leaking.
"Aren't you afraid that your husband will be coveted by others?" Heaven knows, if he didn't keep himself pure and aloof all the time, those women would have pounced on him and devoured him alive.
"Only beautiful jade will be coveted!" Shen Yunrong said, then secretly glanced around before quickly giving the man a light peck on the cheek.
"So, you've been thinking about it all along, haven't you?" Zhao Linzhang pulled the person who was trying to escape into his arms and breathed into her ear.
He forced her to say embarrassing things at night, but she couldn't say them during the day. If it weren't for his dejected appearance today, Shen Yunrong wouldn't dare to joke with him like this. Now that she had gotten herself into a mess, she had to put it out, so she mumbled, "Yes, yes, let go quickly!"
Zhao Linzhang's eyes lit up with laughter; teasing her had completely dispelled the gloom in his heart.
He held her tightly, watching the scenery on both banks rush past. The wind rustled through his sleeves. His loneliness of the past twenty years had finally been rewarded with this warm embrace. Something welled up in his chest, and he held the woman in his arms even tighter. He would spend the rest of his life with her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
