Chapter 198 The Grand Finale Part 2
Xiao Huaiyi woke up in the prison cell and felt a tightness in his chest.
He just had a very long dream.
In his dream, Miss Shen returned to the Jingnan Marquis's mansion with Xie Yanzhi, and his relationship with Miss Shen ended there.
Even now, he still feels deep regret.
Xiao Huaiyi sat on the straw mat and thought for a while.
In the past, he always felt that he should wait until everything was ready before marrying Miss Shen.
But this dream reminded him that some things simply cannot wait.
Xiao Huaiyi waved: "Ping An, I want to go out!"
"Yes, young master!"
Ping An was puzzled as to why the young master did not wait until the eldest young master's men were captured by Xie Shizi as planned before coming out.
But since the young master has given such an order, he must have his reasons.
They prepared horses overnight, and the two men, wearing raincoats and straw hats, galloped through the torrential rain.
Horse hooves pounded through the rain, splashing water everywhere. Xiao Huaiyi gripped the reins tightly, looking fearlessly ahead.
This time, he was determined to find her before he could!
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Ling'er heard a knock at the door. She opened it and exclaimed, "Miss! Young Master Xiao is here!"
Shen Qingnian came out of the inner room and saw Xiao Huaiyi standing in the rain.
The moment their eyes met, she saw the bloodshot in his eyes and the dark stubble on his chin, a stark contrast to his usual gentle and refined appearance.
"Excuse me, am I being a little rude?" Xiao Huaiyi asked.
Shen Qingnian smiled and shook her head.
She had originally planned to visit him in Tongzhou in a few days, but she never expected him to come.
How did you know I was here?
Shen Qingnian was simply curious about how Young Master Xiao had found her.
"I had a dream, and you were here in the dream."
"So, you came?"
"Mm." Xiao Huaiyi nodded.
Shen Qingnian's heart skipped a beat. Looking at his travel-worn appearance, her nose tingled slightly.
He rushed here regardless of everything, just for a dream that might not even be real.
Seeing Xiao Huaiyi tremble again, Shen Qingnian quickly reached out to support him:
"Young Master Xiao, what's wrong?"
"I haven't slept for three days, I'm sorry to have made Miss Shen laugh," he said in a low voice.
Ping An beside him was also covered in mud, clearly having been traveling without rest.
Shen Qingnian quickly led the person into the house.
"Ling'er, tidy up the backyard so that Young Master Xiao and Ping An can rest."
"No need," Xiao Huaiyi interrupted her.
He stood up and looked at her intently: "Miss Chen, I want to marry you. I wonder if you are still willing?"
Shen Qingnian never expected Xiao Huaiyi to say this to her.
But now that he knows about Xie Yanzhi, won't he mind?
Seeing Shen Qingnian with her head down and a worried look between her brows, Xiao Huai asked, "Is it because of Xie Yanzhi?"
“He…” Shen Qingnian said softly.
“Miss Chen, I failed to protect you in the past. I was unaware that you had been wronged.”
"From now on, let me protect you, okay?" Xiao Huaiyi's voice was firm.
Shen Qingnian looked into Xiao Huaiyi's sincere eyes, her eyes filled with tears, and nodded.
Xiao Huaiyi curled his fingers and reached out to hug Shen Qingnian.
This time, he finally found her before she could.
After the heavy rain stopped, Xie Yanzhi's carriage stopped opposite Su's Fragrant Pearl Shop.
"Sir, the lady in charge of this household is surnamed Fang."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yanzhi raised his eyes and said, "It's her."
Where is she?
Upon hearing this, Yuan Qing quickly lowered his head.
"I knocked on the door for a long time, but no one answered."
The shopkeeper next door said that the shop has been closed all day.
Look, Madam Fang isn't in the shop.
Xie Yanzhi frowned slightly: "Not here?"
"Give the order to keep a close eye on this shop."
"Send someone else with the portrait to the ferry crossing to keep an eye on it."
After Xie Yanzhi finished speaking, he reached out and pinched the space between his eyebrows.
Shen Qingnian probably didn't know he was coming; he wanted to see how many days she could hide from him.
"Yes." Yuan Qing accepted the order.
"Sir, where are we going now?"
"The Chen family!"
Shen Qingnian, who was in the carriage, leaned against Xiao Huaiyi's shoulder and fell into a deep sleep. When she opened her eyes again, she lifted the curtain and looked out.
They have arrived at Chengxi, at the Shen family's residence.
She looked at Xiao Huaiyi with a smile.
That day, when Xiao Huaiyi took her away, she asked him, "Where is Young Master Xiao taking me?"
Xiao Huaiyi said, "Of course, I'll go back to your Shen family."
"The Shen family?" Shen Qingnian had finally escaped from there, and she didn't want to go back.
"Young Master Xiao, I'm not going back."
Xiao Huaiyi smiled and said, "If you don't go back, how can I come to propose marriage?"
Shen Qingnian immediately realized what was happening, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
She could tell that Young Master Xiao really wanted to marry her, otherwise he wouldn't have thought of proposing marriage.
“Miss Shen, I will marry you in a grand wedding procession.”
At this moment, Xiao Huaiyi gently took her hand, and together they walked towards the Shen residence.
Shen Changyin heard from a servant that Shen Qingnian had returned.
He ordered the steward to bring the unfilial daughter in immediately and then instructed them to block the door.
"Now that you're back, hurry up and deliver it to Young Master Jiang."
However, the butler looked troubled: "The young lady did not come back alone."
"The young master who came with you said he wanted to ask you for your hand in marriage, Miss."
As they were talking, Xiao Huaiyi and Shen Qingnian arrived.
"Mr. Shen."
Before meeting Xiao Huaiyi, Shen Changyin thought he wanted to see which toad was trying to eat swan meat.
Now that he's actually here, judging from his demeanor, he's clearly a distinguished person.
Shen Changyin smiled slightly: "May I ask who you are, young master?"
Xiao Huaiyi pulled a waist token from his waist and placed it in front of Shen Changyin: "Master Shen, have you seen it clearly?"
Shen Changyin looked suspicious. The waist tag looked very valuable, but he had never seen such a thing before and did not know if it was genuine.
Xiao Huaiyi saw his expression and knew what he was thinking.
"Ping An, take my waist token and follow the steward of the Shen family to invite Magistrate Jiang over."
"I would like to ask Magistrate Jiang for help with my matter with Miss Shen."
"Yes." Ping An accepted the order.
Before long, Magistrate Jiang arrived at the Shen residence in a great hurry.
He had just sent someone to ask the higher-ups, and they said that the waist token was personally bestowed by the Crown Prince.
That person must be someone of great importance.
Upon seeing Xiao Huaiyi, Magistrate Najiang immediately bowed and said, "I was unaware that you were here, sir. Please forgive my failure to greet you properly!"
Seeing that Magistrate Jiang gave Xiao Huaiyi a fawning smile as soon as he saw her, Shen Changyin no longer had any doubts.
He immediately agreed to their marriage.
Xiao Huaiyi stayed in Chengxi, waiting for his elders to come and propose marriage, while making proper arrangements for Shen Qingnian and Madam Shen to go to Diancheng first to prepare for the wedding.
From proposing marriage to preparing for the wedding, there were many complicated matters, but Xiao Huaiyi managed to complete everything in just half a month.
On the day Ling'er helped Shen Qingnian get married, Madam Shen cried uncontrollably, but she was also very happy for Shen Qingnian.
Inside the bridal chamber, Shen Qingnian waited anxiously. After a moment, Xiao Huaiyi pushed open the door and gently lifted her red veil.
In the candlelight, her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment, and her eyes were full of tenderness.
Xiao Huaiyi leaned down and gently kissed him.
Meanwhile, in Guanlan Residence, the cold night wind blew open the window of Xie Yan's room.
He leaned against his desk for a short rest, and in a daze, he heard a soft sound.
He looked down and saw that the ruby hairpin he had given to Shen Qingnian had slipped out of his sleeve and fallen to the ground, the ruby on it already shattered.
Upon seeing this, Xie Yanzhi suddenly felt uneasy.
He didn't know why the Emperor had summoned him to the palace so urgently to discuss the Imperial Academy's renovation with the Crown Prince, causing him to leave in a hurry the day he arrived in Yunzhou, leaving Yuan Qing to continue searching for Shen Qingnian in Yunzhou.
The red candles burned out overnight. Inside the crimson curtains, Xiao Huaiyi looked at the person sleeping beside her, a gentle smile on her lips.
He reached out and pulled the blanket up to cover the marks on her body.
He tried to control himself last night, but it seems he still hurt her.
Thinking of this, Xiao Huaiyi gently got up, ordered someone to bring the ointment, and also asked the kitchen to cook a nourishing medicinal soup.
He only hoped that his wife would wake up and not blame him too much.
Diancheng enjoys a spring-like climate year-round, and Shen Qingnian lives a fulfilling and comfortable life here.
Now, Su's Fragrant Beads Shop has opened several branches, and my mother helps manage the shop every day.
That afternoon, Shen Qingnian sat on a rattan chair in the shop, embroidering a small bib in her hands, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the shop entrance.
Seeing this, Ling'er smiled and said, "Is Miss waiting for her husband again?"
At this time on weekdays, the son-in-law would come to pick up the young lady and take her back to the mansion.
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Huaiyi appeared at the door with a gentle smile on her face: "Madam, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
As he spoke, he handed over the pastries he was holding.
He then took a stool and sat down next to Shen Qingnian, reaching out to touch her belly: "How is the baby? Has it kicked you?"
Shen Qingnian shook her head gently: "Let's go, my husband, I want to go home."
Xiao Huaiyi nodded, supporting Shen Qingnian with one hand and holding an umbrella with the other, and the two walked together toward the Xiao residence.
Not far from the Xiao residence, a carriage was parked.
Inside the carriage, Xie Yanzhi lifted a corner of the curtain and watched as the woman, supported by her husband, walked in.
Yuan Qing looked at the girl with twin buns who had run out of the Xiao residence with reluctance in her eyes until the gates of the Xiao residence closed, and then she looked away.
Yuan Qing turned around and said, "The Crown Princess has written again, asking when you will return?"
He knew that the prince did not like the princess, but the marriage was arranged by the emperor himself, and the prince could not disobey the decree.
Xie Yanzhi lowered the curtain and said softly, "Let's go back to the manor."
He leaned against the car, closed his eyes, and tucked the two silver locks from his bosom back into his sleeve.
For many years afterward, Xie Yanzhi would always recall that day, the way she timidly called him "cousin"...
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