Xie Tingzhou soon learned that the old lady had sent things to the children.
He instructed the two guards, "Keep a close eye on her and make sure she doesn't hurt the children."
Knowing that Ye Zhen valued the children, the two guards dared not be careless and readily agreed.
After finishing his business, Xing Ze was very tempted by the sword that the emperor had bestowed upon him.
"Brother, can I try it?"
Fu Guang, who always doted on his younger brother, hugged his sword tightly and refused, saying, "It was a gift from the young mistress; you can't afford to pay for it if you break it."
These words displeased Xie Tingzhou. "It was a gift from the Emperor."
That's because he was rewarded with Fu Guang's face, so the sword could only be given to Fu Guang. Ye Zhen wouldn't give anything to other men.
After saying that, he felt a little melancholy, as Ye Zhen had never given him anything.
But he could send it to Ye Zhen.
With this in mind, he rode out of the city and returned in the middle of the night, carrying a box of things to Menghuaxuan.
Ye Zhen had finished washing up and removed her hairpins. She was copying scriptures at the table, planning to take them to a temple outside the city to burn next time, to pray for the person she cared about.
Wanxing was doing needlework nearby.
When she heard a noise at the window, her first thought was that the young master had arrived, so she looked at Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen recognized Xie Tingzhou's footsteps and guessed that he must have something to discuss with her since he came over at night. She put down her pen and went to open the window herself.
As soon as the window opened, a large box was shoved inside.
Ye Zhen asked in confusion, "Brother, what is this?"
Could it be that he had a change of heart and returned the windfall he had taken from the county magistrate to her?
The box was opened, and although it didn't contain the magistrate's belongings, it was a hundred times more valuable than what was in the magistrate's box.
Xie Tingzhou said casually, "I got some women's jewelry, and it's just sitting there anyway, so I'll let you wear it."
In reality, these were the things Ye Zhen had accumulated over the years. They were originally kept at the border, but after deciding to keep them in the capital, he ordered someone to send them over and hide them on his private property outside the city.
Worried about scaring Ye Zhen, he only picked one box to bring back first, and will give her the rest later.
Even this one box still startled Ye Zhen.
"This is too valuable."
Ye Zhen refused.
A single pearl is worth a fortune, and inside there are two jars, as well as countless other precious gems and gold ornaments.
Ye Zhen dared not accept the reward without merit.
Xie Tingzhou laughed, "Do you still remember what I said that night?"
Ye Zhen didn't need to answer; he answered himself.
"I'm giving you these things because you deserve them. Please accept them without worry. If you feel bad about it..."
If they find a gift that suits me, they will give me one in return.
What he finally said was, "Then cook me a nice meal."
In the eyes of the world, the exchange of gifts between men and women is a private affair, and he ultimately did not want to offend Ye Zhen.
He was also afraid that Ye Zhen would think he was too reckless.
Fear of loss leads to caution, especially since there's still an unresolved misunderstanding between them.
But he always remembered that when the two of them were fleeing for their lives, Ye Zhen used a hairpin as a hidden weapon to stab the enemy in the heart, her face full of heartache.
She said, "That hairpin cost me ten taels of silver. Remember to pay me back later."
Before he could even make amends, the two were separated.
Throughout the years he searched for her, he would subconsciously collect anything of interest he came across.
I saved up and saved until I had a lot.
Although he didn't say it aloud, Ye Zhen wasn't stupid.
If she wasn't sure before, now that this box of things has been delivered to her, how could she not understand Xie Tingzhou's intentions?
If he didn't like them, why would he send these things in the middle of the night? Even if he didn't have any women to send them to right now, he could keep them to give to his future wife, or he could cash them out.
“Brother, I will not stay in the capital in the future.”
She didn't even know who he was.
She tried to tell Tse Ting-chou that they might not have a future together.
Xie Tingzhou replied, "Ah Zhao, my name is Ah Zhao."
He's not an older brother.
"I don't necessarily have to stay in the capital."
He sat down opposite Ye Zhen and gestured for her to sit down as well.
"Ye Zhen, you don't need to make any promises. I treat you well because I want to, and because you deserve it. You don't need to feel any burden."
Wanxing, "..."
She felt she shouldn't be in the house, so she tiptoed out.
She wondered, "Does the Crown Prince even have a name?"
Then I thought, maybe it's a nickname, which would be more intimate.
Unable to contain her excitement, she realized that the young master was kind to her young lady and had feelings for her.
Her daughter is so wonderful, she deserves to be loved and shouldn't have lived a life of widowhood.
The crown prince seemed alright, and as for his status, Wanxing didn't think it was a problem.
Didn't the Crown Prince just say that he can leave the capital?
In the future, the two of them will find a secluded place where no one knows them and live in seclusion.
If she had a few more children to keep her company, she could help the young lady take care of the children, and the young lady could just focus on being happy. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
She became even more excited as she thought about it.
Ye Zhen suppressed the slight turmoil in her heart and pondered how to handle the matter.
She didn't dislike Xie Tingzhou; in fact, he often gave her a sense of security.
Their relationship was quite relaxed; he often understood what she wanted to do without her having to say much.
However, she has not yet considered relationships or even marriage in her future plans.
Moreover, once she regains her identity, she will be the legitimate daughter of the general's family who was betrothed to the crown prince.
Ye Zhen was not greedy and never coveted becoming a royal daughter-in-law, but it was not easy to refuse a royal marriage.
However, according to her memories from her previous life, she never heard of the Crown Prince returning to marry Ye Wantang before she died.
Either the Crown Prince is no longer alive, or he is unwilling to appear.
Once she gets her identity back, she'll have to find a way to get rid of this whole thing.
If Xie Tingzhou wants to continue being the heir, even if she returns to the General's Mansion in the future, they will still have been the relationship of elder brother and younger brother's wife.
Ye Zhen's feelings for Xie Tingzhou were not strong enough to warrant the judgment of the world.
Ye Zhen had experienced enough of the gossip, slander, and contempt from the world in her previous life.
In this life, she only wanted to live a simpler life, and thus she finally made her decision.
If you can't reciprocate his efforts, you shouldn't take his kindness for granted and drag him down for no reason.
But for some reason, the thought of having to leave him in the future made me feel a little bitter.
She didn't notice the disappointment in Xie Tingzhou's eyes the moment she made up her mind.
However, he quickly masked his smugness and returned to his usual roguish grin.
"Alright, I carried all this stuff here in the middle of the night just to get you a meal. If you don't respond, I'll starve to death."
He clutched his stomach, saying, "I haven't had a good appetite lately; I haven't had a proper meal in a long time."
My stomach cheered me on.
He really didn't eat for two meals in order to retrieve those things.
Ye Zhen's expression softened.
Xie Tingzhou continued, "I was persecuted by my closest relatives and developed a stomach ailment while on the run. Everything tasted bland to me, and I was just trying to fill my stomach."
Only your vegetarian dishes can bring me a taste of home.
"You go ahead first, let me fix my hair."
Ye Zhen finally agreed; otherwise, who knows how much more pitiful this person would try to gain sympathy.
But what he just said must be true; no wonder he wanted to be the heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, hiding himself behind a mask.
It turns out he was hurt by his closest relatives.
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