Pei Mingzhu knew martial arts, which surprised her.
She caught a glimpse of Chi Yan approaching on horseback out of the corner of her eye, and raised an eyebrow slightly.
After dismounting, Chi Yan strode over, his gaze quickly sweeping over her, his expression grave: "Are you alright?"
"I was prepared." As soon as she finished speaking, the red swelling on her forehead was lightly pressed, and she immediately gasped and glared at him.
A cold glint flashed in Chi Yan's eyes, but he forcibly suppressed it: "Leave this to me."
The carriage wheels broke down, so Chi Yan helped her onto the horse, his voice deep and resonant: "Next time, bring a few more people."
He was on tenterhooks the whole way there.
She didn't refute, but simply said "Oh" softly.
She didn't know the details very well, only that Pei Mingzhu and Pei Yunhe had died and the entire Pei family had been exiled.
...
At the age of twenty-six, Chi Yan was appointed Grand Secretary, holding the highest rank of official.
The first thing he did was to request an official title for Shen Tangning, but she politely declined.
"I got the chance last time, this time I'll leave it to my mother."
Her eyes crinkled, filled with a clear and bright smile. "I'm still young, and I want to rely on my own abilities. The Grand Secretary can't help me cheat."
Chi Yan felt a bit frustrated that her preparations were useless, but she couldn't get angry at her because of her lively appearance.
He believed that she could rise to a high position on her own, after all, she was already a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat.
He sighed softly, stepped forward and put his arm around her: "Alright, then I'll just wait to live off your money."
He liberated her mind, fostered her ambition, and taught her how to seize power; he never intended for her to become a parasitic plant dependent on him.
If he could, he would rather be a stepping stone for her, helping her to walk steadily with every step, and lifting her up to where she wants to go.
——
Spring has come again.
Urged by Chi's mother, Chi Yan and Shen Tangning returned to Putuo Temple, this time to pray for a child.
The couple had been married for six years but still had no children. Chi's mother's feelings could no longer be described as anxious.
Chi Yan laughed and said, "Mother is really something else. Between dreaming and cheating, she chose to do it."
Shen Tangning is at the peak of her career, and even if she doesn't say anything, Chi Yan won't let her get pregnant at this time.
However, it's still possible to appease Chi's mother.
Shen Tangning felt quite pressured: "Isn't it a bit inappropriate for us to keep this from Mother?"
"What's wrong with that?" Chi Yan helped her up the steps, looking even more composed than she was. "You are yourself first, and other roles only second."
He straightened up, turned his head to look at me, his eyes clear and bright, the youthful impetuosity gone, replaced by a mature composure honed by time. He spoke slowly and deliberately:
“Ah Ning, I don’t want you to compromise for anyone.”
Even me.
Shen Tangning was taken aback, and Chi Yan pulled her along: "Let's go."
He didn't want to put pressure on her, so he told her to go in and pray on her own, saying he would go and chat with the host.
When Shen Tangning came out, she didn't see Chi Yan, but her attention was drawn to the wishing tree in the courtyard.
No matter how many years have passed, it remains as vigorous, upright, and lush as ever.
She couldn't help but smile. Just then, a gust of wind blew by, causing the red ribbons on the tree to sway. One ribbon was blown off by the wind, and she instinctively reached out and grabbed it.
A red ribbon wrapped around her wrist. Shen Tangning was about to hang it back when she inadvertently caught sight of strong, vigorous handwriting on it—
If I can fulfill your wish, I will be happy for the rest of my life.
What are you staring at?
Shen Tangning turned her head and saw Chi Yan standing not far away, hands in his pockets, lazily smiling at her.
...
Several years ago, on an autumn day, Chi Yan held a red silk ribbon, examining the words on it. The tips of his ears flushed suspiciously. His solemn voice drifted on the wind:
"Having seen Tangning, I will not hold a banquet at Chunshan."
—End of text—
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