Chapter 97 (Bonus Chapter with Nutrient Solution) Pregnancy...
The three wonders of Jinling are the Eight Treasure Duck of Jiuxianlou, the spring water of Yongningquan, and the stones of Yuhuatai.
Cheng Bao drove the carriage, escorting Shan He and Miao Er to the front of Jiu Xian Lou. The tea server greeted them with a smile and led the three to a private room on the second floor. Upon opening the door, they saw Qing Yue already waiting inside, with Liu Liu lying at her feet gnawing on a bone that had long since lost all its meat.
This private room is located by the window, and the other three sides are surrounded by smoky purple gauze curtains, creating a hazy, dreamlike effect, like the sunset glow that has broken through the clouds.
"I heard before I came that Jiuxianlou's Eight Treasure Duck is famous all over the world," Cheng Bao said with a smile. "Today I'll take this opportunity to present it to you, Second Madam, and ask you to do me the honor of trying it."
Shanhe gathered her skirts and sat down, smiling as she began to speak: "Chengbao—" But before she could finish, Shanhe suddenly felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She quickly covered her mouth, leaned over the table, and dry-heaved a few times, but nothing came out.
Qingyue and Miao'er panicked and supported her on either side: "Wife, what's wrong?"
After the nausea subsided, Shanhe slowly straightened up and waved to them, "I'm fine. I was probably too tense at the yamen this afternoon, that's why I'm like this."
Qingyue frowned and asked, "My lady, what is the reason? I heard that Master Wu has been arrested? And why have you and Miao'er been lingering in the government office for so long?"
Miao'er interrupted, "They say that Master Wu's previous book violated official regulations and was reported to the capital. His Majesty ordered a thorough investigation and appointed an imperial envoy to come to Jinling specifically to investigate the matter. My wife and I went to visit Master Wu, but we ran into that damned imperial envoy!! He insisted that we were accomplices of Master Wu and detained us in the yamen, insisting on interrogating us personally. In the end, he left us hanging for an entire afternoon, and then inexplicably released us, saying that he would summon us again when he wanted to interrogate us later." "What kind of imperial envoy is this! If he really wants to interrogate us, he should hold a proper court hearing; leaving people hanging like this, neither here nor there, isn't that just torturing them to death!"
Shanhe nodded: "That's exactly right."
Qingyue then asked, "Is Wu Fangzhu's case serious?"
Shanhe thought for a moment, "It's still hard to say right now. Judging from the tone of that clerk Zhang in the government office, it's His Majesty's will, so it must be something significant. But this afternoon, when they locked Miao'er and me in that room, no one came to question us." At this moment, she felt nauseous, dizzy, and lethargic. After saying only a few words, she felt short of breath and uncomfortable, and just wanted to rest. Shanhe didn't want Qingyue and Miao'er to worry, so she secretly pinched her palms with her nails, forcing herself to endure it.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Bao comforted her, saying, "If there really is something wrong, we can discuss it further later. Second Madam, Qingyue, Miao'er, now that you're here, why don't you first enjoy some wine and duck to live up to the reputation of Jiuxianlou?"
Qingyue was worried about Shanhe, and Miao'er was worried about Master Wu. Seeing their expressions, Shanhe forced a smile and said, "Alright, Chengbao is right. It's getting late, we can think about Master Wu's matter tomorrow. Tonight, let's treat Chengbao to a welcome dinner." Then she said to Chengbao, "You've come all the way from Mizhou, so it's only right that I host you today."
Cheng Bao chimed in, "I'm a penniless fellow, and I've come here today specifically for Second Madam's meal."
These words made Shanhe and the other two smile.
After interrogating the three from Lan Gu Bookshop, it was already dark. Liang Ye took off his winged turban, casually held it between his fingers, and slowly walked out of the interrogation room. Cheng An jogged after him and whispered, "Sir, I've prepared a small feast at Jiu Xian Lou. I've heard that Jiu Xian Lou's Eight Treasure Duck is a specialty of Jinling."
Liang Ye frowned. "We haven't even sorted out the case of the banned books yet, where do we find the time to eat and drink?" He unbuttoned two buttons around his neck and pulled down his collar. "Call Zhang the clerk and a few others, let's go together and sound them out along the way." With that, Liang Ye walked straight ahead.
Cheng An lagged behind, a secret smile playing on his lips, before quickly regaining his composure and following after him: "Where are you going now, Master?"
"Feeling stuffy, I'll just wander around and get some fresh air." As Liang Ye walked, his straight wings swayed and trembled slightly.
Cheng An said, "My lord, Madam Xue is also dining at Jiu Xian Lou. Cheng Bao has arrived. It's been a long time since you've seen Cheng Bao, hasn't it?"
Liang Ye raised a thick eyebrow.
"I've heard that Cheng Bao has been authorized by our Second Master to reopen the old master's former free school, which is quite famous in Mizhou. He is now studying hard and says he will take the imperial examination in two years."
His fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the turban, and Liang Ye said calmly, "Boring." He continued walking forward.
Cheng An then fell silent and followed Liang Ye all the way.
Upon reaching the ceremonial gate, they found two grooms waiting with their horses. Liang Ye and Cheng An mounted their horses one after the other, and the groom in the lead asked, "Are you returning to the inn, sir?"
Cheng An glanced at Liang Ye and saw him deep in thought with furrowed brows, then quickly said with a smile, "Let's go to Jiu Xian Lou."
As Liang and Ye walked along the Qinhuai Street at dusk, the lights of Jinling City began to illuminate the city. Along both sides of the street, strings and rows of lanterns—including gauze lanterns and gas lanterns—stretched towards the horizon. Painted boats glided on the river, their music breaking through the thin mist and shimmering on the water.
Meanwhile, Shanhe and the others had already eaten half of their dinner. Chengbao, Qingyue, and Miao'er were chatting and laughing heartily, while Shanhe sat by the window, quietly watching the bustling city beyond.
"Second Grandmother, are you unhappy?" Cheng Bao couldn't help but ask.
Shanhe shook her head: "I love listening to you talk." Afraid that Chengbao would misunderstand, she added, "Listening to you talk makes me feel at ease. I like feeling at ease."
Hearing Shanhe's words, Cheng Bao and the other two felt slightly relieved. Seeing them resume their conversation, a faint smile slowly spread across Shanhe's lips. She didn't know what was wrong with her; perhaps the interrogation at the government office that afternoon had left her tense and agitated, her mind and spirit exhausted. She felt listless and had no appetite. The table laden with exquisite dishes, fine wines, and shimmering cups held no appeal for her. Even her usual favorite Yongning tea smelled strange; she only took a small sip and didn't want to touch it again. She was still preoccupied with the troublesome matter of Wu Tianqi and dared not let Qingyue and Miao'er notice her discomfort, adding to their worries. Thinking of this, Shanhe forced herself to perk up, picked up her silver chopsticks, and managed to swallow a few mouthfuls of rice. But the food tasted like sawdust, utterly tasteless.
Qingyue placed a piece of Eight Treasure Duck in Shanhe's bowl and said with a smile, "Wife, try this. It's stewed until very tender."
Shanhe smiled at her. Looking down, she saw the duck meat covered in a thick, glistening gravy, stuffed with glutinous rice and ham. She immediately felt a greasy smell hit her nose, and a strong wave of nausea surged up. She quickly bent over and dry-heaved into the spittoon.
The three of them, Qingyue and the others, were stunned for a moment before standing up and gathering around.
Miao'er asked anxiously, "What's wrong?! I can't even eat the Eight Treasure Duck!"
Cheng Bao said, "I'll go and fetch the doctor!"
Qingyue countered, "Do you know where the clinic is? And which doctor is reliable?"
Miao'er: "I'll go with Brother Chengbao!"
Shanhe looked up from the spittoon and said weakly, "I'm fine." She forced a reassuring smile, "I probably ate something bad. My stomach started hurting this afternoon. I'll probably be fine after a night's rest."
Qingyue, however, was adamant: "Chengbao, you go with Miao'er to fetch the doctor. I'll stay here with my wife."
Cheng Bao and Miao'er agreed and went.
Shanhe watched their retreating figures and said, "Actually, it's much better now."
Qingyue interrupted her, "Whether it's good or not, we'll know after the doctor diagnoses it. You should rest now and don't worry about anything else." Qingyue sat down next to Shanhe and patted her back to soothe her, "Wife, you haven't eaten much tonight."
Shanhe leaned slowly against Qingyue's shoulder: "I can't eat. It always feels so oily, and I feel like throwing up just looking at it."
"Is there anything you'd like to eat?"
Shanhe closed his eyes and pondered for a moment: "Yes."
"What?"
"I want to eat candied hawthorn berries. I want them frozen until crispy, and taste both sour and sweet."
Qingyue smiled gently: "Shall I go buy it for my wife?"
Shanhe leaned closer to her: "Qingyue, my sister, why are you so good to me..."
"If I don't treat my wife well, who else should I treat well? My wife is my family, the closest person in the world to me." Qingyue felt a pang of sadness and suddenly felt like crying. She quickly put a backrest under Shanhe's back and told Shanhe to rest well before going downstairs.
When Qingyue came downstairs, Shanhe lay on the table, clutching her stomach and slowly rubbing it.
Liang Ye sat in the next private room, staring intently at Shan He through the hazy, smoky purple gauze curtain. The curtain was thin, and although he couldn't see everything clearly, it still vaguely outlined about seven or eight parts of Shan He's surroundings. He saw Shan He slumped over the table, one hand clutching her stomach, slowly rubbing it as if in discomfort, her shoulders slightly hunched, completely lacking her usual calm and composure. Liang Ye couldn't help but recall her earlier bouts of rapid retching and the flustered conversation between Qing Yue and the others.
His fingertips unconsciously traced the rim of the teacup, and he inwardly scoffed. Food poisoning? Stomach ache? Serves her right! She dared to lie to him, dared to burn down his house, dared to play dead, dared to run away to Jinling without a word to rekindle her affair with Ah Shao! She truly deserves to be hurt! She should cry! But if she cries, with Ah Shao not by her side, who can she lean on to cry to!
A soft, trembling moan came from the other side. Liang Ye's brows twitched slightly, and he suddenly spoke, calling out in a deep voice, "Cheng An."
"Yes, sir."
"Go." His gaze remained fixed on the slender, frail figure. "Find a few people, find an excuse to stop the doctor that Cheng Bao and the others have hired, and also keep Qingyue occupied. You go and hire another doctor." He paused. "Also, you can release some of the 'rumors' about Wu Tianqi's case that Zhang the clerk prepared, especially making sure that the people around her hear them."
Cheng An was taken aback, but quickly realized that Liang Ye was trying to muddy the waters, putting Xue Niangzi in a difficult situation, forcing her to become anxious due to the overwhelming workload, leading to helplessness, and ultimately forcing her to seek Liang Ye's help. Actually, this trip to Jinling to investigate the case had nothing to do with Wu Tianqi; Liang Ye's goals were always the "Hundred Officials Enjoying Themselves" scroll and Lan Gu Bookstore. However, Liang Ye learned from He Niang that Shan He had faked her death and escaped. He knew that Xue Shan He alone couldn't possibly have such power, so he quickly thought of Wu Tianqi, who had helped Shan He before. Coincidentally, Wu Tianqi also arrived in Jinling from Mizhou. With these two pieces of evidence corroborating each other, Liang Ye became even more certain that Wu Tianqi had secretly orchestrated Shan He's faked death. This led to the current arrest of Wu Tianqi.
Cheng An bowed and replied, "Yes." After saying that, he withdrew to arrange for the men.
Liang Ye looked again at the private room next door. Shan He was still in the same position, curled up alone and helpless. The noise in the restaurant and the beautiful night view of the Qinhuai River outside the window seemed to be separated from her. She lay there alone, quiet and gentle, just like before.
Just like before...
Liang Ye's heart skipped a beat. He watched as Shanhe struggled to straighten up and staggered towards the door. The forced posture, so palpable, stirred an inexplicable irritation within him. He quickly rose, stepping onto the veranda before Shanhe, his heart pounding like a drum. He waited for Shanhe to emerge, waited for her to look at him with fear, waited for her to be speechless, simply staring at him.
Then, he would forgive her for leaving without saying goodbye, forgive her deception, forgive her for faking her death, and forgive her for getting back together with Ah Shao. He would probably smile at her, he would probably deliberately get angry with her, he would probably…
He would definitely take her to see a doctor, ask the best doctor in Jinling to treat her, and then take her away from this place of trouble.
Liang Ye let out a long breath and waited.
The soft curtain was lifted by a slender, white hand, and Liang Ye saw Shan He walk out with her head down and brows furrowed, biting her lower lip with her pearly teeth.
She placed one hand on her lower abdomen, walked out slowly, and did not look up at him.
Liang Ye's heart pounded faster. He subtly shifted his position, standing right in front of Xue Shanhe.
Shanhe was caught off guard and bumped straight into him.
But she still didn't look up. She glanced at his clothes and said softly, "I'm sorry." Then, she stepped aside and walked straight down the stairs.
Liang Ye suddenly felt his blood freeze.
She didn't recognize him.
She didn't recognize him!
Just as Liang Ye was about to turn around and demand an explanation, he heard Qingyue exclaim from the bottom of the stairs, "Wife! Why did you run out by yourself!"
Shanhe leaned against Qingyue's chest and smiled faintly, "I was worried about you because you haven't come back for so long..."
Qingyue unconsciously pouted: "The line of people buying candied hawthorns is so long, it's making us late. Let me help you upstairs."
"No..." Shanhe laughed, "I want to get some fresh air. It'll clear my head. Let's head to the clinic and meet up with Miao'er and the others there."
"Then I'll help you." Qingyue helped Shanhe up.
Liang Ye stood proudly on the stairs, his face as black as ink, staring intently at the two figures walking away. Cheng An rushed in from outside, Qing Yue looked down at Gu Shan He, and Shan He also walked slowly with her eyes lowered, neither of them noticing that the person they had just brushed past was Cheng An.
Cheng Anxing walked to Liang Ye's side and whispered, "My lord, perhaps..."
“No need.” Liang Ye straightened his lips.
Meanwhile, Shanhe and Qingyue happened to run into Miao'er and Chengbao, who were returning after fetching the doctor. Qingyue and Miao'er quickly helped Shanhe into the carriage, and the female doctor went inside with her to carefully examine her pulse. She closed her eyes and concentrated, her fingers lingering on Shanhe's wrist for a long time before suddenly opening her eyes, a smile in them: "What illness? My lady, this is a slippery pulse, flowing like pearls, indicating you are at least a month pregnant. This is a joyous occasion for your household, as you are about to welcome a new member!" The female doctor quickly retrieved paper and pen from her medical kit and began to write: "No mistake! No mistake! I will prescribe a remedy to help with the pregnancy. You should quickly go to the pharmacy to get it and brew it for your lady. It seems this is her first pregnancy, and coupled with her anxiety, the reaction is so intense. Don't worry too much, just take good care of her."
The words struck Shanhe like a thunderbolt. Her ears rang, and she couldn't hear a single word of the doctor's rambling instructions for care. She stared blankly at her lower abdomen, first stunned, then overjoyed, followed by helplessness and sorrow. She was only eighteen, experiencing something like this for the first time. Her mother wasn't by her side, nor was Liang Shao. Although she and Liang Shao had been husband and wife before, she still felt somewhere between a young woman and a married woman. Now, she was pregnant, and she had become a woman completely. Shanhe felt a subtle tremor hidden beneath the joy, a tremor that made her unable to see the future, yet simultaneously filled her with longing for it.
Shanhe paid no attention to how the female physician wrote the prescription for a safe pregnancy, how Qingyue rewarded her with silver, or how she sent her back. From the moment the female physician said she was pregnant, all the uncomfortable symptoms seemed to vanish instantly. Shanhe's heart and mind were filled with only four words: She was pregnant.
Back home, Shanhe immediately instructed Qingyue to grind ink; she wanted to write a letter to Liang Shao. Qingyue smiled and agreed. Miao'er cheerfully went to boil water, while Chengbao took the prescription for preventing miscarriage to the pharmacy to get the medicine. Shanhe leaned against the soft couch by the window, gazing up at the moon hanging outside. The round moon, with a bite taken out of it by the celestial dog, cast a pale yellow glow on the windowpane, as if covered with a layer of light frost. She murmured to herself:
Azure skies and flowing clouds hang like a jade mirror, as the sound of washing clothes echoes through the years.
Where the twelve railings stand, their white light gleaming, I carefully tend to the lamp wick.
*
A clear blue sky stretches for miles, and I tear a piece of paper with my longing thoughts.
The sound of a flute seems to be about to fade away, as someone leans against the moonlight.
Under the cold moonlight, Liang Shao lay on the carriage floor, one hand behind his head. He had half a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, and was carefully rereading the letter he had just written home. Nearly forty days had passed since he left Jinling on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month; in three more days, he would arrive in Beichuan. He was thinking of Shanshan.
According to his original plan, he would send Lady Yin and her children to General Pei's side, and then bid farewell to General Pei and return to Jinling to live with Xue Shanhe forever.
But……
Liang Shao turned his head to the side. Not far away at the official post station, a light was on in room number one on the second floor, from which the faint sounds of laughter and chatter drifted. Inside were Madam Yin, her two sons with General Pei, and a brother and sister, said to be Madam Yin's family. The sister was fifteen, and the brother was only three—the perfect age to be pampered and clingy. Liang Shao squinted, watching the shadowy figures in the bright yellow light behind the window.
What are they saying?
have no idea.
Throughout their journey escorting Madam Yin and her entourage to Beichuan, they treated Liang Shao neither intimately nor distantly. Whenever they spoke, they didn't require anyone to attend to them, and even instructed Liang Shao to stand guard nearby, forbidding anyone else from approaching. It was entirely a businesslike affair, treating him as a bodyguard protecting their safety. This was originally beyond reproach, but…
Liang Shao spat out the foxtail grass and sat up straight on the cart.
He doesn't plan to be a guard tonight.
He leaped off the carriage, picked up the red-tasseled spear leaning against the side, and strode towards Madam Yin's No. 1 room.
Knock knock knock.
The talking inside immediately stopped.
Madam Yin called out, "Who is it?"
Liang Shao calmed himself down: "This humble general..." He didn't know how to begin.
Madam Yin opened the door, her face as warm as a spring breeze: "It's Liang Shao. What's wrong? Is there anything I can help you with?"
"No." Liang Shao pursed his lips.
Miss Li Yijia, who was sitting on the soft couch, turned her face and looked at Liang Shao with a smile: "General Liang, why are you looking at me?"
“Miss Li San,” Liang Shao felt a lump in his throat. He turned back to Madam Yin: “May I come inside?”
Although puzzled, Madam Yin stepped aside to let Liang Shao into the room. She instructed her eldest son to pour Liang Shao a cup of tea and asked with concern, "Liang Shao, do you have something to say to us?"
Liang Shao closed the door and said, "I have a question for Miss Li."
Li Yijia lowered her face, her cheeks gradually flushing with a rosy hue: "General, please speak."
Liang Shao swallowed hard, and finally spoke: "Is the young lady's father the current Third Prince?"
Li Yijia's expression suddenly froze. She raised her head, her pupils trembling as she looked at Liang Shao.
Not only Li Yijia, but also Madam Yin and her two sons were shaken to their core. Madam Yin hurriedly said, "Liang Shao, what nonsense are you talking about? Jia'er is my family's daughter, how did she get involved with that commoner from Chonghua Palace?"
Liang Shao ignored him and continued, "Did the young lady and her younger brother come to Beichuan with the family of the General Who Protects the Nation because there are going to be some disturbances in the capital, and the Third Prince sent his children to Beichuan for protection in advance?"
"The purse the young lady wore was exceptionally unique in style. I had seen a purse of this style before, and the owner of the purse said it was left to her by her father. I asked her if this was a family heirloom. She said no, it was a gift from her father's superior. And her father's superior was none other than the commoner of Chonghua Palace, the former Third Prince."
Li Yijia bit her lips until they turned white; she didn't know how to speak, nor did she dare to.
Liang Shao glanced around, taking in the panic of everyone in the room, and then said seriously, "I am a martial artist, but I am not a fool."
He uttered a shocking statement: "If the succession is contested, this humble general is willing to serve His Highness the Third Prince like a dog or a horse."
As soon as she finished speaking, the room fell eerily silent, save for the crackling of the candlelight. The spring breeze on Madam Yin's face had vanished without a trace. She hurriedly went through the door, making sure it was firmly closed, before trudging heavily back into the room. Her gaze was sharp as a knife, scraping across Liang Shao's face inch by inch. She spoke coldly, "You overheard us?"
Li Yijia's face had already turned deathly pale. She subconsciously pulled her bewildered younger brother into her arms, her fingertips tightly gripping her sleeve.
“No,” Liang Shao replied calmly.
“General Liang,” Madam Yin said slowly, “do you know how many people inside and outside this house will lose their heads if even a single word of what you just said gets out?”
"Know."
Her eldest son, Pei Yuanjing, suddenly stood up. Although the boy was not yet fully grown, his brows already revealed the fierce aura of his father. His hand rested on the sword at his waist.
Facing the wary gazes of the room, Liang Shao said calmly, "This humble general is naturally aware of the risks involved. It is precisely because I know this that I dare not continue to pretend to be deaf and dumb. Throughout this journey, although the lady and everyone else have been cautious in their words and actions, it is inevitable that some clues will reveal secrets. If this humble general can see through it, others may not be unable to as well."
He turned his gaze to the still-shaken Li Yijia, and softened his tone: "His Highness entrusted his flesh and blood to Beichuan, which must mean great things. General Pei guards the border and commands a large army, so he is naturally someone that all sides are trying to win over. I have only martial arts skills and a loyal heart, and I am willing to serve a wise ruler and be loyal to His Highness, in order to win the merit of supporting the emperor. It is better than living a muddled life as a lowly soldier who only follows orders."
Madam Yin immediately followed up, saying, "Liang Shao, that day when you escorted us out of the capital, you clearly stated that you would resign from your position as commander after we arrived in Beichuan. Now you're saying something like 'I am willing to serve a wise ruler and be loyal to the Third Prince'!"
Liang Shao smiled and said, "Actually, I only have one request."
"What?"
He looked at Li Yijia and said, "If Your Highness succeeds, please exonerate Xue Yin."
"Xue Yin?" Li Yijia asked, puzzled.
A soft question stirred ripples in Liang Shao's heart, and he suddenly felt his eyes welling up with tears, a bittersweet heat.
Xue Yin, the Xue Yin who died three years ago for the Third Prince's grand plan, they didn't remember him. The injustice that weighed so heavily on Shan He's head, the calamity that rewrote Xue Shan He's life, was as light as a feather in front of these people. He felt indignant for Shan He, and for Xue Yin.
Liang Shao's voice became even more resolute: "Xue Yin, who was beheaded by His Majesty three years ago because your father failed to seize the throne."
“Xue Yin…” Madam Yin repeated the name softly, her brows furrowing slightly as if searching desperately for something in the dust of memory. Li Yijia looked even more bewildered; she was too young at the time to know much about the hidden names of those who ultimately sacrificed themselves in her father's life. Pei Yuanjing's hand on the hilt of his sword also loosened slightly. He looked at his mother, then at Liang Shao, not understanding why a “dead man” would become the bargaining chip in tonight's risky showdown.
"Xue Yin, formerly the Sima of Jinling. Three years ago, he was caught secretly passing messages to the Third Prince and smoothing things over. He was labeled a 'traitor' and beheaded in the West Market of Jinling. His property was confiscated, and his daughter was made a government slave and sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment district)." He paused, staring at Li Yijia, as if trying to see through her into the eyes of that commoner from Chonghua Palace. "Before his death, Lord Xue was unyielding and did not denounce anyone. He believed that His Highness would one day see the light of day again, and that His Highness would not betray the blood of a loyal minister. What I ask for today is not high office or great wealth, but only that when His Highness succeeds, Xue Yin's name be cleared, that his name have a place in the history books, that he can rest in peace, and that his only family member... can stand tall again."
"Instead of being a slave for life, unable to even choose your own marriage."
He finally spoke the words from the deepest recesses of his heart. From the very beginning, he had said this—"Blind marriages and silent betrothals are extremely barbaric customs." All along, ever since he discovered Li Yijia's secret, he had been tormented by these words. He always remembered Shanhe crying before him, saying that His Majesty couldn't bear to kill his own son, but she also couldn't bear to part with her father. Why, when things succeeded, did the Third Prince become emperor? Why, when things failed, was it her father who died? Liang Shao had only trembled then, but now, seeing Li Yijia and her younger brother, seeing the Third Prince's descendants alive and well, seeing them plotting their succession again, he too longed for an answer. Was it true that as the wheels of time rolled on, it was always those ordinary people of lesser birth who were crushed?
For Shanhe's sake, for Xue Shanhe who lost her father and was forced to bear the identity of the daughter of a disgraced official, he had to fight for this promise.
The letter he kept hidden in his bosom no longer contained endless sweet nothings, but rather a few resolute words:
Feng Shanshan, please wait for me for another year. If there is still no reply by the end of the year, then I have broken my promise. I hope you will not dwell on the past, but choose another good match and live out your life in peace. Take care.
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