Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
However, for this matter, Skyview City absolutely would not allow it. Perhaps that group of people had accomplices; he would not rashly abandon her halfway.
Without a doubt, the driver only listened to Skyview City, treating Shen Yuanyuan as if she were just background noise. This made Shen Yuanyuan's eyes redden with anger.
At her age, it was the first time she had been played like this. She foolishly believed everything and had worked as a volunteer for so many days, acting like a nanny without pay while also enduring grievances. Those were secondary; the main issue was that she had been deceived. In her life, nothing bothered her more than being tricked.
When she noticed Skyview City looking over, he turned his head away, refusing to meet her gaze.
Skyview City seemed to be sulking as well, pressing his lips together and remaining silent. Thus, they traveled in the carriage for quite some time until Shen Yuanyuan leaned against the side of the carriage and fell asleep. Upon reaching their destination, Skyview City did not wake her directly but instead carried her into a residence.
"Where is this?"
It was only in the evening that Shen Yuanyuan woke up, realizing she was lying on a soft bed. Subconsciously protecting her chest, she hoarsely asked aloud. At that moment, her entire body felt as if it had been run over by a carriage; she was sore all over and slightly dizzy, unable to distinguish directions.
However, what answered her was a room filled with silence.
After a while, she opened her eyes groggily. The room was dimly lit; the window was half-open, allowing a cool breeze to sweep in and rustle the curtains with a tinkling sound.
"Godfather, Godmother, Yuan Yuan is inside."
The tinkling sound disturbed Shen Yuanyuan's mood, prompting her to kick off the blanket and sit up. Just then, as a magnetic voice rang out, the door creaked open. Shen Muhan and Xia Muxin walked in side by side. They immediately saw their daughter’s rough movements as she pulled up the blanket and her embarrassed expression. Behind them stood Skyview City, who was quietly chuckling to himself.
"Dad... Mom... you..."
At that moment, Shen Yuanyuan was wearing only a thin undergarment, and her appearance was disheveled; her hair looked like a bird's nest. Seeing her parents after such a long time should have made her happy, but the timing was all wrong. Embarrassed, she shrank back into the blanket and shot an angry glare at Skyview City while awkwardly voicing her confusion.
"Hey, my little Troublemaker knows how to be shy too. Come, let me introduce you to your future husband, Skyview City."
Xia Muxin was quite casual about it. Ever since Shen Yuanyuan first mentioned wanting to marry Skyview City, she had a feeling these two were meant for each other. Besides, Yuan Yuan was already fourteen years old. Although it was a bit of a May-December romance, she thought highly of Cheng'er; he was worthy of her precious daughter.
"He's that annoying guy, Skyview City."
Shen Yuanyuan finally realized the situation and immediately glared at Skyview City, pointing at him and roaring.
Skyview City didn't expect Xia Muxin to be so straightforward, and he found himself at a loss for words.
"When did you recognize my parents as your godparents? From now on, don’t call them that, got it?"
Shen Yuanyuan felt that her parents' love was already divided into three parts, which made her feel quite unbalanced. Now with an outsider involved, she felt even more uneasy. Her temper flared up as she ordered Skyview City.
Skyview City shrugged helplessly; this was not something he could decide. If his emperor father wanted to form a brotherly bond with her father, then he had no choice but to accept it.
"Alright, hurry up and get up. I made your favorite crispy chicken."
Seeing the tension between the two, Xia Muxin shook her head in resignation and shouted at Shen Yuanyuan before leading everyone out of the room.
Upon hearing there was food, Shen Yuanyuan quickly forgot all her displeasure and jumped out of bed to wash up. In just a short while, she appeared in the hall.
Seeing everyone gathered around the table, she bounced over and was the first to dig in.
"Shen Yuanyuan, be careful or you might not get married in the future."
Xia Muxin looked at her carefree demeanor, lacking in decorum, and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on as she scolded her.
Meanwhile, Skyview City was left in awe, for at that moment, Shen Yuanyuan had not disguised herself; she was truly dressed as a daughter before him, and a stunning beauty at that—more beautiful than the portrait sent by Shen Jing.
After Xia Muxin's antics, Shen Yuanyuan stuck out her tongue and finally showed a hint of modesty typical of a young lady. Even her way of eating seemed elegant now, making it impossible for Skyview City to look away.
Quiet as a maiden, swift as a hare—this perfectly described Shen Yuanyuan.
"Alright, I leave my little vase in your hands for training. We shall continue our journey," Shen Muhan said after their meal.
Afterward, Shen Muhan pulled Xia Muxin toward the carriage that had long been prepared at the door. Shen Yuanyuan, with tears in her eyes, wanted to join them, but Shen Muhan was determined to keep her by his side in Skyview City. This daughter had been spoiled over the years; if she didn’t experience some hardships now, she would face great difficulties later.
Thus, Shen Yuanyuan returned to the devil's grasp. Day after day, month after month, they lived peacefully without quarrels, and the devil was wealthy enough to indulge her whims.
During this time, they heard more about the legendary exploits of her two brothers managing the family business—tales that were told with great reverence.
After more than seven months, as the year drew to a close, Shen Yuanyuan had played hard outside but was now exhausted and particularly homesick. Skyview City took her to the palace to meet their father, the Mother Empress. Both were especially warm towards Shen Yuanyuan and quite pleased with her. In their hearts, both publicly and privately, they believed that Shen Yuanyuan must marry Skyview City.
Upon entering the palace for the first time, Shen Yuanyuan transformed completely; she moved with grace and spoke with poise. She handled every situation with perfect timing and even met several granddaughters of old ministers without any awkwardness.
In this regard, she resembled her Godparents greatly—something he admired most about her.
This year was not spent in the capital; instead, they went to Daimiao Village where Xia Muxin and others returned on New Year's Eve.
The family celebrated a lively New Year together. For the reunion dinner, Ming Yi and others brought their families along, setting up five tables filled with food. The women busied themselves while the men who hadn’t gathered in a long time sat together chatting away.
The children, the oldest of whom were just in their teens and the youngest only a few years old, wandered around the Golden Python family in the courtyard. The two offspring of the Golden Python had inherited traits from both it and the Crimson Plague; the male was as large as the Golden Python, while the female was only as big as the Crimson Plague. If it weren't for Xia Muxin's familiarity with their family, one wouldn't be able to tell who were the parents and who were the children.
Songzi had already taken up an official position in the court and had married the youngest child of the current Minister of Rites. However, it had only been half a year since Songzi started his family, so they had no children yet. Small had also grown up and became a Top Scholar in Arts, now serving in the court, but he was still waiting for Xue Er.
The bond between these two children remained unchanged; even now, whenever they met, they were inseparable like in their childhood. Small's old home had long been renovated, and the Xia Family had become his new parents. As Xue Er grew older, Xia Muxin enrolled her in school, and now she was the Vice Principal of her own academy, managing everything with remarkable efficiency. It seemed that after the new year, they would likely celebrate a wedding.
This was widely acknowledged by everyone.
Several nieces and nephews had also found their ideal partners and were just waiting for marriage proposals. Aunt Xia and her husband were truly delighted every day.
Daimiao Village had become the richest village in Tianli Kingdom, filled with orchards and red-brick houses. Unique plants appeared in every season that couldn't be found elsewhere. Xia Muxin's small specialty shop was bustling with customers coming and going.
Meanwhile, several households from the Zhou family finally moved out of Daimiao Village amidst everyone's exclusion and gossip.
"Kid, come propose next year. Yuan Yuan is not small anymore; she'll be sixteen this year. In this village, she's practically an old maid. If you don't seize this opportunity and she ends up liking someone else, don't say we didn't warn you."
On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Skyview City was about to head back when Shen Muhan raised his eyebrows and praised his daughter.
His two sons could also find suitable families for marriage this year; it wouldn't matter if they delayed holding a banquet. However, Yuan Yuan was a girl, and at her age, she should be getting married. Truthfully, he was reluctant to let his only precious daughter marry so far away when he could only see her a few times a year.
"Don't worry; I'll discuss it with my family when we get back and propose early. I want to spend more time with this Girl."
Skyview City wished he could tie Shen Yuanyuan to himself and take her along, but basic manners and respect were still necessary to avoid gossip. After all, he would turn fifteen this year; getting married wasn't too early.
Their conversation flowed like that of old friends across generations—there was no hesitation or avoidance in their words; they spoke freely as if they were daily companions or family.
Listening to his words, Shen Muhan felt reassured as Xia Muxin emerged with several packages, instructing someone to place them into the carriage. Only then did Skyview City reluctantly board the carriage.
*
The spring night was cool, but Shen Muhan did not allow Xia Muxin to rest; instead, he took her to the place where she had celebrated her first birthday.
“Muxin, thank you for giving me a perfect life.”
At that moment, the two stood at the bridge's edge, feeling the cold wind. Shen Muhan wrapped his cloak around Xia Muxin, leaving only her eyes exposed. He held her close and sighed deeply.
“And thank you for helping me find my perfect life.”
Xia Muxin pulled down the cloak slightly, revealing her delicate face. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she spoke gratefully.
In the dim light of the night, they gazed deeply into each other's eyes, filled with profound love.
“Muxin, I love you!”
After a long moment, Shen Muhan lowered his head and captured Xia Muxin's slightly cool lips, not letting go. Xia Muxin rose on her tiptoes to meet him halfway. Their figures intertwined in the night, like a single entity that would never be separated.
- End of Chapter ->
Comment 0 Comment Count