Le voyage d'une folle à travers la dynastie Song

Chapitre 3

"What's wrong?" His gaze was full of affection. He wasn't the aloof person others described; he simply reserved his masculine tenderness for me. "Um... that 'New Year' has its origins, and the Lantern Festival definitely has one too. Tell me about it." Today isn't the right time; let's do it another day! "Alright. Legend has it that long, long ago, there were many ferocious birds and beasts that harmed people and livestock everywhere. People organized themselves to fight them. A divine bird, having lost its way, landed on earth but was accidentally shot dead by an unsuspecting hunter. When the Heavenly Emperor learned of this, he was furious and immediately issued an edict ordering his heavenly soldiers to set fire to the earth on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, burning all people, livestock, and property to death. The Heavenly Emperor's daughter, kind-hearted and unable to bear seeing the innocent people suffer, risked her life to secretly ride auspicious clouds to earth and tell the people this news. When the people heard this news, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck them, and they were terrified and didn't know what to do. After a long time, an old man came up with a plan. He said that on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth days of the first lunar month, every household should decorate their homes with lanterns and colorful decorations, light firecrackers, and set off fireworks. In this way, the Heavenly Emperor would think that everyone had been burned to death." Everyone nodded in agreement and went off to prepare. On the night of the fifteenth of the first lunar month, the Heavenly Emperor looked down and saw the world ablaze with red light and filled with deafening noise. This continued for three nights, and he thought it was a raging fire, which pleased him greatly. Thus, people saved their lives and property. To commemorate this success, from then on, every household hangs lanterns and sets off fireworks on the fifteenth of the first lunar month. Moreover, the Lantern Festival existed as early as the Western Han Dynasty, when it was called the Shangyuan Festival. The custom of appreciating lanterns on the Lantern Festival began during the reign of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Emperor Ming promoted Buddhism and, hearing that Buddhist monks observed the Buddha's relics and lit lamps to honor the Buddha on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, he ordered that lamps be lit in the palace and temples on this night, and that all officials and commoners hang lanterns. Later, this Buddhist ritual gradually evolved into a grand folk festival, and the Lantern Festival spread from the court to the common people, and then from the Central Plains to other regions. His voice was gentle and soothing, and holding my hand felt like a small heater, warming not only my hands but also my heart. I silently made a wish: God, please bless me so that I can hold his hand and grow old together.

Chapter 18 Coming-of-Age

The beautiful days of youth fly by, and in the blink of an eye, Zhuqin and I are already fifteen years old. We have gone through the coming-of-age ceremony and are considered adults. In ancient times, a girl's fifteenth year was called "Jiji" or "Ji Nian". Jiji means that she has reached the age to wear a hairpin, which means that she is ready to get married.

After the Chrysanthemum Festival, many people came to the Cheng family to propose marriage to "Frosty Beauty" Zhuqin. Every few days, someone would arrive with a name card to pay their respects. Out of curiosity, wanting to see what these ancient matchmakers were like, I dragged Zhuqin along to peek a few times. "A silver tongue" was the perfect description for them. One of them left a particularly deep impression on us. She spoke with great gusto, her spittle flying, accompanied by rich body language. She talked for almost half an hour without even drinking tea, describing the man in a way that even I thought was quite good. If Zhuqin could marry such a man, it would indeed be a good match. That very night, I asked Cheng Zhuri if he knew this person. To my surprise, he told me that this man's family had been in the tea business for four generations, and he was indeed very wealthy. He was well-educated and a shrewd businessman, but he loved to drink. When he was drunk, he would become violent and beat people. Moreover, he already had two concubines. I felt extremely annoyed. What kind of person was she? She only said the good things and never the bad. I had been so confident in her expertise. However, there were many good candidates. My aunt and uncle were carefully selecting, considering family background, social status, and even birth dates. They concluded that Jin Guodong, the third son of the Jinzhifang family, was the most promising. Although he was the third son, he was born to the first wife, making him a suitable match for the Cheng family. He was twenty-one years old, of good character, and highly educated. However, my aunt and uncle hadn't made a final decision yet, wanting to see if there were any better candidates. Cheng Zhuri was also a popular choice; he would be coming of age next month, and many people had proposed to him, but my aunt hadn't spoken, which reassured me. A few days ago, my beautiful aunt called Cheng Zhuri and me over for a talk. She said that since coming to the Cheng family, I hadn't paid respects to Wen Xiaoxiao's parents. In previous years, I hadn't been able to go due to poor health, but now that I was healthy and an adult, I wanted to personally pay my respects at their graves to comfort their spirits. She specifically instructed Cheng Zhuri to accompany me, firstly to take care of me, and secondly to convey my aunt and uncle's greetings. Today is the day we set off. We were sitting in the carriage on our way back to Danxian County just as dawn was breaking. Danxian County is the hometown of Wen Xiaoxiao's parents, where the whole family is buried. So, the four of us—Cheng Zhuri, Xiaohe, and Cheng Shun—set off. The round trip to Dan County took about seven or eight days. This was my first trip outside the capital since arriving in the Northern Song Dynasty. The April weather was still a bit chilly, so my aunt had laid out a quilt in the carriage for me to be comfortable. I sat in this soft seat, experiencing the beauty of the ancient landscape: birds chirped and streams murmured along the way. The sky was a clear, bright blue, seemingly without a single blemish. Under the blue sky and white clouds, there were lush forests and sparkling green lakes, a truly picturesque scene of green mountains and clear waters. In the deep valley, the sound of water roared and mist wafted, the spray hitting my face. There was a waterfall there. Although it didn't have the grandeur of "plunging three thousand feet," it had the gentle, graceful beauty of a delicate maiden. The trunks of two ancient trees, tightly intertwined, were half-submerged in the waterfall, like two sisters playing and frolicking in the water. It was truly a fairyland on earth.

The only minor regret of the journey was that Cheng Zhuri couldn't ride in the same carriage as me. He rode his beloved horse ahead, clearing the way and causing several young girls to sway in the breeze, which annoyed me greatly. On the first day, everything seemed new and exciting to me. I peeked through the curtains here and there. At dusk, we arrived at a small, two-story hotel. Perhaps because I was used to the Cheng family's grand mansion, my first impression was how small this place was; I even forgot its name. However, it was very clean. The ground floor was for dining, and the upper floor for lodging. I thought I would definitely eat on the ground floor this time, listening to other people's conversations, just like in novels or on television, experiencing firsthand the life of ordinary people in the Northern Song Dynasty. Although I had opportunities to dine out, they were always in private, elegant rooms... During that time, I had no chance to interact with anyone outside. I was happily making my plans when suddenly the eyes of two or three tables of men were all fixed on my face. Among them was a burly man with a full beard and bulging muscles. His naked eyes were staring straight at me. I was terrified and instinctively shrank back to him. He noticed the situation and reached out his right hand to pull me to his side, using his body to shield me from the gazes of others. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, his gaze was piercing, and his tightly pursed lips looked even thinner. "Waiter, I need two rooms, and some food!" At this moment, I was somewhat annoyed by Wen Xiaoxiao's stunning appearance. It was troublesome wherever she went. If a woman's beautiful face only brought worry and danger, it was better not to have it at all. Not only was it troublesome for herself, but it also put her relatives and friends in danger. No wonder there is the saying "beauty is a curse." "This guest, please come upstairs. The food will be here shortly!" The room was also small, but the bedding looked quite clean, and there was no strange smell. Before long, the waiter brought up the food. The dishes were ordinary, but they looked like home-style cooking, so they must taste pretty good.

"Waiter, how many rooms are upstairs? Who's staying there?" Cheng Zhuri asked casually, a piece of silver in his hand. "Answer well and I'll reward you." The waiter looked at the silver and smiled obsequiously, "Reporting to you, sir, this inn has five rooms. You've booked two, a customer downstairs has reserved one, and the other two are empty." "The one who booked the room, what do you think he does?" "I didn't pay attention, I can't guess." Cheng Zhuri lightly tossed the silver to the waiter. "Go find out now and report back to me. I'll also take the other two empty rooms. Also, don't let any irrelevant people wait upstairs! That's all for you, you can go now." The waiter took the silver, patted his chest, and assured him, "Don't worry, sir, I'll do exactly as you say. You can rest assured. If you have any other matters, just let me know. I'll do my best to handle them for you!" Watching the waiter leave, I was finally able to eat. I picked up my chopsticks, grabbed a piece of meat, and was about to put it in my mouth when Cheng Zhuri stopped me. "Don't eat." "Why?" I asked, puzzled. I was so hungry. "Is this a shady inn?" This was something I'd only ever seen in TV shows and novels in my past life. Had we unfortunately stumbled upon it today? Cheng Zhuri shook his head. "No, it's always better to be careful when you're traveling. It's never a bad idea to be cautious." He then instructed Xiao He, "Secretly throw all this food away. Tonight we'll just have some snacks to tide us over. We'll set off first thing tomorrow morning. Make sure you get a good night's sleep! Also, tell Cheng Shun to feed the horses properly, and make sure he feeds them himself!" Seeing Xiao He go out to prepare our dinner, I said, "Cousin, I'm a little scared! Is something going to happen?"

"Don't be afraid, Xiaoxiao, your cousin is here. This is my first time taking a woman out, so it's best to be careful." He put his arm around me, his arms strong and powerful, kissed my forehead, and smiled. "Blame it on Xiaoxiao's beautiful face!" "You're so annoying!" I punched his chest, feeling a little shy. I never expected him to have this flirtatious side, and I actually made such a cutesy sound. It turns out that couples in love are really quite cheesy. Now I understand Aunt Qiong Yao a little better.

Chapter Nineteen: A Horrifying Experience Under the Hooves

The next day, we set off at the crack of dawn. Fortunately, we arrived safely. When we passed through a bustling little town, the first thing Cheng did was buy me a white veil. It worked very well; once I put it on, I immediately attracted less attention. Then he led me to an inn called Yue Lai Xiang for a delicious meal. The dishes were ordinary, but the steamed buns were exceptionally well-made—the skin was translucent, the filling was fresh, and the soup was rich. The broth was especially delicious; one bite was enough to soothe my stomach. They even had a lovely name: Cave Plum Blossom Buns. I wanted to pack a basket to eat on the train, but the waiter told us that these soup dumplings were meant to be eaten fresh; they wouldn't taste as good when cold, and advised against taking them away. What an honest person!

So we traveled by day and stayed at inns by night. I don't know how the economy of the Northern Song Dynasty fared in the world at that time, but the places we visited were very prosperous, and the people were simple and honest. Apart from that annoying bearded man, the journey was quite pleasant. On the fourth day at noon, we finally arrived at the graves of Wen Xiaoxiao's family. It was a slightly desolate place, with only a dozen or so households scattered along the way. I heard that the village originally didn't have many people, and most of them died after a flood. Some of the survivors went to live with relatives, and only a small number remained. Looking at the four graves in front of us, compared to the others, my uncle had done a pretty good job of burying the Wen family. Xiaohe placed offerings in front of the graves, lit candles and incense, and Chengshun and I retreated far behind. Standing there, a sense of tranquility and solemnity arose in my heart—a reverence for life! She removed her veil, knelt gently on the ground, and burned paper money while silently praying, "Grandpa Wen, Grandma Wen, Dad Wen, Mom Wen, I'm sorry, I don't know how I ended up in Wen Xiaoxiao's body. Please forgive me. I will live well from now on, so that Wen Xiaoxiao can live well too. Grandpa, Grandma, and Mom and Dad, don't worry. My aunt's whole family treats Xiaoxiao very well. I feel very happy. I will live well with your hopes. Please rest in peace!" After saying this, she kowtowed three times with utmost sincerity. Cheng Zhuri also knelt beside me and kowtowed three times, "Please rest assured, Uncle and Aunt, I will take care of Xiaoxiao for the rest of my life!"

Suddenly, a wave of longing for my family washed over me. I missed them so much, thinking of my dad, mom, and brother, and how good they were to me. I remembered how my dad and brother would cook all sorts of delicious meals for me every weekend, especially my brother's milk fish head soup. The fish was so tender, and the soup was milky white—not only delicious but also good for your skin. It was my must-order dish every weekend. My mom is probably the person who loves me the most in the world. She's a traditional Chinese rural woman, not very educated, with a loud voice, but quick and efficient. She manages everything at home perfectly, and she has the gentlest and most tender heart of a mother. No matter the season, she gets up at six o'clock every day to cook breakfast for the family. Breakfast usually consists of four dishes and a soup, with a careful balance of vegetables, fish, meat, and braised eggs. Because of work, I can't eat lunch or dinner at home, and she puts so much thought and effort into making breakfast every day. She even slips two apples into my bag. I miss them so much. Are they doing well? My eyes stung with tears as I thought about it. Cheng Zhuri thought I was overwhelmed with grief, so he took me away immediately after the memorial service, which suited me perfectly. I really couldn't face this place; their beloved daughter's body had been possessed. Although it wasn't my intention, it was a fact. Who knew what kind of spiritual events might occur? I've already died once; I know how precious life is. We got home quickly. Seeing my low spirits, Cheng Zhuri deliberately stayed at the Yue Lai Xiang Inn for a day, wanting to accompany me to stroll around the town and cheer me up. But he ended up staying because my period had started. Every month, I experience lower back pain, stomach aches, and cold hands and feet. Many girls experience this; it's nothing serious. The symptoms are worse on the first day, but eating some warming foods and getting plenty of rest will make it better. I sent Xiao He to buy red dates. Seeing my pale face and cold hands and feet, Cheng Zhuri assumed I was ill and instructed Cheng Shun to find a doctor. As I was pondering how to explain the unusual female phenomenon during my period from a physiological perspective, Cheng Shun had already brought the doctor back. Through the bed curtains, I saw an elderly man with a full head of white hair, leaning on a cane, shakily walk in. His face was covered in age spots, his skin so wrinkled that his eyelids drooped, almost completely covering his eyes. His hands were like withered tree branches, dry and thin. After taking my pulse, he wrote a prescription and gave it to Cheng Shun to get the medicine. Then he gave Cheng Zhuri a lot of instructions, saying that I had blood stasis and qi stagnation, and needed to be especially careful during my period, avoiding raw and cold foods, strong tea, spicy foods, and many other things. Finally, he added, "It's best to wait five days after your period ends before having sex." This old doctor, didn't he even ask about our relationship? Does a man and a woman have to be husband and wife? I was fine, thanks to the bed curtains, but Cheng Zhuri was embarrassed; his ears were red. I'd never seen him shy before; he was still a naive boy in this respect. However, his expression remained calm, unfazed by the situation. "Miss, the young master instructed me to drink the ginger and pork liver soup." Xiao He brought in a tray of food. I'd been drinking it for two days already. Cheng Zhuri was truly remarkable; he even asked the old doctor what I should eat these past few days to improve my health. The doctor recommended this soup, and he'd had Xiao He make it for me every meal. I was getting a little nauseous from it. "Where is my cousin?" "There's a rice shop here, on this street. The young master told him to go out for a stroll and come back." I picked up the bowl and finished it in one gulp. "I'll go find him." "Miss, the young master told you to rest more!" "I don't hurt anymore; I'm not that delicate." I put on my veil and walked around her to the outside. Xiaohe had no choice but to lead me towards the rice field where Cheng Zhuri had gone. This street was quite narrow, no more than ten meters wide, with stalls on both sides selling all sorts of things. It was very lively. Women always seem to have more energy when they go shopping. Soon we saw Cheng Zhuri on the other side of the street. He was walking back. I didn't care about anything else and dragged him to accompany me. The gloom I had felt these past two days was dispelled by his red ears. As we walked and looked around, I turned around and saw a stall selling cloth tigers at the opposite street corner. They were colorful and very beautiful. I excitedly ran over to them. Just then, a fast horse rushed out from the corner and was about to crash into me. Although the rider immediately pulled on the reins, the force was too great. I was sure I was going to die. Resigned, I closed my eyes. Suddenly, I felt a weight on my body. When I opened my eyes, I saw that Cheng Zhuri had pounced on me. The horse's front hooves were raised high, about to trample on my back. If I could die with him, we would be together for eternity. I calmly closed my eyes, hugged him tightly, my heart as still as a windless lake, awaiting the final moment. "Little one, don't be afraid, it's alright," Cheng Zhuri's voice whispered in my ear. Alright? I opened my eyes again; the horse's hooves were less than two inches away from us. Xiao He was sobbing, quite frightened. "Luckily, this strong man possessed superhuman strength and pulled the horse back, otherwise..." Following Xiao He's gaze, I saw that it was the burly, bearded man from the small tavern who had saved us. He was truly a strongman, managing to pull the horse aside and even scolding the rider. Cheng Zhuri settled me down, walked over, clasped his hands in a fist salute to him, and said, "Thank you for saving us, strong man. However, we were also at fault. Fortunately, we are safe and sound, so let him go first!" The man also looked aggrieved; indeed, both sides were responsible. He dared not argue because of the bearded man's muscles. Hearing Cheng Zhuri's words, he quickly apologized, led his horse, and disappeared in a flash. "Brave warrior, you have impressive skills. I'm traveling and have nothing of value except this jade pendant. If you don't mind, consider it a token of my gratitude." The burly man with the thick beard sneered, "Although I'm a rough man, don't look down on me. How could I stand by and watch someone die? It was just a small favor. Besides, I was worried the horse might injure someone else. It wasn't entirely for your sake. I know I was impolite to this young lady the other day. I just didn't know people in this world could be so beautiful, like celestial maidens. I glanced at her a few more times and lost my composure. Consider this my apology to the young lady. Farewell!" He turned to leave. "Brave warrior, please wait!" Cheng Zhuri laughed heartily, "I was rude. I acted like a commoner today. I am from the Cheng family of Bianjing. If you ever need my help in the future, just ask around in the city. Xiaoxiao, come and thank the brave warrior for saving your life."

Watching his dashing movements, he truly resembled a hero from the Water Margin. His words made me ashamed of my judgment based on appearance. Did I think that just because I was beautiful, everyone who looked at my man had ill intentions? So I took off my veil, smiled at him, and said, "Brother, thank you so much for saving my life!" The burly man with the thick beard's face changed, a hint of embarrassment appearing on his dark cheeks. He turned his back to me and said, "No, no need to thank me. Miss, please put your veil back on! I'll take my leave!" He disappeared in no time. Finally, after ten days away from home, I returned. It was already afternoon when we arrived. As soon as we entered the door, my uncle called me to the study. It must have been business again. After being away for so many days, I had to go back to work. Being a man is really hard. I was exhausted. What I needed most was a hot bath and a good night's sleep. At the inn, I only had a simple wash, and my body felt sticky and uncomfortable. Who knew that I would toss and turn all night, unable to sleep.

First Version: Falling in Love is Easy, Staying Together is Hard Chapter Twenty: Awakening from a Dream

In Cheng Zuye's study, "Father, I'm back." "Zhu Ri, during your absence, Magistrate Rong sent someone to propose marriage. Magistrate Rong's beloved daughter, Miss Rong Yuwei, has taken a liking to you, Father..."

"I've already agreed." "Father..." "We all know that Xiaoxiao is the apple of your eye." Cheng Zuye didn't give Cheng Zhuri a chance to speak, "As your father, I also..."

We pity her, we feel sorry for her, she lost both her parents at such a young age. Although your mother and I treated her as our own daughter and ensured she had enough to eat and wear, we still couldn't...

It's best to be with your own parents. Your mother and your little one's parents are people I respect. Back in the day, your mother and your little one's mother were famous in Bianjing.

The lady is not only exceptionally beautiful but also well-educated and reasonable. In particular, your aunt is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. At that time, countless scholars and gentlemen...

The son came to propose marriage so often that he practically wore down your maternal grandfather's doorstep. As your father, I benefited from being born into the Cheng family, thanks to their wealth and status, and thus my wish was fulfilled.

He finally returned home with his beloved, having won the heart of his soul. Your uncle, Scholar Wen, was naturally not favored by your maternal grandfather due to his poverty, while your aunt…

Moved by his talent, she insisted on marrying him despite her family's objections. For a young lady who had never lifted a finger before, even after marrying into the Wen family...

She took on the duties of an ordinary peasant woman: washing clothes, cooking, managing the household, and serving her parents-in-law. Although life was hard, the couple shared a deep and loving relationship.

Qi Mei, no matter how difficult life gets, you will not accept help to get married. As your father, I admire your integrity. After Xiao Xiao was born, I did want you to get engaged.

A marriage arranged by childhood is a way to strengthen family ties. Although the Wen family is of humble origin, I am not one to be bound by trivial matters. Given their integrity and character...

Their daughter is absolutely worthy of you, and although your grandfather strongly opposed it at the time, I was determined to finalize the engagement. But things didn't go as planned.

It's not as good as human calculation! When Master Mingxin of Daxiangguo Temple was calculating your birth charts, he predicted that Xiaoxiao was destined to have no children in this life, and that you were the legitimate heir of my family.

The eldest son, from the day he is born, is destined to shoulder the responsibility of building a family and continuing the family line. This is a heavy burden on his shoulders; those destined to have no children...

How can a woman shoulder the heavy responsibility of being the head of the household? Now that Xiaoxiao has grown up, she's becoming more and more beautiful. Looking at her reminds me of your mother's youth. As a father, I am also a man, and I was young once too. Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman. I understand your feelings. Xiaoxiao will understand your difficulties and will certainly not blame you. Take her as your second wife, treat her sincerely and sincerely, and make it up to her for the rest of your life. Since the Chrysanthemum Festival, many people have come to propose marriage, some of whom are indeed quite good. I originally intended to carefully select the best woman from among them, but I didn't expect the Rong family to send someone to propose. The Rong family is an official family, with a distinguished lineage. Miss Rong is the apple of the Rong family magistrate's eye. Although my family is wealthy, we are still just merchants. That you could win Miss Rong's favor is a blessing for our family! Your mother has already had your horoscopes matched; it's a match made in heaven. Moreover, she is destined for nobility, a supportive wife and mother—a rare and auspicious fate. Besides, these...

As the year progresses, we've encountered more and more obstacles in our business. This year, two more money shops have opened in Bianjing, although their strength is far inferior to ours.

Compared to rowing against the current, it's like sailing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. We all need to plan ahead. As your father, I'm not the kind of opportunistic, sycophantic person who will not take advantage of others' position.

"Using kinship ties is possible, but if a marriage alliance can be formed with the Rong family, their wealth will be protected by their status, preventing exploitation and ensuring the preservation of the Cheng family's ancestral business."

Cheng Zhuri's eyes darkened. "So this is why Father wants me to participate in the Chrysanthemum Festival!" "My son is gentle and refined, handsome and elegant, a pine tree among men. Naturally, he should be chosen from the best families. But Miss Rong's selection of you is indeed..."

"This is beyond my expectations!" "If Mother and Father's horoscopes hadn't been compatible back then, or if Mother was destined to be childless, what would Father have done?" Cheng Zuye paused, then slowly said, "There are no 'ifs.' Your mother and I were a match made in heaven, and you were born the second year after our marriage."

As the eldest grandson of the family, she is a good wife, mother, and housekeeper—a truly virtuous woman! Your grandfather is very pleased with her! I will call you Mother and Little...

She'll understand, it's a novel. Zhu Ri, you must remember, you are first and foremost a descendant of a family, then a man, and only then a little one.

"Cousin." Cheng Zhuri's voice was filled with bitterness. "Son understands!" After washing up, just as I was about to have a good night's sleep, my beautiful aunt sent someone to call me over to talk. "My son, come here, sit next to your aunt, let's talk." She gently brushed aside my bangs. "Time flies like an arrow."

In the blink of an eye, she's grown into a young woman. After she marries her cousin, she can't wear her hair like that anymore! "Auntie!" I hugged her affectionately. She wasn't my biological mother, but she gave me the warmth of family.

"Xiaoxiao, your aunt has something important to tell you, it's about you and Ri'er!" The beautiful aunt, usually so gentle, spoke in a serious tone...

My heart skipped a beat. "Do you know why our two families are so close, and why you and Ri'er, who are childhood sweethearts, aren't engaged? It's because..."

Her words struck me like a bolt from the blue. I felt a chill run through my body. Watching her lips move, the words "destined to be childless" seemed to...

A mountain weighed on my heart, making it hard to breathe. "When you and Ri'er returned to Dan County to pay respects to your parents, Magistrate Rong sent someone to propose marriage. Miss Rong took a liking to Ri'er, and your uncle also..."

I've agreed to this marriage. We'll get married as soon as she passes her coming-of-age ceremony, since Miss Rong is getting on in years! But you don't need to worry.

Your uncle and I have already discussed it. Once they've been married for two years, Ri'er will marry you, but you'll have to be her second wife, child.

Don't blame us, blame fate, it's all destiny! Auntie knows Xiaoxiao is a well-mannered and sensible girl, she understands our...

"The real reason why Uncle wanted Cheng Zhuri to attend the Chrysanthemum Festival! It must be because of this that Uncle called Cheng Zhuri away."

"Then, why didn't Aunt tell us sooner?" "What's the use of telling us sooner or later? You and Ri'er have been close since childhood. If we had told you earlier, you wouldn't have had such a hard time all these years! A young woman..."

How could I not understand what you were thinking? Your uncle and I deliberately kept quiet so that you could live carefree for the next few years! Besides, your aunt...

There's a selfish reason too. Ri'er can't live without you. Every time he comes back from a trip and pays his respects to us, the first thing he does is go to see you, even though we're destined to have no children.

She's destined not to be the principal wife in a wealthy family, so it's better for her to stay in the Cheng family. She's still family, and given our favor towards her...

With the love and affection Ai and Ri'er have for you, will you have to worry about the rest of your life? Miss Rong is lovely, but I've heard she's quite spoiled and willful; I'm afraid she won't know how to cherish people.