Chapter 364: Grand Finale
Xingnong quickly stopped Xingqing, smiled, and said, “Don’t shy away, this matter really depends on whether you like him or not. If you like Young Master Ren, we will accept it; if not, we will refuse.”
Xingnong thought Ren Zilin was a good person, but Xingqing had to like him too.
Although she also thought Xingqing liked him, she still had to ask clearly.
Xingqing’s face was a little hot, but she said generously, “Then let’s accept it!”
Madam Gu and Xingnong looked at each other upon hearing this, and then they both smiled.
Madam Gu said happily, “Then I’ll accept it!”
Both granddaughters had good marriages, unlike her own daughter who had so many twists and turns, she was finally relieved.
There was still Xinghui, but Xinghui was not in a hurry, he said he would wait until he passed the imperial examination before talking about marriage.
Besides, it didn’t matter if a man got married a couple of years later, as long as he was capable, he wouldn’t be afraid of not being able to marry a good wife.
If a woman was too old, it would be difficult to find a husband.
In this regard, women have always been at a disadvantage since ancient times.
~
At the General’s Residence, Ren Zilin estimated the time, thinking that after Chu Tiankuo and Xingnong returned to their maternal home, the family should have gathered already, and sending someone to visit at this time would not overshadow the main event.
So he came to his younger sister’s side: “Go talk to Mother, it’s getting late, we can send someone to the Shen Residence to inquire.”
Ren Zishan extended her hand: “One hundred taels!”
Ren Zilin gritted his teeth, this girl had cheated him out of thousands of taels before and after, he was just a small county magistrate, with such a small salary, was it easy for him?
Thinking so, he still took out one hundred taels and put it in her hand: “Hurry up!”
Ren Zishan happily shook the silver note: “No rush, Mother has already sent people to wait outside the Shen Residence, saying that we will go over after the Crown Prince and Crown Princess return to the palace. After all, today is the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s return to their maternal home, if we go there now, it will feel like overshadowing the main event. Mother is afraid that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess will be displeased.”
The custom in the capital was that on the day the bride returned to her maternal home, she needed to stay at her maternal home for one night, and the next day, after the Crown Prince and Crown Princess returned to the palace, they would visit immediately, which also showed enough sincerity. Most importantly, it could highlight Second Brother’s eagerness to marry Miss Xingqing!
Of course he knew this, but Chu Tiankuo and Xingnong wouldn’t care about these things, and he couldn’t wait any longer either. He reached out to grab the silver note: “The Crown Prince and Crown Princess won’t care about these things, it’s best to go now! If you don’t go, give me back the silver note!”
Ren Zishan quickly stuffed the silver note into her bosom: “Alright, I’ll go find Mother now, I promise to drag Mother over there, okay? Second Brother, just wait for my good news!”
After saying that, she happily skipped out.
Great, she finally had a chance to see Brother Zesen!
“Wait!” Ren Zilin was not at ease, he pulled Ren Zishan aside and gave her a few instructions before letting her leave.
Finally, Madam General was persuaded by Ren Zishan. Knowing that Chu Tiankuo and Xingnong would not blame them, and might even prefer them to go now, she brazenly took her daughter to the Shen Residence.
Ren Zilin thought about it and was still worried, so as soon as the two of them left, he followed on horseback.
~
Shen Residence
Madam General and Ren Zishan had just gotten off the carriage when they saw their son following them.
Ren Zilin smiled and said, “I’m here to discuss something with the Crown Prince.”
Madam General glared at her son angrily, then pulled her daughter into the Shen Residence.
Gu Shi, Xingnong, and Xingqing had just finished talking about this matter when the servant came to report that Madam General, Miss Ren, and Young Master Ren had arrived.
Xingnong smiled at Xingqing upon hearing this: “It seems that our Magistrate Ren can’t wait any longer!”
Xingqing blushed.
Madam Gu stood up and said to Xingqing and Xingnong: “Xingnong, you go back to your courtyard to rest for a bit, Xingqing and I will go welcome Madam Ren.”
Xingnong’s status was noble, it was not appropriate for her to go and welcome the guests.
Xingnong nodded: “Grandmother, just go ahead and take care of things.”
So Madam Gu hurriedly took Xingqing to the main courtyard to receive Madam General.
Xingnong didn’t rest either, she knew that Ren Zilin must be with Chu Tiankuo this time.
She left the courtyard, asked a servant, and found out that Chu Tiankuo and Ren Zilin were currently in the pavilion in the garden, so she walked over.
In the garden, under the pavilion, when Xingnong walked over, she happened to see Chu Tiankuo, dressed in red, sitting upright with a straight posture, slowly sipping tea, looking leisurely and carefree.
“This time, you owe me a favor!”
It was late autumn, and the cool breeze in the garden was quite strong!
For the sake of his lifelong happiness, he had condescended to accompany him here to eat the northwest wind.
“I know, if His Highness the Crown Prince has any orders in the future, I will go through fire and water without hesitation, is that alright?” Ren Zilin was a little restless, his eyes always looking around at the various paths in the garden.
Didn’t he ask his younger sister to bring Xingqing over as soon as possible? Why hadn’t they seen anyone for so long?
When a flash of red appeared, his eyes lit up, but when he saw clearly that it was Xingnong, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
Chu Tiankuo’s face darkened, what was that expression?
He glared at Ren Zilin, then stood up and walked down from the pavilion to greet Xingnong, “Why are you here? It’s windy here.”
As he said that, he held Xingnong’s small hand, feeling that it was warm, he was relieved.
✿✿✿
Ren Zilin smiled awkwardly, quickly stood up, and bowed respectfully: “This subordinate greets the Crown Princess.”
Xingnong smiled and said, “Brother Ren, no need to be so formal!”
Since Xingnong had come, Chu Tiankuo didn’t want to stay with Ren Zilin anymore, he held Xingnong’s hand: “Let’s go, let’s go back to the room, it’s windy here.”
Xingnong squeezed his large hand, but stood still: “I want to speak with Brother Ren alone.”
Chu Tiankuo glared at Ren Zilin unhappily upon hearing this, then let go of Xingnong and walked to the side to wait for her.
Xingnong and Ren Zilin came under the pavilion. She picked up the teacup that Chu Tiankuo had just drunk from, took a sip of tea, then looked into Ren Zilin’s eyes and asked, “I wonder what Brother Ren plans to offer to marry Xingqing.”
As soon as Ren Zilin heard this, he understood what Xingnong meant.
What to offer to marry? Xingnong was definitely not asking about the betrothal gifts, then she was asking about his sincerity!
Ren Zilin knew that Chu Tiankuo had once promised to have only one wife for the rest of his life, with no secondary consorts, concubines, or maids with whom he had sexual relations. He knew very well what this meant for a Crown Prince.
However, he had never liked having a harem full of wives and concubines, he only liked the days when a husband and wife lived in harmony, just like his parents.
Ren Zilin sat up straight and said solemnly, “I will only have Xingqing as my wife for the rest of my life, and under no circumstances will I have another woman. I will love her, protect her, and never leave her!”
This promise was exactly what Xingnong wanted. She looked at Ren Zilin and threatened, “Remember your words, if you dare to take a concubine in the future, I will drag you into the palace to become a eunuch!”
A life full of wives and concubines was too troublesome and painful for a woman. Xingqing had suffered so much, she only hoped that her future days would be peaceful and smooth, without any worries.
So, whether she was being overbearing or whatever, she would absolutely not allow Ren Zilin to take a concubine.
Xinghui and Gu Zesen happened to be passing by, and when they heard this, they both subconsciously clenched their buttocks: Dragged into the palace to become a eunuch? Xingnong was too ruthless!
Ren Zilin didn’t care much, after all, he would definitely not break his promise: “Don’t worry, Crown Princess, you will absolutely not have this opportunity!”
At this time, Ren Zishan appeared, pulling Xingqing along.
Ren Zishan’s eyes lit up when she saw Gu Zesen, and she immediately pulled Xingqing forward, “Sister Xingqing, my brother and the Crown Princess are over there, let’s go over too!”
Ren Zishan’s voice was very loud, attracting everyone’s attention at once.
Xingnong didn’t say anything more, she had said what she needed to say about the matter of principle, the rest was between the two of them, she would not interfere.
Ren Zishan pulled Xingqing over to everyone and smiled, “The wind is so strong today! The sun isn’t hot now, it’s perfect for flying kites, let’s go fly kites, how about it?”
Ren Zilin’s eyes lit up: “That’s a great idea! Isn’t there a large racecourse and training ground at Xing Garden? It’s spacious, let’s go fly kites there, and when we’re tired of flying, we can ride horses.”
After saying that, he looked at Xingqing: “Xingqing, what do you think? Do you want to fly kites? I can also teach you how to ride a horse.”
He just wanted to find an opportunity to spend more time with Xingqing.
Xingqing blushed and nodded: “I don’t mind.”
After saying that, she looked at Xingnong: “Sister, do you want to fly kites?”
Today was her sister’s day to return to their maternal home, she couldn’t leave her alone to play.
Xingnong knew that if she didn’t go, Xingqing wouldn’t go either, so she nodded: “Okay! I haven’t flown a kite in a long time!”
Ren Zishan then ran to Gu Zesen’s side: “Young Master Gu, didn’t you say last time in the fields that you would teach me how to fly a kite next time it was windy? Today is the perfect opportunity.”
Gu Zesen: “…”
Had he said that? He had seen her flying a kite in the fields when there was no wind last time, and she had run her legs off without the kite getting off the ground. He had only reminded her that kites could only fly when there was wind, and told her to wait until it was windy before flying again. He hadn’t said that he would teach her how to fly when it was windy, right?
Ren Zishan didn’t care what he was thinking, she directly took his hand and ran outside.
So the group moved to Xing Garden to fly kites.
On the spacious racecourse, Xingnong and Chu Tiankuo flew one kite together, Ren Zilin and Xingqing flew one kite together, Ren Zishan and Gu Zesen flew one kite together, and only Xinghui was flying a kite alone.
Xinghui looked left and right, everyone was in pairs, and the open spaces were all occupied by them, only he was left alone in a corner.
Xinghui looked up at the sky, the kite string was caught on a branch again!
Half of the sky in this area he was assigned to was blocked by branches, what was the point of him flying a kite here!
Forget it, there is a golden house in books, there is a beautiful woman in books, he might as well go back and read!
~
Xinghui walked back to the Shen Residence and happened to see Chu Yuehou knocking on the door with a bundle on his back.
Chu Yuehou knocked on the door a few times and saw Xinghui returning. A kind smile appeared on his usually cold and stern face: “Xinghui, your grandfather is back.”
Xinghui: “…”
——The End——
The end~
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Hope to see you again in the next book~
