Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress-Chapter 1947 - 1954: Liu Xi Breaks His Vow (5)

After the meal, Nangong Yi’s family left, and Wanyan Jingchen, Xiang Yun, and the Retired Empress Dowager Na Muhan graciously escorted Cai Wei and Nangong Yi to the palace gate. With an emotional farewell, as they boarded the carriage, Cai Wei noticed the horse carriage was packed with many good items, carefully prepared gifts by the Empress Dowager Na Muhan and Xiang Yun, filling up the entire carriage, which warmed Cai Wei’s heart.

Cai Wei was just about to express her thanks when suddenly she heard a childish voice shout, "Wait a moment!"

Everyone turned towards the sound and saw Chao’er carrying a small bundle, toddling over with his little braid bobbing up and down as he ran.

"Chao’er, what are you doing?"

The Empress Dowager Na Muhan saw Chao’er was all dressed up and carrying a small bundle, feeling puzzled.

Chao’er’s nanny said with a wry smile, "The eldest prince wants to go to the Great Jin Nation with Princess Ming Zhu, and I couldn’t dissuade him, so I have to let him go."

Chao’er listened and raised his flushed little round face, saying seriously, "Don’t talk nonsense, I’m going to see my uncle at his house, and I’m going with Sister Ming Zhu’s carriage."

Suddenly, everyone present was caught off guard. This little fellow, for the sake of a girl, could even lie so smoothly; truly he was quite precocious.

The Empress Dowager Na Muhan squatted down and said softly, "Chao’er, in a few days your uncle will come to pick up your maternal grandmother. By then, Chao’er will be able to see your uncle, no need to trek all the way to the Great Jin."

The Retired Emperor also bent down, following the Empress Dowager Na Muhan, supplementing, "That’s right, wouldn’t it be better for Chao’er to wait at home for your uncle? If Chao’er leaves, grandfather and grandmother will miss Chao’er and won’t be able to eat or sleep well. They’re too old to bear the strain and will surely get sick from missing you too much..."

The old grandfather, speaking, found his eyes turning red, as if his beloved precious grandson had really left with someone.

Chao’er felt troubled; he eagerly looked at Sister Ming Zhu, then at his pitiable grandparents, and suddenly pursed his little mouth, bursting into tears: "I can’t bear Sister Ming Zhu leaving, Grandfather, could you help keep Sister Ming Zhu here for me? I want Sister Ming Zhu..."

Ming Zhu was the apple of Cai Wei and Nangong Yi’s eyes, considered more precious than the two princes; how could she stay? Though the Retired Emperor and Empress Dowager both wished to keep the little girl, they knew it was impossible, so they softly coaxed their beloved eldest grandson.

Ming Zhu, seeing Chao’er like this, shed a few golden teardrops and softly said, "Don’t cry, Brother Chao’er, I will definitely come back to see you again!"

"Really?"

Chao’er stopped crying, looking expectantly at Ming Zhu, his pitiful appearance resembled a little dog abandoned by its master.

"Hmm!"

Ming Zhu nodded solemnly, "Sister will definitely come back to see you. Don’t worry."

Witnessing such a sorrowful parting scene, Xiang Yun couldn’t help but twitch her mouth twice and muttered, "Cai Wei, you see how deep the bond is between our two children. If you don’t agree to Ming Zhu marrying Chao’er, you’ll be committing a sin."

Cai Wei smiled and said, "Rest assured, if, after more than ten years, Chao’er still has such deep feelings for Ming Zhu, I will certainly fulfill their wishes."

The Empress Dowager Na Muhan said, "Though Chao’er is young, he is the most stubborn. Once he decides on something, he never turns back. You can rest assured that he’ll still be like this in more than ten years."

Cai Wei said, "That would be great, let’s wait for them to grow up then."

She squatted down, softly speaking to Chao’er, "Good little Chao’er, if you like Sister Ming Zhu, then grow up quickly. When you reach the age to protect Sister Ming Zhu, maybe I’ll entrust her to you to protect."

Hearing this, Chao’er immediately clenched his little fist, sniffled, and said, "Hmm, I will definitely grow up quickly and protect Sister Ming Zhu..."

Ming Zhu was hugged onto the carriage by Nangong Yi, and the Nangong family’s carriage was already moving far away. Chao’er’s small figure still stood alone in the dawn, looking so pitiful, so lonely.

The Retired Emperor, heartaching for his eldest grandson, confidently said, "Don’t worry Chao’er, in the future, Grandfather will definitely figure out a way to bring that Princess Ming Zhu to you..."

At night

In the inn next to the Yu Family Restaurant in the Great Jin Capital, Liu Xi woke up.

At this moment, the effects of the drug on his body had dissipated, his head gradually clearing, with the day’s events replaying in reverse in his mind, his thoughts becoming increasingly clear.

Everything that happened today was obviously orchestrated by someone else to scheme against him, including Juhua being drugged. He was lured in for a business discussion, and the drink he took at Huo Qi’s banquet was undoubtedly a trap set for him.

Fortunately, he had several unmatched experts by his side. Seeing his delayed return, they flew upstairs to check on his situation, thus managing to carry him out of that room.

His subordinates, noticing something amiss, understanding what had happened, conveniently also extricated Shen Juhua and booked this entire inn, allowing him to detoxify and dissipate the fire here.

Now he had completely lost his senses, without knowing what he had done.

Upon awakening, he found himself having done such a thing to Juhua, feeling deeply ashamed. Discovering the large red stain under Juhua, he realized she was still a maiden, further intensifying his guilt.

But the deed was done; feeling guilty served no purpose. Liu Xi wasn’t the kind of person to shirk responsibility, and besides, he had always liked Juhua, so he immediately decided to take responsibility and marry her.

Immediately, he called for bath water, allowed Juhua to bathe, dressed her in clothes, and carried her downstairs, placing her in his horse carriage to send her home.

For now, the incident between them had to remain undisclosed. Not that he feared taking responsibility, but because the world’s moral etiquette didn’t allow women to engage in extramarital affairs. Otherwise, it would become the biggest stain in Juhua’s life, impossible to erase. He could only pretend nothing happened, sending her home to preserve her reputation.

At this time, the Shen Mansion was already bustling, everyone putting in full effort to find the eldest Miss. Xiao Kui repeatedly said the Miss had gone to the Yu Family’s Private Kitchen, but it was now sealed by the government, with no trace of the shopkeepers or the master, nowhere to search for Juhua.

Lord Shen and Madam Shen were extremely worried, and unexpectedly, Liu Xi had brought Juhua back. According to Liu Xi, Juhua had drunk too much and went to drink at his buffet restaurant, resulting in getting thoroughly drunk and passing out there.

The restaurant’s female cashier didn’t recognize her, unaware of which family’s Miss she was, so she could only help her rest in the back of the restaurant. Later, when he heard about it, he checked it out, found it was Shen Juhua, and sent her back.

Lord Shen and Madam Shen did not suspect anything and were very grateful to Liu Xi. Since it was late, they couldn’t keep him overnight, so with many thanks, they saw him out...