Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 671: Married for the Second Time (2)
When she had entered just now, she had seen Lou Qianyu standing there, unharmed, his eyes intensely focussed on her, causing a panic to rise within her. Only after hearing the Empress’s words did she suddenly understand.
Although there was resentment, sweetness prevailed, yet it was a difficult time in her heart, torn between staying in the Capital City and finding a happy destiny like her cousin-in-law. But when it came time to choose, it was difficult. She looked up at her father, noticing the gray hairs that had unconsciously begun to show amongst his dark locks. Her brother had avoided their father’s pressure to marry by becoming the Magistrate of Yizhou Prefecture, not living at home. Thinking of her mother, who inquired tenderly about her well-being every day, such familial love couldn’t be severed. She turned to look at Lou Qianyu, remembering what she had said to him when she and her sister-in-law returned from the Sunset Kingdom, "We will break up," only if he agreed to her conditions would she marry him. But now...he had come. Did it mean that he had fulfilled them? Or...
Feng Xuxu watched her difficulty in deciding, understanding why it was so hard for her, caught between familial love and romantic love. Just like when Dugu Chen fell off the cliff, she had wanted to jump after him, but rationale had prevailed. After all, she was then pregnant with Dugu Chen’s child. If Dugu Chen had been unfortunate, what she carried was his only flesh and blood. She didn’t want to leave Dugu Chen without an heir, so she endured the sadness and survived. Fortunately, heaven was kind to her, and Dugu Chen was all right.
Out of gratitude for this kindness, she anonymously did many good deeds. She believed and was convinced that her unexpected arrival must have had its reasons, which is why she resolutely went to the Sunset Kingdom to inspect the land, not wanting the people to starve. Some might call her a saint, others a busybody, but either way, she felt no guilt and no remorse in her conscience. As the saying goes, saving one life is more meritorious than building a seven-tiered pagoda, and she believed it wasn’t an exaggeration.
Even if it wasn’t for those lofty words, the friendship between two countries, and creating a peaceful and prosperous era, was what she really wanted to see.
"Your Highness..." Finally, after a long pause, Xiao Jiazhen spoke up.
Lou Qianyu, afraid that Xiao Jiazhen was about to say the words he didn’t want to hear, interrupted her, "Jiazhen... Miss Xiao, Lou Qianyu has come here with a sincere proposal. To show my sincerity, Qianyu has already disbanded his harem and hopes Miss Xiao will think carefully." His speech contained both the promise he had made to her before and his steadfast feelings for her.
Xiao Jiazhen’s refusal was on the tip of her tongue, but when she looked at him, he was the person who had haunted her mind all this time, and the refusal just couldn’t escape her lips.
The Prime Minister watched them, somewhat understanding the situation; things had already escalated to this point. Even if Zhenzhen didn’t marry Lou Qianyu but someone else, it would probably arouse suspicion in her husband’s family. Out of respect for the Prime Minister and the Emperor, they wouldn’t make things difficult for Zhenzhen, but the future was uncertain. Moreover, seeing Lou Qianyu’s sincere intentions, he sighed internally. Let it be, his daughter would eventually have to marry, and even if she married into some family in the Capital City, she couldn’t come home every day. Besides, Lou Qianyu was the Emperor of a country, and marrying him properly would make Zhenzhen the Empress.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Empress, please forgive me," Prime Minister Xiao Yiran finally understood, stepped forward, and knelt on the ground.
Feng Xuxu, sitting upon the Dragon Throne, looked down with a subtle gleam in her eyes, while Dugu Chen watched the kneeling Prime Minister: "You are forgiven, rise and speak."
Xiao Yiran bowed his head before standing up, Xiao Jiazhen tearfully called out ’Father,’ and Xiao Yiran, smiling, patted the hand resting on his arm and whispered, "Don’t worry."
