CHAPTER 402: CHAPTER 399: FATE

Song Xian looked at Xie Liangchen with her head hanging down, unconsciously revealing a smile. Even though he had seen this smile more and more often, he still couldn’t help but feel his heart flutter each time.

It’s almost time. We’re about to return to Zhenzhou. Once we reach Chen Family Village, we can set a wedding date. Before next spring plowing, I can marry her and will never have to part again.

Song Xian said softly, "I’m not leaving tonight."

Xie Liangchen naturally understood what Song Xian was saying. He intended to stay overnight at the East Courtyard. This wasn’t the first or second time. After all, the house was large and there was no shortage of places for Song Xian and Chang An to stay. But hearing Song Xian use such a tone, she inexplicably blushed.

"Sister, why is your face red?" Song Xian asked. "What are you thinking about? I didn’t say anything else, why are you embarrassed?"

As he spoke, Song Xian deliberately took a few steps forward.

Xie Liangchen glanced at Song Xian. This person was clearly doing it on purpose, yet still asked like this.

Knowing full well in her heart that he wouldn’t do anything inappropriate, Xie Liangchen couldn’t help but retreat, changing the topic: "Aren’t you going to meet your colleagues, Song Jiedu? I have to visit Sister Meng tomorrow morning."

Song Xian asked, "Meng Changshu?"

Xie Liangchen nodded.

Song Xian inquired, "Has the matter of Ji Yuan wanting to marry into the Meng Family been resolved?"

Xie Liangchen replied, "Sister Meng spoke with her grandmother and uncle, and also wrote a letter to her father. Plus, after the incident with the Wang Family, it’s impossible for the Meng Family to marry Sister Meng to Ji Yuan."

After saying this, Xie Liangchen noticed Song Xian’s eyes deepening with thought: "What’s wrong? Are you thinking about something related to the Meng Family? Or Ji Yuan..."

Song Xian snapped out of his thoughts: "Do you know the outcome of Meng Changshu in her past life?"

Xie Liangchen knew a bit: "I heard she had a miscarriage, her body was weak, and she passed away early."

Song Xian said, "At that time, there was a war in Yuezhou. The Japanese landed, and Meng Changshu was escorted away. But the journey was too bumpy. plus the news of Ji Yuan being besieged came, and Meng Changshu was so frightened that her condition worsened, and she just passed away like that."

Xie Liangchen was a bit puzzled about how Song Xian knew so much detail. Could it be that Song Xian and Meng Changshu...

"Don’t think too much," Song Xian hurriedly said, "It was Cheng Yanzhao. He had feelings for Miss Meng, and after learning of Miss Meng’s passing, he sank into depression. In the past life, when he heard that Ji Yuan led troops to intercept us, Cheng Yanzhao insisted that I must capture Ji Yuan alive."

Xie Liangchen looked at Song Xian in surprise: "There’s such a thing? Did you ever... remind Cheng Yanzhao?"

Song Xian said, "The past life and the present life must differ. I also didn’t know how to tell Cheng Yanzhao. After all, it’s a matter of mutual affection, even I only just figured it out. How could I guide Cheng Yanzhao?"

"It’s not like I haven’t done anything. Didn’t I keep urging Cheng Yanzhao to go home, to stay obediently at home and not come running to me."

Xie Liangchen skeptically looked at Song Xian: "You drove Mr. Cheng away, was that your intention?" Wasn’t it because Cheng Yanzhao was too noisy?

Song Xian said against his conscience, "Of course, it was all for his own good."

"The Cheng Family lived very close to Meng Changshu’s uncle’s house. In the past life, that’s how they met."

Xie Liangchen said, "Although Mr. Cheng stayed home, Sister Meng has been busy with me over the medicinal herb illustrations recently... Could it be that this is why they missed each other again? Had we known earlier..."

Song Xian said, "Don’t overthink it. Are you planning to stop Miss Meng from doing these things? Even if you let Miss Meng stay at her uncle’s place, they may not necessarily do anything."

"Moreover, Cheng Yanzhao is different from before, especially after Mr. Tian and Fourth Uncle came to the capital. Cheng Yanzhao often seeks them out to talk."

"If Cheng Yanzhao mentions Miss Meng in front of me, I will certainly give him some hints. But in the past life, he used to talk about Meng Changshu to me, but in this life, not once."

Xie Liangchen understood Song Xian’s meaning, especially in such matters, even if others have the strength, they don’t know how to use it.

Is it because the time hasn’t come, or is it insufficient fate? No one can say for sure.

Song Xian looked at Xie Liangchen’s furrowed brow: "Don’t think too much. We like each other without anyone else’s help. No one can change the inclination of the heart, not even oneself."

Xie Liangchen nodded, seemingly persuaded by Song Xian.

Song Xian said, "I’ll have Cheng Yanzhao stay in the capital for another half month. By then, when we’re gone, if your medicinal herb illustrations or anything else need help, Cheng Yanzhao can go."

This seemed like the best solution they could think of.

Xie Liangchen thought of Cheng Yanzhao, and suddenly the image of Tian Huizhen appeared in her mind. That day, Tian Huizhen hesitantly asked about the border war. After she arrived in Dai State, she heard Cheng Yanzhao mention the whip...

Could it be...

Some matters haven’t been confirmed yet, but here’s another, proving that feelings are truly hard to pin down.

Better not to meddle too much. Whether there’s fate or not is their own affair.

Especially for her, Tian Huizhen and Meng Changshu are both close friends, both equally dear to her.

"Liangchen," Song Xian said softly, "let’s focus on ourselves. I bought some prepared needlework from an embroidery shop in the capital, to prevent you from having to make them yourself. Grandmother sent me a letter, and your wedding attire has been prepared, along with the big red mandarin duck quilt. See if anything is missing, and I’ll go and prepare it."

Song Xian said as he took out a paper from his sleeve and handed it to Xie Liangchen.

A thick stack, densely packed with many words.

Having done so much, she didn’t even need to check to know nothing was left out.

Xie Liangchen said, "No need to look."

"Really no need?" Song Xian whispered, "What if something was overlooked... I’ve thought through everything for you, but I didn’t have time to think much for myself. What if I miss something? What will I wear then?"

Xie Liangchen felt both shy and amused.

She reached out, putting the paper aside. Song Xian made her nervous; she really needed to look it over carefully and add some more to her dowry.

"Let’s go out!" Xie Liangchen said, "We haven’t shown our faces for so long. Second Uncle even has a rod your father prepared for you in his room."

The two walked to the front courtyard before parting, with Xie Liangchen watching Song Xian turn back every few steps. She truly feared he’d accidentally crash into a pillar, ruining his upright, handsome appearance.

...

Five days later.

Princess Jia’an returned to Zhenzhou.

The carriage left the Capital City, leaving behind the vast Xie Mansion and all its staff.

Meng Changshu, Li Ruchu, and Miss Yan accompanied Xie Liangchen to the city outskirts, while the shopkeepers from several of the capital’s shops followed to the Ten-mile Pavilion.

At the end of the convoy was the Tian family’s caravan, the mule carts loaded with goods, and everyone wore joyous expressions.

After leaving the capital, the carriages and mule carts moved faster.

Everyone was eager to return home.

Hei Dan looked at Chen Zigeng and said, "I wonder if Gouzi and the others miss me."

Chen Zigeng confidently replied, "They’re sure to miss me. You might not know, but without you, they can eat a bit more."

That’s true, Hei Dan felt a little less confident, "Do I really eat that much?"

Old Mrs. Chen kept looking out: "When will we be home?"

Everyone wondered how people would react when they saw them. They brought lots of nice things, food, clothes, everything for everyone to try.

There’s also the official uniform of the son-in-law, the clothes Liangchen and she wore when conferred as Commandery Princess and Commandery Madam, they’ll need to take them out for everyone to see, so that all can share in the joy.