CHAPTER 422: CHAPTER 419: TENDER MOMENTS

After dressing neatly, Song Xian and Xie Liangchen went to greet Old Mrs. Song, not expecting Song Qizheng to also be waiting in her room.

"Get up, quickly!" Old Mrs. Song smiled at Xie Liangchen, "Finally, Liangchen is in the family, from now on, Xian is your responsibility. I can finally relax a bit."

Xie Liangchen smiled, feeling that Old Mrs. Song’s words were as if Song Xian was a trouble, and letting go early would bring peace of mind.

Next to them, Song Qizheng seized the opportunity to say to Xie Liangchen, "In the future, if you don’t know something when managing the household, feel free to have someone ask me."

Xie Liangchen responded.

Song Qizheng picked up the box on the table: "These are some family properties, I’m always away fighting battles and have no time to manage them, and the old lady is too old to handle so much..."

"The National Guardian General should take them back."

Before Song Qizheng could finish his words, Song Xian said, "The Commandery Princess is also busy with matters concerning Zhenzhou and the eight states, and likely has no time for these either."

"You." Song Qizheng immediately frowned. After all, he was an elder, yet Song Xian disregarded his face in front of Liangchen. He thought that after Song Xian’s marriage, the family situation would improve, but unexpectedly... Could it be that Song Xian really didn’t intend to acknowledge him as his father?

Suppressing the urge to scold Song Xian for being "unfilial," Song Qizheng stood up and strode out of the room.

Old Mrs. Song looked at Song Qizheng’s back, just sighed, but quickly calmed her emotions, smiling as she spoke with Xie Liangchen: "Were you tired yesterday?"

Xie Liangchen knew Old Mrs. Song meant her journey from Chen Family Village to the Song Family, and she indeed felt a bit weary from the trip, but she just thought of last night...

When Song Xian changed the bedding, and as she drowsily closed her eyes, she glanced out the window and noticed how the sky wasn’t so dark anymore.

Xie Liangchen lowered her head to hide it and said, "It’s alright."

Old Mrs. Song said, "I told you to come over later, but you didn’t listen. Traveling from the Capital City to Zhenzhou, then from Zhenzhou to the eight states, without rest—despite being young and healthy, you must take care of yourselves."

Old Mrs. Song then looked at Song Xian: "Understand?"

Song Xian nodded: "Grandmother, don’t worry."

Xie Liangchen felt Old Mrs. Song’s words carried implication otherwise why would she glance at Song Xian at the final moment? Thinking of this, her cheeks flushed slightly, yet Song Xian appeared completely natural, answering without the slightest anomaly or guilt.

Old Mrs. Song continued, "Isn’t there enough staff in the courtyard? When we have some time in a few days, I’ll take you to pick a few more."

Xie Liangchen responded with a smile: "I want to try managing like this first. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll seek grandmother’s help."

Old Mrs. Song’s heart warmed as she looked at Song Xian: "Liangchen is looking out for you."

Song Xian said straightly: "It’s all because of me."

Old Mrs. Song nodded: "You’re aware of your own flaws, make sure to treat Liangchen well in the future."

Old Mrs. Song finished and waved her hand: "Alright, I’m feeling tired, you two go rest too!"

Xie Liangchen knew Old Mrs. Song was not really tired, and said this to care for her. She was about to speak up to stay a bit longer with Old Mrs. Song, but Song Xian stood first: "We’ll come back later to have a meal with grandmother."

"Go on," Old Mrs. Song said, "Don’t forget to have breakfast first, the kitchen has it prepared."

Song Xian took Xie Liangchen out of the room. Old Mrs. Song thought of her granddaughter-in-law’s slightly red eyes and her tired look, which pained her to see. How could she let her granddaughter-in-law face the Song Family’s clan?

"He’s still a young boy," Old Mrs. Song said, "with no sense of priority."

After saying this, Old Mrs. Song instructed the housekeeper: "Have the kitchen prepare lamb earlier."

Old Mrs. Song pondered and found it unsuitable: "I’ll go check in the kitchen myself."

The housekeeper responded with a smile, realizing it had been years since the old lady had stepped into the kitchen; she genuinely cared for her granddaughter-in-law and had to personally arrange things.

Upon returning to their room with Song Xian, the two shared a meal. The servants discreetly removed the tableware and quietly closed the door.

With no one else in the room, Xie Liangchen pondered over what to do, only to suddenly be embraced by Song Xian.

Xie Liangchen blushed: "Are you crazy in broad daylight?"

"You heard what grandmother said just now," Song Xian said softly, "she must have noticed something, that’s why she hurried us back."

Whose fault was that? She hadn’t even complained, yet he brought it up first.

Song Xian walked into the inner room: "If you don’t rest, when we see grandmother later, she’ll worry again."

Placing her on the bedding, Song Xian removed her shoes.

Song Xian said, "Since grandmother ordered it, how can we not comply? The staff here won’t gossip, so don’t worry, it won’t ruin Sister’s reputation."

Xie Liangchen smiled wryly: "Am I worried about reputation?"

"Sister is not worried," Song Xian whispered, "I am worried..."

Before, Xie Liangchen didn’t know that Song Xian was so eloquent. Feeling his warm hand resting on her waist, softly massaging her back.

Song Xian said softly: "Does your waist still hurt?"

Xie Liangchen closed her eyes and nodded slightly.

The two lay sideways, facing each other, Song Xian’s forehead gently pressing against hers: "My dear wife, last night... there were some things I forgot to tell you."

Xie Liangchen nodded, listening intently.

Song Xian said, "I forgot to tell you, I am yours."

This scoundrel, was he planning on saying all his gathered words from two lifetimes to her at once? Xie Liangchen lowered her head and bit Song Xian’s hand.

As it turned out, Xie Liangchen was genuinely exhausted, and before long, she fell asleep again.

Song Xian accompanied Xie Liangchen in her slumber for a while. Then, getting up to read the documents, sitting by the desk for a moment, he felt an emptiness as if something was missing. So he returned to bed with the papers, occasionally reaching out to touch the person beside him.

He didn’t want to disturb her sleep, yet couldn’t help himself. After just getting married, he seemed to be unable to adjust to being alone, yearning to be with Liangchen constantly.

He hadn’t realized before that he was such a person.

"Buy."

Song Xian heard Xie Liangchen murmur a vague word; upon careful listening, he confirmed she said: "Buy."

"Buy what?" Song Xian lowered his head near Xie Liangchen’s ear, his face full of smiles.

Xie Liangchen slightly frowned, then said: "Buy lambs."

Song Xian’s smile grew deeper, shifting from amusement to warmth and tenderness: "Build a ranch, buy lambs, I’ll remember, Liangchen, you’ve worked hard."

Even in her dreams, she made plans for the people and for him.

...

Cheng Yanzhao was still busy in the Xinzhou Military Camp and finally understood why Song Xian had let him enjoy half a month’s leisure, daring to wait here for him.

Fatten the sheep for good meat, and fatten the man to work more, is it?

Song Xian got married, and he couldn’t attend the ceremony; not attending was one thing, but he didn’t even get a meal and drank a bellyful of Northwestern wind—where was Song Xian’s conscience?

"When will he return?" Cheng Yanzhao asked coldly of the Song Family’s House General, "Did your master say how long he plans to rest?"