On the day of Xu Linghe's wedding, Grand Tutor Xu and Madam Xu were overwheld with excitent.
In Shengjing, there were very few unmarried daughters from noble families at the age of nineteen, and their daughter could certainly be considered a late bloor.
She had only superficially learned the skills expected of a young lady, and spent most of her free ti wandering outside the mansion. Her parents had been worried sick about her marriage prospects.
Although they often heard rumors in Shengjing about their daughter's close relationship with Zhao Yiqing from the Wenyuan Pavilion, they dismissed them as re gossip and paid little attention.
After Zhao Yiqing had topped the imperial examinations, he was at the height of his fa. No one could understand why he chose to beco an eighth-rank scholar at the Wenyuan Pavilion.
Later, he beca renowned throughout Shengjing for his calligraphy, and in recent years, his works had beco so valuable that a single character could fetch a thousand gold pieces.
Grand Tutor Xu had always enjoyed collecting books, paintings, and ancient texts, and even competed with younger collectors for Zhao Yiqing's calligraphy works.
It wasn't until Zhao's parents ca to propose marriage that Grand Tutor Xu and his wife realized that their daughter and Zhao Yiqing had been together during her disappearance while treasure hunting.
The couple, who had been constantly worried about their daughter's marriage, were overjoyed when soone proposed, especially since it was Zhao Yiqing. They imdiately agreed to the marriage and quickly began preparations for the wedding.
Not long after their marriage, Xu Linghe beca pregnant.
For Xu Linghe, who had always loved roaming freely, this was pure torture.
She could only stay in the mansion all day, and even when she went for a walk, she was surrounded by a group of people. Practicing with weapons was out of the question.
Upon learning of Xu Linghe's pregnancy, the usually easy-going Zhao Yiqing had hidden all her swords and weapons. This led to a big argunt between them, after which Xu Linghe returned to her parents' ho with Hong Ying.
The Xu Mansion and Zhao Mansion were not far apart, and Xu Linghe often ran back to her parents' ho. Grand Tutor Xu and Madam Xu had grown accustod to this; it seed as if their daughter had married but not completely left ho.
Madam Xu, seeing Xu Linghe return ho again, asked, "What happened today? Did you have another argunt with Yiqing?"
"I didn't argue with him. He hid all my swords and weapons. It's infuriating!" Xu Linghe complained.
Hong Ying explained from the side, "But the young master is doing it for your own good, miss. You're pregnant now, and it's not good for the baby if you keep practicing with weapons every day."
Hearing this, Madam Xu said, "Why are you still practicing now that you're pregnant? You're going to be a mother soon, you can't be so willful anymore. Since you're back, you should stay here and rest properly. This way, Yiqing won't have to worry about you constantly causing trouble."
"... No, I won't!" Xu Linghe refused.
Madam Xu was firm, "No 'buts'. It's decided. I'll tell Yiqing not to worry about you."
After returning to her parents' ho this ti, Xu Linghe was truly confined to the courtyard and hadn't been out since.
Zhao Yiqing ca to see her every day, bringing her delicious food and telling her about the events of his day. Occasionally, he would stay overnight.
"Yiqing, can you take back ho?" Xu Linghe pleaded.
Seeing her pitiful look, Zhao Yiqing asked, "Didn't you always like staying here before?"
"That was then, this is now. How can it be the sa?" Xu Linghe said.
Zhao Yiqing thought for a mont, "What's different?"
"You bookworm, you don't understand anything. It's so frustrating!"
Since coming back, her days consisted of eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating, with her activities limited to just one courtyard.
Her parents nagged her constantly, worrying that sothing might happen to the baby in her womb. They assigned a group of people to watch over her, making it no different from being in prison.
Zhao Yiqing comforted her, "I'll talk to your parents about taking you back. But once we're ho, you have to promise not to run around and to stay in the mansion. Can you do that?"
"Yes, I promise," Xu Linghe quickly agreed, afraid he might change his mind if she hesitated.
After successfully returning to the Zhao Mansion, Xu Linghe felt she was finally free.
"Yiqing, can you take out for a walk?" she asked.
Zhao Yiqing replied, "Have you forgotten what you promised earlier?"
"Of course I rember. If I can't go out, at least you can take for a walk in the garden, right?" Xu Linghe said.
Zhao Yiqing took her hand, "Then let's go for a stroll together."
In the mansion's garden, the two walked side by side.
"Can we walk a bit faster?" Xu Linghe was dissatisfied with their leisurely pace.
Zhao Yiqing showed no intention of speeding up.
"You're pregnant now, so we need to be careful in everything. After the baby is born, you can do whatever you want, however you want."
"Really?" Xu Linghe asked skeptically.
Zhao Yiqing nodded, "A gentleman's word is his bond."
"Then let's agree now. After the baby is born, you'll take to the forge to buy weapons, and I want to go horseback riding in the suburbs..." Xu Linghe rattled on endlessly.
Zhao Yiqing listened patiently until she finished, "Alright, why don't you write down all the things you want to buy and do? After the baby is born, I'll accompany you to do them all."
"Great, it's a deal then!"
The autumn wind blew, causing leaves to fall from the trees and scatter on the ground.
In the courtyard where Xu Linghe and Zhao Yiqing lived, Hong Ying accompanied Xu Linghe while several maids swept up the fallen yellow leaves.
"Miss, would you like to read for a while?" Hong Ying handed Xu Linghe a book.
Xu Linghe waved her hand, "When have you ever seen read a book?"
"I've heard that reading more during pregnancy makes the child smarter. Why don't you read a bit for the baby's sake?" Hong Ying suggested.
Xu Linghe replied, "This child will definitely be like Yiqing. Whether I read or not doesn't matter much."
"But what if the child takes after you, miss? What then?" Hong Ying worried.
Xu Linghe puffed up angrily, "What's wrong with taking after ? What's not good about ?"
"It's not that you're not good, it's just that if the child takes after you, this mansion might beco quite lively," Hong Ying recalled so of Xu Linghe's childhood antics, rembering her as a little troublemaker.
"What's wrong with being lively? Yiqing just reads books all day, it's so boring. If the child is born like , at least I'll have soone to play with."
Zhao Yiqing walked into the courtyard from outside, "Linghe, is there sothing else you want to play with? I can buy it for you tomorrow."
"...Young master, I'm afraid this can't be bought," Hong Ying covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Zhao Yiqing gently covered Xu Linghe with a blanket, "Why can't it be bought?"
"Well, the miss said she wants to play with the child," Hong Ying explained. Only her mistress could say such things. She truly worried for the future young master or miss.
Zhao Yiqing smiled softly, "We'll wait for the child to be born, and then we can all play together."
"Yiqing, if this child turns out to be like , will you dislike it?" Xu Linghe asked.
Zhao Yiqing sat down in the chair next to her, "How could I? If the child is like you, that would be perfect. I'd love to have a daughter just like you."
"Then after the child is born, you can teach her to read and write, and I'll teach her martial arts. What do you think?"
"That sounds wonderful!"
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