Chapter 256: I Am Willing to Marry You
Chu Yi prepared a table full of delicacies.
He also gave birthday gifts to the two children for their fifth birthday.
For Yu Ge'er, it was a spear, while for Changsheng, it was an extremely rare guzheng.
"Father, I don't like the spear. I want a short sword instead," the little one pouted unhappily. "Father really doesn't understand me at all."
Truth be told, he preferred reading.
Now that he recognized more and more characters, he could gradually read a book on his own. A book could take him anywhere he wanted to go.
But because his mother was practicing martial arts, he wanted to do the same.
He wanted to protect those he cared about.
Chu Yi glanced at his arm. "I thought since your arms are short, you should use a longer weapon. But since you prefer a short sword..."
"No, Father, the spear is fine," Chu Hongyu said, picking up a cup of goat milk and drinking it. "Mother says drinking more goat milk helps you grow taller. Changsheng, you should drink more too."
The little girl gulped down an entire cup.
Yun Chu couldn't help but chuckle.
Halfway through the meal, the two children were full and went out hand in hand to play.
The flower hall was once again left with just the two of them.
Chu Yi recalled the hazy scene from that day. Even now, he wasn't sure whether it was a figment of his imagination or something that had truly happened.
He didn't dare stay any longer, afraid he might do something uncontrollable.
Just as he stood up, Yun Chu spoke: "Your Highness, I have something for you."
He immediately sat back down.
Yun Chu took two sachets from her sleeve and coughed lightly. "This one was embroidered by me, and this one was embroidered by Ting Xue for me. Your Highness may choose whichever you like."
The sachet embroidered by Ting Xue was exquisitely detailed, with intricate totems fit for a prince without losing dignity.
As for Yun Chu's sachet, it was supposed to be an auspicious cloud but looked more like a steamed bun.
She had considered embroidering another one, but estimated the result would be the same, so she decided not to trouble herself further.
The two sachets lay on the table.
The man's slender, well-defined fingers passed over the exquisite one and picked up the auspicious cloud sachet. "I like this one."
He was about to hang it directly from his waist when Yun Chu spoke again: "Wait a moment."
She opened a box behind her. "This is a jade pendant made from the green crystal you gave me."
The larger jade pendant, like the sachet, also featured an auspicious cloud pattern, with the character "Yi" faintly carved at the bottom.
The smaller jade pendant had a camellia pattern, with the character "Chu" carved at the bottom.
Yun Chu placed the larger jade pendant into Chu Yi's sachet, then looked up into the man's dark eyes and said, "I only made two jade pendants—one for you and one for me."
Chu Yi froze abruptly.
His eyes were filled with disbelief. "Yun... Chu, do you know what this means?"
"I know," Yun Chu curved her lips, her smile overflowing. "Such top-quality green crystal is unparalleled in this world. These two jade pendants belong only to you and me. This should... count as tokens of love, right?"
Chu Yi's breath caught.
His heart dared not beat anymore.
He spoke cautiously: "Yun Chu, do you know what you're saying?"
Yun Chu smiled at him.
Of course she knew what she was saying.
Before making the jade pendants, she had already confirmed her feelings.
When did she start falling for him?
It was hard to say.
She only knew that she was willing to marry him.He had taken ninety-nine steps, so she was willing to take the initiative to walk the remaining step.
"Yun Chu!" Chu Yi abruptly stood up and walked over to her. "You're willing to marry me, truly willing to become my wife, is that right?"
All this time, he had been paving the way for this very day.
He thought that if Yun Chu was willing to marry him, then everything would fall into place naturally.
If Yun Chu refused to become anyone's wife again, then he could follow suit and remain unmarried for life, living next to her, watching over her forever.
But when he was completely unprepared—
She had actually given him a token of love.
She simply looked at him with a smile.
Her crescent-moon-like eyes were filled with him.
He was absolutely certain that he occupied a place in her heart.
This realization sent Chu Yi into ecstatic joy.
He could no longer control himself. He leaned down, wrapped his arms around Yun Chu's waist, and captured her fragrant, soft, rosy lips.
The scene from his dreams had finally come true.
He couldn't bear to let go.
Lingering and savoring.
Entwined and caressing.
"Heavens, what is Father doing?"
A voice suddenly rang out from behind.
Immediately after, Cheng Xu stepped through the door and was stunned at the sight: "His Highness is quite bold!"
Ting Xue quickly picked up the Little Commandery Princess and, with her other hand, led Chu Hongyu outside: "Young Son, the snow wolves are here outside, let's go tease the snow wolves…"
She led the two children outside but saw Cheng Xu still standing dumbfounded, staring at their masters.
She said irritably, "You big oaf, come out and close the door!"
Cheng Xu snapped out of his daze, hurriedly turned back, and shut the parlor door.
"Uncle Cheng Xu, Aunt Ting Xue, what are Father and Mother doing?" Chu Hongyu asked curiously, his big eyes wide open. "Why couldn't we stay?"
Ting Xue's face flushed red.
That was a question she couldn't answer.
Cheng Xu scratched the back of his head: "Well, Young Son, you'll understand when you grow up."
After saying this, he glanced at Ting Xue and noticed that her lips looked especially crimson against the snowy backdrop.
He unconsciously licked his own lips.
Inside the parlor, Yun Chu's entire face was flushed bright red.
She could hardly believe the bold thing she had just done.
She looked up and glared at Chu Yi.
But to Chu Yi, this glare held no intimidation whatsoever; instead, her shimmering gaze was utterly captivating.
His Adam's apple bobbed heavily: "A moment ago... my apologies."
Yun Chu pretended to be composed, sitting up straight and smoothing her disheveled hair. She said seriously, "Your Highness—"
As soon as she spoke, Chu Yi interrupted her: "Addressing me as 'Your Highness' is too distant. You should call me Yi Lang, and I'll call you Chu'er."
Yun Chu felt her throat tighten.
The address "Yi Lang" was something she really couldn't bring herself to say.
She continued, "Regarding the marriage, what are your thoughts?"
"Let's set the engagement before New Year's Eve," Chu Yi said, gazing steadily at her. "Then hold the wedding in early spring after the new year, how does that sound?"
That meant they would marry in about two months.
The timeline sounded a bit rushed, but Yun Chu didn't think it was too hasty.
Since she had already decided to marry this man, they should push the wedding forward as soon as possible to avoid any complications.
Moreover, she also wanted to appear openly with the children in front of everyone, to hear them call her "Mother" openly and without reservation.
Things she hadn't even dared to imagine before were now within reach—this feeling was truly wonderful."Chu'er, continue with your affairs, leave all the wedding arrangements to me." Chu Yi's voice was filled with tenderness as he reached out to caress Yun Chu's face. "I will formally propose to the Yun family according to the rites and regulations—three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts, three letters and six ceremonies, an eight-carriage sedan chair to welcome you through the door..."
As soon as his words fell, Cheng Xu's voice sounded at the door: "Your Highness, that woman has been taken by Gong Xi Prince's men..."
A smile curled at the corner of Chu Yi's lips.
His dear second brother truly hadn't disappointed him.
"Chu'er, I must go to the palace and likely won't return until tomorrow morning. Rest early."
He bent down to kiss Yun Chu's forehead, then pushed open the door and departed through the wind and snow.
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