Chapter 466: Side Story - Each Finds Joy 9
"You are truly beautiful," Lady Bai couldn't help but exclaim while gazing at Chu Changsheng. "This is the first time I've seen someone so exquisite."
Chu Changsheng had heard such compliments too many times. She changed the subject with a smile, asking, "How long have you two been married?"
"A year now," Lady Bai replied with a gentle smile. "Originally, my husband planned to come to the capital alone for business, but he worried I couldn't manage everything at home by myself, so he brought me along."
Chu Changsheng asked curiously, "Don't you have parents to help at home?"
At this mention, Lady Bai sighed. "My mother-in-law has a younger son whom she favors excessively. Even when I was pregnant, she made me cook..."
"Ahem!" The young man coughed lightly, interrupting Lady Bai. "No need to dwell on domestic trivialities," he said with a smile.
But Chu Changsheng understood perfectly.
The childless couple her imperial parents had found for Xie Shiyun back then had eventually had a child of their own, naturally showing favoritism toward their biological son.
She couldn't help but look into the young man's eyes - they were completely clear and serene.
She saw no resentment or sense of injustice in his gaze.
The young man poured a cup of tea and personally handed it to Chu Changsheng. "Might I ask what brings you two here in such circumstances?"
"We were gathering herbs in the mountains and got injured," Chu Changsheng said with a light laugh. "Such experiences are rare in life - it's actually quite interesting."
If not for this incident, she wouldn't have encountered Xie Shiyun.
Seeing that he now had a wife and child, and his business was doing reasonably well, she felt happy for him.
The young man's lips parted slightly.
He actually wanted to ask what relationship she had with that man, and why they were wandering alone outside the capital.
She was, after all, the Princess of Great Jin - how had she ended up in such a sorry state...
But he couldn't bring himself to ask.
He was Luo Cheng now, no longer Xie Shiyun.
This identity had been bestowed upon him jointly by the Retired Emperor and Empress Dowager. He had eaten the Luo family's rice growing up, worn the Luo family's clothes, married the wife arranged by the Luo family - everything had progressed along a predetermined path.
Actually, he had regained his memories about half a year after living with the Luo family.
He had considered coming to the capital, but when the thought emerged, he felt lost. What would he do in the capital? The Xie family was gone - who could protect him?
Perhaps because he had saved Changsheng, Heaven had given him this chance to start over.
He began studying seriously, learning business, gradually taking over the Luo family's enterprises.
Though he wasn't of Luo blood, his adoptive parents' biological son was truly hopeless, so they had no choice but to rely on him.
As his adoptive parents gradually became no match for him, they often imposed strict rules on the wife they had arranged for him.
He had no choice but to bring his pregnant wife along to the capital.
He never dreamed that at the capital's gates, he would see a girl of extraordinary beauty.
It was actually his wife Lady Bai who spotted her first and pointed her out to him.
He only felt the face looked familiar, then suddenly remembered Yun Chu, and then - he saw the jade pendant hanging at her waist, and he knew her identity.
When he mentioned coming from Luochuan...
He could clearly sense the change in her expression.
He knew she still remembered Xie Shiyun, still remembered that pitiful, lonely child with nowhere to go...
As long as she remembered, that was enough.
Before long, the capital gates opened.
Murong Bi clasped his hands and said, "Thank you for the tea, Brother Luo. If you have time, you can visit me at the Xingguo Duke Residence. I'll be sure to host you properly."Xie Shiyun returned the gesture: "It was merely a small effort, not worth mentioning. Let us part ways here."
His wife, Madame Bai, stood stunned beside him, gazing at Chu Changsheng's retreating figure as if in a trance. "He... he's from the Duke of Xingguo's household? Heavens, husband, if we could befriend someone from the ducal residence, then..."
"Just a chance encounter," Xie Shiyun said mildly. "Let's go, we're in a hurry too."
Madame Bai asked cautiously, "Husband, that woman as beautiful as a celestial maiden just now... did you know her before?"
Xie Shiyun shook his head. "This is my first time in the capital. How could I possibly know her? Don't overthink it, let's go."
Leading his pregnant wife, he disappeared into the bustling crowd.
As the human tide surged, Xie Shiyun couldn't resist glancing back.
But the extraordinarily beautiful young maiden was already nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, Murong Bi also asked, "Did Your Highness know Brother Luo before?"
"He could be considered an old acquaintance," Chu Changsheng said with a light laugh. "But old acquaintances belong to the past. Some matters aren't worth revisiting."
As they spoke, a large group of guards suddenly approached from ahead.
The common folk nearby, not understanding what was happening, scattered like birds and beasts.
Chu Changsheng looked at the imposing Chu Hongyu before her and sighed helplessly. "Brother, why are you making such a grand spectacle?"
Chu Hongyu was nearly going mad.
Last night, those useless shadow guards had suddenly reported that Changsheng had fallen down the mountainside.
This had frightened him terribly, and he'd personally gone searching. Finally, Changsheng's shadow guards reported that his dear younger sister and the fourth young master of the Duke of Xingguo's household had supported each other, walking all the way from the mountain valley to the capital's western gate.
Changsheng had forbidden the shadow guards from assisting.
And refused to reveal her identity.
Waiting stubbornly at the city gate for two full hours.
Chu Hongyu strode over, pulling Chu Changsheng to his side as he glared furiously at Murong Bi. "Are you the youngest son of the Duke of Xingguo?"
Murong Bi bowed. "Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty. Indeed, I am. Last night, this humble servant and Her Highness went up the mountain..."
"Silence! Say no more," Chu Hongyu said coldly. "Not a single word about last night's events is to spread, or you will be held accountable!"
He pulled Chu Changsheng into the royal carriage.
His face dark, he demanded, "So you've set your heart on someone too, and kept it well hidden."
"Brother, what nonsense are you speaking? He's not the one in my heart," Chu Changsheng frowned. "If he hadn't protected me last night, I would have been the one injured. Brother, have someone send some medicinal herbs to the Duke of Xingguo's residence later."
"If he's not the one in your heart, then why send medicinal herbs!" Chu Hongyu gritted his teeth. "You wouldn't be thinking of making that fool your consort, would you?"
"Why is brother so angry? I'll have to choose a consort sooner or later," Chu Changsheng propped her chin on her hand. "Why don't you tell me, brother, who in the capital would be suitable to be my consort? I'll consider carefully."
This question thoroughly stumped Chu Hongyu.
He knew Chen San had long coveted the position of imperial consort, but that sycophant—he certainly didn't want a brother-in-law who only knew how to flatter.
The capital had Four Great Young Masters, men with both looks and talent, possessing everything one could want. But in his eyes, they still weren't worthy of his sister.
As for the sons of other noble families, most were spoiled dandies, many completely useless. He looked down on them entirely.
No one in the capital seemed suitable to him.
Broadening his perspective—what about the rulers of neighboring minor kingdoms?
At this thought, Chu Hongyu shook his head violently.No matter what, he couldn't bear to let Changsheng marry into another country!
"To become a consort, one must abandon their official career," Chu Changsheng said slowly. "Those pursuing official careers disdain becoming consorts, while most men who wish to become consorts are idle heirs of noble families. Brother, what should we do?"
Chu Hongyu was also at a loss: "Yes, what should we do?"
She couldn't remain unmarried forever.
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