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Chapter 35.2: Ceremonial Gift




“I have a gift I wish to give Your Highness.”
After tidying people up in one day, Li Rong was quite happy, eating well and sleeping soundly every day, but nevertheless, Pei Wenxuan was not living too comfortably.
He handled official business during the day, but in the dead of night, his thoughts were a bit all over the place.
In the past two nights, he would dream of his previous life. He dreamt that he heard the news of Li Rong being punished and rushed over to find her. He ran very fast every time. He didn’t know what was happening in the dream, but he only knew that he had to run a little faster. It was just that every time he frantically ran over, he would see two people there, one kneeling and the other standing.
The two of them stood together in the same place as if there was no one else around.
He was like a wandering ghost without incense offerings, floating beside them as half a lifetime went by in a flash.
He sometimes saw them drinking wine on the promenade, sometimes he saw them playing Go, and sometimes he would see it raining heavily, and Su Rongqing was there, holding an umbrella. Li Rong ran over in a few steps and squeezed in by his side, bringing her hand up to hold the crook of his arm.
The dream didn’t go on for long, so he always woke up in the middle of the night. Once he woke up, there was nothing but the emptiness of the room and the moonlight shining in from outside, just like on countless nights in the previous life.
In this moment of solitude, he would feel afraid and ashamed. As it grew closer to the wedding day, these feelings of shame became more and more pronounced.
He was vaguely aware of what was bothering him, but he didn’t want to face it.
He felt like a thief—like he had stolen something.
Li Rong was rather different from him in the previous life.
The longer he lived, the more his lived experiences narrowed down. It wasn’t until he was reborn and saw the beauty of the clouds, moon and mountains, witnessed the spirit of youth and chased after a dream in Tuoba Yan’s villa that he came to the sudden realization that he had wandered off the path.
But Li Rong was far more open-minded in terms of her outlook in life in the previous life.
With the exception of the moments before her death, Li Rong could be considered blessed in the latter half of her life.
He saw Su Rongqing taking care of Li Rong and saw them falling in love.
Li Rong said that she would never be with Su Rongqing in this life because she was old and could not like Su Rongqing who was only twenty now.
But in fact, Pei Wenxuan knew that there might be a kind of fear in Li Rong’s heart that was ingrained deep within her.
She was afraid of repeating the same mistakes. The Su Rongqing in her imagination was so calm and unperturbed that he had no understanding of emotions.
But Pei Wenxuan knew that beneath the surface of this prejudice was nothing but extreme means for Li Rong to protect herself.
How could a Su Rongqing who could lose his composure over a letter be as Li Rong had described—a cold-blooded instrument with not a care in the world aside from his clan?
Su Rongqing was quite good.
Much better than Li Rong had imagined.
It was just that Li Rong didn’t dare to think about it, and it was him—Pei Wenxuan, who just happened to take advantage of this loophole of an opportunity and received the marriage decree. His marriage itself was made possible through Li Rong’s misfortune.
Since it came from Li Rong’s misfortune, how could he sleep peacefully and ignore it?
Late in the night, the more Pei Wenxuan thought about it, the more he stayed awake and had to try to hold on and go about official business during the day. Everyone conveyed their blessings when they saw him, but Pei Wenxuan had no particular expressions on his face and responded to all with a smile. According to Great Xia’s customs, money would be given out to everyone who came to give their blessings.
Only he didn’t expect that he would finally run into Su Rongqing after a round of handing out money.
He couldn’t help but be surprised when he saw Su Rongqing. Su Rongqing smiled and clasped his hands together in salute: “Could it be that Pei daren does not want to give me celebratory money?”
“How could that be?” Pei Wenxuan quickly returned to his senses and hurriedly said, “It’s just that I didn’t expect Su daren to be here. Is Su daren not on official duty?”
“I happened to be passing by and saw everyone gathered here, so I figured I should join in on the excitement.”
Pei Wenxuan put the celebratory money into Su Rongqing’s hands after hearing that. Su Rongqing looked at the silver ingot in his hand and sincerely said: “May you live a long and happy life together.”
“Thank you.”
“Once married,” Su Rongqing half-jokingly began, “You have to draw a clear line with other young ladies and avoid offending the princess by all means.”
Pei Wenxuan was stunned and blankly stared at Su Rongqing. Su Rongqing saw his astonishment and quickly said: “It was just a joke. Don’t take it seriously.”
It was just a joke, but it was certainly how his and Li Rong’s relationship began to fracture back then.
Su Rongqing saluted and turned around, planning to leave with the crowd. Pei Wenxuan suddenly called out to Su Rongqing: “Su daren.”
Su Rongqing turned back and heard Pei Wenxuan ask in all seriousness: “If you wife has a conflict with your family, what will you do?”
Su Rongqing did not expect Pei Wenxuan to suddenly ask a question like this. Someone next to him hastily said: “Hasn’t Pei daren learned from experience? If the princess has a conflict with the family, then just bear with it.”
Pei Wenxuan’s question didn’t seem too strange after others jumped in to interject like this. Pei Wenxuan looked at Su Rongqing, and Su Rongqing thought to himself for a moment before he finally said: “I would see who is more reasonable and stand by that person.”
“Wouldn’t it be proper to hold your family in higher regard?” Pei Wenxuan urgently pressed.
“Isn’t the wife also family?”
Su Rongqing returned the question.
Pei Wenxuan was silent. Su Rongqing smiled and saluted, then he walked off.
“Pei daren.” Someone next to Pei Wenxuan nudged him, “Hurry up and have a beloved son soon.”
Pei Wenxuan laughed, feeling rather helpless as he began to distribute money again.
By the time the celebratory gifts had been distributed, it was almost nightfall. Pei Wenxuan was coming out of the official bureau when he saw the head of household affairs from the Princess’s mansion standing at the gates. When Pei Wenxuan saw him, he felt his heart speed up a bit.
There was no such anxiety when he normally saw him, but Pei Wenxuan felt a bit flustered to see him today.
But he tried to keep his composure and came forward to bow to the other party: “Which wind has sent daren this way?”
“You will be marrying the princess tomorrow, so I figured you must be busy today. It must not be convenient to go to the Princess’s mansion, so I came here instead.”
The other party smiled: “The princess has a message for you.”
With that said, he handed Pei Wenxuan a letter.
In the letter, Li Rong admonished him and basically said that she was feeling a little frustrated since they were about to be married, and she had nothing to do. She hoped that he would be on his best behavior and perform well when they get married tomorrow so as not to make her lose face. Otherwise, she wouldn’t just have him jump into the lake; she would personally make him sink to the bottom of the lake.
Pei Wenxuan read Li Rong’s letter and subconsciously burst out into laughter.
The head of household affairs was watching as he stood off to the side and couldn’t help but ask: “What kind of pleasantries did Her Highness say?”
“None,” Pei Wenxuan folded the letter and frankly said: “She scolded me.”
“Her Highness’s personality has always been like this,” He was unexpectedly very familiar with this, “She only scolds the people she holds in high regard. If she doesn’t like someone, she wouldn’t even look at them.”
“Then I must thank Her Highness for her acknowledgement.”
“Her Highness is a very good young lady,” For some reason, the conversation took an abrupt turn. The head of household affairs resembled an elder as he warmly told him, “Although she is a princess, Her Highness truly isn’t a rude and arrogant person. Even if she wasn’t a princess, she would still be a very good wife. Although she often scolds Pei daren, Her Highness would often tell us that Pei daren has a bad stomach and asked us to make more digestible food. The tea you drank when you came to the mansion had been prepared by Her Highness’s orders, saying that this was the tea you have always liked to drink.”
Pei Wenxuan quietly listened as these everyday things were recounted. After some time, he let out a low chuckle: “She usually scolds me, so I thought she really hated me.”
“Pei daren must be joking,” The other person shook his head, “Her Highness once said that you treat her well these days, so she also hopes that you will be able to live well in this lifetime.”
Pei Wenxuan was silent. For ordinary people, the phrase “to live well in this lifetime” might just be a statement made in passing.
But Pei Wenxuan knew very well that Li Rong was sincere when she said this and genuinely hoped that he would be able to live well in this lifetime.
In their previous lifetime, no one lived a happy life, especially him—cut off from others and all alone in this world.
Li Rong was the kind of person who returned brute force with brute force. If you are not good to her, she will fight to the very end, refusing to concede even a single inch.
But if you are good to her, even just a bit, her heart will soften in every way and as would her guard.
Pei Wenxuan felt a little uncomfortable. He felt that there was something stifling in his chest that he couldn’t force out or swallow down. After a while, he softly murmured, “As do I.”
“I hope Her Highness will be able to live well in this lifetime too.”
“Since you both think of it that way,” The head of household affairs chuckled, “I can rest assured now.”
Having said that, he looked up at the sky and said: “If there is nothing else, daren should return and prepare first.”
“Daren,” Pei Wenxuan called out to him, “Can I trouble you to help me relay a few words to the princess?”
“Hm?”
“Just tell her,” Pei Wenxuan, “I have a gift for her, something she has been looking forward to for a long time, and I will give it to her tomorrow. When she sees,” Pei Wenxuan’s voice was gentle, “Let her know that there is no need to be so grateful.”
The author has something to say:
Another term for Pei Wenxuan’s current symptoms: “cold feet before the wedding”
【Mini Theater 1】
Li Rong: “If you dare mention another word ‘Su,’ I will have you submerged in the lake.”
Pei Wenxuan: “Su Rongqing, Su Rongqing, Su Rongqing.” *all very quickly*
Pei Wenxuan is submerged in the lake, and the whole story ends.
【Mini Theater 2】
Su Rongqing: “May you live a long and happy life together, you must be good to the princess.”
Pei Wenxuan: “I wish you both happiness and likewise for you.”
The princess: “???? What are you guys doing? Are you sisters who have been reunited in perfect harmony? Get it straight, this is grounds for a chaste and righteous husband to be cheated on in the web novel world, okay?!!”
【Mini Theater 3】
Pei Wenxuan: “I know you like Su Rongqing. Let me give you a pat on the head *there, there.* Don’t be afraid.”
Li Rong: “What? Who? I like Su Rongqing? Why didn’t I know? Don’t do that! Don’t touch my head!!”
[*Edited and added meme for clarity.]
https://tenor.com/view/patpat-pat-comfort-patonthehead-therethere-gif-10534102
【Mini Theater 4】
Pei Wenxuan: “Your Highness, I have a gift for you. Don’t feel too grateful to me when you see it.”
Li Rong: “Guards, drag him out and submerge him in the lake.”
Jing Lan: “For what, Your Highness?”
Li Rong: “The thoughts in his head never seem to match up with mine. He has been saying not to feel too grateful towards him, so it seems like he’s gone and done something big to deserve to be submerged in the lake.”