Lin Nianzhi was still holding her hand reluctantly to say goodbye, but when she saw Du Jingruo, she immediately lowered her face, let go of her sister’s hand and turned around to re-enter the house.
Lin Feilu secretly gave Du Jingruo a cheering gesture, one which he appreciated and returned with a nod as he looked at the half-closed gates with a helpless and doting smile reflected in his eyes.
Although Lin Nianzhi looked angry, it was evident she left the door ajar for him.
Du Jingruo walked all the way inside the courtyard before noticing that Lin Nianzhi’s door was half-closed. He walked to the door but did not push it further open as he only knocked on it twice.
Lin Nianzhi’s unhappy voice echoed from inside, “What do you want?!”
He sighed slightly and spoke softly, “Niannian, come home with me.”
After a while, a muffled voice resounded again, “What for? To watch you marry a concubine?”
He still whispered softly, “I won’t take in a concubine; having Niannian is enough.”
After a while, the door was opened. Lin Nianzhi stood inside with reddened eyes. She was sniffling as she yelled at him, “Du Jingruo, listen to me! If you ever make me angry again, I will run away! You know what? I will run far away so that you can never find me again!”
He nodded, “I’ll remember.”
Lin Nianzhi, “Humph!”
He smiled and took her hand, “Let’s go home.”
Lin Nianzhi turned her head away, obviously unhappy, “My feet hurt! I can’t walk! I’ll go back in a few days!”
Du Jingruo looked down at her feet which were wearing her white pair of silk embroidered shoes and said warmly, “I’ll carry you home on my back.”
Despite being married for so many years, despite being an official pair of husband and wife for so many years, and despite being familiar with every position on each other’s body, Lin Nianzhi found that his gentle tone would still move her.
Her cheeks turned into a rosy shade of crimson as she said awkwardly, “Who… who would want that!”
Du Jingruo smiled before he suddenly held her in a bridal carry.
Lin Nianzhi was so frightened that she put her arms around his neck and stared blankly at the romantic mole situated at the corner of his eye.
She heard him say softly, “Then I’ll carry you like this. Let’s go home, Niannian.”
A few days after returning to the palace, the Imperial Decree of Lin Qing and Si Miaoran’s marriage was indeed issued.
Si Miaoran was only fifteen years old, but whether it be her family background, upbringing or appearance, she was definitely worthy of bearing the position of the Crown Princess. The people in the Royal Astronomy Supervisors predicted and calculated an auspicious day and set it as the date of marriage. As it was going to be held in less than half a year in the weather of late autumn, the atmosphere inside and outside the palace were both bustling.
Lin Feilu took that chance and secretly snuck out of the palace to see the future Crown Princess. She was known as a symbol of beauty— the kind who didn’t show her teeth when she smiled.
In fact, according to her thoughts, Lin Qing’s dignified and calm temperament should be matched with an outgoing girl. Si Miaoran was the epitome of a perfect lady, both knowledgeable and reasonable in terms of character. She was inevitably slightly similar to Lin Qing as she behaved in a very disciplined manner.
But how could the children ever call the shots when it came down to a marriage between royals?
After Lin Feilu saw her future sister-in-law, she ran to the Eastern Palace as soon as she returned.