freenovelworld Chapter 787, Scene 1, Scene 1: It's all about her and him.
Chapter 787, Scene 1, Scene 1: It's all about her and him.
On this day, Qian Zhenyun left home early in the morning.
Feeling bored at home, Gu Qingchen went to the study to find her brother.
Gu Luzheng was looking at a scroll of documents, his brows furrowed.
"elder brother."
Gu Lu looked up and saw that it was her, his expression softened.
"what happened?"
"Where's Qian Zhenyun?" Gu Qingchen asked casually. "Why haven't I seen him today?"
In the past, whenever he had free time, he would always find various excuses to come to the Duke's mansion.
“Him?” Gu Lu raised an eyebrow, his eyes looking somewhat strange. “He said he wants to prepare a betrothal gift.”
"A betrothal gift?" Gu Qingchen was stunned.
"Hmm." Gu Lu put down the scroll in his hand and looked at her meaningfully. "He said he wants to give you a betrothal gift that is unique in the whole world."
Gu Qingchen's heart skipped a beat for no reason.
In the following days, Qian Zhenyun became unusually mysterious.
He often left early in the morning and didn't return until dark, his clothes still smelling of dirt and sawdust.
When Gu Qingchen asked him, he just smiled and said that he was helping an old friend repair the yard.
Gu Qingchen didn't believe it, but couldn't get any more information out of him.
On this day, Zhuque Street, the most bustling street in the capital, was suddenly sealed off by the Imperial Guard.
The people were talking about it, thinking that something serious had happened.
Soon, news spread.
It wasn't that something happened, but rather that someone had booked the entire Zhuque Avenue, seemingly to host some grand event.
Inside the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Gu Qingchen was being helped by Chu Ruohan and Song Ruyan to change into an elaborate and gorgeous flowing fairy dress with wide sleeves.
"Mother, Aunt, what are you doing?" Gu Qingchen looked at her elaborately dressed self in the mirror, completely puzzled.
Chu Ruohan simply smiled and placed the last phoenix-shaped gold hairpin with a pearl in its bead on her hair.
"You'll see when we get there." Song Ruyan held her hand, her eyes and brows full of smiles. "We, Gun Gun, have prepared a surprise for you."
surprise?
Gu Qingchen was half-pushed and half-supported by the two men into a magnificent carriage.
The carriage stopped at the intersection of Zhuque Avenue.
She was helped out of the car, looked up, and was instantly stunned.
The entire Zhuque Avenue was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the ground was covered with bright red flower petals, stretching all the way to the end of the road.
The streets were lined with people from the capital who had come after hearing the news.
At the end of that flower-strewn avenue, Qian Zhenyun stood.
He was dressed in a festive red brocade robe, which made his face look like jade and his posture upright.
He looked at her, his eyes filled with deep affection.
Then, he moved.
He didn't come over, but turned around and pointed to the pavilions on both sides of the street.
With his gesture, the windows of both pavilions were simultaneously pushed open.
Countless lanterns adorned with exquisite patterns were hung out of windows.
Each lantern depicts a different scene.
There were young children chasing each other in the snow.
There were some naive young boys peeking into the academy.
Young men and women, amidst the crowds at the lantern festival, suddenly turned around.
There are thrilling hunting grounds, turbulent palace banquets, and assassinations where life and death hang in the balance.
Scene after scene, all of them were of her and him.
From acquaintance to understanding, and then to commitment.
The entire Zhuque Avenue has been transformed into a time tunnel, showcasing their past to the entire capital city.
Gu Qingchen covered her mouth, her eyes glistening with tears.
This is what he meant by a unique betrothal gift.
The voices of the people were like a surging tide.
Gu Qingchen walked step by step, stepping on the petals on the ground, toward that person.
The wind blew the hem of his red coat.
He stood at the end of the road, his gaze sweeping across the entire street, landing only on her.
The paintings on the lanterns flashed before her eyes, one after another.
Her heart tightened, and she stopped breathing.
Finally, she walked up to him.
Qian Zhenyun looked at her, his eyes also red.
He opened his mouth, his voice a little dry.
"You came."
Gu Qingchen looked at him, and tears fell from her eyes.
"You fool."
He reached out and gently wiped away her tears.
"How do you like it?"
"I like it," Gu Qingchen said, but her tears fell even harder. "It's just too flashy."
Qian Zhenyun smiled.
"I want everyone in the capital to know." He took her hand and held it in his palm. "Gu Qingchen belongs to me, Qian Zhenyun."
He took her hand, turned around, and faced the crowd.
"I, Qian Zhenyun, today, with these ten miles of red lanterns as my betrothal gift, propose to marry Miss Gu Qingchen of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. In this life, she is the only one for me."
The sound echoed throughout the entire Zhuque Avenue.
The crowd was silent at first, then erupted into a huge roar.
Chu Ruohan and Song Ruyan stood not far away, watching this scene, both covering their mouths with handkerchiefs, their eyes filled with laughter.
Gu Qingchen's face was so red it looked like it was about to bleed.
She tried to pull her hand back, but he held it even tighter.
The wedding date was set very quickly.
Just one month later.
Both the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and the Qian family mansion were extremely busy.
Song Ruyan held Chu Ruohan's hand and ran to the warehouse every day.
"This headdress is too plain and doesn't suit Qingchen."
"This piece of brocade is fine; take it to make the lining for your wedding dress."
"Gungun is a good kid in every way, except he's too honest. I've seen the betrothal gift list, and we need to add more!"
Chu Ruohan listened with a smile, nodding occasionally.
"I'll do whatever you say. I've prepared the dowry, and I'll make sure Qingchen doesn't suffer the slightest grievance."
The two mothers huddled together, their smiles never fading.
A month goes by in a blink of an eye.
On the wedding day, the red bridal procession stretched for miles.
The wedding procession set off from the Qian family courtyard, accompanied by gongs and drums, and scattered wedding candies along the way, filling the entire capital with a festive atmosphere.
Gu Qingchen sat in the room, her head covered with a red veil.
She could hear the noisy voices outside, and the whispered instructions from her brother Gu Xuan and Gu Lu.
The door was pushed open.
Qian Zhenyun, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, walked in.
He walked up to her and, as is customary, carried her on his back.
His back was very steady.
Gu Qingchen lay on his back, smelling the faint scent of incense on him.
The noise outside seemed to have faded away.
We have paid our respects to Heaven and Earth, and to our parents.
The two were taken to their new house.
The maids and servants all left and closed the door.
In the room, only the faint sound of the dragon and phoenix candles burning remained.
Qian Zhenyun picked up the wedding scale and gently lifted her veil.
The face beneath the veil had skin as smooth as jade, and eyebrows and eyes as beautiful as a painting; in the candlelight, it was unrealistically beautiful.
The two looked at each other, both somewhat nervous.
"Are you hungry?" Qian Zhenyun asked first. "I had them prepare some food."
Gu Qingchen shook his head.
Qian Zhenyun walked to the table, picked up the wine pot, and prepared to pour the nuptial wine.
He shook the wine jug.
empty.
He then picked up the teapot next to him.
It's empty too.
Qian Zhenyun frowned.
"I'll go get someone."
He walked to the door, opened it, but there was no one outside.
"Qingchen".
A voice came from outside the window.
Gu Qingchen looked up and saw his younger brother, Gu Qinghong, leaning on the windowsill, with an unexpected person standing next to him.
Crown Prince, Zhao Chen'an.
Gu Qinghong's small face was full of cunning that was beyond her years.
"Brother-in-law," he shouted at Qian Zhenyun, "you won't be able to marry my sister so easily."
Qian Zhenyun was stunned, then smiled helplessly.
He walked back to the table and looked at Gu Qingchen.
Gu Qingchen also looked surprised, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Zhao Chen'an stood outside the window, looking at the beautiful couple inside the room, his expression complex.
He spoke, his voice flat.
"Zhenyun, Qinghong has prepared three tests for you. If you pass them, we will congratulate you both."
Qian Zhenyun cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the window.
"Your Highness, please ask your uncle to set the questions."
Gu Qinghong cleared her throat and took out a piece of paper.
"The first question is a written test. Brother-in-law, please compose a poem using my sister's name. It must be an acrostic and sincere, without saying the word 'love'."
After he finished reading, he looked at Qian Zhenyun triumphantly.
This question was something he and the Crown Prince came up with together, deliberately to make things difficult for him.
Qian Zhenyun glanced at Gu Qingchen.
Gu Qingchen was also looking at him, with a hint of worry in her eyes.
He smiled, reassuring her.
He walked to the desk, picked up the pen, thought for a moment, and then began to write on the back of the red marriage certificate.
He wrote very quickly, finishing it in one go.
After finishing writing, he handed the paper to Gu Qinghong outside the window.
Gu Qinghong took it and read it aloud.
"Our eyes shine brighter than the sun and moon, a gentle breeze caresses our faces as willow branches sway long. In the dim light of dawn, we hold hands, and our hearts will never part until we grow old together."
After reading it aloud, Gu Qinghong's face fell.
A hint of approval flashed in Zhao Chen'an's eyes.
This poem, though devoid of love, is filled with affection.
"Well, you pass." Gu Qinghong said unwillingly, "There's a second question..."
On the other side, in the study of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Gu Xuan knelt upright on the cold ground, his head bowed low.
Chu Ruohan reached out and gently stroked his head, her voice trembling slightly.
"It's good that you're back. It's all in the past."
She looked at her son's thin shoulders and felt a pang of sadness.
No child is perfect.
Gu Xuan's body stiffened for a moment. He slowly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes filled with regret and longing.
His lips trembled for a long time before he could utter a broken syllable.
"mother."
Chu Ruohan could no longer hold back her tears, and she pulled her son into her arms.
The study door was half open, and Gu Junze stood in the shadows, looking at the mother and son embracing in the courtyard. His tense jawline finally relaxed a little.