Mo Sang – CH 352

Chapter 352. Wish Fulfilled

After Li Sangrou had collected fresh vegetables and fruits twice, Gu Xi entered the backyard of Shunfeng Headquarters in the afternoon.

Li Sangrou brewed tea and cut a small melon that Ru-Yi had brought that morning, placing it in front of Gu Xi.

“I had lunch with my Elder Brother and sister-in-law,” Gu Xi said, looking at the plate of melon.

“Mm,” Li Sangrou replied, picking up her cup and sipping her tea.

“Elder Brother said you are going south?” Gu Xi looked at Li Sangrou from the melon.

“Yes.”

“Just like that?” Gu Xi asked after a moment of silence.

“Yes.”

“And me?” Gu Xi looked at Li Sangrou.

“Are you going to be a prince in Jianle City? Or something else?” Li Sangrou spread her hands.

“What’s the point of me being alone?”

“I’ve told you, more than once, I will not get involved in family matters, household chores, or having children. There’s no way anything can happen between us,” Li Sangrou said bluntly.

“Perhaps you simply cannot have children,” Gu Xi said after a moment of silence.

Li Sangrou chuckled. “If we switched places, and you were the woman, I’d be willing to try. It would be best if you did not have children. If you did, then you could stay home, carry the baby for ten months, give birth, and then have another one.

Right now, I am the woman. I am not taking such a risk.”

“Then there’s no need to flee south.” Gu Xi remained silent for a while.

“Going south has been in my plans for a while, but setting off recently is a bit early. Originally, I planned to leave in the latter half of next year, after the ship was built.

I’m leaving soon.” Li Sangrou paused, looked at Gu Xi, and, after a moment, smiled. “It is indeed about avoiding you. I have feelings for you, and with feelings come temptations. It is better to avoid it; I have many things to do.”

“Your words,” Gu Xi smiled bitterly, “are both pleasing and hurtful.”

“There’s no other way,” Li Sangrou said softly.

Gu Xi looked dejected, leaning back in his chair and gazing up at the sky.

“Life is full of disappointments, eight or nine out of ten. For you, these disappointments are only four or five out of ten. Try to think positively,” Li Sangrou comforted him.

Gu Xi ignored her. After a while, he sat up straight. “How’s the digging of those ice cellars for Master Qiao going?”

“I do not know. They’ve fenced off a small hill, over a thousand mu. They will dig slowly,” Li Sangrou sighed.

In this snail-paced era, she had long since developed patience. Everything had to be done slowly.

“I will go check on them first thing tomorrow morning,” Gu Xi sighed as well.

“We cannot rush it. Take it slow,” Li Sangrou sighed again.

“I’ve taken my errand; I will be going now.” Gu Xi stood up, pointing to the plate of melons. “These melons do not grow many on one vine. They taste good. I’ve already eaten some. This is for you.”

“Alright.” Li Sangrou reached for the plate.

………………………………

Princess Ninghe was getting married. Two invitations were sent to Chaomi Alley. One was for Li Sangrou, inviting her and her brothers to the ceremony. The other was for Hei Ma alone.

Hei Ma received the large red and gold invitation and excitedly danced around, spinning several times. Not daring to rush towards Li Sangrou, he plunged into the presence of Da Chang, who was pounding rice cakes, his excitement incoherent.

“Look! Look! Look! Me! Mine! Look at this name, me! Ma Shaoqing!”

Da Chang glanced at him sideways, grabbed Hei Ma by the collar, and dragged him down the steps.

Hei Ma spun around one more time, then lunged to the other side. Xiao Lu and Datou were face-to-face, carefully picking the sesame seeds out of the bamboo tray.

“Look! Look! One for the Boss! One for me! Look at my name! Did you see it?!”

Datou craned his neck to look, glanced at Xiao Lu, who had not moved, and then shrank back.

Hei Ma spun around in place, unable to contain his excitement, waving the invitation and shouting, “I will go ask Seventh Master if he received one!”

Da Chang stopped, speechless, watching Hei Ma dash towards the door.

“Let him go; Seventh Master will definitely be incredibly envious,” Li Sangrou said without even looking up.

“Really, Seventh Master and Brother Ma get along best. Last time, Brother Ma said he went to Tianshui Alley, and all along the way, people were calling him ‘Master Ma’ and bowing to him. Seventh Master was so envious, he followed behind Brother Ma, calling him ‘Brother Ma’ this and ‘Brother Ma’ that all day long!” Xiao Lu clicked his tongue in admiration.

“Seventh Master even invited Brother Ma to stroll through Tianshui Alley.

Brother Ma said the Boss said that going to a brothel has its rules, and you cannot skimp on the money.

Brother Ma said he only has ten copper coins for pocket money; any more than that, and he’d have to get coins from Brother Chang. Brother Chang definitely will not give him the money for going to the brothel, so he asked Seventh Master if he had any.” Datou stuck his head out and chimed in, “Seventh Master said he did not have any money; that’s why he asked Brother Ma to go with him.”

“And then what happened? Did he go?” Xiao Lu was quite curious.

“Later, Brother Chang made me carry things, I do not know.” Datou shook his head.

“Mazha definitely knows, Mazha!” Xiao Lu shouted.

“What?” Mazha rushed in through the moon gate.

“That time, Seventh Master invited Brother Ma to stroll through Tianshui Alley, and then what happened? Did he go?” Xiao Lu asked, looking at Mazha.

“That time a few days ago? What a trip! They spent ages scraping together only fifty or so coins, bought a bag of roasted chestnuts, and shared them.” Mazha shook his head, pouting.

“Roasted chestnuts cost fifty coins a bag now?” Li Sangrou asked in surprise.

“No, still twenty coins a bag, a big bag. I ate two skewers of mutton and gave the remaining twenty coins to Brother Chang,” Mazha chuckled.

“Go buy some roasted chestnuts to eat. The chestnuts this year are better than in previous years,” Li Sangrou instructed.

………………………………

The Emperor’s wedding was initially solemn and dignified, but with Princess Ninghe’s marriage, the focus shifted to liveliness.

This was not the first time a princess of this dynasty had married; countless princesses had married before.

However, firstly, the Eldest Princess was the first; secondly, none of the previous princesses had received the same imperial favor as Princess Ninghe; and thirdly, none had been a prince second only to the Emperor, able to dictate events at will.

Princess Ninghe’s marriage was still overseen by Prime Minister Pan.

Prime Minister Pan was shrewd and understood the difference between the two weddings perfectly. The Emperor’s wedding prioritized grandeur, while Princess Ninghe’s marriage prioritized spectacle.

Prime Minister Pan almost completely accepted Gu Xi’s impulsive decisions; as long as it was lively and lavish, nothing else mattered.

For this wedding, Li Sangrou specially prepared a new outfit: indigo trousers, a maroon skirt, and a maroon jacket. Although her hair was still tied up, it was neatly combed and adorned with a red coral hairpin.

Gu Xi bore the heavy responsibility of escorting the bride, along with Empress Zhou’s younger brother, Zhou Yishan.

Hei Ma, dressed in pale green silk trousers and a bright red half-length gown, his turban a secondhand purchase from Pan Dingbang, waved his expensive thirty-coin folding fan as he watched the commotion with Pan Dingbang.

Xiao Lu, Mazha, and Chuantiao hesitated, then decided to follow Hei Ma—Brother Ma’s group was having a good time!

Datou, without hesitation, joined the three of them.

Da Chang, not entirely comfortable with Hei Ma, also went along.

At the street corner leading to the brand-new Wen Mansion stood a brightly decorated pavilion adorned with red ribbons.

Li Sangrou sat on the second-floor beam of the pavilion, swinging her legs comfortably between two large, festive red silk flowers, gazing at the impeccably clean street.

From afar, a distinctly high-quality drum and music rang out. Li Sangrou braced herself against the beam and craned her neck to look.

At the forefront was the royal music ensemble, providing the drums and music. Behind them were rows and rows of court entertainers, their long, flowing sleeves billowing as they danced and walked.

This group of dancing court entertainers was supposedly Pan Dingbang’s idea, and Gu Xi had actually given his approval, so Prime Minister Pan had no choice but to reluctantly join in.

It was quite a sight to behold.

Li Sangrou looked at each of the court entertainers, observing and smiling.

Behind the dancing court entertainers were pairs of first-class matchmakers, each holding a handkerchief, their gait dignified yet their expressions joyful—they did it quite well.

Behind the matchmakers were about ten pairs of guards on horseback. These were handpicked by Gu Xi from his personal guards. Prime Minister Pan could not understand why he had added these ten pairs of guards.

Behind the guards were six pairs of groomsmen, all young men from the Wen family who had come from Taizhou. Young and inexperienced, they rode on horseback, their expressions stern with joy, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Behind the six pairs of groomsmen stood the groom, Wen Cheng, his green robe adorned with red floral patterns, dazzlingly bright.

Li Sangrou leaned forward slightly, her gaze slowly shifting from the large red ribbon tied at the horse’s head to Wen Cheng’s hand gripping the reins, then following the shimmering silk sleeves of his robe, to the cloak trailing behind the horse, and finally to Wen Cheng himself, who seemed to glow.

This was the radiance of happiness!

Li Sangrou gazed intently at Wen Cheng, a smile spreading across her lips.

He had finally achieved his wish, marrying the one he loved.

Although this was another time and space, let it be as if the person before her was an unknowing, unaware version of him. In this life, love had not let him down.

Li Sangrou smiled as she watched Wen Cheng pass by and disappear into the distance, heading towards the imperial city. She raised her hand and slowly waved.

May you be happy for the rest of your life!