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  Three years later, Jiangnan.

  In the south of the land of fish and rice, the spring-summer transition is always exceptionally warm and beautiful. The rippling lake water, the willows and poplars swaying gently in the breeze, all combine to create a picturesque scene that delights the senses. As the saying goes, "the gentle breeze intoxicates travelers", this May is precisely the time when scholars and gentlemen love to venture out into nature. Literary youths with exceptional talent have left behind many moving poems inspired by these charming spring scenes. Inns within Zhejiang city are filled with guests arriving like clouds, while the villas and cottages in the suburbs also receive a constant stream of visitors.

  It was just after noon, and the sky had already darkened with a layer of evening shadows. However, the Jiangnan Xie family's villa was already brightly lit, as the third son of the Xie family, Shi Rui, had passed the imperial examination and been appointed as the seventh-rank magistrate of Lin Nan Prefecture's Anping County. He would be taking office soon, so he took advantage of the opportunity to host a farewell banquet for his friends and relatives at the villa, where they feasted and celebrated every night.

  Xie Shiyi welcomed a few friends he had been in contact with every day at the gate of the courtyard, and was about to invite them in when he saw four or five luxurious horse-drawn carriages drive past the gate and stop directly in front of the villa opposite, which had the words "Jingyuan" written on it.

  The owner of the quiet garden was a young couple who had been seen a few times, although they looked extraordinary in terms of their demeanor and elegance, but they only claimed to be from Xining, with the surname Zhou, and nothing else could be found out about them. Although Zhou is a national surname, not all people with this surname are members of the royal family within the Zhou Dynasty, and the surname Zhou is scattered throughout the four seas, including a declining aristocratic family in Xining that bears the surname Zhou. Therefore, he thought that this young couple was probably a descendant of the Zhou family from Xining, who had been expelled by their family and moved to Zhejiang Province to avoid persecution.

  But just now, that team of horse-drawn carriages passed by, and Xie Shiyu caught a glimpse of the crest on the carriage, recognizing it as the emblem of the Pingnan Marquis Manor. The Pingnan Marquis Gu Yuanjing was originally the third son of the Yongning Hou Manor, but due to his meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion, he was granted the title of First-Class Pingnan Marquis by the Emperor. Moreover, being the younger brother of the Empress Dowager, he enjoyed the deep trust of the young Emperor and had been dominating the imperial court for the past two years, along with Han Xiang and Jianning Hou, forming a trio that propped up the new dynasty's politics, making him a powerful minister in high favor.

  He was shocked in his heart and suspected the relationship between Pingnanbo Mansion and Jingyuan across the street, so he simply stood at the door and didn't leave. He deliberately wanted to see who came out of the carriage and who came out to greet them.

  Only to see the car curtain slightly moving, a dignified man jumped down. He looked very young, only in his early twenties, although he was wearing a plain green robe, but his appearance was extraordinary, with an air of majesty and dignity, and there was an aura of intimidation around him. It was none other than Guo Yuanjing, the Duke of Pingnan himself.

  Gu Yuanjing ordered the young servant beside him to knock on the tightly closed door ring, while he himself took a child of less than two years old from the carriage, with a face full of powder and jade. When facing the child in his arms, his usual serious expression suddenly disappeared, and he became a kind father. He gently kissed the forehead of Yuexue's lovely child, then turned his head to call out to the carriage "Madam, come down."

  A beautiful woman in a apricot-colored dress got out of the car, her movements were elegant and refined, every gesture and step showed the demeanor of a noble lady. But when she walked up to Gu Yuanjing, her face was filled with playful coquetry, she pouted and said "Xuan sister is really... not even willing to ask a servant to open the door, we've been here for so long and the door still hasn't opened."

  She couldn't help but shout loudly "Friends from afar have come, open the door!"

  As soon as the words fell, the door creaked open and a stout woman with a big belly poked her head out. She was holding a three-year-old boy by the hand, who ran into the beautiful woman's arms with a smile on his face. "Sister! Brother!"

  She exclaimed with surprise at the little boy in Gu Yuanjing's arms, "Ah, Xing Ge is also here to see Auntie! Come in quickly, come in quickly."

  "Where's your husband? Where are the people in the house? Where did Dan Hong and Chang Geng go? And where's Zhan Ge? You're pregnant, and they dare to let you stay home alone with a child. No one even comes to visit, and you have to open the door yourself! What is your husband thinking?! If he can't take good care of you, then this time, Zhan Ge will come with me to Shengjing, and we'll live in the Earl's residence. I and my sister-in-law will take care of everything."

  The woman with a big belly burst out laughing, while welcoming the traveler into the house, saying "See what brother said, Ah Chen is very good to me, we barely escaped from Shengjing, who wants to go back? Besides, it's not like I'm usually alone at home, today is because I wanted to eat the fruit from the back mountain, Ah Chen took Zhang Guo to the back mountain to pick some personally, when they left, they hung down the water pot, I asked Dan Hong to send it over, that's why I was left alone."

  Xie Shi Rui wanted to listen further, but saw that the door of Jingyuan was closed, and only faint voices could be heard, which were no longer clear.

  But this fact alone was enough to shock him greatly. He had taken the imperial examination in Shengjing and naturally knew about the famous families of Shengjing. He had just heard clearly that the mistress of Jingyuan called Pingnan Bo Guo Yuanjing "brother", and Pingnan Bo only had one sister, who was the famous Princess Anping. When he was in Shengjing, he heard that Princess Anping had contracted a serious illness and left the capital to recuperate, but the pregnant woman he saw earlier had a rosy complexion and a healthy body, without any sign of being seriously ill?

  However, listening to their conversation confirmed his conjecture that the ones living in the quiet garden were indeed Prince Anping and Princess Wang.

  Xie Shi Rui was stunned for a moment, standing still in his tracks. He suddenly thought that he had a prince living nearby and felt a sense of pride. At the same time, he was relieved that he had always treated Zhou Shi's couple with courtesy, not neglecting them because of their humble status. He also felt that being able to get along with Anping Wang and Pingnan Bo would be beneficial for his future career. At the same time, he found it difficult to deepen his relationship with Jingyuan.

  His friend who came with him was impatient and asked, "Brother Xie, what's going on?"

  He came back to his senses and hastily said, "Ah, no need for formalities, gentlemen! The wine and water are already prepared. Let's hurry in and have a drink!"

  Inside the quiet garden, Ming Xuan arranged rooms for Gu Yuanjing and Huang Yi. Before long, Pei Jingchen and Changgeng Danhong also returned, preparing a table of home-cooked dishes. At this time, Changgeng and Danhong had already become husband and wife under the witness of Ming Xuan couple. In order to stay away from Shengjing, they wanted to live a secluded life in Jiangnan water town, so Pei Jingchen and Ming Xuan returned their sale contracts to them. From then on, they no longer treated each other as master and servant, but as close brothers and sisters.

  It was evening, at dinner time, Ming Xuan also asked Zhang Cheng and Dan Hong couple to sit with them. Zhan Er and Xin Er were taken care of by the wet nurses and nannies brought from Ping Nan Bo's residence. The six of them sat in a circle, drinking and chatting happily, sharing stories of their parting emotions. They all shared interesting news that had happened around them, especially those special ones to say. This time, not only did they drink to their heart's content, but also chatted with great relish.

  Wine entered seven parts, Huang Yi asked Ming Xuan: "Giving up the noble life of Princess Wang and coming to the countryside with your brother-in-law to spend these hard days, don't you regret it at all?"

  Ming Xuan smiled and asked in return, "Giving up the carefree life in the southern border's Miao village, and coming with my brother to the strict and intricate Shengjing, as a countess who can't put down her dignity, doesn't sister regret it at all?"

  "I thought about it seriously and shook my head firmly. 'I'm not used to it, but I'll try my best to do what I should do. Occasionally, I miss the life before, but now I'm trying hard to make the most of these days. It's inevitable that I miss those carefree days, but I've never regretted it. Because the one I love is in Shengjing, he needs me to be a countess who can't put down her dignity, as long as he needs me, I'll do it without hesitation, this has always been my principle."

  Her face lit up with a bright and beautiful smile "Yes, I don't regret it at all!"

  Ming Xuan also laughed "Then my heart and yours should be the same, only relatively speaking, it's even more difficult than mine. Although the days here are a bit quieter and simpler, if you say they're bitter, that's not true at all. Besides, Zhejiang is also a prosperous place, it can't be considered a rural area, I'm not bound by rules and regulations here, I can live however I want, it's so comfortable! In fact, this is the kind of life I've always wanted to live."

  She glanced at Pei Jingchen, a sweet smile spreading across her face. "Wherever you, Ah Chen and Zhan Ge are, that's where our home is, and I don't regret it one bit!"

  No mistake, after giving birth to Zhan Ge, Ming Xuan had always wanted to escape politics and leave the hustle and bustle of Shengjing City behind, living a carefree life in seclusion. This was also Pei Jingzhen's long-held wish, so the two agreed and used Ming Xuan's postpartum weakness as an excuse to bid farewell to Yu Zhen Shitai and the young emperor, leaving Shengjing under the pretext of seeking medical treatment and rest.

  The young emperor relied on Ming Xuan, and at first he was naturally unwilling, but after Pei Jingchen personally entered the palace and had a long conversation with Yu Zhen Shitai, it didn't take a few days for Shitai to persuade the young emperor to agree. The young emperor became more and more dependent on Ming Xuan every day, and he really regarded Ming Xuan as a substitute for his mother. Although this feeling could lay a solid foundation and guarantee for future stability and wealth, at the same time, the other side of the blade was also facing himself.

  The young emperor is too dependent on Ming Huan, which will not only threaten the status of Yu Zhen Shitai, but also change the pattern that has already been stabilized in the imperial court.

  At this time, Ming Xuan and Pei Jingchen withdrew, which was the best for everyone. With the emperor's thoughts and Yu Zhen Shitai's maintenance, even if there is only a nominal title of a prince, without any power in hand, no one would dare to bully them on the territory of Zhou Dynasty. Moreover, the dark guards of the Pei family were still there, and the forces that Pei Jingchen had operated for many years were still there. He and Ming Xuan could truly stay away from politics and not be controlled by politics.

  The long-awaited happy life has finally come true, and for Ming Xuan, fate was already a miracle. She is grateful to the heavens for this gift, and with happiness in her grasp, how could she regret? She absolutely will not regret!

  Pei Jingchen's eyes were gentle as water, his pupils filled with tender affection and sweetness. He wrapped his wife in his arms and whispered in her ear, "As long as the branches are intertwined, our hair will turn white together. Wherever the children are, that is where my home is. Ah Xuan, my heart and yours are one."

  Gu Yuanjing and Huang Yi were also moved to emotion, their hands intertwined, filled with tender feelings, speechless, in the convergence of their gazes.

  On this night, in the quiet garden on the outskirts of Zhejiang, a destined encounter took place.

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