A Stolen Romance - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: A Dream Come True

In the first year of Hongjing’s reign, the Emperor passed away, abdicating his throne to Princess Xiao Lijun. She changed the era name to Kaixing.

Just three days after the new Emperor’s ascension, and before the late Emperor’s coffin could be moved to the imperial mausoleum, an urgent message arrived from the border: Prince Yu had raised an army and rebelled. He had gathered fifty thousand rebel soldiers and, with the support of the Northern, Dayuan, and Xixia regions, swiftly captured the twenty-six cities under the three provinces of Yingzhou, Rongzhou, and Wuzhou. He was unstoppable.

The banner Prince Yu flew was one of restoring the legitimacy of the Daye Dynasty. He claimed that Xiao Lijun, as a woman on the throne, was acting against the will of heaven. For a time, many incompetent and stubborn officials inside and outside the court echoed his sentiments, as if they had completely forgotten they were born to women. They disregarded the facts and only focused on the fact that Xiao Lijun was a woman, completely forgetting her monumental contributions to the Daye Dynasty over the years.

Shi Yuning heard some of the rumors from the servants who went to the market and felt that spies had infiltrated the capital. Many of the words were clearly malicious fabrications meant to slander Xiao Lijun. She was worried at first, but seeing that neither Xie Zhaoran nor Xiao Lijun seemed affected, she gradually became less anxious. If these two smart women weren’t worried, she wouldn’t borrow trouble. In any case, her Shi family wholeheartedly supported Xiao Lijun.

For the new Emperor’s first battle, Marquis Shi was the first to volunteer to lead his troops to suppress the rebels. In his petition, Marquis Shi wrote that Prince Yu had once tried to kidnap the families of military generals to threaten them. The daughters of his Shi family and the Xie family, to prevent Prince Yu’s plot from succeeding, had selflessly jumped off a cliff, resulting in one death and one injury. If the young women could be so righteous, how could his Shi family hold back?

Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces were filled with shame. They remembered that the Shi family’s daughter had been saved because she knew how to swim, and that she was said to have suffered leg injuries. But the Xie family’s daughter was never found; only her body was recovered. Rumor had it that her body had been bitten beyond recognition by fish and shrimp, which was truly a tragedy. It was only natural that the Xie family would want revenge for their daughter.

Xiao Lijun did not immediately grant the Shi family’s request. Instead, she asked if the Xie family had any desire to lead the troops. The Duke of Xie immediately responded that he, like Marquis Shi, was willing to lead the charge. Xiao Lijun granted the request to the Xie family, appointing the Duke of Xie as the Grand General of the Pacification Army, with thirty thousand troops to set out first. Marquis Shi and his troops were to stay behind and guard the capital.

Xiao Lijun decided to lead the army herself, leaving only after the late Emperor’s coffin was placed in the imperial mausoleum. Before she left, Xiao Lijun came to find Xie Zhaoran. Shi Yuning prepared food and wine to see Xiao Lijun off. Xie Zhaoran knew the importance of this battle for Xiao Lijun. There were many in court who were not convinced by her, but if she won this battle spectacularly, then even if the officials still felt a woman shouldn’t be Emperor, they wouldn’t dare to say it openly. After all, a ruler didn’t need everyone’s full approval, but they at least needed authority so no one would easily dare to offend them.

Xie Zhaoran filled Xiao Lijun’s wine cup and gently clinked it against hers. “Be safe.”

Xiao Lijun drank it all in one gulp. “Just in case, I’ve prepared an imperial edict. If something happens to me, read my decree and choose a successor from the royal family.”

Xie Zhaoran nodded, believing that Xiao Lijun would be fine. “Go without worry.”

Xiao Lijun also warned Xie Zhaoran, “Although I found a body to impersonate you, there are many people in the capital who know you. Be careful in the short term not to be recognized.”

Xie Zhaoran nodded in agreement. After Xiao Lijun led her troops away, the Shi family’s gates were tightly shut, and people were not allowed to go out. Heavy guards were also stationed outside the front gate. It wasn’t until a month later, when news of a great victory came from the border, that the heavy guard at the Shi family gate was finally removed.

The streets and alleys of the capital also shed their tense and dangerous atmosphere. After the period of national mourning passed, the capital became lively again, even more so than before. Some teahouses celebrated the great victory at the border by hanging red silk banners.

Ever since Lu Wenzhou heard that Shi Yuning had been found, he had tried to visit many times. The first few times, the Shi family said that Shi Yuning was injured and needed to rest. Later, Marquis Shi was stationed in the capital, and the Shi family had guards stationed at their gate who didn’t let in any unauthorized people. Now, he finally had hope that he could send a calling card and enter the Shi family home. He arrived early and delivered his card to the gatekeeper. For all this time, he had been very worried about Shi Yuning. Rumors claimed that she had suffered a severe injury, with some saying her limbs were broken and she couldn’t walk, and others saying her face was scarred and she had become ugly. With so many rumors and Shi Yuning not being seen by anyone after her return, the gossip grew more and more heated.

The gatekeeper soon welcomed Lu Wenzhou into the manor. As soon as he saw Tu Chunhua, he didn’t even have time to ask about Shi Yuning before Tu Chunhua spoke up. She said that their previous talk of a marriage between their two families had been a joke and that Lu Wenzhou shouldn’t take it to heart. Lu Wenzhou was even more certain that Shi Yuning’s face or legs were injured. “Auntie, no matter what Ningning looks like, I don’t mind.”

Just as he finished speaking, Shi Yuning walked in from the other room, smiling. “Don’t curse me! I’m perfectly fine.” Shi Yuning walked over to Tu Chunhua, then turned to Lu Wenzhou. “I’ve told you before that I don’t like you. Don’t think about this anymore. Besides, I’m going to wander the martial world soon. Can you come with me?”

Lu Wenzhou frowned. “How can you do that?” He immediately looked at Tu Chunhua. “Auntie, this…?” He wanted to ask if she would agree to such an absurd idea.

Tu Chunhua smiled. “I’ve agreed to it.”

Lu Wenzhou was shocked. “How can you do that? It’s so dangerous for a person to travel alone!”

Tu Chunhua smiled. “The child is grown. Besides, don’t you scholars always say that traveling a thousand miles is better than reading a thousand books? It’s good for her to go out and see the world.”

Lu Wenzhou frowned. “That’s not the same. It’s men who travel for their studies. Ningning is a young woman.”

Tu Chunhua and Shi Yuning’s expressions hardened at the same time. Before Shi Yuning could say anything, Tu Chunhua retorted, “What’s wrong with being a young woman? Our Emperor is a woman now.”

“No, that’s not what I mean,” Lu Wenzhou quickly explained. “I just think it’s too dangerous to travel alone.”

Tu Chunhua nodded. “Life is not always smooth sailing. Speaking of danger, you can choke to death while eating at home.”

Lu Wenzhou was speechless. Shi Yuning secretly gave her mother a thumbs-up. Her mother’s mindset had changed so quickly ever since Xiao Lijun became the first female Emperor. She used to always tell her that a woman must be dignified and gentle, that she must marry and have children. Now, she seemed to have realized that a woman could live according to her own desires without any necessity. Nothing was impossible, and there was nothing she couldn’t do.

In the end, Tu Chunhua politely saw Lu Wenzhou out. Shi Yuning immediately went to her mother. “Mom, your new perspective is really something.”

Tu Chunhua patted her arm. “Don’t flatter me. Where’s Zhaoran? Why are you alone?” In the past few days, wherever Shi Yuning was, Xie Zhaoran was always within three meters of her.

“I heard we had a guest, so she’s in the kitchen cooking,” Shi Yuning said. She had heard that Lu Wenzhou was coming and felt a little guilty. She had wanted to talk to her mother first, but her mother had already chased him away.

Tu Chunhua slapped her arm again. “How can you always make Zhaoran cook!”

Shi Yuning covered her arm. “It’s for you, to win you over.”

Tu Chunhua glared at her. “Tell her to stop cooking. Her leg hasn’t fully healed yet. She needs more rest.”

“Are you worried about her?” Shi Yuning asked with a sly smile.

Tu Chunhua felt that the time was right and gave in. “Zhaoran will be a part of our family now, so of course, I have to care for her.”

Shi Yuning was stunned for a moment, then began jumping up and down. “Mom, are you serious?”

Tu Chunhua was also caught up in her daughter’s joy and nodded. “Yes, it’s true.”

“This is great! This is great!” Shi Yuning was ecstatic. “I’m going to go tell Zhaoran.” She couldn’t wait and ran toward the kitchen.

When Xie Zhaoran was pulled into Tu Chunhua’s room, she was still a little confused and even wondered if Shi Yuning had heard wrong. It wasn’t until she saw Tu Chunhua smiling at her and handing her a box that she believed it.

Xie Zhaoran opened the box to see a pair of beautiful white jade bracelets quietly lying inside. “This is one of the dowry gifts I prepared for Ningning. I originally planned to give it to her on her wedding day, but now it’s even better; she doesn’t have to get married and move away.”

Tu Chunhua was quite happy about this. What mother would be happy to have the daughter she raised so well marry into another family? She had always thought it was what was supposed to happen because of the existing customs, but now that she thought about it, it was foolish. Thinking that her daughter didn’t have to “marry out,” Tu Chunhua felt an immense sense of relief, and her gaze toward Xie Zhaoran became even more affectionate.

Xie Zhaoran’s eyes were already red and misty. She couldn’t believe that this day had come so quickly. “Auntie?” Xie Zhaoran asked hesitantly, as if she couldn’t be sure.

Tu Chunhua took the box from her hands, took out the jade bracelets, and put one on her wrist and the other on Shi Yuning’s. “From now on, the two of you must be good to each other, take care of each other, and be each other’s support.”

Shi Yuning and Xie Zhaoran both nodded, seeing the deep love in each other’s eyes.

After this, Tu Chunhua and Shi MinDa also persuaded Marquis Shi. The Marquis had been a lone man for a long time, and now that he had found his son and his family was happily reunited, he accepted the idea of Shi Yuning finding a woman to be with very easily. With the approval of Tu Chunhua and the Shi family men, Xie Zhaoran and Shi Yuning held a simple ceremony, considering themselves officially married.

Because Xiao Lijun said she would gradually reform the laws, two women would eventually be able to marry and settle down, with the same rights as men. Xie Zhaoran and Shi Yuning decided they would hold another wedding then.

For now, Xie Zhaoran called their current ceremony the “Moving-In Ceremony.” She could finally move from the guest room into Shi Yuning’s room, something she had been longing for.

Xie Zhaoran and Shi Yuning lay side by side, their heads on the new pillows Tu Chunhua had prepared for them. The soft, warm pink gauze curtain was above them, and beside her, she could hear her beloved’s gentle, shallow breathing. Xie Zhaoran reached out and gently took Shi Yuning’s hand, their fingers intertwined. She let out a soft laugh. “It feels like a dream.”

The corners of Shi Yuning’s mouth turned up. She leaned up and kissed Xie Zhaoran’s lips. “Is this what a dream feels like?”

Xie Zhaoran’s eyes suddenly lit up. Without a moment’s hesitation, she placed her hand on Shi Yuning’s delicate waist, gently kneading the soft flesh beneath her nightclothes. She then sucked on Shi Yuning’s slightly cool red lips. Their noses touched, their lips brushed against each other, and their hot breath instantly flushed their faces, making them feel humid and warm.

Xie Zhaoran’s breathing grew noticeably more rapid. As she held her beloved’s lips and stirred their breath with her tongue, she untied the ribbons of both their nightclothes. Her cool fingers touched the smooth, soft skin, and Xie Zhaoran whispered into Shi Yuning’s ear,

“A dream is, of course, more than just this.”

—END—

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