The peerless and dark princess

Su Linqing and Chu Moxuan's relationship finally came to a happy close, and both were delighted. Afterward, preparations for their wedding began in earnest. In the Dali Dynasty, being unmarried in your twenties was considered advanced, so it was no wonder Yu Yan'er, as a mother, was so anxious, hoping her daughter would marry soon.

Su Linqing was determined to ensure Chu Moxuan's peace of mind in the capital, so he meticulously purchased a mansion in a prosperous area near the Prince of Yan's and Prince Heng's mansions. This mansion, with its red gates and black tiles, deep courtyards, and exquisitely carved beams and painted buildings, was convenient for visiting friends and family while allowing Chu Moxuan to enjoy the bustle and convenience of the capital.

Meanwhile, Lanyou Valley received a message from Su Linqing. He had made his decision, stating that he wished to remain in the capital permanently, leaving the valley to select another successor. However, everyone in Lanyou Valley knew Su Linqing's exceptional talent, unmatched among his peers. After much deliberation, they simply agreed to retain him as Junior Valley Master. Furthermore, the valley understood his situation and did not force him to return. He was only required to offer assistance in difficult cases that the valley staff were unable to handle. The rest of the time, he could remain in the capital, enjoying the company of Chu Moxuan.

Just as Su Linqing and Chu Moxuan were happily preparing for their wedding, Baili Ziyu and Zuo Yunxin's wedding day was approaching. Their relationship wasn't always smooth sailing, and initially, their relationship put Zuo Ci in a dilemma, leaving him torn and tormented. After all, Zuo Yunxin was a cherished relative, and Baili Ziyu's pursuit was difficult for him to accept, a hurdle he couldn't overcome.

Fortunately, Zuo Yunhan and Chu Wange later gave him careful guidance. They spoke softly, moved him with emotion and reasoned with him, and slowly resolved the knot in Zuo Ci's heart. This allowed him to gradually let go and finally accept this fact calmly.

Upon learning that Zuo Ci had agreed to let him and Zuo Yunxin be together, Baili Ziyu was overjoyed. Without a moment's delay, he immediately sent a matchmaker to propose marriage. Unfortunately, despite searching extensively, he couldn't find an auspicious date, which delayed the process for a while. Fortunately, the date had been set. Although it was a little later than expected, it wasn't too late; everything was still possible.

"Zuo Ci, are you unhappy?" Chu Wange raised his eyes and looked at Zuo Ci with concern.

"Wange, it's not that I'm unhappy, I just feel a little guilty that Yunxin has only been in the palace for a short time and she's about to get married." Zuo Ci lowered his head slightly, a hint of loneliness in his eyes. It's not that he was reluctant to let Zuo Yunxin get married, but when he thought about how he sent the young Zuo Yunxin to southern Xinjiang for foster care and was reluctant to let her go, and how he finally brought her back to the palace for just a few years, now he had to watch her get married, his heart inevitably ached, filled with guilt for the lack of companionship in his sister's growth.

"But she's married to Baili and lives in the capital. If you miss her, we can go see her. It's not too far away anyway." Chu Wange soothed softly, understanding Zuo Ci's inner struggles. He had been forced to send Zuo Yunxin to southern Xinjiang, a move he'd made out of necessity, simply to protect his sister and keep her safe from those with ulterior motives. Furthermore, Zuo Ci, completely absorbed in plotting revenge, was struggling to protect himself, so how could he possibly spare the energy to provide Zuo Yunxin with thorough care?

"Well, it's a good thing that I married Baili, otherwise I would be more worried about other men." Zuo Ci nodded slightly. With Chu Wange's comfort, his frown relaxed a little, and his mood also eased a little. The worry that had been weighing heavily on his heart seemed to be blown away by a breeze.

"Besides, we are all in the capital, so we can get together for dinner from time to time. When Lin'er grows up a little, we can go out for fun." Chu Wange said, her eyes sparkling, as if she was already surrounded by those beautiful scenery, "Then we can go to see the lonely smoke in the desert, and the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River..." Her voice was soft and full of expectation, as if she was weaving a colorful dream, which made people yearn for it.

As Zuo Ci listened to her description, his mind conjured up images of the majestic, vast, and graceful scenery, filled with longing for travels with Wange. During this time, their relationship had grown increasingly harmonious, the old estrangement melting away like ice and snow. There had been times when Chu Wange had often considered divorcing him, waiting for her brother Chu Haolin to reach adulthood so she could travel alone with her maidservant. Back then, her own future seemed to have been completely shrouded in her own plans.

And now, she had actually taken the initiative to suggest going on a trip together. This was undoubtedly a huge surprise to Zuo Ci, a powerful testament to the thawing of their relationship. He knew full well that Shiqi and other maids were whispering behind his back, mocking him for being timid and cowardly, afraid to open up to Chu Wange. But Zuo Ci had his own thoughts. Ever since Chu Wange woke from her coma, he had shamelessly lingered in her room, and surprisingly, she hadn't refused. And so, like a frog in boiling water, he slowly integrated into her life. He firmly believed that, with time, everything in her life would be closely connected to his, and that would be enough.

"Okay, actually, there's no need to wait until Lin'er is older." Zuo Ci pursed his lips slightly, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes, but his tone was still a little hesitant. After all, Chu Haolin was the younger brother that Chu Wange cared about the most. He carefully considered his words and spoke slowly, "He's almost ten years old now. Besides, he still has his uncle and grandparents here. We can wait until after Sister Mo Xuan and Su Linqing's wedding banquet before going out to play."

Chu Wange was stunned upon hearing this, and her mind instantly began to ponder. Yes, her maternal grandfather and uncles were all in the capital, and Lin'er had lived with her in the Prince of Yan's mansion for nearly four years. She and her uncles and maternal grandfather had gotten along very well, and they weren't strangers to each other. Furthermore, in this dynasty, children matured early, becoming engaged at fifteen or sixteen. In comparison, a ten-year-old was already considered a little adult. Unlike herself, who came from modern society, she inherently considered a ten-year-old to be nothing more than an innocent elementary school student. Even now, she subconsciously considered Lin'er a childish child.

"Well, let's wait until Lin'er is fifteen years old." Chu Wange shook her head slightly. After all, she couldn't get over that hurdle in her heart. Deep down in her heart, modern educational concepts were deeply rooted. She always believed that ten-year-old children lacked sufficient self-care and judgment, and still needed the careful care and companionship of their relatives. It was far from the time when they could face life independently.

Zuo Ci looked at Chu Wange, his eyes filled with understanding and tolerance. Although he was looking forward to traveling with her soon and enjoying the world's beauty together, he respected her wishes even more. After all, Chu Haolin meant so much to her. He nodded slightly, his tone filled with doting and determination, and said softly, "Okay, it's up to you. When Lin'er turns fifteen, we can plan a trip together."

Chu Wange raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, and replied softly: "Well, it's settled."