lady, please calm down

2:15 pm, Sanshilipu.

Many villagers were still gathered outside the Tang family's courtyard. They had just vaguely heard the yamen runner say that His Majesty was going to visit the Tang family, but they just thought they had heard wrongly.

But not long after, County Magistrate Chang Shiqing entered the Tang family courtyard accompanied by a middle-aged couple and dozens of followers. Everyone began to murmur in their hearts. They might have heard it wrong, but the County Magistrate's respectful attitude could not be faked.

Soon, the head of the nearby village and the village security guard heard the news and rushed over, but they didn't even dare to knock on the door of the Tang family's courtyard. They could only wait outside the courtyard like everyone else.

Even when the villagers asked the head of the village which family had visited the Tang family today, the head of the village and the village security guard were both very secretive and refused to answer.

Now, everyone was unsure. Could it be that the emperor really came to the Tang family to propose marriage for the prince?
The reason why people have always been skeptical about this is very simple. Throughout the dynasties, whether in official history or drama, people have always emphasized the importance of matching the two families. When the emperor wants to find a daughter-in-law, he naturally has to choose one from a noble family!

The Tang family is not even a declining poor family. Counting back two generations, they were all peasants like everyone else. Could it be that a golden phoenix is ​​really going to fly out of the chicken coop?
There were constant speculations and different opinions outside, but the scene inside the hospital was quite different.

Tang Jianqiu, who regained consciousness after being pinched on the philtrum after fainting, was clearly in his own home, but he only dared to sit halfway on a stool. He looked a little dazed, as if he didn't believe what he was seeing was real.

"A few days ago, the Queen and I invited Lady Yue to come and ask about our marriage, but we didn't introduce ourselves, which was insincere. Today, my husband and I are here to apologize."

"Yes Yes Yes"

Tang Jianqiu, whose philtrum was pinched black and purple, was still in shock and said "yes" repeatedly after hearing this.

Well, when the emperor apologizes, even the prime minister wouldn't dare to accept it so carelessly. But this old scholar kept saying "yes". Is he confused?
Chang Shiqing coughed a few times and winked at Tang Jianqiu.

The latter then realized that his response was inappropriate. In the eyes of an old-fashioned scholar like him, among the top 10 most important people, Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents and Teachers, Emperor comes before Parents. How could he accept an apology from the Emperor?

Tang Jianqiu stood up and was about to kneel, but Chen Chu, who was sitting opposite him, took the lead and held Tang Jianqiu's arm, saying with a smile: "In terms of age, I should call you brother. You and I are both fathers, so I won't beat around the bush. I have heard that your daughter is well-educated, polite, gentle and filial, and I admire her. I wonder if my family is lucky enough to marry your daughter as my daughter-in-law."

Even though she had just learned the reason for the emperor's visit, the treatment of a king personally coming to propose marriage was rare even in history books.

Tang Jianqiu's lips trembled, and he instantly forgot what he had said to his daughter half an hour ago. He could not help but proudly said, "Although my daughter is a little stubborn, her character is like that of an ordinary person, and is indeed impeccable."

"Hahaha, that's right. The Queen has been married to me for more than 20 years, and I have never seen her care so much about another girl. The one the Queen likes must have good character."

Chen Chu's voice was loud, and the cat and Tang's wife in the house could hear it clearly.

Although Tang's wife was not as nervous as her husband, she was still reserved when facing the queen.

Perhaps because of joy, or perhaps because of some unspeakable worries, Tang’s wife couldn’t help but quietly wiped away two tears.

As a mother herself, Mao'er probably guessed the reason, and she couldn't help but hold Tang's wife's hand and said gently, "Don't worry, Madam Tang. When Your Majesty and I got married, we were both alone and helpless. Although we didn't learn how to get along with our mother-in-law, we didn't have the blessing of enjoying their protection. In the future, when Ji'er and Wanwan get married, I, as her mother-in-law, will definitely treat Wanwan well and slowly teach her how to handle things. I will never treat her harshly."

After all, Mao'er was born in the common people, and what Mao'er said touched Tang's wife's heart.

That was the daughter that Tang's wife gave birth to after ten months of pregnancy. Others might only see the glory of marrying into the royal family, but she couldn't help but worry about whether her daughter could gain a foothold in the palace and whether she would make mistakes accidentally.
Even if marrying into a small family of equal status is not happy, the couple will at most divorce.

But if you marry into the royal family, you might even lose your life.

The Tang family has no strong family to rely on, so Tang's wife feels complicated and worried at this time.

"My daughter has been stubborn since she was young, and I don't know how to teach her. If Wanwan accidentally offends the nobles in the palace in the future, please take care of her, Queen."

Tang's wife said bravely.

Mao'er could see through the other person's mind, so she could naturally resolve the other person's worries. She smiled and said, "What's wrong with being stubborn? Before I got married, my mother often said that I was stubborn. After I got married, His Majesty often said that about me. There is nothing Wanwan can't do. I will teach her."

At this point, Mao'er suddenly sighed and said, "Children nowadays are different from us. They have more ideas than the other. Just like my prince's elder sister Ran'er, she still has no ideal partner. She keeps saying that she wants to follow her aunt to promote compulsory education after graduation. I am so worried about her."

As the saying goes, 'The Emperor's daughter has no trouble finding a husband'. Tang's wife also subconsciously believed this, and couldn't help but blurt out, "How can the Princess of Zhao not find a husband? The sons of the princes and ministers in the capital can be chosen at will."

Mao'er smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty allowed them to make their own decisions. Zhao Guo was like holding an imperial sword. Every time I urged her, she would stop me with your Majesty's words. This time, if Ji'er and Wanwan were not in love, Your Majesty would not have rushed to the mansion in such a hurry and frightened the virtuous couple."

The conversation about worrying about their children's marriages instantly brought the two mothers closer together.

When Tang's wife was secretly lamenting that every family has its own problems, she suddenly realized...The Queen said that the two children are in love with each other?
Ever since the relationship between the young lady of the Tang family and her father fell out, she has had very few opportunities to reunite with her parents. Tang's wife naturally has no idea what her daughter is thinking.

Only after hearing what Mao'er said did he finally understand what was going on. He also quickly realized that the Queen had hurried over with the Emperor just to protect her daughter's reputation, thus fulfilling the "parents' words and matchmaker's orders."

At 5 p.m. on that day, Chen Chu and his wife returned to Beijing.

Thirty miles is not far, but it will take an hour to walk there.

When I returned to the palace and had dinner, it was already midnight.

Naturally, Chen Chu stayed overnight at Baoci Palace.

When they were young and slept together in their early years, it was always a life-and-death encounter, and they wanted to squeeze out every last bit of strength from each other; now, they are older, and their familiarity with each other's bodies has reached an unprecedented level. The passion is still there, but there is a long-lasting tenderness.

After tossing and turning in Rushan's arms, Mao'er did not fall asleep. Instead, he was held in Chen Chu's arms on his side. One hand rested on the latter's arm, unconsciously touching the scar on his upper arm, staring at the long-burning candle in the hall in a daze.

After a long while, the cat suddenly said softly, "Sir, does it still hurt?"

"Ok?"

Chen Chu was confused for a moment before he reacted and couldn't help but smile: "It's been more than 20 years, how can it still hurt?"

Strangely enough, Chen Chu had fought for more than ten years but had never been injured. The only scar on his body was the one that Ximen Gong cut on his arm in order to deal with his superiors after he killed Zhang Gui with his own hands at Shaohugang.

Hearing this, Mao'er shrank into Chen Chu's arms and said softly, "Sir, when Ji'er gets married and Ran'er gets married, Mao'er's job as a mother will be done. From now on, Mao'er can concentrate on being your wife."

"Haha, what are you talking about? Even though Mao'er has been a mother for these years, it has not stopped you from being a good wife."

"Sir, don't be so kind to me. Since the birth of the child, the cat has neglected you a lot. The cat knows it all."

As he spoke, his voice choked slightly.

Chen Chu rubbed Mao'er's temples with his chin and asked curiously, "What's wrong? It's fine."

Mao'er, who had her back to Chen Chu, suddenly turned over and hugged Chen Chu, resting her little head on his chest, and said in a sticky voice: "Today, I am arranging marriage for Ji'er, and I can't help but think of the past. At that time, you were like duckweed and I was like weeds. Mao'er thought that her life was over, but you didn't abandon her. That night when you killed Zhang Gui, you carried her up the mountain. That night, Mao'er secretly swore in her heart that she would be good to you and only you for the rest of her life.
But later, when we had a child, Mao'er failed to fulfill her vow to be good to the husband. Now, half of her life has passed in the blink of an eye, and Mao'er feels sorry for the husband, and she is also a little scared. She is afraid that the rest of her life will pass by so quickly, and Mao'er has not had enough time with the husband. "

Chen Chu gently stroked the cat's thin back and said, "Just take care of yourself. Don't repeat what happened when the Huaibei flood hit and you got sick. You almost scared me to death."

The cat was silent for a moment, but then muttered in Chen Chu's arms: "Say something selfish, the cat is willing to die before the official."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Chen Chu was speechless and lightly hit the cat's butt.

The cat said, "If I go first, I will not be worried because the official is watching over me. But if the official leaves first, I don't know how I will live."

At the beginning of last year, my great-grandmother, who was over 80 years old, passed away due to illness.

This was the first funeral that Mao'er presided over in twenty years after her parents' graves were moved. I think it had a certain impact on her.

Besides, Mao'er and Chen Chu have already gone through the middle of their lives, so it is not too abrupt for them to talk about life and death at this moment.

For Mao'er, ever since she met Chen Chu at the age of sixteen, all her energy and emotions in life have been poured into her husband.

She could face her own life and death calmly, but she couldn't imagine what would happen to her when she was the only one left in the world.

Chen Chu laughed and said, "How can a queen of a country act like an ordinary woman?"

Mao'er was a little unhappy when she heard this, but she tightened her arms around Chen Chu's waist, "The queen of a country, the owner of the Luliuxu Farm, the eldest daughter of the Zhao family in Tokyo. Mao'er doesn't care about these titles."

"Then what do you care?"

"The title that Mao'er cares about most in his life is Chen Chu and Chen Yuanzhang's first wife."

Chen Chu could not help but fall silent. He raised his hand and gently stroked Mao'er's black hair. After a long while, he said, "Okay, Master agrees. I will live longer than you, so that Master will not get ahead of Mao and make Mao sad."

"Hmm~"

The cat nudged itself in Chen Chu's arms and hummed softly like a kitten. (End of this chapter)