Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

With the wedding date set, Fang Zheng naturally began preparations.

He went to the Ministry of Rites and inquired in detail about the relevant matters.

In his previous life, he wasn't very clear about the wedding process, let alone the infinitely complex rituals of the royal family.

He studied with great care, and only after listening for half an incense stick's worth of time did he slip away.

His brain hurt from listening, and he figured that when the time came, things would be arranged as they should be, and he would just follow the instructions.

......

After finishing his duties, Fang Zheng didn't rush home.

The sky was already dark, but he wandered alone on the main street of the city, with a carriage following him closely behind.

He savored this unique solitude.

He felt a kind of indescribable feeling in his heart... anyway, it certainly wasn't joy.

He thought getting married should be a happy thing, but when the day really came, he thought about it more.

He wouldn't see those relatives and friends from his previous life at the wedding banquet.

All the gifts he gave at weddings in his previous life were for nothing... tui!

Fang Zheng looked up at the sky, and the bright moon had already quietly risen.

Looking at the bright moon, the corners of his eyes suddenly became a little moist.

Fang Zheng raised his hand to wipe them, and sighed inwardly.

After so many years, he still couldn't forget his hometown, and he didn't know how so many web novel protagonists he read in his previous life managed it.

Now he already had a new home, many family members, and was about to get married.

It was time to bring things to a close.

He sighed again, and Fang Zheng felt a surge of poetic inspiration, and shouted at the moon: "Before my bed, the bright moon..."

"Who the hell is wailing? Are you trying to let people sleep!"

"Damn! Do you have any morals? It's already dark, buddy!"

"If you don't get lost, I'm calling the authorities!"

Two or three scoldings came from the side of the street, Fang Zheng's face darkened, his poetic inspiration vanished, and he slunk away.

He returned home in a carriage.

Fang Zheng habitually lay down in the courtyard as usual.

Tonight was a little strange. Usually, Xiao Tao would come out to greet him and then call the others for dinner.

It must be that he came back late, and the others had already eaten.

He didn't think much about it, and rested with his eyes half-closed.

Suddenly, a figure approached silently, and a plate of snacks was gently placed on the stone table beside Fang Zheng.

"Have you eaten dinner?"

It was Xiao Tao's voice.

A smile appeared on Fang Zheng's face, and he didn't even lift his eyes: "How did you know I was going to marry the princess?"

"......"

There was no answer for about ten seconds. Fang Zheng felt something was wrong and quickly opened his eyes.

Under the light, Xiao Tao was standing right in front of him, staring at him charmingly.

Seeing that he had opened his eyes, Xiao Tao said expressionlessly: "How do you know that I know you are going to marry the princess?"

"? ? ?"

I was kidding... I just wanted to show off a little, what's going on?

"Then how did you know?" Fang Zheng asked quickly.

Xiao Tao was still expressionless: "This afternoon, someone from the Ministry of Rites came to the house and asked the family to prepare some things, and mentioned this matter in passing. Congratulations, young master, you are going to be a驸马(imperial son-in-law)."

"Ah... Hahaha! Isn't it only natural for me, young master, to be an imperial son-in-law? It's all a small matter, stay calm!"

Fang Zheng laughed heartlessly, but the laughter soon turned into a dry laugh.

Xiao Tao in front of him didn't look happy at all.

The atmosphere became more and more strange, even Biao Ge would be able to detect the problem!

Fang Zheng coughed awkwardly and asked cautiously: "What's wrong, Xiao Tao? Did something happen at home?"

Xiao Tao pursed her lips: "Nothing."

Fang Zheng felt a little relieved, and was about to say a few words to lighten the atmosphere when he vaguely saw Xiao Tao's eyes turning red.

He quickly closed his mouth.

He heard Xiao Tao say in a slightly trembling voice: "I, I heard... there are many rules for imperial sons-in-law. If you go to the princess's mansion, will I not be able to follow you in the future?"

"What are you thinking! The rules are for outsiders to see, why are you taking them seriously? Things will be the same as usual. With me, young master, no one can bully you!"

Little girl, you're thinking too much.

So what if I marry a princess? Can I be restrained by the rules?

Xiao Tao was lawless in Peach Blossom Village, it seems she knows how to be afraid now.

Fang Zheng smiled inwardly.

"What are you still standing here for? Go back and rest."

Xiao Tao didn't move when she heard this, she just stood there blankly.

Fang Zheng was getting goosebumps from being stared at: "What's wrong with you, why are you staring at me?"

"I... I..." Xiao Tao said "I" several times, hesitating, and finally made up her mind.

She walked up to Fang Zheng and looked at him intently: "Have you ever treated me as a woman?"

"This... what are you saying? If I don't treat you as a woman, can I treat you as a man!"

Xiao Tao's state today, coupled with the weirdness of the conversation, made Fang Zheng feel a chill down his spine.

He sat up straight and looked at Xiao Tao.

Hearing Fang Zheng say this, Xiao Tao's tears actually fell down: "Of course I'm happy that there's a mistress in the house, I'm happier than anyone else that you're getting married..."

"But if you marry the princess, you can't take a concubine. Can I still follow you in the future?"

"You treat me as a woman, why don't you look at me properly!"

"You always treat me as a little girl, making me learn needlework, arithmetic, and even read the Four Books and Five Classics. You gave Xiao Tao her life, and I never expected anything else, I just hope to be by your side forever in the future. But now that you've become an imperial son-in-law, how can I serve you in the future."

"Do you understand my feelings, are you pretending to be stupid or do you really not understand? I'm also a woman, I like you. But you've already brought two women into the house, and you haven't even looked at me properly."

"I just want you to give me a straight answer today, do you like me?!"

After venting her emotions, she couldn't stop crying anymore, covering her face and standing in place, sobbing non-stop.

The crying was heartbreaking.

Fang Zheng was stunned, sitting on the chair at a loss.

Xiao Tao's words were no exaggeration to say that they were deafening.

Although she had been with him for a long time and was open-minded, the general environment was still there.

To be able to say these words, it could be seen that she had put in a lot of courage.

Fang Zheng also didn't know how to answer.

It turned out that Xiao Tao was so small, always with snot on her face, dragging him around.

Now she had grown into a beautiful young woman, and to say that he had ideas... he had a little, but not much, and it was just the fantasy of an ordinary man.

He was close to her usually, and coupled with the long time they had spent together, he had always regarded her as a younger sister.

To say that he didn't know Xiao Tao's thoughts at all was impossible, he wasn't a block of wood after all these years.

But when he thought of this, he always instinctively tried to avoid it.

Family affection was still greater than the love between a man and a woman.

But looking at Xiao Tao crying like a river, Fang Zheng also fell into confusion.

After a long silence, Xiao Tao let go of her hands, her eyes red and swollen: "Why don't you say anything, do you still need to think about this kind of thing?"

"Xiao Tao, actually I regard you as.... um!!"

Before Fang Zheng could finish his words, Xiao Tao actually pounced lightly on Fang Zheng.

Her cherry-like mouth blocked Fang Zheng's mouth.

Fang Zheng's body stiffened, and he instinctively pushed Xiao Tao away, staring with wide eyes: "You... you have such great courage! Who taught you to do this?"

Xiao Tao took a deep breath, with tears on her face, and said with full momentum: "You taught me! You taught me from childhood to adulthood that I have to fight for a happy life myself! I don't know how many times I've heard it!"

"Now I can't marry anyone else, are you responsible?!"