The Emperor kept the two waiting outside the imperial study for a good while before finally summoning them in. He then made them kneel for another long stretch, truly putting them through their paces.
However, the Emperor remembered their contributions and the kindness the Jiang family had shown his mother and wife and children before he rose to power, as well as their unwavering support in his ascension to the throne. Thus, after making them kneel for only an hour or so, he let them go.
Just as Jiang Wan thought she had managed to muddle through, the Emperor issued a decree ordering the two to marry on a chosen date and sent her a dowry.
This left Jiang Wan dumbfounded.
She had originally planned to just get through the present, wait for two years for the situation to blow over, and then annul the engagement with Gu Chenzhou. Since neither of them intended to marry, it wouldn't be considered a hindrance to either.
But now, with the Emperor's decree and the dowry, ordering them to marry, the trouble had become immense.
If the marriage didn't happen, it would clearly be seen as deceiving the Emperor.
Jiang Wan was almost driven to despair.
Conversely, the rest of the Jiang family wasn't too surprised by the imperial decree. After receiving it, they began preparing for Jiang Wan's wedding.
After all, their original plan was for Jiang Wan to solidify her engagement with Gu Chenzhou, then marry, and if Jiang Wan was unwilling to continue with Gu Chenzhou after a few years, they could divorce.
Therefore, the Emperor's decree for them to marry was only natural.
Jiang Wan became anxious.
She had never even considered marriage.
Her goal was not to be confined to the inner chambers and waste her life, but to travel across the vast mountains and rivers of the world.
But not marrying was also not an option; she couldn't possibly let the Jiang family bear the crime of deceiving the Emperor and defying his decree. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Moreover, she felt very apologetic towards Gu Chenzhou. He had no intention of marrying, and for her sake, he now had to sacrifice his own marital prospects.
In her desperation, she even considered eloping.
But the idea was dismissed as soon as it arose. If she were alone, she could elope, but she had a whole family to consider.
With no other recourse, she had to find Gu Chenzhou to discuss a mock marriage.
Since neither of them intended to marry, they could have a mock wedding. To the outside world, they would be husband and wife, but within their own space, they would not interfere with each other and live their own lives.
In the future, if Gu Chenzhou truly met a woman he wished to marry, she would readily give up her position as the main wife and present them with a generous gift.
She thought her plan was excellent and excitedly told Gu Chenzhou about it.
Gu Chenzhou stared at her for a long time before finally agreeing, speechless.
With that, Jiang Wan was free of her worries and happily returned home, awaiting her wedding day.
The wedding was set for three months later, in April, the most beautiful season of the year, when flowers bloomed throughout the city. Amidst the fragrant air and dancing petals, Jiang Wan married into the Gu family.
On their wedding night, Jiang Wan and Gu Chenzhou made three stipulations: from then on, they would be husband and wife in public, but like brothers in private, sharing fortunes and facing hardships together, until Gu Chenzhou found the woman he truly loved.
Then, they embarked on their separate lives.
To thank Gu Chenzhou for his loyalty, Jiang Wan attempted to treat the lingering illness he had sustained during his revenge.
However, Gu Chenzhou was uncooperative, and Jiang Wan's special ability could not yet heal him. So, she resolved to level up her ability further, unwilling to rest until she could cure him.
To level up her ability, Jiang Wan needed to stay by Gu Chenzhou's side. Thus, to outsiders, they appeared to be a loving couple, inseparable and always together.
Initially, Chen Yuezhi and Jiang Pan worried about their daughter's happiness after marriage. But seeing the "intimate" behavior of the young couple, they began to anticipate grandchildren.
Gu Chenzhou was initially resistant to Jiang Wan's constant presence, but over time, he grew accustomed to it. In fact, he would often subconsciously consider Jiang Wan's preferences and emotions.
Jiang Wan's ability became increasingly difficult to advance. After two years by Gu Chenzhou's side, there was still no sign of a breakthrough.
She grew more anxious and stayed by Gu Chenzhou's side whenever she had the chance.
While her intention was to level up her ability, her parents saw it as Jiang Wan eagerly wanting a child.
Chen Yuezhi, being a divine physician, could easily help her daughter regulate her body to conceive. However, when she took Jiang Wan's pulse, she discovered that Jiang Wan was still a virgin!
She confided in Madam Cheng, and they both concluded that the problem must lie with Gu Chenzhou.
Thus, they devised a plan to find an opportunity to drug Gu Chenzhou!
Gu Chenzhou trusted the Jiang family implicitly and thus noticed nothing amiss, drinking the medicated brew. Jiang Wan was also plied with wine by her trusted maid and rendered unconscious.
When they awoke, the deed was done.
Jiang Wan mistakenly believed that she had taken advantage of Gu Chenzhou while drunk.
She couldn't accept this fact, feeling that she had acted despicably. He had treated her as a brother, yet she had ruined his purity.
Unable to face Gu Chenzhou, she used her ability to knock him out and fled with her little attendant.
Before leaving, she left a letter of divorce, stating that she was tired of such a life and had decided to travel the world.
Fearing pursuit, she escaped by eagle, flying a thousand miles before stopping.
Subsequently, she began her journey of exploration.
She was naturally free-spirited, and away from the capital, with no elders around, she lived even more freely, enjoying herself wherever she went, and often intervening when she saw injustice.
Gradually, she earned the title of a chivalrous maiden in the martial world.
Just as Jiang Wan thought her reputation as a chivalrous maiden would spread throughout the land, she discovered she was pregnant.
After confirming it three times with her ability, she finally accepted this reality.
The chaos of that night had allowed a small life to grow within her, and she, being so carefree, had completely failed to notice. If not for the fetal movement, she might have continued to overlook it.
Jiang Wan spent several days coming to terms with this development.
She considered that although she didn't want to marry, having a child seemed rather nice. In the future, she could travel the world with her child. Moreover, with both her and Gu Chenzhou's good genes, the child was bound to be beautiful and intelligent.
With this thought, Jiang Wan decided to keep the child.
With a child, it would be difficult for her to travel around aimlessly for the time being. Therefore, Jiang Wan decided to find a place to rest and nurture her pregnancy.
She returned to the small mountain village and stayed in her old family home.
The small mountain village had changed greatly. With the Emperor, generals, and princes emerging from it, the village was no longer what it once was. However, the people remained the same, and they welcomed Jiang Wan's return warmly.
Jiang Wan settled down in her hometown to focus on her pregnancy.
Then, one morning, when she opened her courtyard gate, she found the man she still hadn't figured out how to face standing outside.
She instinctively apologized, explaining that it was unintentional.
Unexpectedly, Gu Chenzhou took a step forward and held her tightly in his embrace.
The moment Gu Chenzhou saw Jiang Wan, the anxiety that had been weighing on his heart for months finally subsided.
It was only after Jiang Wan had secretly fled that he finally recognized his true feelings.
He realized that he had fallen in love with Jiang Wan long ago, so long ago that he hadn't even noticed it himself.
Perhaps it was when they first experienced life and death together, or when she tried her best to heal his emotional wounds, or perhaps when he pulled her out of the water under the moonlight, or maybe when they met again in the military camp seven years after their separation...
He had believed that a man like him would never experience love.
His feelings for Jiang Wan were merely those of gratitude.
Later, he understood that Jiang Wan had already occupied a place in his heart; otherwise, he would not have agreed to the engagement and marriage.
Unfortunately, he realized it too late, and that girl had run away.
For the past few months, he had been searching for her whereabouts. But this girl was too good at running; every time he followed a lead, she had already disappeared.
If it weren't for the little attendant tipping him off this time, he might have spent much more time finding her.
Looking at her rosy cheeks and slightly bulging belly, Gu Chenzhou longed to kiss her to death. But he couldn't, as she would surely give him a good thrashing.
To avoid startling her, he used the excuse of caring for her and the child, moved his belongings, and stayed in her room.
Jiang Wan was bewildered by Gu Chenzhou's actions. When she guessed that he might be interested in the child, she began to dislike him intensely.
Gu Chenzhou offered no explanation, simply taking meticulous care of her every day.
Their interactions gradually shifted from initial hostility to a growing understanding and reliance. Jiang Wan realized that someone seemed to have taken up residence in her heart.
However, she still felt that Gu Chenzhou likely didn't have such intentions towards her, and she didn't want to tie him down, especially since she had previously promised to help him be with the one he loved.
But when another woman appeared by Gu Chenzhou's side, Jiang Wan felt an immense pang of sadness.
Sensing her feelings, Gu Chenzhou deliberately told her that he had someone he liked and sought her opinion.
Just as Jiang Wan was overcome with heartache, Gu Chenzhou spoke the name of his beloved, and Jiang Wan froze in astonishment.
After finally understanding each other's feelings, they began to live a sweet life together.
Five months later, Jiang Wan was full-term and gave birth to their first daughter.
After the child's birth, they did not return to the capital, but temporarily stayed in the small mountain village.
Neither of them liked the capital, a place filled with rules and regulations. The small mountain village, however, held many shared memories for them.
After the child's first birthday, the couple, along with their daughter, embarked on a new journey, continuing to fulfill Jiang Wan's aspirations.
To spread the name of the chivalrous maiden throughout the land!