"I have happy news to tell you," Zheng Yu said, not waiting for Gu Yi's reply. Smiling, she continued, "Yi Tong can't bear to see us suffer from longing any longer. Our wedding date has been set for two months from now. We'll be able to marry soon, my soon-to-be husband."
Gu Yi was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. Quickly, his brow furrowed, and tears began to fall from his eyes, large drops at a time, as he sobbed silently.
Zheng Yu knew what he was thinking. She stroked the hair on his back. "Don't cry. Do you want my heart to break?"
Although crying, Gu Yi listened to the words of the person beside him. Hearing this, he quickly shook his head, his hair getting messy on Zheng Yu's shoulder without him caring.
"Alright, stop crying." Zheng Yu patted his hair from behind, her voice gentle. "Even if you marry me, you'll still be Yi Tong's brother. Your blood relationship is unbreakable. Do you think she'll abandon you, or that you'll no longer be close to her?"
"No," the two words were thick with a nasal tone, and a hint of a sob could still be heard, making one's heart ache. "But, there's still a difference."
"Yes, there's a difference. You're just gaining the status of the town magistrate's husband." Zheng Yu took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away the never-ending tears from the corners of his eyes.
"You're still her brother, and you can visit her every day." Zheng Yu added, "Don't worry, I'll be with you. You'll have me with you from now on, and you won't be alone anymore."
"Mhm, mhm, I'll be with you too, and you won't be alone anymore," Gu Yi said, his voice choked with tears, but he still managed to speak firmly. "From now on, you focus on improving yourself, and I'll focus on accompanying you, on improving together."
This was an answer to Zheng Yu's drunken ramblings from the previous night. The two youths, who had not lived happy, or rather, had lived difficult lives in their youth, were brought together in this life by fate.
They were meant to warm each other, to compensate for the hardships and lack of companionship in their youth.
"Wife."
"Hmm? Do you have something to say?" Gu Yi Tong turned around and closed the door, her voice gentle.
"Mhm."
Seeing Ah Fu's hesitant expression, Gu Yi Tong couldn't help but sigh. She walked over to him, took him by the hand, and sat him down on a stool, handing him a cup of warm tea.
"We are husband and wife now. What is there between husband and wife that you hesitate to speak?" Gu Yi Tong rubbed Ah Fu's hand and said softly, "Say whatever you want to say, whatever you want to ask. Don't imagine me to be so terrible."
"Mhm." After a long pause, Ah Fu nodded silently.
"Wife, were you a bit harsh with Yi Er just now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Yi Er doesn't lie. He's not a man without sense. If he says he didn't, then he didn't."
"Do you think I don't believe him?"
"No." Ah Fu shook his head instinctively. Then, remembering what she had just said to him, he changed his mind and nodded. "Mhm."
"He's my brother, of course I believe him. But will others believe him?" Gu Yi Tong sighed, her face showing fatigue. "If what happened today were discovered by others, what would people say?"
Ah Fu thought of the gossip he had endured in the mansion and fell silent, his lips pressed tightly together, saying nothing.
"It is precisely because of our past experiences that I fear even more," Gu Yi Tong moved slowly, drawing Ah Fu into her embrace. "Although we both had no choice but to do what we did at the time due to circumstances, my failure to marry you promptly afterward and take responsibility for my actions is something I deeply regret."
"I don't want Yi Er to be hurt again, not even a little bit."
"I understand." Ah Fu, held tightly in her arms, reached out and took her hand. "I don't blame you. It was I who insisted that you not speak of it back then. Don't blame yourself for it anymore."
Ah Fu turned around to face Gu Yi Tong. "Not even a little bit."
"Alright, not even a little bit." Gu Yi Tong finally smiled and left a light kiss on Ah Fu's forehead. "It was through this opportunity that Ah Fu and I were able to be together. Although the process was a bit difficult, but—"
"It wasn't difficult," Ah Fu interjected, speaking softly. "It was heaven's tempering for us."
"Mhm, and I am very satisfied and happy with the outcome heaven has given us now."
"Me too." Ah Fu slowly wrapped his arms around her waist, a smile on his face.
Three days later was the day for returning to the bride's parents' home.
The couple first went to visit Wang Tian.
Wang Tian had already prepared everything at home, waiting for them to return in festive attire. As soon as the carriage reached the entrance, Wang Tian seemed to sense their arrival and quickly came out from the house.
"Father."
"Father." Ah Fu bowed, and Gu Yi Tong also bowed with him, calling out "Father."
"Good, good, good." Wang Tian's smile was so wide his eyes crinkled. He held Ah Fu with one hand and gestured for Gu Yi Tong with the other. "It's cold outside, come in quickly."
The interior was decorated festively, clearly with great care. Wang Tian sat in the main seat, looking a bit reserved, unsure of what to say.
Gu Yi Tong smiled, took Ah Fu's hand, and they both rose to kneel before Wang Tian and pay their respects.
This was a ritual during the return visit, signifying the wife's respect for her husband. Later, as women's status increased, this custom became less common during return visits.
"Get up quickly! Get up quickly!" Wang Tian was startled by their series of actions and quickly stood up, helping them up in a flustered manner.
"Although Ah Fu is my son, I never paid much attention to him since he was young and didn't fulfill my responsibilities as a father. I shouldn't accept this礼节 from both of you."
Ah Fu fell silent upon hearing this, unsure how to respond, and could only look at Gu Yi Tong for help.
"What Father says is not right. You had your reasons back then, and Ah Fu doesn't blame you now. I am Ah Fu's wife, and naturally, I will respect and honor you with him," Gu Yi Tong turned and gently took Ah Fu's hand. "I love Ah Fu, so you must accept this礼节."
Ah Fu was embarrassed by Gu Yi Tong's declaration of love in front of an elder, but he still nodded in agreement.
"Seeing you two like this, I am at ease," Wang Tian pulled Ah Fu's hand, which was resting on his arm, and patted it gently.
At noon, Gu Yi Tong volunteered to cook, leaving the father and son to talk in the house.
Wang Tian did not refuse too strongly, as he indeed wanted to have some private words with Ah Fu.
"Your spirit and energy have been much better these past three days," Wang Tian pulled Ah Fu down to sit and gently tidied his hair.
"Mhm," Ah Fu replied, then added shyly, "My wife treats me very well."
"As long as she treats you well, I am at ease," Wang Tian said, his eyes full of affection, making him seem like a completely different person from his previous hateful and indifferent self.
"It was my fault before, towards you and towards Xuan'er."