"Your Majesty, I'm only six years old today..."
Little Xi Tian said with a helpless expression, "Even if I'm to marry the Crown Prince, it should be after I come of age, right? Isn't it a bit too early to talk about this now?"
Hearing this, Xiao Jin Heng's heart surged, "So, Xi Tian, you're not refusing me, but you think you're too young and not suitable for marriage talks?"
After speaking, he leaned closer to Little Xi Tian, lowering his voice, "Don't worry, this is just an engagement now, not a formal marriage. With the title of Crown Princess, wouldn't you have more prestige and face when you go out!~"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
I don't want to be the Crown Princess right now.
Have you ever seen a Crown Princess who wants to open a wine shop, a mahjong parlor, or manage shops?
If she were to wear the hat of Crown Princess, it would be like tying her own feet, preventing her from doing anything...
"Let's talk about it later!~" Little Xi Tian tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Xiao Jin Heng: "???"
The little village girl doesn't love this Crown Prince anymore?
The affairs in the capital had subsided, the imperial court had regained stability, and the economic lifeline of the Jiangnan canal transport was also in the hands of the court.
Xiao Jin Heng felt that his mission was completed, so he proposed to take Little Xi Tian back to Dashui Village...
"We're leaving tomorrow?"
Inside the Sweetheart Wine Shop, Little Xi Tian was helping Old Ma move things when she suddenly heard the news. Her heart was filled with mixed feelings of joy and worry...
Going home was naturally good, but the thought of Sister Gui Hua being paralyzed and her second brother missing made her feel particularly distressed.
However, some things had to be faced. The more she avoided them, the more self-reproach she would feel.
"Yes!~" Xiao Jin Heng stepped forward, taking the wine jar from Little Xi Tian's hand, "We're leaving tomorrow, not a moment to delay..."
He knew the little village girl was homesick. Upon returning to Dashui Village this time, he would get to taste the coffee that the little village girl personally grew.
Little Xi Tian pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, I'll go back and pack my things!~"
Ten days later, Dashui Village, Old Yun's home...
The moment Na Ri Song De saw Zhao Xiao Jie, he burst into tears, disregarding his image as King Ha Lin.
Old Man Yun rubbed his hands, "Xiao Jie Zi has learned a lot from our home, like cooking for pigs, washing clothes, and chopping firewood. When she goes back, let her do any household chores, don't spoil her too much!~"
Na Ri Song De: "..."
What? You're just letting my daughter do these chores?
This is too improper.
Before Na Ri Song De could get angry, Zhao Xiao Jie pouted and said, "Abu, how can you still get angry at others? If it weren't for them, I would have starved to death on the streets and been defiled. Send a hundred sheep and a hundred cattle over later, and be sure not to mistreat them..."
Zhao Xiao Jie was a grateful person. Although Old Man Yun often scolded her, she found a sense of home here and became more and more fond of life...
Na Ri Song De pursed his lips and nodded sullenly, "Fine, whatever you say!~"
The father and son stayed at Old Yun's house for one night, and the next day, they set off for Halin La City before dawn...
"Alas, there are fewer and fewer people at home, and even Mr. Jiang has returned to the capital!~" Old Man Yun muttered standing at the main entrance.
Gu Shi heard this and gave him a reproachful look, "Mr. Jiang returned to the capital to request the Emperor to resign. And just a few days ago, he found a group of craftsmen and plans to build a house next to Young Master Xiao..."
"Build, build a house? What kind of house?" Old Man Yun was bewildered.
Gu Shi couldn't hold back her laughter and pinched him, "What other house could it be? He's marrying Cai Xia, so he needs to prepare a new house, right?"
That's right, during this time, Scholar Jiang and Niu Cai Xia's relationship had developed rapidly, and with Gu Shi as witness, they were already engaged...
All that was left was to invite the villagers to come and have a lively celebration.
Old Man Yun was stunned for a long time before he reacted, "Oh, so if Mr. Jiang resigns, he'll become an ordinary citizen? Is he really willing to do that?"
"Who can say for sure about matters of the heart? If they truly love each other, they naturally won't value official positions too highly..." Gu Shi said with a smile.
As the two were chatting, they suddenly saw a carriage approaching the village entrance, driven by a young man of fourteen or fifteen.
"Eh? This child doesn't look like he's from our village..." Old Man Yun craned his neck to look.
Gu Shi was also curious and was about to say something when the carriage stopped in front of the old couple.
A moment later, Yun Er Man lifted the curtain and said with a simple smile, "Dad, Mom, I'm back..."
A few days ago, the old couple had written him a letter saying that Shan Shan was not feeling well and wanted Er Man to come back and see her.
Upon receiving the letter, Er Man rushed home without delay. He had traveled for more than ten days on the road and finally arrived home.
"Why are you so thin? Get out of the carriage and let Mom have a look..." Gu Shi wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and stepped forward.
Yun Er Man quickly jumped down and instructed You Wang, "You Wang, unload the specialty goods from the carriage, and then go to the kitchen to prepare two dishes. I'll have a couple of bowls with Dad!~"
"Alright!~" You Wang responded, led the carriage into the courtyard, and began to unload things.
"Mom!" Yun Er Man took Gu Shi's hand and said with a smile, "I bought you a lot of clothes and fabrics. Take a look later, and if you don't like them, I'll get you different styles next time..."
"And tea, I brought back more than ten boxes, enough for you and Dad to drink for a year, haha!"
The feeling of returning home was wonderful, and all worries were forgotten.
Gu Shi patted him, "Why are you being so polite to your Dad and Mom? Hurry inside, Shan Shan should be awake by now..."
"Okay!~"
Guan Zhong Bo had just come out of the inner room. His daily routine was to help Zhao Gui Hua check her pulse and make medicine. During his time back in the village, he had prepared many folk remedies and good medicines, but Zhao Gui Hua showed no improvement after taking them...
The scorching sun gradually set in the west. Just as the dishes were served and Old Man Yun was about to have a hearty drink with Er Man, a lively shout was heard from outside the door again.
"Daddy, Mommy, Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, I'm back!~"
Hearing the commotion, Old Man Yun exchanged a look with Gu Shi, then jumped off the kang with a start, "Oh my, it's our daughter, our little daughter who's back..."
A moment later, Little Xi Tian and Xiao Jin Heng walked into the main hall shoulder to shoulder, with Little Jie Kong following behind, still groggy.
The two little buns paid their respects one after another and then had dinner with their family.
During the meal, young and old chatted and laughed merrily. Little Xi Tian recounted interesting stories from the capital, while Gu Shi and Old Man Yun talked about recent village news. Laughter spilled out of the windows and drifted into the night sky, as if time had returned to the past...
Ten years later.
That is, the second year after Little Xi Tian came of age, she skipped the Crown Princess phase entirely and married into the palace, becoming the Empress of Emperor Heng (Xiao Jin Heng) of the Great Liang Kingdom, residing in Fengning Palace, wearing the phoenix crown, and presiding over the world...
Emperor Cheng, who had passed his seventieth year, had abdicated. He now spent his days tending to flowers, fighting crickets, or staying in Dashui Village for a while, chatting and drinking with Old Man Yun.
The situation in Fusang Country had stabilized. Ten years ago, Jin Xiao Lou had written a letter to Xiao Jin Heng and Little Xi Tian asking for help to resolve the internal disputes in Fusang...
After reading the letter, Xiao Jin Heng dispatched Murong Tao Tao and Murong Qing to Fusang Country to secretly assist Jin Xiao Lou, and kept Xiao Ying and Xiao Jun in Fusang to protect Jin Xiao Lou's safety at all times.
The Murong siblings took only two years to eliminate Jin Ha and Jin Huan Qi, bringing the chaotic situation in Fusang back on track. Jin Xiao Lou also became the legitimate King of Fusang...
After Kong Xing Zhuo resigned, he had a son with Hu Ge Shuang Er. Xiao Xin Ling and Yun Si Man had a pair of twin daughters, and Shang Guan Fang Er also gave birth to two robust boys.
Yan Country was no longer as prosperous as it was ten years ago. Due to the leak of pre-war intelligence, Emperor Ming's invading army suffered heavy losses, the domestic economy completely collapsed, and Yan Country gradually declined...
This book, after more than a year of creation, has come to a conclusion. Wishing all readers of this book success in all their exams, happiness in love, and prosperity in life. Please look forward to the author's next work.
(End of Book)