GNU sponsored chapters (2/3) by Juvia Glas and CooperBlue at ko-fi. Thank you for your support!
Cheng Yujin was a little curious. Huo Changyuan grew up spoiled by his widowed mother and had little contact with adult men since he was a child. As a result, he took women’s devotion and dedication for granted. But what about Li Chengjing?
Huo Changyuan didn’t have a father, but Li Chengjing had been missing for years. He lost his mother when he was very young and lost his father shortly after. He grew up almost by himself. Why did he grow completely different from Huo Chang Yuan?
Li Chengjing saw Cheng Yujin was staring at him strangely. He asked: “Why are you looking at me like this? If you have something in your heart, just ask me, and do not guess on your own.”
Since he said so, Cheng Yujin honestly expressed her curiosity. When Li Chengjing heard it, he couldn’t help flicking on her forehead: “Do I have to be taught by others? Cannot I grow up and become such a fine gentleman by my own?”
Cheng Yujin almost broke out in laughter. Her eyes were sparkling brightly, but she still held back herself and said with a sincere tone: “Oh, of course you can. After all, Your Highness is a rare treasure on earth, and the rest of us are just common pebbles.”
Li Chengjing laughed. Soon afterward, he seemed to reminisce something. His smile receded, and his tone suddenly turned serious: “Speaking about the grace of upbringing, I really want to thank someone. Although she is not related to me by blood, she treated me with the utmost kindness. Without her, they won’t be today’s me. This kind of grace is very deep and unrepayable, no different from a half-mother.”
Cheng Yujin also became solemn: “Your Highness, are you talking about…”
Li Chengjing nodded: “Yes, she is my foster mother Xue-shi.”
Cheng Yujin sighed. Little Xue-shi had a bit of fame in her youth, but she was implicated in the Xue family case and exiled. Li Chengjing, who survived the mountain flood, was rescued and taken in by little Xue-shi, and it was her care and kindness that saved him from falling into an extreme hatred.
That year, Li Chengjing was only five years old, but he had experienced the death of his biological mother, seen his father marry another, had his grandmother announced him as ominous and been shunned away from the palace to recuperate. If this kind of life experience was placed on another person, they would either end up giving up on themselves or hating the whole world. Li Chengjing, however, was able to preserve and grow up into the bright, talented, and wise man he was now. Even when facing a mere little girl, he was still respectful and polite.
The more Cheng Yujin thought about it, the more she believed that a good talent should not be confused with rotten wood. In the process of growing up, education from female elders was also crucial for a boy. Li Chengjing and Huo Changyuan were the most glaring examples.
Cheng Yujin suddenly felt emotional, and she sighed softly: “Your Highness, it is my luck to be able to marry you. In fact, any woman is very lucky to marry you.”
After Cheng Yujin finished speaking, she found Li Chengjing’s expression was weird. She frowned and asked: “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m flattered.” Li Chengjing said truthfully, “I always feel that whenever you said something good to me, it must be followed with additional conditions and requests.”
Cheng Yujin glared: “In your heart, am I the kind of greedy person who hides another purpose in everything I do?”
Li Chengjing nodded, then he laughed merrily and ducked back while catching Cheng Yujin’s angry fist.
“Okay, okay. I won’t tease you anymore.” Li Chengjing put back his smile and said seriously: “It’s my honor that you think of me so highly. However, I don’t know what would happen if I married someone else, because you are the only one I want to marry in this life.”
What a sweet mouth — Cheng Yujin scolded inward as she glared at Li Chengjing angrily, but there was a gleam of smiles in her eyes.
Half-joking and half-serious, Cheng Yujin asked with a smile: “Your Highness is truly talented at controlling people’s hearts. If the woman who sits next to you today is not me, Your Highness will surely say the same thing to her, right?”
Sure enough, this girl was persistent. Li Chengjing helplessly replied: “Besides you, do I still have someone else?”
“Maybe there is no one now, but who knows about the future?” Cheng Yujin raised her chin slightly. She had a slender neck and a beautiful face. The way she haughtily looked at Li Chengjing with slightly drooping eyes and a cold, arrogant glare gave her a mystifying charm. “That Marquis Jingyong’s cousin sister seems to be quite heartbroken for Your Highness. Now it’s just that one cousin sister. In a few days, who knows if other ‘sisters’ will appear.”
It was obviously a one-sided accusation, but Li Chengjing found it very pleasant to his ears. He wasn’t afraid that Cheng Yujin would make trouble; what he was afraid of was that she didn’t mind. If she didn’t care about him accepting other women, Li Chengjing would have a massive headache.
Li Chengjing’s mood was extremely pleasant now, and even his eyes were full of smiles: “My mother is the first wife. She accompanied His Majesty from the very beginning, and they were very close to each other. In my childhood memory, there is no third person between them, and it is one of the few beautiful memories I have about my childhood. After that, I was brought up by my foster mother. Although unmarried, she was an extremely proud woman and would never lower herself to become anyone’s concubine. If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have…”
Cheng Yujin held Li Chengjing’s hand, giving him a silent sympathy. Li Chengjing paused, took a deep breath, and continued: “Therefore, I never thought about taking a concubine. One’s descendants are the matter of quality, not quantity. If even the di sons are not well-educated, what is the use of having more sons? They will just add chaos to the family.”
Li Chengjing stared intently at Cheng Yujin. His gaze was deep and mature, like a jar of old wine, silently attracting people to indulge: “In my life, having one wife is enough.”
< Previous | TOC | Advanced TOC | Next >
Wants more chapters?
Click this page for the status of sponsored chapters.
Click this page for advanced chapters TOC.
Daughter of the Dao and Devil Venerables
Thank you for updating!!!!
thank you for the update.
For a man living in that era especially he is the Crown Prince, his way of looking at things is really unusual. He realizes and acknowledges that is it better to have children of quality rather than quantity.
In addition, it is better to have one wife only.
Hmmmmm so she’s finally displaying some possessive jealousy and he’s loving it!!!! Girl don’t know how many times and ways to tell you I only want you but I’ll keep sayin it til you finally believe me (hand over heart Jing’er solemnly swears)
Thanks for the chapter
Crown Prince and Huo Changyuan are products on the views of adults who surrounded them.
HC being spoiled by his mother thus seeing women should only need to pamper him. Meanwhile, CP being raised by kind and independent Xue-shi thus earning his respect for women….also, seeing loyal love between Emperor and late Empress leading to him not needing concubines.
“Maybe there is no one now, but who knows about the future?” This was something I’ve been thinking about since before they got married. I’m glad they talked about it, although it won’t be easy as many will try to push concubines to him (especially if he becomes emperor), but I hope he’s strong and smart to dodge everyone.
I really wish Yujin could have met little Xue-shi or Zhong-shi, the three of them would have made an amazing trio, and they would have rock the world. Chengjing has truly been blessed to be related one way or the other with such wonderful women.
I see… so the Emperor is also the kind of a man that loyal to his wife, no wonder Li Chengjing turned into this kind of man. Now, I can’t imagine the Emperor’s feeling when he become the Emperor. He was just an idle prince who wanted a peaceful life with his family and loyal to his wife, but suddenly got dragged into the palace intrigue because of someone’s (some family’s) ambition, have his family torned up by the said someone (some family), forced to take the throne and the harem, and lost his beloved wife and son. And to add the salt to the insult, he had to take his enemy’s daughter as his second wife and expected him to have affectionate feeling toward her and her son. Unfortunately, the Emperor is not as strong and capable as Li Chengjin.
“Cheng Yujin glared: “In your heart, am I the kind of greedy person who hides another purpose in everything I do?” Li Chengjing nodded”
LOL I just love their interactions so much, and I love the united and dignified front they present to outsiders too. This is probably among my favourite couples in CNovels I’ve read, if not outright my favourite.