After the matter of Lin Yin came to an end, the position of the chief councilor that Lin Wei had held fell to Chu Junyi.
No one in the court dared to raise an objection. After all, this young man's merits were obvious to all. After this incident, all the ministers were convinced.
Few people knew that Chu Junyi himself didn't want to be the chief councilor at all, let alone stay in the court.
Before the imperial edict arrived, he took Li Xinyue into the palace to bid farewell to Emperor Mingde.
But Emperor Mingde not only refused but also took Li Xinyue into the palace. Thus, Chu Junyi had no choice but to follow.
...
Early winter, the sixty - second year of Mingde
Although the sun was shining brightly, the weather was gradually turning cold. The sunlight cast a faint halo on people, and white puffs of breath could be seen when one exhaled.
Li Xinyue carried a food box and came to the Grand Secretariat to find Chu Junyi. By this time, the court meeting was over. In the empty room, only Chu Junyi was sitting in front of the huge rosewood square table.
He was sitting lazily in the chief seat, staring blankly ahead. He held a cup of hot tea in one hand and the armrest in the other. He looked so calm and relaxed as if this were his own home.
Actually, she had the same feeling. Besides, she felt a sense of pride.
Watching him rise from a humble family to the peak of power, his excellence made her extremely proud.
"How does it feel to be promoted, Lord Chu?" She came back to her senses, followed his gaze with her eyes, and asked with a smile.
Chu Junyi took the food box from her hand, got up and gave up the chief seat. While skillfully setting out the meal, he seemed to think of something, turned his head, and joked, "Now, does this humble official count as being well - matched with the princess?"
Li Xinyue let out a chuckle. As she laughed, her vision blurred with tears.
She leaned over, lovingly tracing the contours of his features with her eyes. When her gaze fell on his lips, she suddenly stood up, pushed him down on the armchair behind him, and then bent down to kiss him.
Her heart was pounding fast. She was a bit shy but also very passionate as she invited him.
He placed one hand on her back and gently pulled her into his arms, making her sit on his lap and taking the initiative.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and also fought for the initiative without showing any weakness.
He smiled and didn't give in either.
After a dizzying moment, both of them were gasping for breath, looking at each other with blurred eyes. The flames in their eyes were burning brighter and brighter.
Li Xinyue laid her head on his shoulder, avoiding his gaze. "Are you satisfied with this answer, husband?"
His voice became hoarse, and the hand on her waist tightened slightly.
"Let's go home."
Li Xinyue excitedly grabbed the front of his robe. "W - what! It's daytime! Aren't you going to handle official business?"
Chu Junyi burst out laughing. He looked up at the blushing beauty and only wanted to do one thing. "How about tonight? Or, just follow me?"
He liked the words "follow you". However, since the last time, such a rare privilege had been extremely scarce.
His princess was actually very shy and wouldn't do all kinds of postures.
He was just waiting for her to bestow the words "follow you" so that he could do as he pleased.
Li Xinyue pounded his chest with her small fist and tried to divert his attention by suggesting they eat.
Chu Junyi played around with her for a while. After the fire in him subsided, he brought up the serious matter. "Pack up tomorrow. I'll take you back to meet my family."
Li Xinyue was slightly surprised. "Will Father allow me to leave the capital?"
"Why not? Didn't his Majesty issue the oral order himself before? He asked the princess to convey the message to this humble official. Now this humble official is just following the order. What can his Majesty say?"
"Besides, we're not not coming back."
Li Xinyue let out a chuckle. It really made sense.
Father just kept a close eye on them. He didn't treat them like prisoners. He wouldn't be so stingy as to deprive them of this bit of freedom.
The next day, the carriage stopped in front of the Chu Mansion.
Li Xinyue was wondering why they were going to the Chu Mansion. After all, they had lived in the Princess Mansion for the longest time. It wasn't until the servants lined up and called her "madam" that she understood the childish intention of someone.
From that day on, the servants in the Princess Mansion no longer called him the imperial son - in - law but uniformly called him Lord Chu.
The servants in the Chu Mansion never called her the princess but uniformly called her madam.
That childish self - esteem of someone was really something.
Well, she wouldn't bother about it.
The carriage was slowly moving on the official road. The jolting of the carriage was so comfortable that one could almost fall asleep.
But just thinking that she was about to meet his family and learn about his background and past, she felt an indescribable excitement. Even though she was sleepy, she was reluctant to fall asleep.
"Come to think of it, I don't know much about your past. I don't even know whether you've been married or had children.
Do you think you've secretly married someone? Then, in order to curry favor with me, you abandoned your wife and children and concealed your marriage history?"
Li Xinyue squinted her eyes, leaned over, and stared closely at Chu Junyi.
Chu Junyi lifted one eyelid, glanced at her, and then pressed her down on his lap to keep her from moving.
"Li Xinyue, are you living too comfortably these days and want to try a different kind of life, huh?"
Li Xinyue chuckled. "You haven't answered my question yet! Concealing one's marriage is a crime of deceiving the emperor. Be careful, or I'll take your head!"
A vein on Chu Junyi's forehead throbbed. "This humble official has only had one marriage and only one wife. This humble official's wife is—" He looked at her seriously.
Her heart skipped a beat. Although she already knew the answer, she still felt a bit expectant.
"This humble official's wife is the most noble princess of the Great Yan Dynasty, the white moonlight in this humble official's heart. Her name is Li Xinyue."
Li Xinyue shyly turned around, with her back to him. Her heart was pounding fast, and tears were streaming down her face.
After that, she remained silent all the way.
Chu Junyi silently put his arm around her and let her rest her head on his lap.
When the carriage reached the town, he said that the Fuguifang was not far ahead. In order not to be recognized, they needed to walk there.
At this time, Li Xinyue started chattering again. She followed behind him, carrying big and small bags, and kept asking questions like a chirping bird.
"You said last time that you met the marching army on your way to being abducted. Was it the army led by the eldest imperial son - in - law?"
"Yes. I met him then. 'Junyi' was the name he gave me. But later I ended up in the Fuguifang, and I didn't use this name anymore until I needed to fill in my name when taking the imperial examination for the number one scholar. Then I remembered this name again."
"Watch your step. Be careful of the puddle!"
Chu Junyi reached out his hand and pulled her behind him to avoid the puddle under their feet.
Just then, a ox - cart happened to pass by. The mud splashed up by the wheels rolling over the puddle landed on his shoes.
She stared blankly at the mud.
Chu Junyi led the princess, who was walking closely behind him, and continued as they walked towards the Fuguifang.
"At that time, I didn't know he was the eldest imperial son - in - law. I only knew that he was highly skilled in martial arts and extremely talented in literature. He asked the government to build more shelters and invited several private tutors."
"Later, I met my foster mother. And then I met the master who taught me martial arts. By the way, actually I've always known the King of Nanxun."