After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 220 Asking for Marriage
The distance from Ling'an to the capital was not too far, and Xiang Ning didn't travel for long with her belongings.

When they arrived, it was exactly the day before Wen Caifu's wedding.

She even made a special trip to the city gate to welcome Xiang Ning.

"Sister Wen."

"I've been waiting for you ever since I received the letter. I've prepared a welcome feast for you."

Wen Caifu pulled Xiang Ning into another carriage, and as they talked, the carriage drove away.

Only Duan Zhuo and Pei Yanzhi, who had been forced off the carriage, remained.

The two exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Wen Caifu lifted the curtain and peeked out, unable to suppress a laugh.

"The two of them are actually friends, but neither of them is willing to back down."

Wen Caifu sat up straight again and shook her head helplessly.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning remained silent. Then, Cai Fu asked, "Xiang Ning, you and Lord Pei..."

After the matter in the northern border was resolved, Pei Yanzhi did not return to the capital, but went directly to Ling'an to find Xiang Ning.

He wanted her forgiveness, and even if she didn't forgive him, he still wanted to be with her.

As they were talking, the two arrived at the Wen residence.

As soon as Xiang Ning stepped off the carriage, she saw Bi Tao.

It had been a long time since I'd seen her. Bitao had grown a lot, but when she saw Xiangning, she still couldn't help but cry.

"Sister, you are so heartless to leave me alone in the Pei residence."

Listening to Bitao's accusations, Xiangning reached out and rubbed her head.

"It was my fault."

"Alright, alright, it's windy outside, let's go inside and talk."

Reunions after a long separation are always tinged with some melancholy, but the festive decorations at the Wen residence at this time have somewhat dispelled this feeling.

Bitao couldn't wait to tell Xiangning what had happened during this time.

As they talked all the way, Xiang Ning also learned that Pei Yanzhi had actually already separated from the Pei family.

He has now established his own business.

Xiang Ning's fingertips unconsciously caressed the blue and white porcelain pattern on the teacup, the rising steam blurring her vision.

Wen Caifu's boudoir was adorned with bright red brocade. In the flickering candlelight, she was being helped by two maids to try on a phoenix crown.

"No one told me to wear such a heavy headdress; it's making my neck bent."

Wen Caifu adjusted the position of her hairpins in front of the bronze mirror, then suddenly looked at Xiang Ning in the mirror: "As for you, you still haven't answered me in the carriage. Lord Pei, after chasing Ling An all this time, have you truly not softened your heart in the slightest?"

The fragrance of night-blooming jasmine wafted in from outside the window, mingling with the smell of rice milk from the newly pasted window screens.

Xiang Ning looked at the pearl hairpin in her hair, nodded and shook her head: "My heart is not made of iron."

Upon hearing this, Wen Caifu took off her phoenix crown and quickly sat down in front of her.

"Then what do you think?"

The two were friends, and deep down, Wen Caifu wanted her to be happy.

Regardless of whether this happiness was brought about by Pei Yanzhi.

"I……"

Just as Xiang Ning was about to answer, a figure appeared outside the door.

The words that were about to come out of his mouth suddenly changed his tone: "After staying in Ling'an for so long, I think being alone is not bad."

The words were spoken with a smile on their face, but they were very hurtful.

Wen Caifu followed Xiang Ning's gaze and immediately spotted the two figures.

Liao Ran nodded and reached out to hold Xiang Ning's hand: "I also think it's nice to be alone, it's a pity."

"What's a pity?"

She had barely finished speaking when Duan Zhuo walked in.

"Unfortunately, there's no going back now."

After saying that, Duan Zhuo glanced at Xiang Ning, afraid that she might say something else that would lead Wen Caifu to leave.

Xiang Ning covered her lips with her handkerchief and chuckled softly, saying nothing more.

"Xiang Ning, you are here..."

"No need, I'll take A Ning back."

Pei Yan stepped forward, took Xiang Ning's hand, and led her away from the Wen residence.

After leaving the Wen residence, Bitao excitedly returned to the mansion that Pei Yanzhi had purchased to prepare. Pei Yanzhi hadn't lived in that house since it was bought.

I just asked Chenghua to come back and prepare some things.

Now this house has finally welcomed its true owner.

Pei Yanzhi and Xiang Ning walked on the streets of the capital. The sky was clear, but her lover was not in a good mood.

"A-Ning, if you want to go back to Ling'an, I'll take you back after the wedding banquet."

"But...can I..."

Pei Yanzhi frowned, unsure how to continue.

"Back to Ling'an? Pei Yanzhi, do you want me to go back?"

Xiang Ning stopped and turned to look at Pei Yanzhi.

The man paused for a moment, seemingly not understanding what she meant.

"Did not you say……"

"I didn't know you were the type to back down, but if you want me to go back to Ling'an, then let's not see each other again."

She looked away, while Pei Yanzhi's Adam's apple bobbed. Suddenly, he reached out and pulled her into his arms: "Are you...?"

"I don't want you to go back to Ling'an."

"and then?"

Xiang Ning didn't push him away, but instead asked a question.

Pei Yanzhi buried his head in the crook of her neck and whispered, "I've already prepared the betrothal gifts."

"With the proper marriage ceremony and formal betrothal, Ah Ning, I want to marry you."

He had prepared that betrothal gift list for a long time, afraid that he might not have arranged it well enough and might have wronged her.

Pei Yanzhi considered himself to be a coward.

But he's afraid when he's with Xiang Ning.

He was afraid she would push him away completely, afraid she wouldn't want him, afraid she... would marry someone else.

He couldn't bring himself to do what he had done, imprisoning her by his side.

He loves her, so how could he bear to see her suffer even the slightest grievance?

Even if she doesn't choose him, there's nothing he can do.

"Pei Yanzhi, I'm only giving you this one chance. Follow your heart."

"If you betray me in the future..."

Before Xiang Ning could finish speaking, Pei Yanzhi said, "I swear to Heaven that if I betray this oath, I will be torn to pieces and die a horrible death."

With solemn words and a serious expression, he made a promise to her that he would never betray her.

"So...did you say yes? You said you'd marry me?"

Pei Yanzhi slowly released Xiang Ning and asked her a question cautiously.

Her brows relaxed, and a faint smile played on her lips as she said, "Then I won't agree?"

"No, you already agreed."

Pei Yanzhi's voice was tinged with joy as he picked her up in his arms.

"A Ning."

He called her name, again and again.

The sunlight streaming down from the horizon cast shadows on the two of them, their fluttering skirts resembling butterflies taking flight.

"Pei Yanzhi, let go of me!"

Xiang Ning blushed at the stares of those around her and patted Pei Yanzhi on the shoulder.

Pei Yanzhi, however, seemed not to have heard her words.

"Let me take you home, let me show you our home."

He was unwilling to let go, fearing that this was all just a dream.

Sometimes surprises come too fast, leaving people unprepared.

Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, Xiang Ning had no choice but to pull his clothes over her face.

shameful.

At this time, Lu Weimin and Lu Jiang in Ling'an were unaware that Xiang Ning had just gone to the capital and returned with a little follower she could never shake off.

I don't even dare to open the backend when I'm not updating. But I, Hu Hansan, am back again! This time, I'll write the grand finale! I will never stop updating!