Misty Rain of the Old Times

Returning to their courtyard in Yang County from the capital, looking at the familiar surroundings, the little princess sincerely said, "It always feels so much more comfortable and peaceful here at home, without all the hustle and bustle."

Far from the hustle and bustle of the capital, away from the noise and clamor, she felt much more relaxed. She no longer worried about her father's abdication and his elusive whereabouts while traveling and enjoying nature, the future of the country after Zhou Chen's ascension to the throne, or how the Prince Qing's uprising would unfold.

Chen Xuan laughed and said, "We'll be staying here often in the future, for years, decades, or even a lifetime. I hope my wife won't find it troublesome then. But that's alright, if we get tired of it, we can just go somewhere else for a change of scenery."

"How could I get tired of it? This is our home. With a home, we have a place to belong and can feel at ease. No matter what, home is where Brother Xuan is," the little princess said with a bright smile, her eyes full of affection as she looked at Chen Xuan. After their marriage, the two formed a family and have relied on each other ever since.

He affectionately patted her head and joked, "Just don't complain about me being annoying in the future, my wife."

When a couple lives together, they are naturally very happy at first. But as time goes by, they inevitably have disagreements. Throughout history, which couple can maintain mutual respect and harmony?
"How could that be? Xuan-gege is the best," the little princess pouted.

With a smile, Chen Xuan thought to herself that it was best to do so, so that you wouldn't nag me for ages if I forgot to brush my teeth even once.

As he spoke, Chen Xuan arrived at the pavilion, slumped onto a recliner, and thought to himself how comfortable it was. At the same time, he was multitasking, retrieving some materials from a secret chamber deep underground, such as ice silkworm silk, white cloud wood, and fire copper.

Seeing this, the little princess asked curiously, "What are you doing, husband?"

"Let's make some little gadgets to play with, like the Fog Array. Have you ever heard of it, my lady? I hope your skills haven't gotten rusty yet," Chen Xuan said frankly, already busy working on the project while talking to the little princess.

He silently manipulated the ice silkworm silk with his true essence, and in no time he had woven a small flag with a complex structure but a strange beauty. It was not only made of ice silkworm silk, but also mixed with gold threads, silver threads and jade materials.

Looking at the small flag, Chen Xuan nodded to himself. His skills hadn't fallen behind at all. You should know that he spent several months figuring it out before he took the first step from scratch. This skill was like riding a bicycle to him. If he didn't know it, he didn't know it. Once he learned it, he wouldn't forget it. He had gone through almost all the detours.

The little princess was already used to her husband's various amazing methods. She nodded as she examined the small flag that was taking shape and said, "I've heard of it. Father Emperor used to have one. Last year, when Zhou Hong and Jiang Yuan forced the emperor to abdicate, the fog array played a big role."

Zhou Hong has been expelled from the royal family genealogy because of that incident, and he is now completely finished. Naturally, the little princess would not address him as "brother".

“That set of equipment for my father-in-law was actually a gift from me. Well, I wouldn’t say it was a gift, but rather a betrothal gift. However, my father-in-law should have already handed over that set of the Misty Array along with the entire country to your brother, the Emperor,” Chen Xuan said, continuing his actions.

He had long been able to multitask, and now when creating the fog array, he no longer needed to finish one array flag before moving on to the second, but could make the flags first and then the others, like an assembly line, saving time.

Perhaps because she wasn't in a good mood about the change of government, the little princess pouted and said, "So, Brother Xuan tricked me out of Father Emperor's clutches and back home with just a fog formation?"

Blinking, Chen Xuan chuckled and said, "It seems my wife isn't wrong to interpret it that way."

"Hmph, this is boring, I'm ignoring you," she said coquettishly, and walked away with a graceful sway. In reality, she didn't want to disturb her husband's busy work, even though she didn't know what he was planning to do with the fog array.

Chen Xuan had no shortage of materials; he had a large surplus after forging the array flags twice, enough for him to squander. With his rich experience, he couldn't stop once he started.

He may be lazy, but when he really wants to do something, he is very focused and won't back down halfway, even if he has second thoughts.

The mist array comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The large size requires thirty-six array flags, but can only cover a range of ten miles. Thinking of this, Chen Xuan felt helpless. The range was indeed quite large, but it was still not enough.

Unfortunately, his current mastery of formations is only at the beginner level, and he can't be considered proficient in the Misty Formation. He can't adjust, analyze, or expand the range on his own because his cultivation level is insufficient. To put it bluntly, it's a matter of not further sublimating his inner and outer realms. In other words, his brain isn't big enough. If he reaches the Tribulation Transcending Realm, his spirit will be able to interfere with reality and he will begin to see the essence of heaven and earth directly. At that time, he could probably elevate a small technique like the Misty Formation to an unimaginable level with just a glance. He wouldn't even need formation flags to set up the formation. Of course, by then, he wouldn't need such a small technique anymore.

While Chen Xuan was busy, the little princess soon returned with a fragrant breeze, placing a pot of flowers beside her. The arrangement was pleasing to the eye and complemented the surrounding environment perfectly.

This was clearly made from flowers that the little princess had just picked. Upon seeing this, Chen Xuan exclaimed in disbelief, "I never imagined my wife had such skill! It's truly beautiful."

Covering her mouth and laughing, the little princess said cheerfully, "Just hearing that Brother Xuan hasn't read many books, he can't even give a proper compliment. He just dismissed me with a simple 'You're so beautiful'."

"It's common knowledge that I'm not very bright. I fall asleep just looking at books. Do you think I'm Xiao Gao? If I had his brains, what chance would I have of becoming the top scholar?" Chen Xuan said confidently.

In the first few years after he went to the Gao family as a child, he studied hard. After all, it was a rare opportunity, the only chance to get ahead, and he could also learn about the world through reading so that he wouldn't be illiterate. But as his martial arts talent became apparent, he gradually started to slack off. Studying? Ha, what can a pageboy like me become an official?
Of course, that's true, he wasn't too bad at studying, he wasn't at the bottom, but he couldn't compare to someone like Gao Jingming. Conversely, no one could compare to him in terms of martial arts talent.

The little princess protested, "Don't say that about yourself, Brother Xuan! Everyone has their strengths. Your excellence is unmatched by anyone else. I'm actually quite skilled in many things, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, tea ceremony, flower arranging, and embroidery. I was forced to learn these things when I was little, which caused me a lot of pain. Now that I think about it, I should have been more serious when I was younger."

As a princess, she has innate advantages; whatever she wants to learn, she has the best teachers to teach her, and her resources are unmatched by others.

It's highly likely that the little princess's artistic talent is as high as a three-story building, but she doesn't usually have many platforms to showcase it. Otherwise, people would really think she's uneducated and could write best-selling stories based solely on her wild imagination. To put it bluntly, she has a solid foundation, and her imagination is just an embellishment.

She didn't mention dance. Girls from respectable families wouldn't learn singing and dancing, let alone princesses. Singing and dancing were considered using one's looks to entertain others, which was akin to prostitution. In this era, if someone said that a young lady from a prominent family danced well, it would be considered the most serious insult.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan joked, "It seems that my wife's life wasn't very good when she was young. I thought that being happy was all that mattered."

"How could that be? Although Father Emperor dotes on me, he is very strict about my studies. On the contrary, he is not as strict with many of my older sisters. At that time, I wondered if Father Emperor was targeting me. Now I understand his good intentions. Otherwise, I would have become a vase with nothing but status and looks," the little princess said with emotion.

Being pampered is not the same as indulging; otherwise, it will only harm her. Chen Xuan deeply agreed, saying, "I didn't expect my wife to be so sensible at such a young age."

"I'm married now, I'm not a three-year-old anymore. Oh, I'm not talking to you anymore, Brother Xuan, you're busy, I'm going to read for a while," she said, picking up a book and starting to read, worried about disturbing Chen Xuan.

So the two of them went about their own business, occasionally glancing at each other, creating a peaceful and warm atmosphere.

After they returned, Xia Mei dutifully went to inspect the surroundings, while Du Juan and her sister Yun Lan busied themselves tidying up inside and out, as if even a speck of dust in the house was a sin, even if there was nothing to tidy up.

After lunch, Chen Xuan continued working on the mist array flags, while the little princess stayed by his side, taking a nap. Since marrying into the family, Chen Xuan seemed to have become the only person in her world. As the saying goes, a married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl; returning to her parents' home is like being a guest. As the sun began to set, the bell at the outer gate rang. Chen Xuan took a moment to say, "Roujia, the girl in red has arrived. Go and greet her, and prepare tea to entertain her."

"Yes, sir, I'll go right away," the little maid replied and hurried out the door.

Two days ago, He Hongyi went to Chen Xuan's house to explain things, afraid that he might misunderstand something. However, Chen Xuan and the others had gone to the city at that time. She was keeping an eye on things here and learned that Chen Xuan and the others had returned. She waited for a while before carefully dressing up and visiting again.

Soon the young maid welcomed He Hongyi in. She was still dressed in a bright red outfit, looking stunning. Her impressive figure trembled with every step she took, and her slender waist seemed unable to bear the weight of her weight. She was like a delicate branch bearing a large fruit.

Upon meeting, her eyes were filled with joy, and the emotions in her eyes seemed to overflow. Although the two had not had much interaction, this was the way of women in this era. Once they fell in love, they were devoted to each other.

With a light touch of makeup, she smiled and said, "Ah Xuan, I hope my visit hasn't bothered you?"

Chen Xuan looked over and smiled, "What are you saying, Red Robe? I'm overjoyed. Please sit down, Yunxin, please serve tea."

Upon approaching, He Hongyi placed a wine jar down and said, "I brought you a jar of wine, an 80-year-old aged Nu'er Hong. You can't buy it on the market at all. I had someone from Yuhua Kingdom send it to me through connections. I don't know if it suits your taste."

Although not an alcoholic, Chen Xuan occasionally enjoys a drink. Upon hearing this, his eyes lit up and he said, "Red-clothed, you're too kind. Then I'll accept your offer. Speaking of eighty-year-old daughter's wine, which family's daughter is still unmarried after eighty years?"

"Is it possible that the wine has just been aged for eighty years?" He Hongyi said, both amused and exasperated, but a hint of resentment flashed deep in her beautiful eyes. She was already in her early thirties. Even with her innate cultivation, her appearance could only be maintained for forty or fifty years. When would you accept me? If I waited until I was old and faded, I wouldn't have the face to appear in front of you.

Chen Xuan, who continued making the battle flags, laughed and said, "Just kidding. Perfect timing. Let's have a couple of side dishes and finish this jar of wine. It's a waste to leave it sitting there. By the way, Hongyi, how's your wine shop going? Have you set the opening date yet?"

"Not yet. I'll definitely let you know in advance once the date is set. Are you sorry for bothering you with my business?" He Hongyi said apologetically as she looked at Chen Xuan making the array flags. Although she didn't understand them or know what they were, she could tell from their complex structure that they were something extraordinary.

Chen Xuan waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, I'm just making some small things, it won't take long."

Just then, the little princess who had been napping nearby woke up. Opening her eyes, she said with a mix of joy and embarrassment, "Sister in red is here! Why didn't you wake me up? You must have laughed at me."

"The spring breeze is intoxicating, and it is the perfect time for the crabapple blossoms to sleep soundly. It is my fault for disturbing Sister Qianning's rest," He Hongyi said apologetically.

Chen Xuan casually joked, "We're not outsiders, why are you being so polite?"

Hearing this, He Hongyi was delighted. Wasn't she an outsider? Ah Xuan treated her like one of his own. When could she become his wife?

The little princess smiled and said, "Brother Xuan is right. Has Sister in Red eaten yet? Sorry, I'm used to it, she should have eaten, hee hee!"

Royals call their meals "dining," while commoners simply eat. The little princess's habits haven't changed so quickly yet.

Asking if someone has eaten as soon as they meet is the most genuine and heartfelt form of care.

"Thank you for your concern, Sister Qianning. I've already eaten."

"Oh, is that so? Then, Sister in red, please stay for dinner later. It's just an extra pair of chopsticks."

"Then I won't refuse!"

He Hongyi happily agreed. She had always hoped to spend more time with Chen Xuan and the others to strengthen their relationship. The little princess wasn't just being polite, so there was no reason for her to refuse.

After exchanging pleasantries, He Hongyi had nothing to hide. She hesitated for a moment, then looked at Chen Xuan nervously and said, "Xuan, I hope you don't misunderstand what happened that day. I really have nothing to do with Tian Bin. The others came because of me, and I've already dealt with them properly. Those who were supposed to leave have already left and won't bother me anymore. It's just that Yan Quan and Tian Bin haven't bothered me, but they've been hanging around the county town all day. As far as I know, Yan Quan went to see Xuan that day?"

Nodding, Chen Xuan said dismissively, "Hongyi is overthinking it. I'm not the kind of person who holds grudges. Don't take it to heart. As for Yan Quan, he did come looking for me, and I was annoyed by him. The fact that he was circling the county town was just a small punishment I gave him. It's nothing serious."

Seeing that Chen Xuan didn't seem to care, He Hongyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but was also a little disappointed. It proved that she hadn't reached the threshold of Chen Xuan's approval yet, otherwise he wouldn't be so indifferent. It seemed that she still needed to work harder.

Then she said seriously, "Ah Xuan, it's all my fault. If it weren't for me, Yan Quan wouldn't have bothered you."

"It's nothing, Hongyi, don't worry about it. Life is pretty uneventful these days, a little drama now and then is quite interesting," Chen Xuan said with a smile.

But He Hongyi became even more serious and pondered, "Ah Xuan, that's not what I meant. While you were away these past two days, I heard that Yan Quan's matter has alarmed his sect. His master will personally go south to demand an explanation. Ultimately, this matter started because of me, and I will handle it well. But Ah Xuan, you should also be careful."

Hearing this, Chen Xuan said with great interest, "Tsk, so this is like hitting the child and then the elder comes along. That's a bit inappropriate. I didn't hit anyone. Judging from what you've said, Yan Quan's master must be quite something. Whatever, let him come. I'm not in the wrong."

Seeing this, He Hongyi became a little anxious and said, "Ah Xuan, don't take this lightly. Yan Quan's master is the Supreme Elder of the Qingyang Sect of Yuhua Kingdom, a powerful expert who has been at the Grandmaster level for more than ten years. The key is that she is... how should I put it, her thinking is different from ordinary people, making her difficult to fathom. If you're not careful, no one knows what kind of situation will unfold."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan immediately became interested and asked in surprise, "A woman? How much do you know about the woman in red? Could you elaborate?"

The little princess raised an eyebrow and said, "Who cares who she is? If she wants to bully my brother Xuan, we're not pushovers. So what if she's powerful? Can she stop a thousand troops? Even though Father has abdicated, I'm still a princess. I can have as many people as I want with just a word!"

She's practically a fiercely protective husband! Chen Xuan was deeply moved and waved his hand, saying, "My wife, it's not that serious. Let's hear what Hongyi has to say first. Besides, at our level, just throwing numbers around doesn't make much sense anymore. Come to think of it, I haven't really taken action more than a few times in the past few years. And this is such a trivial matter, it shouldn't warrant that much of a reaction."

Nodding, the little princess looked at He Hongyi and said, "Please speak, Sister Hongyi."

...(End of chapter)