bayedsolid Chapter 218 One Year Old
Chapter 218 One Year Old
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Hua'er and Jin'er have turned one year old.
As the eldest daughter and eldest son of Prince Duan, their first birthdays naturally deserved celebration. Prince Duan extended invitations to his friends and relatives, inviting them to the Prince's residence for the birthday celebration.
The eldest princess and Jiang Shichang naturally brought their whole family, and Fang Heng also brought his younger sister.
Zisu was greatly surprised when she saw it.
Prince Duan quickly smiled and reassured her, "Zisu, don't worry, it's alright that he's here. Besides, aren't you friends with his sister? Let's just pretend he's here with his sister, don't take it too seriously!"
Zisu remained silent for a long time before asking, "Don't you mind at all?"
Prince Duan: "What do I care about? I don't care at all. You've already chosen me and given me a son and a daughter, haven't you? I can see that you're completely devoted to me now. That's enough. If I don't even have that much magnanimity, then I'm not worthy of your love!"
Besides, so many outstanding men have loved you, which proves that you are unparalleled! I should be happy and proud, what is there to mind? Don't overthink it. Even if Jiang Chun returns in the future, if there are any happy events in the Prince's Mansion and Jiang Chun comes to celebrate, I will welcome him!
Zisu: "If you don't mind, that's good! Anyway, I have a clear conscience. I haven't seen Fang Heng alone since I got together with you! As for Jiang Chun, there was never anything between us, so it doesn't count as anything."
Prince Duan pulled her into his arms: "I know you are a woman who is very devoted to relationships and will not be fickle."
Zisu: "It's good that you know. If you have even the slightest doubt, we can't go on living together! The most important thing between husband and wife is mutual trust."
Prince Duan: "Of course I know, and I have never doubted you. Now that you have given me a pair of intelligent and lovely children, my trust and love for you grows deeper every day. So, you don't need to worry. Even if you see Jiang Chun and Fang Heng, you can greet them openly and honestly. There's no need to hide or avoid them!"
If Zisu greeted the two men politely and naturally, it would be better for them. That way, Fang Heng and Jiang Chun would know that in Zisu's heart, they were already a thing of the past. Now, to Zisu, they were just ordinary friends.
Zisu smiled and nodded: "Thank you for your trust. I'm not afraid to tell you the truth. In my heart, they are just friends at most. I won't meet with them alone, but if we meet in public, I don't plan to deliberately avoid them."
Prince Duan: "Very well, I understand. I will trust you, so you don't need to worry! We are open and aboveboard, and even if the world wants to say something, they will have nothing to say!"
Hiding and concealing things will only make people think there's something fishy going on.
As they were talking, Fang Heng walked over.
"Your Highness, Your Highness's Consort, hello!" Fang Heng mustered his courage and greeted the two of them like this, mentally prepared to be glared at by the prince.
Unexpectedly, Prince Duan smiled and nodded at him: "Greetings, Lord Fang. Thank you for coming to my son's and daughter's first birthday celebration!"
Zisu smiled gracefully and said, "Lord Fang, it's been a long time!"
A warm feeling welled up in Fang Heng's heart, and his eyes even moistened a little. He tried his best to suppress his excitement and smiled, "Long time no see. I'm very sorry for coming uninvited today!"
Prince Duan: "It's alright. Zisu and your sister are very good friends. As Fang Qiong's older brother, Zisu and I will welcome you!"
As they were talking, Fang Qiong took Yue'er's hand and walked over: "Greetings, Your Highness and Your Highness!"
Zisu then extended her hands to Fang Qiong and Yue'er, saying, "Come, I'll take you to see Hua'er and Jin'er." She then said to Fang Heng, "Excuse me, please excuse me. You two can continue your conversation!"
"Okay, I miss those two little ones!" Yue'er was very happy and walked in front, skipping and jumping all the way.
Fang Qiong had grown a few years older, and having seen Zisu frequently over the past year, she had become much more composed and resilient. She and Zisu walked behind, chatting and laughing, their faces beaming with joy.
It's good that Sister Zisu is willing to talk to my elder brother; it eases his heart's burden. Such a wonderful woman, and he missed out on her. In the period immediately following Sister Zisu's marriage, he became much more silent and thinner. Fortunately, Mother had already returned to the capital at that time; otherwise, he would have had to divide his attention to care for her.
Fang Heng watched Zisu's departing figure and said enviously to Prince Duan, "Your Highness, you are truly blessed!"
Prince Duan smiled proudly and said, "Yes, it is truly my greatest blessing to be able to marry Zisu in this life!" Prince Duan was very satisfied to have such a wonderful woman.
Fang Heng couldn't help but sigh: "Missing out on her will be the biggest regret of my life, but I still wish you well. I wish you and her a happy and loving relationship that lasts a lifetime! If you treat her badly, I will definitely not let you off the hook!"
Prince Duan: "Thank you for your blessing. I will definitely treat her very, very well! I will definitely treat her very well, better and better, and make her the happiest woman in the world."
"That's good, that puts my mind at ease!" Fang Heng nodded and smiled.
Prince Duan: "You're not young anymore, it's time for you to get married!"
Fang Heng: "Having seen the vast ocean, other waters seem insignificant; having beheld the clouds of Wushan, other clouds seem pale in comparison. Finding someone comparable to Princess Yulin is harder than climbing to heaven. Perhaps I will never get married again in this lifetime!"
Unless, he meets someone just like her. No matter how beautiful or talented a woman is, compared to Zisu, all women pale in comparison, making it impossible for him to feel any affection for them.
Prince Duan kindly advised, "Zisu is an extraordinary woman, perhaps the only one of her kind in the world. If you take her as your standard, you may never get married in this lifetime! Listen to me, that's good enough!"
Fang Heng: "I'd rather have nothing than something bad. I don't want to settle!" If all else fails, he'll just take in a maidservant. Anyway, he doesn't really care about getting married.
Zisu's uncle serves as a stark lesson. A second marriage is fine, but a third is a different story. In any case, if you marry again, you must marry a truly good woman. She doesn't need to be exceptionally beautiful, but she must have a good character and a kind heart. You can't marry a woman who makes Yunduo and Rufeng live in constant fear.
As for maids who served as concubines, there were fewer scruples. If they were found to be unsuitable or malicious, they could simply be sold off! Marrying a wife, however, was far more complex. Even divorcing a wife required sufficient justification. Otherwise, would her family allow it to continue?
Anyway, since he couldn't marry Zisu, he didn't want to remain celibate for any other woman. There was no need. Conversely, since he couldn't marry Zisu, who he married wasn't so important. What mattered was marrying a woman with whom he could share common interests and who would treat Yun'er and Rufeng well.
Otherwise, he would rather remain unmarried for life! For Yun Duo and Ru Feng, he could give up everything, even his life. He was very different from his father, who could neglect his children for a woman. He couldn't do that, even if that woman was as beautiful as an angel.
After hearing his words, Prince Duan actually felt the same way.
If Zisu hadn't chosen him back then, he might never have married. At most, he would have taken one or two concubines, fathered a few children, and given his mother an explanation.
Thank goodness, thank goodness, Zisu chose him back then!
Prince Duan sighed softly: "Lord Fang, actually, I should thank your mother! If she hadn't gone to Wuliping to cause trouble for Zisu back then, I might have missed out on meeting Zisu in this lifetime. To be honest, I am very grateful to your mother! If I have the opportunity, I must express my gratitude to her in person!"
Fang Heng was so angry upon hearing this that he almost vomited blood. He couldn't help but roll his eyes at Prince Duan: "Come on, you've got the benefits and you're still acting innocent, dream on!"
Yet, a bittersweet feeling welled up inside me.
Mother, if you hadn't done that foolish thing back then, Zisu and I might already have a pair of intelligent and lovely children. Today's first birthday celebration might well be for our children.
Alas, what a pity! What a pity! It's truly a case of one wrong step leading to eternal regret!
Mother, do you ever feel regret in your heart?
The Marquis of Zhongxin's Residence.
It was time to eat, and Madam Ying sat alone at the table, looking so lonely and desolate. She ate her meal in silence, feeling very sad. At the same time, she had many complaints about her two children. She couldn't hold back any longer and said to her personal maid, "You know, it's fine for Qiong'er to go to the Duan Prince's mansion for the birthday celebration, but since she's always so close to the Duan Princess, it wouldn't be right if she didn't go."
"But why should Heng'er go? Back then, that person abandoned him without hesitation, choosing the powerful Prince Duan instead. Today is their child's first birthday, not his own. Why is he going over there so eagerly? How stupid is he?"
The maidservant nodded helplessly.
Oh dear, what is Madam doing? What's the point of getting angry with your own children? The Marquis has been back at the Marquis's residence for so long, and he hasn't spent a single night in Madam's bedroom. What's going on here? Instead of wasting time and energy gossiping about your children, Madam would be better off focusing on winning the Marquis back.
After all, the lady and the marquis shared many loving years in their youth. If the lady puts in a little effort, there's no need to worry about the marquis not changing his mind. Even if their love doesn't return to its former glory, surely he'll spend at least three to five nights a month in the lady's bedroom?
It's been so long, a whole year! And the Marquis hasn't even touched his wife once. My lady, please, have some self-respect!
Her personal maidservant wished she could scold her a few times.
When Marquis Zhongxin returned home, he heard from his concubine that Fang Heng and Fang Qiong had gone to the Duan Prince's residence for a banquet. Upon hearing this, he became very angry and stormed to his wife's courtyard.
Madam Ying was both surprised and delighted, and quickly stood up: "Master, you've arrived? Have you eaten? If not, I'll have someone prepare a few more of your favorite dishes!"
Marquis Zhongxin pulled out a chair and impatiently yelled at her, "Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating! What else do you know besides eating? I'm asking you, why didn't you tell me that Heng'er and Qiong'er were going to a banquet at Prince Duan's mansion today?"
If he had known earlier, he would definitely have gone to the Prince's mansion with Fang Heng and Fang Qiong. He knew that today, a constant stream of high-ranking officials and nobles would be visiting the Prince's mansion. He would have taken this opportunity to meet more people and make more connections.
What's infuriating is that not only did his children not tell him a single thing, but his wife also refused to mention it.
Upon hearing his words, Ying slumped into her chair, feeling as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head in the dead of winter, the cold seeping straight to her heart.
She had been back at the Marquis's residence for a year, yet today was the first time he had ever come to her courtyard. His first visit was solely to reprimand and question her; he had no other intention than that!
The more Ying thought about it, the angrier she became. She suddenly stood up again, glaring at her husband: "How am I supposed to tell you? I can't even see you, how am I supposed to tell you?! Besides, I don't even exist in your heart anymore, how am I supposed to know what you want to hear?!"