PFC Chapter 97: Meeting Chen Shuyu and Murong Qing
Chapter 97: Meeting Chen Shuyu and Murong Qing
Lin Qianqian and Xiao Die lightly rode in their carriage, following the Emperor's instructions, slowly making their way towards Qingping Town. The carriage rumbled along, bathed in warm sunlight, with willows swaying along the banks. The fields were lush and green, dotted with wildflowers like stars fallen onto a verdant carpet. A gentle breeze stirred, causing the wheat to ripple and rustle, as if softly singing.
Xiaodie pouted, tugged at Lin Qianqian's sleeve, and murmured, "Miss, look at the flowers by the roadside, they're blooming so beautifully, but this place is so remote, and the journey is so bumpy, when will we finally reach Qingping Town?"
Lin Qianqian chuckled softly, her gaze drifting through the carriage window to the distant, rolling mountains. Sitting in the bumpy carriage, her emotions were complex. Thinking of the Seventh Princess, Murong Qing, pity and heartache welled up within her. Such a noble princess, yet she had sacrificed so much for love. She admired Murong Qing's courage, daring to break free from the shackles of her status to pursue the love in her heart. She pondered this, her brow furrowing slightly.
What kind of man could make a princess so devoted, willing to abandon her noble status to marry him, and even stay away from the palace for three years?
The carriage moved slowly forward, the road growing ever narrower and more rugged. The trees on either side grew crookedly, their withered branches intertwined, like menacing ghosts. A howling wind swept through, the thin branches creaking and groaning against each other with eerie sounds, like painful groans. The withered grass trembled in the wind, lying askew and bent, a patch of yellow wasteland dotted with a few nameless wildflowers, their petals scattered on the mud.
The distant mountains stretched out in a continuous range, but were nothing but bare rock, devoid of any greenery, appearing stark and desolate under the gloomy sky. Thick, leaden clouds piled up in the sky, pressing down heavily, as if to crush even the last remaining life in the world. All was silent except for the echoing sound of carriage wheels in the vast emptiness, further emphasizing the remoteness and desolation of this place.
The coachman reined in his horse and called out, "Ladies, we've arrived. Qingping Town is just ahead. It's difficult for the carriage to go in, so please make yourselves in. It's not far."
Lin Qianqian smiled slightly, pursed her lips, and said softly, "Thank you for your trouble, driver. You've had a long and tiring journey." After speaking, her gaze turned to the entrance of the town, filled with anticipation and curiosity.
Xiao Die nodded to the coachman, then helped Lin Qianqian down from the carriage.
The two embarked on a narrow and winding path, slowly making their way towards the town.
Xiaodie frowned and muttered, "This road is really difficult to travel, and Qingping Town is too remote."
Lin Qianqian didn't respond. Looking at the uneven path beneath her feet, she felt a pang of heartache. She thought about how the Seventh Princess had lived in such a place for three years. Her once noble and precious body now had to face such hardship every day. She must have suffered a lot. She wondered if the person who had won the princess's heart could truly give her enough happiness and comfort. A thousand thoughts swirled in her mind.
Upon arriving at a certain place, they saw a man dressed in a simple cloth shirt. Although the material was ordinary, it was washed clean and neat, with the collar and cuffs slightly faded and patched with fine details. He was thin, with a fair complexion and a scholarly air about him. He was focused on the book in his hands, muttering to himself, while his hoe never stopped turning over the soil beneath his feet. Fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead in the sunlight. Anyone who saw him would feel pity for him.
Just then, a woman walked gracefully out of a slightly dilapidated house. Lin Qianqian and Xiaodie looked closely and realized that it was none other than the Seventh Princess, Murong Qing.
Xiao Die was stunned. She instinctively grabbed Lin Qianqian's arm tightly and exclaimed in a low voice, "Miss, isn't that the Seventh Princess?!" Her eyes were wide open, filled with disbelief.
Lin Qianqian frowned, her heart filled with ripples of emotion. She carefully examined the man before her, secretly thinking that the man who could make the Seventh Princess abandon her wealth and status to stay with her for three years must be Chen Shuyu. For a moment, she felt a mix of emotions, both gratified that the princess had found true love and saddened by the princess's current ordinary and difficult life.
After stepping out of the house, Murong Qing walked straight towards Chen Shuyu. As if sensing her thoughts, Chen Shuyu put down the book and hoe he was holding, looked up at her, and his eyes instantly filled with smiles and tenderness.
Murong Qing gently raised her hand to wipe the sweat from Chen Shuyu's forehead, the movement soft and natural, filled with endless intimacy. Chen Shuyu took her hand in return, gazing at her tenderly, and brushed the hair from her cheek, a happy smile spreading across his face.
The two spoke in hushed tones, and though their words were inaudible, their tender gazes revealed them to be an extremely loving couple. In the ordinary days of Qingping Town, they accompanied and comforted each other, their lives simple yet overflowing with love.