CHAPTER 418: CHAPTER 415: UNABLE TO DEFEAT

Xie Shao Yuan listened to Song Xian’s words, watching Song Xian bow in front of him, his face full of earnest expression, feeling a sense of relief.

Both of these children are truly blessed.

He couldn’t help but glance to the side. At the main seat was Old Mrs. Chen, and the chair next to her was empty, reserved for Liangchen’s mother.

If Liangchen’s mother were to see this, she would surely be delighted, perhaps even moved to tears, and give him a signal to let him know that it was enough.

Xie Shao Yuan said, "Stand up!"

Song Xian rose and took the tea from the wedding maid, offering it to Old Mrs. Chen and Xie Shao Yuan.

After Old Mrs. Chen and Xie Shao Yuan had drunk the tea, Song Xian said, "Grandmother, Father, I’ll go pick up Liangchen now."

Xie Shao Yuan nodded in agreement, "Go ahead!"

Song Xian bowed and then walked out.

The people outside immediately sent someone to inform Chen Zigeng and Hei Dan, "Brother-in-law has come out of the main room."

The place where Song Xian met Xie Shao Yuan and Old Mrs. Chen was set in the Familiar Medicine Institute’s room, while Xie Liangchen was in Old Mrs. Chen’s courtyard, one at the village end, the other at the village head. The children from Chen Family Village ran breathlessly to deliver the message.

Chen Zigeng, leaning on the wall, shouted loudly, "Close the door, guard it well."

This was the last checkpoint for Brother-in-law to welcome Sister.

Hei Dan stood nervously under the wall, "Zigeng, you must hold strong; don’t be like those people before who were dismissed with a few words."

Hei Dan had seen firsthand that even Old General Zhang couldn’t stop Brother-in-law.

What had been said before? Everyone was worried about them, fearing that this last stop would let Brother-in-law pass too easily.

They should have mocked them first if they had known.

Chen Zigeng said, "Don’t worry, this checkpoint won’t be easy."

They had made full preparations in advance. For Brother-in-law to enter, he first had to hit the target on the tree. But, of course, archery was too easy for Brother-in-law, so they moved the target connected to a rope. When Song Xian shot the arrow, Chen Zigeng, perched on the wall, would give Hei Dan a gesture, and with one pull, the target would change position, and naturally, the shot would miss.

Hei Dan gripped the rope tightly, assured that in the entire Chen Family Village, the most reliable ones were him and Zigeng. This time they would show everyone their skills.

"Ready?" Miao Zigui quietly reminded from outside the wall, "They’re coming."

Chen Zigeng replied, "Ready."

Miao Zigui smiled, hoping Song Jiedu wouldn’t blame him; after all, he would be the son-in-law of Chen Family Village soon, so it’s wise to please Little Uncle now for the future when he marries, letting everyone have mercy.

As Song Xian entered Old Mrs. Chen’s courtyard, he saw Chen Zigeng perched on the wall, smiling at Chen Zigeng, "Why climb so high? Should I help you down?"

Little Uncle hadn’t spoken yet, but Brother-in-law’s joke made him laugh.

Chen Zigeng said, "Brother-in-law, you need to open the gate first."

"Alright," Song Xian responded swiftly, "How do I pass this checkpoint?"

"Simple," Chen Zigeng pointed to the target on the tree, "Just hit the red spot in the center."

The red spot was small, but it was nothing for Song Xian.

Song Xian received the bow and arrow from the wedding maid, the long bow tied with red ribbon, which made his face appear even more radiant.

Chen Zigeng felt that today’s Brother-in-law was very different from usual, like a different person, his brows and eyes filled with warmth, as bright as the sun overhead.

"Zigeng," Song Xian said before pulling the bow, "Is your Sister important to you?"

Chen Zigeng nodded, of course, in his heart, Sister was the best.

The person he admired most in his life was Sister.

Not only him, but many others also thought this way, so they followed and called her "Sister."

Song Xian said, "In the future, you will meet people worth cherishing for a lifetime, but Liangchen is my one and only. From now on, she is my wife, my most cherished person..."

As Song Xian spoke, his smile deepened, dazzling Chen Zigeng for a moment, but Song Xian’s next words left Chen Zigeng stunned, unable to react for a long time.

Song Xian gently said, "She is also my Sister."

Chen Zigeng heard a swoosh, and when he came to his senses, Song Xian had thrown the bow back to the wedding maid, and the arrow had hit the red spot on the target precisely.

Before Chen Zigeng and Hei Dan could react, this checkpoint had already been passed.

Hei Dan’s sweaty palms soaked the rope, rendering it useless.

"Zigeng, why didn’t you tell me..." Hei Dan said anxiously, "Why didn’t you tell me?"

Only then did Chen Zigeng fully realize he had been tricked by Brother-in-law, of all people, in front of so many people by calling "Sister." He had thought of everything but never that Brother-in-law would openly say "Sister."

The courtyard door was opened, and Song Xian tidied his wedding attire, striding toward the main room.

"I told you all were useless," Mrs. Gao poked Hei Dan’s forehead, "Did I say anything wrong?"

"Next time," Hei Dan said, "I won’t be called Hei Dan if I don’t block him for half an hour."

Miao Zigui immediately felt a chill, as Song Jiedu passed the checkpoint too easily, making Little Uncle feel incompetent... Although this originally had nothing to do with him, no matter how he thought about it, he felt Little Uncle’s vigor might be directed at him. Is this retribution in the present world?

The door opened.

Xie Liangchen’s head was covered, enveloped entirely in red, unable to see the outside scene, only hearing the hustle and bustle, knowing Song Xian had entered, getting closer to her, and her heartbeat uncontrollably sped up.

The wedding maid smiled and said, "The groom stands there; there’s no need to be too close, getting the bride on the sedan chair doesn’t require you."

"We’re here now, no rush, no rush!"

Thinking of Song Xian being stopped by the wedding maid, Xie Liangchen’s initial nervousness dissipated somewhat, and she couldn’t help but want to laugh.

Then Xie Liangchen was helped by Chen Zigeng and the wedding maid, one on each side.

"The bride boards the sedan chair."

Song Xian looked at Xie Liangchen dressed in wedding attire, watching her elegantly walk forward, guarded by the wedding maid and female relatives beside her, until she bent to board the sedan chair, then he quickly stepped up.

"Liangchen."

Xie Liangchen finally heard Song Xian’s voice.

Song Xian said, "I’m right next to you, I’m bringing you home."

Xie Liangchen nodded.

The two wedding maids exchanged a glance and laughed together; they had never seen such an attentive groom.

The wedding procession gradually moved away, and Xie Shao Yuan invited everyone to the banquet.

In the crowd, Su Huaiqing withdrew his gaze, initially joyful for Xie Liangchen, but somehow a hint of bitterness was mixed in, so faint it was almost undetectable...

Xie Liangchen was no longer the pitiful girl he brought back from Yuezhou to Zhenzhou; she found her father, had been bestowed the title of Princess Jia’an by the court, and married the one she loves.

With the relationship between the Su and Xie families... he could only care this much.

Su Huaiqing smiled slightly, recalling his mother’s eager demeanor upon hearing Xie Liangchen’s title as Princess. His mother had spent her life scheming, not doing her duties straightforwardly, always trying to seize an opportunity for a fortunate turn, only to find that the chance she had dreamed of was cut off by her own hands.

His mother was tormented by this, unable to sleep at night; he didn’t advise her but quietly watched, knowing everyone must pay the price for their thoughts, regret or desire, but no one can help.

The sedan chair was lifted steadily, accompanied by joyful music, the sounds of congratulations, and the rhythmic clatter of hooves, always near her, walking alongside her sedan chair.

Throughout this journey, Xie Liangchen pondered about many things since saving Song Xian at sea, how the two of them started anew, went from being cautious to trusting each other, experiencing many events which felt so natural, like water flowing downstream.

The sedan chair descended.

This time Song Xian lifted the curtain before the wedding maid.

Xie Liangchen felt her hand being held, a warm palm covering her cool fingertips, followed by Song Xian’s voice, "I’ll support Liangchen, you don’t need to."