Chapter 88: Returning to the Maiden Home

After leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Shen Yian felt deeply moved. The marriages of his five older brothers each had their reasons, and the old man didn’t seem too concerned about them. Instead, the seventh prince Shen Luoyan, who wasn’t mentioned, seemed to be the one the old man was planning to arrange a marriage for.

“Sorry, seventh brother,” Shen Yian thought. “I didn’t expect you to bear everything in the end, having to become someone’s husband at such a young age.”

However, remembering the generous red envelope he gave Shen Luoyan on his wedding day, Shen Yian’s slight guilt instantly vanished. The old man must have his reasons for this arrangement. It’s all good!

Returning to the prince’s mansion, Shen Yian continued teaching Ye Liyan to play chess, and they also discussed music together. The newly strung zither felt different, smoother and silkier. With Ye Liyan’s hands-on guidance, Shen Yian’s “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” was played more skillfully.

At night, learning from the past two nights’ experience, Shen Yian prepared a basin of water in the room to prevent the air from becoming too dry and waking up parched.

Ye Liyan adapted quickly. In just two days, she had adjusted to the new environment of the prince’s mansion and no longer tossed and turned unable to sleep.

This night, the couple slept especially sweetly.

The next day, according to custom, it was time to return to the bride’s maiden home.

The Duke of State’s mansion took this very seriously. When the prince’s procession was still a street away, servants rushed to report their arrival. Ye Tiance and Ye Feng, already dressed in formal attire, had been waiting for a long time. As the procession arrived, they quickly went to greet them.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Shen Yian and Ye Liyan were welcomed into the Duke’s mansion.

Three days had passed since Ye Liyan left as a bride. Now she returned as the consort of the King of Chu. As she looked around at the familiar surroundings, her thoughts drifted.

“The prince’s mansion isn’t far from here. We should come often to keep grandfather company when we have time,” Shen Yian’s gentle voice brought Ye Liyan back to reality.

Ye Feng would return to guard Sebei City in the north in two days. With Ye Liyan married into the prince’s mansion, the once spacious Duke’s mansion would be left with only Ye Tiance. 

Shen Yian thought it would be good to visit often, keep the old man company, play chess with him, and chat. As an old general, the grandfather would surely be interested in chess.

“Thank you, husband.” Ye Liyan’s beautiful eyes suddenly misted over, deeply moved by Shen Yian’s understanding and thoughtfulness.

“What are you thanking me for? Fulfilling our filial duties is what we should do,” Shen Yian said, holding Ye Liyan’s small hand gently. “Besides, today is a happy day. We shouldn’t shed tears.”

Fortunately, there aren’t as many misunderstandings in the world as one might think. Otherwise, if Ye Tiance and Ye Feng had seen this scene and misunderstood it as Shen Yian bullying Ye Liyan, it might have been difficult for him to leave the Duke’s mansion today.

“Husband is right. Liyan is very happy today,” Ye Liyan gently wiped away the mist in her eyes and revealed a blissful smile.

Ye Tiance and Ye Feng led the way in front. Though they didn’t speak, they were quietly observing the newlywed couple.

They felt blessed by heaven that Liyan had the prince in her future. They could be content now, and even if they were to pass away someday, they could do so in peace.

They walked to the main hall, and after the four were seated, they began to chat about family matters.

As the conversation continued, Shen Yian anticipated that the topic would inevitably turn to “children”.

Ye Tiance expressed that he could stay healthy for another twenty years and was eager to nurture great-grandchildren – the more, the better.

Ye Feng stated that he would definitely resign from his position and return to properly educate his grandchildren.

As they spoke, father and son developed significant disagreements about the children’s future paths, and the atmosphere gradually became tense.

Shen Yian listened with mixed amusement and exasperation. They were already disagreeing about children that didn’t even exist yet. If a child was actually born, the two might come to blows.

Honestly, he wished he could bring his own father over too, to let the three of them sit together and express their views. Now that would be a lively scene.

Ye Liyan listened with a blushing face. She and her husband had discussed the matter of children in depth.

Shen Yian’s idea was to wait until both of them had entered the Divine Wandering realm before considering children. He himself had already entered this realm, though not perfectly.

Even if Ye Liyan followed the original story step by step, it would only take her three or four years to enter the Divine Wandering realm. With his full support now, it might take even less time.

Taking advantage of the casual chat, Shen Yian passed on the incomplete “Killing God Three Styles” to Ye Tiance and Ye Feng. Even if they couldn’t use it, it might help them develop other uses for their accumulated killing energy.

The father and son were deeply moved by this peerless martial art being freely given to them. Unable to repay adequately, they passed on the Ye family’s halberd techniques to Shen Yian.

Shen Yian didn’t refuse, accepting it graciously, thinking he could teach it to their children in the future to prevent the Ye family’s halberd techniques from being lost.

After the midday return banquet ended, Shen Yian brought out the chess set. Father and son became deeply interested after hearing the rules.

After he and Ye Liyan finished playing a game, Ye Tiance and Ye Feng had already learned almost everything and were amazed at the wisdom of the person who invented chess.

The simple board and rules contained so much knowledge, even including military strategy and psychological warfare. They believed the inventor must have been a sage.

Shen Yian smiled inwardly at their praise, reflecting on how chess had evolved over a long history to its current familiar form, refined by generations and incorporating the wisdom of many ancients, not just one person.

When it was the father and son’s turn to play, Ye Tiance stroked his beard and chuckled, “Feng’er, you’re still too green.”

The old ginger is indeed spicier!

Ye Feng hadn’t expected his father to make such a comeback move, suddenly leaving his two cannons in a dilemma.

“Father, can I take back one move?”

“No.”

“Just one!”

“No.”

Shen Yian and Ye Liyan stood by, exchanging smiles.

Happy times always pass quickly. As the sun was about to set, the couple left the Duke’s mansion.

“Husband, tomorrow Liyan wants to go to the North and South markets to buy some fabrics to make autumn and winter robes for you and grandfather,” Ye Liyan said, blinking her beautiful eyes in the carriage.

“Alright, I’ll accompany you tomorrow. But I’m afraid your father will have to return to the northern frontier soon.”

Ye Liyan suddenly realized she had almost forgotten that her father had only returned to Tianwu City on imperial orders and still had important duties.

“It’s okay, I can have someone send it to your father after it’s done. It’s still summer now, and autumn is far away, so we have plenty of time.”

Shen Yian wrapped his arms around Ye Liyan’s slender waist and spoke softly.

The only thing he felt during his time in the northern border was the huge temperature difference between day and night. The days were still fine, but the nights were extremely cold.

However, this reminded him that the merchant guild should prepare winter gear to be sent to the northern border and other cold regions.

“Thank you, husband.” Ye Liyan leaned against Shen Yian’s shoulder.

She kept encouraging herself, determined not to disappoint her husband. She wanted to become stronger, learn more medical skills, and not only be a virtuous wife but also the top personal bodyguard, protecting the best husband in the world!

(Top personal bodyguard?)

(Cheng Hai: ?)

(Yin Hai: ?)

Shen Yian coughed dryly, his old face turning red, and spoke seriously, “Liyan, it seems like the temperature has dropped tonight. Let’s finish dinner early and go back to our room to rest, to avoid catching a cold.”

Ye Liyan’s eyes were filled with shyness, and she replied bashfully, “Whatever you say, husband.”