Upon receiving the news, Zhou Shuren didn’t eat dinner that night. He replaced all the red candles he had bought with new ones and even sewed the red quilt cover himself.

Although it wasn’t very aesthetically pleasing, he had truly done his best.

The next morning, Zhou Shuren went to the yamen to instruct that no one was allowed to enter the house.

His three daughters-in-law weren’t curious at all; they were only happy that their mother-in-law had returned home.

Li Shi cried excitedly, holding Dong Shi’s hand, “Third sister-in-law, it’s so good that Mother is back.”

Dong Shi was speechless.

She didn’t know what was wrong with her eldest sister-in-law; since their mother-in-law left, she had been crying all the time, countless times already. As soon as Zhao Shi heard her eldest sister-in-law crying, she ran away. Her eldest sister-in-law never stopped crying; it would take several minutes. Zhao Shi was truly afraid; she realized how annoying it had been for her to cry so easily before!

Zhulan, after entering Lizhou City, didn’t rush to leave. She stayed at an inn in the nearest county town, getting a good night’s rest. The next morning, refreshed, she set off home. She arrived in Lizhou City at noon, and as soon as she entered the city gate, Second Zhou met Wan Jiu.

Wan Jiu greeted her and went back to report.

When Zhulan arrived home, only Zhou Shuren was waiting at the door. Zhulan got off the carriage in surprise, “Why are you alone?”

Where were her daughters-in-law and two sons?

Zhou Shuren held Zhulan’s hand. His heart, which had been restless since he left, returned to its normal state. At this moment, Zhou Shuren felt most at peace. “I’ll have them see you again after dinner tonight.”

Zhulan was speechless.

Zhulan realized that Zhou Shuren had become more willful since she left, and he must have prepared a surprise for her.

Zhou Shuren smiled. “The food is all prepared. Let’s eat first.”

Zhulan had bought quite a few things. “Liu Ya, take my things back to the house.”

Zhou Shuren said, “Wait a minute, take everything to the side room first.”

Zhulan squinted; her surprise was inside the house. She said to Liu Ya, “Whatever Master says.”

Zhou Shuren didn’t care whether there were servants or not. He held Zhulan’s hand and didn’t want to let go. After walking a few steps, Zhou Shuren stopped and turned back. “Your food has been delivered to each courtyard.”

Eldest Zhou and Second Zhou were speechless.

Their father’s eyes were like knives. This time, he not only disliked them but also wished they would disappear from his sight!

Zhulan coughed and instructed Eldest Zhou, “Take some of the fruit from the carriage and distribute it to each household. Oh, and go ask the doctor if the longan and other fruits we bought are safe for pregnant women to eat. Also, distribute the gifts we bought for each household.”

Eldest Zhou replied, “Mother, I remember.”

Zhou Shuren muttered after his two adopted sons left, “The eyesores are finally gone.”

Zhulan felt a little embarrassed. “You should at least tone it down a bit. If you keep acting like this, we will age faster.”

Although she was young at heart, her outward appearance was indeed quite old.

Zhou Shuren snorted. Zhulan had been gone for too long, and the longer it went on, the more panicked he felt. He felt the life without Zhulan. Without her at home, he couldn’t muster the energy to scheme against people, and he couldn’t feel any joy. He and Zhulan were not young in this ancient world. He only wanted to live more freely with Zhulan in the future, to live according to their hearts.

Zhou Shuren pulled Zhulan back to the courtyard. Only the two of them were there. Zhou Shuren kissed Zhulan’s cheek and said with a smile, “Mrs Zhou, while you were away from Lizhou City, there were always rumors about you, and you were the most talked-about person there.”

Zhulan pinched Zhou Shuren’s slightly chubby cheek. “Tell me”, she said, “what have you been doing while I was away?”

Zhou Shuren counted on his fingers, “I confessed my love to you in public and even had jewelry carved from the jade bestowed upon you by the Emperor. So congratulations, Mrs Zhou; you’ve become the envy of all the women in Lizhou City.”

Zhulan puffed out her cheeks. “What envy? You’ve made me the envy of everyone!”

She could already imagine the sour remarks from Hua Shi and the others!

Zhou Shuren laughed heartily, reaching out to cover Zhulan’s eyes. “Follow me.”

Zhulan’s heart pounded nervously. She had a premonition, and then her face involuntarily flushed red. This time it wasn’t from the cold; she felt her ears burning.

Zhulan followed Zhou Shuren step by step into the house. Zhou Shuren said, “I brought the food to the room.”

Zhulan smelled the aroma of the food. “Can you let go of my hands now?”

Zhou Shuren released his hands, and Zhulan stared blankly at the wedding dress on the kang (heated brick bed). The wedding dress was somewhat ugly, but it touched Zhulan’s heart. Zhulan looked around; Zhou Shuren had decorated the room like a bridal chamber.

Zhou Shuren walked to Zhulan’s side. “Do you like it?”

Zhulan’s eyes were red, and her voice was a little nasal. “I like it.”

She was looking forward to the wedding, but she had become a mother-in-law directly, which did not allow for it. She didn’t care on the surface, but she was regretful in her heart. Zhulan hugged Zhou Shuren’s waist. This man was either not romantic at all, or when he was romantic, he left no way out for others.

Zhou Shuren said, “My lady, please change into your wedding dress. Although the time is a bit off, it won’t delay our wedding ceremony.”

Zhulan released Zhou Shuren, smiling broadly. “Did you propose?”

Zhou Shuren took out two necklaces from his bosom and knelt on one knee. “Although there won’t be a perfect wedding, I have a wedding dress that I made myself. I’m not good at flowery words, but I can promise to be with you through thick and thin. If you go first, I will never live alone. Marry me.”

Zhulan looked into Zhou Shuren’s eyes. “In modern times, we are forced to be together through thick and thin, but in ancient times, I am willing to share life and death with you.”

Zhou Shuren happily stood up and put a necklace around Zhulan’s neck. “These are love locks that I had made. One for you, one for me.”

Zhulan smiled. “This has a good meaning of eternal love.”

Zhou Shuren held Zhulan’s hand. “Let’s change our clothes.”

Zhulan said, “Okay.”

In no time, they changed into their wedding dresses. Although they weren’t very pretty, they fit perfectly. Since they were reincarnated in ancient times and had no biological parents, they bowed to heaven and earth three times.

With only two people, the process was simple and finished in no time. However, it was broad daylight, and their insistence on not seeing the children was a bit much; cough, cough, the evening was better.

They still had to eat the family reunion dinner that evening. All afternoon, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren had been inseparable. Zhulan talked about what she had seen along the way, focusing on Wang Ru.

Zhou Shuren recounted the events in Lizhou City, or more precisely, how many treacherous things he had done.

At the family reunion dinner that evening, as soon as Zhulan and Zhou Shuren entered, Li Shi rushed over and hugged Zhulan tightly.

Li Shi cried, “Mother, I missed you so much!”

Zhou Shuren, “…”

Li Shi pushed him away!!!

(End of Chapter)

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