Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 674 - 331 Confession_1

Chapter 674: Chapter 331 Confession_1

Qian Yixiu sniffled, choking up as she said, "Brother, you’ve changed."

Zhu Sujin raised his hand to grasp Qian Yixiu’s hand and pull it down, yet he held onto it tightly. He felt that holding this little hand, his sorrowful heart calmed a great deal.

He looked straight at her and said, "Sister, my mother has died." Having said that, his eyes reddened.

Qian Yixiu’s eyes also reddened as she said, "Princess Ning was such a kind person, heaven truly is blind."

Zhu Sujin continued, "I caused my mother’s death. If I hadn’t fallen for the evil doers’ tricks and gotten off the carriage to ride home on horseback, I wouldn’t have been hit by a poisoned arrow, and my mother wouldn’t have died..."

Qian Yixiu pulled him into the room, and they sat on the brocaded stools by the round table, Zhu Sujin’s grip on her hand still unyielding.

Qian Yixiu consoled him, saying, "Brother, you can’t blame yourself for this, it was those bad people plotting to harm you with all their might."

Zhu Sujin shook his head, "How can I not blame myself? My father the Emperor and mother constantly reminded me to be careful, to think things through, not to be impetuous, saying those people were always after my life. But I still acted impulsively and was deceived. Although my father didn’t say it openly, I know he resents me in his heart. I’m stupid, truly stupid."

As he spoke, he hit his head a couple of times, then leaned on the table and began to cry. But it wasn’t the unrestrained crying as before; he tried hard to hold it in, his voice a whining sob.

Seeing him like this, Qian Yixiu felt extremely sad too, got up, and hugged him, tears flowing as she said, "Brother, this isn’t your fault. You were raised in the countryside where people are simple and straightforward, without so many crooked thoughts. Our family atmosphere is so good, too, we don’t have to guard against our own people. Over the years, we’ve formed a habit of having no defenses, and that’s not something that can be changed in one or two years. Perhaps they knew your nature, and that’s why they set this trap."

Zhu Sujin turned around and hugged Qian Yixiu’s waist, burying his head in her chest he sobbed, "My mother is dead, and now I don’t have any relatives left. Mr. Yu said that from now on, I can’t regard the Emperor as a father, but as a monarch. We are no longer father and son, but sovereign and subject. My relationship with you all is also that of a sovereign and subjects, and I can’t call Mother ’mother’ anymore, that would bring disaster upon you, and provoke the censors’ impeachments. Now, I have neither father nor mother, no siblings or brothers. Oh, I do have a full sister, but after so many years, I’ve never once seen her. What does it matter to be a prince? I’ve lost too much. Now I’ve moved to the Eastern Palace, but in that vast palace, besides the servants, there’s only me..."

Qian Yixiu quickly said, "Brother, some things from now on can’t be spoken out loud, just keep them in your heart."

Zhu Sujin said, "I haven’t told anyone, only you. My father said yesterday that he will appoint me as the Crown Prince during his accession ceremony, and then he will arrange my marriage. Jinjin, marry me. That way, I won’t be alone in the palace, I will still have you."

Having said this, he looked up at her.

Suddenly faced with Zhu Sujin’s pleading eyes, Qian Yixiu found herself in a difficult position.

In this lifetime, two men had openly confessed to her, one was Liang Jinzhao, the other Zhu Sujin. Of these two men, the one Qian Yixiu felt most heartachingly endeared to was the little brother she grew up with—Jinwa. They were childhood playmates, innocent and naive, having spent countless unforgettable years together, enduring poverty and hardship together, and together they made their home better and better...

If Zhu Sujin and Liang Jinzhao both fell into a river, and she was asked whom to save first, she had only one answer—definitely Jinwa first. Because she knew that Liang Jinzhao, with his long legs and arms, would climb ashore himself, while her little brother must be pulled up by her.

But to marry him, she had not considered that before. All along, she had regarded him as her younger brother, more accurately, as her son...

Seeing that Qian Yixiu did not answer, Zhu Sujin pleaded again, "Jinjin, marry me. You don’t have to be afraid, for you, for our future children, I won’t be impulsive anymore. I will try hard to be a good emperor like my father, to give you the best life."

Qian Yixiu thought to herself, your father doesn’t seem to have provided a good life for his wife and children, has he? Of course, it might be different for future wives and children.

Qian Yixiu felt extremely conflicted. She wanted to refuse but couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud; she simply did not know what to do. Finally, in a low voice, she said, "Brother, for such a matter, please let me think it over."

She needed to ponder whether to follow her heart or her emotions...

Zhu Sujin understood that he couldn’t press her too hard, so he nodded and said, "Alright, I will think it over too. However, you cannot refuse; you can only become my Crown Princess Consort."

Upon hearing the term "Crown Princess Consort," Qian Yixiu sobered up somewhat. With a Crown Princess Consort, would there still be space for secondary consorts and imperial concubines?

She really did not like the Palace; it seemed her intelligence was not suited to engage in palace intrigue. Yet, as she met his earnest gaze, she found herself unable to utter words of rejection. She couldn’t bear to see him upset, nor could she stand the thought of him being lonely.

The two then discussed the Empress Dowager’s health. Zhu Sujin mentioned that the Empress Dowager was open-hearted and broad-minded, yet she had become ill from excessive grief in the days following the late Emperor’s death. After treatment by the Imperial Physician, she seemed to have improved in the past few days.

Qian Yixiu felt relieved upon hearing that.

Zhu Sujin’s expression brightened somewhat upon learning that Pan Yue was pregnant again and that Qian Manjiang had already sent for them. Deep down, he was still used to considering the Qian family his true kin.

While they were talking, Monkey Brother and Monkey Sister, who had been playing outside the courtyard, ran back. Zhu Sujin, having not seen Monkey Brother for a long time, grabbed its hand and said, "Thank you to your wife. If it hadn’t carried me back to the Prince Residence with the utmost speed, I would have lost my life."

Monkey Brother looked at Monkey Sister with implicit affection, implying that she was capable and had brought him honor.

Monkey Sister also smiled shyly at Monkey Brother and bashfully covered her face.

Seeing them like this, Zhu Sujin hinted with a smile, "Look at them, how happy they are together."

As the sky darkened, Qian Yixiu personally went to the small kitchen in the back courtyard and prepared two vegetarian dishes and a dessert that Zhu Sujin used to enjoy: sweet and sour lotus root, dual-colored mountain delicacy, and lotus root jelly.

Zhu Sujin stood by the doorway, accompanying her, his gaze following her movements, which made Qian Yixiu blush yet helpless.

After dinner, Zhu Sujin returned to the Palace.

He went straight to the Taiji Hall, where Emperor Qianwu, dressed in the Dragon Robe, was reviewing memorials at the dragon desk. Due to the mourning period, many memorials had piled up; he had to review them only at night and in the late hours.

Seeing his son arrive, Emperor Qianwu did not lift his head and said, "Wait for a quarter of an hour for me."

Only after he finished endorsing the memorials did he put down his brush and look up to inquire, "What brings you so late, Jinzhao?"

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