dognovel Chapter 211 Youzhou City
Chapter 211 Youzhou City
Seeing that it was almost noon, the eldest princess instructed her servants to prepare lunch and sent someone to invite the prince consort to dine with her. As soon as the prince consort stepped into the main hall, he saw his wife chatting enthusiastically with his son and future daughter-in-law.
He smiled and stepped forward: "Why are you suddenly going to Youzhou?" There was a hint of panic in Shen Yanchu's eyes, but he quickly controlled his emotions and regained his usual calm and composure: "Wenzhu is getting married and invited me to Qinghe to attend the ceremony. Has Father not received the letter?"
At this moment, the Princess's residence appeared peaceful on the surface, but in reality, everyone harbored their own thoughts. Shen Yanchu's heart was filled with longing for Miss Shi and helplessness in the face of this complicated situation.
He didn't know what awaited him on his journey to Youzhou. He was afraid of losing Shi-niang, and he didn't know how to face Ye Wen-shu and his mother's expectations.
Ye Wenshu was immersed in shyness and anticipation. Her hands still retained the warmth of her contact with Shen Yanchu. She secretly looked at Shen Yanchu, her heart filled with curiosity and admiration for her future husband.
She knew that this trip was a deliberate arrangement by the Princess, and she hoped to get closer to Shen Yanchu and win his heart during the journey.
The eldest princess was overjoyed and looked forward to the trip. She hoped that the trip would deepen the bond between her son and Ye Wenshu and allow the whole family to enjoy time together.
She was oblivious to her son's inner struggle, completely absorbed in her own beautiful fantasy.
The afternoon sun shone through the clouds, casting a golden veil over the story about to unfold. In these seemingly ordinary days, everyone's fate was quietly changing, and their loves, hates, and grudges would slowly unfold like a scroll on their journey to Youzhou.
On the way to Youzhou, the carriage moved slowly forward, the scenery outside the window passing by like a poem or a painting. Shen Yanchu sat alone in the carriage, his brows furrowed, his mind filled with thoughts of the scene after he met Miss Shi.
He worried that Miss Shi would be heartbroken when she learned that he was going to marry Ye Wenshu and become her principal wife, but he couldn't let Miss Ye down, after all, he and she had been intimate in broad daylight.
Ye Wenshu rode in the same carriage as the Princess, listening quietly as the Princess recounted anecdotes about Shen Yanchu's childhood, her eyes sparkling. She was filled with anticipation for their future married life, unaware that Shen Yanchu loved someone else.
The eldest princess looked at Ye Wenshu and became more and more satisfied. She kept introducing Ye Wenshu to the scenery and local customs along the way, hoping to make her future daughter-in-law feel relaxed and happy.
Meanwhile, in the Prince's residence, Mu Yin watched the departing carriage, silently praying for the Prince. He knew that the Prince's journey would be fraught with difficulties, and he only hoped that the Prince would achieve his wish and not fall into a dilemma.
As the journey progressed, various unexpected events began to occur. A sudden downpour forced the convoy to seek shelter, and they made their temporary stop in a dilapidated temple.
Shen Yanchu paced back and forth in the temple, his agitation growing stronger. Ye Wenshu looked at Shen Yanchu, wanting to step forward to comfort him, but hesitated. The Princess, meanwhile, directed the servants to settle everything, unaware of the subtle tension between her son and Ye Wenshu.
After the rain stopped, the caravan set off again. But this time, they encountered a band of bandits. The bandits menacingly blocked the caravan, and Shen Yanchu stepped forward, drawing his sword to protect everyone.
Looking at Shen Yanchu's valiant appearance, Ye Wenshu's eyes were filled with worry and admiration. During the fierce fight, Shen Yanchu was accidentally injured, and Ye Wenshu rushed to his side without regard for her own safety to bandage his wounds. At that moment, looking at Ye Wenshu's anxious face, Shen Yanchu felt a pang of emotion.
After a fierce battle, the caravan finally repelled the bandits. However, Shen Yanchu's feelings were more complicated. His attitude towards Ye Wenshu began to change, and his longing for Miss Shi grew stronger.
He didn't know where his feelings would go, and could only continue searching for answers on this long journey.
Finally, the outline of Youzhou City appeared before everyone's eyes. Shen Yanchu's heart began to race involuntarily. He was about to see his beloved Miss Shi, but Ye Wenshu beside him made him unsure how to face her.
This entanglement of love will usher in a new chapter on the land of Youzhou City.
Cui Zhihao stood in the residence of the Prefect of Youzhou, clutching the imperial documents and Shen Yanchu's letter tightly in his hands, his brows slightly furrowed. He already knew all this; his cousin and his wife had set off from the capital and would arrive in Youzhou soon.
His cousin-in-law was of extraordinary status, being the emperor's only elder sister. She was returning to her hometown to visit her parents-in-law, and Youzhou was her fiefdom. He dared not be negligent in the slightest and had already quickly sent the message home.
However, things were far more complicated than that. News spread like wildfire: the Princess and her husband had arrived together, and even their son, Prince Xiang, Shen Yanchu, and his fiancée were in the procession.
Cui Zhihao was no stranger to Shen Yanchu. He knew that Shen Yanchu and Wen Zhu were close friends. The two had once been in trouble in the Cangyan Mountains and were fortunately rescued by Miss Shi. From Wen Zhu, he learned that Shen Yanchu was deeply in love with Miss Shi and had even confessed his feelings to her.
Cui Zhihao paced back and forth in the study, pondering to himself. He knew that Shen Yanchu's visit this time was probably not just a simple homecoming.
The image of Miss Shi appeared in his mind; she was a person completely different from ordinary women. She had bright, sparkling eyes, as if they held the stars; her talent and wisdom were fully displayed when she rescued Shen Yanchu and Wenzhu.
But Shen Yanchu already has a fiancée, so why is he still trying to provoke Miss Shi?
On the streets of Youzhou, the people were buzzing with the news of the princess's imminent return. Cui Zhihao stepped out of his residence, looking at the bustling market, but his heart was filled with complex emotions.
He recalled the scene of meeting Miss Shi once; she was dressed in plain clothes, graceful and ethereal among the flowers, an image etched into his heart. He couldn't help but worry for Miss Shi, fearing she would be caught in the emotional vortex of royalty and nobility.
Meanwhile, in the traveling procession, Shen Yanchu sat in a carriage, his eyes somewhat unfocused. His fiancée, Ye Wenshu, was in the carriage next to him, chatting and laughing with the Princess, but his heart had already flown to Youzhou, to the side of Miss Shi.
He knew the journey would be complicated, but he couldn't control his longing for Miss Shi. He thought of her smile, that warm smile like sunshine, which kept him tossing and turning countless nights.
Ye Wenshu would occasionally glance at Shen Yanchu's carriage, a question lingering in her mind: why did her fiancé always seem so preoccupied? She assumed he was simply worried about his travel plans, unaware that he harbored feelings for someone else.
The eldest princess eagerly anticipated returning to Youzhou, looking forward to family reunion and seeing her son and daughter-in-law's relationship develop further.
As the group drew closer to Youzhou, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Cui Zhihao was fully prepared to welcome them, but his heart remained uneasy.
He didn't know what kind of story would unfold when all these people gathered in Youzhou, or how Miss Shi would face it all.
Finally, the Princess and her entourage arrived outside Youzhou City. Cui Zhihao led officials out of the city to greet them, a grand and solemn occasion. The Princess and her consort stepped out of the carriage, followed by Shen Yanchu and Ye Wenshu.
Shen Yanchu's eyes searched anxiously through the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of Miss Shi, but he was disappointed to find that she was not there.
At the mansion in Youzhou, the group rested briefly. Shen Yanchu then made an excuse and left alone.
He didn't know where Shi was, or whether she knew he was coming. He silently vowed to find her and explain his feelings to her.
Meanwhile, Ye Wenshu, listening to the servants' idle chatter in the mansion, vaguely heard the name Miss Shi. A sense of unease welled up in her heart, and she began to inquire about Miss Shi.
When she learned about the past between Shen Yanchu and Miss Shi, she felt as if she had been struck a heavy blow, and a trace of pain and confusion flashed in her eyes.