Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family

Chapter 236: Chapter 236: This Reason is Unbelievable

Having encountered such a man in her two lifetimes, Gu Qingli sometimes wondered, Why had she been transported to this realm to marry this man?

“Yunjing, why did I agree to marry you in the first place?”

“Fate. The arrangement of the heavens,” Xiao Yunjing answered without hesitation.

Gu Qingli covered her mouth, giggling uncontrollably. That’s quite a reason! She said, “It’s possible. I often think the same. Look, I crossed such a vast expanse of time and space to come here, and you just happened to have returned from your rebirth. It truly feels like it was all arranged by the will of heaven.”

Xiao Yunjing gazed at the woman in his arms, her smile radiant, and his heart melted. He leaned down and planted a deep kiss on her forehead. “That’s why I pledge you this lifetime.”

Lifetime after lifetime was too elusive. They only wanted this one life.

“Agreed.”

“After these three, let’s not have any more,” Xiao Yunjing added, whispering into her ear.

“Well, let’s discuss that later. What if I conceive again?” Gu Qingli couldn’t guarantee it. This man was simply too potent; she had tried contraception, but it had failed, resulting in triplets all at once.

“Then let’s not. Three children are enough.” Having children… He used to see the village women get pregnant and give birth as if it were effortless. Only now, witnessing it firsthand with Li’er, did he realize how truly arduous pregnancy was. He didn’t want Li’er to suffer like this again. He was on edge every day, terrified of any mishap, more so than he’d ever been on the battlefield.

“That won’t do.” Gu Qingli shook her head. They would be her and Xiao Yunjing’s children. No matter how many, if she conceived, she would give birth to them. She could afford to raise them, and besides, she adored children.

“Fine, fine, Li’er. Keep having them. Have a whole troop of little monkeys to drive you mad.”

“How could it be annoying? I’m not annoyed by carrying them or giving birth, yet you’re the one getting bothered? Hmph!” Gu Qingli gave him a firm pinch on his waist.

“SSS! Not annoyed, not annoyed.” Every time Li’er got angry, she did this. Her pinches were excruciating!

Xiao Yunjing bent down and covered her lips with his. Coaxing his wife, yes, coaxing his wife… this trick always worked, and he rather enjoyed it too.

As expected, by the time Gu Qingli had been kissed dizzy, she was nestling softly in his arms, smiling sweetly at him.

“Are you still mad?” Xiao Yunjing gently pinched her cheek.

“Not anymore.” Gu Qingli shook her head, her hand quietly reaching back towards his waist.

With nothing much to do each day and her movement restricted, the days passed quickly amidst her playful bickering with Xiao Yunjing.

“Young Master, Miss, dinner is ready.” Just then, Wuyou came in carrying a tray of food.

“Where are my parents?” Gu Qingli asked. Over these past few days, Ms. Su’s meticulous and unending care had truly warmed her. Even a heart of stone would have been thawed by such kindness, let alone hers, which was a living, beating heart, full of warm, crimson blood.

The mother and daughter had naturally acknowledged their relationship.

Moreover, Gu Xicheng had even renounced his position as Senior Grand Secretary to come to Beijing and help Xiao Yunjing. Then there was Gu Qingping, whose assistance in purchasing supplies had resolved significant issues. The supplies needed for Blue Clouds Mountain, Black Tiger Mountain, and the Baiyue Clan were all procured from the Capital City by Gu Qingping. While Qingchen schemed for power, Xiao Yunjing focused on amassing supplies. With such supportive family, even if Gu Qingli and Xiao Yunjing were to claim the empire, they would willingly hand it over to them. The main reason was that their ambitions truly didn’t lie in ruling the empire; all they desired was a haven where they could live out their lives in peace. Just as when Xiao Yunfeng had claimed Beijiang without Xiao Yunjing’s consent, they had let him have it. As long as it wasn’t someone like Qingchen, who seemed intent on annihilating them at any moment.

Governing a country well is no laughing matter. Without painstaking effort and significant investment, it’s impossible for a nation to be stable and for its people to live and work in peace and contentment. Just the vast amount of supplies from her storage space had nearly been depleted by Beijing in a matter of months. Establishing medical clinics and academies, helping the poorest build homes, installing heating facilities, and providing warm shelters for every household—all of these things cost a fortune. Therefore, Gu Qingli genuinely had no desire to be the ruler of a nation. Being a wealthy, carefree landowner was much more to her liking.

Wuyou set down the tray and said, “Miss, Madam is currently serving the Master his meal. Please rest assured, the Master’s injuries are almost completely healed.” With our Young Miss’s medicine, the Master’s non-life-threatening injuries were hardly a concern.

“Mm, that’s good.” Gu Qingli glanced at Xiao Yunjing and added, “Let’s eat. After we’re done, carry me over so I can see him.”

“Alright.” Xiao Yunjing nodded. Whatever his dear Li’er said, went. He just had to comply.

Gu Qingli nodded in satisfaction and then began to eat.

After eating and resting for a while, Xiao Yunjing carried her to the courtyard where Gu Xicheng and his wife were residing. They happened to encounter Ms. Su coming out with a basin, presumably having just changed the dressing on his wounds.

“Yunjing, why did you bring Li’er here? Go back quickly! Her father hasn’t fully recovered yet. What if she catches his illness?” Ms. Su put down the basin and tried to usher Xiao Yunjing out.

“Mother, I was the one who wanted to come see how Father is doing,” Gu Qingli said coaxingly.

“Oh, you…” Ms. Su gently poked Gu Qingli’s forehead. “What’s so interesting about your father? He’s just an old coot.” She was quite helpless when it came to her daughter. No one else could sway Ms. Su, but Gu Qingli was unique; anything she said went.

Gu Qingli chuckled and urged Xiao Yunjing to go inside.

Inside the room, Gu Xicheng, upon hearing Ms. Su call him an “old coot,” was inwardly indignant. He was only in his forties! Even if he wasn’t dashingly handsome or suave, he still possessed a refined and scholarly air, didn’t he? How had he suddenly become an ’old coot’?

“Father, why the long face? Are you feeling unwell?” Xiao Yunjing asked as he carried Gu Qingli in, noticing Gu Xicheng’s sour expression.

Xiao Yunjing suppressed a smile. He had a good idea why his father-in-law looked so glum. Only his dear, naive wife would ask so innocently. It really was true: ’pregnancy brain lasts three years.’ Xiao Yunjing mused, a little concerned for his dear wife’s current wits. Three years… that wouldn’t be nearly enough time for him to lovingly tease her.

“No, nothing,” Gu Xicheng replied, his expression immediately softening into an amiable one.

“Oh, well, that’s good.”

Xiao Yunjing gently placed Gu Qingli on a soft couch, making it easier for her to talk with Gu Xicheng.

“Father, with you and Mother here, are Big Brother and the others safe in the Capital City? Should we bring them all here?” Gu Qingli asked, a persistent worry in her heart that Qingchen might target her eldest brother.

Watching his endearingly earnest daughter express concern for their family, Gu Xicheng’s heart warmed. He was filled with immense regret. Why, oh why, had he agreed to let Ms. Su take their daughter to burn incense all those years ago? Since that day, he had forbidden anyone in his household from burning incense or worshipping any Buddha. Could those rituals truly protect anyone? Back then, forget protection, they hadn’t even given Ms. Su the slightest hint of the impending danger! If there had been even a hint, they might not have lost their daughter. Fortunately, this daughter of theirs was a good child; she didn’t blame them and was still so considerate. Thinking of this considerate and capable daughter, and then of the one back in the manor—his eldest, who had always lived in luxury, pampered and well-educated—the contrast was stark. Compared to this second daughter, his eldest was simply… wanting. In a word: unrefined. It was true what they said: like mother, like daughter.

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