Chapter 280: Chapter 223: Asking for Clarity

Shen Ruoxi and Jun Moling arrived together at the Shen Mansion, and the guard at the door intended to report their arrival to the Yang Family.

However, Shen Ruoxi waved her hand to stop him, and thus she and Jun Moling walked straight into the Shen Mansion.

By the time the Yang Family learned of their arrival, they had already entered the front hall.

The Yang Family hurriedly invited them to sit and then instructed the maid to serve tea quickly.

After the maid served the tea and left, the Yang Family looked concerned and asked, “Ruoxi, is something urgent happening?”

Shen Ruoxi hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to start, and could only turn to Jun Moling, saying, “Husband, you’d better show the marriage contract to Sister-in-law.”

Upon hearing the words “marriage contract,” the Yang Family was suddenly stunned, full of doubts, not knowing to whom this contract referred and how it suddenly appeared.

Jun Moling handed the marriage contract to the Yang Family, who, filled with suspicion, took it and saw the birth date recorded on it, feeling it was extremely familiar.

Focusing on the name signed there, they were extremely shocked—it was Yan Zhen!

“What…is going on here?” The Yang Family’s face was full of disbelief.

Jun Moling felt a bit embarrassed at this moment, since this matter had not been agreed upon with the Yang Family in advance.

Furthermore, they had already missed more than a decade together, and he still didn’t know what she felt in her heart.

Seeing the situation, Shen Ruoxi explained in a low voice how the Emperor intended to arrange a marriage for Yan Zhen, and they preemptively addressed the matter before reporting it.

With a lowered voice, Shen Ruoxi said, “Sister-in-law, earlier, we were hesitant, thinking this plan was inappropriate.

But since General Yan expressed his stance, we had no choice but to resort to this strategy. Sister-in-law, speak your mind freely.

This was a fake marriage contract from the start. If you disagree, we will just proceed with an annulment; please don’t feel troubled.

If you agree, we will draft a new marriage contract. After all, it’s your lifelong affair and it’s best if you personally sign your name.”

The Yang Family stared at the marriage contract in their hands, a sudden wave of bittersweet emotion rising in their heart.

They never thought they would have a day to engage again with Yan Zhen.

Seeing Yan Zhen’s signature, which looked exactly like their own, they couldn’t help but choke up, “There’s no need to change it—this one is fine.”

Perhaps the passionate love they had once might have faded over the years.

But Yan Zhen’s unchanging persistence provided the Yang Family with immense courage, allowing them to bravely accept this belated union.

Shen Ruoxi’s greatest wish was for their sister-in-law to find happiness, and this decision seemed to be correct.

As for all the worries they had before, they could be left for another time.

Sometimes, when facing the arrangements of fate, one can’t be too passive; something must be actively done.

Back at the Yan Mansion, Yan Zhen was in a state of constant unrest.

Last time, he had asked his mother to probe Shu, and although the result showed Shu still had him in her heart, it was also apparent that she was hesitant due to external factors.

At this moment, he had no idea what was happening on Shu’s side and felt jittery.

Old General Yan and Old Madam Yan had never seen their son in such a state and could only shake their heads and sigh.

“Zhen, Shu has always been sensible; now that things have reached this stage, just relax,” Old General Yan’s wife comforted.

Yet, if marriage is only because of sensibility, it would be too ironic.

But Yan Zhen tried to adjust his mindset, thinking that as long as he could marry her, they would have a lifetime ahead and there was no fear of lack of affection.

Thinking this way, his heart felt considerably lighter.

Yan Zhen waited until the lamps were lit before he finally saw the arrival of the young servant from Shen Mansion.

But the moment he saw the servant, his heart sank halfway.

However, the servant brought him a message, saying that the First Young Madam of his family said the current marriage contract would do, with no need for a rewrite.

After sending off the servant from the Shen Mansion, Yan Zhen plunged into deeper entanglement.

What did Shu really mean? Her signature on the contract was his doing; if she did not acknowledge it, would that mean this marriage would be nullified?

Besides, drafting a new contract wasn’t difficult, but her actions puzzled him, and he couldn’t figure it out no matter how much he thought.

Waking up with two dark circles under his eyes, Yan Zhen impetuously only wanted to find out clearly.

But for soon-to-be-wed couples, meeting at this time was considered inauspicious, so he couldn’t go in broad daylight, and after pondering, he decided to go and ask at night.

Thus, the whole day, Yan Zhen was absent-minded, and the more he hoped for the night to fall, the longer it seemed to take.

Finally, when the night deepened, he quickly wore his night clothes and rushed to the Shen Mansion.

Climbing over the wall, there were sporadic guards patrolling, but as a military general, he was not worried about being discovered at all.

Relying on past memories, he smoothly entered Shu’s courtyard.

The house was silent, and he dared not enter her room rashly, so he gently knocked on her window, lowering his voice to call, “Shu.”

Yang Family, sleeping in a daze, seemed to hear a knocking sound, and was startled awake, about to call someone when she heard the low voice call of “Shu.”

Hearing this voice, she immediately knew it was Yan Zhen and froze for a moment.

What was he doing here at this late hour instead of sleeping well, just to find her? Couldn’t it wait until daytime? What if someone saw them; what then?

But she still walked gracefully to the window, lowering her voice to say, “Yan Zhen, go back quickly; say it tomorrow; it’s not good.”

“Shu, I’ll just say a few words and leave; this place is too conspicuous, let me in.” Yan Zhen’s voice was urgent and firm.

Yang Family hesitated, knowing well her age, if a servant saw this, how would she preserve her dignity?

But Yan Zhen continued to urge, “Shu, open the window; if someone sees me and takes me for a thief, it wouldn’t be good. I really have something to tell you.”

Yang Family, helpless at heart, couldn’t bear to see Yan Zhen in such an awkward situation and slowly opened the window.

Watching him nimbly jump in from outside, she hurriedly shut the window.

“Speak here, then leave after,” Yang Family said, eyes lowered, not daring to meet his gaze.

After all, they hadn’t sat down properly to talk in over ten years, making the moment inevitably awkward.

“This place is too near the window, where it’s easy for someone to overhear; let’s go inside,” Yan Zhen persisted.

Yang Family secretly chided, he wasn’t being too forward, was he? But fearing someone might notice, she had to let him move to her bedside.

Yan Zhen casually sat on a chair, gazing at her with a foolish smile.

Time had not been kind; they were no longer young.

Yang Family appeared more worn than her peers, with hints of gray showing at her temples, which stung Yan Zhen’s heart.

Seeing his gaze change from foolish to tender, Yang Family’s heart too stirred with regret.

Subconsciously tucking her hair, she said, “Do you regret it? I am no longer young; General Yan could easily marry a pretty young girl.”

Yan Zhen chuckled at her words, “Are you jealous?”

“Jealous, my foot!” Yang Family gave him a look, “Say what you need to; a Second-rank Official sneaking in like this, where is the dignity if it gets out?”

Yan Zhen still smiled as he said, “What Second-rank Official, I’m about to be your son-in-law; Shu, I just want to ask you why not have them write a new marriage contract for us to sign?

There’s only my signature; if you never sign yours and then later don’t acknowledge it, I’m all over the place, so I had to come and ask; I can’t sleep otherwise.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep