After listening to her father’s words, Feng Xiaoyue remained silent for a long time. She then stood up and said, "Father is right. After I meet with Mother when she returns, I will leave with Jun Gege and find a place where no one knows us to spend the rest of our lives."
Feng Pengju nodded in satisfaction. This was exactly what he had hoped for.
Thinking of this, he smiled and nodded, "Very well. Where have you thought of going?"
The father and daughter shared another cup of wine. Feng Xiaoyue said in a deep voice, "Father, I was in Xiao Family Town in Qingniu County some time ago. The owner of a restaurant there treated me well, and I even became their second manager."
Hearing Feng Xiaoyue's words, Feng Pengju nodded, "Good. Then you can go back to Xiao Family Town. It's far from the capital, and it will be very difficult to find you there."
"But..." Feng Pengju began, then hesitated, shaking his head in the end. "Never mind, some things are better for me to say."
Feng Xiaoyue understood her father's meaning. It was about going to Qingniu County, and she was worried that Fang Jun would not agree, and that Fang Zheng would not agree either, as she was the only descendant of the old Fang family.
After lunch and a brief rest, Feng Pengju went to see the old Prime Minister, Fang Zheng.
Old Prime Minister Fang Zheng personally came to the gate to greet him.
Upon meeting, Feng Pengju, without a word, hitched up his robe and knelt down, kowtowing. "Greetings, Old Uncle Fang. Thank you for saving me."
Fang Zheng smiled slightly and stepped forward to help Feng Pengju up. "It's alright, we are family. There's no need to be so polite. Come in and have some tea."
Fang Zheng directly led Feng Pengju into the study. After Fang Jun served the tea, he stood behind his grandfather.
Fang Zheng stroked his beard, his face beaming with a smile. "Jun'er has already told me the situation."
"After your whole family reunites in a couple of days, I will formally come to propose marriage."
Upon hearing this, Feng Pengju's expression instantly turned gloomy and uncertain.
Seeing that Feng Pengju seemed to have something difficult to say, Fang Zheng was a little surprised.
"Pengju, is there something troubling you?"
Feng Pengju sighed, "Old Uncle, to be honest, Bai Han visited me just now."
"Bai Han not only brought me some provisions but also gave me some news."
"Oh? What news makes you so troubled?" Fang Zheng's curiosity was piqued.
Feng Pengju sighed again. "Old Uncle, to be honest, Bai Han told me that the Emperor wants to bestow a marriage upon Xiaoyue!"
Hearing this, Fang Zheng's eyes still flickered with joy. He naturally assumed that the Emperor wanted to bestow a marriage upon Feng Xiaoyue and his beloved grandson.
"Alas, I didn't expect it to alarm the Emperor in the end."
Feng Pengju looked at him, paused, and then said, "Old Uncle, if the Emperor bestows a marriage upon Fang Jun and Xiaoyue, I would have no worries. The Emperor intends for Xiaoyue to marry the Crown Prince..."
What?
Fang Zheng froze. "How is this possible..."
"When our two families arranged a marriage, the Emperor was aware of it. If it weren't for the complications you encountered later, the two children would have been married long ago..."
Even Fang Jun, standing beside them, could not help but speak up. "Yes, His Majesty wouldn't be so forgetful, would he? I think he's doing this deliberately. He wants to..."
Before Fang Jun could finish, Fang Zheng's face darkened, and he pointed to the door. "You get out. When is it your turn to speak..."
Although Fang Jun was unwilling, he dared not disobey his grandfather. He opened the door resentfully and walked out.
After Fang Jun left, Fang Zheng looked at Feng Pengju. "My dear nephew, what are your thoughts?"
Feng Pengju cupped his fists. "Old Uncle, I want the two children to leave Wannian City."
"Before Xiaoyue came to the capital, she stayed in a certain place in Qingniu County. I think it would be a good place to go, as Xiaoyue is familiar with the area..."
Hearing Feng Pengju's words, Fang Zheng frowned, and a look of relief appeared on his face.
"Alright, going to Qingniu County is a good choice. As far as I know, Chen Xiaobei is from Qingniu County."
"By the way, you probably don't know yet, but the Emperor has also bestowed a marriage upon Chen Xiaobei and Liu Rumei."
Feng Pengju was shocked to hear this. "Xiaoyue mentioned Chen Xiaobei to me. He's just a mountain bumpkin. Bestowing a marriage upon him and Liu Rumei, isn't the Emperor making a mockery of the match!"
Fang Zheng looked bitter. "You've just arrived and don't know the situation. The old Marquis has been sent by the Emperor to Xiangguo Temple to practice vegetarianism and recite Buddhist scriptures, so bestowing a marriage upon Liu Rumei and marrying her to a mountain dweller is not surprising."
After speaking, the two men looked at each other and let out a long sigh, filled with so much helplessness.
Finally, Fang Zheng spoke first. "Since you have to leave, let the two children leave as soon as possible, so that they won't be defying the imperial decree when the Emperor's edict arrives."
Feng Pengju showed a hint of hesitation. "My wife may not arrive in Wannian City for two days. I originally wanted Xiaoyue to meet her mother..."
He sighed at this point.
Fang Zheng clearly understood Feng Pengju's feelings. He nodded slightly. "Yes, it's only natural. But I fear we don't have time to wait. I think it's better this way: let Xiaoyue and the others leave first. When your wife returns, we can all go to Qingniu County together to see how these two children are doing, what do you think?"
Feng Pengju finally nodded in agreement. "Alright, in that case, I'll go home and make arrangements for the two children to leave as soon as possible."
"There's no time to delay. Since you're leaving, let's leave immediately. I'll have someone pack Fang Jun's luggage right away."
After seeing Feng Pengju off, Fang Zheng immediately called Fang Jun into the study.
"Pack your bags immediately and leave the capital with Xiaoyue. Go to Qingniu County."
Hearing this arrangement, Fang Jun was stunned. "Grandfather, why is this? I... Oh, right, Xiaoyue's mother hasn't arrived in the capital yet..."
Fang Zheng looked at his grandson and sighed. "You just heard it. The Emperor wants to bestow a marriage upon Xiaoyue and the Crown Prince. Before the imperial edict arrives, you two should leave quickly."
Hearing his grandfather's words, Fang Jun finally came to his senses. "Alright, I'll go pack now and leave first thing tomorrow morning..."
Fang Zheng shook his head. "The longer the night, the more dreams. Pack up and leave immediately. If you lack anything, I'll have someone send it to you later."
Fang Jun nodded and immediately turned to go back and pack. At this time, Feng Pengju had also returned home.
As soon as he entered the house, Feng Pengju called Feng Xiaoyue over. "Xiaoyue, hurry and pack your things, and leave with Fang Jun. Go to Qingniu County."
Feng Xiaoyue seemed a little surprised. "Father, isn't this too rushed? I haven't even met Mother yet."
Feng Pengju shook his head. "There's no time to delay. If we wait too long, there might be more complications. If the Emperor's edict arrives, wouldn't you be defying it? It's better to just leave."
Hearing her father's words, Feng Xiaoyue sighed.