After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 229 Extra Chapter 2: All Trees Bloom in Spring, and the Future is Long
-
Pei Mingxiu's chapter.

When Pei Yanzhi and Xiang Ning got married, Pei Mingxiu was still far away in Lingnan.

By now, Pei Yanzhi no longer cared about what Pei Mingxiu had done.

He didn't stop Pei Mingxiu from returning to the capital.

It was Pei Mingxiu himself who didn't want to go back.

In Lingnan, the people are simple and honest, and even without formal education, they are genuinely kind.

Having grown up in a large mansion and endured the cold stares of others, he actually found this place quite nice.

When Pei Heng was born, Dong Yan wrote a letter to Pei Mingxiu.

Most likely, the Pei family has dwindled in number, and very few people can remember them.

Dong Yan said that Pei Yanzhi had agreed to include Pei Mingxiu in the Pei family genealogy, and he would be a member of the Pei family in the future.

Even a hundred years from now, they won't be left alone and destitute.

Pei Mingxiu replied to Dong Yan with a letter.

"Like duckweed adrift, after a hundred years, we return only to heaven and earth."

He was doing quite well in Lingnan. There wasn't much backstabbing and scheming there, and people could open their hearts to each other.

Later, Pei Yanzhi personally wrote a letter and also sent some things at the end, which were prepared by Xiang Ning.

They knew he was doing well in Lingnan, so they didn't try to persuade him to go home.

For the next several decades, Pei Mingxiu did not marry, but instead devoted himself to the economic development of Lingnan.

Xiang Ning gave him several fruit trees, and the humid climate of Lingnan was very suitable for growing such fruit.

In just a few decades, Lingnan has undergone tremendous changes.

Pei Mingxiu was also appointed as the governor of Lingnan by the emperor for his meritorious service in introducing the area.

Everyone has their own path to walk, and at least Pei Mingxiu feels that he has found his own path.

Now that I am old and frail, in my twilight years, I realize that I have much to say about my life.

The orange trees he planted with his own hands became sweeter year by year, and they covered the entire Lingnan region.
-
Lu Jiang x Pei Yuanrong.

Ever since Xiang Ning got married, Lu Jiang has felt a void in his heart.

He felt he couldn't accept that his sister, whom he had finally found, had gotten married, and to that bastard Pei Yanzhi no less.

But before he could even grieve, Lu Jiang had to get busy.

Lu Weimin has handed over all the affairs of the Lu Family Business to Lu Jiang.

He's going to retire and enjoy his old age; he's going to the capital to see his little grandson.

When you get old, nothing is more enjoyable than playing with your grandchildren.

Since Lu Jiang refused to marry, Lu Weimin had no choice but to go to the capital to take Xiang Ning's child.

They're all my own children, it doesn't matter who I hold.

Lu Jiang's responsibilities suddenly became much heavier, and he was so busy that he was rarely home.

Forget about getting married, he can't even touch a woman.

Perhaps Heaven took pity on him and sent Pei Yuanrong here.

Pei Yuanrong ran away from her arranged marriage. Now that she's reached marriageable age, Dong Yan will naturally arrange a marriage for her.

Because of Pei Yanzhi's elder brother's title of Marquis of Jian'an, those who sought his hand in marriage were all wealthy and powerful.

Dong Yan was almost overwhelmed by the choices, but in the end she picked out a few that were not bad.

Unfortunately, Pei Yuanrong didn't find any of them attractive.

She had already given her heart to Lu Jiang, and she was unwilling to give it to anyone else.

So when Dong Yan was about to arrange a marriage for her, she ran away from home.

Ling'an arrived from the capital.

Everyone has to be brave at least once, and she was never a timid girl.

When she misunderstood Xiang Ning and hurt her, she realized her mistake and apologized to Xiang Ning.

Pei Yuanrong is someone who dares to love and hate.

Just as Lu Jiang was about to leave that day, he saw Pei Yuanrong standing at the door.

Before he could speak, Pei Yuanrong spoke first.

“Brother Lu, I ran away from the marriage my mother arranged for me.”

"Since we know each other, you must know my personality. I just want to ask one question: have you ever felt a flutter of attraction towards me?"

As long as he says yes, her trip won't be in vain.

Lu Jiang was completely baffled by her question.

It took me a long time to realize what was happening.

"Yuan Rong, what you're saying...you, you..."

After talking for a long time, he still couldn't say whether he was interested or not.

A hint of sadness flashed in the girl's eyes. She said "I understand" and then left.

"I don't know how to say it, but you and I are childhood sweethearts."

"How dare the Lu family, a merchant family, covet a noblewoman?"

This is also why Lu Jiang was unwilling for Xiang Ning to marry Pei Yanzhi.

Such is the way of the world; class is the insurmountable barrier between them.

Pei Yuanrong could marry someone better, so why did she insist on marrying him?
“Brother Lu, you’re so silly. I only care about whether the person I’ll spend the rest of my life with is suitable for me, not their status.”

How can love be measured by social status?

Marrying someone of equal social standing is one thing, but if there is genuine affection, why settle for less?

The two smiled at each other, and Lu Jiang reached out his hand to Pei Yuanrong.

"If we're going to discuss marriage, I'll naturally pay them a visit."

At that moment, they saw in each other's eyes the words they had spoken in their youth.

Pei Yuanrong said that she never regarded Lu Jiang as her elder brother.

He also said that his only sister was Asahi.