My System Is Three Thousand Years Early

If the Duke weren't soft-hearted, knowing that all of Qin Beifeng's actions had nothing to do with Qin Yanqiu, they wouldn't even be able to become in-laws with Guanger's concubine's family.

Cheng Zhihai sighed, "Qin, why put yourself through this agony?"

When Qin Beifeng heard Cheng Zhihai's words, his eyes dimmed slightly, but he didn't say anything and just silently shook his head.

Cheng Shiyuan knew that Qin Beifeng was not in the mood for much conversation at the moment, so he turned his gaze to Qin Yanqiu who was standing aside.

He had seen Qin Yanqiu's countenance in the paintings.

The experience of seeing her in person was different from seeing her in the paintings.

Just one glance at Qin Yanqiu, and Cheng Zhihai's spirits brightened; clad in armor, she radiated a military air purged of any artifice, not someone prone to scheming.

If it weren't for the mess Qin Beifeng had caused, she would have been most suitable as Guanger's principal wife.

Now, there was little chance of that.

Cheng Zhihai sighed again, feeling it a pity.

In a brief moment, Cheng Zhihai didn't know how many times he had sighed.

Qin Beifeng could somewhat understand Cheng Zhihai's thoughts; he too felt uncomfortable, but he had brought this situation upon himself. To him, these sacrifices seemed necessary for the sake of Great Chu.

If his plans had succeeded, Duke Zhen's Mansion would have collapsed, and then the spectacle would have been something to see.

Now that his plans had not succeeded and he had ended up looking like this, it was the consequence he had to bear.

Qin Beifeng didn't feel much; he just thought it unfair to Qin Yanqiu.

Cheng Shiyuan and Qin Beifeng both seemed to be burdened with heavy thoughts.

In contrast, Wu Yuemei appeared "carefree", her face breaking into a bright and tender smile with Cheng Guang's return.

She walked swiftly to him, took his hand, and then tenderly cupped his cheeks to look closely at him.

"Guanger, have you suffered on your trip to North City, to your grandfather's place? Your face seems to have slimmed down quite a bit during this time."

"Your grandfather told me that you've done a lot of important work in North City and earned quite some merit, which is truly remarkable. Yet, you mustn't neglect your health either."

"By the way, speaking of which, were you injured in North City? I heard that you were hurt by someone... Qin Gaozhi? It was him, huh..."

"He's dead? Well, that settles it. Our Guanger is so honest and well-behaved, how could anyone bear to bully you?"

At this moment, Wu Yuemei was quite the chatterbox, pulling Cheng Guang along and talking.

Cheng Guang wasn't annoyed and responded intermittently to Wu Yuemei's words with a smile.

After talking with Cheng Guang for a while, Wu Yuemei rolled her eyes at him, a mix of indulgence and helplessness, "You child, always making us worry whenever you leave home."

"It was the same with the Great Zhou and Great Wei martial competition, and it's the same with this trip to North City. The Great Yan Dynasty was in turmoil, and you just happened to be in the middle of withdrawing from the Border Area. Thank goodness nothing happened this time, what would your mother do?"

Cheng Guang patted Wu Yuemei's hand with a smile and said, "Mom, don't worry needlessly, I have a strong will to live; I won't die so easily."

Wu Yuemei snorted lightly and gently shook off Cheng Guang's hand, taking Qin Yanqiu's hand instead and examining her closely.

"So, you must be Yanqiu."

Qin Yanqiu knew the beautiful woman before her was the Princely Heir's mother, and her cool features twitched as she tried to reveal a pleasing smile. However, her attempt only resulted in a strained half-smile.

Yet even that was beautiful.

Wu Yuemei, aware of Qin Yanqiu's temperament, covered her mouth and chuckled, "Child, you just call me 'mom' like Cheng Guang does. Originally, I planned to have another wedding ceremony in the Capital City before asking you to call me that, but now..."

"So there's no plan for another wedding; you'll just stay here in the mansion with us."

As Wu Yuemei spoke, it was as if she remembered something, and she said to Qin Yanqiu, "Yanqiu, the Duke has informed me that as long as you bear Guanger a child, afterward, whether you wish to continue living in the mansion or return to North City or to the Northern Expedition Army, it will be your choice."

When Qin Yanqiu heard Wu Yuemei say this, she felt a bit relieved in her heart, as she was looking forward to returning to North City sooner.

Although the Capital City was bustling with excitement, she had always felt like an outsider, unable to fit in with its ways. North City was the place where she belonged.

"Um... Mom..."

Qin Yanqiu nodded and hesitated for a moment before finally calling out "mom".

Qin Yanqiu was not naive; she knew that under the current circumstances, she would inevitably stay at Duke Zhen's Mansion for a while, so she should keep her future mother-in-law happy.

When she called out "mom", Qin Yanqiu felt a moment of disorientation.

Ever since she could remember, she had little concept of a mother.

Her father had raised her from a young age.

It was as if she had never had a mother.

In the past, when she asked Qin Beifeng, he never gave her a straight answer and just dismissed it casually.

Qin Yanqiu's cool gaze dropped slightly, and a touch of loss crossed the depth of her eyes.

She decided to ask Qin Beifeng again later whether her mother was dead or alive, as she did not even know.

This left a touch of bitterness in Qin Yanqiu's heart.

Wu Yuemei, not noticing Qin Yanqiu's thoughts, pulled her by the hand and called to Cheng Guang to come inside.