Chapter 340: Outing (Discussing the Present)

Chapter 340 -337: Outing (Discussing the Present)

Seeing Zhou Lian’s happy smile, Li Xiu grew a little flustered and pulled her into his arms, complaining, “You admire that dashing prime minister that much? You bring him up every time!”

“No, that’s not it. Didn’t I only start admiring him because he was your favorite in the first place? Besides, Jin Chen, is this really necessary? There are thousands of years of history between us and him. Isn’t this jealousy a bit pointless?” Suppressing a laugh, Zhou Lian lay in Li Xiu’s arms, deliberately teasing him.

Since they were outside, Li Xiu gently let go of Zhou Lian, pursed his lips, and said, “Bao’er, let’s talk about something else!”

“Alright, no more about the dashing prime minister. Let’s talk about something else. Jin Chen, of all the emperors from every dynasty, who do you admire the most?”

Li Xiu thought for a moment, then frowned and said, “There isn’t anyone I admire that much, really. It’s probably like I just said—we always look at historical figures from a god’s-eye view, so it’s hard not to be biased. If I had to choose, I guess it would be Tang Taizong. I quite admire the social atmosphere of the prosperous Great Tang Dynasty!”

“The Great Tang Dynasty was alright, I suppose. But personally, I admire the Great Ming Dynasty more. No political marriages, no reparations, no ceding of territory, and no tribute. The Son of Heaven guards the gates of the nation, and the monarch dies with his state. Whether it was the emperors from the middle or the end of the dynasty, this integrity was always displayed by the emperors of the Zhu family. In its nearly three-hundred-year history, the Ming Dynasty, as the last bastion of Han rule, upheld the fortitude of the Han people and prevented a repeat of events like the Five Barbarians’ Invasion of China. Even after the Man Qing ruled the Central Plains for over two hundred years, that Han fortitude was always passed down!”

Li Xiu sighed, took Zhou Lian’s hand, and said softly as they strolled along the flagstone path, “You’re right. That Han fortitude was passed down. During the Man Qing era, with policies like ‘keep your hair, lose your head,’ the Ten Days of Yangzhou, and the Three Massacres of Jia Ding… for the spirit of the Han to have been passed down under such dire circumstances—it was built upon countless bones and rivers of blood.”

“Let’s not talk about such heavy topics. What’s happened has happened; no one can change it. Talking about it will only bring more sorrow. Let’s move on. Let’s talk about the present,” Zhou Lian said, sighing and changing the subject.

“The present? Hmm… we’ll take it slow. I’m not talking about world domination, but we should at least have a voice. To be able to go out into the world and be respected, not bullied,” Li Xiu said softly. ‘It’s easy to say, but infinitely harder to do. But having been reborn, I can’t help but think about doing something for future generations, leaving something behind, as long as it doesn’t endanger myself or my family.’

Nodding, Zhou Lian said comfortingly, “Jin Chen, you said it yourself—we have to take it slow. We’re still young. There’s still time.”

“I know. It’s just that sometimes, it’s frustrating when you know something is wrong but you’re powerless to stop it,” Li Xiu said, sounding dejected.

“I understand, but there’s nothing we can do. The rules aren’t in our hands. Even if we know the outcome, we’re still powerless. Dying a martyr for a cause is the most foolish thing one could do,” Zhou Lian said calmly. ‘The world is what it is. How could one person possibly change it?’

He smiled and squeezed her hand. “You’re right, it’s not a path worth taking,” Li Xiu said softly. “Bao’er, I know what you mean. We’re not saviors. To put it bluntly, we were just ordinary people in our last lives. This time, all we have is a few extra decades of memories. But those other people, whether they were born brilliant or trained to be, they’re all the sharpest of the sharp. I really don’t have the noble heart to sacrifice myself for others.”

“We should just use what we can and do what we’re able to. As long as we have a clear conscience, that’s enough. We don’t yearn for wealth, we don’t covet power, and we certainly don’t seek fame that lasts beyond our lifetime. We just want to live with our heads held high. Jin Chen, in my last life, I was what you’d call uneducated. I didn’t understand grand ideals or what it meant to have a moral backbone. I just hoped my children would be healthy and happy, and that they’d start their own families. It was that simple.”

“You know, Jin Chen? In my last life, I had almost no regrets when I was dying. I was an illiterate old woman from the countryside. My daughter had a loving husband and two children. My son had a successful career, a happy marriage, and a pair of twin grandsons. I truly had no regrets. As for you… to be honest, I didn’t feel much of anything back then. I didn’t understand love. My thoughts were very simple.”

“Even after being reborn, my thoughts were simple at first. I just couldn’t let go of my two children. After marrying you, you spoiled me rotten, and I learned to read and devoured countless books. Slowly, I started to think about more things. It wasn’t until I went to college, with the benefit of several extra decades of experience, that I finally understood how to live a life without regrets. Then came the time we came to understand each other’s hearts, and after that, when I learned that you had also lived a life before.”

“To be honest, your reaction at the time was a bit unexpected. All the things from my past life that I had deliberately tried to forget came flooding back. Only then did I realize just how deep our connection was. All these years, you’ve spoiled me, and I’ve become a little willful. But I also know we don’t need any of that flashy, superficial stuff between us. Jin Chen, I still have the heart of a simple woman. A happy marriage, peaceful lives for our children, and the freedom to do what I love.”

Seeing the smile on Zhou Lian’s face, Li Xiu smiled back and said gently, “That’s perfect. Bao’er, you know that all I’ve ever wanted to give you is a peaceful present and quiet years.”

“I know. And you’ve done it,” Zhou Lian said with a gentle smile. ‘Li Xiu really did it in this life. From the day I married him, he gave me a peaceful present and quiet years. I don’t have to deal with mother-in-law issues, I don’t have to do housework, I don’t even have to raise the children. All I have to do is focus on what I love and accept the affection he lavishes on me.’

Smiling at Zhou Lian, Li Xiu asked, his voice full of affection, “So, are you happy now?”

“I am! I have a career that I love and can do for the rest of my life, a pair of clever and well-behaved children, healthy parents, and siblings who are all doing well. I have a good friend or two, and most of all, a lover who spoils me to the heavens. Jin Chen, I think I’m already living the life most women dream of. For the rest of my days, I could ask for nothing more,” Zhou Lian said softly, looking at Li Xiu with deep affection.

It was true. In this life, Zhou Lian was living the life most women dreamed of. A successful career, no worries about food or clothing, healthy parents, both a son and a daughter, and a devoted husband who was addicted to doting on his wife. She could ask for nothing more.

Gently wrapping his arms around Zhou Lian, Li Xiu suppressed his excitement and said tenderly, “Good. As long as you’re happy. That’s my only obsession in this life.”

As if understanding his thoughts, Zhou Lian nestled against Li Xiu as they walked along the flagstone path. Watching the clouds drift and gather in the sky, she smiled happily. ‘What I didn’t have in my last life, Li Xiu has given me all of it in this one. Maybe I really am Heaven’s favorite daughter. Even the heroines in those cliché dramas might not have my kind of luck!’