Gu Jinzhao’s wedding was set for the fifth day of the second month, with every detail arranged by the two grandmothers.

Gu Suzhi brought Lady Gu and Jin’an from the capital. Lady Gu rarely smiled so happily. Gu Jinzhao compared heights with Jin’an and laughed, “You’re almost taller than your sister.”

Zheng Xianyan had someone transport dozens of blooming gardenia plants. Getting these in this season was truly difficult.

During a break, the carter asked him why he needed so many gardenia flowers. Zheng Xianyan smiled, looked back at Gu Jinzhao crouching on the ground admiring the flowers, and said with loving eyes, “My wife is a girl who loves gardenias. Though I don’t know why, since she loves them, I love them too.”

The carter clicked his tongue in admiration, “This lady is truly blessed.”

Zheng Xianyan shook his head, “I am the blessed one.”

He had never believed in love at first sight until he met Gu Jinzhao.

She simply sat there quietly, yet he couldn’t look away.

After years in commerce, he never cared about others’ opinions. So what if she had been married before? So what if she was a former Crown Princess? He wouldn’t mind.

So when his grandmother and Grandmother Gu wanted to matchmake them, he didn’t refuse – he was even somewhat joyful.

What virtue or ability did he possess that such a clever and remarkable girl would agree to marry him?

Suzhou customs differed greatly from those in the capital, with fewer cumbersome ceremonies. Gu Jinzhao could walk around freely.

Seeing a servant counting the wedding gifts, Gu Jinzhao approached and casually asked, “Did anyone send tea?”

The servant looked carefully through everything and shook his head, “Madam, wedding gifts are all jewelry. Who would send tea?”

Gu Jinzhao softly acknowledged this and left with Ruoruo.

Her grandmother had chosen an excellent day – a bit windy but not cold.

The ceremonial official called for bowing to heaven and earth, to elders, and between husband and wife.

As the wedding attendant helped her back to the room, the wind gently lifted a corner of her veil. From the corner of her eye, Gu Jinzhao glimpsed someone in azure clothes in the courtyard corner, with orchids embroidered on the hem. When she looked more carefully, the figure was gone.

Gu Jinzhao shook her head self-mockingly. She was truly obsessed. The Emperor had decreed that none could leave Duanzhou without permission. How could he come?

Enough.

Jinzhao, stop thinking about it.

But she didn’t know that Shen Mujing had come.

Just like the year she left the capital, that distant figure in the bamboo hat had also been him.

How heartbroken must she have been to seek out a Dream Weaver?

She slept for a month and woke up not remembering him.

Hearing news of her memory loss, he didn’t know whether to be happy. For her, forgetting was the best choice.

The night before he secretly left his place of exile, his subordinate asked what could be so important as to risk violating imperial orders.

He said, “Keeping an appointment with an old friend.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand her words that day, or that he didn’t want to take her away with him. It was just…

He couldn’t bear it.

A girl raised in luxury who had suffered so much in just three years with him – he couldn’t be selfish enough to force her to stay by his side.

How many years had he loved her? Perhaps she had forgotten that day by the lotus pond when their ensemble performance amazed everyone present.

She smiled radiantly, accepting everyone’s praise as sunlight shone on her, so dazzling that one couldn’t look away.

From then on, he always paid special attention to her – her every smile and frown, her disdain for household intrigues – he saw it all.

He didn’t dare approach, didn’t even dare speak to her. He saw her laughing and talking with other princes, but the smile never reached her eyes.

He feared she would think he, too, was approaching her only because of her status as the Gu family’s legitimate eldest daughter.

This kind of love, beginning in youth, had settled for many years.

Initially, he didn’t understand how Shen Muchen could risk angering their father for Su Niannian’s sake. Now he understood.

When one truly loves, one disregards everything else.

Zhaozhao, his beloved girl, may you be as he once wished for you: peaceful and prosperous.

Only he,

From this time forward,

Would have no today year after year.

“Zhaozhao, Luofu Mountain tea is not as the rumors say – it’s bitter and wouldn’t suit your taste.”