Time Travel: The Noble Family

Yueyao knew that An Zhizhuo left angrily, and happily popped a grape into her mouth.

Xiang Wei murmured: "Can you really convince him?" No one else could talk sense into An Zhizhuo, it’s unlikely a few words from Yueyao would do the trick.

Yueyao spat out a grape seed and then said: "I told him he couldn’t even compare to Ning Lixuan. You should have seen his face when he heard me, he looked like he wanted to kill me. That ferocious look almost scared me to death."

Xiang Wei saw Yueyao’s leisurely expression and couldn’t help but feel disdain. Who would believe Yueyao was frightened by An Zhizhuo!

Yueyao ate more than ten grapes, then stopped, took a towel to wipe her hands, and said: "This matter should be left for Heyue to handle."

An Zhizhuo didn’t dare to lose his temper with Yueyao because, as a grown man, he couldn’t hit a woman. However, he blamed An Zhichen, saying coldly when he saw him: "Heyue, you’ve truly married such a capable and virtuous wife, haven’t you?" His words were full of sarcasm.

An Zhichen replied helplessly: "It’s been really hot lately, she’s been irritable, don’t take her seriously!"

An Zhizhuo looked at An Zhichen and asked: "Your wife claimed that Zhou Shu has a grudge against you over a woman and that you let him go for my sake? Why did no one tell me about this before?" An Zhizhuo didn’t doubt the truth of these claims, as no woman jokes about her own reputation.

An Zhichen was hesitant about sharing this matter: "It’s true. Zhou Shu happened to see Zichang once and wanted to take her away. I didn’t want to tell you then, to avoid unnecessary trouble."

An Zhizhuo understood, as it involved his wife’s reputation, naturally not wanting more people to know: "Your wife said I am unfilial to grandfather and unrighteous to you, calling me an unfilial and unrighteous person. Heyue, what do you think?"

An Zhichen hadn’t consulted Yueyao, so he had no idea what Yueyao would say to An Zhizhuo: "Don’t listen to her nonsense! She’s been in a bad mood recently, on edge, spouting off like she’s swallowed gunpowder. She can ramble to anyone."

An Zhizhuo chuckled bitterly: "Your wife even said I can’t measure up to Ning Lixuan from Duke Ning’s Mansion. Said at least Ning Lixuan wasn’t the one to cut off the Duke’s bloodline, while my family is ending it in my hands."

An Zhichen was silent for a moment, then said: "During the incident with Zhou Shu, Zichang was really worried. She told me if anything happened to her, she wanted me to promise not to remarry for ten years. I asked her why ten years and not a lifetime? Do you know what she said?"

An Zhizhuo was puzzled: "Why?" An Zhichen’s feelings for Madam Lian were much deeper than his own with his wife. But Madame Lian proposed ten years, not a lifetime, which puzzled him greatly.

An Zhichen continued: "Zichang said that after ten years, the kids should be married and won’t have to worry about suffering from a stepmother. By then, I’ll be forty, quite lonely alone; marrying someone to take care of me, to share life’s warmth, would give her peace of mind."

An Zhizhuo’s expression changed but soon he asked: "If you were in my situation, what would you do?" An Zhizhuo had endured enormous pressure over the years but had a conviction that sustained him. But Yueyao’s barrage shook that conviction.

An Zhichen didn’t hesitate, replying: "If it were me, even if my most beloved woman were gone, I’d definitely remarry after completing three years of mourning for the sake of heirs. Life isn’t solely about marital love, there are also filial duties and responsibilities." Extending the bloodline is their responsibility.

An Zhizhuo’s facial expression changed multiple times, then asked another question: "If Madam Lian really met an accident, would you remarry?"

An Zhichen thought about it and shook his head: "I don’t know. Ten years is too long, who knows what will happen in the future." The truth is, An Zhichen hadn’t thought about this issue. But facing An Zhizhuo, he withheld a definitive answer, finding it rare to see Brother Zhuo’s resolve falter, he welcomed it.

After a long time, An Zhizhuo asked: "If I don’t marry and have children, will I really not even be able to compare to Ning Lixuan?" An Zhizhuo did look down on Ning Lixuan, for none other reason than being a softie who forsakes filial duty and prospects for a woman. Now being inferior to such a person, An Zhizhuo was deeply unsettled.

An Zhichen felt pleased, not expecting Yueyao’s persuasion to have such a potent effect. An Zhichen was clever, deciding not to answer the question directly, but said: "That question you should ask Elder Uncle." Elder Uncle, not he, had the right say on that matter.