Chapter 21: Pure Love World Arc 4

  "Wife, I'm hungry..." A fragrant meal is served up.

  "Wife, I'm thirsty..." A glass of water is handed over.

  "My wife, I'm tired......" was hugged by the princess and taken up.

  "Wife, I'm sleepy......" was put on the bed.

  "Hmm... yes, wife, what are you doing?" "Shì zhī, at this time shouldn't we call each other husband and wife instead?"

  Xu Zilin's illness had tormented Su Mu enough, and after he recovered, the two of them became like this. Under the influence of the two women, even Su Mu has fallen in love with this game of changing names, as long as there are no outsiders around, she calls him "wife" very smoothly.

  Su Luo saw that the two people's feelings had already stabilized, and her task could be considered complete. However, Liu Qianqian seemed to have no intention of letting her go back. On a dark and windy night, she contacted Su Luo through their connected wristbands.

  "Qianqian, when can I go back? The attacker and receiver are already sweetly together, I've also completed my task, hurry up and let me go back!"

  What's the hurry? Not yet! I thought you were having a great time playing?

  "This task is not bad, but I still want to go home! Please, let me go back, okay? At worst, I'll go apologize to Cheng Hao." (Right, Cheng Hao is indeed the name of Xiang Pao's nemesis, and I'm sure everyone still remembers him as the troublemaker who caused a series of time-traveling incidents)

  The task is not yet complete, Xu Zilin's relatives will discover it sooner or later and disperse them. Su Zhifu will also arrange a marriage for Su Mo as in the original story. So, although the original host is no longer causing trouble, they still have a hard time having a good ending. You need to help them thoroughly resolve these troubles before you can truly complete the task.

  "Heavens! Have you gone mad?! I'm not a god, how can I possibly get a group of ancient people to accept same-sex relationships? Are you intentionally trying to make things difficult for me?"

  You're thinking too much, Gu Liang! It's not like we're asking you to corrupt them or anything. Just think of a way to persuade them to start anew in a place where no one knows them, and they can live happily ever after until old age, isn't that okay?

  "It's also very difficult, I feel completely at a loss for what to do, they definitely won't agree. Xu Gong is a great family with a big business, and Shou Ge is so filial, he wants to repay the kindness of Su Zhifu's upbringing wholeheartedly, letting them abandon everything and flee far away, I really can't bring myself to say it!"

  Come on! I'll teach you...

  “……”

  【……】

  Suoluo carried out Liu Qianqian's plan and soon got a response.

  "Sister, something big has happened! Your uncle wants your brother to marry the eldest daughter of the Wang family, what should we do? Think of a solution quickly!" On this day, Xu Zilin returned from outside in high spirits, bringing with her the news she had been expecting for so long.

  Obviously, Xu Zilin has taken her as a lifesaver and entrusted the happiness of both of them to her.

  The Wang family is indeed a powerful one, with generations of military officials. Although Mr. Wang is now retired and at home, the influence of the Wang family in the imperial court and the military is still not to be underestimated. The younger generation of the family is also full of talent, so being able to become relatives with them would make Prefect Uncle smile even in his dreams.

  "Don't be in a hurry, have a sip of water and speak slowly." Su Luo got up and poured a cup of tea for Xuzi Lin.

  In fact, she is very clear about the ins and outs of this matter, and it was actually her doing that made it happen. Now she's just pretending to be clueless.

  In the original work, Miss Wang indeed married her brother, but not now, two years later, their marriage was also one of the reasons for the death of the attacker and the victim.

  Because the men in her family were all strong and rough, Miss Wang had severe aesthetic fatigue. She didn't love sturdy men but preferred pretty boys, especially those who could write elegant words. Su Luo Luo catered to her tastes and "accidentally" revealed at a gathering of women that she had an older brother with great literary talent and a handsome appearance like Pan An. She also hinted to Miss Wang that her brother was currently single and their uncle was worried about his marriage. From Miss Wang's expression, it was clear that she was interested, and given her style as the daughter of a powerful family, she would definitely take action.

  As expected, in just a few days, Miss Wang sent someone to deliver an invitation, inviting Su Luo to visit her at home. As soon as they met, she got straight to the point, saying that she had secretly checked out Su and was very pleased with him, deciding to ask her father to send a matchmaker to propose, asking Su to put in a good word for her when the time came. Su naturally agreed enthusiastically. And so, there was the scene of Xu Zilan frantically seeking help.

  "There is a way, it's just that... I'm afraid you and your brother won't agree." Su Luo looked troubled.

  "What's the plan? Tell me first."

  "Charge! Kill!" The two words rang out loud and clear.

  "No way, if it's like this, your brother won't be able to see the light of day, he'll have to hide and conceal himself. Even if he's willing, I wouldn't be able to bear it. Let's think of another solution."

  "It's not my brother, it's you, sister-in-law, come and pretend to be dead."

  "What? Me? You must be mistaken, it's your brother who's being forced into marriage."

  "Just listen to me."

  "Okay, you say"

  "Actually, there are some things I've wanted to say for a long time, but I was afraid you'd think I'm interfering, today is just the right opportunity."

  "Sister-in-law, don't you think your relatives are being too much? They're always taking advantage of your brothers. I heard from my brother that when Uncle Xu passed away, your family was struggling, and those relatives were thinking of how to seize your family's assets. Not one of them lent a hand, leaving you to bear everything on your own at such a young age. Now that the escort agency and trade business are doing well, they all want to come and take a share of the profits. Every month, they withdraw so much silver from the accounts, and they're always trying to insert their people into positions with benefits. Even if you're generous and don't mind about the money, but they rely on their seniority and that little bit of blood relation to interfere with Xu family's business and your brothers' lives. Are you happy being manipulated like this? You shouldn't have forgotten how they pressured you when I married into the family."

  "What you said, I also knew, but after all, they are my elders in the clan, so let's take care of them a bit. What's urgent now is your brother's matter, let's talk about this later."

  "My point is, why not take this opportunity to make a clean break and move the Xu family's assets elsewhere, so we can get rid of these parasites? Otherwise, I don't know when the Xu family will be ruined by them. Moreover, this is also for your own good, if the clan finds out about you two, have you thought about the consequences? They'll definitely use a bunch of ancestral rules to coerce you, and you won't be able to disobey, or else you'll be considered unfilial. Rather than suffering later on, it's better to take precautions now."

  "Leave this place, the sea is wide enough for fish to jump and the sky is high enough for birds to fly. No one will stop you then. Besides, didn't you say that you're optimistic about the northern market? It's a good opportunity to take my brother there to make a fortune."

  "This thing, let me think about it." Xu Zilin fell into deep thought.

  "Hmm, you think about it some more." Su Luo knew that this matter could only be understood by him himself and couldn't be rushed, so he closed the door and left, leaving space for him.

  "I think I understand now, I'll do as you said. For the sake of my and Shizhe's future, some things need to be let go." The next morning, Xu Zilin blocked Su Loluo at her door, telling her the result he had thought about all night.

  "Have you really made up your mind and won't regret it?"

  "Hmm, it's settled then. Anyway, my parents are already gone, and apart from Zipei (Xu Zilin's younger brother), even if I really died, it would just be a good thing for those people. But what about your brother's side? How can we get your uncle to agree to let him go? Can't just pretend to be dead too?"

  "Let's have breakfast first, and I'll tell you about it afterwards."

  "Alright, let's go to the study room and talk about it later."

  The two of them hastily ate their breakfast and went to the study room.

  "Sister, take a look at these few poems first?" Su Luo handed over the original owner's handwriting of the famous "Returning to the Countryside" five poems from his previous life to Xu Zilin, and it was fortunate that this world was empty, so many things could be put to use.

  Xu Zilin didn't have the heart to read poetry at this time, but it wasn't good to lose face in front of her either, so she decided to just go through the motions, but the more she recited, the more shocked she became.

  "With little worldly refinement, my nature has always loved hills and mountains. Mistakenly entering the dusty net, I've been gone for thirty years. A caged bird longs for its old forest, a pond fish thinks of its former depths. Opening up the wasteland at the southern border, guarding simplicity to return to my garden fields..."

  "Marvelous! Truly marvelous! Good poem! Rarely good poem! Little sister, where did you get it from? How come I've never heard of it?"

  "Are you sure you've never heard of it?"

  "Ah, got it!"

  "Then, can one attain mastery?"

  "It's absolutely deserved! My brother, I'm not good at writing poems, but I still have a certain level of appreciation."

  "It's fine as long as it's good. I don't know if brother told you, when my father was alive, he and the great Confucian scholar Chen Zhongqi were close friends despite their age difference, and uncle has always admired his writings and character. Later, Mr. Chen resigned and went into seclusion, and there was no news from him. If brother shows these poems to uncle and says that there is news of Mr. Chen and wants to go visit him as a teacher, uncle will definitely agree. This time, it's unknown how many years will pass, brother will wait, but Miss Wang cannot wait, and this marriage will have to be called off."

  "Are you sure this will work? Will the Magistrate let your brother off scot-free and give up on such a good marriage arrangement?"

  "Uncle is in the official circle, sometimes he can't help himself, but although he loves power and prestige, a scholar's integrity still exists, and he truly cares for us siblings. He knows that brother has found a good teacher, so he will definitely support him. So, next time you have the chance, remember to let brother come back and visit his old man, show some filial piety. For all these years, we siblings owe it to uncle and aunt's care, otherwise, who knows..."

  "Alright, don't be sad, I'll take care of you and your siblings from now on. Are you coming with us? And what about Zi Pei, what's going to happen to him?" Xu Zilin really did consider Su Luo as his sister and couldn't bear her being sad about her background, so he quickly changed the subject.

  "It's not suitable for too many people to know about this for the time being, the target is too big. You and your brother should leave first and go to the north to wait for us. Don't mention it to Zipei for now, I'm afraid he can't accept the relationship between you and your brother, if something goes wrong, it'll be a failure. When the time is ripe, I'll tell him."

  This was what Liu Qianqian had repeatedly instructed, saying that she must not tell Xu Zipei. Firstly, she was afraid that he would disagree with the relationship between the two of them and interfere. Secondly, in the original book, he only grew up rapidly after his brother's death, and then had a series of encounters, gaining career and beautiful love. If the plot were changed, without the huge setback and misfortune of his brother's death, his fate might also be rewritten. Su Luo thought of the plot of "Step by Step Shocking Heart" and was afraid that she, as a time-traveling woman, would do good but end up with bad results, so she agreed with Liu Qianqian's point of view.

  "No way, let him think I'm dead, wouldn't that be heartbreaking? I'm afraid he can't take it." Xu Zilin still thought this wasn't reliable.

  "Don't worry, I'll handle it properly. You're always saying that Zipei isn't mature enough and wants to temper him, right? This is a good opportunity now. If he really can't hold on, I'll confess immediately, guaranteed no mistakes."

  Liu Qianqian also persuaded her in this way.

  "Alright then, on the business side, I plan..."

  “……”

  The two of them deliberated until sunset, and only when every detail was nailed down did they feel relieved. All that remained was to persuade Su Mo, and then they could take action.

  In the center of the mourning hall, a large "奠" character, with couplets sent by relatives and friends hanging on either side, fruit and longevity lamps placed on the offering table, except for the crying family members, guests who came to mourn also pretended to sob a few times.

  It was a solemn and ordinary funeral, except that there was no coffin in sight.

  Ten days ago, taking advantage of the dark and windy night, Suoluo finally sent away the two husbands, then according to the previous arrangement, Xu Zilin fell into the water unexpectedly, "died without a body".

  In a situation where no one could be found, the newlywed bride had to call her younger brother back from school to take charge. Today is the day of the funeral and burial.

  Su Mu also persuaded Su Zhi Fu to go on a distant journey to worship his master before Xu Zi Lin "had an accident".