Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 457

Gu Yin closed her eyes, holding back tears, and turned to look at Wu Qingyi. He stood beside his horse, his expression solemn, and appeared to be preparing for something, reciting words under his breath.

Gu Yin, caught up in the moment, suddenly asked, “These wildflowers are so beautiful; I forgot to ask you last time – do they have a name?”

Wu Qingyi walked over and stood by her side, a smile gracing his lips. “These wildflowers bloom in the spring, they’re usually considered common and don’t have a specific name. Locals simply refer to them as wildflowers.”

“Wildflowers,” Gu Yin repeated the name softly on her lips. The name contained the word “Yin”, and because of that connection, the wildflowers that had already captured her heart now seemed even more endearing.

“Thank you for bringing me here; I really appreciate it,” she sincerely praised.

Wu Qingyi responded in his usual manner, “You’re welcome.”

Gu Yin found a spot to sit on the ground and motioned for him to join her.

He took a seat next to her, and they sat in companionable silence. After about half an hour had passed, Gu Yin finally waited for him to speak.

“Da Ya,” Wu Qingyi began, but it seemed like he found the name somewhat unappealing. He cleared his throat and said, “Yin Yin.”

“Hmm?”

“Have I told you how much I like you?”

“You’ve said it before,” Gu Yin chuckled, “and you don’t need to say it.”

She believed that one person’s feelings for another should be measured not just by words but by actions. From the time they first met to becoming deeply enamored with each other, Wu Qingyi had done many things for her. While some might seem trivial, collectively, they spoke volumes about his love and care for her, far beyond mere words.

“In that case, do you reciprocate my feelings?” Wu Qingyi asked with a playful smile.

Gu Yin playfully leaned in and lightly bumped her shoulder against his. Her fair cheeks took on a faint crimson hue. “Do you really need to ask?”

Upon realizing that Mrs. Wang and her son, Wu’an, would be in the picture, Gu Yin’s initial thought might have been about divorce. However, she shared a deep bond with Mrs. Wang and Wu’an, and even after divorce, she intended to maintain her relationship with Mrs. Wang as her godmother. 

Nevertheless, because of Wu Qingyi, Gu Yin had never broached the subject of divorce and was content to gradually rebuild their connection. More than half a year had passed since they started reconnecting.

Over the past six months, Wu Qingyi had never pressured her to make compromises, as they were already married. They were like young lovers, deeply in love, occasionally holding hands and sharing affectionate embraces. Even when Mrs. Wang kindly prepared a pot of deer blood, Wu Qingyi ate it without doing anything to Gu Yin.

It was all about love and consideration.

If one were to describe the beginning of their relationship as the “suspension bridge effect” born from shared experiences, their emotional growth and connection were nurtured through the small moments they shared together.

Gu Yin spoke earnestly, “I do love you, of course, but I’m not certain if it’s enough. I may not be able to match the depth of your love.”

Most of the time, she felt that her love might not measure up.

Gu Yin tried to view it from a different perspective. To make her happy, Wu Qingyi had painstakingly gathered all those wildflowers in one place. She couldn’t recall ever doing something quite so grand for his happiness, at least not to that extent. Wu Qingyi had also admitted to being somewhat clumsy when it came to making someone happy.

In fact, when it came to that aspect, Gu Yin wasn’t much different. She might be attentive to his basic needs like food, rest, or any concerns when he was away, but when it came to romantic gestures, she often found herself at a loss.

Reflecting on their current situation, knowing how much effort he had put into making her happy, her initial thought was to prepare a special meal for him at noon in return. She nearly wanted to ask him what he’d like for lunch.

Thinking about it, Gu Yin pressed her forehead with a hint of distress.

Wu Qingyi promptly reassured her, saying, “It’s not a problem, even a little means a lot.”

He gestured with his index finger and thumb, forming a small gap, “Just a little bit, and I’m extremely content.”

Gu Yin couldn’t help but smile, saying, “It’s not like that. No matter what…”

She couldn’t find the right words to express her feelings, so she decided to playfully tease him and gently pecked his lips.

“In the end, it is much more than you may think.”

Wu Qingyi hadn’t expected her to take the initiative to kiss him. The brief contact left him momentarily dazed, and he absentmindedly reached up to touch his lips, as if trying to compare them to something soft.

After a moment, a smile crept across his face. His eyes and brows, which typically held a stern countenance, softened, radiating warmth.

Taking a deep breath and releasing it, he finally asked the question he’d been holding back for a long time, “So, will you marry me?”

At that moment, Gu Yin was slightly taken aback, “Didn’t we already…”

Wu Qingyi shook his head, “Back then, it was for my mother’s wish, it was just a temporary arrangement, and at that time, we were like siblings… Our circumstances were far from ideal, and everything was hurried and basic.”

That was undeniably true. At the time, the imperial court had abruptly called for troops, and the timeline was incredibly tight.