Chapter 648: The Weaver

Zi Anxiong.

Just as Chen Yan was about to bring Kang Chong's family to the reception hall, Fang Yizhi's shout came from behind.

Chen Yan turned, delighted, and said, "Fang Brother, you've come?"

"Oh, you brought a gift? Let me see what it is...... How could you do this? Given our relationship, you should have just brought some pastries, tea leaves, and some children's toys!"

Fang Yizhi's wife chuckled lightly and said, "It's not that we didn't want to bring something nice; my husband said that if the gift were too nice, you wouldn't be pleased."

"Instead, we bring some ordinary things, give your daughter a few small toys, and you'll complain a bit, then accept it happily."

"If you're dissatisfied with these, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future; I hope you won't get angry."

"Tsk." Chen Yan clicked his tongue, shook his head helplessly, and said, "It seems Fang Brother has become a worm in my stomach; whatever I say, he guesses it."

"Hahaha, as long as you can come, that's good; I accept your kindness, please come inside."

Fang Yizhi naturally knew Chen Yan's temperament, waved his hand and said, "Zi Anxiong, you go about your business, don't worry about us—this isn't our first visit, we know the way."

"Grand Secretary," Kang Chong also interjected, "Minister Fang makes sense; you're busy today, attend to your affairs—we'll go ourselves."

"Fine." Chen Yan, unsure whether more guests were coming, readily agreed, but still instructed, "Qing'er, take them over."

"Yes, young master." Qing'er replied.

They chatted a bit more, then Qing'er led them to the reception hall.

Behind Kang Chong, Su Zhi furtively glanced at the person beside Chen Yan—Princess Gao Yang, dressed in a light purple ruqun, lovely in appearance, who maintained a proper smile, fell silent for a moment, then timidly glanced at Fang Yizhi's wife, her hand inside her sleeve tightening slightly.

Whether it was Chen Yan's wife or Fang Yizhi's wife, in every way she seemed far inferior.

Whether it was her bearing, the way she dressed in attractive clothes, or the innate nobility and frankness in her speech, she could not compare.

Thinking this, Su Zhi grew increasingly uneasy, afraid of embarrassing her husband.

Walking ahead, Kang Chong seemed to sense it, turned to glance at his wife, smiled gently, and lowered his voice: "Don't be nervous; the Grand Secretary is easygoing, and his wife, Princess Gao Yang, puts on no airs—just treat it as a casual visit."

Su Zhi pressed her lips, forced a faint smile, and said nothing.

Kang Chong seemed to understand something, sighed lightly, and said nothing more.

The further they walked, the more Su Zhi's heart pounded with anxiety.

Is this the Grand Secretary Chen's residence? The courtyard is truly grand, far more imposing than our humble home.

Along the way, trees and flowers flourished, the corridors wound, showing the owner had put thought into it.

She clenched the handkerchief in her hand, then lowered her gaze to her own attire; though carefully chosen, beside Madame Fang ahead she still looked rustic.

For some reason, a sour feeling suddenly welled up in Su Zhi's heart.

She came from a humble background, originally just a weaving girl; by a chance encounter she met the renowned talent Kang Chong of the surrounding villages.

They had no earth‑shattering romance, only a plainness that naturally led to marriage as they got along.

After marriage, she wove cloth while he studied.

Su Zhi had thought she'd spend her life this way, and a plain, uneventful life would be fine enough.

After all, happiness does not necessarily belong to the noble, nor to the poor, but to the contented.

In the gaps of her daily weaving, she would occasionally look up at Kang Chong studying, and each time he returned her a smile.

That was enough.

But Su Zhi never expected that Kang Chong would live up to his reputation as a talent; at a young age he passed the imperial examinations, rising from humble origins to become the most vigorous spirit of the year.

When the news of Kang Chong's success in the examinations came from Chang'an, saying he would soon return home, Su Zhi felt as if everything were a dream.

She was happy for him, proud of him, yet couldn't help feeling a sense of inferiority.

Passing the examinations, his future is limitless.

Could he still remember me—a weaving girl with no looks, no manners, not even a single character learned?

Later, Su Zhi made two scallion oil pancakes that Kang Chong loved, held them to her chest, walked twenty li, and waited to greet him on the road he must take home.

When the young Kang Chong appeared before her on horseback, wearing a red flower, with drums and gongs beating behind him, full of vigor.

At that moment, her pride and inferiority reached their peak.

She was afraid.

Afraid that Kang Chong would no longer like her.

Afraid that Kang Chong would no longer like her scallion oil pancakes.

What she hadn't expected was that Kang Chong did not despise her; he dismounted straight from his horse and embraced her.

Just as usual, he heartily ate her scallion oil pancakes and didn't forget to praise her skill.

Su Zhi could no longer recall her mood or what she said then; she only remembered bursting into tears, comforted by Kang Chong for a long time.

Later, Kang Chong brought her to Chang'an; he rose steadily in rank, and their household life grew ever more prosperous.

Life seemed to settle down again.

But then one day, Su Zhi suddenly noticed that Kang Chong had changed, becoming silent, no longer as sharp‑edged as before.

His once bright official career suddenly stalled.

Only later did she learn that it was the Ministerial Attendant of the Ministry of Revenue who had taken a liking to Kang Chong, hoping he would marry his daughter.

But Kang Chong refused the Ministerial Attendant because of her.

After learning all this, the inferiority feeling that had gradually faded with time surged back, reaching its peak again.

She wept and told Kang Chong that she was willing to take a secondary position so he could marry the Ministerial Attendant's daughter.

That day, Kang Chong rare ly lost his temper with her, telling her never to speak such words again.

His firm attitude gave Su Zhi an unparalleled sense of security, yet also aroused a strong sense of guilt.

Only years later did Chen Yan appear, giving Kang Chong a new opportunity.

Thus Su Zhi thanks Chen Yan from the bottom of her heart; for today's first‑birthday banquet of Chen Yan's daughter, she has prepared for a long, long time.

In every respect she did what she considered her utmost.

But when she arrived here, she saw the Princess Gao Yang, who merely standing there was destined to become the focus of the whole crowd, and she saw Fang Yizhi's wife speaking openly and joking with Chen Yan.

Yet she couldn't even utter a single word.

She was truly scared.

She feared that later, upon entering, she would meet other wives, each better than the last.

She feared she would continue to embarrass her husband, as always dragging his heels.

She didn't want to be like this any more.......

Thinking of this, Su Zhi's steps unintentionally slowed, she fell silent for a moment, and in the softest voice said, "Husband...... I, I feel a bit unwell. Why don't you go with Kuan'er? I'll stay home and wait for you......"

Before she could finish speaking, Kang Chong immediately grabbed his wife's hand.

Su Zhi was startled, raised her head in confusion, and met Kang Chong's eyes, which had become weathered from the passage of time and prolonged oppression.

The only thing that remained unchanged might be the tenderness with which he always looked at her.

Kang Chong said nothing, merely tilted his head slightly to signal, then without further words dragged her forward.

"......."