Chapter 780 The Undefeated Hero! The Engagement Is Confirmed! Wedding on New Year's Eve! [4400]

"What...! Grandma, grandma! What are you asking?!" Before Qingden could respond, Kinoshita Mai was furious.

Her face suddenly turned red, as if all the blood in her body was concentrated in her cheeks, and there seemed to be translucent steam floating out of the top of her head.

Directly asking "Have you ever done this?" This was indeed a very bold question in the Edo period.

As soon as Kinoshita Rin finished asking, Ayoto the backfoot answered hurriedly:

"No! Not at all!"

"..."

Kinoshita Rin said nothing.

She lowered her eyelids - her sharp gaze and heavy pressure fell on Qingden's shoulders.

Her gaze was like a hook, as if she would not stop until she hooked out Qingdeng's soul.

Although he felt a lot of pressure, Qingdeng did not shrink back.

He held his chest high, tried his best to put on a natural expression, and silently endured Kinoshita Rin's gaze, looking "undaunted in the face of danger."

In fact, he did not lie, so there was no need for him to feel guilty.

So far, he and Kinoshita Mai have not gone to Wushan together.

Probably because she had been warned by her grandmother, Kinoshita Mai always adhered to the bottom line of "this is something that can only be done after marriage."

It's just that... Qingdeng's answer took advantage of a loophole.

It is true that he and Kinoshita Mai have never crossed the final line.

But...they have done everything else!

Hugs, kisses...these are just the most basic and least worth mentioning operations.

In a word - they had a blast!

Qingden felt... No! He dares to be sure! If the "private communication" between him and Kinoshita Mai were told in detail, there would be extremely serious consequences...

So, he wisely chose to play dumb - I will answer whatever you ask; if you don't ask, I won't tell.

"...It seems like you didn't lie."

As soon as she finished speaking, Kinoshita Rin's conversation suddenly changed.

"However, you seem to be hiding something."

Suddenly, a few drops of cold sweat seeped out from Qingdeng's forehead...

Fortunately, the other party did not pursue the question further. Instead, he changed his tone and started another topic:

"...I don't intend to dictate A Wu's marriage."

"I'm not like the guy who treats his children as tools."

"First of all, I am not so destitute that I need to rely on 'adopted children' or 'marriage with others' to maintain my livelihood and power."

"Secondly, for some reasons, I really don't like the behavior of 'kidnapping children' and 'imposing one's will on children.'"

She paused, then turned to Qingdeng and asked:

"Boy, did Ah Wu ever tell you how she was adopted by me?"

Qingdeng was stunned for a moment, and then immediately replied:

"I know a little bit. But she rarely talks about it in detail, so I don't know much."

Kinoshita Rin nodded lightly.

"Then, I will take this opportunity today to talk to you carefully."

She was silent for a moment, trying to formulate her words.

When she spoke again, a look of reminiscence appeared on her cheeks.

“It sounds like I’m boasting, but I’m a very passionate person about my work.”

“When I was just a teenager, I was running around building this Calabash House from scratch and trying to make it big.”

"The reason for this is not to make a lot of money, nor to become a great person."

“I just enjoy the feeling of ‘challenging myself’.”

“And just like that, I just kept working, working, working.”

"When I came to my senses, I was already my second child."

[Note Ermao: black hair mixed with white hair, the ancients called it "Ermao"]

"Originally, I was not very interested in 'raising offspring'."

"I have been prepared for lifelong infertility from early on."

"However... maybe it was God's will. Just in the spring of 15 years ago, A Wu and I met."

"At that time, I was walking on the streets of Osaka on a whim, and happened to pass by a certain shrine - right at the door of this shrine, I found this child."

"She was only 3 years old at the time. She was wearing shabby clothes, standing blankly and alone, with no one around her."

"Obviously - she was abandoned here by her parents in the hope that the shrine could adopt her, preferably as a shrine maiden, so that she could gain the ability to make a living."

"Abandoning children - this kind of thing has always been common."

"Even in Osaka, which is famous for its affluence, there are many poor people who have abandoned their children because of their poverty."

"She was still young at the time and didn't remember anything. She didn't even know how terrible things had happened to her."

"I can't say why, but the first time I saw this child, I felt an indescribable feeling of love and affection, which then triggered an extremely strong impulse to raise her."

"'I don't want this child to be unhappy' - that was the only thought I had at the time."

"So, I walked up to her and said, 'Son, are you willing to come with me?'"

"She obviously doesn't know me, but she's not afraid of me."

"She carefully took my offered hand."

"When I held this child's little hand, cherry blossom petals were flying above her head."

"So, I named this child 'Dance'."

"In this way, I have an incomparable 'treasure'."

Kinoshita Rin's tone was very calm, with almost no emotion...but the content of her sincere words was enough to move people.

Ayoto aside, Kinoshita Mai is a sentimental person full of emotions.

I saw her tightening her red lips, her eyes were red, and tears were shining.

The other party adopted her before she could remember and treated her as his own... Even if they were not related by blood, they were better than family members!

The reason why Kinoshita Mai rarely tells Aoto about her past with Kinoshita Rin is probably because if she talks too much, she will be moved to tears, so she doesn’t want to lose face in front of Aoto.

"I adopted Ah Wu not for personal gain, but simply to love her."

"I want to see this child grow up healthily and safely, and live a full and happy life - that's all I hope for her."

"For me, as long as A Wu's husband can meet the following three conditions, then I don't have any objection whether he is an unparalleled hero or an ordinary citizen."

Speaking of this, Kinoshita Lin stretched out three fingers:

"First of all, I don't mind if A Wu's future husband has many side wives, but A Wu must be a real wife and never a concubine."

"Secondly, Ah Wu cannot be bullied or wronged in any way."

"Thirdly, Ah Wu's husband must love her sincerely."

"If any of the above conditions are not met, then even if the other party is a unique person in the world, even if A Wu kneels on the ground and begs me, I will not nod and agree to this marriage."

"Not long ago, I learned through various channels that besides Ah Wu, you also have an unclear relationship with two other women."

"For this, I gave Kuro a good scolding - it's really your fault that you kept this matter secret for so long."

As she spoke, she squinted her eyes and glanced at Boss Kiryu next to her, casting a resentful look.

Boss Kiryu immediately looked away, looking at his nose and heart, pretending to be stupid.

"However, as I just said, I don't mind if A Wu's future husband has many concubines."

"As long as you make Ah Wu your first wife and treat her sincerely, I won't say anything more."

"I originally wanted to discuss this matter with you in detail as 'Kinoshita Mai's grandma' after you come to Osaka."

"I didn't expect that... not long after, I received the news that you decided to marry A Wu, Chiba Sanako and Okita Souji as your official wives."

"To be fair, you did not violate the three requirements I made."

At this point, Kinoshita Rin's facial expression changed slightly and interestingly - she looked like she couldn't laugh or cry.

"A Wu is indeed the legal wife, but the problem is... everyone is the legal wife."

"Sigh... I have an inexplicable weird feeling like 'punched on cotton'..."

"I have met a lot of strange people in my life."

"But this is the first time I've seen a guy like you who threatens to marry three real wives."

"I even doubt that you knew my criteria for selecting a son-in-law in advance, so you deliberately made such remarks..."

After saying that, as if to adjust her emotions, she rubbed her temples and let out a long breath.

"Last night, Ah Wu and I talked all night long."

"I grew up watching her, so I know very well: This child is not a eloquent person."

"But when you are the topic, her eyes will shine and she will be eloquent, as if she has endless things to say."

"Although I feel mixed emotions, I have to admit: A Wu's feelings for you are sincere."

"Thanks to you, this child has undergone many positive changes."

"For that, I want to thank you."

As she spoke, she bent down and saluted Qingden.

"Ju Qingden, thank you for taking care of A Wu."

Seeing this, Qingdeng bowed back without thinking:

"Ms. Kinoshita, you are speaking harshly."

When Kinoshita Lin straightened up again, she showed a solemn and extremely serious expression:

"I already understand Ah Wu's feelings for you."

"Now... I want to know your feelings for Ah Wu."

"Ju Qingden, what do you think of Ah Wu?"

Although Qingdeng was startled by the sudden rhetorical question, he quickly adjusted.

He was silent, thinking.

Kinoshita Lin didn't rush, she just waited quietly.

About three minutes later, Qingdeng slowly spoke:

"...To be honest, it was Ah Wu's beauty that attracted me at the beginning."

"Her pretty face, fair skin, and her light and agile demeanor all attracted me deeply."

"In short - it was Ah Wu's unparalleled beauty that made me want to get in touch with her deeply."

"Gradually, as time goes by, I don't know when it started. Whenever Ah Wu is with me, I feel very relaxed."

"In addition, there will be a feeling of... being redeemed."

Kinoshita Rin frowned slightly and repeated word by word the set of words Aomori just said:

"'Redemption'?"

Qingdeng smiled and nodded:

"I am not only the majestic 'Nioh', but also the invincible 'General of the Shinsengumi', the 'Lord of the Qinjin Clan' with a vast fiefdom, the 'Pillar of the Kingdom' who holds the sea and the sky, and a murderer like a fool. 'People Kill Qingdeng'."

"The higher my status is and the more status I have, the more things I have to consider every day, the troubles I have to face every day, and the expectations I have to bear every day."

"To this day, I am no longer who I am."

"'Benevolent King', 'The Pillar of the Country', 'Renzhan Qingden'...these names have become separated from me and become prominent symbols."

"In the eyes of the shogunate, I am the 'pillar of the country'. They hope that I can continue my efforts to support the government in times of crisis, realize the revival of the shogunate, and preserve their wealth."

"In the eyes of the Shinsengumi soldiers, I am the 'General of the Shinsengumi.' They hope that I can be invincible and lead them to glorious victories one after another, so that they can be full of martial arts."

"In the eyes of Dajin people, I am the 'Lord of the Qinjin Clan'. They hope that I will be a wise king who works hard to govern and let them live a good life with plenty of food and clothing."

"In the eyes of those who hate me, I am a 'human being killed by Qingden'. They are both afraid of me and hate me. They wish I would die quickly, preferably in a miserable way."

"In the eyes of my admirers, I am a 'benevolent king'. They hope that I will always be an upright and awe-inspiring hero so that they can fulfill their 'heroic dream'."

"Different people and different groups are looking at different 'identities' in me."

"In order to meet their expectations and disappoint the haters, I have to brace myself and keep my nerves tight at all times - this does not depend on my will."

"I can't escape...Now that I'm in such a high position, how can I be allowed to act willfully?"

"Whether I am reluctant or bite the bullet, I can only keep fighting and keep winning."

"I have already realized...it is definitely not an ordinary hardship to shoulder such a heavy burden by myself."

“I’m used to ‘undefeated’ fights.”

"However, as time goes by, the glory of being 'invincible' gradually accumulates into the weight of being 'undefeated'."

"I don't mean to be depressing, but there are times when... I feel really out of breath."

"but--"

His conversation suddenly changed.

"Only when I'm by Ah Wu's side, only when I hug Ah Wu tightly, I can briefly transform back into 'Ju Qingden'."

"Because I know very well - in Ah Wu's eyes, I am just 'Ju Qingden'."

"By the way, I also have the same feelings for Sanako and Koji."

"Only they can make me get rid of the shackles of the 'Benevolent King', the 'Gyeonggi Governor', the 'Lord of the Qinjin Domain', and the 'Pillar of the Country', and turn me back into the joking, occasionally a little naughty 'Ju Qingden' ”

"This is how I feel about Ah Wu."

"A Wu, Sanako, Xiao Si - they are all my salvation."

"As long as they are by my side, I will always be an 'undefeated warrior'!"

Qingden finished speaking.

He poured out the feelings and truths that were buried deep in his heart and would never be known to outsiders under normal circumstances.

"..."

Kinoshita Rin did not react immediately.

Neither moved nor spoke - of course, this was only temporary.

"……I see."

She raised her head, faced the ceiling, closed her eyes - "Hu" - and breathed out a long breath.

Then, she lowered her head and waved to Qingden.

"Boy, come here, come closer."

Qingdeng stretched out his upper body without thinking.

The next moment, Kinoshita Lin slowly stretched out her right hand and touched Qingdeng's forehead.

"My granddaughter... I leave it to you."

She stared into Qingdeng's eyes, smiling half lonely and half pleased.

"Don't let her be wronged, let her live a happy life. Otherwise, there will be consequences at your own risk."

"The wedding will be held on New Year's Eve this year."

"I already read it for you last night. It's a good time to get married on New Year's Eve!"

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