Xiao Yunying said seriously, "Perhaps other people's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships are not so harmonious at times. After all, they are not biological mother and daughter, so friction is inevitable."

But Madam Luo has a very good personality and treats me very well. I don't think her staying here will cause me any trouble. Don't go to your mother and say anything untoward, or she'll overthink it.

"Your father and eldest brother are gone. She can only rely on you, her son, now. You need to be careful with your words, show concern for Madam Luo, and avoid saying anything that might make her suspicious or uncomfortable."

Seeing that she was earnestly lecturing him on how to treat his mother better, Luo Yong felt gratified and listened attentively to her teachings, nodding in agreement from time to time.

As Xiao Yunying spoke, she realized she had said too much. They were the biological mother and son; how could she, an outsider, be allowed to lecture them?

Luo Sheng saw that she had stopped talking: "Why did you stop?"

Xiao Yunying felt a little embarrassed, but pretended not to care and asked, "Did I say a bit too much?"

"Not much, please continue, I love to hear it."

She cleared her throat and said, "Anyway, you are Madam Luo's biological son. You should know what to do, so I, an outsider, don't need to say anything more."

Luo Sheng looked at her gently and said, "You are my mother's daughter-in-law and my wife. How can you be an outsider?"

If my mother knew how much you care about her, she would be overjoyed.

Xiao Yunying lowered her head slightly: "I am only your wife in name..."

Luo Sheng grabbed her hand and said, "I don't think so, Yun Ying. To tell you the truth, it is true that I took the initiative to request the imperial decree to grant us a marriage, but it was not to refuse the Empress Dowager's arbitrary matchmaking."

Whom I want to marry is not something the Empress Dowager can force me to do. I only asked the Emperor for a marriage decree after I had already decided on you, so there is nothing I had to do with our relationship.

I love you, that's why I'm willing to marry you. You said before that monogamy is the norm where you're from, and I can do that too. Look at my dad, he only has my mom, doesn't he?

I promise you, now that I've chosen you, you'll be the only one in my life, Yunying. Can you give me a chance to prove to you with my whole life that every word I've said is true?

Xiao Yunying admitted that she could sense Luo Sheng's sincerity and was moved by it.

She looked at Luo Sheng without speaking, and Luo Sheng didn't dare to urge her either. He just stared nervously into her eyes, and even his breathing became slightly rapid.

It felt like a short while, yet also like an eternity, before Xiao Yunying slowly nodded.

"good."

She didn't know what the future held for the two of them; all she knew was that at this moment, she was truly moved by Luo Sheng's sincerity.

Therefore, she was willing to give Luo Sheng a chance, which was also giving herself a chance, so that at least she wouldn't regret it someday for rejecting him.

As for life in the future, the unpredictable future can only be known by experiencing it firsthand.

Regardless of what happens in the future, at least I'm willing to give it a try now.