"As you know, my father only had my mother in his whole life, and never had a concubine. I am not a greedy or lustful person. I made a vow since I was a child to be a person as upright as my father, and to grow old with the one I love."

Xu Yunci's eyes shone with determination. The emotions that had been surging in his eyes before were something that Li Shiyue couldn't understand, but now she could see clearly that beneath that determination, there was a surge of tender affection.

"On the day you went to the capital, you were like a cornered rabbit, your eyes red as you rushed into my arms. Hearing what you told me, all I felt was heartache."

Li Shiyue stood there in shock, her face blank. It was unclear whether she was frightened or what, but no matter what Xu Yunci said, she didn't know what to say.

“You came to see me time and time again. I don’t know when I fell in love with you. I just don’t want anyone else standing next to you. I can’t stand it. I also don’t want any other man besides me to be close to you.”

“Yan Yan, I know you are sensitive. I’m not saying this to force you to agree to me. I just want to tell you that my feelings for you are not just a passing fancy.”

Xu Yunci always presented himself as calm and aloof. Even when he showed some expression, the calmness in his phoenix eyes could shut people out.

Now, the tenderness in his eyes was undisguised, and he even took a half step back, clenching his fists to try his best to suppress the impulse in his eyes.

My little cousin is very sensitive. He has seen everything she has experienced since she was a child, so how could he scare her? That would be no different from what Meng Zhuo and his ilk did.

He forcefully suppressed the lustful glint in his eyes, and when he looked up, he seemed like the boy next door, his tenderness enveloping Li Shiyue under the shade of the trees.

Seeing the wariness in Li Shiyue's eyes and the growing hesitation, Xu Yunci breathed a sigh of relief and refused to take another step forward.

"Don't be afraid. I'm telling you this to ask for your opinion. If you're willing, I'll persuade my parents to grant me all the proper marriage vows and betrothal gifts, and I'll marry you as my bride."

“I told my grandmother that I wouldn’t force you. She is thinking of finding you a husband. Among the brothers in the family, only I can protect you. I can protect you anytime, anywhere.”

"Yan Yan" is her courtesy name. At this moment, Xu Yunci also wanted to call her by her childhood name, but a girl's given name and childhood name are both private matters. Even her own brother would not dare to call her by her childhood name in front of outsiders, let alone a cousin like him.

He suppressed the thought, calling out "Yan Yan" aloud, but secretly hoped that one day "Jiao Jiao" would come out of his mouth.

It was obvious that after he finished speaking, Li Shiyue's tense body began to relax. She trusted Xu Yunci, and compared to others, she did trust Xu Yunci more in terms of character.

But my mind is still blank. Just now, Xu Yunci said that he loves her.

As her vision gradually cleared and her mind returned after a period of confusion, she silently sorted out her thoughts, her gaze filled with complex emotions as she looked at Xu Yunci, noticing that the distance between them had increased.

Anyone else would have already rushed forward, eager to grope her. But Xu Yunci was different. He respected her and treated her as an equal, not as an object with attractive features.

"The three letters and six rites, my cousin is the heir of the Rongguo Duke's mansion, the future head of the Xu family who will inherit the title of Duke, the younger brother of the Crown Princess, and the maternal uncle of the Crown Prince. Is he really going to marry the legitimate daughter of a fallen earl's family?"

Li Shiyue's voice was calm, as if she were talking about something unrelated to herself: "My cousin knows better than I how I acquired the title of County Princess. How could someone from a fallen noble family, possessing only the title of County Princess, be worthy of—"

"Deserves it."

Xu Yunci's expression darkened slightly when Li Shiyue spoke of him, and he vaguely guessed that Li Shiyue was looking down on him. His displeasure was quite obvious.

But his voice was calm as he took a step and walked up to Li Shiyue. He almost touched her nose with his head before he stopped.

An aggressive aura enveloped her nose, and Li Shiyue almost instinctively wanted to run away, but Xu Yunci wouldn't allow it. He had already placed his hands on the stone table, just like before. However, the warm breaths from nose to nose collided, and Xu Yunci stopped at a short distance, not getting any closer.

"I am worthy of you, I am worthy of you."

Li Shiyue looked up, her pupils widening in shock. She could clearly see that Xu Yunci's eyes were red from suppressing his displeasure, and the tenderness and affection in his eyes were undisguised and evident to Li Shiyue.

"Think it over and tell me whether you agree or not. Don't think about anything else, and don't pay attention to anything else. I'm here for you."

Just like with everything before, don't think about anything, don't pay attention to anything. I'll take care of everything and then come back to marry you.

The swaying of the trees above his head reflected the resolute tenderness in his eyes. He wanted to reach out and brush away the stray hairs on Li Shiyue's forehead, but the moment his fingertips touched her forehead, the person in his arms stiffened, and the veins hidden under her skin on her slender white neck became visible due to the force.

Xu Yunci sighed softly, finally lowered his hand and took two steps back. Seeing Li Shiyue gradually relax, he felt more heartache than anything else.

If we had brought her into the Xu family earlier, and she had been loved by her grandmother and other elders, perhaps my little cousin wouldn't be so sensitive and cautious.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something more, but he had already said everything he needed to say, and he hesitated inwardly. Xu Yunci sneered inwardly. When had he, the dignified Prince Xu, ever been in such a state of hesitation? He was always a man of his word.

"Cousin, let me think about it some more, I..."

Li Shiyue lifted her lowered eyelids and looked at Xu Yunci with a hint of hesitation. She hadn't rejected him, could it be that she had some feelings for him?

She wasn't sure either, but she did have a stronger liking for Xu Yunci. If she really had to get married, Xu Yunci was more suitable than the others, at least she had more contact with him.

She might not have been so disgusted by anyone else, as long as it wasn't Xu Yunyang. She could have listened calmly, though she would have felt a bit helpless.

Facing Xu Yunci, she suddenly recalled the meaningful glances Xu Laoshi had given her several times. Could it be that Xu Laoshi already knew something back then?

Zhaode Temple... Li Shiyue raised her eyes, looking at Xu Yunci with a complicated expression. Could it be that when he came to Zhaode Temple that day in the pouring rain, it wasn't for some so-called reason?

"I want to wait until my sixth cousin makes a decision before we talk about these things."

Xu Lingzi is an indispensable friend to her, not just family. If Xu Lingzi marries an unsuitable man, she will have no intention of getting married.