The accusation was somewhat absurd. "When did I say I still liked Demin? You're picking a fight for no reason. What did I do to offend you?"

"You've been hiding something from me and won't tell me the truth. How am I supposed to feel about that?"

Yun Song misunderstood deeply, and to prevent him from overthinking, Chang Yue had no choice but to tell the truth, "It's because Li Yu told Yun Fang that De Min was invited to the yamen and something happened. I just ran into him returning home, so I asked him about it on the way."

Meanwhile, Demin proposed to the Zhao family to break off the engagement, but the Zhao family refused to return the sixty taels of betrothal gifts.

Unable to reason with them, Demin reported the matter directly to the authorities. The government ruled that the Zhao family should return the gift money. However, the Zhao family argued that their daughter had not met with anyone else and that Demin was going back on her word and slandering the Zhao family, so the gift money should not be returned.

The matchmakers from both families were related, so Demin couldn't force the issue. The matter dragged on, and the matchmakers had no choice but to discuss it with Demin and try to arrange another marriage. However, Demin was adamant and refused to marry Miss Zhao again.

The matter was put on hold for several months. Demin had been thinking that he didn't care about the money and would just not marry into the Zhao family, but unexpectedly, something else happened recently.

After he expressed his unwillingness to marry Miss Zhao, Young Master Wu continued to meet with her in secret. He thought that once Miss Zhao became pregnant, the Zhao family would agree to let her be a concubine, and so the two secretly conceived a child.

When the Zhao family learned that their daughter was pregnant, they believed that she had disgraced the family. If word got out, it would confirm that their daughter had been having an affair, and they would not only have to return the sixty taels of silver, but they would also be ridiculed by the neighbors. Therefore, the Zhao family insisted that she have an abortion.

Unexpectedly, after drinking this bowl of medicine, Miss Zhao could not hold on and died!

Seeing that their daughter was gone, the Zhao family insisted that it was because Demin wanted to break off the engagement that their daughter was driven to suicide out of shame and anger, and vowed to make Demin pay compensation.

Demin identified Young Master Wu, but upon realizing that someone had been murdered, Young Master Wu dared not admit it at all, insisting that he had no connection with Miss Zhao whatsoever. This is how Demin got into legal trouble.

When Hongli learned of this, he sent someone to the government office to give instructions. Out of consideration for the Fourth Prince, the government office did not make things difficult for him. Afterwards, Hongli sent someone to the Zhao family to warn them to hand over sixty taels of silver to return to Demin.

After saying all this, Chang Yue looked at Yun Song with a calm expression, "He's in a bad mood because of all these troubles, so I should at least say a few words of comfort and advise him to take it easy."

This is Demin's private matter, and I shouldn't have said anything, but you insist on overthinking and making wild guesses. Now that I'm engaged to you, how could I possibly be thinking about other men? If you think I've wronged you and don't want to continue this engagement, just go and break off the engagement with the Princess!

So that's what it was all about! Upon learning the truth, Yun Song suddenly realized that he had been being unreasonable and had angered Chang Yue.

She spoke with extreme seriousness, and while Yun Song felt guilty, he also keenly grasped the implied meaning: "You mean, you've let go of Demin and no longer like him?"

With her red lips slightly pursed, Chang Yue glared at him hatefully and retorted angrily, "Otherwise what? Do you think I'm two-timing? Since you don't trust me at all, then I have nothing more to say."

After saying this, Chang Yue turned to leave, but Yun Song grabbed her, stretched out his long arm, and cornered her against the wall. He gazed into her eyes, his voice deep and affectionate.

"Chang Yue, I really like you. I don't doubt you. It's just that you're so cold to me. I thought... I thought you were just forced to agree to that marriage and didn't want to be with me."

After a moment of silence, Chang Yue lowered her eyes and muttered softly, "It was indeed forced back then."

Sensing the hidden meaning in her words, Yun Song couldn't help but feel hopeful. "And now? Chang Yue, I want to marry you. Are you willing to make this marriage a reality and marry me?"

When this matter was suddenly brought up, Chang Yue stammered and couldn't answer, "I...I don't know."

Yun Song had waited so long, and originally he wasn't in a hurry, but today he suddenly desperately wanted to know her answer.

"Five months have passed, and you still haven't made up your mind? You really don't have a single good feeling about me?"

Clenching her teeth and hesitating for a long time, Chang Yue finally said, "If it weren't for that, I would never have agreed to a marriage alliance with you. Whether you marry Ning Shuang or not is none of my business."

Upon hearing this, Yun Song was incredulous, even thinking he was hallucinating, and couldn't help but ask, "So, you like me?"

Unwilling to admit it, Chang Yue said ambiguously, "I don't particularly like it, but I don't dislike it either."

It's so hard to hear her say she likes someone, but the fact that she's finally speaking her mind today might be a good start. Yun Song isn't in a hurry; he's willing to take things one step at a time.

"As long as you don't dislike me, that's good. If you're willing to marry me, I'll definitely make you fall in love with me."

Upon closer inspection, she realized something was amiss and immediately retorted, "Who said I was going to marry you?"

Yun Song shrugged indifferently, "I don't care, we're already engaged, you can only marry me!"

With her eyebrows furrowed, Chang Yue glared at him and snorted, "You clearly said I could make the decision, so why are you going back on your word now?"

When questioned, Yun Song simply feigned ignorance, "Did I say that? I don't remember."

How dare he pretend to have amnesia? That's outrageous! Chang Yue raised her hand to hit him, but Yun Song grabbed her wrist. Feeling the warmth of his palm, she tried to pull away, but he held on even tighter.

With his tall stature and deep affection in his eyes, he slowly lowered his head to approach her. Poor Chang Yue was in the corner and had no way to hide.

Just as she was nervously at a loss, someone suddenly called out, "Yun Song! Yun Song! It's your turn to be on duty!"

The guards rushed forward, only to be stunned by what they saw.

Chang Yue blushed instantly and lowered her head. Yun Song pulled her into his arms, turned around, frowned, and scolded angrily, "Get away from me!"

The guard gave an awkward laugh and immediately covered his eyes. "I didn't see anything. Yun Song? Where are you, Yun Song?"

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