Chapter 375 is a bit difficult.

Lian Qianli has had feelings for Shen Qingyue for a long time.

At first, he just thought Shen Qingyue was a young lady from a wealthy family.

She should be delicate, arrogant, and talented...

But later, he gradually discovered that Shen Qingyue was completely different from other girls.

She can get along well with women from the martial arts world like Hua Wanli, but she can also become friends with daughters of noble families like Qian Qingqing.

Also, she wasn't interested in things like hairpins, cosmetics, and the like.

On the contrary, she was more interested in the affairs of men.

Shen Qingyue was ambitious, had the world in her heart, and possessed a broad mind...

Lian Qianli discovered that this eldest daughter of the Shen family, the Princess Pingning, personally bestowed by the late emperor, was truly extraordinary...

Gradually, as they spent more time together, Lian Qianli also discovered that Shen Qingyue was quite playful...

A girl who can look out the window with Hua Wanli and comment on the men of the capital city can't possibly be a rigid, old-fashioned woman...

The longer it went on, the more Qianli found himself lingering on Shen Qingyue.

He finally understood why his father, such a cold-hearted man, would have his eyes light up when he saw his mother...

Shen Qingyue often arrives in spring late.

Emperor Xiaowu then entrusted Shen Qingyue with screening all the news about the late Spring Festival celebrations in various regions, which led to Lian Qianli having more and more contact with Shen Qingyue...

Slowly...

The two developed a tacit understanding, and an occasional smile exchanged between them could wipe away all the fatigue of the day.

But now...

Even Qianli wondered if Madam Shen had confined Shen Qingyue to her quarters.

Should I use my strengths to sneak into the Duke's mansion at night...?

Ugh, ugh, ugh...

Lian Qianli bitterly despised himself.

I'm not a womanizer, how could I have such thoughts!

Lian Qianli didn't sleep well all night, and he only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Shen Qingyue come to the teahouse again the next day.

“Yesterday…Aunt Dong and Aunt Xin came and asked me some questions,” Lian Qianli hurriedly said.

Shen Qingyue simply hummed in agreement and continued reading news from various places.

Seeing that Shen Qingyue's face was a little red, Lian Qianli quickly asked.

"Did Madam Shen ask you that too?"

"Hmm!" Shen Qingyue only uttered this one word.

Lian Qianli's heart jumped into his throat.

"Then... what does Madam Shen mean? Is she angry?" Lian Qianli asked cautiously.

Shen Qingyue smiled and shook her head.

"My mother didn't get angry."

My mother said that it's all up to me; I can do whatever I want.

"If you can't make it work, just get a divorce." Shen Qingyue said with a soft laugh.

Lian Qianli breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the first half of the sentence, but he immediately stood up when he heard the second half.

What does it mean to divorce if you can't make it work?

"Divorce? How can things suddenly break down like this?" Lian Qianli suddenly became anxious.

Shen Qingyue glared at Lian Qianli, who immediately fell silent.

"My mother was saying 'if'."

I think my mother is right. If you can't make it work, then it's better not to do it at all.

They should all go home and find someone suitable later.

What? You men think it's inappropriate? You can bring three wives and four concubines into the mansion.

Why can't we women do it?

It's fine if we don't get a divorce in the future, then I'll keep male concubines. You can bring up a few concubines, and I'll keep a few male concubines.

"Neither of us will lose out," Shen Qingyue said with a smile.

Thousands of miles...

"Yao'er, this... is a bit of a stretch! We're not married yet."

"Also, I would never have multiple wives and concubines. If I had that idea, I would already have a whole bunch of them around me by now," Lian Qianli quickly explained.

Shen Qingyue also remembered.

Yeah, nothing's happened between them yet, why think so much...?

"Hehe, it's just that we got carried away with the conversation."

Actually, this is just a joke! Shen Qingyue quickly tried to explain herself away.

Lian Qianli, however, began to think about things more deeply.

"Since that's the case, Yue'er, how about we do it this way: we'll just do things the way other families do them."

I'll write a letter for my father and mother in a bit.

Tell them about our situation.

Then it should be time to hire a matchmaker, propose marriage, ask the bride's name, accept the betrothal gifts, present the dowry, and set the wedding date...

"Young Master Lian!" Shen Qingyue quickly interrupted Lian Qianli.

"It's alright, leave these things to me, you don't need to worry about them."

"Just do what you're supposed to do!" Lian Qianli thought Shen Qingyue was afraid of trouble.

Shen Qingyue shook her head again.

“I’m not afraid of trouble, but this seems a bit difficult,” Shen Qingyue said seriously.

"What's so difficult about it? We'll just follow the same procedures as everyone else."

"If it's not troublesome, then it means you don't value it. It's okay, I'll take care of everything!" Lian Qianli patted his chest and assured him.

"Not these..."

"Then what are you afraid of? It's okay, from now on you will be in charge of everything."

Or is there something you're worried about? It's okay, do whatever you want.

You secretly told Wanli before that having children was too scary and that you would never dare to have children again.

Then I won't have any more children, since my mother and Wanli already have children.

We'll travel around then. Didn't you say you wanted to see the mountains and rivers of Chongqing?

"I'll go with you..." Lian Qianli continued to assure him.

Shen Qingyue shook her head again.

"These are all minor matters!"

"Then what is a big deal?" Lian Qianli asked, even more curious.

Shen Qingyue looked a little embarrassed.

"It's not that... I didn't want to get married back then, and I was annoyed by people gossiping behind my back, so I said a few words."

It is said that she will never marry until the Northern Hu are destroyed.

Now everyone knows.

Thousands of miles...

Yes, that's true. He even helped promote it through the Spring Festival Gala.

Now it feels like we've shot ourselves in the foot!

If it were an ordinary person, everyone would just laugh it off and move on.

But Shen Qingyue's status is different; she's Princess Pingning, the eldest daughter of the late Duke Dingguo...

Isn't this just like making a vow?

"How about... I lead the brothers of the Ruyi Alliance to infiltrate the Northern Barbarians and wipe out all those people in the Northern Barbarian Imperial Court?"

"This should also be considered the annihilation of the Northern Hu, right?" Lian Qianli asked tentatively.

Shen Qingyue...

This has caused quite a stir!

Also, it must be very difficult...