Su Ruojin cut to the chase and asked, "Young Master Shen, I don't want to beat around the bush. I just want to know what your feelings are for Mu Yao?"

"It was indeed you who carried Mu Yao out of the water dungeon, but our Su family is not one to be rigid and inflexible. In urgent situations, we act expediently. Young Master Shen, you don't need to take this to heart, much less feel responsible for it."

Shen Yu carried Mu Yao out, which could indeed be considered as physical intimacy.

According to the customs of the Great Chu, in this situation, the man and woman must get married.

Mu Yao is his younger sister and also a young lady of the Su family. Reputation is very important to her, so it is only natural that Shen Yu would want to take responsibility for it.

But Su Ruojin didn't want it to be just that, and she didn't want to force Mu Yao and Shen Yu to be together for life.

Why tie two people who have no feelings together for empty responsibilities and reputations? Neither of them will be happy after marriage, so why bother?

To put it bluntly, even if we take a step back, Shen Yu is a man, and if he's unhappy, he can openly or secretly find other women, while Mu Yao can only stay with Shen Yu for the rest of her life.

Shen Yu was taken aback when Su Ruojin asked this question, and then lowered his head.

Su Ruojin didn't urge him, but waited quietly. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a short while, Shen Yu raised his head and looked at Su Ruojin with a determined gaze.

"Your Highness, actually I didn't know what my feelings were for Mu Yao at first. I just thought this little girl was well-behaved and sensible."

When we fought Xue Zixuan together that time, I discovered that Mu Yao, who usually seemed quiet, actually had such a lively side.

Later, Madam Su asked me to protect Mu Yao. I only wanted to fulfill Madam Su's wish for her beloved daughter and do my best to protect the Su family.

But after Mu Yao was taken away by Deng Yi, I couldn't sleep well every night, worrying about her. What if Deng Yi really hurt her?

I could only feel at ease when I saw the flowers every three days to know she was safe. But after I learned of Mu Yao's accident, I felt like I had fallen into an ice cave, and I was filled with self-blame.

Seeing her dying in the dungeon was heartbreaking; I blamed myself for not protecting her.

At that moment, I vowed in my heart that I would protect her for the rest of my life and never let her suffer even the slightest grievance again.

"Your Highness, I don't know what love between men and women is like, but I know that if I had to choose a woman to spend my life with, I would only hope that person is Mu Yao."

“But everyone in the capital knows that Mu Yao has been to the Deng residence,” Su Ruojin reminded her.

Su Muyao entered the Deng family under the guise of becoming Deng Yi's concubine. Although Muyao still dresses as a young lady in her boudoir, it is likely that Deng Yi has never touched her. Nevertheless, her reputation has been affected.

How could a woman who was originally destined to become a concubine become the wife of the Marquis of Anguo's heir?

“Your Highness, you said that the Su family is not pedantic, and I, Shen Yu, am not a pedantic person either. Mu Yao risked her reputation and life to save her family. How can such a virtuous and righteous woman not be my Crown Prince’s wife?”

“Young Master Shen, you may think this way, but others may not. There will inevitably be rumors and gossip. How will you deal with that?” Su Ruojin asked.

"It's just Mu Yao and I who will live our lives; what others say is none of my business. Besides, the Princess Consort should know that my ambitions lie elsewhere. Once everything is settled, if Mu Yao wants to stay in the capital, I will accompany her there."

If she's bothered by these rumors, then I'll take her all over the country, from north to south, and we can settle down wherever we like. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Anyway, Shen Yu has younger siblings, so there's no need to worry about his parents being alone. He can just come back to visit them every year.

Su Ruojin raised an eyebrow. Sure enough, birds of a feather flock together. It's no wonder that Shen Yu and Xiao Yanchu became friends.

The two of them had such similar thoughts.

However, the fact that Shen Yu could say these words is enough to show that he really cares about Mu Yao.

Since that's the case, she's happy to see it happen; now it's up to Mu Yao.

"Since Young Master Shen has already made up his mind, I will not interfere. However, whether Mu Yao agrees or not is up to her to decide."

Furthermore, let me be frank from the start, Prince Shen, you know that Mu Yao is a daughter of the Su family, and even more so, my sister, Su Ruojin's sister.

"If one day you betray your word, I will seek justice for my sister." Su Ruojin stared intently at Shen Yu.

Throughout the entire process, Su Ruojin never mentioned Xiao Yanchu's name, nor did she reveal her status as a princess. Instead, she merely warned Shen Yu as Su Muyao's older sister.

Shen Yu had no doubt that Su Ruojin would keep her word.

Based on his understanding of the princess, Shen Yu knew very well that even without Xiao Yanchu, the regent, the princess's words carried immense weight.

"Shen Yu will not fail to keep his word today." Shen Yu clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

Back inside, Mu Yao had already finished her porridge. When she saw Shen Yu following behind Su Ruojin, her ears turned red.

At this moment, Hu Qing also returned.