Ordinary families would not marry a courtesan, let alone Shao Jie, who was a second-rank general in the current dynasty. How could he possibly marry Tang Yan?
The fact that they are now showing such goodwill towards Tang Yan suggests that they are unaware of Tang Yan's past experiences.
Thinking of this, Xie Xuan didn't know whether he was afraid that the "misunderstanding" between Shao Jie and Tang Yan would deepen, or that Tang Yan would end up being disappointed.
Xie Xuan picked up a few medicine packets and walked towards Tang Yan.
"Yan'er... Miss Tang, this is the newly prepared medicine. Could you please help me boil it?"
Now that Tang Yan has reformed, Xie Xuan almost instinctively called out Tang Yan's nickname from her time at Xunfanglou.
Although he wanted to clear up the "misunderstanding" between Shao Jie and Tang Yan.
However, he did not want to reveal Tang Yan's past.
If possible, he only hoped that Shao Jie would leave Tang Yan because of her low status after learning that she was an orphan.
Tang Yan lowered her head when she sensed Xie Xuan approaching. After hearing Xie Xuan's words, she quickly took the medicine packet from his hand and hurriedly went to brew the medicine.
Seeing that he had sent everyone away, Xie Xuan decided to test Shao Jie first.
Before he could even speak, Shao Jie spoke first.
"You are the one in Miss Yan'er's heart... but you are nothing special."
Xie Xuan was also very tall, but he was half a head shorter than Shao Jie. Hearing the disdain in Shao Jie's tone, he quickly looked up at the other person.
The sense of pressure he felt from the other party was somewhat similar to the feeling he had when facing Ye Zeyu.
This ignited a competitive spirit in Xie Xuan, who straightened his back in an attempt to shorten the height difference between him and Shao Jie.
"Since General Shao knows that Miss Tang has someone she loves, why is he still pursuing her?"
Shao Jie made no attempt to hide his disdain for Xie Xuan, saying, "One may have someone in their heart, but that doesn't guarantee a lifetime together. Miss Yan'er has a tragic past and needs someone who can take care of her and love her, not someone who only drinks and paints and has his eyes on other men's wives!"
After speaking, Shao Jie looked up at Su Muxi, the meaning of his words quite clear.
Xie Xuan angrily said, "What nonsense are you talking about! Although I am in love with Princess Yong'an, I have never done anything out of line, nor have I ever had any filthy thoughts!"
As for Miss Tang, I consider her a friend and don't want her to suffer any harm.
General Shao holds a high position, while Miss Tang is merely an orphan; such a disparity in their social status…
However, before Xie Xuan could finish speaking, Shao Jie interrupted him.
“I, Shao Jie, never care about background, only character! Miss Tang is gentle and kind, and I, Shao Jie, am in love with her and willing to go through all the formalities of marriage to marry her as my wife!”
Shao Jie spoke with such conviction that Xie Xuan was taken aback.
Shao Jie didn't lower his voice when he said what he just said, so the others heard it too.
This includes Tang Yan, who was brewing medicine not far away.
Upon hearing this, Tang Yan blushed slightly and lowered her head even further, like a little quail.
Seeing this, Shao Jie couldn't help but smile indulgently.
Xie Xuan was surprised that Shao Feng would directly say he wanted to marry Tang Yan. He hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "Miss Tang may not be what you imagine. I advise General Shao not to continue this entanglement!"
Shao Jie sneered and, mimicking Xie Xuan, lowered his voice and said, "Ha! What I hate most are self-righteous, scheming scholars like you!"
You just want to tell this general that Miss Yan'er wasn't always a respectable woman!
From the very beginning, Miss Yan'er told this general, and also mentioned that she was saved by Princess Yong'an when she fell ill.
But what can we do?!
One cannot choose one's birth, and there will be many unavoidable things afterward, but I, the general, do not care about the past!
Miss Yan'er treats me with sincerity, so naturally I don't want to hide anything from her.
This general truly desires to marry Miss Yan'er and sincerely wants to protect her for life!
Two days ago, he met Yan'er, a girl about 100 miles outside Fukang County.
Although Miss Yan'er was not the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, she was the one who moved him the most.
When they first met, Miss Yan'er was holding a kitchen knife, preparing to kill a rabbit.
Even though there was reluctance in her eyes and fear on her face, she hesitated for a moment before swinging the kitchen knife down.
He found it amusing and stepped forward to take Yan'er's hand directly.
"If you were afraid and couldn't bear to do it, why did you still take the action?"
But then Miss Yan'er said, "Because we need to eat."
It was just a simple sentence, but it made his heart beat faster.
With a slight exertion, he snatched the kitchen knife from Miss Yan'er's hand.
"Let me do it."
He quickly killed and skinned the rabbit, while Miss Yan watched the whole time. Her furrowed brows and clenched teeth made him laugh, which was quite a rare sight.
If it were any other woman, she would surely find the rabbit cute and be reluctant to kill it, and would even try to stop others from doing so.
But Miss Yan'er was different.
Although she thought the same as the other women, she only gritted her teeth and started eating because she needed to eat.
People who disregard their own thoughts and prioritize others' needs are truly foolish.
It's quite heartbreaking.
For some unknown reason, he stayed by Yan'er's side, helping her with her work.
It's possible that because he kept glancing at Miss Yan'er, she misunderstood.
After the meal was prepared, Miss Yan'er lowered her head and said to him, "I was originally a prostitute in a brothel. I was afflicted with a sexually transmitted disease and was on the verge of death. It was Princess Yong'an who pulled me back from the brink of death. I have no special skills, but I was entrusted with important responsibilities by the princess, so I should do my best. It's just killing a rabbit, nothing. I even killed my personal maid before leaving the capital."
Shao Jie was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then burst into laughter.
Most women present their best side, and this was the first time he had met a woman like Miss Yan'er.
Lowly status, no innocence, and ruthless?
Although he rarely interacted with women, he could tell that Miss Yan'er had probably sensed his interest in her and wanted him to cut his losses, which was why she said those things.
However, this actually made him truly begin to like Miss Yan'er.
The more he spent time with Yan'er, the more he liked her.
Outsiders all thought he didn't remarry because he missed his deceased wife, but only he knew that he simply didn't want to be tied down by a woman, which was why he didn't want to remarry.
But now, he has an urgent desire to get married and have children.
He wanted to protect Yan'er in his arms, cherish her for life, shelter her from the wind and rain, and let her stop caring only about others' opinions and live more for herself.
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