A profound silence fell over the surroundings, and Ye Zhixuan once again felt the desolate sorrow of a broken heart.
Hot tears streamed down her face.
She released Shen Qinghuai's hand, forced a smile, and lowered her head, saying, "I'm sorry, Lord Shen, it was Zhixuan who overstepped her bounds."
When Shen Qinghuai saw that crystal-clear teardrop, his heart softened and ached all at once.
"Qinghuai, your colleagues are all waiting for you to drink, why aren't you coming?" Vice Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Rites rushed to the garden with a flushed face, and Shen Qinghuai, who was standing upright in the pavilion, waved his hand vigorously.
Ye Zhixuan quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and struggled to stand up, leaning against the pillar of the pavilion.
She lowered her eyes, making it impossible to see the expression in them, and said softly, "Thank you so much for saving me today, Lord Shen. I have no way to repay you."
Lord Zhang ran to the pavilion and saw his friend and Miss Ye standing there, looking at each other with a hesitant expression. Instantly, he guessed about 70-80% of the situation.
"Cough cough cough, Qinghuai, everyone's asking you to drink, put everything else aside for now." Lord Zhang glanced at Shen Qinghuai and waved his hand, saying, "You made a bold statement today that you'd drink Zhong Huai under the table."
"I understand, I'll be right there," Shen Qinghuai nodded.
Lord Zhang chuckled and patted Shen Qinghuai on the shoulder before staggering back home, still tipsy.
Ye Zhixuan kept her head down, but slowly followed behind Lord Zhang step by step.
Shen Qinghuai hesitated several times as he watched her retreating figure.
Raindrops pattered on the eaves, making a pattering sound, like a chaotic little tune, disturbing the hearts of mortals.
Suddenly, two clear bird calls came from above the pavilion.
The birds have returned to their nests to avoid the rain.
Shen Qinghuai watched the person walk slowly step by step, and finally couldn't help but chase after him.
He couldn't help but grab Ye Zhixuan's hand and pull her back to him.
Ye Zhixuan struggled to break free, but Shen Qinghuai held on tightly, just as she had grabbed his sleeve earlier.
Ye Zhixuan only heard the man in front of her say, "I can't agree to that. But I have my own reasons."
...What's the reason?
Ye Zhixuan looked up at Shen Qinghuai again, puzzled.
Shen Qinghuai felt a lump in his throat; he thought that if he were to reveal this, he would be in a very embarrassing situation.
He shouldn't have said it, shouldn't have confided in anyone, and shouldn't have revealed his vulnerability to Ye Zhixuan.
But he couldn't help it. Just like when he watched Ye Zhixuan limp away dejectedly, he couldn't help but want to pull her back to his side. He couldn't suppress the feelings in his heart.
If one had to choose to reveal their vulnerability to others, it would only be her.
“I… actually…” Shen Qinghuai paused, his voice hoarse and strained, “I can’t give you happiness.”
"I am impotent. If you marry me, you may not be able to have children or a complete married life. Zhixuan, it's not that I despise you."
"I have never looked down on you."
In the misty rain, Ye Zhixuan saw Shen Qinghuai's deep gaze. He let the raindrops splash into his eyes, his pupils fixed on her. She could see herself reflected in his eyes, equally helpless.
The raw raindrops seeped into his eyelids and disappeared deep inside, the stinging pain lasting only a moment, but Shen Qinghuai didn't blink.
He was quite blunt.
All that's left is for Ye Zhixuan to turn around and leave, and then everything will return to normal.
But he heard a question: "Lord Shen, I don't care."
Shen Qinghuai finally blinked at this moment, raindrops rolling down his cheeks. He asked in surprise, "What did you say?"
Ye Zhixuan approached him and whispered, "I love Lord Shen, and that will never change. Lord Shen, ever since you stood up for me when I was a child, I have been in love with you."
"I'm just afraid that Lord Shen will dislike me because of my physical defect."
"How could that be? Me too." Shen Qinghuai took a deep breath, his Adam's apple bobbing, and met Ye Zhixuan's gaze slowly, saying, "I like you too."
As soon as she said those words, all the bitterness that Ye Zhixuan had felt before vanished.
"Am I dreaming?" Ye Zhixuan murmured to herself, then couldn't help but laugh through her tears, "Is what the adults said true?"
"Of course it's true." When Shen Qinghuai saw Ye Zhixuan crying again, he quickly tucked his sleeve into his sleeve to wipe away her tears. He sighed softly and said, "I'm not that kind-hearted. If it weren't for you, why would I have spent so much effort investigating past cases?"
"Ye Zhixuan, I like you too, but like I just said, you deserve someone better."
"I don't want to." Ye Zhixuan's tone rose instantly upon hearing this. She shook her head and said, "I don't want anyone else. If you don't want me, I will grow old alone."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qinghuai felt a surge of inexplicable emotions.
He couldn't help but look down at Ye Zhixuan closely. Her fair face was slightly moist, and her eyes were full of love, as if it was about to overflow.
She doesn't despise herself and is willing to open up to herself.
If I continue to hesitate, I will truly be a useless man.
"Alright, if you ever change your mind, I'll let you go," Shen Qinghuai said softly, reaching out to gently pull Ye Zhixuan into his arms.
In an instant, their heartbeats mingled together.
Shen Qinghuai smelled the orchid fragrance on Ye Zhixuan's body and said with a smile, "Now that we've talked things out today, you're not allowed to talk about being a concubine or not. I, Shen Qinghuai, will only marry you, Ye Zhixuan, in this life and will not take any other woman as a concubine. You can rest assured."
Upon hearing this, Ye Zhixuan's cheeks flushed bright red, even more so than the red silk hanging from the eaves. "Lord Shen always keeps his word. Zhixuan will remember what you said today, and Zhixuan will never abandon you."
Shen Qinghuai found the woman in his arms making a solemn vow particularly captivating, but in this situation, he dared not look at her too closely, lest he reveal the restlessness in his heart.
He placed his gaze on her round crown of hair and said gently, "Once Yun Jiao's matter is resolved, I will go to the Ye family to propose marriage. After you become the matriarch of the Shen family, I will definitely treat you well."
Ye Zhixuan smiled, tilted her head shyly, and said, "I understand."
A bittersweet feeling welled up inside her; the man's broad, sturdy chest made her feel completely at ease.
Their eyes met simultaneously, one bright, the other gentle.
Shen Yunjiao walked out of the main hall. Just by looking at Ye Zhixuan's shy appearance, she knew that the two of them must have confessed their feelings to each other.
She was genuinely happy for Shen Qinghuai and Ye Zhixuan.
When Ye Zhixuan saw Shen Yunjiao walking over with a smile, she quickly stepped out of Shen Qinghuai's embrace, her face as red as a ripe tomato.
Shen Qinghuai was upright and honest. After gently squeezing Ye Zhixuan's palm, he said to Shen Yunjiao, "Brother will take you back to Xuanqing Temple later. Don't run away on your own."
"I understand," Shen Yun said with a grin, taking Ye Zhixuan's hand. "Let's go, it's such a wonderful day, let's celebrate together."
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