Chapter 61
"I didn't." Qingyun blurted out almost subconsciously, completely unexpected that this person would say such a thing. In other people's eyes, you're practically a diamond bachelor! Who's complaining about you?! Is your mirror not properly polished, damn it!
Could it be that he thinks I'm rejecting his marriage proposal because I don't agree to it?
Realizing that the other person might mean exactly that, Qingyun was about to faint. She hurriedly explained that she simply didn't want to get involved in political issues, "You know, the Emperor is just forcing us together. Although I do admire you, we haven't even dated! How could we get married so soon!"
Song Junwu frowned. "Love?"
Qingyun: "That's right, we need to communicate more, like our thoughts and stuff..." She couldn't finish her sentence, as if she was making things worse by trying to explain. In ancient times, dating would probably be considered immoral, and if she were to slap someone, the news would probably spread far and wide.
"In short, it's not that I hate you or dislike you, I just think it was too abrupt," Qingyun concluded.
But clearly the other party didn't quite understand, and perhaps even misinterpreted the meaning: "So you'd rather die?"
Well, she suddenly felt that the other person wasn't entirely wrong. As for why she was so insistent, she had to look at what Qingyun had witnessed in the past three years. Leaving aside others, just considering the truth of today's incident, discrimination was blatantly displayed. This society completely failed to recognize the value and contributions of women, always believing that staying home to be a wife and mother was the best thing imaginable.
Even someone like her who has made contributions has to have her credit transferred to men. It's unfair, and she hates this unfairness.
She couldn't say these things to Song Junwu openly. In her eyes, he was, after all, an ancient person who had been immersed in old ideas since childhood.
The conversation was unpleasant because neither of them voiced what they truly wanted to say.
Song Junwu could guess the official's meaning, but putting that aside, he realized today that Qingyun had no intention of being with him. "Perhaps I was too greedy. I knew I should fight for this justice for her, but I was still driven by selfishness."
The servant standing to one side looked at him, and before he could answer, Song Junwu continued, "Do you think what she said just now was true or false? Is she really not disgusted with me?"
Attendant: "..."
"Perhaps Miss Qingyun and you, young master, haven't had much contact, and she doesn't understand your feelings." When you two stand together, all you do is talk about planting trees, vegetables, and cotton, and you can't stop talking about the yellow earth. Who could tell that you have feelings for her? If it weren't for the young master revealing his feelings last night, he would have thought that Song Junwu was just a subordinate he admired. Who would have thought that he wanted to marry her?
Seeing this, the attendant decided to give Song Junwu some advice so that he could understand his feelings.
“That’s not appropriate.” Song Junwu raised his hand to refuse, thinking seriously. “If I reveal these things now, people might misunderstand that I really want to steal someone else’s credit.”
"People aren't as stingy as you think," the servant thought to himself.
The place became lively after Song Chaoyun arrived. Normally, Song Chaoli would not visit her second sister, but when she came to her eldest sister's room, she saw that Song Chaohua was also there. "Oh, oh, oh, second sister, you're really early." She crossed her arms and tucked them into her sleeves, saying this without any restraint.
Upon hearing this, Song Chaohua, who was picking up her teacup, paused. A hint of impatience appeared on her usually aloof face, but she remained silent, seemingly disdainful of arguing with her.
Song Chaoli and Song Chaoyun were not born of the same mother, but Song Chaoli loved to cling to her elder sister. She treated this place as if she were home. As soon as she sat down, she lay down on the couch and started eating the pastries on the small table next to her. Even so, she did not forget to tease Song Chaohua.
Seeing this scene, Yinglian couldn't help but feel sorry for Song Chaoli, thinking to herself, "She's still the same as before, why doesn't she know how to change!"
A maid came to report that Qingyun was requesting an audience. Upon seeing this, Song Chaoyun put away the book in her hand, her eyes darting left and right, lingering on the two of them. Her meaning was clear, but the two pretended not to see it and did not mention leaving.
With her slender fingers touching her forehead, Song Chaoyun showed a helpless expression, then said, "Let her in."
So when Qingyun entered, he saw Song Chaoyun sitting in the middle, flanked by two bodyguards who stared intently at him, their eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and schadenfreude. The sight sent a chill down his spine. Knowing that those people were still waiting for him to return, he didn't waste any time and went straight to the point to ask the reason.
“There was no skimming, that’s for sure,” Song Chaoyun replied, her voice weary, as if she knew exactly what Qingyun was going to ask next. She then added, “This is not a decision I can make. I can’t offer much advice on what the Emperor should do.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the room fell silent. A pin drop could be heard, and the silence was palpable. The person standing in the center remained silent, while the others glanced at her reaction. Yinglian, seeing this, couldn't help but worry for her. She thought Qingyun was just lost in thought, so she was about to speak to remind her, but was suddenly stopped by a hand. Looking down, she saw that Song Chaoli had put away her smile and gestured with her eyes for her to be quiet.
A look of seriousness flashed across everyone's faces. After a long while, Qingyun murmured, "So that's how it is."
She glanced at the people present, then fixed her gaze on the elegantly dressed woman sitting at the head of the table. Upon seeing this, Song Chaoyun immediately understood, "You may all leave."
The maids responded in unison, filed out, closed the door tightly, and left room for conversation.
"Song Chaoyun, I only have one question for you: do you really want what's best for the people?" Qingyun's words were firm and resolute, and his question was sharp and pointed. In this context, such a question could be considered treasonous.
"How dare you address your elder sister by her given name! I..." Song Chaoyun raised her hand to interrupt her second sister, who was about to continue her outburst.
"Speak your mind," Song Chaoyun said with a stern face.
Qingyun: "If you want what's best for the people, how come women aren't your people? If you're just going to use the government as an excuse, you don't need to. The government doesn't understand the hardships these people face. You've been here for a year, how could you not understand?"
Having said that, she took a deep breath, unafraid of the powerful aura emanating from the other party, and looked directly into Song Chaoyun's eyes, her dark eyes bright and piercing. "Today it's just a matter of being short five taels. What else could be short in the future? Just like my achievements needing to be attributed to someone else? This tree wasn't planted by men alone."
Upon hearing this, Song Chaoyun scoffed and retorted, "If you want to ask me for the missing five taels of silver, you don't need to make up stories about me here. I'll give it to you."
Qingyun: "You know that's not what I meant."
Song Chaoyun: "Then what are you trying to achieve by saying all this here, to vent your anger?"
Qingyun was taken aback, lowered her eyes to think, and finally spoke her mind, "Yes, I was presumptuous, I have no right to criticize you." She meant it sincerely, but at the same time she felt a sense of desolation and her expression was gloomy. After a long while, she replied in a low voice, "But if you don't stand on our side, who can help them?"
The five taels of silver were not the main objective; it was the lack of recognition for the value of women's labor. If even women in the highest positions could not fight for their interests, then who could?
"Then why don't you help them?" Suddenly, Song Chaoli spoke up. Her eyebrows curved into crescent moons as she looked at Qingyun. "Aren't you very capable now? Why don't you help them?"
Seeing that Song Chaoli still wanted to speak, Song Chaoyun sternly stopped her with a "shut up." She placed her hands on the armrests of the chair, and in her eagerness to stop her, her whole body leaned forward slightly, her fingers turning white from the excessive force. She let out a low growl from her chest, "If you say another word, get out."
Seeing this, Song Chaoli snorted and turned her head away, truly not wanting to speak anymore.
Standing to the side, Qingyun suddenly understood as if struck by a thunderbolt. She glanced at Song Chaoli, who was idly poking at the pastries, and thought to herself that although this person was sarcastically mocking her for her lack of ability, he was also indirectly telling her that with her current abilities, it was not impossible for her to negotiate with the emperor, if she wanted to. However, she was afraid that it would backfire. If it were a foolish emperor, he might really disregard the safety of the country and give her a guillotine.
She knew she was going to die either way; whether to die a pathetic death or take a gamble, she already had the answer in her heart.
Qingyun raised his hand in a gesture of respect, said "I'm sorry" again, and prepared to return.
"Stop!" Song Chaoyun suddenly called out, turning around to see the woman's brows furrowed into a deep frown, her eyes filled with worry. "Where do you think you're going?"
“Naturally, I’ll deal with today’s matter,” she replied.
"Not going to do something else?"
"What else can I do?"
The two hadn't seen each other for a long time, and when they met again, they were like oil and water, neither willing to give way, and they didn't even have time to catch up properly.
Qingyun had only come to ask for an answer, and now that she had one, it was time to resolve the matter. She took out the money she had saved from selling seeds and the money Liu Ruo had given her, and handed it to Mu Helian, asking her to redistribute it. After giving her the instructions, the two had nothing else to say. Mu Helian noticed that she was in a bad mood and patted her shoulder, "It will all pass. I'm sorry to have troubled you."
Weighing the heavy money bag in her hand, she knew that this was actually Qingyun's private stash of money. Since the higher-ups usually sent their eunuchs to give her rewards, Qingyun had never brought it herself. Judging from her demeanor, she didn't seem worried about the money; it seemed like she was worried about something else. But she didn't ask. If she wanted to, she would have. Sometimes, not asking was a form of respect.
【Do you think my plan is feasible?】 Qingyun sat on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs. The weather had already cooled down, and it was really freezing to leave her feet out in the water. She asked the system seriously.
"[That's unrealistic. Let's not even talk about whether you can leave Muyun City. Do you really think others will let you meet the Emperor?]" The system replied without any mercy.
【So, am I just supposed to accept my fate like this?! I don't want any arranged marriages, understand?!】
The system can't give a definite answer. Some players marry and have children with people in the world, and some even come with a husband who's already a burden.
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