Chapter 1217 Unwillingness is Suffering
Sun Xianyue's face turned completely red.
Shang Ruyi was still smiling, watching him with a leisurely air. Sun Xianyue's face was flushed red, and he looked like a piece of burning coal. His hands on the table were trembling uncontrollably, and the table and the cup of tea on it were shaking slightly.
He said, "This humble subject, I... I want... her to have a good life... not because she's not doing well now, but... but..."
If there were any guesses before, after hearing these fragmented and incoherent words, Shang Ruyi completely understood his intentions. She found it both amusing and somewhat sentimental, but she still looked at him with a smile, waiting for Sun Xianyue to express his feelings in person.
However, the longer she waited, the more Sun Xianyue stuttered.
After all, she was asking for someone from the hands of the dignified Princess Qin, and not just any ordinary servant or maid, but her personal maid who had been by her side since she married into the Yuwen family. She was also the head maid of Qianqiu Palace. Chang Wan, with such a status and position, was more powerful than the young ladies of ordinary families, even though she was called a servant. So when Sun Xianyue said that she would give her a good life, she was even a little dazed.
I think this way, but can I really do it?
This hesitation made his stuttering even worse.
Shang Ruyi still had the patience to wait, but Tu She'er's patience had run out. After Sun Xianyue kept using "but" but still couldn't get to the point, she couldn't help but stomp her foot lightly: "Sigh, can't you just say you want to marry her? Can't you even say those words?"
"She'er!"
Shang Ruyi turned around and gave her a reproachful look.
Upon hearing Tushe'er's words, Sun Xianyue's face flushed red and then paled. On one hand, she was relieved that someone had spoken the most important words for her, and on the other hand, she regretted that she hadn't been able to say the most important words herself. She looked up at Tushe'er again, her eyes filled with gratitude and sorrow, which finally turned into a sigh.
Then, he took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed deeply to Shang Ruyi: "Yes, this humble subject wishes to marry Chang Wan."
"..."
"Please grant my request, Your Highness!"
Shang Ruyi glared at Tu She'er again before slowly turning her head to look at Sun Xianyue's solemn bow. Her expression turned serious, and after a moment of contemplation, she said, "Does Young Master Sun like my Changwan?"
Sun Xianyue replied, "Yes."
What do you like about her?
"Gentle and considerate, upright and incorruptible."
"Have you said these words to her?"
"Never."
"Then how do you know she'll be willing to marry you?"
"this--"
Sun Xianyue frowned slightly, but he was not surprised by the question, and it seemed that he had considered it before. After thinking for a while, he said, "This humble subject does not know what Changwan is thinking, but this humble subject knows what he is thinking. My desire to marry her is genuine."
"..."
"If she is willing, I would like to protect her for the rest of my life."
Shang Ruyi asked, "What if she doesn't want to?"
Sun Xianyue gritted her teeth: "This humble subject will not disturb you."
"good!"
These words brought a smile to Shang Ruyi's face, even more so than her earlier marriage proposal. She nodded and gestured to Sun Xianyue, "Please sit down."
Sun Xianyue then walked back to the table and sat down. The candlelight on the table flickered again because of his movements, and the flickering light reflected the fine sweat on his forehead. It seemed that he had been extremely nervous just now.
Shang Ruyi said, "Changwan is my mother-in-law—that is, the maid left to me by Empress Tai Mu. She has been by my side all these years. Like She'er, she is my confidante. Losing her is like losing an arm."
Sun Xianyue exclaimed in surprise: "Your Highness—"
Shang Ruyi raised her hand to stop him from speaking, and then said, "Of course, I'm not saying this to make things difficult for you, but to make you understand that it is painful for me to give up an arm, but I can't let the arm I gave up suffer again."
Sun Xianyue replied, "Yes."
Shang Ruyi said, "Then do you know how a woman suffers in marriage?"
Sun Xianyue was taken aback, clearly having not considered the question and having no answer. Shang Ruyi smiled faintly and said, "Unwillingness is suffering."
"..."
Sun Xianyue was taken aback again.
Shang Ruyi said, "So even if you tell me about this and I agree, it's not a done deal. The most important thing is Changwan's own feelings. If she's willing, what's wrong with me sacrificing an arm?"
"..."
"If she is unwilling, no matter how sincerely you, Young Master Sun, propose to marry her, even if a prince or nobleman offers you mountains of gold and seas of silver, I will not force her."
Sun Xianyue took a deep breath and realized that all of Shang Ruyi's questions boiled down to one point—whether Changwan was willing or not.
Although this princess was high above others and had the power of life and death over them, she did not look down on the servants around her. She treated Changwan, Tushe'er, and all those who followed her as human beings. She cared about the women's own feelings and did not make decisions for them easily, nor did she easily manipulate their lives.
Sun Xianyue said softly, "This humble subject understands."
"..."
"No matter what, I have expressed my feelings. If I can win Changwan's favor, I will be content; if not... I will not regret it."
Shang Ruyi said, "Okay."
She slowly stood up, dusted off her clothes, and said, "I will go back and tell Changwan everything you said. If she is willing, I will grant you a good marriage; if she is not..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but Sun Xianyue's eyes were clear and bright as she looked at her, as if there was no need to say anything more.
Shang Ruyi smiled, turned around and left with Tu She'er.
When the two stepped out of the room, it was already darker outside, but lanterns were lit throughout the Shen residence, making it brighter than before. Shang Ruyi slowly walked back the way she came, with a leisurely air about her. But Tu She'er behind her was a different story. Even though she was just quietly following behind, Shang Ruyi could hear that her footsteps and breathing were as disordered and rapid as her breathing. Several times, she almost fell over because her left foot stepped on her right foot.
When they reached a deserted corridor, Shang Ruyi finally stopped.
As soon as she stopped, the girl bumped into her back.
With a cry of "Ouch!", Tushe'er hurriedly took two steps back, looked up and met Shang Ruyi's reproachful gaze, and quickly lowered her head to admit her mistake: "This servant knows her mistake, please forgive me, Your Highness."
Shang Ruyi glanced at her: "What did you do wrong?"
"This servant, this servant was just lost in thought."
Is this what I meant?
"ah?"
Tushe'er blinked, then looked at Shang Ruyi, and finally shrank her neck and whispered, "This servant was too talkative just now."
"snort."
Shang Ruyi snorted, but before she could scold her, she saw the girl come closer, her pretty face full of a happy smile: "But I'm so anxious watching Sun Xianyue stammering. Why don't I just say it for him? It's a good thing to help him achieve his goal, isn't it!"
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