Chapter 47 One Year
Song Yuning stared at Xiao Yunzhan closely, her face revealing deep confusion and dissatisfaction. She couldn't help but ask, "Why did you have to choose me? To be honest, there doesn't seem to be a particularly deep relationship between us, right?"
I really can't understand why you have to choose me."
As a prince, Xiao Yunzhan will inevitably have many wives and concubines in the future. This is an unavoidable reality. But for Song Yuning, this kind of married life is not what she expected.
Although she knew that she might face the same situation even if she married another man, if the financial conditions of both families were similar, she would have a lot of room to maneuver.
At the very least, the husband's family will not allow anything too extreme to happen because of the power of the wife's family.
But her status and Xiao Yunzhan's are very different. If she marries Xiao Yunzhan, they will definitely be a loving couple when he likes her.
If she didn't have this love, or if she felt disgusted with him, Xiao Yunzhan could easily take her life. The royal family was too complicated, and she didn't want to wade into it.
Now, she can be reborn in this world with a healthy body, which is a gift from God.
She doesn't have too many ambitions and just hopes to live a peaceful life.
In this era, it is impossible for a woman to remain single for her entire life, so she only hopes to find a suitable person to marry and have children, and watch her children grow up, get married and have children.
After her husband died, she could travel around and see the world.
However, if she married into the royal family, she was afraid that she would not be able to experience this kind of life. More importantly, she really couldn't understand why Xiao Yunzhan fell in love with her.
"Maybe it's because of your life-saving grace. When you saved me, I had just learned the truth about my mother's death.
After Concubine Yun found out, she became even more unscrupulous in allowing others to bully her and wanted to silence me. Fortunately, my father found someone to protect me, and Concubine Yun finally restrained herself a little.
But I didn't have a good life during those years. I was clearly a prince, but I lived worse than a eunuch in the palace.
Later, when I left the palace, I encountered an assassin. Concubine Yun pushed me out of the carriage and wanted the assassin to kill me. Just when I was about to die, you appeared and saved me.
You also told me that as long as I live well, everything is possible. After I returned to the palace, it was because of your words that I became the Xiao Yunzhan I am today. " As he spoke, his voice gradually deepened, as if he had returned to that dark past.
Xiao Yunzhan took a deep breath and continued, "It is undeniable that you and your words back then became a ray of light in my heart. Whenever I feel like I can't hold on any longer, I will remember what you said and then grit my teeth and persevere.
When I saw you again later, I just felt very happy. Slowly, I cared more and more about you. By the time I realized it, I had already kept you in my heart."
Xiao Yunzhan spoke seriously, his eyes filled with unmelting tenderness, but Song Yuning did not feel any fluctuation in her heart after hearing what Xiao Yunzhan said.
She just looked at Xiao Yunzhan, with a self-deprecating smile on her lips, and asked softly: "But last time you said you wanted to marry me, and I said I wanted to be your legal wife, you were silent for a long time, and finally accepted the Pisces jade pendant and left.
You should have known at that time that you would definitely not be able to marry me, but now you come back to me and tell me that after careful consideration, you still don't want to give up on me.
But actually, it's because Concubine Yun wouldn't let you marry a daughter of a noble family, so you wanted to come back to me. I was just the choice you made after weighing the pros and cons, right?"
Xiao Yunzhan nodded slightly, and did not choose to lie to Song Yuning. He admitted directly: "That's true, but my feelings for you are not false. I sincerely hope to marry you."
His tone was firm and sincere, as if making people feel the genuine emotions deep in his heart.
"Noble Concubine Yun can no longer pose a threat to me. If I had my heart set on it, my father would not have allowed her to influence my marriage. I simply want to take this opportunity to marry you back to the palace."
Looking at Xiao Yunzhan's expression, Song Yuning seemed to have an answer in her mind. Perhaps Xiao Yunzhan had some feelings for her, after all, they had been through some things together.
However, could this liking be called love? Song Yuning didn't know.
In her eyes, Xiao Yunzhan was like a lonely child who accidentally caught a ray of warm light during the long dark years, and couldn't wait to hold it tightly, for fear of losing it.
This strong possessiveness may far exceed the so-called love.
Song Yuning had experienced this before. She had just finished surgery and met a doctor with a brilliant smile. She still vividly remembers the feeling of being bathed in spring breeze.
She knew all too well the excitement and admiration of youth, the yearning and pursuit of beautiful things. Therefore, she could somewhat understand Xiao Yunzhan's feelings at the moment.
"You are already sixteen years old. The Emperor will choose a wife for you next year at the latest. If you insist on choosing me, I will definitely not be able to resist."
Song Yuning sighed. The gap in status between her and Xiao Yunzhan was too big, and royal marriage was full of complications.
If Xiao Yunzhan insisted on marrying her, it would be difficult for her to refuse, but she didn't want to become a victim of his impulsiveness.
"But there's still a year left. I think you can think carefully about whether you really want to choose me."
Song Yuning continued, looking at Xiao Yunzhan with a firm gaze.
She hoped that he would think carefully and not make a decision rashly. After all, they were still young and the future was full of variables and uncertainties.
"If after one year, you still have this idea and cannot change it, then I will marry you, but as I said before, I will not be your concubine." Song Yuning emphasized.
Although she was born in a humble family, she had her own bottom line and dignity and was unwilling to become someone else's concubine. She hoped to get an equal and respectful marriage relationship, even if the other party was a prince.
It doesn't matter who she marries. If Xiao Yunzhan is really determined to marry her, then she can marry him.
Song Yuning lived her life again just to live a good life. To her, love was like nothing she could eat or drink, so she was not obsessed with it.
Xiao Yunzhan listened to Song Yuning quietly. He knew that Song Yuning was right. As a prince, he had a lot of responsibilities.
For him, marriage is not just a matter of personal feelings, but also involves considerations of family, power and politics.
However, at this moment, his heart was extremely determined. He didn't want to miss Song Yuning. He had thought about it for a long time and decided that no matter what difficulties and obstacles he faced, he would not give up.
But at the same time, he also understood Song Yuning's worries and concerns. She needed time to think and determine what she really wanted.
"Okay, I promise you." Xiao Yunzhan nodded solemnly, "I'll think everything over carefully within a year."
…
I missed posting a chapter yesterday, so I’ll make up for it here.
After the two of them talked it out, Song Yuning no longer had the initial restraint. Seeing her relax, Xiao Yunzhan pulled her to sit on a big rock nearby.
It was not until this time that Song Yuning discovered that by sitting on this stone and looking down, he could just take in the entire Lotus Temple and the lotus pond surrounding the Lotus Temple.
"Isn't the scenery here nice?" Xiao Yunzhan asked softly.
"Yeah!" Song Yuning nodded.
"Now that we've made things clear, you should stop staying in the house embroidering all day and prepare to pay me back.
You should learn more from your sisters and go out more often, so that I can have the chance to see you more often." Xiao Yunzhan suddenly said inexplicably.
Song Yuning was stunned. "How did you know that I've been embroidering in my room every day? Did you plant someone in the Song Mansion?"
Xiao Yunzhan smiled and said, "What do you think? Also, the screen you sold last time was bought at a higher price by me.
Doing too much embroidery will damage your eyes. I heard that you embroider for a long time every night. It’s better not to waste that time. It would be bad if you hurt your eyes.”
"Ah? So that's how it is!" Song Yuning suddenly realized.
"I said that the price was indeed a bit outrageous. It turns out it was you." Song Yuning felt strange at the time. Mrs. Wei's skills were much better than hers.
At the beginning, Madam Wei's screen was only sold for eight hundred taels, but she was far inferior to Madam Wei and actually sold it for fifteen hundred taels.
Later, Song Yuning just thought that he was lucky, but he didn't expect that the price was raised by Xiao Yunzhan.
"The screen I had before is still in my study. Don't sell the one you are embroidering now after you finish it. I have a piece of fine rosewood.
After you finish embroidering it, use the rosewood as the frame. You can keep it as a dowry and leave it to your children in the future." Xiao Yunzhan added.
Song Yuning turned her head and looked at Xiao Yunzhan in disbelief. The two of them had just made things clear and had not yet really confirmed their relationship.
Isn't it a bit too soon to talk about children?
After a while, Song Yuning suddenly changed the subject and said, "You said it yourself. I don't have to pay back the money you lent me.
However, I still don't believe you just said that out of thin air. How about this, have someone send some pen, ink, paper, and inkstone over later, and then you can write me a note.
This way, if you regret it later and want to pay me back, you can bring this note with you so you don't feel you've been wronged and blame me."
Xiao Yunzhan waited for a long time, expecting Song Yuning to give him a satisfactory response, but he didn't expect to hear such words. He was so angry that his stomach began to ache.
How could this person be so clueless? All he thinks about is money!
"Okay, I'll write it for you." Xiao Yunzhan squeezed out these words from between his teeth.
When Song Yuning heard this, he secretly chuckled twice, but on the surface he pretended to be serious and said, "That's fine. Remember to write the note clearly and don't be ambiguous, otherwise I won't admit it."
Xiao Yunzhan sighed helplessly: "Alas, you, you are really exactly the same as before. I don't have any way to deal with you."
Song Yuning smiled slightly and said proudly, "Of course, you should have been mentally prepared a long time ago.
After all, you've been unable to control me since the beginning, so don't even think you can control me easily in the future."
Since she decided to give it a try, she had to let Xiao Yunzhan know what kind of personality she had and what kind of person she was.
If Xiao Yunzhan still chooses him after seeing everything about her, then his sincerity is somewhat credible.
Xiao Yunzhan turned his head and stared at Song Yuning's smiling face, and said seriously: "No, you are doing very well."
Song Yuning raised her eyebrows, looked at the scenery below, and said nothing. She hoped that Xiao Yunzhan would always feel this way in the future. It was a good thing that she was not bullied by others.
It seemed that Xiao Yunzhan had not opened his heart to anyone for a long time. He then pulled Song Yuning aside and talked about many things about the palace.
She asked some ambiguous questions. Song Yuning put herself in the situation and expressed her own views. Xiao Yunzhan looked at her with brighter and brighter eyes.
In the future, she and Xiao Yunzhan will most likely become accomplices. In this case, she has to add enough bargaining chips for herself.
She had to make Xiao Yunzhan see her value. Only then would he not abandon her so easily in the future.
She doesn't trust feelings, but a reliable ally is more trustworthy and difficult to abandon.
The two talked for a while, and suddenly heard a child's laughter coming from below. Song Yuning was a little surprised. Why was there a child's laughter in Lotus Temple at this time?
Looking down curiously, Song Yuning saw Song Yurou pulling a two or three-year-old child and playing by the lotus pond below.
The child looked extremely cute, with an innocent smile on his delicate little face, and his big eyes blinking at everything around him, as if he was full of curiosity about everything.
Song Yuning couldn't help laughing. She thought the child was so cute that she couldn't help but want to tease him.
"That looks like Hao from my second sister's family?" Song Yuning quickly recognized the child.
Beside the two of them stood a tall and handsome man, with his back to them. He was a little far away, and Song Yuning felt that he looked very familiar.
Xiao Yunzhan followed Song Yuning's gaze and said, "Isn't that the Prince of Pingyuan? Why is he here? That girl looks like your sister."
Song Yuning suddenly understood why the old lady insisted on asking Song Yurou to come to Lotus Temple today. It turned out that she wanted to set up a match between the Prince of Pingyuan and Song Yurou.
For a moment, Song Yuning felt a chill in his heart.
Although Song Yuqing was about to die, she had not yet breathed her last. She was the old lady's most beloved granddaughter.
Now that she is still lying in the hospital bed, the old lady can't wait to let Song Yurou and the prince come into contact. She doesn't know whether Song Yuqing knows about this.
The Marquis' Mansion is wealthy and powerful, and the Crown Prince Liang Boyan is also a rare talent. He is now valued by the Emperor and will surely achieve great things in the future.
The old lady didn't want to lose this relative-in-law. Song Yuning could understand her thoughts, but he was a little disappointed with her actions.
Song Yuqing is not dead yet. Isn't it a bit too hasty to be so eager for quick success?
"What's wrong?" Seeing that Song Yuning's expression seemed a little abnormal, Xiao Yunzhan asked curiously.
Song Yuning smiled bitterly and shook her head. Although they had no worries about food, clothing and shelter at home, the Song family had never treated them as human beings.
"It's nothing, let's go." Song Yuning took a deep breath and tried to calm down.
Xiao Yunzhan nodded and followed Song Yuning away from the spot. They walked slowly along the path, their hearts heavy.
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