“You really don’t want to marry him? What if he’s a handsome and talented man?”
Xiao Ruoshui shook her head like a rattle. “Unless it’s someone I like, I won’t marry.”
Shen Yijia was in a difficult position. Filial piety was paramount in this world. With Song Jingchen’s personality, he definitely wouldn’t interfere.
If she told him, not only would he not help, he would probably order her not to interfere.
Shen Yijia suddenly sympathized with Xiao Ruoshui. She had liked Song Jingchen for so long, although it was better that she knew her own preferences.
She held her chin and thought for a moment. “Why don’t you find someone you like and marry him first? That way, your father can’t force you to marry again.”
Didn’t they say that a woman obeys her father at home, but obeys her husband after being married? Even her father wouldn’t be able to control her after she got married.
Seeing that she had been thinking for so long, Xiao Ruoshui initially thought that Shen Yijia had a good idea, but it turned out to be a silly idea. She rolled her eyes. “That’s not marrying myself off. It’s called having an illicit relationship. My father won’t make me marry again, but he’ll probably beat me to death.”
“That won’t do. You should listen to your father and get married.” Shen Yijia scratched her head. If she hadn’t treated Xiao Ruoshui as her companion, she wouldn’t have bothered.
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Ruoshui immediately looked at her as if she wanted to cry.
Shen Yijia fell silent and asked in resignation, “Then tell me why your father suddenly wants you to get married. I’ll help you analyze if there’s any way to escape.”
She had no parents in her previous life, but she also felt that as long as Xiao Ruoshui’s father wasn’t a scumbag like Shen Pingxiu, he wouldn’t do anything to harm her.
Thinking about it, the scumbag parents who abandoned her in the mental hospital in her previous life were terrible too. Unfortunately, she didn’t know who they were or when she was abandoned.
Otherwise, she would definitely find them and ask, “Why?”
Shen Yijia suddenly felt a little sad. She did not even hear what Xiao Ruoshui said.
“What are you thinking about?” Xiao Ruoshui shook Shen Yijia’s arm unhappily, pulling her back from her wandering thoughts.
“Huh?” Shen Yijia rubbed her nose and said guiltily, “I was thinking of another way for you. What did you say just now?”
Xiao Ruoshui did not believe Shen Yijia, but she still repeated, “It’s almost time for the maiden selection in the palace. Emperor Chongwen wants to choose a concubine, and a few of the princes have reached the age to get married.
“I heard that not only will the young ladies of the imperial court participate in the election, but they will also choose people from the commoners. My father doesn’t want me to marry into the royal family, so he wants to marry me off in advance.”
After saying that, Xiao Ruoshui knew that she had no choice this time. If she didn’t want to enter the palace, she could only listen to her father’s arrangements.
Upon hearing this reason, Shen Yijia felt relieved for Xiao Ruoshui. At least her father was doing this for her benefit.
However, she was still very curious. “You don’t want to enter the palace either? Or marry a prince or something?”
“Then I’d rather listen to my father and get married.”
Shen Yijia understood and shrugged. “Then it’s simple. You’re going to get married anyway. You can choose to marry the person your father chose, or look for a marriage partner yourself. Your father will have to agree to the person you choose. It’s up to you.”
Xiao Ruoshui was speechless.
Xiao Ruoshui left, crying and looking dejected. Although Shen Yijia asked her to do as she pleased, Shen Yijia still ran to the study to tell Song Jingchen about this.
Song Jingchen glanced at her. “You want to help her?”
“Can it be done?”
“She can just Fan Mingyuan.” Song Jingchen lowered his head and continued reading.
He did not want General Xiao’s legitimate daughter to marry any prince. The power structure in the imperial court was complicated, so the best way was to marry Fan Mingyuan, who had no political foundation.
At least he did not have to worry about him siding with a certain prince.
Shen Yijia’s eyes lit up. That’s right. Fan Mingyuan could do it. They were childhood sweethearts. At least Xiao Ruoshui knew what he looked like.
However, when she thought of the difference in status between the two of them, she asked worriedly, “But Fan Mingyuan is only a county magistrate. Will Xiao Ruoshui’s father agree?”
Song Jingchen looked at her bitter expression and rubbed her head in amusement. “Alright, stop worrying about this. The final outcome is not something we can decide. At the very least, it depends on the wishes of both parties.”
Shen Yijia slapped her forehead. “That’s right. I’m not the one getting married. Why should I worry?”
Song Jingchen suddenly looked up at her and asked, “Why? Did you want to worry about this too?”
Shen Yijia shuddered and shook her head. “No, I didn’t. You’re talking nonsense.”
With that, she slipped away without looking back.
Song Jingchen chuckled. He thought of something and his eyes darkened.
Ever since Xiao Ruoshui returned from Xiagou Village, she had locked herself in her room and did not eat lunch.
When Fan Mingyuan heard the servant’s report, he quickly put down his work and returned to the backyard.
When the maidservant guarding the door of Xiao Ruoshui’s room saw him, she hurriedly bent her knees and said, “Sir.”
“Is she still unwilling to eat?” Fan Mingyuan asked.
The maidservant said, “Miss said she’s not hungry and doesn’t want to eat.”
Fan Mingyuan waved her off and knocked on the door a few times. There was no response.
He knocked again. It was still quiet.
Fan Mingyuan’s heart skipped a beat. Afraid that Xiao Ruoshui had done something stupid, he said, “I’m coming in,” and broke in.
As soon as the door opened, a strong smell of alcohol wafted out.
Fan Mingyuan walked in and saw Xiao Ruoshui lying unconscious on the table. There were three to four empty wine jars on the table.
He frowned slightly and patted Xiao Ruoshui’s face. “Ruoshui? Ruoshui?”
Xiao Ruoshui looked up at him and pursed her lips. “Brother Yuan? Why are you here?”
“Why did you drink so much? Go and rest on the bed. I’ll get someone to make you some hangover soup.” Fan Mingyuan helped her up and placed her on the bed. He was about to go out and call for help when someone suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
“Brother Yuan, I don’t want to get married.” Xiao Ruoshui sobbed and said, “Look at my mother. I haven’t seen her smile in a long time. I don’t want to become like my mother.”
Fan Mingyuan pursed his lips and comforted her. “No, you’ll definitely marry a man who treats you wholeheartedly.”
“How is that possible? How can there be such a man in this world? I’ve heard that when my father asked my mother to marry him, he said that he would never let her suffer. But look at him now. There are so many women in his harem. Why doesn’t he think about how aggrieved my mother must be? My mother has to suffer…”
Xiao Ruoshui kept muttering and gradually fell asleep.
Fan Mingyuan sighed and tucked her in.
At this moment, Teacher Ma’s voice came from outside. “Master, there’s someone called the Chicken King outside who wants to see you urgently.”
Fan Mingyuan frowned. If it wasn’t something important, Teacher Ma wouldn’t have come to report it. After all, he was usually very busy. Not everyone could meet him.
Without delay, he called a maidservant to guard Xiao Ruoshui and followed Teacher Ma to the front courtyard.
