Chapter 432: Chapter 429: Becoming True Husband and Wife (Shen Xiao, Do Not Enter If You Mind)

The night wind carried a warm breeze.

How proud Wei Zhao was, and yet he acted like this in front of Yu Tingwan! Xiao Huaian, at the bottom of the food chain in the entire cabin, was deep in thought. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He had begged and pleaded with his ancestors to finally send these two deities away, until only he and Shen Zhiyi were left in the boat.

The boat began to slowly move along the riverbank again.

"I have something to ask you."

Shen Zhiyi was very polite: "Go ahead."

"There are many unmarried noblemen in Shangjing, did you agree to marry me because I’m the best choice among your options, or was there a little part because I moved you?"

As he said this, he carried a sense of hope.

But the surroundings fell into a dead silence.

Shen Zhiyi: "You..."

"I want to hear the truth."

Shen Zhiyi didn’t understand why he insisted on putting himself through this.

However, since Xiao Huaian asked, she had to tell him.

Shen Zhiyi felt a little too close to Xiao Huaian, close enough to hear each other’s breathing. Now that two people were gone from the boat, it was not so cramped, and she wanted to sit on the opposite side.

But since they were about to get married, there was no need to be too distant. So she just shifted a bit to the side, creating a small distance between them.

She poured a cup of tea for Xiao Huaian, cooked earlier by Yu Tingwan.

"People outside say I’m aiming too high, that I’ve once set my sights on Wei Zhao. I won’t hide it from you, after breaking off the engagement with Chu Liulang, I even thought about getting closer to He Xuran."

"I’m pragmatic, with eyes set higher than the top, always coveting those beyond reach, I admit. But in the Shen Family, I understood from a young age that if I want something, I have to fight for it myself, otherwise good things will never fall into my lap."

Fighting for it doesn’t necessarily mean it will turn out as expected.

But not fighting means having nothing at all.

She tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"Apart from squatting in jail, I never feel this is something shameful, which girl in Shangjing doesn’t admire strength?"

She was just doing what others wanted to do but didn’t dare.

"I want to marry well. I want to step on those people who looked down on me in the past. But I also know that there aren’t many reliable men under heaven."

Especially men with power and influence.

She’s seen quite a few of them.

"I really don’t know why you suddenly wanted to marry me? But Xiao Huaian, do you really understand me?"

Seeing Xiao Huaian in a moment of confusion, Shen Zhiyi smiled.

It’s good to make things clear, to prevent him from holding a grudge later.

"My heart is high because I have people I want to protect, but unfortunately, I am a woman. My own brother is useless, can’t even compare to a concubine’s son, utterly unreliable."

These words she had never mentioned to outsiders.

"If I had a choice, I would also want to marry someone who only has eyes for me. Even if he’s a poor scholar, without status or position, having to climb from the bottom up. If he’s willing to treat me as he always does for a lifetime, and still cherish me after reaching success, I won’t be afraid of being laughed at for marrying down, nor am I afraid of hardships. Life is lived for oneself, as long as I feel it’s worth it, then it is."

But such people are too rare.

She never thought she would meet one.

Especially in the indulgent Shangjing.

"But I don’t have a choice. I don’t want to spend my youth gambling with someone on a long shot for such a small chance."

She no longer looked at Xiao Huaian’s expression.

"I’m not too clever, not as perceptive as Yu Tingwan, but I’m not dumb either. Since that’s the case, I naturally have to choose a family most beneficial to me."

"There are indeed many noblemen in Shangjing. But how many have a status and position comparable to yours? I’ve already been rejected once, my reputation is not good. There are very few willing to marry me. Marchioness Ning is willing to take me as a wife, Ning Yunling has been raised too pure by them, easy to manipulate. If I must marry and am willing to manage it, life would not be too bad in the end."

But Ning Yunling likes the kind of delicate flower she hates the most.

Shen Zhiyi found it disgusting just thinking about it.

Xiao Huaian didn’t know why he insisted on bringing this upon himself. After listening to this, he felt a heavy heart. He could pretend to be confused.

He clicked his tongue.

Shen Zhiyi: "You and Ning Yunling have completely different temperaments."

Over the years, if not for someone protecting Ning Yunling, that fool would have been eaten clean long ago.

Xiao Huaian is also a profligate son.

But how many losses has he suffered?

Shen Zhiyi: "You’re shrewd."

In the past, she avoided Xiao Huaian because she felt she couldn’t handle this man.

But after learning about her aunt’s incident...

Shen Zhiyi saw his unhappy face and quickly added: "The previous words were indeed hurtful, but since I’ve agreed to you, I am willing to be a true wife to you."

"I’m not greedy; all I want is to use the power of the Xiao Family to make my father suffer and unable to bear it."

"If you’re willing, you can also suppress him for me. I can’t stand seeing him or the Shen Family doing well. In the future, if you need anything from me, I will try my best to comply."

Shen Zhiyi was calm and collected as if she were negotiating in business.

Xiao Huaian’s face didn’t improve, even the veins on the back of his hand popped out as he held back his anger.

He said nothing but called out.

Soon, the servant attending to him responded.

"Young Master, do you have any orders?"

"Go to the right."

To the right?

The servant looked up to see it was in the direction of the pleasure boat.

Feeling puzzled, he heard Xiao Huaian say.

"Bring the oiran from the pleasure boat back."

"Yes."

Shen Zhiyi: ??

Wait, before the marriage is even settled, you’re already getting arrogant, bringing someone in front of her?

She furrowed her brows but said nothing.

After all, Yingying had already borne a child for Xiao Huaian, and if she behaved, Shen Zhiyi would even have to drink from that woman’s concubine tea in the future.

Xiao Huaian’s words of fondness couldn’t be believed.

Shen Zhiyi never understood what Xiao Huaian saw in her before.

But now she understood.

Besides her looks and decent household management skills.

Her low status, albeit proud but adaptable to circumstances, was different from the ladies of families with equal standing as the Marquis Zhongyong Mansion. With family backing, they couldn’t endure much grievance and dared to make trouble, forcing Xiao Huaian to curb his ways; but she lacked that kind of confidence.

After all, this marriage was, in the end, something she needed from him.

The servant participated in the bidding.

Ultimately, the oiran was bought with a heavy price.

The oiran soon arrived.

She wore a thin red dress and walked with allure.

Yet Xiao Huaian’s gaze didn’t fall on her at all; he drank the cup of tea: "Do whatever you did when you were alone with me before."

Shen Zhiyi: ???

This isn’t appropriate, is it?

Having your fun while she’s watching?

Is she supposed to applaud you?

Under Shen Zhiyi’s stunned gaze, the woman walked to them and began to rock the boat.

Those young noblemen who were after the oiran watched with wide eyes as she was taken away again, recognizing that the servant who took her was serving someone, they felt both angry and annoyed.

"Why is Xiao Huaian always lingering like a ghost! People might think Miss Yingying serves only him."

They watched as the small boat departed, the hull began to sway. Envious and jealous.

"Why only just got in, not finding another place, just starting here. So desperate?"

"Why wouldn’t he be? His mother is strict, can’t control him outside but certainly can in the inner courtyard. She hasn’t arranged a beautiful and charming bedchamber for him. Desperate, and Yingying is such a beauty after all."

"I remember once when Xiao Huaian went to the brothel, the bed in his room creaked all night. Who knows how long the boat will rock this time."