On the subject of taking a wife and having children, he had thought about it sometimes, but at that time, he was still the powerful and influential Regent King, and the women who wanted to approach him all had ulterior motives, without exception.
Some wanted to marry him to enhance their family’s power through his title, while others who had different intentions sought to place spies by his side.
For all of these, Ji Xiaoyuan was utterly fed up and refused outright.
Even three days before he had planned to retire to the countryside, he heard that his nephew the Emperor had arranged a marriage for him with some Princess Jialan from the Wan Dynasty!
He couldn’t even be bothered to pay attention to the women around him, let alone cajole a strange woman from an enemy country whose name he didn’t know; thus, he decisively left.
After he arrived at the village, there were indeed quite a few women who showed him favor and tried to marry him, but Ji Xiaoyuan was only hiding his identity as the Regent King to avoid such matters, so how could he actually take a wife and have children.
He never hid the true feelings in his heart, and this time was no exception.
Ji Xiaoyuan could not deny that he had developed a great fondness for the girl before him and even had the beginnings of affection for her.
She had fallen from a cliff during an assassination attempt, and after observing for a while, he decided to rescue her—this was his own decision, irrespective of others.
Perhaps, from the moment he saw her, Ji Xiaoyuan felt a ripple in his heart; the calm surface of his emotions seemed to fluctuate unexpectedly.
However, he was also adept at concealing his emotions. Quickly, Ji Xiaoyuan walked over and gently shook the soundly sleeping girl, "Miss Ruan Ruan, it’s time for you to get up and eat."
Su Zhiruan’s fingers moved slightly as she woke up from her dream, slowly opened her eyes, and yawned, "I’m so sleepy."
"Eat first, then sleep," Ji Xiaoyuan said, extending his arm to help her up, "Slowly, don’t put pressure on your leg."
Compliantly, Su Zhiruan nodded her head. After getting up, she even pressed down on the two stubborn strands of hair that had somehow been tied up on her head.
"Young Master Ji, are you going to the mountain this afternoon?" Su Zhiruan, supported by him out to the outer room and seated on a stool, looked up at Ji Xiaoyuan, her hands propping up her cheeks, glancing at the dishes in the bowl and then at the burly man serving congee.
While placing the bowl of congee in front of Su Zhiruan, the man replied, "Not going to the mountain. I’m off to the market to sell some medicinal herbs, then I’ll come back and prepare medicine for you."
"Do you make a living by selling medicinal herbs?" Su Zhiruan turned and could see the dried medicinal herbs in the yard. Turning back, she picked up her chopsticks and feigned consolation, "I’m sorry, all these days, you have spent money on my account, when my family finds me, I will certainly present silver taels as a reward."