Usually, if Wen Ruyue appeared normal, Wei Luo’s gaze wouldn’t linger on her face for long. However, amidst the family’s harmony, Wei Luo noticed his cousin pursing her lips, looking unhappy, though she quickly forced a smile.
Wei Luo retracted his gaze and set the tea bowl aside.
Concubine Shun, caring for the children, dedicated herself to spending time with her niece. She was particularly invested in her niece’s marriage prospects.
Finding an excuse to bring Wen Ruyue to the inner room, Concubine Shun softly expressed her care. Taking Wen Ruyue’s hand, she smiled and said, “Ruyue, look at your sweet face. It’s just as delicate as when you were fourteen or fifteen, only more beautiful now.”
Who wouldn’t appreciate such words? Wen Ruyue lowered her head, embarrassed, and replied, “Aunt, you’re embarrassing me again. I’m already twenty-five; how can I compare to ten years ago?”
The Imperial Decree stated that Concubine Shun adopted her as a daughter, but in reality, it was merely for the sake of convenience in conferring the county title and maintaining their private relationships. Wen Ruyue, Concubine Shun, Wei Luo, and others still retained their original names.
Concubine Shun remarked, “Why can’t you compare? Look at your cousin; she’s as old as you and still looks as lovely as a flower.”
Hearing that, Wen Ruyue’s mood wasn’t particularly good.
Feeling sorry for her niece, Concubine Shun hurriedly added, “What I meant, dear niece, is that I want to find you a good husband while you’re still young. But I need to know your preferences first. Do you prefer a scholarly type or a handsome military officer? Tell me, and I’ll let your cousin and sisters-in-law know, so they can help find a match for you. Alright?”
Wen Ruyue clenched her hands nervously.
This was her moment of truth, and Concubine Shun would continue to encourage her niece to boldly express her conditions without reservation.
After a moment of hesitation, Wen Ruyue leaned into Concubine Shun’s arms affectionately and whispered, “When I first returned with my cousin, I didn’t want to remarry at all, fearing I might encounter another Xue Huan. However, with the comforting words from my cousin and sister-in-law, I’ve come to believe that as long as I marry a man who treats me kindly, I will be content. Yet, thanks to your love, even the Emperor granted me the title of County Lord. So, if I were to choose an ordinary match, I might disappoint both you and my cousin.”
Concubine Shun was taken aback.
Was her niece indicating she desired to marry into a renowned or high-ranking family?
While her niece was still young and unmarried, and given their status, they could indeed seek a match from a distinguished family. However, at twenty-five years old, having experienced the loss of both husband and child, most individuals of similar age from prominent families were already married. So, were there any suitable candidates left?
Wen Ruyue was keenly aware of her own shortcomings, so she bit her lip and said, “Auntie, I simply wish to marry well without bringing ridicule upon you and my cousin. As for the rest, age difference doesn’t matter, nor does playing the role of a stepmother. It’s said that older men tend to be more compassionate towards their wives, and I wish to experience that. If, by marrying an older nobleman, I can secure a dignified position as his wife, I would be content and have no regrets.”
After speaking, Wen Ruyue burst into tears.
During her time in Shaoxing, she had lost all sense of dignity. Seeing her cousin, she longed to entrust her life to him, to bask in the glory and wealth together, even willing to accept the most demeaning position as his concubine just to secure her status and avoid uncertainties.
Although her cousin had rejected her, the guilt of both her cousin and aunt still lingered. They would do their utmost to fulfill her wishes out of that guilt.
Wen Ruyue didn’t believe that in a city as vast as Jinling, there wouldn’t be many lords who had lost their wives. With her youth, beauty, and her cousin’s support, she would not wrong a lord in his forties by becoming his wife.
As long as she could attain her desires, what was momentary dignity worth?
Through tear-filled eyes, Wen Ruyue persisted in front of Concubine Shun. If she couldn’t marry into a noble family, she would rather grow old alone.
Concubine Shun had no choice but to summon her daughter-in-law to the inner room again and relay her niece’s sentiments.
Yin Hui maintained a neutral stance, neither supporting nor opposing. She merely inquired of her mother-in-law, “If my cousin feels this way, does mother feel the same?”
“She’s not one to be persuaded, so we must let her follow her own path.”
Yin Hui held her mother-in-law’s hand and said, “Okay, I will discuss it with the Prince, and the Prince will decide this matter.”
Concubine Shun understood; there was no need to discuss further.
Even her daughter-in-law had to listen to her son.
That night, Yin Hui informed Wei Luo about it.
Upon hearing this, Wei Luo’s expression darkened. When he had first rescued his cousin, she had asked to be a concubine. At the time, he had assumed it was due to her fear of marriage, wanting to stay in the mansion longer. But now, with his cousin wanting to marry a lord, how could Wei Luo not discern the truth?
Because of his and his mother’s distinguished status, his cousin’s ambitions had also grown. She too now sought to become a mistress.
“You needn’t worry about this matter any longer. I will ask my mother to persuade my cousin again. If she remains too ambitious, then perhaps it’s best for her not to marry,” Wei Luo declared, turning off the lights to conceal his angry expression from his wife.
Yin Hui was fully supportive of Wei Luo’s stance.
With the Crown Prince yet to be decided, Wei Luo, a Prince with military achievements, was always cautious in his words and actions. He avoided any actions that might arouse suspicion from his brothers and courtiers, even refraining from interacting with the Feng family.
Amidst all this, Wen Ruyue’s desire to marry a nobleman seemed to only add more trouble for Wei Luo.
Just as Wei Luo pondered this, he uttered another sentence coldly, “There’s no need to invite her over in the future; let the servants handle any tasks.”
Yin Hui contemplated for a moment and suggested, “Then you should clarify things with your mother, explaining that it’s all your decision.”
Wei Luo grunted in response.
Yin Hui listened in silence, noticing his heavy breathing, a sign of his deep anger.
Wei Luo was angry at his cousin’s thoughts, considering that Wen Ruyue was the only blood relative left from his mother’s lineage, and she had been raised by his mother as a daughter.
Wei Luo also cherished the memory of his uncle. Ten years ago, he came to Jinling to visit his uncle. When his uncle saw him, there were tears in his eyes.
That warmth stemmed from blood ties.