Exchange Fate! She Saved the whole family and the Short-Lived Marquis!-Chapter 99: Repaying a Life-Saving Favor with Marriage
"I’m also curious," Xiao Yingyue said, "but we can’t let Shinian be taken away."
"You’re right," the old Madam nodded, starting to think hard for a solution.
"Tomorrow, I will follow Shinian and her group to the Law Temple. We must keep a close watch and not give Shinian and Gu Yunze any chance to be together," Xiao Yingyue said, "Once we return from the Law Temple, I will bring Shinian back to stay at our residence for a while. I’ve already discussed it with her, and Madam Fu has agreed."
The old Madam’s eyes softened, "It’s good to have Ying Yue with us."
"Originally, I wanted my brother to come with me tomorrow, but Shinian saw that my brother was tired and asked him to rest well at home, saying he could come to pick me up tomorrow," Xiao Yingyue sighed.
"Leave this matter to me."
When Xiao Chengyu returned from the palace, he was called over by the old Madam.
"Chengyu, what do you think of Shinian?" the old Madam asked.
Xiao Chengyu paused and said, "A good girl."
Thinking of Fu Shinian, the corners of Xiao Chengyu’s mouth slightly curled uncontrollably; she was more than just good.
He had never met such an adorable and lively girl.
The old Madam smiled knowingly, "Speaking of which, Shinian indeed saved your life."
"I’ve always felt that the gifts we sent were too modest," the old Madam said, "No amount of gifts, nor silver coins we send, can compare to repaying the kindness of a life-saving grace."
"Moreover, the Fu family lacks no silver coins," the old Madam said.
"Mother is right," Xiao Chengyu said, "Mother, now that you’ve brought this up again, do you have a new thought?"
The old Madam leaned slightly towards Xiao Chengyu and said, "There’s a saying, to repay the kindness of saving one’s life, one should offer oneself."
"..." Xiao Chengyu said, "I recall the saying is to repay life-saving kindness with a gushing spring."
The old Madam waved her hand, "In our family, the gushing spring can only mean offering oneself. There’s nothing else it could gush."
Xiao Chengyu: "..."
The old Madam said, "I see you seem to like Shinian quite a lot, so why not offer yourself?"
"Mother," Xiao Chengyu took a deep breath, his expression turning serious, "everyone knows I don’t have much time left, I don’t want to implicate Shinian."
"How could you have little time left?" the old Madam hurriedly said, "Your health has clearly improved, you are getting healthier."
"I see your health is much better," the old Madam said, "Last time you went to the palace, the Emperor asked the Imperial Physician to check your pulse, and even the Imperial Physician said your health was almost on par with that of ordinary people."
"How could it be that you have little time left?" the old Madam said anxiously.
"For now, it seems so, but my health is unstable, who knows what might happen?" Xiao Chengyu said, "There’s no point in making that little girl waste half her life in the Marquis’ residence."
"Now that your health is much better, why say such things?" the old Madam said, "You yourself said you would take good care of your health, protect me, protect Ying Yue. If you leave, I’ll leave too, what will happen to Ying Yue? She could be bullied to death by the wolves of the West Courtyard."
"All the more reason not to let Shinian be bullied," Xiao Chengyu said.
"You... you... why are you so stubborn!" the old Madam was furious, "Marry Shinian, take good care of your health, you might even live to a ripe old age!"
"Besides, even if you really... it would be many years later. Could it be that for some baseless speculation, you’ll wait alone for ten or twenty years?" the old Madam said, "Chengyu, don’t do something you’ll regret later."
"Moreover, even if you do leave earlier than Shinian, I won’t forbid her from remarrying," the old Madam said, "Great Xi encourages women to remarry. By then, if Shinian finds herself someone she likes, I’ll prepare a generous dowry for her, together with the Fu family, we’ll all be her maternal family, backing her up! Even if she marries again, she won’t be bullied."
"Mother," Xiao Chengyu gritted his teeth, "I cannot be so selfish. Yes, I don’t know how many years I have left, perhaps a decade or more. But what if it’s five years, or three years? I cannot force her into despair for the sake of my own hope."
"Rather than letting her face prolonged suffering on her own after a brief interaction, it’s better not to be involved from the start," Xiao Chengyu said, lowering his eyes.
The old Madam was so angry that she couldn’t speak for a long while.
She took a deep breath, "Chengyu, whether you marry her or not, it’s uncertain if she even has affection for you."
Xiao Chengyu couldn’t help but look over. Seeing his reaction, the old Madam sneered inwardly.
Still stubborn like this.
"Tell me, do you like her or not?" the old Madam asked, "It’s okay, be honest with me. Even if you say you like her deeply, as long as you don’t want to marry, I won’t force her to marry you."
"I also like Shinian very much, I won’t be the villain forcing her," the old Madam said, "We owe her a great debt, repaying it’s not soon enough, let alone having the right to force the girl."
"So, just tell me the truth."
Xiao Chengyu was silent for a moment, then said, "No, I don’t like her."
The old Madam sighed, "I see, you say that, I hope you don’t regret it later."
"I won’t regret it," Xiao Chengyu said solemnly.
The old Madam nodded, "If that’s the case, then stay away from the girl."
Seeing Xiao Chengyu looking over, the old Madam said, "Otherwise, being so good to her might lead her to develop feelings for you. But then you refuse to marry her, isn’t that leading her into a trap?"
"Mother speaks with reason," Xiao Chengyu nodded, "I’ve been careless, I’ll be more mindful."
The old Madam smiled, and said, "However, you don’t have to be that cautious."
"Shinian might not even fancy you," the old Madam said with a smile.
Xiao Chengyu: "..."
"Perhaps she also disdains your short life," the old Madam continued to prick his heart.
Xiao Chengyu: "..."
Leaving the old Madam’s courtyard, Xiao Chengyu stopped after walking a few steps, seemingly without realizing it. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
Thinking of Fu Shinian, he sighed heavily.
At least his mother got one thing right.
Even if he really likes her, as long as he doesn’t intend to marry her, it’s better to keep some distance.
Yet, despite this, when he was busy with official duties at night, Jing Lai reminded him, "Lord Marquis, don’t forget the second miss’s reminder, rest early. The work is never-ending; only by resting well will you have the energy to continue tomorrow."
Upon hearing Fu Shinian’s name, Xiao Chengyu slowly put down his pen, "I know."
