Chapter 808: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 808: A Marriage Granted, Never to Part (4)
If this were any other year, being teased like this would have been fine. However, with the woman he loved present, Xiao Ruiyuan could not afford to let her misunderstand him. Even though she appeared indifferent, he could not tolerate anyone else interfering in their relationship.
His words were skillfully phrased. Except for those who knew about his feelings for Mo Yan, everyone else took it at face value, thinking he had no such intentions. They were left with a sense of regret.
If Xiao Ruiyuan truly had his eye on one of the dancers, it would show he had finally woken up to his desires. They could then push forward and try to marry off their eligible daughters to him. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful outcome?
Emperor Hui’an’s gaze sharpened slightly, his eyes briefly scanning Mo Yan, who was still admiring the performance, before shifting back to Xiao Ruiyuan. He spoke kindly, “Next year you’ll be twenty-four, it’s time for you to marry! Why don’t I take it upon myself today to grant you a wife of both talent and virtue, thus fulfilling a long-held wish of mine!”
As soon as he said this, not only did Xiao Ruiyuan’s brow twitch, but even Mo Yan, who had been pretending to watch the dance, could no longer keep up the act. She nervously fixed her gaze on him, fearing that if he responded poorly, Emperor Hui’an might indeed grant him a noble, talented woman. She understood very well that she was far from being the kind of woman the emperor spoke of.
The officials and their wives, whose daughters were of marriageable age, were equally excited, eagerly looking at Emperor Hui’an, hoping he would immediately issue the decree, thus granting them the opportunity to marry off their daughters to the general.
Xiao Ruiyuan understood Emperor Hui’an far better than Mo Yan did. This marriage offer wasn’t so much a request for his opinion, but rather the emperor had already made up his mind. That so-called noble, talented woman would certainly not be someone he liked.
Knowing full well about his feelings for Mo Yan, Emperor Hui’an still brought up the marriage proposal, and Xiao Ruiyuan quickly realized the emperor’s intentions. He thought fast, contemplating how to respond. He could name the woman he truly admired, but doing so would only open the door to suspicion. Mo Yan might face unwanted gossip, so he could not name her publicly.
With this in mind, Xiao Ruiyuan stood up and addressed Emperor Hui’an with a firm voice, “I swore before my late mother’s grave that I would only marry the woman I truly love, and I will never break that vow. If I ever find her, I will ask His Majesty for this grace.”
These words were not just for Emperor Hui’an; they were also for the person he intended to marry. He never wanted his mother’s tragedy to repeat itself for the woman he loved.
The officials were stunned, watching Xiao Ruiyuan with disbelief. They found it hard to understand his desire to remain faithful to one woman for life. After all, men weren’t like women, who were expected to be devoted to one man. Having multiple wives was the norm. How could a man, especially one as accomplished as Xiao Ruiyuan, dedicate himself to only one woman?
The wives, on the other hand, were deeply shaken. They had thought that the young and indifferent General Xiao, who had earned fame early, was like many self-important men who saw women as tools for their ambitions. They never expected him to offer a woman the kind of lifelong love that all women dream of. How many men in the world could make such a commitment?
No one doubted that Xiao Ruiyuan’s words were true, and if he ever broke his vow, he could be punished severely. His declaration of loyalty struck a chord with the wives, weaving a beautiful dream for them. Though they couldn’t make that dream a reality for themselves, they hoped their daughters might one day meet a husband like him.
Despite their differing thoughts, one thing remained consistent among the officials and their wives: they would continue trying to marry their daughters to Xiao Ruiyuan. No matter how many times he rejected them, he was still unmarried. One day, they might be able to bring their daughters before him, and perhaps he would take an interest in them.
[End of Chapter]
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