Chapter 809: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 809: A Brief Moment of Tender Intentions (1)
As everyone in the hall secretly calculated their own interests, they couldn't help but feel a mix of shock and admiration for Xiao Ruiyuan's boldness. After all, not everyone had the courage to reject the goodwill of a ruler. However, his rejection only proved his high favor with the emperor, and his future prospects were bound to be bright.
Mo Yan stared at Xiao Ruiyuan, who appeared completely serious, her heart consumed by his words. She never expected to hear the most beautiful confession of love in such a setting.
In the past, she had hesitated about accepting his feelings, mainly because in an era where multiple wives and concubines were allowed, she feared he would find it difficult to give her a lifetime of loyalty and love.
But now, their relationship was solidified, and their feelings deepened. He had never uttered such words before, and she had never pressured him for such a promise. Tonight, the promise she longed to hear had finally come.
Xiao Ruiyuan, seemingly aware of her emotions, shifted his gaze to her face. In their eyes, a deep desire for the purest form of love could be seen.
"Haha, I didn’t realize Xiao Aiqing was such a man of sentiment!" Emperor Hui’an chuckled. "Very well, if you meet a woman you admire, my promise today still stands. I will grant you a marriage!"
The benevolent monarch did not appear angry after his proposal was rejected, though a flicker of dark emotion briefly flashed in his eyes, betraying his true feelings.
Xiao Ruiyuan respectfully cupped his hands and thanked the emperor, but inwardly, he did not feel completely at ease.
He knew that Emperor Hui’an, aware of his affection for Mo Yan, would not have proposed the marriage so casually. There had to be some deeper meaning behind the offer.
He glanced toward the front row where Chu Heng was seated, the distance between them being seven or eight seats away.
Not only did Xiao Ruiyuan sense something was amiss, but both Yan Junyu and Chu Heng also realized that things weren’t as simple as they seemed. Both of them shared the same unease as they tried to understand the emperor's intentions.
Both knew how deeply Xiao Ruiyuan cared for Mo Yan, and if the two lovers were to be kept apart, they could not bear to imagine the consequences.
The brief marriage discussion passed, and the hall returned to its previous lively atmosphere. The officials raised their cups and exchanged toasts, reminiscing about the past. Meanwhile, the dancers in the hall lost their earlier grace and liveliness, but who would care about the dancers' thoughts?
As the night wore on, some lower-ranking officials, whose alcohol tolerance was poor, became drunk and made harmless, laughable mistakes. Since it was a joyful occasion, no one spoke out in reprimand.
Mo Yan, as the County Princess, had quite a few women come to toast her, especially after Emperor Hui’an had specifically inquired about her. With more people approaching her for a drink, she could hardly escape the constant toasts. Fortunately, her tolerance had been built up by the various fruit wines available in the space, so she wasn’t easily drunk.
Even so, the sheer number of toasts made it inevitable that her face, once pale and delicate, now appeared flushed, as if painted with the brightest rouge. The radiance added a layer of charm to her already ethereal beauty, making it hard for anyone to take their eyes off her.
Xiao Ruiyuan’s gaze never left her. His alcohol tolerance was good, and with his status, he didn’t need to appease anyone. He had no obligation to drink every cup offered to him, yet his expression remained calm and his eyes clear.
However, when he saw the frown on her delicate brow, her fragile appearance making her seem vulnerable, he suddenly felt as though he was the one intoxicated. Why else would he have such an overwhelming desire to keep her hidden away from everyone’s prying eyes?
But someone had already noticed.
"Tsk, tsk. I thought she was just a young girl, but after drinking, she suddenly looks all grown up. If only I had some ink, I’d paint this moment and hang it in my room to admire!"
[End of Chapter]
No comments: