Union

Chapter 169 Mutual Affection
"Your daughter, of the Yun family, is diligent and virtuous, prudent and virtuous. She has developed terraced fields to benefit the people, cared for children and the elderly to comfort the common people, and is gentle, wise, and virtuous, and well-versed in etiquette... Now, she is freed from her slave status and granted the title of Sixth-Rank Lady of the Court..."

The imperial edict was flowery and eloquent, but it didn't require deep thought; in plain language, it was well-written but not suitable for the illiterate.

Yunying wasn't illiterate, but having used vernacular Chinese for so long, she found it difficult to understand these overly formal ancient phrases.

In addition, her mind was blank and she was dizzy. She was so confused that she couldn't remember anything the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict said.

But some of those words still got over my ears.

For example, the phrase "removed from slavery" and "conferred the title of sixth-rank Anren"...

In a daze, Yunying wondered, whose slave should she take, and who should she appoint as a sixth-rank lady?
With her mind a complete mess, Yunying hadn't figured anything out when the Second Master had already supported her waist, leaned slightly closer to her, and made her "kowtow and thank the Emperor."

Yunying obeyed the Second Master's every command and let him do as he pleased. Thus, she awkwardly kowtowed and thanked him.

When the Second Master picked her up again, Yunying felt even more dizzy. Her face was pale as she clung to the Second Master, covering her mouth with her hands to prevent herself from vomiting at any moment.

The eunuchs seemed to be flattering her, saying that she was "greatly kind and benevolent" and "benefited the people," and that "good deeds will surely be rewarded" and that "she will have a smooth and prosperous future."

Yunying paid no attention to any of this. She listened to the Second Master exchanging pleasantries with others and watched as Suiyu and Moxue personally escorted the two eunuchs onto the carriage and saw them off into the distance.

Yunying was finally carried back to her room by the Second Master.

Once her head was on the pillow, the tumultuous feeling finally subsided, and Yunying regained her senses.

She grabbed the Second Master's hand, her brows furrowed slightly, and said, "I've been freed from slavery?"

The second master turned her over, took her hand in his palm, and then touched her forehead.

"It's clear he really kowtowed hard; he's dizzy. Didn't you really hear the imperial edict the eunuch read aloud just now?"

The Second Master chuckled and held a bright yellow imperial edict in front of Yun Ying. "If you didn't hear it clearly, how about I read it to you again now?"

Yunying looked at the imperial edict in front of her.

The bright yellow color was so warm and vibrant, and the fragrance of fine paper and ink wafted through the jacquard brocade to the tip of her nose. Yunying, who had been listless, suddenly became radiant.

"Second Master, I've been freed from slavery? Not only have I been freed from slavery, but I've also become a sixth-rank concubine?"

Yunying's voice was slightly hoarse, and there was a hint of disbelief in it.

Seeing the shock and fear in her eyes, the Second Master couldn't bear to tease her any longer. He said, "That's right, you've been freed from your slave status. His Majesty personally removed your slave status. This is because you've contributed to the country and its people by building terraced fields. Also, because you built two orphanages in Yun Gui County free of charge, helping to resettle many homeless, elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people. Yun Ying, His Majesty knows everything you've done. You've been granted the title of Sixth-Rank Lady of the Court, which you deserve."

The second master said a lot, saying that since Yunying had done a good deed, she should be rewarded; he said that Yunying no longer needed to worry about her identity, and she no longer needed to be subject to any control or manipulation.

She can walk proudly under the sun, without feeling inferior to anyone.

She will be a law-abiding citizen from now on, and no one can arbitrarily decide her life or death.

Yunying listened silently, her eyes closed.

She seemed to be asleep; her breathing was shallow and almost inaudible.

But soon, tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

The teardrop started as a single drop, quickly grew into a string, and then, like a babbling brook, it surged and flowed forth continuously.

Yunying finally couldn't control herself and burst into tears.

As she cried, she gagged a few times and then leaned over the bed to vomit painfully.

But her stomach was already empty; there was nothing there. She vomited and vomited, but only a little bitter liquid came out.

The bitterness was so intense, so astringent, that Yunying frowned and closed her eyes tightly.

Her pain was visible to the naked eye, and she curled up in discomfort once again.

While the second master called to the maid to quickly clean up the filth, he held Yunying in his arms and continued to massage her acupoints.

"Alright, stop crying. Your head injury is serious. The doctor said you should avoid extreme joy or sorrow."

"I couldn't resist, I resigned."

Upon hearing this, the Second Master chuckled, "I know you've been removed from the official register, and I also know that you're now a Lady of the Imperial Household. A sixth-rank Lady of the Imperial Household, you're now two ranks higher than me."

Yunying patted the Second Master, who laughed again, "Ouch, if Madam hits me, I dare not fight back. Do you still have the strength? If you do, hit me a couple more times!"

Yunying's fists hardened.

She was excitedly teary-eyed when that bastard Chen Yanzhou came to provoke her.

What? Hit me a couple more times? She was dizzy and vomiting; her whole body felt awful, like her internal organs were out of place. He's a bad man; he still wants to torment her.

Yun Ying's breathing became heavy with anger.

Hearing the noise, the second master knew he had angered her. He dared not act foolishly again, otherwise he might really upset Yun Ying to the point of illness, and she would ignore him... No, the consequences would be too severe, just thinking about it made him feel terrible.

Second Master placed Yunying on the bed again.

Yunying remained silent. The Second Master waited for a while, but when he didn't see Yunying glare at him, he felt a little uneasy.

He rubbed Yunying's hand, "Has your true energy arrived?"

He thought Yunying wouldn't pay him any attention, but to his surprise, she looked up at him. Her eyes were watery, and soon tears welled up in them again.

Second Master was at a loss again. "Don't cry. I have a sharp tongue. I won't tease you anymore, okay?"

Yunying shook her head, but before she could shake it twice, the Second Master cupped her head in his hands.

"Stop shaking me, or I'll throw up again."

Yunying stopped shaking. She simply turned her head and rubbed it against the Second Master's palm, mumbling, "Chen Yanzhou, thank you."

Second Master froze in place.

He knew what Yunying was talking about, but he would rather she not say "thank you".

That's too formal.

What he sought was not her gratitude.

"I brought this disaster upon you. If I don't resolve this matter, how will I face you in the future?"

Yunying shook her head again, "That's not how it is. Lin Shuqing is targeting not only you, but also me. I hurt her reputation, and she can't wait to get rid of me... I thank you for helping me get rid of my status, you know, this has always been a worry of mine."

Chen Yanzhou fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke in a sly tone, "Since you're thanking me, you can't just say it. Yunying, they say a life-saving grace should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. While what I've done may not be a life-saving grace, it certainly deserves the title of a second life. How about you repay me with your body..."

Chen Yanzhou was met with a slap from Yun Ying. "You're talking nonsense again."

Chen Yanzhou's smile vanished at this moment. "How did I talk nonsense?"

Yunying turned her head away from him, her voice low and forlorn. "Even if I'm ignorant, I know that people these days value marriage between people of similar social standing..."

Chen Yanzhou is from a prestigious family, but what about her?

She was originally a slave, but now, thanks to her contribution to the terraced fields, she has been freed from slavery and granted the title of a sixth-rank lady.

However, the titles and honors bestowed upon the ladies of the inner court were merely nominal, without any real benefits.

Furthermore, even though she is now a Lady An, she was once a slave, and her origins are still shameful. Could someone as wretched as herself truly marry Chen Yanzhou and become his wife?
Yunying had hoped for it, but she knew it was unrealistic.

Chen Yanzhou, however, gripped her hand tightly and said to Yun Ying, "Look at me."

"Yunying, in my first marriage, I chose Lin Shuqing, who was my equal in social standing, and what was the result?" In the end, this marriage, which was based on taking responsibility for a woman's innocence, turned out to be a complete mess.

From their wedding night onward, he and Lin Shuqing loathed each other. They couldn't even consummate their marriage, and lived like complete strangers in the same mansion, leading completely separate lives.

Under these circumstances, it seems to be foreseeable that Lin Shuqing would refuse to accompany him to his post in Lingnan and that she would have an affair.

Marriages forced together by circumstances are unlikely to be happy, and marriages without an emotional foundation are even more of a disaster.

Chen Yanzhou said, "My first marriage was not my choice. For my next marriage, I want to marry a girl I like and who likes me. Yunying, I like you, and you are the only one in my heart. Are you really going to keep me at arm's length because of societal taboos? Yunying, how can you bear to do that?"

Yunying couldn't bear it, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.

She was now completely shocked.

First, it was shocking that Second Master and Lin Shuqing were only married in name, as they had never consummated their marriage...

Yes.

Back in Yungui County, there was a time when the Second Master was pushed to the limit by her, and he seemed to have said that he and Lin Shuqing were not a proper couple.

Did he think at that time that he and Lin Shuqing had been completely innocent from beginning to end, and that neither of them had ever been close to the other?

But for a man, this wasn't something worth mentioning. That's why the Second Master spoke so subtly. Hadn't he already confessed his feelings to her then and there?
But being slow-witted, she initially took it as just ordinary dialogue and forgot about it after hearing it only once. Later, however, she did try to delve into the deeper meaning of the words.

Now that she thinks about it again, Yunying realizes how incredibly stupid she was! And how incredibly stoic the Second Master was!
Of course, on the other hand, Yunying was also shocked that the Second Master revealed his feelings at this time.

He likes her.

Although they had known about this for a long time, neither of them were people who showed their emotions openly.

Some feelings, due to the stagnation in the hearts of both people, or because the timing is not right, are preferred to be kept deep in their hearts, but they are willing to talk about them openly.

And now, the Second Master has truly said those words.

He said: Yunying, I love you, you are all I see and feel.

He said: Yunying, you are the only one I want to marry.

Yunying suddenly felt as if she had won a lottery jackpot of hundreds of millions, and she became completely elated.

Her body felt light, as if she were floating in mid-air, lying on a cloud.

She swayed in the wind, drifting here and there, gently rocking back and forth, and people felt peaceful and serene, wanting to fall asleep in this atmosphere.

At this moment, the Second Master spoke again, "Yun Ying, speak to me, don't leave me hanging. I'm feeling very suffocated and panicked."

"Ah, speak, what should I say?"

Yunying suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze still somewhat drowsy and confused.

He looks like he just woke up.

Upon seeing this, the second master's eyes immediately turned hostile.

He narrowed his phoenix eyes as he looked at Yun Ying, "Were you asleep just now?"

Yunying dared not admit it; she seemed to have actually taken a nap.

She quickly shook her head.

Second Master said, "Don't shake your head, speak."

"It would be a miracle if I could sleep with you making so much noise."

"Then tell me, what have you thought about it? Do you want to marry me?"

"Marriage? Isn't this too fast?" Yunying was flustered and didn't know what to do with her hands and feet. "Although, although I am very grateful to you for helping me get out of the palace and arranging a concubine status for me..."

"You're mistaken. I didn't help you get rid of your social status. I was simply telling His Majesty the truth about a girl named Yunying under my rule, how capable she was, how she built terraced fields, and how she made great contributions to the country and the people. Helping you get rid of your social status was His Majesty's will, and bestowing upon you the title of Anren was His Majesty's intention to make you a role model, a model for all women in the land to learn from..."

Yunying laughed. "This is the first time I've ever seen someone willingly push credit away. But it's pointless for you to do so. Do you think I don't know you? You've been thinking about this for a long time, haven't you? Have you been planning to use this method to help me get rid of my status and stop being controlled by Lin Shuqing? You're attributing all the credit to the Emperor, and I'm grateful for the Emperor's boundless grace, but I know in my heart that without you, without your elaborate schemes, would the Emperor even know who I am? And how could the Emperor have bestowed such honors upon me today?"

Yunying took Chen Yanzhou's hand, "I know you're doing this for my own good."

Chen Yanzhou finally hummed in response after a long pause.

Seeing his awkwardness, Yunying couldn't help but laugh.

Actually, she could guess what the Second Master was thinking.

He pursues the purity of emotions.

He was probably worried that she would agree to marry him out of gratitude for his actions.

That would taint their marriage with other impurities, making it unclean.

What are people thinking about?

And who says that a marriage based on gratitude or appreciation is not pure?
Wait a minute, how did we get onto the topic of marriage?
Yunying scratched Chen Yanzhou's palm and remained silent for a long time. When she spoke again, she called out softly, "Yanzhou."

Chen Yanzhou suddenly raised his head, as if he couldn't believe what he had heard.

Yunying insisted that the shout wasn't hers. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she initially turned her face away from him. But in the end, she turned her head back and looked at him solemnly, saying, "I have no parents or elders, and my background is not honorable. If you marry me, you must accept my shortcomings, accept the lack of a family to support you, and accept that others will look down on you because they look down on me..."

Chen Yanzhou gripped her hand tightly, a lump forming in his throat.

He held Yunying's hand and kissed it lightly.

“You are not bad, you are very good! Even if someone says something bad about you, that person is shallow. When I marry, I only want to marry the one I love. A man should pursue what he wants with his own abilities. How can I expect to have you, the one I love, and also make you perfect? ​​If that were the case, I would be too greedy.”