vrcanaries Chapter 1345 As a Wife
Chapter 1345 As a Wife
Zhan Mu helped Rong Zhiyu to his feet, took a deep breath, and spoke frankly: "Mother, Zhiyu took an arrow to save my life. Although his injury is gradually improving, the outside world is not as good as home, so I brought him back to recuperate properly."
Having said that, how could Lin Yiwan refuse?
She quickly and calmly said, "Then let's go inside!"
Once inside the warm pavilion, Zhan Mu solemnly declared, "Mother, I wish to marry Zhiyu. I hope you will agree!"
Upon hearing this, not only was Lin Yiwan stunned, but the servants around her also showed expressions of shock.
Lin Yiwan snapped out of her daze, her gaze falling on Rong Zhiyu again. She looked him up and down, her tone tinged with confusion: "Mu'er, what nonsense are you talking about? Scholar Rong is clearly a young master!"
Rong Zhiyu's heart tightened, and she subconsciously wanted to shrink back, but Zhan Mu held her hand tightly.
Zhan Mu gave her a reassuring look, then looked at Lin Yiwan and told her in detail the reason why Rong Zhiyu was disguised as a man, how the two met and fell in love, and his promise of marriage, without hiding anything.
Lin Yiwan's expression grew increasingly grim as she listened. Only after Zhan Mu finished speaking did she speak with a dark look in her eyes: "Mu'er, marriage is a serious matter and must be taken very seriously!"
She didn't blindly refuse, fearing it would cause him to reject her, so she could only gently remind him.
Zhan Mu had already anticipated his mother's opposition, but his expression remained stubborn: "Mother, Zhiyu was my classmate, and I know her character better than anyone. I marry her because I genuinely want to protect her. She saved my life, and I personally treated her arrow wound. She can only marry me!"
Before Lin Yiwan could say anything, Rong Zhiyu, who was already swaying, spoke first: "Brother Mu, I'm sorry, perhaps I shouldn't have come to the Marquis of Zhanyi's residence. I didn't mean for you and the Marquis's wife to have a falling out because of me. I'll leave now!"
After she finished speaking, she turned around and staggered out.
Zhan Mu's expression changed drastically. He rushed over to stop her, saying, "Zhiyu, my mother just doesn't understand the relationship between us. I will beg her. Please don't leave!"
Rong Zhiyu said bitterly, "The world is so vast, there must be a place for me, Rong Zhiyu. Since I can come to the capital to live alone, I can go to other places. From now on, we will go our separate ways!"
She ignored Zhan Mu and left resolutely.
Zhan Mu froze, then turned angrily to glare at Lin Yiwan: "Mother, are you trying to force your son out of the Zhanyi Marquis's mansion as well? Or are you trying to brand your son with the stigma of repaying kindness with enmity?"
Lin Yiwan's mind raced. She had to admit that Rong Zhiyu had really caught her off guard; the people she had sent out to investigate her identity hadn't returned yet.
But she also knew that even if she came back, her son's love for her wouldn't change anything.
She could only suppress her turbulent thoughts and strode after him. She grabbed Rong Zhiyu's wrist and said, "Scholar Rong, no, that's not right, I should call you Miss Rong. Stop right there. No matter what, you are Mu'er's savior. Our Zhanyi Marquis's Mansion will never let you wander outside."
Rong Zhiyu spoke in a broken voice: "Madam Hou, you don't need to put yourself in such a difficult position. The reason I shielded Brother Mu from the arrow was because I considered him a confidant. I would be willing to die for him, not because I wanted to gain any benefit from it!"
Upon hearing this, Zhan Mu was even more moved.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Mother, now you should understand, right? It's not that Rong Zhiyu has any feelings for me, but that I want to marry her!"
Lin Yiwan understood perfectly well that her son had already lost his mind, and no amount of persuasion would be of any use.
Saying more will only increase his resentment and push him further away.
She immediately compromised: "Alright, alright, Mother understands your thoughts. Miss Rong is an honored guest, so let her stay at Shaohua Courtyard. Once she's settled, Mother will help you arrange the engagement!"
Zhan Mu then calmed down and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Mother!"
Lin Yiwan smiled with her eyes narrowed, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
At night, when Zhan Yan returned from outside, he saw her sitting on the bed with a serious expression, as if she was sulking.
Zhan Yan changed out of his court robes, walked to the bedside and sat down. He reached out and patted Lin Yiwan's shoulder, his tone tinged with a hint of helpless teasing: "How old are you? Still sulking like a child? What happened in the manor?"
Lin Yiwan suddenly turned to look at him, her eyes filled with grievance and resentment. The emotions that had been building up all day burst forth instantly: "What else could have happened? It's all because of your good son! Now that he's all grown up, he doesn't listen to me at all!"
As she spoke, she slammed her fist on the bed, her voice rising several decibels: "So it turns out that Rong Zhiyu, the scholar, is actually a girl. I thought that since she deceived Mu'er first, Mu'er should have given up on the idea even if she didn't blame her. Who knew that he would not only not mind at all, but also wanted to marry her on the spot in order to repay her life-saving grace!"
Upon hearing this, Zhan Yan's eyes flashed with surprise, and then he said in a deep voice, "How did you come to receive this life-saving grace?"
Lin Yiwan's voice was agitated, her chest heaving violently: "I heard that she was assassinated at Mingzhu Tower. So much time has passed, the assassin can no longer be traced. This woman's origins are unknown. She disguised herself as a man to infiltrate the academy and deceived Mu'er for so long. Her intentions are hard to fathom!"
She paused and then said, "It's not that I care about social status. As long as Mu'er likes someone, even if he's a beggar on the street, I'll accept him. But I absolutely cannot stand by and watch him be deceived and schemed against!"
She became increasingly angry as she spoke, and her eyes even reddened.
She sobbed, feeling wronged: "I tried everything to reason with him today, but he wouldn't listen to a word. He even turned around and questioned me, saying that I was trying to drive him away and that I wanted to make him look like an ingrate! Tell me, would I, as his mother, harm him? All I want is for him to find a reliable wife and live a peaceful life!"
Zhan Yan listened quietly, his fingers lightly tapping his knees, his expression gradually becoming serious. He
He naturally understood Lin Yiwan's concerns. The marriage of the eldest son of the Marquis's family was never just a matter between two people; it concerned the rise and fall of the entire family. However, Zhan Mu was stubborn by nature, and once he made up his mind, nothing could change it.
He frowned and pondered, "We can make a decision after the person who inquired about Rong Zhiyu's background returns. In the next few days, I will take Zhan Mu to the palace and have him organize the Emperor's collection of books to avoid contact between the two of them, so as to prevent irreparable disaster from occurring!"
Lin Yiwan's eyes lit up; this was indeed a great idea.
She was worried that if they slept together, and before they were even engaged, a scandal would break out about her being pregnant.
Then there's absolutely no way to stop this marriage.
The next day, Zhan Mu was taken to the palace by Zhan Yan.
Although Rong Zhiyu was reluctant, she was unable to stop him.
She stayed quietly in Shaohua Academy reading, keeping a low profile.
After several days of peaceful coexistence, Zi'er finally received news about Rong Zhiyu.
She quickly reported to Lin Yiwan: "He is indeed from Jiangnan, an orphan, and has no relatives at home!"