Wei Rui grew more anxious: "Don't move! This is my mistress's villa, there's no danger here. Just rest and recover." How unreasonable.
Lin Qingyuan's face turned paler, his expression bitter. Having been in a brawl in the western city, and under such circumstances, what must she think of him? A street ruffian? Worthless trash that can't be helped? "I feel much better, I should return…" He insisted on leaving.
"How can you… Stop moving! If you keep this up, the Princess's efforts will be wasted!"
What was merely a casual act for her meant far more to him. But having exhausted his strength, Lin Qingyuan immediately collapsed back.
The medicine boy hurriedly applied acupuncture.
Wei Rui stamped her foot: "I told you not to push yourself."
…
Inside the Duke Mansion.
A quiet long corridor wound around stone steps, extending over a clear pond. At the pond's end stood a pavilion surrounded by an eight-panel screen.
The Duchess waved her round fan while gazing affectionately at her daughter, surrounded by servants in elegant luxury: "Xiaoyu, did any young gentlemen catch your eye at the Autumn Frost Banquet?"
Song Chuyu looked at the trays of treasures before her, picked up a string of eastern pearls, found them too plain, and set them down: "I told you, none."
"Young Master Yan seems quite suitable to me."
"He's not appropriate."
"Why isn't he appropriate?"
"He won't marry into our family."
The Duchess laughed: "Silly girl, with so many brothers and sisters in the family, why would we need you to take in a husband? What about the new Number One Scholar? I heard he attended too."
"I don't like him."
"What do you know about what's good? I think he's quite fine – talented and dignified in appearance."
Song Chuyu picked up a carved wooden bracelet and put it on her wrist, her fair skin like a painting: "But Mother, you're asking me to choose. If I feel he's unsuitable, then he's unsuitable."
The Duchess waved her hand, dismissing the jewelry attendants: "Then who is suitable? The person you're keeping at your villa is suitable? This is improper! Rescuing someone from the western city and housing him in your villa – what would people think if they found out? Send him back to the Cao family."
Song Chuyu suddenly stilled. Her mother's words chilled her heart. Was he not worthy of a villa? What would be wrong with him living in the Anguo Duke Mansion?
But whether now or after pacifying the Three Rivers and Nine Streams, Shangjing City always deemed him unworthy. Unworthy to be mentioned in the same breath as them, unworthy of noble families' recognition. No matter what he accomplished, they dismissed it as cunning schemes and underhanded methods.
Even when he nearly became a homeless dog, they only granted him the comment 'at least he didn't do entirely evil deeds.'
An indescribable sorrow filled Song Chuyu's heart.
Was this his destiny? To walk this same path over and over again!
She had never considered changing Lin Qingyuan's fate, because any slight deviation could endanger Great Xia with the risk of national collapse.
But did that mean he should naturally tread his previous life's path again?
A road paved with thorns, walked alone.
The incident in the western city clearly showed he had enemies. His health later deteriorated increasingly, his foes multiplied – besides chronic illness, there were assassination attempts.
They enjoyed peace and prosperity built upon his achievements, yet begrudged him proper recognition.
Why?
The peace enjoyed by all of them was founded upon his accomplishments.
Now with this second chance, why should he still bear these burdens? He had single-handedly turned the tide – he deserved to enjoy glory and wealth, to be respected by all.
Madam Song poked her daughter: "What's wrong? I was just speaking casually…"
"Mother, you've reminded me of something." She had never considered this possibility before.
"What is it?"
Never thought of letting heroes bask in glory. Even if the world were plunged into misery and suffering, he should enjoy a life of luxury and prosperity, rather than wish for Lin Qingyuan to exhaust his efforts protecting them once more.
If he couldn't bear to see the nation collapse and the people displaced, she would strive in his stead—walk his path, and safeguard his peaceful enjoyment of life.
"Mother, I will marry him." Song Chuyu's expression was resolute.
"Hah." Lady Song had never considered her daughter irrational, but now she wondered how anyone sane could utter such words: "Nonsense."
"I mean it." Song Chuyu looked at her mother solemnly, the wooden bracelet on her wrist sliding down to the back of her hand, its subtle fragrance lingering. She would give him her glory and attempt to walk the path he once tread.
Lady Song, alarmed, grabbed her daughter's arm: "I misspoke earlier. If you don't like the young men in Shangjing City, we can find others."
"Mother." Song Chuyu was not joking. "Please consider it."
"Consider what? I disagree. Your father and your aunt will never agree. If the Emperor learns you're rejecting him for a servant, he might not die of anger, but the Empress Dowager would surely be enraged by you!"
"But what if I claim publicly that he saved me when I passed by the west city as the Princess?" As the son-in-law of Anguo Duke Mansion and the nephew-in-law of the regent Empress Dowager, a decade of glory would be guaranteed.
Ten years later, the Song family's prestige might wane, but Lin Qingyuan would have long passed. In his lifetime, he deserved the pinnacle of honor.
"Don't even think about it!"
"Mother, my mind is made up. Find a reason to convince yourself."
Lady Song was exasperated: "Xiaoyu, which of my words was wrong? Tell me, and I'll change it."
"Mother." Song Chuyu helped her mother sit down. "Zhuang Momo, take everyone out."
Zhuang Momo glanced anxiously at her mistress, fearing Lady Song might be driven to distress by the Princess's stubbornness, but she had no place to interject: "Yes."
"Mother, do you think Aunt will return governance to the Emperor?"