“But I only love Wanwan. Other women are not worth mentioning in my eyes.” A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Hmph, I don’t believe you! If men were reliable, pigs could climb trees!”
She snorted coldly, stuffing a large mouthful of rice into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out, making her look both angry and even more charmingly adorable.
That Miss Lin was truly incompetent—she had delivered herself to him and even drugged him, yet he still didn’t take the bait. Instead, he returned to his room, leaving her to suffer the consequences. As she ate angrily, her facial expressions shifted dramatically.
Wei Chenheng found it amusing, his heart softening as he let out a light chuckle.
“Why don’t you believe me? Is it because I seem unreliable?”
Precisely because he seemed too reliable.
She blinked, a hint of slyness flashing in her eyes, and retorted, “Then, does my husband think Wanwan is reliable?”
Wei Chenheng couldn’t help but laugh, his voice gentle as he replied, “In this world, women don’t need to be self-reliant. How could Wanwan possibly be someone I rely on?”
“I think my husband is wrong,” Ning Wanwan argued. “If we dismantle these feudal norms, abolish those oppressive rituals that subjugate women, and allow women to go out freely, receive an education, and pursue their passions, then women might not be inferior to men. They could even hold up half the sky. By then, all women in this world would be reliable!”
Wei Chenheng was taken aback, startled by Ning Wanwan’s bold ideas. From a young age, he had been taught that women should remain secluded at home, adhere to the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, and submit to their husbands and sons. Women were supposed to be the weaker, obedient party.
He had never considered that women could be figures to rely on.
Even his mother and the other women in Wei Manor had never harbored such rebellious thoughts.
“So-called feudal ethics are nothing but oppression and bondage for women.” If men and women were equal, women might not be inferior to men. Don’t you agree, husband?”
He paused, finding himself at a loss for words to refute her.
“It’s fine if you don’t agree, husband. Wanwan has merely read about a parallel world—one without hierarchies, where men and women are equal, and marriage is free.”
Wei Chenheng was astonished and asked, “Does such a world truly exist?”
Ning Wanwan lowered her gaze and whispered, “It’s only mentioned in unofficial histories. I stumbled upon it and found it interesting. Forgive my foolishness, husband.”
“I don’t deny that there have been many outstanding women in history who achieved great things.”
“So, does husband agree with my viewpoint?”
“I respect Wanwan’s thoughts and will try to understand them.Wei Chenheng’s eyes were tender, his voice warm as he said, “In my presence, Wanwan can always be herself, free from the oppression and constraints of feudal norms. If you wish to go out, study, or pursue your passions, you may do so. I will always be your support.”
She looked up at him, noticing an unusual glow in his captivating peach-blossom eyes—filled with joy and sincerity, making him seem entirely different from his usual self.
It was impossible for her heart not to stir.
Wei Chenheng was too gentle.
So gentle that she nearly drowned in the overwhelming tide of his affection.
“Why do you treat me so well, husband? To you, I am merely a sycophantic gift sent by the Master to the general’s manor—lowly in status and unworthy of your genuine affection.”
His dark eyes sparkled as he earnestly replied, “I treat you well because I have long regarded you as my own wife.”
She lifted her gaze to him, never imagining the word “wife” would come from his lips.
Not a concubine, but a wife.
Gently, he took her small hand, his rough, calloused palm enveloping hers.
“Since you have married me, you are my wife for life, Wei Chenheng. Others’ opinions of you do not matter; what matters is that you must not belittle yourself. I do not wish to hear you speak of being unworthy of me again. Understand?”
She froze for a moment, staring at him blankly, and asked, “But what if it were someone else? If the person chosen by the Master had been another, would you treat her the same way?”
Hearing this, he paused, his brow slightly furrowed as if deeply contemplating the question, before answering after a long moment, “No.”
“Why are you so certain, husband? What if the girl who married into Wei Manor was as beautiful as a celestial being, even more lovely than I?”
Wei Chenheng replied calmly, “Wanwan, do you think that in my position, I haven’t seen all kinds of women? Whether princesses, cousins, or Miss Lin from yesterday, how could I not know what they harbor in their hearts?”
“Then what are your thoughts, husband?”
He spoke gravely, “In matters of marriage, I have always been indifferent to the arrangements of parents and matchmakers. Now that the Master has used the Emperor’s decree to bestow this marriage, whoever was sent to my manor, I would have accepted and borne the responsibility, but I would not have invested much heart in it. Yet…”
He hesitated, his expression shifting subtly, and said in a husky voice, “My original intention was to keep you in the manor and part ways. But that day, when we were to separate, for some reason, seeing you cry stirred something in my heart—”
“Was it then that you felt pity for me, husband?”
His profound eyes were deep and clear, his expression somewhat lost. “Perhaps so. I couldn’t quite discern that emotion, but I simply did not wish to see you cry.”
He chuckled softly, “You should only cry when I make you.”
A blush spread across her cheeks, and the clear sunlight falling on her face added a touch of soft beauty.
“Wanwan, what is this world of marital freedom you mentioned earlier like?”
Ning Wanwan hadn’t expected him to take an interest in this, and he seemed determined to pursue the topic. She replied, “Marital freedom means that a man and a woman can marry voluntarily, as equals, out of love, respecting, cherishing, and remaining loyal to each other. In such a system, there is no buying, selling, or arranged marriage, and no one interferes in the union.”
She stole a glance at Wei Chenheng, meeting his deep, enigmatic eyes. “Most importantly, it means monogamy.”
Wei Chenheng looked at her with keen interest and asked, “Wanwan, do you long for such a life?”
Ning Wanwan weighed her words carefully. “Husband, please don’t tease me. Monogamy is nothing but a pipe dream in the Great Jin Dynasty. If the Emperor were to issue another decree, would you dare to defy it?”
His dark eyes gleamed with amusement. “Why not?”
For a moment, she couldn’t tell if he was joking or serious.
The topic discussed today was too heavy, beyond her scope of understanding. But through this probing, she could sense that Wei Chenheng had a place for her in his heart—not merely due to desire—which gave her some comfort.
After the two finished their midday meal, they finally descended the stairs leisurely. A Sheng had already instructed the others to prepare the carriage and pack the belongings properly. The convoy continued its journey northward.