PFC Chapter 231 Concern
Chapter 231 Concern
"Our inn isn't bad at all..."
Jiang Huanxi muttered this, but quickly shut up. It was clear that she had already been persuaded by Jiang Yuyue. Seeing that they couldn't persuade their daughter, Jiang's parents simply gave up.
"In that case, you must take good care of yourself."
Father Jiang said, "Your parents are only giving you half a month. If you don't return to Jinling after half a month, your parents will come to the capital to arrest you."
"You two can rest assured."
Jiang Yuyue smiled, and after saying goodbye for a while, the Jiang family reluctantly boarded the carriage.
Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, Jiang Yuyue's expression was complicated. If it weren't for the fact that Song Jinglan's problem hadn't been resolved yet, she wouldn't want to be separated from her parents again.
Now that he's gotten rid of his parents and Ah Xi, he needs to figure out how to get away from Song Jinglan.
But it was quite a coincidence. Not long after the carriage carrying Mr. and Mrs. Jiang had left, another uninvited guest arrived in the courtyard.
Song Jinglan arrived at the Jiang family's courtyard with ease. Seeing that most of the items in the courtyard were empty, she couldn't help but feel a jolt of unease.
He's only been gone for two days. Could it be that Jiang Yuyue took the opportunity to run away?
This conjecture caused Song Jinglan's face to darken suddenly, until he heard footsteps behind him.
"Your Highness Prince Jing, I am so sorry for not greeting you sooner."
Jiang Yuyue's words still carried a sense of distance, but seeing that she hadn't left yet, Song Jinglan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Why are you all alone here?
Song Jinglan frowned, while Jiang Yuyue casually explained, "Now that the Jiang family case is settled, Father and Mother will naturally return to Jinling."
Hearing this, Song Jinglan's gaze towards her held a deeper meaning. Jiang Yuyue had not left with her family, so it seemed that she was not heartless towards her.
Why don't you leave?
Song Jinglan sat down on a stone bench and looked at her leisurely. "Do you perhaps have other concerns in the capital?"
These words made Jiang Yuyue's lips twitch slightly. She thought to herself that Song Jinglan was really shameless. He had been giving in to her in the past because he felt guilty, but now that he had gained some advantage, he was acting like this again.
"Worried? It's just that I still need to check the shops in the capital. Once things are settled, I will naturally return to Jinling to reunite with my parents."
At this point, Jiang Yuyue glanced at him, her words laced with teasing, "After all, I have no interest in being a concubine, so why should I stay?"
Upon hearing this, Song Jinglan began to have some respect for Jiang Feili, as he hadn't expected Jiang Feili to actually guess the crux of the problem.
"A concubine? I promised before that I would bring you into the house in a grand manner, which means I would marry you as my principal wife."
Song Jinglan's expression was unusually solemn. He had grown tired of the unpleasantness caused by the misunderstanding these days, and now he was too lazy to beat around the bush, so he simply said everything.
"You may have heard about my previous engagement with the daughter of Prime Minister Li, but that engagement is invalid."
Song Jinglan stared at her, "That was just a joke the Empress made many years ago, and it wasn't taken seriously. Otherwise, how could the position of Princess Consort of Jing have been vacant for so many years? As for why that daughter of Prime Minister Li hasn't married..."
At this point, Song Jinglan paused, "I don't want to lie to you. There are indeed rumors that she did this because she was waiting for me, but I can assure you that I have no such feelings for her."
Jiang Yuyue had never expected such a frank conversation. She had considered many possibilities, but she never expected him to explain everything to her in detail.
The dignified Prince Jing, such a handsome and dashing man, solemnly promised her all this. If Jiang Yuyue were a young woman just beginning to experience love, she would surely be moved to tears at this moment, wishing she could repay him with her body right then and there.
The key issue is that Jiang Yuyue has already died once.
Even if she believed that there was some sincerity in Song Jinglan's words, reality was not so.
Right now, he's just saying nice things; he says he's going to marry her, but he hasn't taken any other action.
Moreover, when the dignified Prince Jing marries, he must find the woman in the world who is most compatible with him. It is not that she is belittling herself, but among scholars, farmers, artisans and merchants, Jiang Yuyue was indeed born into the lowest-class merchant family. If the world knew that Song Jinglan had married a merchant's daughter as his wife, wouldn't he be laughed at?
Besides, the old emperor will die suddenly in less than half a month. Jiang Yuyue has been thinking about this carefully these past two days. Song Jinglan is not the kind of person who would sit and wait for death. But if he wants to seize power at this time, a powerful wife's family will definitely be of great help. The Jiang family has nothing but money and can't help Song Jinglan at all.
Moreover, if she were to actually enter the Jing Prince's mansion, then Jiang Yuyue would truly be marrying into a higher social class.
Previously, when she married Xie Yunqi, Xie Yunqi was only a demoted censor who was able to control the Jiang family. If she had a falling out with the dignified Prince Jing and suffered grievances, wouldn't she have no choice but to swallow her anger and suffer in silence?
Jiang Yuyue was strong-willed and absolutely unwilling to suffer such injustice, but Song Jinglan's power was terrifying, and she was even less willing to gamble with the lives of her entire family.
Although Jiang Yuyue understood the pros and cons clearly in her heart, she had no choice but to put on a show for the time being in order to keep Song Jinglan calm.
"Is this true?"
Jiang Yuyue's expression softened slightly. "Isn't Prime Minister Li on good terms with you? Are you really willing to refuse to marry his daughter?"
Seeing the change in Jiang Yuyue's expression, Song Jinglan's expression also softened considerably, and he immediately said, "If you marry the daughter of whoever you befriend, then my Prince Jing's mansion will be too full to accommodate them all."
"If you had explained things to me earlier, I wouldn't be angry with you."
Jiang Yuyue glanced at him, the coldness in her eyes gone. "If that's the case, when will you marry me?"
The change was so rapid that even Song Jinglan was somewhat surprised. He had thought that given Jiang Yuyue's personality, it would take some persuasion to convince her, but it turned out to be so easy.
Although he felt a little strange, he and Jiang Yuyue hadn't been this close in a long time, so Song Jinglan didn't think too much about it. He got up, walked up to Jiang Yuyue, took her hand, and solemnly made a promise.
"My brother is not feeling well right now, so it is not appropriate to hold a grand celebration. I will have to trouble you a little longer until everything is settled."
Jiang Yuyue lowered her eyes, a cold glint flashing in them; she was still stalling.
But when she looked up, that expression vanished, and Jiang Yuyue simply nodded, "Then I'll wait for you."
These words immediately put Song Jinglan at ease, and he then suggested, "Since your parents have already returned to Jinling, and you're living here alone, why don't you come and stay at my residence?"
At this point, Song Jinglan thought of his son whom he hadn't seen for a long time, "You should also bring Mo'er here, and they can all stay at the Prince Jing's residence."