The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Chapter 429 Becoming a Real Husband and Wife (Shen Xiao - Read at your own risk)
The night breeze carried warmth.

Wei Zhao is so arrogant, yet he acts like this in front of Yu Tingwan! Xiao Huaiyan, who is at the bottom of the food chain in the entire cabin, fell into deep thought.

He begged his grandfather and ancestors to send the two large Buddha statues away with great difficulty, until only he and Shen Zhiyi remained on the boat.

The boat began to slowly move along the riverbank again.

"I have something to ask you."

Shen Zhiyi's attitude was very good: "Go ahead."

"There are quite a few unmarried young men in the capital. Did you agree to marry me because I am the best choice among those you could select, or is it partly because I moved you?"

He said this with a hint of hope in his voice.

But the surroundings fell into dead silence.

Shen Zhiyi: "You..."

"I want to hear the truth."

Shen Zhiyi didn't understand why he had to make things difficult for himself.

However, since Xiao Huaiyan asked, she had to answer.

Shen Zhiyi felt that she was too close to Xiao Huaiyan, close enough to hear each other's breathing. Now that there were two fewer people on the boat, it didn't feel so cramped, and she wanted to sit opposite him.

But since they were about to get married, there was no need to be too distant. So she simply moved slightly to the side, creating a small distance between them.

She poured a cup of tea that Yu Tingwan had brewed for Xiao Huaiyan.

"People outside say I'm ambitious and have been eyeing Wei Zhao. I won't lie to you, after breaking off my engagement with Chu Liulang, I even considered getting close to He Xuran."

“I admit I’m snobbish and have high standards, always coveting those unattainable people. But I learned a lesson from a young age in the Shen family: if I want something, I have to fight for it myself, otherwise the good things will never come my way.”

Even if you fight for it, things may not turn out as you wish.

If you don't fight for it, you'll have nothing.

She gave a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth.

“Aside from going to jail, I’ve never thought it was anything shameful. Which woman in the capital doesn’t admire a strong man?”

She simply did what those people wanted to do but dared not do.

"I want to marry well. I want to trample all those who looked down on me underfoot. But I also know that there aren't many reliable men in this world."

Especially powerful and influential men.

She's seen quite a few.

"I don't really know why you suddenly wanted to marry me. But Xiao Huaiyan, do you really understand me?"

Seeing Xiao Huaiyan momentarily dazed, Shen Zhiyi smiled.

It's better to make things clear so he won't hold a grudge later.

“My ambitions are high because I have people I want to protect. Unfortunately, I am a woman, and my brother is a good-for-nothing, not even as good as a son born out of wedlock, and he is unreliable.”

She never mentioned these innermost thoughts to outsiders.

"If I had a choice, I would also want to marry someone who is completely devoted to me. Even if he is a poor scholar, without status or position, and has to climb up from the bottom, but he is willing to treat me the same way for the rest of his life, and cherish me even after he becomes successful, then I am not afraid of being laughed at for marrying down, nor am I someone who can't endure hardship. Life is what I live, and if I feel it's worth it, that's enough."

But there are too few people like that.

She didn't think she would ever meet one.

Especially in the decadent and extravagant capital city of Beijing.

"But I had no choice. I didn't want to gamble my youth on starting from scratch with someone under such a low probability situation."

She didn't look at Xiao Huaiyan's expression again.

“I’m not exactly brilliant, nor as insightful as Yu Tingwan, but I’m not stupid either. So, I should naturally choose the family that is most beneficial to me.”

“There are indeed many young men in the capital. But how many of them can compare to you in terms of status and position? I have been rejected in marriage before, and my reputation is not good. Very few people are willing to marry me. The Lady of Ningguo Marquis is willing to take me as her wife. Ning Yunling has been raised too naively by them, and she is easy to manipulate. If I insist on marrying her, I am willing to work hard to make things work out, and my life will not be too bad in the end.”

But Ning Yunling likes the innocent, naive girl she hates the most.

Shen Zhiyi felt disgusted just thinking about it.

Xiao Huaiyan didn't know why he had brought this upon himself. After hearing these words, he felt incredibly heavy-hearted. He could have easily pretended to be confused.

He clicked his tongue.

Shen Zhiyi: "You and Ning Yunling have completely different personalities."

Over the years, if it weren't for someone protecting Ning Yunling, that fool would have been devoured long ago, leaving not even bones behind. Xiao Huaiyan is also a spoiled brat.

But how many times did he suffer a loss?

Shen Zhiyi: "You're shrewd."

She used to avoid Xiao Huaiyan simply because she felt she couldn't control this man.

But after learning about his aunt's situation...

Seeing his pale face, Shen Zhi quickly added, "What you said earlier was hurtful, but since I've agreed to it, I'm willing to be your husband and wife."

"I'm not greedy. All I want is to use the power of your Xiao family to make my father suffer."

"If you're willing, you can also help me suppress him. I can't stand to see him and the Shen family doing well. In the future, I will try my best to cooperate with you in any way you need me to do."

Shen Zhiyi remained calm and composed, much like a business negotiation.

Xiao Huaiyan's complexion did not improve; in fact, the veins on the back of his hands bulged as he suppressed his anger.

He didn't say anything, but instead shouted out.

Soon, the servant boy serving him responded.

"Does the young master have any instructions?"

"Go to the right."

Right?

The servant looked up and saw that it was in the direction of the pleasure boat.

Just as Zheng Sheng was puzzled, he heard Xiao Huaiyan say something.

"Then invite the most beautiful courtesan from the pleasure boat back."

"Yes."

Shen Zhiyi: ?
No, you're not even married yet, and you're already being arrogant, bringing people to her face?
She frowned, but said nothing.

After all, she had already given birth to Xiao Huaiyan's child, so she was pitiful. If she behaved herself, she would still have to drink that woman's concubine tea in the future.

Xiao Huaiyan's claim of being in love with her was indeed unbelievable.

Shen Zhiyi had never understood what Xiao Huaiyan saw in her.

But now I understand.

Besides her appearance, she was also quite capable at managing household affairs.

She was of low status, and while she possessed a certain arrogance, she was also capable of compromising her principles and being pragmatic. Unlike the daughters of similar social standing from the Marquis of Zhongyong's family, who had the support of their maternal families and therefore couldn't tolerate much grievance and dared to cause trouble, Xiao Huaiyan had to rein in his philandering ways, but she didn't have much confidence.

Ultimately, it was because she needed his help in this marriage.

The servant boy participated in the bidding.

In the end, he spent a large sum of money to acquire the courtesan.

The courtesan arrived quickly.

She wore a thin red dress and walked with a seductive gait.

Xiao Huaiyan didn't even glance at her, and drank the tea: "Do what you did when you were alone with me before, and do it now."

Shen Zhiyi: ? ? ?

Isn't this appropriate?

You two are so deceitful.

Was she watching from the side?
Shall we applaud you?

Under Shen Zhiyi's astonished gaze, the woman walked to the two of them and started rocking the boat.

Those young masters who went there for the courtesan watched helplessly as she was dismissed, and they also recognized who the servant who had escorted her away was. They were both angry and annoyed.

"Why is Xiao Huaiyan so persistent! Anyone who didn't know better would think that Miss Yingying could only serve him."

They watched the small boat leave, its hull beginning to rock. They felt a mixture of envy and jealousy.

"Why did you start doing this so soon after you went in, without even finding another place? Are you in such a hurry?"

"How can he not be anxious? His mother is strict. She can't control him outside, but she can control him in the inner quarters. She hasn't arranged any beautiful concubines for him. He must be getting restless. Besides, Yingying is so beautiful."

"I remember once when Xiao Huaiyan went to a brothel, the bed in his room creaked all night. I wonder how long the boat will rock this time."