High-class Spring Joy

Seeing that Qingyuan didn't speak and looking at her unreadable expression, Chu Jingyu suddenly felt a little unsure.

A wave of panic washed over him. Chu Jingyu didn't know what was wrong with him; he just wanted to say or do something to change Qing Yuan's current expression.

"Guoguo, I know you have feelings for me. You've wanted to marry me since you were little, and I know all of that. I've also known your affection for me since childhood. That's why I've always treated you differently from others. You've always been much more important than them. I haven't forgotten the time and affection we've shared over the years. I want to marry you. I wanted to marry you before, but I was too young then. Later, I thought that if I didn't have some official rank, how could I have the nerve to marry you? Besides, if I didn't have any official rank, my mother would never agree to me marrying you, not even as a concubine. My mother would never agree to it."

I don't want you to suffer, Guoguo. Even though you're just a maid, even though you come from a poor background, I've never thought of making you suffer. I'm determined to marry you. I know you've been angry with me these past few days. You're angry that I can only see Ge'er and not you, that I go to Baiyun Courtyard every day, that I can't see you, that I make you swallow your anger. I know all of this, but Guoguo, do you understand? How can I take a concubine if I don't marry a wife? In this entire Song Kingdom, in the whole of Bianjing City, which respectable young master takes a concubine before marrying a wife?

If I don't marry my principal wife first, and if I don't marry Ge'er first, how can I take you as a concubine, so that you can become a mistress and no longer have to suffer the humiliation of serving others?

Originally, I was waiting to participate in the Skyworth competition next year. If I passed the imperial examination with flying colors, I would have the right to speak with my mother, and also the right and status to marry you. It's just that I'm sorry to trouble you to wait a little longer. Now that my Guoguo is so capable and promising, she actually won against Ge'er and that Princess Mingyue from the Southern Frontier, and received a reward from the Empress Dowager, I am overjoyed and naturally want to marry you as soon as possible. Tomorrow, I will accompany you to the palace to see the Empress Dowager and tell her about this matter. Once the Empress Dowager issues her decree of marriage, you and I can become a legitimate couple, and no longer have to endure the gossip of others.”

Chu Jingyu grew more confident, excited, and happy as he spoke, and immediately decided to finalize the matter: "It's decided then. Tomorrow is an auspicious day. I've already had Mo Lin consult the almanac; it's a day suitable for all things. I'll set aside a day to accompany you to the palace to meet the Empress Dowager. Once this is discussed, Mother won't be able to say anything more, and she won't bring up your status anymore. Then we can be together for a long, long time!"

As Chu Jingyu spoke, a smile appeared on his face, and Qing Yuan smiled inwardly as well, though it was a purely cold smile.

Under Chu Jingyu's excited gaze, Qingyuan had no more doubts. She slowly raised her head, calmly met his eyes, and said with a light smile, "Young Master, I'm afraid I cannot accompany you to pay homage to the Empress Dowager."

"Why?" Chu Jingyu's smile froze instantly, and his eyes turned fierce. "Why? Why can't you come with me to the palace to see the Empress Dowager? Don't you want to marry...?"

But before Chu Jingyu could finish speaking, he seemed to snap out of his daze and sneered, "Impossible, absolutely impossible. You've wanted to marry me since you were little. When you first came of age, you started embroidering mimosa flowers on my clothes. What does the mimosa flower mean? It naturally represents the union of man and woman, the fusion of flesh and blood. You wanted to marry me when you were so young, there's no way you didn't."

After saying that, Chu Jingyu seemed to realize something and turned to look at Qingyuan, deliberately softening his expression: "Guoguo, tell me, do you have something to do tomorrow? Or do you have some concerns? You can tell me, and I will definitely help you resolve them. Or are you still angry with Ge'er, angry with me, and jealous?"

As Chu Jingyu spoke, the fleeting panic and disbelief on his face were gone, and his eyes showed no surprise or confusion. Instead, he exuded a sense of understanding and smugness as if he had seen through everything.

Even when he looked at Qingyuan, he was nonchalant, as if he had already anticipated Qingyuan's next reaction. In Chu Jingyu's heart, he already had the answer. His words represented the answer in his heart. Qingyuan was definitely still jealous of Ge'er and sulking with him.

Qingyuan's obedient behavior just now was definitely an act. Chu Jingyu believed that no one understood Qingyuan better than him, having spent ten years with her.

Qingyuan is usually a gentle, kind, and polite girl who is very generous and rarely has any conflicts or grudges with others. However, when it comes to his affairs, Qingyuan becomes very meticulous, inseparable, and even unreasonable, showing great concern.

Chu Jingyu didn't think this was a bad thing; on the contrary, it showed that Qingyuan only ever had him in her heart.

Little did he know that the words that Qing Yuan uttered the next second would instantly freeze the nonchalant smile on Chu Jingyu's face:

"I already asked the Empress Dowager for her reward a few days ago, so I have no way to ask her for a decree to grant my marriage to the young master."

"How is that possible? Why didn't I know you had seen the palace the other day?"

Chu Jingyu thought for a moment, but couldn't recall anything about it, and he certainly didn't believe Qing Yuan's words. Chu Jingyu sighed, and with a sense of helplessness, pulled Qing Yuan closer.

"Guoguo, I know what you're thinking, I know what you're angry about, and I know even more that the reason you're like this is because you care about me too much. I know all of this; your feelings for me are no less than mine for you. We've both witnessed it over the years. Even if you want to be stubborn with me, even if you want to compete with the young master for my affections, that's fine, but please don't say such hurtful things anymore, okay? On the contrary, if you're willing to go to the palace and plead with the Empress Dowager, you won't have to compete with anyone else for my affections anymore. I will be your rightful husband, and in front of others, I can protect you and stand by you without reservation. Isn't that better? Guoguo, even if you want to be stubborn, let's not do it now. Let's settle the marriage first, okay?"

Qingyuan suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and struggled to take two steps back: "This servant is just a lowly maid, so I dare not be angry with you, young master, nor do I dare to deceive you. I did indeed go to the palace a few days ago to ask the Empress Dowager for a reward. As for what that reward is, the fifth young master should know."

Looking at Qingyuan's expression, Chu Jingyu realized that Qingyuan was not lying to him, nor was she deliberately trying to make him worry or anxious by saying such things.