"A person can't dedicate their whole life to a bit of longing in their heart. Even if you get married, you can still live in Xiling Village and be able to walk around with Mo Family often, hearing about the news of Princess Si getting her revenge at the first moment," He Zhiran said.
Lan Er was more and more puzzled.
"Noble Consort, even if Lan Er lives in Xiling Village, she won't marry." She didn't look down on the peasant men in Xiling Village, she just simply didn't want to marry, and the longing in her heart didn't allow it either.
He Zhiran was really surprised that she had never seen such a stubborn person before.
"What's wrong with getting married? Look at me, my husband dotes on me, my in-laws rely on me, and I can also have two lovely babies.
You are an outstanding woman. I think outstanding women should have all this."
"Noble Consort's blessings are not something everyone can expect. Lan Er doesn't dare to extravagantly hope for these."
While He Zhiran was talking, she kept observing Lan Er's changes in expression. She could see a momentary bright light in her eyes, which showed that deep down she yearned for this kind of life.
"Although you used to have the status of a maid, I can see it very clearly that your temperament and etiquette are no worse than those prestigious ladies in the capital city. The villagers here in Xiling Village definitely don't match you."
After thinking about it, He Zhiran felt that the previous preamble was adequate enough and there was no need to beat around the bush anymore.
"My eldest brother He Ziming has been with my father to be personally taught by him since he was young. Not only are his literary talents outstanding, his appearance is also remarkable. Today when I talked with him, I knew that he doesn't like the deceitful ways of the court."
"Noble Consort, did you say Master He doesn't want to go back to the capital city?" Lan Er widened her eyes and looked at He Zhiran, full of disbelief.
Just now when she refused to get married, it was partly because of her previous promise, and also because of He Ziming.
She had to admit that her whole heart and eyes were full of Master He now, it was just that she knew more clearly that her status simply didn't match his.
Especially since she still had the promise to Princess Si first, she just wanted to hide this feeling in her heart to let time slowly help her digest it.
But now, why did Noble Consort mention Master He to her, could it be...?
From Lan Er's expression, He Zhiran could be completely certain of her thoughts.
"My eldest brother said that he likes the lifestyle in the northwest, and also that there is a girl here who he can't stop thinking about."
This was direct enough. If Lan Er still didn't understand, then she could only pretend to be muddled.
Lan Er's face reddened all of a sudden.
"Noble Consort, in this lifetime Lan Er will..." She didn't get the chance to say the words not marry before He Zhiran interrupted her.
"In this world, many things will change along with changes in the environment. I also understand your original intention. Whether you marry or not will not affect the oath you once made.
Besides, you can also see that everyone in the Mo Family is self-reliant. We completely don't need any kind of master-servant differences. You have been with the Mo Family for so long, has anyone here treated you as a servant?"
This was indeed true, Lan Er had to admit this point.
She and Yu Er never lacked food, clothing, or anything else. Not only were these the same as the Mo Family's women, but the Mo Family's women also didn't do less work than them when working.
"This is..." She hesitated indeed.
Which woman doesn't yearn for a love that belongs to herself?
By now Noble Consort's words were already very obvious. She also indicated that the He Family didn't despise her status.
"It's just...just..." Lan Er hemmed and hawed for a long time but still couldn't find any reason to refuse. Of course, she was also reluctant to refuse.
"No more 'just', I won't rush you for an answer on this matter. Think carefully about it after you go back tonight when you inevitably lose sleep. You can tell me your decision tomorrow morning."
When Lan Er came out with her head lowered, Mo Jiuye, who had been busy outside all day, came back. At first he was stunned when he saw Lan Er kneeling in front of He Zhiran.
"Ranran, what on earth happened?"
In his understanding, his wife had never liked other people kneeling to her. Could Lan Er have committed some unforgivable mistake?
Seeing Mo Jiuye come back, He Zhiran also didn't talk about what happened just now since Lan Er was a young lady who would be shy easily.
"Lan Er you can get up. I won't rush you for an answer on this matter either. Think about it carefully tonight when you inevitably lose sleep, then tell me your decision tomorrow morning."
After Lan Er went out, Mo Jiuye closed the door. He Zhiran took the initiative to tell Mo Jiuye what happened earlier.
Mo Jiuye was also an aristocrat in the capital city before, so he must have his own subjective opinion on this kind of marriage with unequal status. He Zhiran told him carefully because she wanted to hear his thoughts.
"Husband, tell me the truth. If you fall in love with a girl whose status has a huge disparity from yours, what would you do?"
Mo Jiuye had never thought about something like this before. When he was a teenager, his family had already engaged him to He Zhiran. Besides, after all these years away from home, he had never met a girl he admired either.
However, since his wife asked, he still thought about it carefully before answering.
"Before marrying you, I had never had feelings for any other girl. In my mindset, marriage was completely up to my elders to decide. I also believed in my parents' judgement, and the facts verified this point too. Marrying you is the biggest blessing in my life.
Also, through interacting with you more and more, I like you even more now. I can even devote my life for your sake."
Although the couple had always been affectionate with each other and He Zhiran also knew that she had a place in Mo Jiuye's heart, it was still the first time for him to say such things openly between them. Not only Mo Jiuye, even He Zhiran the listener couldn't help blushing.
"Husband, I'm asking your opinion on this matter, not asking you to talk about our feelings."
Mo Jiuye went forward to embrace He Zhiran in his arms and lovingly planted a kiss on her forehead.
"It's because I don't know what other people think. I only know that a marriage with love existing, regardless of rich or poor origins, or whether the families match, is the happiest kind."
Although he didn't answer the question directly, He Zhiran had already found the answer she wanted from it.
But she still wanted to hear Mo Jiuye say it from his own mouth.
"What if I wasn't the daughter of the Minister of Revenue's family and was just an ordinary commoner or even a maid, but happened to also fall in love with you, what would you do?"
When it came to love, Mo Jiuye was absolutely single-minded. In the past when he didn't understand the taste of love, perhaps this question would have been hard to answer, but it was different now. He now loved He Zhiran to the bone.
"If it really was like this, I would tell my mother that I want to marry you. No matter what your status is, you are the person I, Mo Jiuye, want to spend my life with."
"What if your mother didn't agree then what?" He Zhiran became more and more interested in this topic and asked persistently.
"You understand my mother's character too. Although she was more stern when she was in the capital city, she is also very reasonable and understanding. For any girl I come to like, as long as she has good moral character and disposition, my mother would not oppose."
