Cheng Yujin looked at Zhai Yanlin behind her. Her heart was filled with mixed feelings. She didn't know what to think.
Old Lady Cheng had let her stroll around the garden so coincidentally. She had gotten separated from Cheng Yumo so coincidentally and met Zhai Yanlin so coincidentally. It definitely wasn't a coincidence.
Old Lady Cheng and Old Lady Zhai had reached an agreement at some point and arranged this meeting in the garden. Cheng Yujin really thanked her grandmother for her painstaking efforts.
However, things had already happened. There was no point in pursuing the cause or venting her emotions now. When Cheng Yujin turned around, she had already calmed down. She had no intention of moving. She greeted Zhai Yanlin from a distance, "Duke Of Cai."
Compared to Cheng Yujin's distance, Zhai Yanlin was much more enthusiastic. He didn't care about the distance at all. Women were all reserved. If she wasn't willing to come over, then he would just walk over.
Zhai Yanlin strode towards Cheng Yujin. As he got closer, the details of Cheng Yujin's appearance appeared before his eyes. Zhai Yanlin couldn't help but sigh. He hadn't misjudged. Cheng Yujin was a top-quality unpolished jade. Although she wore plain clothes, it was far from displaying her full strength. A woman like her should be supported by all the precious gold, jade, and jewels in the world. She was born to be the moon surrounded by stars. She should be piled up with gold and jade and have retainers as many as the clouds.
Out of a man's instincts, Zhai Yanlin's mood became even better when he saw a beauty. Speaking of which, it was quite strange. He had seen many beautiful women, and his wives and concubines were all exceptional beauties. But ever since he met Cheng Yujin, he didn't know why, but after not seeing her for a few months, he actually couldn't endure it. When he found out that the Empress Dowager wanted to leave the palace to fulfill her vow, Zhai Yanlin's first reaction wasn't to analyze the meaning behind this. Instead, he was pleasantly surprised. This way, Cheng Yujin could leave the fu.
He would have a chance to see Cheng Yujin.
He was the one who had instigated this "chance encounter" to begin with. Even if Old Lady Zhai wanted to see Cheng Yujin, she wouldn't go so far as to let Zhai Yanlin and Cheng Yujin meet directly. This was secretly arranged by Zhai Yanlin.
On one hand, Zhai Yanlin felt that his current state wasn't good. On the other hand, he was immersed in the joy of seeing Cheng Yujin. Di Yanlin's eyes were filled with aggression as he walked closer and closer. Cheng Yujin frowned. She didn't even bother to hide it and took a few steps back.
"Duke Of Cai, please stay." Cheng Yujin stood behind him and said coldly, "Men and women shouldn't touch each other. Even though my daughter accidentally met Duke, if others saw it, they might misunderstand. Duke, it's better not to stand too close. "
Zhai Yanlin heard this and raised his eyebrows in surprise. He laughed mockingly, "Miss Cheng, what do you mean?"
Cheng Yujin was annoyed by Zhai Yanlin's slightly raised tone. It was as if he had completely seen through her. He was used to flirting with women. Cheng Yujin was a person with double standards. It was her business to compare the candidates, but she couldn't accept it if she was chosen by someone else.
Cheng Yujin's face was still cold, and even her smile was as cold as charity. "It's exactly what Duke heard."
Zhai Yanlin's flirtatious expression faded. He originally thought that Cheng Yujin was playing hard to get. Women were all like that. In order to show their worth, they would always pretend to be virtuous and keep people in suspense.
Zhai Yanlin had seen many women pretending to be reserved and playing hard to get. Cheng Yujin didn't seem to hate doing things that others found annoying. Zhai Yanlin was also willing to accompany her. However, Zhai Yanlin wasn't someone who didn't know the ways of the world. He could only hear the coldness in Cheng Yujin's last sentence.
She actually rejected him?
Zhai Yanlin found it unbelievable. His face turned cold. He said in a low voice, "Miss Cheng, since you're here, you must know everything that you need to know. What's the meaning of your attitude now? "
Zhai Yanlin didn't hide his actions at all. Cheng Yujin didn't avoid Zhai Yanlin either. She raised her head and looked into his eyes. "Since Duke already knows, I might as well say it directly. When I went to greet Grandmother just now, I saw Old Lady Zhai. "
Cheng Yujin only paused for a moment before asking, "What does the Duke Of Cai want to do?"
Zhai Yanlin was a little surprised. He knew that Cheng Yujin most likely understood the Duke Of Cai's intentions. Or rather, his intentions. But because all women were shy, Di Yanlin thought that Cheng Yujin wouldn't have the nerve to say this out loud.
However, since she said it directly, Zhai Yanlin didn't hold back. He said, "That's right. Miss Cheng's performance in the garden is still fresh in my memory. When the Second Miss of your family got married, Miss Cheng was neither servile nor overbearing. She knew when to advance and when to retreat. My mother and I both think that Miss Cheng will be a very good wife and mother. Therefore, we want to propose marriage to the Marquis Family. We want to marry Miss Cheng and make her the first wife of the Duke Of Cai. "
Cheng Yujin smiled when she heard this. At this time, she finally showed the shadow of her usual dignified and decent young lady. She was no longer as cold as ice and kept people thousands of miles away.
Zhai Yanlin was a little absent-minded. At this time, Cheng Yujin spoke.
"Of course I will be a very good wife and mother." Cheng Yujin smiled and asked, "But why is it yours?"
Zhai Yanlin was absent-minded again. He had heard the exact same words from Cheng Yuanjing before. Zhai Yanlin's thoughts were complicated for a moment. He even doubted his own judgment for a moment. Could it be that Cheng Yujin and Cheng Yuanjing were really uncle and nephew? Otherwise, the words they said and the logic behind their thoughts were too similar, right?
Because of this subtle psychology, Zhai Yanlin didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Why does Miss Cheng say that?"
Zhai Yanlin was really curious. He had met Cheng Yuanjing when he was helping the Huo family pick up the bride. At that time, Cheng Yuanjing had also said the same thing. He had even warned Zhai Yanlin not to have any ideas about Cheng Yujin.
Even if Cheng Yuanjing had a bright future and a limitless future, at this moment, in Zhai Yanlin's eyes, he was just a young man who had just entered the imperial court. Zhai Yanlin didn't take Cheng Yuanjing's warning to heart.
It was a man's instinct to chase power and beauty. Cheng Yujin was young and beautiful. It had nothing to do with Cheng Yuanjing. What right did Cheng Yuanjing have to stop other men from chasing her?
However, Zhai Yanlin wanted to hear what Cheng Yujin had to say. Or rather, why she had said that.
"The Duke Of Cai said that I am an ideal wife and mother. I think so too." Cheng Yujin had a gentle smile on her face. Her eyes were like dots of lacquer. This was the expression she most often showed in front of others. However, the sparkle in her eyes separated her from the usual gentle and virtuous Miss Cheng. There was an indescribable sense of incompatibility.
"My family background is clean and I come from a respectable family. Although I'm not from a top noble family, my father is the heir of the Marquis of Yichun. Soon, he will become the Marquis of Yichun. My mother is the Princess Qingfu. In the eyes of many noble madams, this is an ideal family background for a daughter-in-law. A noble family marries a daughter, while a humble family marries a wife. My status is neither high nor low, but it is clean and decent enough. As for me, I am beautiful, well-mannered, well-behaved, and obedient. I am also proficient in the four arts. I am good at needlework, cooking, and housekeeping. I meet all the requirements of a good wife and mother. Not to mention you, even I want to marry such a daughter-in-law. "
Zhai Yanlin frowned. These words made him feel inexplicably uncomfortable. Zhai Yanlin frowned and said, "Miss Cheng, as a noble young lady..."
"As a noble young lady, how can I say such things, right?" Cheng Yujin still smiled sweetly and obediently. "But, this is the truth in everyone's eyes. This is the result of my many years of hard work. From a perfect noble young lady to a perfect daughter-in-law. In the future, I will become a perfect bride, a perfect wife, and a perfect madam. This is my goal. As long as I can get what I want, it won't be difficult to maintain this perfect image. "
"After I found out about the Duke House's intentions, I also carefully considered this matter. I can manage the Duke House well, and I can also manage Zhai Qing well. Although it is a little tricky, it is not impossible to take back the right to manage the household from the eldest branch and bring the crooked Zhai Qing back on the right path. I've worked hard, but what about Duke Cai? What can he give me? "
When Zhai Yanlin heard these words, he was so shocked that he was completely speechless. In the past, all the women would throw themselves at him dauntlessly, whether they wanted to be his concubine or his step-wife. There were countless of them. But no one had ever asked him, "What can you give me?"
"What can you give me?" Zhai Yanlin's three views were violently turbulent. He was the Duke Of Cai. He had wealth and power that everyone envied. He was also tall and imposing, with a dignified appearance. Shouldn't women naturally love him?
Zhai Yanlin was in disbelief. He was used to choosing his own women. He never thought that there would be a woman standing in front of him, recklessly evaluating his value.
Cheng Yujin did not care how much Zhai Yanlin's three views were impacted. She continued to count with her fingers, "If Madame Zhai is right, then in the future, the Duke House's property and title will all belong to Zhai Qing. That is to say, I have worked hard for twenty to thirty years to raise someone else's son, but I will not get a big return. Then why should I raise someone else's son? Even if I give birth to a son, he will not inherit the Duke House. Then why should I risk my life and lose my beauty to give birth to a child? Taking a step back, even if I manage the household well, the property will not belong to me in the future. Why should I waste all this effort to accumulate wealth for someone else? "
Cheng Yujin pointed three fingers at Zhai Yanlin and said, "Wealth, power, comfort, the Duke Of Cai cannot give me a single one. What right do you have to marry me? "
Zhai Yanlin took a long time to find the ability to speak, "You... You are simply deviating from the norm. A woman should be gentle and tactful. She should take care of her husband and children without asking for anything in return. How can you keep talking about benefits?"
Cheng Yujin was very impatient and said, "Duke Of Cai, I see that you are also a powerful high official. That is why I am speaking openly with you. Since you want to cooperate, then show me your sincerity. Why are you talking about kindness, justice, and respect? I can give you at least thirty years of peace and order in the Duke House. If you still want me to take care of Old Lady Zhai and correct Zhai Qing, then you have to increase the bargaining chip. This is my value. What about you? What can you give me? "
Cheng Yujin used a completely business-like tone to discuss marriage with him. Zhai Yanlin was not unfamiliar with this kind of discussion. On the contrary, he communicated with many people in the imperial court. He used this kind of method of exchanging benefits and probing each other. If this was in the imperial court or in the military, Zhai Yanlin really liked this kind of person who would clearly state their needs and prices. But in marriage...
Zhai Yanlin really could not get used to it. Cheng Yujin was like an emotionless sharp knife. She mercilessly cut open the black cloth covering his eyes and laid out the bloody truth in front of him.
That's right, those women threw themselves at him. Could it be that they were only interested in him? Wealth, power, status, none of these could be lacking.
He had always been deceiving himself and others. He felt that it was because he was handsome and charming that so many women fell in love with him. However, which of the concubines in the residence, and even his ex-wife, when they followed him, did they not consider the status in the Duke House and the future wealth? They all wanted to give birth to a son and divide his family's property.
Zhai Yanlin just never thought about it. He just maintained his laughable, unyielding self-esteem as a man. He had been proud and confident for half his life. But at this moment, when Cheng Yujin put all benefits on the table to discuss, Zhai Yanlin realized that his self-confidence could not withstand a single blow. In front of Cheng Yujin's calm, rational, and emotionless words, it suddenly collapsed.
His mouth was dry. When it was changed to the negotiation mode in the imperial court, Zhai Yanlin realized that he could not take out anything. Zhai Yanlin froze for a long time. He said dryly, "If you become my future wife, I will treat you very well. You can ask for any gold, silver, or jewelry …"
Cheng Yujin laughed softly. Her voice was not loud, but that laughter clearly traveled into Zhai Yanlin's ears.
Zhai Yanlin felt an indescribable embarrassment.
Talking about feelings on the negotiation table was undoubtedly not presentable.
"Duke Of Cai, your feelings are worthless to me. What can you give me? "
Zhai Yanlin was speechless. Cheng Yujin did not expect him to answer. She continued, "You can't give me any benefits, whether it is now or in the future. What right does a person like you have to marry me? What right do you have to block me in the garden? "
Your feelings are worthless to me. This sentence was like a blow to the head. It gave Zhai Yanlin the final and most fatal blow. Zhai Yanlin's self-esteem as a man was greatly damaged. But he could not say anything. Because, this was the truth.
Perhaps there were many women in the world who were soft-hearted, but Cheng Yujin obviously was not. There was no meaning in her husband being good to her. She wanted money and power, but she did not want him to be good.
Zhai Yanlin was like a poor boy standing in front of the woman he admired. He did not know what to do. He watched as Cheng Yujin turned and left. His expression was silent and depressed. He did not look away for a long time.
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