Chapter 44: If I Miss Her, I Will Never Know Joy Again

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: If I Miss Her, I Will Never Know Joy Again

"Kneel!"

The instant after Liu Family’s cold command, as if afraid Cui Lingyao would actually obey and kneel, Shen Tingyu grabbed her arm—only to find she hadn’t budged an inch.

Her knees were ramrod straight, showing no intention of bending.

’After all, I was Princess Consort to Xie Jinbai for three years,’ she thought. ’During that time, I was constantly reprimanded by the Empress. I rarely performed a full kowtow even for the Empress, so the intimidation from the mere wife of a Duke Mansion’s heir was hardly enough to faze me.’

When Liu Family witnessed her son’s subconscious move to protect Cui Lingyao, her chest heaved with fury.

Shen Tingyu took a step forward and poured her a cup of tea. "Such anger is bad for your health, Mother," he said gently. "You must take care of yourself. If you have something to say, you can say it directly to me. She’s just a young girl who doesn’t understand anything. Please don’t make things difficult for her."

Every word hit its mark.

Especially that phrase, ’young girl’—it was practically dripping with honey.

Liu Family had never seen her eldest son, always so aloof and ascetic, act so protective of a woman. She was stunned for a moment. "Yan Xun, do you have any idea what you’re doing?"

Shen Tingyu nodded. "I do, Mother."

Rage flared in Liu Family instantly.

But he was, after all, her eldest son, the apple of her eye. She did her best to suppress her temper and sneered, "I seem to recall that you’ve found her completely irritating for years, without a shred of affection. A while back, you even threw her out of your study. How much time has passed since then? Has she cast some sort of spell on you?"

She was referring to the time Pei Shuyao had barged into his study at night, holding her Yaolin zither, to confess her feelings and all but offer herself to him.

That night, Shen Tingyu had indeed thrown her out without a shred of mercy.

And now, after what felt to Liu Family like a very short time, her son had shed his former coldness and was protecting this person so fiercely.

She had only summoned the girl for a talk, to make that little hussy recognize her place, yet he had been waiting for her at the courtyard gate.

It was as if she weren’t his own mother, but some old crone who would torment this wretch the moment he looked away.

At the mention of the past, Shen Tingyu turned his head to glance at Cui Lingyao.

"In the past, I had not recognized my own heart," he explained. "It wasn’t until two days ago, when Aunt became gravely ill and wished to find a husband for my cousin, that I finally came to my senses. Looking back, my cousin has been unfairly wronged many times. I only hope she doesn’t hold it against me."

This last sentence was directed at Cui Lingyao.

He was afraid she would think ill of him for his past cruelty toward Pei Shuyao.

Cui Lingyao understood what he meant. She met his gaze and slowly shook her head.

’I have the original owner’s memories,’ she thought. ’I know he is a true gentleman.’

When he didn’t like someone, he rejected them frankly and openly.

Even after being pestered time and again, he didn’t pursue the matter out of respect for his aunt.

Even when the original owner used an aphrodisiac like the seductive powder and ended up suffering from her own scheme, he didn’t take advantage of the situation and ’deal with her’ for good.

When she was delirious and wanted to leave with her brother, he could have just let her go, but he didn’t.

Instead, he stopped her, thinking of her reputation.

Cui Lingyao was not an unreasonable person. Even if she felt the original owner had died a wrongful death, she wouldn’t consider it his fault.

The two of them exchanged a brief glance, but in Liu Family’s eyes, they were blatantly flirting.

The rage she had been suppressing finally boiled over. Still unwilling to lash out at her son, she turned her glare on Cui Lingyao.

"What a shameless girl! The Duke Mansion took pity on you and your mother, lonely and with nowhere to go. We took you in and gave you a place to stay, yet you dare to seduce my son!"

"Mother, be careful what you say,"

Shen Tingyu’s brows furrowed, and his tone grew solemn. "Aunt is Grandfather’s only daughter; the Duke Mansion is her home, too. It was Grandfather who approved her and my cousin’s return. Furthermore... I am the one with feelings for my cousin. She did not seduce me."

His every word was a defense of her.

"My son, you are truly muddle-headed!"

Liu Family laughed in exasperation. "Do you realize that taking her as a concubine would be like driving a nail into your future wife’s eye?"

A deeply beloved cousin as a concubine in the household is a surefire recipe for doting on the concubine while neglecting the wife. What family that truly loves their daughter would be willing to marry her into such a situation?

And even if a family that *doesn’t* love its daughter agrees to the marriage, how could that possibly be considered a good alliance between two families?

Although the Duke Mansion was wealthy, her eldest son could secure his own future with his learning and ability; he didn’t need to rely on a marriage alliance for his in-laws’ support.

But what about his heirs?

Having a mother from a high-ranking, powerful family and a maternal family that doted on them would naturally bring them countless advantages.

How could he not consider that?

Why would he do something so foolish for an orphaned girl living under their roof?

Liu Family tried to persuade him with all her heart. "You have been intelligent since childhood and have always had a mind of your own. I have seldom made decisions for you, but this is unacceptable. You absolutely cannot take her as a concubine."

Inside the hall, only the sound of her earnest admonishments could be heard.

From the moment she had entered, aside from offering her initial greeting, Cui Lingyao had not said a single word.

’I was already prepared for the fact that Shen Tingyu wanting to marry me as his principal wife would send shockwaves through the Duke Mansion,’ she mused. ’But I never expected his mother to react this strongly when she still thinks he only wants me as a concubine.’

Knowing that Shen Tingyu was stubbornly insisting on marriage rather than concubinage, Cui Lingyao couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat on his behalf.

As Liu Family spoke at length, Shen Tingyu stood by her side, head bowed, listening quietly without interruption.

Finally, believing she had laid out all the pros and cons, Liu Family stopped. Her mouth felt dry.

She took a sip of her tea and asked her son, "I have said so much. Did you hear me clearly?"

"I heard you clearly,"

Shen Tingyu held the teapot, refilling her cup with a steady hand. His voice was even. "Your considerations are indeed reasonable, Mother. But they are all based on the premise that Yaoyao is insignificant to me—that she can be easily weighed and cast aside."

Liu Family’s expression had just begun to soften when his next words made her brow furrow. "What do you mean?"

Shen Tingyu said, "I love Yaoyao. In my heart, she is of immeasurable importance. If I lose her, I will never find happiness in this life."

The words were incredibly heavy.

Especially coming from someone with such a restrained and ascetic nature.

It was truly stunning.

In the hall, Cui Lingyao, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly raised her eyes at his words.

Liu Family was even more dumbfounded.

Shen Tingyu’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Even so, do you still intend to stop me, Mother?"

’In five years, he had long been certain that he would never in this life love another woman the way he loved her.’

’By some stroke of heavenly luck, she had returned.’

’How could he bear to let her go?’

’And how could he bear to wrong her with the position of a mere concubine?’

’Making her a concubine was only ever a stopgap. If he gave her that status, and she decided to leave him one day, she would do so without the slightest hesitation.’

’Only by going through all the proper rites and ceremonies, by holding the marriage certificate in hand and welcoming her as his wife, would they be truly bound to one another.’

’Then, no one could ever tear them apart so easily again.’

Liu Family was silent for a long time.

She stared for a long while at the eldest son who had always been her pride and joy. Her gaze then drifted past him, landing on Cui Lingyao, who stood in the middle of the room.

Her voice was laced with disbelief. "How did you suddenly fall for her so deeply?"