I dress up as a poor noblewoman, and I bring my whole family home with my literary talent.

Chapter 102 About Marriage
Hearing this, Xie Yanshu's eyebrows froze, "Do you regret it?"

If he regretted it, he seemed to have no other choice.
Do you want him to keep pestering her and play the 'a strong woman is afraid of a clinging man' game?

Song Lingyi's eyes were clear and her tone was calm. "No, what I want to say is that I seem to be brave enough to love and hate, but in fact, I don't dare to love or hate. I am used to retreating in front of feelings. When I first met you, it was in Changchun Garden. I had never seen a young man as bright and passionate as you, so I judged you by my own standards and thought that you were arrogant and gave me that little appreciation because you were a superior."

Xie Yanshu's expression moved slightly

"But when we met again on the Thousand-Step Corridor in the palace later, I realized how stupid my malicious assumptions were." Song Lingyi laughed at herself.

I still remember reading about an experiment about apples in my previous life. 175 cm thin steel needles were implanted in 3.8 apples. The people doing the experiment thought that these needles would remain in the body as the apples grew, but the result was that these apples grew slower than normal apples and had varying degrees of deformities. Many of the original 175 apples withered and fell to the ground early during growth, and some rotted and deteriorated directly on the branches. In the end, only 75 apples survived.

These surviving apples are fighting against the steel needles in their bodies every minute of their growth, but even if they survive, they will be left with scars.

Her family in her previous life was like steel needles. Even if she became more outstanding later, her psychology would not be completely unaffected. So after meeting someone as brilliant as Xie Yanshu, her first thought was to escape and speculate.

Xie Yanshu took a deep breath, "I know the situation of the Song family, and I know how hard it has been for you in the Song family over the years." At this point, he lowered his eyes, "If you want to reject me, you don't have to humiliate yourself..."

“…I didn’t say I was going to reject you.”

"Didn't you say that I only need to take one step, and you will take care of the rest?" Under the sunlight, Song Lingyi's eyes curved slightly, "Xie Yanshu, I just want to tell you that I may not be as good as you think, but I am willing to work hard to change for you and no longer be timid about feelings."

Hearing these words, Xie Yanshu's eyes shone brightly, like a star in the morning, so bright that it was terrifying. He gently held Song Lingyi's hand and said word by word, "Don't worry, I will never let you down."

"When I return today, I will explain my feelings to my father and mother, and go to the palace as soon as possible to ask His Majesty for the marriage."

The winter was bitterly cold, but the warm sincerity emanating from the young man seemed to evaporate the biting cold into nothingness.

Song Lingyi looked at him with a faint smile, and a warm feeling arose in her heart.

When Li Hewei entered the private room again, she saw the shy boy and the smiling girl, and she understood immediately. In fact, she didn't like Song Lingyi before, thinking that this girl was too ostentatious and showed off. But later, when she knew that her cousin liked her, she slowly accepted it. Who is her cousin? He is the most outstanding young man from aristocratic family in Chang'an. The girl who can be favored by her cousin must be good.

Li Hewei held Song Lingyi's arm affectionately and said with a smile, "It's getting late. Cousin should hurry back to Xiangyuan. I'll take Sister Lingyi home."

Li Hewei and Song Lingyi went ahead. On the way back to Song's residence, she talked a lot to Song Lingyi about Xie Yanshu. She also praised Song Lingyi for being so lucky in Chang'an City to have the young marquis propose to her so earnestly.

When Li Hewei asked Song Lingyi whether she should tell her family about the arranged marriage first to give them some psychological preparation, Song Lingyi was silent for a long time.

Even if she told the Song family about this in advance, they might not be happy for her. Besides, Mrs. Zhao had always been unwilling to see her do well, so there was no point in saying more.

…………At night, the courtyard is deserted

On the soft couch by the window on the east side, Song Lingwan was trimming the newly picked plum blossoms by the window, and glanced at Song Lingyi who was sitting at the desk reading a book but couldn't hide her joy. Thinking of what the concierge said today that there would be a carriage to take the fifth girl back home in the afternoon, she couldn't help but ask with a smile: "What day is it today? The fifth sister is in such a good mood just because she went out for a trip."

"Have it?"

Song Lingyi pursed her lips, stood up and sat by the window, with her elbows on the rosewood table, "Fourth sister, if I tell you that someone wants to marry me, what do you think?"

Song Lingwan raised her eyes and stared at her for a moment, confirming that Fifth Sister was not joking. She put down the scissors in her hand and said gently, "As your sister, I should be happy."

"But...can you tell Fourth Sister who he is?"

Song Lingyi held her cheek, her eyes smiling, her cheeks slightly red, "It's Xie Yanshu."

Hearing this name, Song Lingwan frowned slightly, raised her hand to close the window with the five-blessing carvings, and after pondering for a long time, she said, "You are talented and it is normal for someone to admire you, but marriage is not a child's play. You have to go through the three books and six ceremonies. I heard that Young Marquis Xie returned to Beijing from the north today. Did you go out this afternoon to meet him?"

Song Lingyi nodded, but fearing that her fourth sister might think Xie Yanshu's behavior was abrupt, she explained, "In fact, I had a bet with him a long time ago. He went to the north to inspect and compete for merit. If I am willing to marry him after he comes back, I will ask His Majesty for permission to marry me."

Song Lingwan smiled faintly and said, "It seems that Young Marquis Xie has true feelings for you. Do you know his family's attitude towards the matter of requesting an imperial decree to grant the marriage?"

Song Lingyi was hesitant for a moment, and shook her head, thinking of what her third sister said during the day, "I was also afraid that his parents would not approve of us being together because of the difference in family background, but I am marrying him, not his parents, so isn't it enough for us to be in love with each other? If his parents really don't like me, they can't do anything to me, after all, this marriage was personally granted by His Majesty... At worst, we can go to other places to serve as officials, so there will be no conflicts."

Song Lingwan sighed and said, "Fifth sister, marriage is not as simple as you think. People's hearts are fickle. Xie Yanshu is willing to block the difficulties of our parents and relatives for you now, but if he gets tired of you one day, you will have to endure much more than today."

"The Xie family is powerful and influential. If you are wronged, the Song family may not be able to speak up for you."

"Fourth sister, who can predict the future? I am willing to believe him." Song Lingyi said.

Song Lingwan lowered her eyes and said, "Forget it. Since you have made up your mind, I will not persuade you any more. But... I am afraid that asking for an imperial decree to grant the marriage, as Young Marquis Xie said, is not that simple."

"Why do you say that, Fourth Sister?" Song Lingyi was puzzled.

"Unlike men, if a female official wants to get married, it will definitely delay her career. You are the direct disciple of National Master Ye and the chief calendar officer of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau. The current emperor has a close relationship with National Master Ye. If she wants to grant you a marriage, she must have asked National Master Ye's opinion." Song Lingwan said.

Most of the female officials in the palace have never been married, and even if His Majesty grants them marriage, only a few are willing to continue serving after marriage.

After getting married and having children, I am not as ambitious about my career anymore.