Reborn Lady - Chapter 425

It never occurred to Wen Ruyue that her cousin’s urgent discussion with her aunt, which led to her being dismissed during mealtime, was about her marriage. And to her surprise, he intended to marry her to a soldier of the guard with a mediocre background.

She couldn’t fathom it. Even if she remained in the Wen Mansion rather than moving to the Yan Palace, her father had become an official in the capital. Surely she wouldn’t be married off to a mere soldier, right?

Wen Ruyue wept with her aunt, but she knew her aunt was mild-tempered and would heed her cousin’s wishes.

So, the following evening, Wen Ruyue arrived at Chengxin Hall.

Wei Luo greeted his cousin as usual, though his demeanor was colder than usual.

Wen Ruyue bit her lip. Perhaps no girl would appreciate her cousin’s temperament, but he was handsome and a royal grandson. Marrying him would elevate her to the status of a County Princess, indulging in luxurious living envied by many.

She wanted to marry her cousin. After all, they were cousins, and drawing closer seemed only natural.

“An Shun’er, please leave us,” Wen Ruyue instructed the person standing beside her cousin, her tone unhappy.

An Shun’er glanced at the Third Master.

Wei Luo nodded.

An Shun’er exited, leaving the main room’s door wide open, allowing the setting sun to flood the courtyard.

Seeing Wen Ruyue looking at him with a complicated expression, Wei Luo spoke up, “Cousin, if you have something to say, you might as well say it directly.”

Wen Ruyue bit her lip, clutching her handkerchief, and said, “I’m only fourteen. Why does my cousin want me to marry?”

Wei Luo replied, “Father will return soon, and Chinese New Year is approaching. It’s fitting to have the wedding on the fifteenth day.”

Wen Ruyue grew anxious, blurting out, “But I don’t like the man my cousin has chosen!”

Wei Luo frowned and asked, “Then, who do you like?”

Wen Ruyue fell silent again, glancing at him, her cheeks flushing.

If Wei Luo had been the nineteen-year-old version of himself, a reserved young man who had never experienced the love of a partner, he might have missed Wen Ruyue’s feelings. But having returned back in time, he had a wife whom he dearly loved, a wife who once gazed at him with flushed cheeks.

So, did Wen Ruyue actually harbor feelings for him?

With this realization, Wei Luo suddenly understood many things.

He finally comprehended why his cousin had left for the capital shortly after he became engaged to Yin Hui in his previous life. It turned out that Wen Ruyue had discovered there was no chance of marrying him.

Since his cousin had feelings for him, it made sense why she had persistently insisted on becoming his concubine when they reunited in Shaoxing later on. Her claims of not wanting to be loved were likely untrue.

Furthermore, the reason for Yin Hui’s misunderstanding, thinking he had always harbored feelings for his cousin, must have stemmed from his second sister-in-law and his sister, who had likely discerned Wen Ruyue’s intentions and deliberately misled Yin Hui.

The realization struck Wei Luo as ridiculous. He had brought his cousin back to the Shu Mansion with the intention of having her accompany Yin Hui, but with her behavior, it was no wonder Yin Hui would rather raise a tortoise.

“Since my cousin isn’t satisfied with the man I’ve chosen for you, then pack your bags and prepare to leave. I’ll send you to the capital in a few days, and let Uncle pick a suitable son-in-law,” Wei Luo stated with a blank expression.

Wen Ruyue’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Wei Luo promptly called for An Shun’er to escort the guest out.

If being dismissed during dinner the previous night was embarrassing for Wen Ruyue, being told she would be sent to the capital now was humiliating. She was no longer welcome in the Yan Palace.

When she returned to her aunt in tears, Mrs. Wen couldn’t console her. She sought her son to understand what had happened.

Wei Luo responded coldly, “You live in the palace, so you can’t choose a son-in-law for your niece. And since she doesn’t like the one I’ve chosen, it’s best to let Uncle decide for her.”

Mrs. Wen treated her niece like her own daughter and was understandably reluctant. Moreover, with her brother married to Xu Xian, who knew how she would treat her niece?

After much hesitation, Mrs. Wen finally gathered the courage to ask, “Then, may I request King Yan to find one for Ruyue?”

Wei Luo didn’t blame his mother for favoring his cousin. After all, he had rarely spent time with her over the years.

Calmly, Wei Luo reasoned with his mother, “Father is occupied with his official duties. He agreed to bring your niece into the Yan Palace out of compassion for you. How could he possibly find the time to choose a son-in-law for her?”

Mrs. Wen lowered her head, seemingly unable to bring herself to trouble King Yan and reluctant to part with her niece.

Seeing her reluctance, Wei Luo felt compelled to reveal the truth, saying, “Cousin actually desires to marry me, but I have no intention of marrying her. Sending her away is also helping her move on.”

Mrs. Wen was shocked and asked, “She… She told you herself?”

Wei Luo glanced at his mother and confirmed, “Yes.”

Understanding dawned on Mrs. Wen. If she were to confess her feelings to someone and be met with rejection, she would surely shed many tears.

Realizing that both cousins were in this icy impasse, Mrs. Wen recognized that her niece would find it difficult to hold her head high in the palace in the future. It seemed best for her to depart for the capital.

Mrs. Wen sighed and went back to comfort her niece.

Unprompted, Wen Ruyue had already begun considering leaving her cousin. Even if King Yan were to select a husband for her, he likely wouldn’t choose from a prestigious family. Rather than waste time in the Yan Palace, it seemed better to head to the capital. With her beauty, she could surely secure a match with a noble family in Jinling!

Thinking of doing it, Wen Ruyue only said that she dreamed that her father was sick, and she felt anxious. Then, accompanied by Mrs. Wen, she kowtowed to Princess Xu and left in a carriage.

Wei Luo dispatched a young eunuch from Chengxin Hall to see off his cousin. He also sent a letter to his uncle, urging him not to betroth Wen Ruyue to any noble children in Jinling.

After all, they were cousins, and Wei Luo didn’t want Wen Ruyue to suffer the same fate as in his previous life, marrying someone as cruel and heartless as Xue Huan.

However, this letter represented the final intervention Wei Luo could make for Wen Ruyue. If she insisted on marrying Xue Huan and his uncle disregarded his advice, Wei Luo would be powerless to intervene.