novelaction Chapter 304 Promise
Chapter 304 Promise
Chapter 304 Promise
Chapter 304
Luo Shuiyao hesitated for a moment after hearing the Right Prime Minister's frank words. She was touched by the couple's deep love for their child, but deep down, she was worried. She feared that once she became associated with such an aristocratic family, her future would be fraught with uncertainty. In powerful families, even biological children were often sacrificed in marriages for the sake of family interests, let alone her relationship with them, which was merely a foster relative. If, for such a small benefit, she were to lose control of her own lifelong decisions, it would undoubtedly be a loss.
Seeing Luo Shuiyao's hesitation, the Right Prime Minister and his wife didn't press her. They had their own pride, and while they could honestly reveal their inner pain, they disdained to use this method to bind others' sympathy. They thought it wouldn't be too late to wait until she figured it out.
Ye Yunzhou had been standing silently by the side. At this moment, he saw that Luo Shuiyao's eyes were full of struggle and hesitation. Recalling the times they had spent together, he could guess roughly what was going on based on his understanding of her.
However, he did not interrupt Luo Shuiyao's thoughts directly. He only said half-jokingly, but in fact with a somewhat tentative tone, "Your Excellency, my cousin yearns for freedom and does not want to be trapped in this deep mansion. If she agrees to this and strives to cooperate in making the young master better, I wonder if your house will restrict her personal freedom?"
The Right Prime Minister had never expected that this favorite who was highly trusted by Emperor Yuanzhen, who was always taciturn in the court and rarely involved in factional struggles, would take the initiative to speak one after another in such an occasion today.
He narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced at Luo Shuiyao, who had been lost in thought and had fallen silent after hearing someone speak. His gaze flickered between Luo Shuiyao and Ye Yunzhou, and he couldn't help but form a few guesses. However, as a seasoned official, even if he had a guess, he wouldn't easily speak it out. Besides, he hadn't planned to do so in the first place, so he wasn't worried about Ye Yunzhou knowing his thoughts, so he spoke out.
"Nephew, don't worry about this. If Miss Yaoyao really agrees, I will not interfere with her freedom in the slightest. If she needs anything, my Right Prime Minister's Mansion will be her most solid support, no matter when."
Ye Yunzhou addressed the Right Prime Minister as "Sir," but the Right Prime Minister affectionately addressed him as "my dear nephew." This address instantly shifted the current situation into a family matter. The Right Prime Minister's words were extremely sincere, and his response was frank and natural, without any evasiveness. He seemed truly sincere. Ye Yunzhou nodded slightly, feeling relieved. He then said no more, simply lowering his eyes and quietly looking at Luo Shuiyao, waiting for her to figure things out.
Ye Yunzhou secretly hoped Luo Shuiyao would agree. Once Luo Shuiyao gained the protection of the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, her status would be significantly elevated in the eyes of the people of the capital. No one would dare mock her when they met other noble ladies. After all, the title of Right Prime Minister's daughter was enough to intimidate many. He knew that since the Right Prime Minister had proposed adopting her as his daughter, he would definitely officially register Luo Shuiyao in the Prime Minister's family tree. This would be a far cry from her life as a dependent in the Marquis' Mansion.
Moreover, he naturally had his own little plans in mind, but it was not convenient to mention them at this time.
Although he fully expected Luo Shuiyao to agree, if Luo Shuiyao disagreed, he would never make the decision for her without authorization. Whether she agreed or not depended on her own wishes.
Luo Shuiyao listened with her eyes lowered. She knew full well that Ye Yunzhou's sudden remark, placing himself in the same position as the Right Prime Minister and bringing up the matter as a peer, was meant specifically for her, to allay her concerns. Indeed, after their conversation, coupled with the Right Prime Minister's promise, her previously wavering balance tilted even further towards agreement. However, she still had one concern: if she accepted Du Lingfeng as her brother but his condition didn't improve, how would the Right Prime Minister and his wife react?
Luo Shuiyao thought so and asked directly about her doubts. Unexpectedly, the Right Prime Minister and his wife laughed at her words. The Right Prime Minister's wife's eyes were full of tenderness. She raised her hand and gently stroked her hair at her temples, saying in a gentle voice, "If Ling'er's condition can improve, we will all be happy. If not, with a good girl like you who can treat him as a sister, I sincerely believe that after we are married for a hundred years, you will also take good care of him for us. That will be enough."
The Right Prime Minister stroked his beard, nodding in agreement. When Ye Yunzhou first mentioned this, he had simply wanted to find a companion for his son. But as he took a closer look at the girl, and then at the usually stern leader of the Hidden Dragon Division, his resolve grew. He could see that the girl was loyal and righteous, while Ye Yunzhou was widely recognized as a young talent by all the families in the capital. He secretly mused that even if his son remained childless, with the affection he and his wife had for the girl, and Ye Yunzhou's regard for her, and with their care, his son's life would be no worse after he and his wife passed away.
After hearing the heartfelt words from the Right Prime Minister and his wife, the Marquis's eyes brightened. She seized the opportunity and hurried forward, with a perfectly placed smile on her face, as she patiently advised Luo Shuiyao: "Yaoyao, this is a once-in-a-century opportunity. You must not hesitate any longer!"
After saying this, he half-jokingly looked at the Right Prime Minister's wife and said in an intimate tone: "Speaking of which, our Marquis' Mansion will always support Yaoyao. Sister, you are kind-hearted and will definitely love Yaoyao from the bottom of your heart in the future. How could you possibly treat her badly!"
The Marquis's wife was well aware of her son's stubbornness. Not only did he resemble his father, Marquis Xiao, in appearance, but even his stubborn nature was a direct imitation. Once he set his sights on someone, he would remain with them, even if the road ahead was fraught with obstacles.
Back then, the Marquis was just as persistent. Ever since he'd chosen her, he'd been completely absorbed in her, his eyes closed to no one else. Facing his mother-in-law's opposition, he refused to compromise or give up, simply dragging on, waiting, enduring the long years. Had the Marquis not been on the brink of death on the battlefield, his mother-in-law, fearing a possible disaster, had relented, their marriage would have dragged on for who knows how long.
Over the years, the Marquis's wife had come to realize her own shortsightedness and biased approach, leading to frequent clashes with the Marquis. Each argument was intense, but no matter how intense it got, the Marquis would always consider her dignity and refrain from further action. After the argument, as long as she softened even slightly and feigned weakness, even though the Marquis knew she was acting deliberately, he would eventually relent and the two would reconcile.