"What should that reason be?" Xing Shaojun asked humbly.
"Material power and status are not very important to a woman, especially since I already have them.
While my influence may not match that of the young duke, I am not someone to be bullied. As for wealth, I am certainly not lacking. So, for what reason do you think I should marry you?" Lin Yan smiled seductively.
"I... I admire you, Miss, and I hope to win your favor." Xing Shaojun walked up to Lin Yan, knelt before her, and looked up at her.
"With my entire fortune as your betrothal gift, would you, Miss, consent?"
Before, he had only thought that this woman was suitable for him, and independent enough to take care of herself and the household when he was away campaigning.
She was not like his mother, who was completely dependent on his father. Whenever his father went on campaign, she would become dejected, and when his father eventually died on the battlefield, she followed him.
Now, he realized he could not bear to lose her, nor could he bear to see her belong to someone else. During those years in the Northwest, he had sustained himself on her letters.
He missed her, desperately missed her. It was only then that he understood what it meant to be consumed by longing.
Xing Shaojun could no longer speak of suitability or weighing pros and cons. The only reason to marry her was that he admired her.
"Then send the official matchmaker over!"
"Then, Miss, please wait for me for a few more days. I will go and request an imperial decree from His Majesty. I will surely marry you off with great fanfare!"
He wanted to give her the best. This time, his contributions were significant, and his noble title was already high. He wanted to use this merit to secure a foundation for her.
However, he would not mention this to her until it was done.
Later, the imperial decree enfeoffing Lin Yan as a county princess arrived, along with the decree granting her marriage.
Lin Yan knew this was Xing Shaojun's idea. The honor of a Duchess came from her husband, while the title of county princess was hers alone.
Even if they were not yet married, this title could protect her.
Xing Shaojun's betrothal gifts astounded everyone. Whether it was the wild geese he personally hunted or the rare treasures, they all proclaimed his importance to Lin Yan.
The Lin family also came from their hometown for Lin Yan's wedding.
They lined up in front of Lin Yan and bowed to her.
There were those who called her aunt, and those who called her grandaunt, and even a child of five or six years old who called Lin Yan great-grandmothe.
This child was specially brought by the Lin clan leader, who said she was to roll on the bridal bed for good luck.
Lin Yan looked at the younger generation before her with helplessness, but they also wanted to support her. Although the Lin family had no power, they couldn't let others look down on Lin Yan.
When Tang Leyi learned of Lin Yan and Xing Shaojun's marriage, she had already been confined to her courtyard for nearly two months.
It was different, so different. In his previous life, Xing Shaojun had never married. Even when the new emperor personally arranged a marriage for him, he refused.
As for Lin Yan, she remembered that this cousin had ruined her reputation by falling into the water and married a young master from a minor family.
Until she was reborn, she had never heard of them having any connection.
But why, why was he marrying that woman!
Everyone seemed to be doing better, both this Duke of Dingguo and Lin Yan.
Princess Huimin, that was a county princess title! Although there was no fief, with such a title, no one could look down on her anymore.
Xing Shaojun was indeed very thoughtful! Because of the difficulties posed by the Marquis's wife, he had secured an even higher title for her.
Later, when that Marquis's wife met her, she would have to bow to her.
Tang Xinyi was also doing well. Although she had married the useless man from the Li family in her previous life, unlike her past self, the dandy from the Li family doted on her.
Her husband confined her to the inner courtyard, but he did not prevent news from outside from reaching her, especially knowing that she cared about Tang Xinyi and Feng Feiyu.
He had people provide her with detailed news of them.
"One life, one couple." This was her obsession. Not only did Feng Feiyu treat Princess Jiayi this way, but even that Li family dandy, whom she had previously disliked, had achieved this for Tang Xinyi.
Feng Feiyu might have been concerned about the princess's status, but what about the man from the Li family?
When Tang Xinyi was pregnant, he did not take any concubines, and he probably wouldn't in the future.
But why? Why was it like this!
It seemed that she was the only one living poorly. In her previous life, although she had constantly struggled with concubines and her mother-in-law in the inner courtyard, she had at least lived comfortably, with the backing of her parents. She had lived quite freely.
She had even dared to scold her husband, but he only dared to call her unreasonable. After all, her father was a Duke, and he dared not do anything to her.
In this life, seeing Tang Xinyi living like this, she realized that her mother's arrangement of the marriage to the Li family had indeed been meticulously planned.
But why had she lived her life in two lifetimes like this?
This time, holding the script of rebirth, why was she living worse than in her previous life?
Although her previous life had been tiring, she at least had two close children and a supportive maternal family. The Li family, though not fond of her, could only tolerate her.
But in this life, without favor or children, and even confined to this small courtyard, listening to the people she resented live better than her.
Even her maternal family, unwilling to offend her husband's family, refused to support her. Her rebirth had truly become a joke. She knew all the future, and she could have lived better!
If she could go back, if she could live another life, she would absolutely not end up like this for a man!
"Host, the female lead has committed suicide." Just as Lin Yan was changing into her wedding dress and preparing to put on makeup, the system's voice rang out.
"Is she dead?" Lin Yan felt that the female lead choosing to commit suicide today was meant to disgust her.
"No, she was saved. Her husband has people watching her, preventing her from dying."
"That's good. How about we add some more fuel to the fire?"
"Host?"
"Tonight, transmit the original plot to her, and let her have a good dream!" Lin Yan smiled beautifully.
Since the female lead wanted to give her a "big gift" on her wedding day, she would give her one as well. She hoped she would like it!
When Xing Shaojun arrived to pick up the bride in the late afternoon, he encountered a group of people from the Lin family dressed in scholar's robes.
The Lin family members were all good-looking, and a group of them dressed in scholar's robes standing there was quite a sight.
After this wedding, many people inquired about the young talents of the Lin family.
Xing Shaojun had been prepared and had invited many scholars to assist. The wedding began in a lively atmosphere.
Tang Xinyi also attended the wedding. She had always found it difficult to face Miss Lin, as in the plot she had received, Miss Lin's fall into the water was partly related to her.
Therefore, she had always felt indebted to her. Seeing her attain happiness now, she could feel a little at ease.
Looking at her husband beside her, Tang Xinyi was quite satisfied. Although he might not be as handsome and dashing as the male lead, he was very trainable. Currently, he was the most suitable person for her.
Tang Xinyi placed her hand in her husband's. "I'm a little tired, and Ming Ge'er probably misses us too. Since the wedding is over, let's go back."
"Yes, I miss Ming Ge'er too." He held his wife's hand and walked towards their carriage.
After Tang Leyi woke up from her coma, she didn't know where she was. Shouldn't she be in the Marquis of Huaiyin's mansion, making clothes for her husband? How did she suddenly appear here?
Why did her neck hurt so much? Why was this place so familiar yet strange?
But after recalling, her expression immediately turned frenzied.
She should be the Marchioness of Huaiyin, she was the one Feng Feiyu doted on. She had a loving husband and adorable children. She shouldn't be here, she shouldn't be!
The memories of three lifetimes intertwined in her mind, making her unable to distinguish reality from fiction.
She shouted at the servants guarding her, one moment saying she was the wife of the Li family, the next saying she was the Marchioness of Huaiyin.
"Is she crazy?" The man who received the news was not particularly concerned. "Have someone find the wife of Duke Anguo to see her. She must be very worried about her daughter turning out like this."
"Aren't you afraid, Young Master?"
"It's nothing. The Duchess knows what she should and shouldn't do." With that, he stopped paying attention to the matter.
When the Duchess of Anguo saw Tang Leyi, she did not appear frantic. She was elegantly dressed, with a condescending expression on her face.
But when the Duchess spoke to her, she realized that her daughter had truly gone mad, driven mad by Feng Feiyu.
She claimed to be Feng Feiyu's wife, and that they had children.
How could her husband tolerate this? But the Duchess of Anguo did not dare to call a doctor. If this got out, both families would lose face.
Now that her daughter was alive, it was her son-in-law's magnanimity. She could not ask for anything more.
Therefore, after obtaining the consent of her son-in-law and her own husband, the Duchess of Anguo had Tang Leyi taken away, with the pretense that she was ill and going to their estate to recuperate.
A few years later, she would be reported to have died of illness. As for whether her son-in-law would remarry and when, the Duke of Anguo's mansion had no say in the matter.
Their daughter had done such things, how could they dare to interfere?
After Tang Leyi went to the estate, her memories became even more chaotic. When she was lucid, she desperately wanted to die, but the people guarding her would not let anything happen to her.
After the Li family rose with the support of the new emperor, the Duke of Anguo's mansion gradually declined. The person on the estate had already "died," and no one paid attention to the eldest daughter of the Duke of Anguo's mansion anymore.
Tang Leyi, taking advantage of a moment when her attendants were not paying attention, ran up to a cliff. This was not her life, no! As long as she jumped off here, she was sure she could have another chance. As long as she jumped!
With a leap, Tang Leyi vanished over the cliff.
The only one who knew of her death was Lin Yan, who possessed the system. After all, according to the information others had, the young master's wife had long since passed away from illness. Even the young master, after a year of mourning, had remarried a noble lady.