Chapter 224: Chapter 224

"What’s the big deal? My reputation isn’t great either, I’ve been rejected for marriage too." Miss Chai said indifferently.

"Being rejected and being married are different, you remain a young maiden after being rejected, but I’m a man who’s had children, you’d have to be a stepmother if you married me, which is unfair to you." The Princely Heir continued to persuade her, speaking as he gently pushed her away.

But Miss Chai clung tightly with her arms and refused to let go.

He couldn’t push her away.

"I’ll be the stepmother then, I get two kids for free! Besides, Guoguo and Jingjing like me a lot, and I like them too."

"You..." The Princely Heir was speechless.

Miss Chai stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck, and suddenly kissed him on the face, "You’ve taken advantage of me, you can’t just leave it at this, you have to take responsibility."

The Princely Heir’s face flushed, "Calm down first, we’ll talk about it tomorrow."

"I’ve thought about it for many days, there’s no need to cool down." Miss Chai looked at him, "Do you know? From the first time I saw you, I liked you. But at that time you had a wife, I could only sigh and dare not cross the line. When I found out you divorced your wife, I... I didn’t want to miss you."

The Princely Heir was shocked, the first time she saw him?

"What do you like about me?" The Princely Heir couldn’t think of anything about himself worthy of making a young girl so moved.

"You’re stable, kind, knowledgeable, and importantly, have a good temper." Of course, handsome too! She was too shy to say that.

The Princely Heir chuckled, "I don’t have a good temper, when I’m angry, I’m really fierce."

"But I believe you have principles, you wouldn’t be mean for no reason, right? Brother Li?" Miss Chai looked up at the Princely Heir.

The Princely Heir’s gaze was deep, looking at the stubborn young girl in his arms, "It’s late, you should go back." Maybe after sleeping on it, she’d regret tonight’s impulse.

"I’m not going, you haven’t answered me." Miss Chai refused to leave.

"You..." The Princely Heir sighed, "You have to let me think about it, I can’t answer you right now."

Miss Chai bit her lip, "Do you really dislike me?" Why reject her?

"You’re a good girl, it’s just I..."

"I’m not concerned with your matters, as long as you think I’m good." Miss Chai insisted stubbornly.

The Princely Heir was tormented by her persistence, "Stand properly, let me talk to you."

"You’re not going to push me away immediately?" Miss Chai wouldn’t let go.

The Princely Heir found it both amusing and frustrating, "I have something to say, I won’t push you away."

Miss Chai finally let go, "Okay."

The Princely Heir sat her down on a chair, while he sat on the opposite chair, "Don’t be impulsive, let me finish, even if marriage is between two people willing, it is often influenced by societal norms."

Miss Chai nodded, "I know, isn’t it just about parental approval and matchmaking? I don’t have parents, only a brother, my brother listens to me. As for Brother Li’s family, I believe Uncle Li and Aunt Li are enlightened people, they’ll agree to me marrying in."

The Princely Heir added, "Besides this, there’s the issue of social status which should match. But our family’s status is not equal, my family is poor, all our money combined is only about twenty taels of silver, this money must be saved for land and property taxes, it can’t be used for other purposes.

We’re eating coarse grain, not meat every day, and wearing plain cloth. I still work in the fields myself. My younger siblings are struggling to make ends meet too. If you marry in, you’ll have to work, do household chores, cook, wash clothes, and manage the children, will you manage?"

Miss Chai replied, "I can, I wasn’t living like a lady at home either. Before I even knew what was going on, my parents passed away, my second father was mean to me, and my grandmother’s eyes were only on my second father’s family, my brother wanted to help me, but he couldn’t.

Although I haven’t washed clothes or cooked, I sew my own garments, when thirsty or hungry, I don’t wait for servants to bring me food, I find it myself. Everything you said, I can do, I’m not bothered."

"I don’t have a betrothal gift for you." The Princely Heir remembered something important, "Your family will certainly not agree."

"I don’t want a betrothal gift! I’ve said, I call the shots in my family!" Miss Chai got up, walked over, and hugged the Princely Heir’s neck, "I’ve thought of everything you said, I’ve made up my mind, I’ll only marry you unless you marry someone else." New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel~fire~net

The Princely Heir was silent for a while, and could only say, "Alright, I’ll go discuss this with your brother, if he opposes, you can’t insist, okay?"

He finally agreed, Miss Chai happily leaned against his chest, "Okay." Fearing he’d go back on his word, she fumbled and took his belt and rolled it up, hiding it in her sleeve, "This is a token, you can’t back out."

She was thorough, and the Princely Heir was amused by her, "I keep my word."

Miss Chai felt around herself, put her handkerchief into his hand, "Here’s this since you returned my earrings, it’s for you. When you see the handkerchief, remember me, so you don’t forget about the proposal."

The Princely Heir smiled faintly, "I remember."

With the matter settled, Miss Chai left happily.

The Princely Heir stood at the door watching her leave, thinking of what Miss Chai had said, he felt like he’d just dreamed.

He never imagined there’d be a girl interested in him as he was now.

Divorced with two kids, still a man without success and wealth.

He opened his hand, with the handkerchief in hand.

That wasn’t a dream just now, indeed a girl said she would marry him, not minding his poverty.

Miss Chai returned to her room, and Nanny Jiang immediately approached, glanced behind her, closed the door, and asked in a low voice, "Miss, did you go to see the Li Family’s eldest son?"

Nanny Jiang raised Miss Chai, aware of her inner thoughts.

However, she kept them to herself, not mentioning them.

Today’s action was unusual, she worriedly asked.

Miss Chai’s face was slightly flushed, she nodded gently, "I proposed to him."

Nanny Jiang looked at her in shock, "Miss...? You, a girl, proposing to a man?"

Miss Chai was unconcerned, even rather proud, "What’s wrong with that?"

Her instinct said that Li Family’s eldest son didn’t dislike her, he simply lacked self-confidence. If she wasn’t proactive, this wouldn’t come to be.

"Did he... reject you?" Nanny Jiang asked, worried. A girl proposing and being rejected would be embarrassing, wouldn’t it?

"No, he said he’d propose to my brother tomorrow." Miss Chai pursed her lips into a smile.

Nanny Jiang was stunned, then laughed quickly, "That’s good. I’ve observed in secret, Li Family’s eldest son is nice, although poor, the family has good morals, he studied, is hard-working, has a good temper, and importantly, is handsome, much better looking than that Luo Family boy, but..."

"There’s nothing to but about, it’s just he was married before and has two kids, right? What’s the problem? I have been seriously ill, not sure if I can bear children, I’m getting two kids for free, what’s the harm, plus those two kids like me." Miss Chai was indifferent.

"Everyone says being a stepmother is hard." Nanny Jiang raised the critical issue, becoming worried again.

"It depends on the man, the family, the kids. Some families are unfair, women do too much and it’s never enough, but I can tell, the Li Family isn’t that kind, Nanny, don’t worry, I’ll live well after marrying in." Miss Chai said confidently.

Nanny Jiang frowned, "Discuss with the elder son first."

Miss Chai smiled lightly, "Brother will listen to me."

The Princely Heir lay on the bed, closing his eyes, and he constantly felt Miss Chai in his arms, holding his neck, whispering softly.

He sighed, got up, and went to the North Courtyard.

Prince Luling and his wife always slept late because the two kids were noisy.

One child needed water, the other had to be relieved, the North Courtyard wouldn’t extinguish its lights until midnight.

At this time, it was still half an hour before midnight, Princess Consort Luling had just put the two kids to sleep, was yawning while urging Prince Luling to sleep, when the Princely Heir knocked on the door, "Father, Mother, I need to discuss something."

"What time is it? Can’t it wait until tomorrow?" Prince Luling yawned, muttering as he opened the door.

Seeing his eldest son entering with a furrowed brow, he asked with surprise, "What’s the matter? Why are you frowning as you enter?"

The Princely Heir came in, took a glance towards the bedroom, "Father, Mother, are Guoguo and Jingjing asleep?"

Jingjing was likely to eavesdrop, he didn’t want Jingjing to overhear and spread rumors, ruining his plans.

"They’re asleep, we were just about to go to sleep too." Princess Consort Luling said.