When Cheng Yujin saw Zhai Yanlin came from behind, complicated feelings flashed through her mind, and for a moment, she didn't know what to do.
Old Madam Cheng' coincidentally' told her to visit the garden. Cheng Yumo left 'coincidentally.' And she 'coincidentally' met Zhai Yanlin here. No matter what, it certainly was not coincidental.
Old Madam Cheng actually reached a consensus with Old Madam Zhai in such a short time and arranged for their chance encounter in the garden. Truly hard work. Should she feel grateful?
However, the matter had happened. It was useless to insist on finding the cause and effect or venting her emotions now. When she turned around to face Zhai Yanlin, Cheng Yujin had calmed down. However, she had no intention to move from her place. Separated by half of the long corridor, she greeted Zhai Yanlin: "Duke Cai."
Compared with Cheng Yujin's polite alienation, Zhai Yanlin was enthusiastic. He didn't care about the distance at all. Women were shy and reserved. If she didn't come to him, he just needed to walk towards her.
Zhai Yanlin strode towards Cheng Yujin. As he approached, the details of Cheng Yujin's appearance became apparent. Zhai Yanlin couldn't help sighing in admiration. His initial view was correct. Cheng Yujin was very beautiful, like an excellent jade. Although she wore plain clothes, she was still beautiful. But her current attire was far from showing her true potential. A woman like her should use all the precious things in the world. All kinds of gold, silver, jade, and gems should adore her body. Her disposition was to be revered by many, and be admired like the sun and the moon.
Out of a man's instinct, seeing a beauty made Zhai Yanlin happy. He had seen countless beauties, and his late wife and concubines were all of an outstanding look. But strangely enough, ever since he had seen Cheng Yujin, he always missed her. It was just a few months since he last saw her, but Zhai Yanlin couldn't bear it. When he heard the news that the Empress Dowager was going to go out of the palace, his first reaction was not to analyze the implied meaning, but to feel joyful.
Cheng Yujin would definitely join the occasion, and he finally had a chance to see her again.
This random encounter' was actually his instruction. Even if Old Madam Zhai wanted to see Cheng Yujin personally, she wouldn't so brashly ask for Cheng Yujin and Zhai Yanlin to meet directly. This matter was secretly arranged by Zhai Yanlin himself.
On the one hand, Zhai Yanlin was aware that he was acting outside the decorum. On the other hand, he was immersed in the joy of seeing Cheng Yujin again. Zhai Yanlin's eyes gleamed invasively while he got closer and closer to Cheng Yujin. Cheng Yujin frowned. Without even bothering to pretend, she took a few steps backward.
"Duke Cai, please don't get closer." Cheng Yujin stood straight and said coldly. "Men and women should keep their distance. Although this little girl accidentally meets Duke Cai, if others see us, they may misunderstand. It's better not to stand too close."
Zhai Yanlin raised his eyebrows and smiled playfully: "What does eldest Miss Cheng mean?"
Cheng Yujin was annoyed by Zhai Yanlin's slightly provocative tone and playful manner. It was as if he thought that he had completely seen through her and that they were exchanging a flirting banter. Cheng Yujin had a high double standard. She liked to appraise men's worth to choose the best possible husband candidate. However, she couldn't accept others did the same thing to her.
Cheng Yujin's expression was frigid, and even her smile was sarcastic: "What do I mean? Exactly what Duke Cai just heard."
Zhai Yanlin suddenly froze in place. The playfulness on his face disappeared. He originally thought that Cheng Yujin was merely playing hard to catch. Women were like this. In order to show their worth, they would pretend to be aloof to hang men's appetite.
Zhai Yanlin had seen plenty of women who pretended to be reserved and distant, waiting for the men to chase them. Zhai Yanlin always felt impatient by this trick, but he didn't feel averse when it came to Cheng Yujin and was willing to play along. However, Zhai Yanlin was not stupid. From Cheng Yujin's last words, he heard only a total alienation.
She actually rejected him?
Zhai Yanlin couldn't believe it. His face sank, and his voice turned cold: "Eldest Miss Cheng, since you are coming here, you must already know everything you should know. Showing this kind of attitude at this juncture, what is your intention?"
Zhai Yanlin did not hide what he had done. Cheng Yujin did not evade either, and raised her head to meet Zhai Yanlin's eyes: "Since Duke already knows, I might as well say it straight. When I go to greet my grandmother just now, I also met Old Madam Zhai." Cheng Yujin paused only for a moment. "Then, what does Duke Cai want to do?"
Zhai Yanlin was a bit surprised. He knew that Cheng Yujin had mostly seen through the Zhai family's intention, or to be precise, his intention. However, due to a woman's reserved nature, Zhai Yanlin thought that Cheng Yujin would be too embarrassed to inquire straightforwardly.
However, since she asked so directly, Zhai Yanlin didn't hold back either: "You are right. Eldest Miss Cheng's performance in the garden that day is still fresh in my memory. At your sister's wedding, eldest Miss Cheng also performed very well, not being humble or arrogant. Both my mother and I think that eldest Miss Cheng will be a good wife and mother. Therefore, we want to propose to Yichun Marquis Manor and marry eldest Miss Cheng as Duke Cai's legitimate wife."
Cheng Yujin laughed. She finally shed off her usual dignified and amicable facade, leaving only the icy coldness and total indifference that seemed to alienated people thousands of miles away.
Zhai Yanlin was stunned. At this time, Cheng Yujin spoke.
"Of course I will be a good wife and mother." Cheng Yujin said with a smile, "But why should it be yours?"
Zhai Yanlin was stunned again. He had heard the exact same words from Cheng Yuanjing before. For a moment, Zhai Yanlin had a mixed feeling and even questioned his own conjecture. Could it be that Cheng Yujin and Cheng Yuanjing was a real uncle and niece? Otherwise, how could it be that their reasoning and speech so similar?
Out of indescribable feeling, Zhai Yanlin didn't respond immediately, but asked back instead: "Why does eldest Miss Cheng say that?"
Zhai Yanlin was really curious. When helping Huo family welcoming their bride, Zhai Yanlin met Cheng Yuanjing in Yichun Marquis Manor, who also said the same thing to him, and even warned him to stop thinking about Cheng Yujin.
Even if Cheng Yuanjing had a bright prospect and limitless future, in Zhai Yanlin's eyes, he was no more than a young man who had just entered the court. Zhai Yanlin never took Cheng Yuanjing's warning to heart.
Chasing power and beautiful woman was a man's natural instinct. Cheng Yujin was young and beautiful, but she had nothing to do with Cheng Yuanjing. What right Cheng Yuanjing had to forbid other men from chasing her?
But Zhai Yanlin wanted to hear Cheng Yujin's own words, and even more, her own feelings.
"Duke Cai said that I am an ideal wife and mother, and I think so too." Cheng Yujin smiled softly. It was the look she used most often in front of people. However, the bright light in her eyes was incompatible with the usually gentle and virtuous eldest Miss Cheng.
"My family has decent status and clean background. Even if we are not of the highest rank, my father is Yichun Marquis Manor's shizi, soon to be titled marquis, and my mother is Qingfu Junzhu. In the eyes of many prestigious family's madams, this is an ideal background for a daughter-in-law. There is the saying that 'Men should take a wife from a lower status, women should marry a man of the higher status.' My status is neither high nor low, but decent enough and clean. As for myself, I am beautiful and have a gentle disposition. My manner is excellent, I am good at social niceties, and proficient in the four arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I am also good at cooking, embroidery, and household management. I fulfill all the requirements of a virtuous wife and good mother. Not to mention others, even myself also want to take such a daughter-in-law home."
Zhai Yanlin frowned. These words made him uncomfortable. Zhai Yanlin curled his eyebrows and said: "Eldest Miss Cheng, as a boudoir girl..."
"As a boudoir girl, how can I say such things, right?" Cheng Yujin still smiled sweetly. "But this is the fact. Everyone acknowledges it. Ah, this is the result of my long years of hard work. From a perfect noble family daughter to a perfect daughter-in-law candidate. In the future, I will become a perfect bride, a perfect wife, and a perfect matriarch. This is my goal. As long as I can get what I want, it's not hard to maintain this perfect image."
"After I knew about Cai Duke Manor's intention, I also carefully considered this matter. I can manage the duke household well. I can manage Zhai Qing well. Although it's a bit tricky, it's not impossible to regain the right to manage the household and bring the crooked Zhai Qing back to the right path. But let me ask Duke Cai, what can you bring me in exchange for my hard work?"
When Zhai Yanlin heard this, he was too shocked even to say a word. In the past, women would pounce upon him one after another. Whether it was to be his concubines or second wife, there were countless of them. But no one ever asked him, "what can you bring to me?"
What could he bring to her? Zhai Yanlin's three views were having a violent turbulent. He was the dignified Duke Cai. He possessed wealth and power that made countless people envy him. He was tall, majestic, and had a good look. Shouldn't women fall in love with him as a matter of fact?
Zhai Yanlin couldn't believe it. He was used to be the one who chose. He never thought that there would be a woman standing on the opposite side, wantonly evaluating his worth.
Cheng Yujin didn't care how great an impact was her words brought to Zhai Yanlin's three views. She continued counting with her fingers: "If Second Madam Zhai's words are not wrong, then the duke title and all the family property will belong to Zhai Qing in the future. That is to say, after twenty to thirty years of hard work, I have to raise another person's son and won't even get large rewards. Then why should I bother to work hard? Even if I give birth to a son, he can't inherit the family, then why should I risk my life and damage my beauty to give birth to a child? Taking a step back, no matter how good I manage the household, those properties won't belong to me or my children in the future. So why should I spend so many efforts to accumulate wealth for others?"
Cheng Yujin raised three fingers to Zhai Yanlin. "Wealth, power, comfort. Duke Cai cannot give me any of these. Why should I marry you?"
Zhai Yanlin took a long time to finally regain his ability to speak: "You...you are rebellious. Women should be gentle and tactful, supporting husband and raising children without asking for anything in return. How can you open your mouth so blatantly and talk about benefits and rewards?"
Cheng Yujin was already very impatient: "Duke Cai, I think you are also a high-ranking official of the court. Then let's just speak openly. Since you want to form a cooperation with me, then you should show sincerity. Don't bring nonsense like womanly virtue or gentleness to the negotiating table. I can bring peace and order to your family for at least thirty years. If you still want me to take care of Old Madam Zhai and correct Zhai Qing's behavior, you have to add more bargaining chips. This is my worth. What about you? What can you bring to me?"
Cheng Yujin discussed marriage with the same tone as discussing a business deal. This kind of scene was not unfamiliar to Zhai Yanlin. On the contrary, he dealt with many people in the court and the army on a daily basis, using the same negotiating tactic to exchange interests and test each other's bottom line. If he was dealing with the court officials, Zhai Yanlin liked this kind of person who showed their demands and worth straightforwardly. But in marriage...
Zhai Yanlin was utterly shocked. Cheng Yujin was like a sharp knife with no emotions. She mercilessly cut open the thick cloth that had blindfolded him over the years and presented the bloody truth before his eyes.
That's right. Those women who pursued him, did they truly like him as a person? No. His wealth, power, and status were the key.
He had always deceived himself, thinking that he was extraordinarily heroic and charismatic, which attracted so much love from the women. But those women, those concubines in his home and even his late wife, which one didn't look at his family's status and future wealth? They all wanted to give birth to a son and gained a part of his family property.
This thought just never occurred to Zhai Yanlin. He maintained his ridiculous, stubborn male self-esteem, pride, and self-confidence he had lived in for most of his life. But at this moment, Cheng Yujin put on all the bargaining chips on the negotiating table, and for the first time ever, Zhai Yanlin realized that his self-confidence was actually so vulnerable. In front of Cheng Yujin's calm, rational, and ruthless words, it collapsed easily.
Zhai Yanlin was agitated, and switched into the negotiation mode he used at the court. However, he immediately realized that he couldn't bring anything out. Zhai Yanlin remained still for a long time, and finally said with a dry tone: "If you become my wife, I will treat you well, and you can have any gold and luxury as you want..."
Cheng Yujin laughed. Her voice was not loud, but the laugh directly pierced into Zhai Yanlin's ears.
Zhai Yanlin felt an indescribable embarrassment.
Talking about feelings at the negotiating table was unbecoming.
"Duke Cai, your feelings are worthless to me. What else can you offer me?"
Zhai Yanlin could not answer. Cheng Yujin also didn't expect him to answer, and immediately continued: "You cannot give me any benefit, whether in the present or the future. Then why do you want to marry me? And even stop me in the middle of the garden?"
Your feelings are worthless to me—this sentence hit hardly, and gave Zhai Yanlin the final and fatal blow. His male self-esteem was greatly hit. But he couldn't even refute, because it was a fact.
Many women in the world were soft-hearted, but Cheng Yujin obviously won't. The affection of her future husband was worthless to her. She wanted money and power, and didn't want him.
Like a poor, dejected young man, Zhai Yanlin stood in front of the woman he likes, feeling at a loss as to what to do. He watched Cheng Yujin turned around and leave. He didn't look away for a long time, and just standing there in silent depression.