Spring flowers

Chapter 16 Shield

Wei Yishang almost spat out her tea and hurriedly looked at Ye Mingzhen.

Seeing her shocked expression, Ye Mingzhen was probably certain.

"Do you also have a mission?" Wei Yishang asked subconsciously.

Ye Mingzhen's brow twitched. Sure enough!

But he pretended not to understand: "What mission?"

Wei Yishang waved her hand after her initial shock: "It's nothing, it's nothing. What did you just say? You want to marry me?"

Although she really wanted to agree immediately, she was terrified that the noble ladies of the capital would tear her apart.

Ye Mingzhen appears to be a gentleman on the surface, but only she knows that he is full of evil intentions and is unfathomable. Marrying him would be like sleeping with a tiger!
The system notification sounded again.

[Note: Host withdrawal detected. Failure to complete the mission will prevent return to the original world.]

Wei Yishang's eyes widened. What? Playing this big?

Looking at her ever-changing expression, Ye Mingzhen raised the corners of his mouth and asked again, "What does Miss Wei think?"

Wei Yishang sighed and could only weakly ask, "Why?"

She couldn't understand why Ye Mingzhen suddenly wanted to marry her. She feared it was a conspiracy.

Ye Mingzhen had already prepared his explanation.

"I have the honor of hearing that Miss Wei has cleverly resolved the family matters for Miss Pei. I find Miss Wei to be intelligent, shrewd, and quite shrewd, which has left a deep impression on me. And I just need a wife who can shield me from all unnecessary troubles."

Ye Mingzhen looked at her with sharp eyes, "For example, the Eldest Princess, the Princess of Anping County, and all the noble ladies in the capital who have unrealistic fantasies about me."

He paused, observing Wei Yishang's reaction.

Wei Yishang understood; he had come to use her as a shield.

"Why me? I think there are plenty of people who would be willing to do something this good," Wei Yishang asked.

Still pretending?

Ye Mingzhen stood up with feigned regret and said, "Miss Wei is right. Since you are unwilling, I will not force you."

As he said that, he was about to leave.

"Wait a minute~" Wei Yishang thought of those rewards, which were really tempting, and went up to stop him.

Ye Mingzhen smiled as he turned his back to her, clearly carrying a mission.

Wei Yishang walked up to him and tentatively said, "Young Master Ye, why are you in such a hurry? I didn't say I wouldn't agree, but marriage is not something I can decide! Besides, does Young Master Ye admire me? I'm sure not."

Ye Mingzhen chuckled softly; Wei Yishang's words sounded sarcastic no matter how you looked at them.

“Your background is just right for me,” he said without any hesitation.

"Being the illegitimate daughter of the Vice Minister's family would make those princesses and county princesses look down on you, thinking you are not good enough for me, and thus they would turn their attention to you instead of me. This would give me more time to investigate the case, and would not attract too much attention or political involvement from the court. This marriage is the safest for me."

That's blatant exploitation.

Any woman who harbored feelings for Ye Mingzhen would have been heartbroken upon hearing these words.

But Wei Yishang was overjoyed when she heard this.

[System, did you hear that?! He said it himself! Safe! Convenient! It's practically tailor-made for my laid-back lifestyle!]

She remained expressionless, but instead frowned, revealing an offended look.

Ye Mingzhen took in her expression and knew it was time to throw out the bait. "Of course, this isn't to let you give for nothing," he said in a deep voice.

"In return, I will give you whatever you want. Wealth, freedom, and whatever conditions you desire."

"We've agreed on three rules: First, no conjugal relations. Second, no calling each other 'husband' in private. Third, you're only marrying into this family as a shield; don't expect me to fall for you."

"After the marriage, we will live separately and not interfere with each other. You will be in charge of all the household affairs, and you will receive 30% of all my income. You can live a life of wealth and leisure, but you will have the title of 'Mrs. Ye' on your head. In public, you will cooperate with me to play the role of a loving couple. When the time is right, we can divorce, and I will pay you a generous compensation."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Wei Yishang quietly, waiting for her answer.

He hadn't intended to give her these things, but regardless of whether she was on a mission or not, she was still a woman, and it wasn't his intention to ruin a woman's reputation for no reason. So he decided to consider it compensation.

After listening, she chuckled softly.

"Young Master Ye, do you think I, Wei Yishang, am only worth 30% of the profits from your businesses?" Wei Yishang knew that she would soon face a storm of criticism from all the women in the capital.

Can't she even fight for a little more compensation for emotional distress?

Ye Mingzhen's heart sank suddenly.

He had anticipated that she would try to negotiate, so he wasn't angry.

"It was Mingzhen's oversight." He solemnly cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Wei Yishang.

"So, in Miss Wei's opinion, how many do you want?"

He kicked the ball back.

Wei Yishang had been waiting for him to say those words.

She had already prepared her answer in her mind, but at this moment she pretended to ponder, as if she was seriously thinking about it.

“First of all,” she said, extending a slender finger, “it’s a fact that we’re getting married and I’ll protect you from unwanted suitors. But you have to understand, I’m not protecting ordinary troubles, I’m protecting royalty. The risks involved can’t be measured in money. So, cooperation is possible, but the conditions must be changed.”

She looked at Ye Mingzhen, a sly glint in her eyes.

Ye Mingzhen calmly replied, "Of course!"

"Fifty percent," she said decisively.

"The profits from all the farmland, shops, and houses under your name shall be split equally between you and me. The accounts must be clear, settled monthly, and in writing, without any errors."

This is equivalent to making him give up half of his wealth.

What a huge appetite!
“Secondly,” Wei Yishang said, extending a second finger before he could retort.

"The betrothal gifts. I want to marry in style. The scale of the betrothal gifts cannot be lower than that of a princess of the royal family. Moreover, all the betrothal gifts must be my personal property after the marriage, and go into my private treasury. No one else may ask for them, including you."

She's paving the way for her future. In case of a divorce in the future, these dowry gifts will be her means to run away.

“Again,” she said, extending a third finger, her tone becoming even more forceful.

"After our marriage, I will be the mistress of the Ye family. I will have sole authority over the household affairs, finances, and personnel appointments. You are not allowed to interfere. You may be a gentleman outside, but within the household, I will be in charge. Moreover, you must swear that as long as I am your wife, you will not take a concubine or have any illegitimate women. I want a clean and tidy backyard."

If she's going to play the role of a shrew, she naturally has to go all out. How can a matriarch who can't even manage her own household be shrewish outside?

Ye Mingzhen listened as she listed the points one by one, his expression remaining unchanged.

After a long pause, Ye Mingzhen slowly said, "Okay, I agree to everything you say."

“There is one more crucial condition.” Wei Yishang looked intently at him and dropped the final, and most unexpected, bombshell.

(End of this chapter)