The Legend of Zhen Huan: Year after year, we share the spring breeze

She came to stand beside Shen Yunfei: "What do you want?"

Shen Yunfei raised his head, looked into her eyes, and said firmly: "I want to marry you!"

"And then?" An Lingrong heard her own calm, almost cold voice.

Shen Yunfei was obviously stunned for a moment: "What then?"

"I'll marry you," An Lingrong said, a hint of sneer on her lips. "And then be trapped in a square house, taking care of my husband and children, and being a secluded woman waiting for my husband to come home every day?"

"No, no!" Shen Yunfei said anxiously: "Marry me, I will support you in whatever you want to do, as long as you are happy."

An Lingrong shook her head gently: "My life is like this now. If getting married or not makes no difference to me, then why should I get married?"

These words were somewhat ruthless. The light in Shen Yunfei's eyes dimmed for a moment, then lit up stubbornly again: "Don't you have any good feelings towards me?"

"Of course!" An Lingrong said firmly, "You are a rare person who can keep up with my thinking. You can understand my ideas and the significance of what I do. So, I feel very relaxed when I am with you.

You are very good to me, I know that, but if this kindness is just based on some physiological feelings, I will find it very low-class. "

Shen Yunfei's face turned pale all of a sudden: "In your eyes, are my feelings so superficial?"

"Perhaps not!" An Lingrong forced herself to continue this cruel conversation. "Then what do you think marriage means? Is it about constant intimacy? Is it about being my eternal protector? Or is it about treating me like a canary that needs to be carefully nurtured?"

Shen Yunfei remained silent.

"In my opinion, marriage is a ceremony, a union of two families, and a legal bond of property and personal relationships. Today, I don't need these to prove my worth, nor do I need to be dependent on anyone."

"What about love?" Shen Yunfei's voice deepened: "Don't you believe in love?"

"Of course I do!" An Lingrong glanced back at Shen Meizhuang, then turned back. "I believe more in intellectual resonance, career partnerships, and life confidants, but I don't believe marriage in the traditional sense can bring these. Marriage is just a form of social discipline, especially for women."

Shen Yunfei listened quietly, understood her meaning, and said, "I know what you're thinking, but have you ever thought that maybe marriage can be whatever you define it to be? I will give you the utmost respect and freedom."

"That's true in theory," An Lingrong shook her head, "but in reality, the constraints of gender roles are too heavy. Even if you don't want to, you subconsciously still expect a 'good wife'."

"You're prejudging my position." Shen Yunfei frowned. "I like the fresh and lively you. This is what I cherish most. I won't change you."

"But the world doesn't see it that way." An Lingrong turned to look out the window at the darkening sky, her voice sharp as she said, "Three months into your marriage, someone will urge you to take a concubine. Five years without a child, and your clan will force you to divorce your wife. These worldly webs will eventually suffocate you and me."

The chirping of birds returning to their nests could be heard outside the window. An Lingrong followed the flock of birds with her eyes until they disappeared behind the eaves.

No matter how powerful a time traveler is, he can only change the lifestyle of that era. Trying to shake those deeply rooted ideas and concepts is like an ant trying to shake a tree.

She didn't think she had the ability.

She paused, then continued, "You talk about respect now, and of course I believe it. But when the whole world is teaching you how to be the head of a family, can you really keep your original intention today?"

She turned slowly, her eyes as calm as water: "I am very satisfied with my current life. I don't want to change it, and I won't gamble on a future where I can't see the way forward."

Shen Yunfei opened his mouth to speak, but An Lingrong raised her hand to stop him.

She stared into his eyes, her voice soft but firm: "Shen Yunfei, you are a wonderful person. That's why I don't want the pure feeling between us to be worn away by the daily necessities of life."

The hall fell into a long silence.

The others even breathed very lightly.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Yunfei finally spoke.

"I understand." He slowly raised his eyelids, the surging emotions in his eyes had settled into a calm state: "I'm not good enough. I couldn't give you enough sense of security..."

"But I will wait." Shen Yunfei said word by word: "Wait until the day you can let down your guard. If I can't wait for this lifetime..."

He paused, a bitter arc appeared on the corner of his lips: "That is my fate, Shen Yunfei."

What a true confession, every word is tearful and every sentence is heart-wrenching.

Everyone in the palace was moved, even Zhen Huan's eyes were red.

Just when everyone thought An Lingrong would be moved to tears——

"Snapped!"

A dull slapping sound suddenly rang out, sounding particularly harsh in the silent hall.

Several red marks immediately appeared on Shen Yunfei's left chin.

An Lingrong originally wanted to slap him in the face, but he was tall and she was in a hurry and lost her aim, so she slapped him on the chin. The slap hit her jawbone, causing her hand to feel pain and numbness.

She took a deep breath, the coldness in her eyes intensified: "Shen Yunfei," each word seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth: "You, I am so disappointed."

Shen Yunfei's mouth twitched, and he wanted to speak, but the moment he met An Lingrong's cold gaze, all the words were choked in his throat.

An Lingrong took a few steps back, putting some distance between them and him, looking at the man before her as if he were a stranger. "I thought you were my soulmate, but I was wrong!"

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and walked away.

"Cousin!" Shen Yunfei growled, his voice choked with sobs.

An Lingrong turned around abruptly, suppressing her anger: "Wang Yu is here today!"

Shen Yunfei was a little confused. Why was he mentioned suddenly?

"He brought the workshop's account books. There are now 1,347 people working in the workshop. That means 1,347 families don't have to worry about food and clothing. Children can wear new clothes and the elderly can drink medicine.

The workshop in Hangzhou is expected to be half the size. My eldest brother is so busy he'll probably spend New Year's Eve in Hangzhou this year. Wang Yu, a commoner, has lost over 20 pounds in six months working for the workshop. Ah Yin, a woman, travels back and forth between Suzhou and Hangzhou, unfazed by the wind and snow. "Look at you!"

An Lingrong continued, "Do you think my ideal is limited to Suzhou and Hangzhou? I tell you, Suzhou and Hangzhou are just the beginning. Within three years, such workshops will be spread across all prefectures in Jiangnan."

Within ten years, wherever cotton and linen can be grown, these workshops will be everywhere.”

Her voice was soft, but every word was weighty, causing everyone present to open their eyes wide.

"I want the people of the Qing Dynasty and the soldiers on the border to no longer suffer from the cold winter."

Ignoring everyone's gazes, he continued, "There's another most important aspect. The workshop has been open for half a year, and apart from the dividends we received, the tax silver paid to the court alone is 80,000 taels.

Do you know how much you can do with these 80,000 taels?

The more money the workshops earn, the more they pay into the national treasury. This will allow the country to develop its military equipment and weapons. If foreign ironclad ships arrive at our doorstep one day, we will have cannons and muskets to face them—instead of just holding our silver and letting them slaughter us!

Her chest heaved violently, and tears seemed to glisten in her eyes.

Turning around, he looked at Shen Yunfei proudly: "Do you understand these?"

Shen Yunfei opened his mouth in shock.

An Lingrong turned to leave, but paused after a moment's thought. Without looking back, she whispered, "Think about it carefully! If you insist on having your own way, we might not even be friends anymore."

After she said the last word, she walked back to the inner hall without stopping.