You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

When Shen Cong'an woke up in his previous life, he was already over thirty years old and disabled. The Shen family was also punished by the new emperor. He was only focused on assisting the son of his old friend, which is why he delayed his marriage.

In this life, Xie Wanru's rebirth changed history. Now that she's alive and well, it's not right to let her die alone.

"What's wrong with the princess?"

Shen Cong'an saw that she had been staring at the ground with a determined look in her eyes for a while before she spoke.

"Oh, it's nothing, it's nothing..."

Xie Wanru quickly snapped out of her thoughts and casually said, "Minister Lin only has one daughter, Lin Qing, so he must be planning for her as soon as possible."

as soon as possible?

Shen Cong'an couldn't help but smile when he heard those two words.

He usually only had a faint, subtle expression, and could be described as stern and unsmiling. But the two words Xie Wanru uttered made him unable to help but smile.

“Princess Yongchang, have you forgotten that Miss Lin is the same age as you? According to the marriageable age in our Great Zhou Dynasty, she should have been married long ago. Of course, I am not qualified to comment on Miss Lin, and I have no such feelings for her. I have already subtly informed Minister Lin.”

Shen Cong'an admitted.

He definitely didn't have any romantic feelings for Lin Qing, even though Lin Qing was indeed very beautiful.

Xie Wanru could only give an awkward smile, "Yes, I'm an old woman who's been married before, so I'm not qualified to judge you."

It was clearly not Xie Wanru's style to stop there, so she continued, "Shen Cong'an, we both have important responsibilities. I really don't recommend that you provoke Lin Qing. According to the development of the previous life, she would marry a handsome man and be transferred to Xuancheng with her husband, away from this place of trouble."

Everyone wants to enter Xuancheng and gain a foothold, but Xie Wanru knows that the catastrophe in her previous life almost wiped out the prominent families of Xuancheng.

First, the tyrannical and incompetent monarch caused widespread suffering among the people. Then, the new emperor attacked Xuancheng, taking all the city's inhabitants hostage and causing countless deaths and injuries. Those who stayed away from Xuancheng that year actually lived a more peaceful life.

"I see."

The smile on Shen Cong'an's face faded, and he then asked Xie Wanru, "I didn't have a good match in my past life. Will I have one in this life?"

His gaze did not wander; instead, he looked at Xie Wanru very seriously, but he restrained his emotions and did not show them.

"I don't know, but there probably are. After all, you, Shen Cong'an, are quite handsome, so there must be girls who like you. It's just that our current life doesn't seem to be suitable for romance. Of course, if you have someone you like and want to get married, that's your freedom."

Xie Wanru didn't think about it at all, only assuming that Shen Cong'an had reached a certain age and wanted to get married.

"Ok, I know."

Shen Cong'an gave a wry smile.

During the two months Xie Wanru was away, he thought his wild thoughts would stop, but the reality was quite the opposite.

He was overjoyed every time a letter from Xie Wanru arrived, even if it was addressed to the Crown Prince and contained only descriptions of important matters, he would read it several times.

He felt like he might be going crazy, but he couldn't control himself.

After giving her instructions, Xie Wanru told Shen Cong'an to go back.

After all, Shen Cong'an's body was still recovering, and Doctor Huo was still prescribing medicine for him. He had taken so many drugs that restricted his limbs, and the toxicity was still in his body, which needed to be cleared out slowly.

Recalling Xie Wanru's every smile and gesture just now, Shen Cong'an's heart couldn't help but race.

Was it because of Xie Wanru's beauty? Or because of the kindness she showed him in saving him, out of gratitude, or perhaps because of the bond they had formed through their shared struggles over the past few days? Shen Cong'an didn't know.

All he knew was that his heart could change because of Xie Wanru's words or actions. This feeling was so magical; he had never experienced anything like it before in his life.

But he knew he was not good enough for a woman as outstanding as Xie Wanru.

"What? You really have someone you like?"

Xie Wanru suddenly became interested and looked at Shen Cong'an to ask.

"Oh, oh, I remember now, isn't it the name of the Marquis of Ningyuan? Oh dear, I can't remember."

Xie Wanru vaguely remembered such a fragment, but she couldn't recall what it was called.

Shen Cong'an has always been clueless when it comes to matters of the heart. In addition, he is so focused on his work that he spends all his time answering questions for His Highness the Crown Prince and doesn't care about marriage at all.

Before he fell into a coma, he heard that he was being discussed for marriage with the young lady of the Ningyuan Marquis's family, but he fell ill and the matter was dropped.

"Your Highness has a good memory. It is indeed the young lady of the Ningyuan Marquis's family named Liu Mengqing, but this matter has long been dropped."

Shen Cong'an gently corrected her, but his heart was inexplicably stirred by Xie Wanru's question.

Upon hearing this, Xie Wanru nodded as if she suddenly understood, and then said with a half-smile, "I see. I thought you were still thinking about that girl. But speaking of which, I've heard a little about Liu Mengqing. She's exceptionally talented and very beautiful. If things really work out, it would be a wonderful thing."

Upon hearing this, Shen Cong'an gave a bitter smile. He knew that the woman in his heart was not Liu Mengqing, but the one who often troubled his emotions.

But how could he possibly say those words?

"Your Highness is too kind. In my current state, and with affairs of state at hand, I have no time for personal matters and do not wish to hold anyone back."

Shen Cong'an made up an excuse in an attempt to conceal his true feelings.

Upon hearing this, Xie Wanru paused slightly. She had saved Shen Cong'an and brought him back from his coma, yet it seemed as if she hadn't. However, she quickly regained her composure and smiled, "Indeed, I was overthinking it. Lord Shen should prioritize his health and the affairs of state. As for other matters, when the time is right, things will naturally fall into place."

After saying that, she gently patted Shen Cong'an's shoulder, signaling him to go back and rest early, while she herself got up and went back to her room first.

As Shen Cong'an watched Xie Wanru's departing figure, he felt a mix of emotions he couldn't quite describe. He knew that he might have already fallen into a whirlpool of emotions, unable to extricate himself.

But this affection could only remain hidden in their hearts, because no one in the Shen family was worthy of Xie Wanru; it was something the Shen family owed her.

In the stillness of the night, Shen Cong'an picked up his pen and slowly wrote Xie Wanru's name on a piece of paper, then gently crossed it out. He knew all too well that there was too much chasm and helplessness between him and Xie Wanru.

Meanwhile, Xie Wanru returned to her residence, and a strange feeling arose in her heart.

But it wasn't because of Shen Cong'an, but because of Lin Qing.

Because she changed some things, unintentionally making Lin Qing's fate different from her previous life, a single stone falling and causing a great stir, she did not want to drag Lin Qing into this vortex.