Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands

Chapter 479 - 454 Pei Shenyan’s Proposal (3)

Li Yuzhu looked at him in surprise, "Mr. Pei, then, who is suitable for my elder sister?"

Pei Shenyan was taken aback by the question, his face embarrassed, "In short, she cannot marry those people. They are all unworthy of her, let her reconsider her choice." He tugged at Li Yuzhu’s sleeve, "Miss Li, you... you quickly go and tell her, though it’s a hastily arranged marriage, she can’t just marry randomly. It’s a lifelong matter."

Li Yuzhu looked at him, gently raising the corners of her lips, "Alright, I’ll go and tell her."

"Hurry up." Pei Shenyan released Li Yuzhu’s sleeve and gave her a push.

Look how anxious he is.

"Then I’m leaving." Li Yuzhu held back laughter as she stood up and left Pei Shenyan’s room.

Pei Shenyan leaned powerlessly against the head of the bed, his eyes staring blankly at the canopy ceiling.

His servant ran into the room, "Master? What did Miss Li say to you?" What a strange thing, though their master was too ill to get out of bed, Miss Li walked away laughing.

It’s too much, their master kindly came to see the Li Family and even brought gifts, and yet Miss Li was laughing at him.

"Nothing... nothing." Pei Shenyan closed his eyes, weakly leaning on the pillow, "Go about your business, I want some quiet time."

The servant did not leave, he continued to stand at the bedside, chattering on, "Master, you are so good to the Li Family, coming from the Capital without even entering your own home, first visiting Mr. Li and Mrs. Li, and bringing special products from the Capital. You wear yourself sick and Miss Li goes and laughs at you, I can’t stand it."

Pei Shenyan opened his eyes, his face sunk, "Do not speak of Miss Li like this. I am ill, if not for the Li Family taking me in, who knows if I would be sick outside, frozen to death. Moreover, the Li Family even invited a doctor to treat me, earlier Miss Li brought me medicine pills, how can you speak of her like this?"

"But Miss Li was laughing..." The servant was still unhappy.

"She is laughing because she is getting married. Why would she laugh at me? You... you insolent little boy, do not presume to speculate on others, to slander others." Pei Shenyan rebuked the servant.

The servant grumbled, "Understood, Master."

"Go, I want some peace." Pei Shenyan closed his eyes again, turning his head away, no longer paying attention to the servant.

The servant looked at him, sighed, and went to check on the medicine on the stove.

.

Li Yuzhu held back laughter, returning to her and the Great Princess’ bedroom.

The Great Princess was still writing the list of favored gentlemen, she had already filled one sheet, and was now writing the second one.

Her handwriting was neat and tidy, like printing.

No wonder in the Capital, the Great Princess was known as the first beauty, talented, beautiful, with family status, knowledgeable in the arts and crafts, she indeed had reason to be proud.

Even in dire situations, she did not stoop to rely on any man, remaining proudly self-sufficient like a peacock.

Though fond of complaining, she was still self-reliant and adept at assessing situations.

Such a young lady, no matter the environment, would never fare poorly.

"Elder sister, I want to tell you something." Li Yuzhu pressed against her hand, looking at her and said.

The Great Princess could no longer write, her face darkened, "Speak quickly, I’m busy. I need to select a man before dark. Father gave me three days, and I must choose within one day. I need to assess them, just in case a change is needed."

Li Yuzhu swallowed, "Alright, you have the privilege to choose, but this doesn’t seem considerate of the Second Princess, does it?"

Sure enough, the Second Princess began sobbing again.

Li Yuzhu felt amused and exasperated, comforted the Second Princess a few times, and then said to the Great Princess, "I just went to see Pei Shenyan, I mentioned a few names from the list to him, he was very anxious, said none of these men deserved you."

The Great Princess raised an eyebrow, "I know that, isn’t it just lack of choice? If there were a princely heir before me, would I need to pick them? But given our family’s current state, those heirs probably disdain me too." She paused, then sneered, "If they look down on me, so be it, I won’t marry someone who doesn’t value me."

"Li... Li Yuwen..." Pei Shenyan’s voice suddenly came from outside their bedroom.

His voice weak, yet urgent.

The Great Princess darkened her face, said toward the bedroom door, "Aren’t you sick? What are you doing out here? Go back to your room."

"I... I need to speak with you." Pei Shenyan held onto the door frame, gasping for breath.

Anxious enough that he had not combed his hair or dressed properly, his hair disheveled, outer garment loosely wrapped.

Sickly pale, holding his chest, his appearance like a male version of Xi Shi.

The Second Princess stood up, calling to Li Yuzhu, "Third sister, let’s go to the kitchen, I’m hungry."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Alright, I’m hungry too."

The sisters walked out of the bedroom.

The Great Princess said to them, "It’s only mid-morning, still early for a meal."

The two sisters ignored her, quietly laughed as they walked away.

The Great Princess pulled a solemn face, walked to the bedroom door, "What do you have to say quickly? I’m very busy."

The bedroom door was only a few steps away from the writing desk of the Great Princess.

Standing at the door, Pei Shenyan clearly saw the names written on the two sheets.

He frowned, pointed at the sheets, "Can you let me see what you’ve written?"

Pei Shenyan being the Li family’s benefactor, the Great Princess, though unwilling to see this person who had touched her foot, could not outright refuse.

"Alright, wait a moment." It’s just a few names, so let him see.

The Great Princess handed the papers with the names written, to Pei Shenyan.

Pei Shenyan took them in hand, quickly glanced and then ripped them apart without saying a word.

The Great Princess was furious, "Pei Shenyan, what are you doing? Why are you tearing up my things? I spent a long time thinking about it, you’ve gone too far! Don’t abuse the fact that you’re our benefactor to be audacious, if I can’t get married, I won’t let this go with you!"

"Marry me." Pei Shenyan grasped her arm tightly, "Yuwen, marry me."

He looked at the Great Princess unwaveringly.

The Great Princess threw off his hand, retreating two steps backward.

"Why should I marry you, I don’t like you." She sneered.

"I know you don’t like me, it doesn’t matter." Pei Shenyan looked at her, "I won’t live long, if you marry me, I will die within a few years. Then you can marry another. We will not be a real couple, we... will just pretend. Does this work for you?"

The Great Princess looked at him in shock, "What? A pretend couple? You... you are serious?"

Pei Shenyan said, "With your looks and talents, you should marry someone better, but hastily now, no better man has appeared. Yet if you don’t marry, you can’t escape the Emperor’s decree. Only by marrying me can you avoid this disaster. My health isn’t good, everyone says I won’t live past twenty, and I’m just past eighteen. I have two years left to live. In two years, you will still be only eighteen, then you can marry a better man."

The Great Princess furrowed her brows, pondering over his words.

Pei Shenyan having spoken at length, felt somewhat anxious and breathless.

Weakly leaning against the door frame, he said, "If you marry the men you chose, you would be stuck in this village forever, do you want to remain here forever?"

The Great Princess of course did not want to, but wasn’t there no other option?

So she chooses carefully, a competent man who can one day leave the village.

Pei Shenyan spoke again, "If we marry, we can live together in the small house at the town market. The house has eight rooms, only two servants, no other people. You can live separately in your own room. After marriage, you can continue your life as before, working at the shop with the Second Princess and Li Er. Living there, you won’t need to wake up early to go to the market daily."

The Great Princess thought for a while, then said, "Let me think it over first, I can’t promise you immediately. I need to discuss with my parents."

Seeing she did not object, Pei Shenyan felt slightly relieved, "Alright, I’ll wait for your response, I’ll return now."

He gave the Great Princess another glance, turned, and left.

The Great Princess picked up the torn pieces of paper on the ground, threw them into the furnace in the corner of the room to burn.

She dusted off her sleeves, headed to the North Courtyard Main House.

Such a big matter, she needed to discuss it with her parents.

.

Pei Shenyan at the entrance of his bedroom, met Li Yuzhu again.

"Did my elder sister agree?" Li Yuzhu immediately walked over to ask.

Pei Shenyan’s face showed a slight smile, "She said she’d consider it, and that she would discuss it with Uncle Li and Aunt Li."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "So she’s agreed."