The laws of Dayue were strict for men but lenient for women.
This was especially true regarding disputes between the sexes.
If Nian Zhenzhen had succeeded in her kidnapping of Tong Ziyao with ill intent, she would have merely been fined and imprisoned for a year or two, even if caught.
As it was, without causing actual harm, she wouldn't even be thrown in jail, just a fine.
This was assuming she was caught red-handed.
It was precisely for this reason that Nian Zhenzhen dared to act as she did.
Moreover, a man’s reputation was paramount, and even if caught, he would be unlikely to report the crime publicly, forced to swallow his bitterness.
Since Dayue’s law would not grant Tong Ziyao justice, she would have to take matters into her own hands.
As Nian Jiaojiao was lost in thought, Tong Fu suddenly took her hands and held them.
“I understand! I know why you can be so ruthless, even with your sisters!”
Nian Jiaojiao snapped back to attention, looking at her with a puzzled expression.
Tong Fu, her face alight with excitement, said:
“Because it’s true love!”
Nian Jiaojiao took two steps back:
“No, no, you…”
Before the word “misunderstanding” could leave her lips, Tong Fu released her hands and spoke to herself:
“That explains it. Earlier, my brother held onto you and wouldn’t let go…”
While Nian Jiaojiao was happy that Tong Fu was no longer fixated on her earlier misunderstanding, the latter seemed to have fallen into another trap.
“Tong Fu, my feelings for Young Master Tong are purely friendly…”
Tong Fu, however, was remarkably clear-headed at this moment. Her eyes were bright, seeming to pierce into Nian Jiaojiao’s very soul:
“How did you feel when you found my brother?”
Nian Jiaojiao faltered.
She thought for a moment…
She felt relieved, joyful, even on the verge of tears.
At this, Tong Fu spoke again:
“And how did you feel when you discovered my brother was harmed?”
Nian Jiaojiao recalled again…
She had felt an inexplicable anger.
The last time her emotions had surged so greatly was when her own husbands were in danger.
Seeing Nian Jiaojiao’s shifting expression, Tong Fu understood. But before Nian Jiaojiao could answer, she said solemnly:
“Jiaojiao, we are like sisters. Even so, if you don’t like my brother, I won’t force you. My third brother’s reputation has been tarnished, and if you don’t want him…”
The moment Nian Jiaojiao heard the mention of Tong Ziyao’s tarnished reputation, she felt deeply uncomfortable.
She quickly said:
“Your third brother’s reputation is perfectly fine, it’s not tarnished.”
After saying this, she saw Tong Fu looking at her with a smile.
Suddenly, Nian Jiaojiao understood. She fell silent for a moment before saying:
“Alright, I admit it. I have feelings for him.”
At some point, that refined man had entered her heart, but she had simply not realized it.
As she spoke this, Nian Jiaojiao sensed something and turned her head, only to see Nan Qing standing behind her, watching her.
She sighed. It seemed she needed to have a talk with her four husbands first.
…
Half an hour later.
Nian Jiaojiao and her four husbands arrived at the main reception hall.
The four men had clearly sensed something and remained silent, waiting for Nian Jiaojiao to speak first.
Nian Jiaojiao was silent for a moment, then gathered her courage and said:
“I, I want to marry Tong Ziyao.”
Since the words were already out, she decided to finish what she had started:
“I know I broke my promise. I said before that I wouldn’t marry him without your consent, but now, even if you disagree, I will bring him home.”
As she spoke, she lowered her head, closed her eyes, and said loudly:
“In short, I’m sorry!”
Nian Jiaojiao finished her string of words, but after lowering her head for a long time, she heard no reaction.
At this, she slowly raised her head, only to see the four men smiling, with none of the anger she had expected.
“You, you’re not angry?”
Xuan Yi spoke first:
“No, we’re not angry.”
As Nian Jiaojiao looked on in confusion, Yu Chuan sighed and explained:
“At first, we didn’t want our wife to marry someone else because we love our wife so much. But we are not unreasonable people. If our wife has feelings for him, yet has been enduring it all for our sake…
So, what I want to say is, thank you for always respecting us and considering our feelings.”
Xing Yun nodded in agreement:
“Yes, yes. If it were any other woman, she wouldn’t ask her husbands when getting married. She could marry ten or eight husbands and no one would bat an eye.”
As soon as Xing Yun finished speaking, he felt a tap on his head.
Nan Qing shot him a glare.
Did he want his wife to have ten or eight more?
Xing Yun rubbed his head, seeing the knowing smiles of the other three. His survival instinct kicked in, and he quickly amended:
“I, I mean, I think Young Master Tong is quite good. I actually like him quite a bit.”
The others turned their attention away from him.
At this, Nan Qing said:
“In any case, Young Master Tong, you’ve seen him, kissed him, touched him, and held him. Are you going to shirk responsibility now?”
Upon hearing this, Nian Jiaojiao knew that everyone had agreed.
However, Nan Qing’s words made her sound rather lewd.
Of course, the atmosphere was good at the moment, so she didn’t voice her thought, and instead expressed her own idea:
“I haven’t proposed to Young Master Tong yet. Perhaps he won’t agree.”
Nan Qing said with a half-smile:
“Don’t worry, he’ll definitely agree.”
Nian Jiaojiao: …
…
The next day.
At noon.
Nian Jiaojiao knocked on Tong Ziyao’s door.
Knock, knock, knock—
Knock, knock, knock—
“Young Master Tong, are you awake?”
At this moment, she was holding a bowl of porridge and two small side dishes.
Nian Jiaojiao waited by the door for a while before a voice came from inside:
“Please come in.”
Nian Jiaojiao pushed the door open and saw that Tong Ziyao’s complexion had improved, which put her mind at ease.
She placed the food on the table and looked at the man who was still engrossed in his books, saying:
“Come and eat something. You didn’t have breakfast this morning.”
Tong Ziyao put down his book and obediently sat at the table to eat.
Nian Jiaojiao sat opposite him, simply staring at him.
Tong Ziyao put down his porridge bowl and said helplessly:
“I’m not as fragile as you think. You don’t need to worry about me anymore.”
After a night of adjustment, while his mood was not exactly cheerful, he would not entertain foolish thoughts of self-harm like suicide.
He would not punish himself for someone else’s mistakes.
He just didn’t expect the other person to not leave after hearing his words.
Half an hour later, the porridge was finished. As Tong Ziyao put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth, Nian Jiaojiao said:
“Young Master Tong, I have something to tell you.”
Under Tong Ziyao’s gaze, Nian Jiaojiao began the first proposal of her life.
She walked up to Tong Ziyao, took his hand, and said solemnly:
“Ziyao, will you marry me?”
This sudden proposal stunned Tong Ziyao.
He did not answer immediately, but instead said:
“Are you proposing to me because of what happened last night?”
Nian Jiaojiao knew he would misunderstand and quickly explained:
“It’s because of what happened last night, but not out of guilt. It’s because through last night’s events, I realized my true feelings.”
After saying this, she took a deep breath and continued:
“Ziyao, I like you. Will you marry me?”