Jiang Si took a step to the side.

Being too close would interfere with her rationality.

Marrying him… If in both her past and present lives, he had always loved the Fourth Miss Jiang, marrying him would certainly be a joyous thing compared to marrying another man.

But now she wasn’t the so-called Holy Maiden, and he had been granted the title of Prince Yan early. There was simply no possibility between them.

Moreover, navigating the murky waters of the royal family required skill. In her past life, she had died tragically due to the intricate schemes of the royal court. If she married him, would she have to relive those days of constant anxiety and vigilance?

Such a life was too exhausting. Compared to living such a precarious existence with him, she would rather stay as they were now. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about inexplicably losing her life one day.

“Be careful,” Yu Jin quickly pulled Jiang Si back, preventing her from stepping on the broken porcelain pieces.

In the late autumn season, Jiang Si was still wearing soft-soled embroidered shoes when going out. If she stepped on the broken porcelain, it could easily cut her foot.

Jiang Si lowered her gaze to look at the broken porcelain for a moment, then thanked Yu Jin.

Yu Jin smiled and gently squeezed her hand. “Miss Jiang, won’t you consider compromising a little?”

Jiang Si raised her eyes to meet his gaze and slowly withdrew her hand.

At that moment, Yu Jin felt an empty ache in his heart, but he didn’t dare to grab her hand again. At such a crucial moment, it was better to appear well-behaved in hopes of hearing the answer he wanted.

Jiang Si slightly curved the corners of her lips.

Compared to anger, this expression made Yu Jin even more nervous.

Say yes, just say yes, and he would treat her well, in this life, the next life, and all lives to come.

If he were a girl and met such a man, he would have offered himself in marriage. How could she be so heartless as to push him away from her life again and again?

If the rest of his life were without A’Si, he wouldn’t be happy at all.

The autumn wind outside suddenly grew stronger. Even with the doors closed, the cool breeze still found its way through the cracks, making their clothes flutter and their emotions fluctuate.

Jiang Si finally asked, “Does Your Highness understand your status?”

She had a certain understanding of Yu Seven. In some ways, he was similar to her – both stubborn, unwilling to turn back once they had set their minds on something.

It seemed that he wouldn’t let go unless she made things clear today.

“Status?” Yu Jin’s handsome brows furrowed tightly. The words “Your Highness” sounded particularly grating to his ears.

So this was what A’Si was worried about.

He felt relieved. His bright black eyes fixed on her, filled with youthful determination and confidence. He said word by word, “Solving this problem is my concern, not yours.”

After a pause, his words carried a slightly annoying tone: “Besides, your worrying won’t help.”

As long as A’Si was willing to marry him, figuring out how to persuade the Emperor to grant the marriage was naturally his problem to solve.

This blunt truth made Jiang Si pause.

Indeed, this was a problem she couldn’t solve even if she wanted to.

“A’Si, you just need to decide whether you’re willing or not. As long as you agree, I’ll solve all other problems,” Yu Jin softened his voice, with a somewhat enticing tone.

He could use his methods to seek an imperial decree for marriage even if A’Si was unwilling, leaving neither the Earl of Dongping’s household nor A’Si any chance to say “no.” But unless necessary, he was reluctant to take this step.

Of course, if the Earl of Dongping’s household tried to betroth A’Si to someone else, he wouldn’t sit idly by. He would snatch her away first. He had once pretended to be magnanimous, and A’Si had almost married into the Duke of An’guo’s household. He didn’t want to taste that bitter, stifling feeling again.

Hmm, when no one was competing with him, he would patiently wait for A’Si’s nod. But if someone tried to snatch her away, he would strike first… What? This was shameless? Don’t joke, when had he ever had any shame?

Jiang Si shook her head. “Your Highness, I’m just an ordinary lady from an earl’s family. I want to live a simple life. The royal lifestyle isn’t suitable for me.”

“How is it not suitable? I’m just an idle prince. We won’t seek prominence or cause trouble. We’ll close the gates of the prince’s mansion and live our lives. It’ll be carefree and comfortable.”

Royal struggles were indeed cruel, but he didn’t intend to get involved. Those with ambitions would be glad to see him stay out of it. Why would they drag him in and make unnecessary enemies?

Jiang Si still shook her head.

With the Crown Prince deposed and the struggle for succession arising, how could one simply stay out of it?

Yu Jin suddenly cupped Jiang Si’s face with both hands, annoyed. “If you don’t think it through properly and keep shaking your head irresponsibly, I’m going to bite you!”

Jiang Si couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

Yu Jin suddenly became serious. He dropped his hands back to the table and asked irritably, “Miss Jiang, what do you consider a simple life? Marrying an ordinary man? I remember your second sister married the heir of the Marquis of Changxing. Given their backgrounds, he could be considered an ordinary man, right? But what was the result?”

Jiang Si was stumped by the question.

In the eyes of common people, the heir of the Marquis of Changxing was certainly not an ordinary man. But for families like theirs, a match of equal status meant it wasn’t extraordinary. Compared to the status of a prince, he was indeed ordinary.

Yet this ordinary man in the eyes of many upper-class people, this perfect match in the eyes of the Earl of Dongping’s household, had committed the act of repeatedly murdering women.

“Those peddlers walking the streets, those farmers tilling the fields, they’re even more ordinary men, right? But such ordinary men, with a little money in their pockets, still think about visiting the Jinshui River. Some even beat their wives after drinking a couple of cups of wine…” Yu Jin’s tone became increasingly earnest, though his lips carried a hint of mockery. “A’Si, Miss Jiang, any choice in life carries risks. How do you know that a so-called simple life is necessarily good? It might be even more unbearable, more frightening.”

At this point, the young man became aggrieved and accused, “A’Si, you can’t discriminate against me just because I’m a prince.”

Jiang Si fell silent for a moment.

Seeing this, Yu Jin pressed on, “Look, at least you know what kind of person I am. Compared to marrying a stranger, the risk is much smaller.”

Yu Jin felt like a vegetable vendor, desperately calling out to a customer: “Look here, fresh and crisp white radishes, big and thin-skinned with great flavor, much better than the crooked melons and split dates from others!”

Under his seemingly divinely inspired persuasion, Jiang Si found some reason in his words.

Both her eldest and second sisters had married men considered to be of equal status and ordinary, yet their lives were no simpler than hers in her past life…

After a long silence, she finally said hesitantly, “Don’t say anymore. I need to think about it carefully.”

Yu Jin was overjoyed.

This was the first time A’Si hadn’t outright rejected him, but instead said she needed to think it over.

“Take your time to think, think seriously, think without any discrimination.”

Being a prince had already put him at a disadvantage in A’Si’s heart. It wasn’t easy for him.

“I might need to think for a long time.”

“Take as long as you need.” Yu Jin let out a long sigh of relief, a smile spreading from his eyes to his lips.