Chapter 7: Once a couple, always a couple!
The shame in Princess Changle’s heart went away. No one would want to recall that shameful scene repeatedly if they could distract their attention elsewhere.
She couldn’t believe that her own husband was a peasant. Princess Changle felt a significant sense of relief now, inexplicably. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to her in such a manner.
The female officers and servants, who served Princess Changle wholeheartedly, never uttered a word of extraneous dialogue. Every humiliation was met with cold silence. Visits by her parents were emotional and tearful, and she felt like a mere object for them to confide their emotions in. It was as though they never considered Princess Changle’s own feelings.
She longed for her parents to talk to her, even if she couldn’t respond. The darkness of her surroundings made it impossible to see anything. She yearned to hear something new and bask in the sun, but she couldn’t express her desires.
Princess Changle felt conflicted as she pondered her husband’s words. On one hand, she felt guilty for implicating him in her predicament. On the other hand, she couldn’t change her father’s decision, and Su Li seemed to do well despite everything.
She couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to die. Would there be nothing left? She longed for the comfort of talking to someone everyday. But could she even wake up on her own?
As she thought about her husband, she wondered what he looked like. Was he a peasant? Was he old, thin, and small? The uncertainty only added to her anxiety and fear.
It’s nice to hear his voice, Princess Changle thought. In the past few days, most of the voices she had heard were filled with tears and complaints of grief and sadness. As a result, Su Li’s gentle voice was like a beautiful string of emerald pearls falling onto a bed of jade.
“Are you curious about what I look like?” Su Li asked softly while gently scratching Princess Changle’s palm. Princess Changle felt the urge to nod in response to Su Li’s question.
Despite the unexpected nature of the wedding and her lack of choice in the matter, Princess Changle couldn’t help but feel the desire to see her future husband’s face. After all, as a woman, it was natural to know what her spouse looked like.As Su Li continued to scratch her palm, Changle could feel a slight throbbing and warmth spreading through his hand.
She couldn’t help but think to herself, What a lothario he is!? (Ed note: If a man touches a woman at will, this man will be thought a lothario)
But then she remembered that this lothario was her husband. Despite this realization, Princess Changle couldn’t shake the feeling of shyness that had taken hold of her heart.
“Secretly, I’m pretty,” Su Li continued to speak softly. There was no trace of grief in his voice, only tenderness. While many people cried bitterly in front of a patient’s bed, it was actually quite inappropriate to do so. Strong emotional fluctuations could cause the patient’s mentality to collapse, leading to a loss of will to survive. The best form of companionship was emotional stability and gentleness, not a doomsday image of compassion. That was why Su Li’s voice was always gentle. Even if Princess Changle’s consciousness was blurred, she wouldn’t feel panicked.
To be honest, Su Li didn’t know how much Princess Changle could hear, and she might have heard nothing at all. After all, it was hard to say when the consciousness of a vegetative person was clear. However, it comforted her fearful heart even if she only heard it once.
Princess Changle’s shyness seemed to disappear at that moment, and she was completely caught up in Su Li’s curiosity.
Is he good-looking? she thought, conjuring countless images of handsome men.
She couldn’t help but wonder what her husband looked like. Had Su Li been lying to her? Princess Changle had seen people from poor backgrounds before, and they were often yellow and thin, not particularly attractive. After all, her husband was a peasant. Could he be as good-looking as the rich lord she had seen? She had a hard time believing it.
Good-looking? He must be lying to himself! she thought.
“I guess she won’t believe it!” Su Li smiled, anticipating Princess Changle’s reaction.
“Come on, Will you tell the princess whether I look good or not?” Su Li turned to the female officer, gesturing for her to answer Princess Changle.
The female officer was momentarily taken aback, looking at Su Li with a perplexed expression. She had thought that Su Li would complain about something, but she never expected that he would speak to the princess.
Although the princess couldn’t hear him, Su Li continued to speak freely. The female officer thought he was quite strange, but she didn’t intend to disobey him. She had watched Princess Changle grow up, and while Su Li was speaking, the female officer couldn’t help but imagine how wonderful it would be if Princess Changle suddenly opened her mouth to respond.
“Reporting to the princess, the son-in-law is quite a handsome man!” the female officer said, responding to Su Li’s prompt.
The female officer was telling the truth. Despite being a peasant and looking thin from overwork, Su Li was undeniably handsome.
He’s really handsome! Princess Changle felt a sense of surprise wash over her. The governor wouldn’t lie to me, she thought.
The female officer was the governor of the Princess Residence, an elderly woman who oversaw all the affairs in the Princess Residence. She had also volunteered to take care of Princess Changle. Princess Changle trusted the governor of the Princess Mansion more than others.
Ah…I really want to take a look! Princess Changle couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. It had been a long time since she had felt this way.
Su Li continued to hold Princess Changle’s hand and speak in a soft voice while the governor of the Princess Mansion watched them with a strange and sad expression. She never expected that the newly arrived son-in-law would be so attentive to the princess. Despite any criticisms or past deeds, as long as Su Li had this level of care for Princess Changle, the governor was willing to respect him.
After talking for a long time, Su Li checked Princess Changle’s breathing and found that she had entered a sleep cycle. He stopped talking, and the female officer suggested that they should both rest.
I was a lowly servant, treated like a beast of burden harnessed to a horse. Moreover, Princess Changle was in a vegetative state, so how could it be allowed for me to share the same bed with her? Su Li shook his head in disbelief.
“As the saying goes, a married couple should honor each other every day, no matter what happens. We are already married, so how can we ignore our marital duties?” Su Li said with a hint of irony.
Su Li wasn’t really joking earlier. He had ulterior motives for holding Princess Changle’s hand and talking to her for an hour. He was trying to earn points from the system, which had suddenly jumped from zero to 2000 points, and was still increasing at a rate of about 1000 points per hour.
At this rate, he could earn 24,000 points daily, which was enough to buy two gift packs of attribute points. In five days, he could acquire enough points to purchase the salt-making technique, and within ten days, he could afford a photocopy of the Overlord’s Power.
Since the only way to acquire system points was through physical contact, Su Li was reluctant to separate from Princess Changle. He was determined to earn as many points as possible from her.
That’s all the points! Su Li thought, satisfied with his plan.
“I’m not going to bed. I’m just lying here,” Su Li clarified as he pointed to himself. He then grabbed a small stool from the side and sat down on it. Holding Princess Changle’s hand, he made himself comfortable.
But it was all a joke – Su Li knew that if he separated from Princess Changle, his points growth would stop, which would give him heartache. Besides, how could he even separate from her? Even if he was sitting on a stool, he would still be right next to her bed.
The female officer observed Su Li as he was sitting quietly by Princess Changle’s side, holding her hand. She then looked at Princess Changle and decided not to say anything.
As a female officer, it was her duty to attend to Princess Changle’s needs. Su Li had clarified that he was not going to bed, so she had no reason to object. Besides, Su Li had just mentioned that a married couple should honor each other every day, which suggested a certain level of commitment.
Although the female officer had initially been skeptical of Su Li’s intentions toward Princess Changle, his dedication to her care was a positive sign. After all, nobody was perfect, and it was important to focus on the good in people.
So she decided to let Su Li continue his vigil by Princess Changle’s bedside without any judgment.