Rebirth: Inheriting Millions In The Eighties
Chapter 828 - 826 What do you mean

Chapter 828: Chapter 826 What do you mean

"Look at you, you’ve lost so much weight, and I’ve even heard from the servants that you haven’t been eating properly."

"So, will you please stop denying it?"

His eyes, imbued with the glow of the moon, were earnest and sincere, gentle and passionate.

Xia Ningxing met his gaze, her lips trembling slightly, finding herself unable to utter any denial.

Indeed, she could no longer deceive her own heart.

But...

Xia Ningxing still turned her head away, her eyes red, choking back sobs: "Even if I do love you, I will not be with you!"

She could not accept the ancient practice of consorts and concubines, and although he currently only had her as his legitimate wife in the mansion, he was now different, having been appointed as the Crown Prince, the future emperor, inevitably bound to have a harem filled with countless consorts and concubines.

Even if she could become the Empress, what would that matter?

Is she not still going to share a man with a host of beauties?

She really could not accept that.

Moreover, once inside the deep sea of the royal harem, not a single woman is simple, forced into endless futile struggles both overt and covert each day—it’s utterly exhausting.

"Why?" Lu Tingli, who had been overjoyed to hear her tacit admission, did not expect her to follow up with such a remark.

He was bewildered, deeply so, his brows almost knotting together, pressing her for an answer: "If you love me too, why can’t we be together?"

He gripped her shoulders, stubbornly seeking an answer.

Since he was so set on knowing and wouldn’t give up until he knew, Xia Ningxing tilted her face up and answered him candidly, "Lu Tingli, I want you to love only me, to marry only me, can you do that?"

"I want us to be equal, both in love and in life. I don’t want to have to greet you with courtesies every time I see you, to always be respectful around you. I want that closeness where we can say anything to each other."

"Can you do all that? Can you?" Xia Ningxing’s questions grew louder, each one fiercely piercing his heart.

Lu Tingli thought she was hesitating for another reason, never expecting her concerns to be these. For a moment, he felt both amused and irritated.

There is but one woman in his Prince Mansion, her. Can’t she see that he has no interest in a host of consorts and concubines?

His own mother had perished in the palace struggles, how could he possibly allow history to repeat itself!

Seeing him remain silent, Xia Ningxing’s heart finally began to sink uncontrollably.

Although she had expected that he could not possibly make such concessions, actually witnessing it was still a severe blow, unbearable.

Nevertheless, she didn’t blame him.

After all, they lived in different eras, with different mindsets, it was understandable, understandably so.

It’s just that her heart really damn hurts!

Xia Ningxing bit her lip hard, forcing back the urge to cry in front of him, forcing herself to become cold: "Now that Prince has achieved his heart’s desire, I ask that the Prince release my brother from the military camp the day after tomorrow, granting us siblings our freedom."

Xia Ningxing was a decisive person who never wavered or dragged things out, so she would definitely not compromise for the sake of love.

Why cling to one single tree when there is boundless greenery to be found in the world?

"So eager to leave me?" Lu Tingli’s expression darkened instantly, pulling the girl about to leave forcefully into his embrace.

Xia Ningxing was annoyed: "If you, Prince, cannot give me the life I desire, why cannot you let me leave?"

As she spoke, she tried to break free from his hold.

She had given him chances, but he could not let go of his harem, the hierarchy of power. It was he who had to surrender first. Now, on what grounds did he question her?

Lu Tingli snorted, his voice tense as he bit out the words near her ear: "Who says I can’t do it! Did you hear me say I couldn’t meet those demands of yours?"

It seemed that he hadn’t indeed...

Xia Ningxing’s body stiffened, and her efforts to pry his hand away ceased immediately.

"So, what do you mean?" Xia Ningxing lifted her gaze incredulously, seeking confirmation.

Seizing upon her words, Lu Tingli curved his lips and said: "I have agreed to you."

Under the bright moonlight, the man’s smile shone brightly like pear blossoms as he repeated his words once more.

"I agree to a monogamous marriage with you, to treat you as an equal. From now on, you need not salute me when you see me. In short, do whatever makes you comfortable."

He spoke clearly, as if fearing she would misunderstand once again. Xia Ningxing trembled, tipping on her toes to embrace him once more, tears cascading down her cheeks again.

She had not expected that he would actually agree to her demands.

To know that such demands, in the conservative feudal era, were considered absolutely rebellious. Had the censors been here, they would have berated her vehemently, attacking her without mercy.

"But the ministers at court will surely not allow you to marry only me," she said.

The Emperor had so many consorts not simply because it was the norm of ancient times, but also to utilize the women’s family connections to strengthen his sovereignty—a matter too complex to be reduced to a few words.

Lu Tingli stretched out his hand and rubbed her head: "Don’t worry, if anyone dares say anything, I’ll kill one to silence one, and two to silence a pair. My desire to sit on that throne was to gain freedom. How could I allow anyone to control my life?"

Xia Ningxing knew he spoke the truth. Sweetness welled up in her heart, but more so, she worried: "Talking like this, I worry that you won’t be able to secure your throne for long!"

"With the weapons my beloved wife provides, why would I worry about not securing it?" he retorted.

Indeed...

Xia Ningxing smiled and set aside her worries.

Lu Tingli held her in his embrace, whispering ambiguously near her ear: "Ningxing, tonight, may I sleep with you?"

For so many days, he had fantasized about this, and now that the barrier was broken, he naturally wanted to seize his benefits.

Xia Ningxing thought he meant... and immediately blushed, saying awkwardly: "That, um, I’m having my menstruation."

Lu Tingli paused, then laughed, and while tapping her head seriously he said: "What are you thinking? I just want to hold you, not that. Understand?"

The embarrassed Xia Ningxing: "..."

This made her feel really awkward, as if she were too eager.

Lu Tingli continued: "You’re still too young, I don’t want to touch you."

"I’ve heard many things while I was outside these days. If a woman gets pregnant too early, there’s a high risk during childbirth. Wait a couple more years, till you’re eighteen or nineteen, by then your bones will have developed properly. Then, can I have you?"

Xia Ningxing had never heard such shameless words before, nearly fainting from embarrassment: "Can you shut your mouth!"

Stomping her foot, the girl lifted her skirt and ran into the room, flushed with humiliation.