Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress-Chapter 1972 - 1980: Liu Xi Proposes Marriage (Part 5)

Unexpectedly, less than half a month after discovering Liu Xi’s true identity, Liu Xi personally came to propose marriage.

Shen Luming and his wife were overwhelmed with surprise and joy. They already favored Liu Xi, and now Liu Xi’s initiative to propose was like a pie falling from the sky. Although in the eyes of parents their child is always the best, their daughter had been married before and had a child, a burden no wealthy man would typically accept. However, Liu Xi was very sincere, not only proposing himself but also willing to be married into their family.

This sincerity left Shen Luming and his wife ecstatic and flustered as they hurried to persuade their daughter.

Juhua sneered and said, "I want to meet him personally to understand why he wants to marry a woman like me with a child. With his financial capability, he could easily marry the daughter of the county magistrate."

The couple thought their daughter made a valid point and arranged for them to meet privately.

Upon meeting, Juhua straightforwardly asked, "Why do you want to marry me? With your wealth, you could easily marry any noble lady of the Great Jin Nation. Why marry a woman like me who has had a child?"

Liu Xi was even more direct, saying, "Because I am the real father of Ten catties, I need to take responsibility for what I’ve done."

"Oh, so that bastard who violated me that day was really you? Damn it, I’ll fight you!" Juhua’s suspicions were confirmed, and she angrily stood up, grabbing Liu Xi and began to hit him.

Liu Xi did not retaliate, standing there allowing Juhua to vent her emotions by punching and kicking him.

After she was exhausted, Juhua bent over, supporting herself on her knees, panting and swearing, "Get out! I don’t want to see you, let alone marry you. Get out, get out immediately—"

Liu Xi didn’t move, and in a deep voice, he said, "You’ve hit me enough, now let me say a few words. Even a death row prisoner appointed by the court is allowed a chance to appeal."

Juhua gritted her teeth and said, "You’ve done what you’ve done, what more is there to say? For your sleazy actions, I will never forgive you in this lifetime, and don’t think my son will acknowledge you either!"

She knew the child was Liu Xi’s weak point and deliberately used it to provoke him. Sure enough, when Liu Xi heard her say she wouldn’t let the son acknowledge him, his face showed pain, and he struggled to say, "Juhua, things aren’t what you think. I am also a victim..."

He then relayed to Juhua how Jing Shizi and Huo Qi had conspired against him. He added, "I am also sorry for what happened, but at the time, the medicine’s effect was too overpowering for anyone to control. Now that this has happened, I am willing to take full responsibility, and will treat both you and your son well, providing a stable and happy life. I hope you can give me a chance to make amends..."

Juhua would not be easily swayed. Even though Liu Xi’s reasons were valid, his violation of her was indeed understandable, she still could not accept marrying the one who offended her, so she straightforwardly rejected him.

But who was Liu Xi? He wasn’t a thin-skinned, male chauvinistic ancient man. He was a modern man with contemporary thinking and wouldn’t back down just because of Juhua’s refusal.

So, sending flowers, writing poems, giving gifts, using all the modern methods men use to court women, he adopted and put them into practice.

Slowly, Juhua was moved. Coupled with her parents continuously speaking of Liu Xi’s virtues day in and day out, she began to waver.

In the end, what made her decide to marry Liu Xi wasn’t her parents’ persuasion or the mountain of gifts Liu Xi sent, but a cart of ice, or more accurately, a basin of ice.

Due to drought, all the major southern cities were extremely hot. Juhua, sensitive to heat, was already suffering in May, constantly yearning for the ice in the capital.

In the capital, when it’s hot, as long as you have money, you can buy ice at an ice shop. They even have an ice cellar in their mansion in the capital. When midsummer comes, they take the ice out to cool their room, it’s perfect for beating the heat. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

However, in this small southern county town, ice was impossible to buy, and even the county magistrate’s mansion couldn’t afford to build an ice cellar.

Therefore, using ice to beat the heat was a distant and luxurious dream for Juhua.

Upon learning that Juhua consistently longed for ice, Liu Xi immediately sent his subordinates to Tongzhou Prefecture to buy a cart full of ice and have it hurriedly delivered back.

Although Tongzhou was only a little over a hundred miles from their home in Nong’an County, because of the intense heat, by the time the cart of ice arrived, about seventy to eighty percent had melted. The remaining chunks, which Liu Xi rushed to deliver, amounted to only a single basin!

Juhua was utterly moved when she learned about this, and finally nodded to accept Liu Xi’s proposal!