It's pretty telling that it's after this scene, which 110% makes her hot under the collar, that she brings up marriage again. She might talk about all the pragmatic reasons for it (but so many of them sound like care for him even so - like making his meals and his career easier) but the underpinning is desire, even if she does not consciously realize it.

He says that, but...

This man destroyed the reputation of an innocent woman just cuz he couldn't stand up to his mother! Not to mention the fact he asked her to go against her friend for him, and she did!

What honor and nobility does he think she would have after that? And what right does he have to judges her for it?

I may not like Fan Yake, but I despise this man even more!

At least in Fan Yake's case, she is actually haunted by the events. She does feel guilty underneath, which is why she tries so hard to deny it. She listens to her maid and try to blame Tingyun for things, she tries to portray Tingyun as evil in her head just so she could feel better about herself.

What about Yu Jing Xiu? Nothing.

He destroyed the life of a woman in a whim and never ever thought about it again. No guilt and no remorse. He even doubles down on it by calling the moron Zuo son to destroy her reputation once again.

Yet he has absolutely no doubt about his own nobility!

They both contributed equally to the case. You literally cannot tell which idea was who's, but the distinction is still clear for others.

He is a man, he gets recruited. She is a woman; she gets a reward.

Like Madam Yu. She puts so much effort, but the best she can get is rewards. Positions and power given to the men of her family. She herself only get the honor of being connected to those men.

After many dramas with a false sense of 'women being appreciated' in the society, this is frustratingly real.

And they hammer on it with the meeting with the prince as Tingyun asks for her rewards.

She tells the prince of her struggles and her ruined family. She tells him that she desperately need the document changing her identity from the Fu daughter to the Xie daughter. And what is his response?

Lessons she's picked up from the ML as well.

Honestly, I adore her so much!

He's so not sitting as a proper gentleman btw. Love that little touch.