We've seen in flashbacks that she was pretty open about liking him and wanting to marry him but then in episode…
He says "why don't you just marry me then" because he's taunting her in a "I know you won't" kind of way, still playing the role of the power-hungry betrayer (to fool everyone including Lord Hanfeng). But when she takes the offensive and kisses him, his facade falters. In truth, a part of Yan Xiao doesn't think Tianji likes him anymore (after he betrayed her), and she's just playing with his emotions mockingly. Because he could tell she obviously doesn't have any feelings for Ji Bozai, he's assuming she's basically doing the same act of disingenuously offering herself up for marriage to him. He feels insulted cuz he feels he's only chosen as the "second pick" when she's desperate and full of ulterior motives, because obviously she can't marry Ji Bozai anymore. When Yan Xiao says she should just marry Meng Yangqiu instead, she holds his hand up in a "of course, why would I even think of marrying you" kind of way and says "do you think everyone is [as despicable] like you," pointing out how terrible of a person Yan Xiao is lol
sorry it's long, but this is kind of just how I interpreted it lol
This ain't a short drama. But i hope it actually airs cuz of what happened to yu menglong they might delay it
Isn't 24 eps 35 mins pretty short considering how most historicals have 30+ eps 45+ mins? Also, sorry for being ignorant but how has what happened Yu Menglong affected this drama?
sorry it's long, but this is kind of just how I interpreted it lol