Inside the vase was a bouquet of fresh flowers that had just been picked from the Imperial Garden.

This was something the palace maids did every day to make the air in the Imperial Study fresher and more natural.

That delicate flower, with its pink petals, resembled the color of a woman's cheeks.

Suddenly, An Honghan thought of Xi Xizhi's shy face and seemed to find a similarity between the two.

"From now on, use this kind of flower." An Honghan instructed the palace maid serving him, his gaze fixed on the bouquet of flowers, lost in thought.

Xi Xizhi couldn't help but raise her head, her gaze gradually shifting to the vase. She looked closely at the bouquet of flowers but didn't find them particularly beautiful.

Compared to the blue-feathered flower I saw in the Imperial Garden last time, this bouquet is as ordinary as can be.

Thinking of the Blue Feather Flower, Xi Xizhi naturally thought of the Empress Dowager.

So much time has passed, and every time Xi Xizhi thinks of the Empress Dowager, her mood becomes depressed.

Will An Honghan possess this kind of emotion?

Since the Empress Dowager's death, he has never shown the slightest trace of sadness.

Both of them were thinking about different things, gazing at the flowers in a daze for a long time.

Two days later, An Honghan received a document from the Kingdom of Huiying.

The notice stated that the third prince of Huiying Kingdom would arrive in the capital of Fengze Kingdom in five days to propose marriage.

The journey from Huiying Kingdom to Fengze Kingdom by horseback alone would take half a month.

Five days later?

"It seems Duan Yufei has already set off from Huiying Kingdom." An Honghan threw the document onto the table, raised his gaze, and looked out the window.

Although Xi Xizhi did not know the Third Prince, she could tell from his marriage proposal that he was a formidable character.

The marriage proposal letter had only arrived two days ago. Did he already anticipate that An Honghan would agree to the marriage?

"Lin En, instruct the Imperial Kitchen to hold a banquet at Liuyun Palace five days from now to welcome Prince Duan."

It is a great joy to have friends coming from afar.

An Honghan naturally couldn't be impolite.

Moreover, this marriage affects the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Yunyang Palace.

Some are happy, some are sad.

Ever since returning to the palace from Liuyun Palace that day, An Yunyi has been depressed.

Her delicate face was framed by perpetually furrowed brows.

"Princess, it's time for your meal. The Imperial Kitchen has specially prepared a bowl of bird's nest soup for you today." A row of palace maids rushed in from the doorway, carrying all sorts of delicious dishes.

"Get out!" With a shout, An Yunyi overturned the dish in the maid's hand.

Crash, crash, the sound of plates breaking filled the air.

All the palace maids and eunuchs were startled, as it was the first time they had ever seen the Fourteenth Princess throw such a tantrum.

In their eyes, although the Fourteenth Princess became increasingly difficult to serve after gaining power, she always maintained a gentle and charming appearance. When she tore off this disguise, it was incredibly shocking.

The palace maids and eunuchs stood there dumbfounded. Several of the maids were the first to react, kneeling on the ground and begging the princess for mercy.

"Get out! All of you, get out of here!" An Yunyi overturned all the dishes and shouted angrily at the crowd.

She doesn't want to get married, she really doesn't want to get married! Why is her brother forcing her to marry?

Once she obeys her brother's arrangement and marries into the Kingdom of Huiying, she and her brother will never have any further contact!

For so many years, gaining the favor and affection of her elder brother, the Emperor, has always been her long-cherished wish.

She had finally climbed to this position and become one of the best among the princesses, but then... her brother wanted to send her away for a political marriage?

An Yunyi felt extremely resentful whenever she thought of the little girl beside her brother.

On the one hand, she felt that her elder brother was not so unapproachable, and that he could also pamper people.

On the one hand, she was extremely jealous; why wasn't she the one being pampered?!

She wanted to take it all away!

She believes that given time, she can definitely succeed!

But why at this particular time did another country demand a marriage alliance with her?!

Leaning on the table, An Yunyi's tears flowed down her cheeks without her realizing it.

Inside the vast Yunyi Palace, there was no one, only the sound of An Yunyi's fragile and helpless sobs.

"Fourteenth Princess, crying won't solve the problem." A voice gradually approached An Yunyi's ears from afar.

"Get out!" Not wanting anyone to see her crying like this, An Yunyi shouted at the door.

Instead of getting angry, the newcomer burst into laughter.

"If I leave, the princess will probably have no choice but to marry into the Kingdom of Huiying."

The person who came in sounded somewhat frivolous, and the doorway was empty with no one appearing.

Upon hearing the words "Huiying Kingdom," An Yunyi bristled as if her hair had been turned on, her voice trembling slightly as she looked towards the door, "You have a way?"

Even An Yunyi knew that once her brother had spoken, the chance of him going back on his word was extremely slim, so she dared not have too much hope.

But... even if there's only a one percent chance, An Yunyi will never give up.

In order to fulfill her long-cherished wish, she will definitely fight back.

She didn't want to lose everything like her sixth sister and become penniless, nor did she want to lose the happiness she deserved.

Humans are greedy, and she was no exception.

After straightening her clothes, An Yunyi quickly composed herself. "How can I trust you if you keep your head down and hide your true intentions? Since you are confident that you can solve my problems, why don't you dare to come out and meet me?"

The person outside the door was silent for a few seconds, then burst into laughter again. "The Fourteenth Princess is absolutely right. Wu Jianfeng has met the Fourteenth Princess."

Wu Jianfeng was dressed in a guard's uniform, his right hand resting on the sword at his waist.

He was a fairly well-known figure in the palace.

However, this reputation is not viewed favorably.

Upon seeing that the person who came was Wu Jianfeng, An Yunyi's face immediately fell.

The last glimmer of hope that had remained in his heart gradually shattered, and a mocking smile crept onto his lips.

"So it's Guard Wu! You can't even protect yourself, how can you help me?"

Seemingly mocking his overestimation of his abilities, An Yunyi's expression was drastically different from before.