Chapter 21 Chapter 21 But Daiyu was unwilling to give up.

Yongkang blushed and apologized to Daiyu: "I'm sorry, Sister Lin, I was only thinking of myself and didn't consider your feelings."

Daiyu smiled slightly and said, "It's nothing, Princess, there's no need for you to be so formal."

Yongkang blinked at Daiyu for a while, then said, "Sister Lin, don't worry, I won't ask Mother to force you to enter the palace. However, if you don't come on my birthday, I'm afraid others will think I look down on you. Sister Lin, I still have to send you an invitation."

Daiyu smiled and said, "It is my birthday for the princess, so of course I must attend to offer my congratulations. Thank you for your kind invitation, princess."

Yongkang nodded with a hint of melancholy. She was not an ignorant child and naturally understood that, given her status as a princess, Daiyu could not say anything even if she was angry.

If she has the chance in the future, she should do something to apologize to Sister Lin.

Yongkang made up his mind.

As she boarded the carriage, Daiyu suddenly realized that those words were not just casual remarks, but truly a promise from Prince Duan.

Once seated in the car, Chu Heng reassured her, "Yongkang isn't the type to hold grudges. Since she apologized to you in person, don't worry, she won't hold a grudge against you later."

As a princess, Yongkang inevitably had a spoiled and willful side, but she always expressed her temper on the spot and never waited until the next day.

Although Daiyu had only known Yongkang for a short time, she had already figured out his personality, so she smiled and said, "I know, and I should thank Your Highness."

Her smile was polite and tolerant. Chu Heng knew she was a good girl, but should a good girl suffer grievances?

What other choice did she have?

From the engagement to Yongkang, she had no other choice.

Chu Heng said in a low voice, "It's my duty, I don't deserve your thanks."

My duty...

Daiyu's heart skipped a beat. Did this mean... Yongkang was his duty?

Yes, Daiyu nodded silently in affirmation, after all, they were siblings by blood.

Chu Heng looked at Daiyu and said, "In the future... if there are any other matters that Miss Lin finds inconvenient to handle herself, just send someone to the Prince's Mansion to tell me."

"I instructed Eunuch Zhao that his men would not dare to be negligent upon hearing the name Miss Lin," Chu Heng quickly added when he saw Daiyu looking over.

All Chu Heng could do was perhaps to make sure she suffered less injustice in the future.

Prince Duan was so kind, and considering their recent interactions, Daiyu felt that she had nothing that Prince Duan could scheme against her for. So Daiyu didn't suspect that Chu Heng had ulterior motives; she just felt that she had gained a new understanding of Prince Duan.

Whether they live separate lives or maintain a respectful relationship in public, they will likely get along very well.

Daiyu smiled contentedly and bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Chu Heng smiled, lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "If..."

Chu Heng only got to the point of speaking before pursing his lips and not continuing.

Daiyu asked in confusion, "Your Highness..."

Chu Heng shook his head, forced a smile, and said, "It's nothing important, Miss Lin. I'll rest for a while."

After saying that, he turned away as if he couldn't face Daiyu.

Daiyu tilted her head. "What's wrong? Have I suddenly become scary?"

Chu Heng indeed dared not face Daiyu. He knew without even asking that question that if the engagement could be cancelled, it would surely be a joyous occasion for Miss Lin.

Once the thought arose, it lingered in Chu Heng's mind. Would he dare to give it a try?

What would happen if someone disobeyed a marriage decree personally bestowed by the emperor?

Death meant nothing to Chu Heng.

However, even if it is only Chu Heng who defies the imperial decree, it will probably implicate Miss Lin, since the two of them are already bound together by the Empress Dowager.

If Chu Heng had refused the marriage proposal when he first woke up, and had directly rejected it, even if the Emperor punished him, it would have been none of Miss Lin's business.

However, when he first woke up, Chu Heng was completely indifferent to everything and didn't care at all about the person opposite him in the arranged marriage.

As for disobeying imperial orders, he never even considered it.

In just half a month at Longhua Temple, Chu Heng recalled his past self and found it quite unbelievable.

It turns out that he could care about someone so much in his life.

Chu Heng wanted to do something for her.

But Miss Lin didn't like others making decisions for her, and Chu Heng remembered this very well; he had to get Miss Lin's consent first.

...

The convoy entered the palace, where the emperor, along with his concubines, princes, princesses, and other members of the imperial family, greeted the Empress Dowager. The ceremony was elaborate, and both the emperor and the empress dowager bestowed gifts upon each other. By the time everything was settled, it was already sunset.

In Renshou Palace, the Empress Dowager ordered Chu Heng to rest in the palace, but Chu Heng said, "I will escort Miss Lin back to her residence."

The emperor looked at his usually unyielding younger brother in surprise. Could this really be something he said? Was the Empress Dowager truly capable, and had they actually become a perfect couple?

The Empress Dowager glanced at the Emperor with a smile, then said to Chu Heng, "Alright, you may go first. You can come to the palace to keep me company another day."

"Yes," Chu Heng replied, standing up.

The two bowed together and slowly withdrew from Renshou Palace.

The setting sun cast its light on the palace walls, gradually receding from her. Daiyu squinted as she watched, feeling utterly uncomfortable within the palace walls.

Chu Heng turned his head and saw her expression, which made him even more determined in his decision.

Once they were seated in the carriage and had left the capital, Chu Heng said, "Miss Lin, I know this marriage is not what you wanted."

Daiyu, whose mood had just improved slightly after leaving the palace, was taken aback: "Your Highness, what does this mean?"

“It’s hard to change the Empress Dowager’s mind now, but I can still think of a way to deal with the Emperor. This marriage... is not impossible to dissolve.” Chu Heng looked at Daiyu and secretly clenched his fist.

Suppressing her anger, Daiyu asked in as calm a tone as possible, "Why did Your Highness suddenly...? Have I offended Your Highness in any way?"

It wasn't that Daiyu was desperate for this marriage; it was simply that she couldn't afford the risk. She couldn't bear the consequences of disobeying the imperial decree, nor could the Jia family.

Regardless of whether the Jia family raised Daiyu well or not, they at least provided her with a place to live. Even if she had some complaints, Daiyu would not have hoped for the Jia family to be destroyed early.

Otherwise, Daiyu would have defied the imperial edict on the spot when it was issued, why wait until today?

Chu Heng quickly shook his head: "No, of course not, Miss Lin, you have done nothing wrong. I just think that this marriage arrangement cannot make you happy. If it were not for you, I think you would be happier."

Daiyu's expression was so unpleasant that Chu Heng almost dared not continue speaking at the end.

He thought that no matter how reluctant Miss Lin was about this marriage, what he had just said was completely wrong.

Daiyu couldn't help but sneer, "Thank you for thinking of me, Your Highness, but I am of lowly rank and have little influence. I dare not be presumptuous. Your Highness can casually dismiss such a serious crime as disobeying the imperial decree without considering the consequences, but I cannot risk the lives of my maternal grandparents' family to joke with Your Highness!"

Chu Heng wanted to explain, but he didn't mean to brazenly go to the emperor and say he wanted to break off the engagement. Instead, he planned slowly. With less than ten months until the wedding, he would try his best to find a way to make an exchange with the emperor.

As for what Miss Lin wants to do in the future, he will naturally arrange things properly according to her wishes.

Chu Heng's plan only included the two of them, while Daiyu also had to consider the maternal grandparents who raised her.

As long as Chu Heng mentions breaking off the engagement, the Jia family will definitely be affected. For a noble family that is already on the decline, this is like a bolt from the blue.

Chu Heng didn't know if he had meant well but ended up doing something wrong, but in Miss Lin's eyes, he probably didn't even have any good intentions.

He had just told Yongkang not to make things difficult for Miss Lin, but he himself came to make things difficult for her.

Chu Heng gave a wry smile and said, "I'm sorry, Miss Lin, I was too naive. I won't mention this again."

"I wouldn't dare," Daiyu said stiffly. "Your Highness may say whatever you wish; I dare not comment."

Because of this sudden marriage, Daiyu swallowed countless grievances. These days, she walked on thin ice with extreme caution, fearing that she might make the slightest mistake.

Daiyu devoted so much effort to maintaining the future she could have under this marriage agreement.

However, with just a single sentence from Prince Duan, all of Daiyu's efforts were rendered futile.

Daiyu was practically giving up on herself. If nothing she did was of any use, she might as well save herself the trouble and just wait to die!

“Miss Lin…” Chu Heng opened his mouth, not knowing what to say. After hesitating for a long time, he finally said, “Miss Lin, I swear to you that I will never mention such words again.”

But Daiyu was unwilling to give up.

She looked at Prince Duan. His seriousness was evident in his expression and eyes. But hadn't Daiyu thought he was good these days? Yet today he still said those things!

Daiyu thought for a moment, realizing that whether she lived or died depended on this gamble, and said, "Your Highness may speak and act without restraint, but there is no need to tell me. I dare not accept Your Highness's oath."

Chu Heng truly had no way to prove it to Daiyu. He racked his brains and could only say in the end, "Miss Lin, I will absolutely obey whatever you ask me to do from now on. Please just believe me."

"I wouldn't dare," Daiyu said, her face still tense.

Clearly, she was determined to continue giving Chu Heng the cold shoulder today.

Chu Heng knew he had brought this upon himself, and could only sigh inwardly, but dared not show it on his face.

But this road always has an end, and this stalemate is not a solution. So Chu Heng tried to speak again: "Miss Lin, if this matter remains unresolved, I fear you will be unhappy every day, which is not what I want. Why don't we talk it out clearly? What do you think?"

Daiyu said with a blank face, "Please speak, Your Highness."

Chu Heng then said, "This matter is entirely my fault, Miss Lin. I was wrong and will never do it again. Please believe me this time and see what I do in the future."

After hearing him say it again and again, and thinking about it carefully, Daiyu only believed him to a certain extent, but judging from his attitude...

Daiyu thought that this adventure was worthwhile, at least Prince Duan did not intend to turn against her.

Daiyu said, "I only have one question to ask Your Highness."

Chu Heng quickly replied, "Please speak."

Daiyu looked at him and asked, "Your Highness, does our alliance still stand?"

Chu Heng was taken aback for a moment, then immediately nodded: "It counts! Of course it counts!"

A note from the author:

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