Chapter 285 Do You Remember Me?

Zheng Yue blushed again and said in a low voice, "Li Huaiyan."

"Well," Li Huaiyan curled his lips, "it's nothing serious, just some trivial matters in the court."

Zheng Yueer nodded, her expression suddenly looking a little bad, "I heard that the identity of the fifth prince... has been announced to the world?"

Li Huaiyan responded lightly.

Zheng Yue'er put down the teacup, her face full of worry and gloom.

Li Huaiyan naturally knew why. He lowered his head and sipped his tea without saying a word.

The next moment, a hand suddenly grabbed his wrist, and Zheng Yueer choked up, "Duke Li, you..."

Li Huaiyan put down the teacup and looked at her calmly, "Miss Zheng, if you have anything to say, just say it. If I can help, I will definitely not refuse."

Zheng Yue'er bit her lips until they bled, and after a long while she spoke hoarsely, "My father locked me up in the mansion to prepare for marriage, but I... don't want to marry the fifth prince."

Li Huaiyan's eyes darkened, he didn't respond, he just looked at Zheng Yue'er.

Zheng Yueer slowly loosened her grip on his wrist and smiled bitterly, "Forget it, I won't say any more."

Li Huaiyan frowned slightly.

Zheng Yue'er really stopped talking and just sipped her tea slowly.

The teacup was refilled again and again. After half an hour, Zheng Yueer took the initiative to say, "It's getting late. You should go back."

She smiled at him, but the smile seemed forced, and Li Huaiyan frowned even more.

He nodded slightly, stood up and walked to the wall. Just as he was about to leave, Zheng Yue'er's voice suddenly rang out again, "Li Huaiyan, don't you have anything to say to me?"

Li Huaiyan paused, then turned and looked at Zheng Yue'er.

There was already mist in her eyes. "I am a girl in the boudoir, but I climbed over the wall to meet you. Don't you understand my feelings? Or do you know everything, but just treat me as a toy for entertainment, so you avoid talking about it, never take the initiative, and just keep me hanging. Even if I am forced to marry someone else, you don't care at all?"

"And then you just look for your next target as if nothing happened, right?"

Her tears fell quickly, like pear blossoms in the rain, and I felt pity for her.

Li Huaiyan pursed his lips, a trace of confusion flashed across his eyes, but he said nothing.

Zheng Yueer seemed to be in despair. "Forget it, just go away. You don't have to come again. As long as I don't see you, I don't have to hold on to hope."

She turned and walked down the corridor with determination.

Li Huaiyan stood there for a moment before jumping away.

After the slightest movement, Zheng Yue'er, who had already left, ran out again, looked at the empty place, and sobbed.

Outside the wall, Li Huaiyan listened to her unstoppable crying and suddenly felt uncomfortable.

The servant was terrified. What had his own master done to the girl that made her cry like that?

Li Huaiyan frowned and left Zheng's house with an annoyed look on his face. The servant hurriedly followed him.

He was just doing it for official business, trying to destroy the alliance between Chen Tian and Zheng Mansion, but how did it turn out like this?

Li Huaiyan was very anxious and wanted to kick the weeds he passed by.

In the courtyard of the Zheng Mansion, Zheng Yue'er heard the footsteps of leaving. She slowly stopped crying, her face returned to calm, and she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

Maid, "Miss, as soon as the imperial edict announcing the identity of the fifth prince came down today, the master began to ask the housekeeper to prepare your dowry."

"Yeah." Zheng Yue'er responded softly again and let out a long breath.

The maidservant couldn't bear it, "The girl doesn't want to marry into the royal family, but Duke Li doesn't seem to be a reliable person. He keeps hanging on the girl and doesn't give her any confirmation. Even if the girl marries him in the future, she will have to face a house full of concubines, which is also frustrating."

"That's better than marrying into the royal family." Zheng Yue'er sat down on the stone bench, her eyes cold and gloomy, "The royal family is a big melting pot. Every step is like walking on thin ice. If you're not careful, you'll fall into the abyss."

Besides, the Fifth Prince was a rookie, and she didn't think he had a chance of winning against the Fourth Prince.

"Li Huaiyan has the support of the Fourth Prince, and he has no parents in the mansion. At worst, he has some romantic debts. As long as I can marry him smoothly, I have plenty of ways to deal with those bad romantic debts. But he is used to being a playboy. I have tried my best, but I couldn't make him change his mind."

Zheng Yue'er was very worried.

After knowing each other for so long, he never even said a word to her that he liked her. He is indeed a romantic man, so secretive.

She rubbed her head in annoyance.

The maid asked cautiously, "Does the young lady like Duke Li?"

Zheng Yue'er was slightly stunned.

After a moment, she nodded slowly. Compared to that damn Fifth Prince, she was indeed more fond of Li Huaiyan.

And if she married him, her life would definitely be smoother than marrying into the royal family. But she was already in such a state, and he didn't even say a word of comfort, and he left so abruptly. It was really annoying.

"If it really doesn't work, girl, go look for someone else. There are still many good men there."

Zheng Yueer glanced at the maid lazily and snorted, "What are you thinking about? Apart from the Fourth Prince's faction, who else has the ability to snatch someone from the Fifth Prince and my father?"

“…”

Beside Xiao Yuan were Li Huaiyan and Ling Chenyi. The former was the eldest son of the Yongning Marquisate and the eldest princess's favorite. He was very shrewd, but most importantly, he had no idea about love between men and women.

It’s better to be good at it than Li Huaiyan, who understands the fun of it and is easier to deal with.

The little maid was also worried for a moment, not knowing what to do.

"Let's wait a little longer. If he really doesn't come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, then... I can only cut off the source of the trouble. If he still doesn't care, then he doesn't have me in his heart. Since I've lost the bet, I can only marry the Fifth Prince."

＊

At the morning court on the second day, four officials all took leave. They were the four who had spoken fiercely and passionately in the court yesterday. .

No one spoke, but everyone's eyes were secretly looking at Xiao Yuan.

The emperor looked at him coldly and asked the Ministry of Personnel.

The man only said that the four officials were suddenly infected with the disease and did not mention anything else. The emperor was angry but had no place to vent.

Everyone knew what happened, but the four victims were afraid to speak out because they didn't want to be beaten. So the matter was quickly covered up and never mentioned again.

However, the emperor mentioned something even more frustrating, which was that he wanted to hold a banquet for Xiao Tian.

Xiao Tian's mansion was located on the next street not far from Xiao Yuan. The courtyard had been renovated long ago. All it did was change the plaque and arrange for maids and servants to move in.

The next day was an auspicious day set by the Ministry of Rites. Xiao Tian was recorded in the royal family genealogy, and a housewarming banquet was held on the same day.

Since the emperor personally issued an edict, the ministers naturally had to go through the motions.

After the morning court session, Ling Chenyi glanced at Li Huaiyan and hooked his neck, "You are usually the one who shouts the loudest. Why are you silent today? You look so downcast. Are you worried about something?"

Li Huaiyan looked up at Ling Chenyi, with two big dark circles under his eyes, and smiled tiredly, "There's a new beauty in the brothel on the corner of Hua'an Street, and she seems to be reluctant to leave."

Hearing this, Ling Chenyi immediately pushed him away with disgust.

Li Huaiyan, "I took a shower and changed my clothes."

"Then I dislike it too. What, did you break up with Miss Zheng?"

Li Huaiyan turned his face away, "What's the point of breaking up? He was just calculating and had ulterior motives."

"If that's the case, it's even more wrong. Now that the Fifth Prince has just returned to the court, he is at the peak of his career. How can you go to a brothel if you don't accompany Miss Zheng and win her heart?"

"Stop talking. I'm so annoyed." Li Huaiyan frowned, showing signs of getting angry again.

Ling Chenyi looked back and exchanged glances with Xiao Yuan, and they both raised their eyebrows.

Ling Chenyi, "If my guess is correct, the emperor will announce his marriage to the Zheng family at the Fifth Prince's banquet the day after tomorrow."

Li Huaiyan moved his ears, but there was no movement at all.

Xiao Yuan nodded, "That day was indeed the best time, but now that I can't count on Miss Zheng, I can only think of other ways."

As the two of them got on the carriage, Ling Chenyi reminded Li Huaiyan, "Be safe these two days. You must not miss the Fifth Prince's banquet the day after tomorrow."

＊

When Xiao Yuan returned home, Mo Xiang was mumbling helplessly to Shen Anan, "Princess, you have eaten too many sweets these days. You can't eat anymore, or your teeth will ache."

She said this, but did not stop Shen Anan from picking up the sweet fruit on the small table and stuffing it into her mouth. Mo Xiang sighed deeply, feeling anxious.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Yuan's voice came from outside, and then he stepped into the house.

Mo Xiang complained a little, but didn't dare to be too obvious, "My son-in-law has been bringing sweets to the princess these days, and she hasn't eaten much. This is not good for her health. If she gets a toothache again, she will suffer again."

Hearing this, Xiao Yuan raised his eyebrows, "Old toothache?" He glanced at Shen Anan, who just blinked at him and continued to take small bites of the sweet fruit.

Mo Xiang said, "Didn't I say before that when the princess was sixteen, she loved sweets and had a toothache. When the pain was severe, she tossed and turned and couldn't sleep well. Later, she finally gave up eating and slowly got better. I'm afraid that the princess will lose control and have another toothache."

Hearing this, Xiao Yuan walked forward and took the sweet fruit from Shen Anan.

The latter frowned and looked up at him unhappily, his eyes clear, like a child who was dissatisfied with an adult and was accusing him.

Xiao Yuan was slightly stunned.

Mo Xiang was also stunned, with tears quickly spreading in her eyes, "Prince's Consort..."

But as soon as she opened her mouth, Xiao Yuan raised his hand to stop her. He forced a smile and raised his hand to touch Shen Anan's head, "Be good, this thing is not good for your teeth, let's not eat it, okay?"

Shen Anan blinked, nodded slightly, then rubbed her cheek against the back of Xiao Yuan's hand, looking like a real child.

"An An, do you... still remember me?" He squatted down and uttered these words with difficulty.

"What are you talking about?" Shen Anan chuckled and tapped his forehead with her finger, "You are Xiao Yuan, the fourth prince of Daliang, my husband."

Xiao Yuan stared into her eyes and curled his lips slightly, but the smile was very forced.

He stood up, raised his hands and held her in his arms. She rested her cheek against his chest, quiet and well-behaved.