Chapter 341 What She Wants

Liu Yan was patted on the face by Princess Thirteen, and for some reason he always had the illusion that he was being touched.

But he had his eyes closed at the moment and couldn't show anything unusual.

Huo Yanran called out to Lord Liu anxiously while asking someone to quickly call the imperial physician.

Seeing this, the two eunuchs on the side were still hesitating about how to report to the emperor in this situation, when they were urged by Princess Thirteen to summon the imperial physician.

One of the eunuchs had once received favor from Queen Wang, so he immediately responded and went.

The other was still struggling with whether to report truthfully.

Huo Yanran struggled to help Liu Yan up and asked the imperial guards to fetch a stretcher.

As they left the execution platform, Huo Yanran walked over to the eunuch waiting nearby and handed him the golden decree. Her eyes held the oppressive air of a royal noble, and she said in a deep voice, "Eunuch Fu, please go to thank the Emperor for his grace on behalf of me and Liu Tanhua."

Eunuch Fu was intimidated by his aura, and quickly took the golden order, nodded his head and said "yes", then went to do as he was told.

Huo Yanran had the imperial guards carry Liu Yan into the nearest corner room of the palace. After entering, she sent the imperial guards away and ordered the palace servants to boil ginger soup and bring clean clothes.

The heavy rain had just stopped, the sun was shining on the earth, and the rain slowly fell from the eaves like a bead curtain with a broken string.

The only people left in the corner room were the 'unconscious' Lord Liu and Huo Yanran, who was standing quietly in front of the couch and looking at him.

Even though she was a princess, it was not easy to meet Liu Tanhua.

Not to mention that every time she met him, it was at a palace banquet attended by many officials. Huo Yanran and Liu Yan were always seated far away from each other, and any obvious glances at each other would attract criticism.

And right now, there are only two of them here.

The room was very quiet, with only the sounds of wind and raindrops outside the window.

Huo Yanran could almost hear her own rapid heartbeat.

She looked at Liu Yan's face so close to her almost greedily.

Unfortunately, Liu Yan opened his eyes before he could look for long.

The moment Liu Tanhua looked over, Huo Yanran immediately looked away, pretending to look at the marks on his wrist.

Those were marks left by the hemp rope being tied too tightly and for a long time.

"Master Liu..." Huo Yanran reached out to touch the purple-red marks on Liu Yan's wrist, "Is your hand okay?"

After being touched by her, Liu Yan immediately put his hands behind his back and sat up, "Princess."

That strange feeling of pretending to be unconscious and having my face touched during the chaos just now appeared again...

Liu Tanhua looked at the Thirteenth Princess with a subtle look in his eyes. He was about to get off the couch to pay his respects, but Huo Yanran stopped him. He sat on the couch and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your inquiry, Princess. My hand is fine."

"I'm glad you're okay."

When Huo Yanran saw Liu Yan's polite and well-behaved appearance, she knew that she would never have the chance to touch Liu Tanhua again.

If I had known earlier, I should have touched it a few more times.

If you touch it, you earn it.

Princess Thirteen felt a little annoyed as she thought about this.

Since there was no one else in the room, Liu Yan asked her directly, "Princess, why did you ask to marry Beili?"

Huo Yanran didn't answer but asked, "Why do you say I am doing this?"

Although Liu Yan had no interest in matters between men and women, he was not as hard as stone. The Thirteenth Princess looked at him with eyes full of affection, but she did not see it.

But he couldn't bear the princess's affection, and he couldn't talk about it openly.

Liu Yan was silent for a moment, then said sternly, "I oppose the marriage not for the princess, nor for her risking her life to save me."

Huo Yanran said, "Whether it's worth it or not, it's not up to you to decide, it's up to me to decide."

Liu Yan raised his eyes and looked at Huo Yanran, who was also looking at him at this moment.

The two looked at each other.

There are many things that don’t need to be said too clearly.

Just one glance can make us understand each other.

All the flavors are beyond words.

"Besides, saving Lord Liu is just a matter of convenience." Huo Yanran said, "I have asked to marry to Beili. Personally, it is for my mother and my seventh brother. Publicly, it is for my father, the emperor, to stabilize the Daxing Empire, and to allow the people of the world to live a peaceful and stable life."

Every word the little princess said made sense, but the look in her eyes as she looked at Liu Yan couldn't hide her love.

If you really like someone, even if you don’t say it, your love will show in your eyes.

Liu Yan is liked by many people and is no stranger to this kind of look.

In fact, Princess Thirteen's love for him was far more enthusiastic and obvious than those people's.

Moreover, if it wasn't for him, why would the Thirteenth Princess go before the Emperor today and ask to be married?

She didn't go earlier or later, but made this decision today. Liu Yan was not stupid, and it was really hard for him to believe Huo Yanran's righteous words.

Liu Yan said in a hoarse voice, "Beili has sent envoys to Daxing Capital to ask for the princess' hand in marriage for half a month. If the princess wanted to marry herself, she could have done so long ago. Why did she have to choose today?"

Huo Yanran didn't expect that Liu Yan didn't believe her high-sounding words and insisted on getting to the bottom of it.

She was quite annoyed. "I want today, so why should I ask the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to pick a date in advance?"

Liu Yan called softly, "Princess."

It was as if he had seen through the little princess's thoughts a long time ago, but he couldn't say it out loud because he felt quite helpless.

Huo Yanran also felt the panic of having so much affection in front of her beloved that she had nowhere to hide it, yet could only force herself not to speak out. She paused, then whispered, "Just think of it as me not being able to figure it out before, and only just figuring it out today, okay?"

Having said this, Liu Yan was silent for a moment.

Huo Yanran took a deep breath and pondered what to say next.

The room was quiet.

She knew Liu Yan's character well. Liu Yan knew that she asked to marry Beili today in order to save her, so he would definitely not be willing to be the envoy to escort the bride.

Unfortunately, she is still too young and her acting skills are not good enough, so she can't act more righteous.

"What's more," Huo Yanran said slowly, "My father has made up his mind. I have to agree even if I don't want to. I might as well take the initiative to agree and get what I want."

Even if she didn't say it, Liu Yan knew that what she wanted was for him to be alive.

But Liu Yan also had his own persistence. He did not want to owe the Thirteenth Princess a favor, and he was even more unwilling to bow to the emperor and live in disgrace.

Liu Yan said, "Princess, I am deeply grateful for your kindness, but..."

"Don't say but." Huo Yanran interrupted him, "Lord Liu, you are full of talent and have great potential in the future. You can do more practical things for Daxing and the people of the world. The marriage between the two countries is a foregone conclusion and cannot be changed. Don't make any more unnecessary sacrifices."

Liu Yan's heart suddenly felt like it was being pinched by someone. He felt extremely uncomfortable, but he couldn't put it into words.

Just as he was about to speak, Huo Yanran added, "Lord Liu is knowledgeable and talented. You should know that many things in the world cannot be accomplished overnight. Opposing the use of a princess marriage to improve relations between the two countries is just one of them."

She said, "Lord Liu is young and promising, and he must learn to be flexible. If you can't stop the princess's marriage, why not take a step back and offer some advice that the emperor can accept?"

"What does the princess mean?"

Liu Yan didn't expect that the Thirteenth Princess had such insight, and he couldn't help but look at her with admiration.

Huo Yanran said, "Although I have asked to marry to Beili, I would like to choose my own husband in the Beili Royal Court. I hope Lord Liu can help me."