Chapter 167

broken...

Soft and smooth...

The feel of it on my wrist is something I long to leave.

Even though he seemed to be insane at the time, why did he show no remorse after regaining his senses?

instead...

Is it through the reflections of memories that I catch glimpses of her face?

*

“The Regent is powerful and prestigious. It’s not a bad thing for Your Highness to cultivate a good relationship with him.” Yingning turned her head and saw the peach blossoms blooming amidst the misty rain. He immediately looked away the moment she looked at him.

It was she who noticed it.

"The Fourth Prince?"

"Is something on your mind?"

Yan Qizhen coughed lightly, concealing his earlier lapse in concentration: "It's nothing, I just thought of something."

"What is it?" She raised the wine pot and poured another pool of moonlight into her cup.

"My father asked me about another matter today."

"Father asked... about the recent rumors between us." Yan Qizhen's face seemed slightly flushed as he said this.

"Is it about a marriage alliance?"

Yan Qizhen nodded slightly when she heard her bring it up directly.

"My father also heard some rumors and came to inquire."

The Empress intended to match Yingning with the Sixth Prince Yan Jingxu. She brought it up directly when Yingning visited Fengyi Palace last time, but Yingning politely declined.

The news that Yingning intended to marry the Fourth Prince was thus leaked from the palace.

*

Yingning remained silent.

In a short while, one person couldn't help himself.

"Don't you want to know my answer?" Yan Qizhen asked.

"Everything has already gone according to Your Highness's wishes." She looked at the moonlight reflected in the cup and thought it was quite beautiful.

Yan Qizhen stared at her face, and heard her lips part slightly as she said another sentence:

"Then why should Zhao Ning know how His Highness answered?"

"Whether it is or not, it is no longer important at this point."

Yan Qizhen was somewhat dazed, but felt a sense of frustration in his chest.

He knew she was right.

The matter of the marriage alliance was a mix of truth and falsehood. Regardless of his answer, he had already achieved his goal of using the name of the Western Regions Princess.

The gap between him and the Crown Prince could not be bridged by a marriage alliance.

In fact, she was no longer of much value to him.

But he...

But he developed delusional thoughts.

*

"Your Highness, please leave us here."

The two, having drunk too much wine, did not ride in sedan chairs, but instead strolled leisurely along the way, followed by their entourage not far behind.

Yingning was in front, and Yan Qizhen was behind.

The aroma of wine mingled with the moonlight, seemingly awakening a subtle longing in my heart.

"Zhao Ning." Yan Qizhen stopped and finally spoke.

"My father asked me about the marriage alliance..."

"I did not deny it."

The meaning behind his words was all too obvious, but Yan Qizhen still spoke up: "If you are willing, I can request my father to grant..."

"Fourth Prince." A soft female voice interrupted him.

Yan Qizhen was taken aback.

After Yingning turned around, a pool of moonlight was mercilessly trampled under her feet, much like someone's carefully cherished but shattered heartfelt wishes scattered on the ground.

"If Your Highness is referring to the matter of a marriage alliance, then there is no need to speak."

"Why...?" he asked, puzzled.

She came for the purpose of a marriage alliance, but had no chance with the Crown Prince.

Of the remaining princes, only her third brother and sixth brother could be considered her equal in status.

However, with the scandal involving the third prince still fresh, the marriage of the sixth prince was also temporarily put on hold.

Yan Qizhen's long robe almost blended into his shadow as he murmured:

"If you are worried that there are too many unpredictable changes in my power struggles."

"Then I can promise that no matter what your status is in the future, I will definitely find a place for you."

Even if he does have the opportunity to ascend to that position in the future, he knows that the palace is a dangerous and dangerous place, but he will definitely not let her suffer the slightest grievance.

But she shook her head and chuckled softly, "Your Highness thinks too highly of Zhao Ning."

"If Zhao Ning were to choose one person to live out his days, that person would not need to hold a high position or wield immense power."

"But what Zhao Ning wants is more important than these."

"As a member of the royal family, Your Highness should understand that we all harbor too many unspeakable schemes and plots, and are driven by greed and scheming. We can abandon our already weak family ties for a sliver of power. Although Zhao Ning, as a woman, does not have the same illustrious status as the princes, she has already suffered too much in the pursuit of imperial power."

"Zhao Ning's only wish is to have someone as pure and gentle as the moon and the breeze."

"The royal family's first half of life is too tiring, so from now on they only wish to walk hand in hand with this one person."

Even if fate is full of twists and turns, even if the road ahead is long.

"To fall in love with, know, and stay with such a person must be a wonderful experience in this world."

In a corner unnoticed by the two, the tall man in the shadows concealed himself, quietly listening to Ying Ning's words.

A dark cloak covered his body, but his face above his neck was covered by a dark gold mask. He was not far away and could just hear their conversation.

"Fourth Prince, the path to power is far too long."

"Zhao Ning will not keep you company any longer." Her quiet words caused even the usually composed Yan Qizhen to break his facade of gentleness.

Yan Qizhen approached her and spoke with a hint of coldness:

"Under this vast sky, power reigns supreme."

"As members of the royal family, how can we miss the opportunity to rise to the top in one step?"

"Zhao Ning, do you dare say you're willing to submit to someone?!"

Yan Qizhen's childhood experiences destined him to have a deep-seated desire for power.

Even though he was a prince, he lived a life worse than an animal simply because his birth mother was of low status.

Today, though he still holds the same status, his situation is completely different, and even the prime minister intends to marry his daughter to him.

“That’s His Highness’s idea, not mine.” Yingning raised her eyes and looked at him with a firm gaze.

"Your Highness and I are not on the same path."

She took a step back, almost turning to leave.

"Bai Yingning!" Yan Qizhen's eyes reddened upon seeing this.

Those who are usually the best at disguising themselves become exceptionally mad once they tear off their masks.

He didn't want to listen to her; they weren't on the same wavelength.

Yan Qizhen reached out, wanting to touch her.

But she took a step back, which startled him.

"What if I... insist on forcing you?" The man's voice seemed somewhat suppressed.

The scene was shrouded in mist and rain, but suddenly a sudden downpour and thunder appeared.

When he spoke, his spring-like eyes were almost fixed on Ying Ning.

She replied, “Fourth Prince, I am still the Princess of the Western Regions, and you are merely a prince.”

"Our statuses are not in a superior or inferior position, Your Highness, please show some self-respect." She had just said this.

With a deafening roar, thunder followed the lightning.

Suddenly, rain began to fall.

Yan Qizhen's chest trembled, and the red mole on his earlobe almost bled. He spoke: