After Ruoqiu returned, she told the Empress Dowager what had just happened.

The Empress Dowager nodded after hearing this.

"It seems that Chen'er doesn't fancy her."

"I originally thought that we could let the two of them develop their relationship."

"I just didn't expect—"

The Empress Dowager did not reveal that she could hear Ye Qianqian's inner thoughts.

"Your Majesty, haven't we had couples who initially didn't like each other but eventually developed feelings for one another?"

"His Highness the Third Prince is also a man of strong emotions; he is probably capable of developing feelings for others."

The Empress Dowager thought of Ye Qianqian's judgment on the future marriage between Ye Chen and Zhou Yanyan.

He shook his head.

"Never mind, I don't want to force anyone."

"Let's find Zhou Yanyan another suitable man."

Ruoqiu nodded.

today.

The Empress Dowager's actions were indeed somewhat unusual.

before.

The Emperor and the Imperial Noble Consort did not initially fancy each other.

It was a marriage bestowed by the late emperor.

The emperor had no choice but to obey and thus married Xu Qingzhi.

Xu Qingzhi originally wanted to disobey orders.

But then she thought about the hundreds of people in her family who were behind her.

She cannot live only for herself.

The lives of her family members also had to be considered.

She had no choice but to reluctantly marry Ye Ling and become his concubine.

At the beginning.

Xu Qingzhi also felt wronged in various ways.

He didn't have any feelings for Ye Ling either.

However, within the Prince's residence, the two of them saw each other all the time.

Over time.

Their feelings for each other gradually developed.

The two are very much in love now.

As long as the Empress Dowager is willing.

Ye Chen and Zhou Yanyan could do the same.

Moreover, Zhou Yanyan doesn't need to be a concubine; she can be the original wife from the start.

But the Empress Dowager still gave up.

Ruoqiu thought that perhaps the Empress Dowager was worried that Ye Chen and Zhou Yanyan wouldn't develop feelings for each other, and that it would hurt her in the end.

After Zhou Yanyan returned home.

She locked herself in her room and kept crying.

Wei Rong was very worried.

They came over quickly.

"Yan Yan, what's wrong? Did you suffer any injustice in the palace?"

Zhou Yanyan said, crying.

"Mother, Ye Chen doesn't like me."

Wei Rong was stunned.

After I understood.

He said.

"What does the Empress Dowager mean?"

"Judging from the Empress Dowager's thoughts, she doesn't want to bring us together."

Wei Rong frowned.

"That shouldn't be the case."

"The Empress Dowager has hinted at this to your father many times before."

"She thinks highly of you and Ye Chen."

"Why are you acting out of character today and not trying to match you up?"

"Mother, has the Empress Dowager chosen someone else?"

Wei Rong shook her head.

"This mother doesn't know either. Have your father inquire about it and see what's going on."

After Prefect Zhou returned.

Wei Rong recounted what had happened that day.

Prefect Zhou was also bewildered.

"Could it be that I misunderstood before?"

"But if the Empress Dowager truly had no such intention, why did she hint at it to me time and time again?"

"The Empress Dowager would not joke about her own grandson's marriage."

"So, Yan Yan now thinks, could it be that the Empress Dowager has found a better candidate? Has the Empress Dowager been in contact with any other women recently?"

Prefect Zhou shook his head.

"No, that's not the case. The only person who has been staying in the palace recently is Princess Saizhuo from the grasslands, but she is only five years old. The Empress Dowager would never have such thoughts. Even if she did, and was willing to wait until Saizhuo and Jiji, given her personality, she would never allow herself to come to the Central Plains. Life on the grasslands is not suitable for her."

"Then this—"

Wei Rong was also at a loss, not knowing what to do.

Prefect Zhou said.

"No need to rush, I'll ask Ruoqiu and we'll find out what the Empress Dowager is thinking."

However, Prefect Zhou has not yet gone to look for anyone.

The Empress Dowager then summoned Prefect Zhou to the palace.

In the Shou Kang Palace.

The Empress Dowager also made her point clear.

"I admit that I initially had my eye on Zhou Yanyan and wanted to betroth her to Chen'er."

"But I now know what Chen'er is thinking. Chen'er has never been interested in Yan Yan."

"I do not want to force a marriage. If Chen'er marries Yan Yan but treats her coldly every day, it would not be fair to Yan Yan."

"I like this child Yan Yan very much and hope that she can find a good husband."

"Ye Chen is not that person. I will keep an eye out and find a good man to love Yan Yan, so that she can be loved all her life. It is better than not being loved by Chen'er."

"I know all too well what it feels like for a woman not to be cherished by her husband!"

“Yan Yan’s mother understands this principle even better.”

Prefect Zhou nodded.

"I understand the Empress Dowager's good intentions."

"That's good. I hope Yan Yan can understand that in matters of the heart, the most important thing is mutual affection before anything else can be discussed. The late Emperor made such a mistake when arranging marriages for the Emperor. Although the Imperial Noble Consort and the Emperor are loving now, it doesn't mean that all couples are like that."

"If we dislike each other, then we will be harming Yan Yan."

Prefect Zhou nodded.

"I am deeply grateful for the Empress Dowager's kindness."

After returning home.

Prefect Zhou relayed the Empress Dowager's message to Wei Rong and Zhou Yanyan.

Wei Rong immediately replied after hearing this.

"The Empress Dowager had good intentions."

"Yan Yan, the Empress Dowager really wants to bring you two together, but the Third Prince has no such intention, so let's not even think about it."

There are plenty of good men in the world, surely there isn't one who would want to marry our Yan Yan?

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