Chapter 230 It seems like something can never come back.

Ignoring the emotions in Li Manyun's eyes, Li Manyan continued, "Aren't you envious? Do you think that the men your family chose for me, the so-called men who are qualified to be my husbands, are all exceptional in terms of family background and appearance?"

Li Manyan chuckled, a self-deprecating smile tinged with helplessness.

Li Manyun was puzzled. Wasn't that right?

Why does Li Manyan seem... like the truth isn't quite like that?

“I can’t deny their family background and appearance, but do you know what those people are like in private? They frequent brothels, are flirtatious, have several confidantes, and their personalities are indescribable. Would you be willing to spend your life with such a man, or manage his household affairs for him for the rest of your life? My grandmother said that my marriage is the most important thing for the Li family because I was destined to take this step from birth, and I had no choice. But you can choose for yourself.”

Li Manyan said calmly, "As the eldest daughter of the Li family, I don't want to go, but I have to. Every word and action I take, every choice I make, is for the benefit of the Li family. I started learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting when I was three years old, I only sleep for three hours a day, and I must master a new skill every three months."

What you call envy, what I possess, I earned by exchanging my own joy and freedom. My grandparents loved me and did not want me to be unhappy in my later years. But my grandfather held the position of Minister of Revenue, and my aunt was one of the four imperial concubines. For the sake of the family's honor and the revitalization of our lineage, I had to shoulder the responsibility of being the eldest daughter.

Every friend I make requires my mother's approval. Every meal I eat must be healthy and light. My every word and action must be dignified and graceful, to be befitting the eldest daughter of the family.

Li Manyan learned a lot from her mother's guidance since childhood, including about relationships between men and women.

Even when Li Manyan was just a child, she had no expectations for her future husband.

Her mother told her that the simplest way for His Majesty to stabilize the court was to take in many concubines. Similarly, for a man to stabilize his household, taking concubines was the best way.

In fact, Li Manyan knew that most men who had multiple wives and concubines were simply unfaithful. What was sad about Li Manyan was that many women actually tried to understand men's behavior and even thought it was a perfectly normal thing.

Moreover, given their social standing, their future spouses are unlikely to be the people they desire.

Therefore, Li Manyan has never had feelings for any man beyond admiration, and she doesn't even have a male friend.

After all, Li Manyan had always thought that men were just like that.

Oh no, there's one more now.

It is the Second Prince.

As for why Li Manyan only has some admiration for Xie Yunchuan...

Li Manyan felt that it was probably because, apart from the fact that the Second Prince was indeed very intelligent and charming, he was the only friend whose mother could not interfere with.

Li Manyan lowered her eyes and looked at Li Manyun, her gaze seemingly able to pierce into Li Manyun's heart.

"So, after hearing all this, are you still envious?"

Li Manyun didn't know.

She never knew that Li Manyan was so... tense behind the scenes.

This gentle and dignified elder sister was always considerate and kind, and never showed any negative thoughts, which led her to completely ignore the hard work behind Li Manyan's success.

Thinking about it this way, Li Manyun's life is indeed much easier than Li Manyan's.

Although she was a concubine's daughter, the Li family never lacked food or drink for her. The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children was clear, yet there was almost no friction between them.

Li Manyan drew most of the attention, but Li Manyun asked herself, if it were her, would she be willing to exchange so many constraints for that attention?

She refused.

Li Manyun sobbed, begging for her forgiveness: "Elder sister, I didn't know, I really didn't know... I thought, I thought..."

She regretted it, she really regretted it; she shouldn't have done that.

"Elder sister, please, please don't tell Father, Mother, Grandparents, or Grandma. Yun'er can atone for her sins for the rest of her life!" Li Manyun cried. "Let's be best friends again, just like when we were little!"

Li Manyan twitched the corners of her mouth, revealing a mocking smile.

After a long silence, Li Manyan said, "We've severed all ties and become strangers from now on."

Li Manyun was stunned.

We parted ways, severed all ties, and became strangers to each other from then on.

Li Manyun looked up in disbelief, only to see Li Manyan's indifferent and slightly cold gaze.

Li Manyun tried to find something else in her eyes, but found nothing.

It seems like there's something that can never be found again.

Li Manyun lost her strength and collapsed to the ground.

Outside the tent, Sheng Sheng and Xie Yunchuan, who had overheard the whole thing, exchanged a glance and both saw the deep worry in each other's eyes.

Sheng Sheng was originally going to find Xie Yunchuan at the banquet, but the little dumpling had only taken a few steps when she met Xie Yunchuan who was coming this way.

It turned out that the banquet had just ended, and Xie Yunchuan had promised to accompany Shengsheng to the bonfire party, but Shengsheng was not there. Xie Yunchuan himself was not interested in the bonfire party, so he tried to sneak away to see Li Manyan.

To their surprise, they bumped into Shengsheng, who had just stepped out of the tent. The two stared at each other, neither able to understand how the other had ended up there.

After a moment of silence, Sheng Sheng chuckled dryly and pulled him aside to explain the whole story. Then the two of them waited outside the tent for the two sisters inside to finish speaking.

The two stood outside the tent, listening to the faint sounds of conversation coming from inside, but neither of them spoke.

She remained silent because she couldn't hear what was being said inside. At first, she strained her ears to listen carefully to the sounds inside, almost sticking them in, but she still couldn't hear clearly. So she simply squatted in the corner and started counting the blades of grass.

Xie Yunchuan remained silent because his five senses were much stronger than those of ordinary people, allowing him to hear the sounds inside very clearly.

He heard every single word Li Manyan said clearly.

Xie Yunchuan lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable.

After the noise inside stopped, Xie Yunqi arrived with his men, but he brought more than just the Imperial Guards. He charged angrily at the front, and even faster than Xie Yunqi was Consort Jing.

Behind Consort Jing was Imperial Physician Zhang, who was walking hurriedly, carrying a medicine box and was a little out of breath.

Xie Yunqi grinned foolishly and greeted them excitedly, "Little sister! Oh, second brother, you're here too. Oh, let's not talk about that now. Quick, quick, I've brought the person. Is everything alright inside?"

Sheng Sheng stood up, patted the dirt off his bottom, and asked Xie Yunqi, "I'm fine, don't worry, everything's normal. Fifth Brother, you're still a great hero! But why are Consort Jing and Imperial Physician Zhang here? Did you invite them, Fifth Brother?"