Chapter 33 Jealousy He was jealous of that man

Liking something doesn't have a reason.

Just as a handful of jade does not need to be plucked from the summit of Kunlun.

She doesn't need to be perfect, or even well-mannered; as long as it's her, she'll suit his taste.

For the first time, someone who has always followed the rules and disregarded all his own preferences has so frankly revealed his true feelings.

This was a shock to both of them, who had received a prestigious upbringing from a young age.

As soon as the words were spoken, both of them froze. After a long while, Yan Ning picked up the tea beside her, took a sip, and felt a great weight lifted off her shoulders.

He didn't say anything else, just quietly looked at Cui Wan.

It took Cui Wan a moment to recover her senses, and her bright eyes finally refocused, regaining some sparkle.

She met his gaze, and their eyes met in mid-air for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. She rose from her seat, bowed respectfully to Yan Ning, and said, "Thank you for your frankness, cousin. Cui Wan understands and will not bother you again. I wish you and the princess a speedy resolution to the misunderstanding and a reunion."

Having said that, she stood up, lifted her skirt, and got off the carriage, continuing forward without stopping for a moment.

The little maid ran after her, taking small, quick steps, until they finally got into another carriage, and she finally felt better.

Before she could even sit down and take a sip of hot tea to calm herself, news of what had just happened reached Cui's ears. The person who had been keeping an eye on things sent a maid over to inquire what had happened.

Cui Wan gave an official reply, saying, "Please tell my aunt that there is no need to worry. I just thought that although my cousin and I are cousins, he is married and I am an unmarried girl. It is not appropriate for men and women to be so close."

When the news got back, Madam Cui knew in her heart that her son had probably been stubborn again and said some harsh words that hurt her daughter's feelings. But since things had come to this point, she couldn't say anything, so she tacitly accepted Cui Wan's words and only praised her as a well-mannered and knowledgeable child.

The maid Zhuxiang was puzzled and felt indignant on Cui Wan's behalf, saying, "Since that Yan Sanlang is so ungrateful, why should you insist on him and speak up for him, thus wronging yourself?"

She said, "You should tell Madam to teach him a good lesson. What's so great about that down-on-his-luck princess? It's outrageous that you're making such a fuss over her!"

People were indignant on her behalf.

Cui Wan, however, did not think so.

She glanced at Zhu Xiang, her eyes devoid of any emotion. She casually picked up a chess piece and placed it on the board, saying, "If he hadn't done this for the Li family, I might not have wanted him at all."

Zhu Xiang frowned. "This servant is dull-witted, please enlighten me, Miss."

Cui Wan placed another piece and said calmly, "Even if I get someone who would abandon their spouse for personal gain in times of trouble, how can I guarantee that they won't abandon me for the same reason in the future?"

She was in love with Yan Sanlang. This affection, like his feelings for Li Shi, was romantic love, not the affection between siblings.

They grew up together, which is understandable, but she wasn't entirely innocent.

She values ​​her future more than this affection.

Daughters of noble families, regardless of whether they are legitimate or illegitimate, are essentially the same. In the eyes of their families, they are not even as good as an illegitimate son. They cannot control any real power. Without power, they have no voice. Without a voice, they cannot act according to their own ideas or choose what they want.

This is usually the case.

Their marriages, needless to say, were nothing more than tools for their families to make profits.

Her background destined her to spend her future among these scions of noble families. From a young age, she learned etiquette, accounting, and household management, preparing herself to become a qualified matriarch and manage the household affairs.

But nowadays, the sons of these noble families, whether married or not, seem no different. After a century of glory and splendor, their character has long been worn down. Most of them are just empty vessels seeking fame and fortune, indulging in nothing but pleasure. Very few can truly shoulder responsibility. If she marries such a person, her later life will probably be even more difficult than that of her aunt, whose marriage is devoid of affection and merely a respectful formality.

While managing household affairs, she is also preoccupied with her husband's romantic escapades. Even so, in the end, who will recognize any good in her? As her beauty fades and love wanes, whether due to pressure from her family or her own desires, it is not impossible for her to commit the absurd act of favoring a concubine over her wife.

Yan Sanlang is a rare gentleman among the legitimate sons of aristocratic families. He is also very loyal and righteous. Despite the heavy pressure from his parents and family, he still insisted on protecting the impoverished and powerless Li family, which shows his character.

Her love for him was a stroke of good fortune for this marriage, which was favored by both families.

Even if she doesn't like it, she will still insist on getting it and fight for it!

This has nothing to do with love; it's all for his own benefit.

My aunt is right. Noble families don't need romantic philanderers.

All she wanted to choose was a good person. This would not only preserve her glory and honor for the rest of her life, but also allow her to live a little more easily in this grand mansion.

"But you just said you wouldn't bother me anymore."

Cui Wan laughed, patted Zhu Xiang's forehead, and said, "Silly girl, if I don't bother, someone else will bother for me."

The deeper his feelings for Li Shi appear, the more he loses his mind because of love, and the more absurd and disobedient he becomes for Li Shi, the more the Yan family will feel that Li Shi cannot be kept and will resolutely stand on her side.

It's just that Emperor Xuan and Empress Zhenyuan have just passed away, and the Li family has suddenly suffered a great change. Yan Ning is reluctant to let go because her emotions have overridden her reason.

As time goes by, these things will fade. His family and parents will take over the balance in his heart, and Li's betrayal will become a knife in his heart. Then he will slowly tilt towards her side and discover her good points. Her lack of competitiveness and willingness to fight for anything will make him feel a sense of helpless guilt towards her.

After they were united in this way, they lived in harmony until the end of their lives.

She believed that, given enough time, Yan Sanlang would fall for her just as he did for Li Shi, and become infatuated with her.

After all, she didn't think she was inferior to Li in terms of appearance, figure, upbringing, and temperament.

Doesn't he think so too?

She may lose now, but only because she missed the years he grew up.

...

Li Yunru entered Jiankang City at dusk recently.

Jiankang, a gathering place for aristocratic families, was even more prosperous than the capital. The common people valued aristocratic families more than the imperial family. The passing of Emperor Xuan and Empress Zhenyuan seemed to have no impact here. The city remained as lively as ever, and the festivities did not disperse even after nightfall.

She should have felt bitter and sad, but perhaps because she had seen so much in Beijing these past few days and had already cried all her tears, she didn't react much.

Songji observed the subtle reactions of the people and didn't know what to say.

The rise and fall of dynasties has been a constant throughout history.

Those at the top fight for power and profit, causing rivers of blood to flow. But in reality, it is mostly insignificant to the common people. Whoever can let them live in peace and prosperity, free from the heat of summer and the cold of winter, is their wise ruler.

Whether the regime is surnamed Li, Xiao, or something else, it doesn't matter.

He only realized this in recent years.

His princess, too, must figure it out on her own.

Song Ji sighed and handed her a piece of pastry: "Princess, please have something to eat."

"Um."

Li Yunru took it, took a small bite, but found it tasteless and didn't continue eating. She then casually placed it on the tray next to her.

"I'm not eating anymore, I don't have much of an appetite."

She urged the coachman to drive faster, feeling tired and exhausted, and just wanted to get back to her residence, so she lay on the couch and did nothing.

Songji also realized this, and he wanted to offer her a shoulder to lean on, to tell her that he was there for her and that she could sleep peacefully.

But since the princess didn't take the initiative, he didn't dare to overstep his bounds.

She understood the long journey and the cold winter wind, and allowed him to ride in the carriage with her and serve her. This was already a great reward for him, and he should not be so greedy.

So the servant only dared to hand over a soft pillow and said to Li Yunru, "Princess, lean against it and rest for a while. When we get to the princess's residence, your servant and Shuyun will call you."

Li Yunru raised her eyelids, glanced at him silently, and shook her head in refusal: "It's alright, there's not much further to go, I can hold on for a little while longer."

She said this, and Song Ji didn't know what else to say. The carriage fell silent, and they remained quiet all the way to the gate of the princess's residence.

The letter had been sent back long ago, but there weren't many people outside the princess's residence at this time. Apart from the head maid who accompanied her in her dowry, there were only a few maids and servants, all of whom were given to her by Emperor Qi Xuan when she got married. Not a single member of the Yan family was seen.

Seeing her looking behind her, the head maid explained, "The other day, someone from the Yan family came and said that they were very busy with the end of the year and didn't have enough manpower, so they transferred all of the Prince Consort's people back. There were also some servants and maids who had resigned because of some trouble at home, so I let them go too."

That's obviously not the truth.

The Yan family had already exchanged letters, and everyone assumed that once Emperor Xuan left and Li Yunru fell from the high platform, she would leave the Yan family or be demoted from wife to concubine. In short, her status was no longer what it used to be, and she would no longer need to be fawned over as before. However, the smarter ones would do some superficial work. Even so, they would not be in such a hurry to take everyone away before the mistress, the master, and even Yan Sanlang had returned.

This was probably Chen's idea. Li Yunru's relationship with these sisters-in-law in the Yan family was just so-so, and she also had a grudge against Chen Erlang. She wanted to take this opportunity to get revenge and embarrass her.

As for the others, some had genuine family troubles, while others, seeing the unfavorable situation, had found new ways to make a living in advance. Some of these people were part of her dowry, while others were newly purchased in Jiankang.

But it doesn't matter.

This is what they mean by "when people leave, the tea cools."

Li Yunru didn't care. She simply responded and told them to fetch their luggage. She then tidied up a courtyard for Song Ji to stay in before going to rest.

On the fifth day after she arrived in Jiankang, the Yan family also arrived.

They returned separately, and Li brought back a handsome young man with rosy lips and white teeth. When they entered the city that day, the two rode in the same carriage. These past few days, they have been staying at the palace gates and not going out. In the past, the princess's residence was like an iron barrel, and no one dared to overstep their bounds or make any comments. But now the world has changed, and a lot of rumors have spread.

Therefore, when the Yan family entered the city, the affair between Li Yunru and Song Ji was widely publicized. Some even went so far as to say that she had been staying home for the past few days because she was having a nightly party with her new male favorite.

Yan Langzhu's face darkened upon hearing this. He didn't speak, but simply looked up at Cui Shi. Cui Shi understood his meaning. For aristocratic families, face is of utmost importance. Although they didn't really want to acknowledge Li Yunru as their daughter-in-law, she had been the legitimate daughter-in-law of the prestigious Yan family for a period of time. Moreover, the divorce proceedings weren't yet complete, and she and her son were still considered husband and wife. Such turmoil would only embarrass her son and bring shame to the Yan family!

She made her stance clear; the first thing she did after entering the mansion was to instruct her nanny to arrange for someone to investigate the source of these rumors and dispel them.

The two were unhappy.

Yan Ning, as the person involved, was no better off. Every sound he heard on the road was like a knife, stabbing into his heart again and again.

The scene from that day in the backyard of Chengen Temple kept replaying in his mind.

They were so close; she hugged him tightly, threw herself into his arms, and cried without restraint.

Li Yunru's demeanor was more relaxed than ever before, something he had never seen before in his presence.

It's easy to imagine how much she trusted that person.

Yan Ning didn't want to admit it, but his heart was filled with jealousy. He was jealous of that musician who had earned her complete trust.

And what about him?

She never reveals her true feelings to herself, and she would never so unrestrainedly vent her emotions.

To him, all she was honest about was calculation.

Whether in bed or at other times, she even... didn't want him anymore.

She used him as a bargaining chip, but when he tried so hard to persuade his parents to let her stay in the Yan family, she turned her back on him, leaving behind a letter of divorce and then leaving.

She never considered staying, and her decision, even with him around, would not change the outcome.

She didn't care about him.

This realization drove Yan Ning almost insane; he couldn't accept it!

-----------------------

Author's Note: The next chapter will be posted around 11 PM next Thursday. Please add it to your favorites again! I'm begging you! [Please!]