"Does Helan think that I've been with you these past few years only for power?"

"Just so I can have a better time at home?"

Hong Yuanli originally had the appearance of thin eyebrows and long eyes, and his features revealed a charm that did not belong to men. It is said that this was because his biological mother was not a good woman.

But Yuwen Helan just liked his eyes and brows; they were so captivating.

Now, those eyes, filled with tears, looked longingly at Helan, tugging at her sleeve, preventing her from going for a night stroll by the lake with the Prince of Da'an.

The man tightened his grip on his sleeve and continued:

"I admit that this was one of the reasons I got together with you in the first place, but later... Helan, please don't leave me, please don't get together with him, okay?"

"I will listen to you, I will listen to whatever you say. Please don't leave me alone like my mother did, okay? Please."

Yuwen Helan was embraced by the man; this was the first time she had seen Young Master Hong like this in so long.

The princess found this feeling somewhat novel, but she couldn't help but agree to his request.

I simply found the Prince of Da'an to be an interesting person. If he were a good man, developing a relationship with him wouldn't be a bad idea, but...

But Hong Gongzi's appearance was so irresistible that she couldn't refuse him. Since that was the case, that person wasn't so important.

How pitiful! His own mother didn't want him anymore. In the Hong family, he was neither loved by his father nor his mother. When she first met him, he still had injuries on his face.

Helan hugged him back and whispered soothingly in his ear:

"It's just for the sake of good relations between the two countries. It just so happens that I can get along with him. What are you thinking?"

Hong Yuanli, smelling the scent on Helan's shoulder, said somewhat confusedly:

"I thought you didn't want me anymore, tonight..."

"Nonsense, don't you know me? I only have you, and I've only ever had you."

The Crown Prince's biological father, the current Emperor of Great Yan, secretly asked Helan through his wife, "Do you like this Young Master Hong? Do you want to marry him? If you like him, we will grant you the marriage."

Yuwen Helan refused at the time because she felt that her previous two relationships had not been smooth, and if Young Master Hong had lofty ambitions in the future, being a consort would only be a shackle that bound him.

Moreover, she was also afraid that if Young Master Hong were to be intimate with another woman in front of her, she would be unable to help but transform from a dignified princess into an uncontrollable resentful woman.

Jealousy is the most disturbing thing.

Before, in the palace, even if I was angry and wanted to hit someone, the servants would do it for me. When would I ever have the chance to do it myself?

Countless times in the dead of night, when Helan thought of Luo Yun, he felt disgusted by that hysterical version of himself.

She shouldn't be like that, and a princess shouldn't be like that either.

She must be noble, beautiful, and have the world in her heart, just like her imperial brother, putting the people of Great Yan first.

"Then, how about Helan stays with me tonight?"

The woman smiled brightly, patted his head, and said:

"good."

From then on, Li Yi and Luo Yun frequently entered the palace and stayed by Helan's side, but that was all they did.

Hong Yuanli is His Majesty's male favorite who has been officially recognized, but Helan has not yet agreed to their relationship.

Hong Yuanli himself knew that Helan was sentimental and would often miss Luo Yun and Li Yi when he was talking with Lan Youxin and the others.

He can't keep Helan on his own.

Given Yuwen Helan's tendency to break up and block people when she's angry, if you offend her, it'll be difficult to even see her.

But now,

Yuwen Helan, who was now the Minister of Rites, carried a sacrificial basket and came to the imperial mausoleum to burn paper money for Lan Youxin and his wife.

"Lan Youxin, do you know that your son is now the Empress? You never became Empress, but your son is so happy about it."

“You said your son is lucky too, his wife is the emperor, he’s the only one in the harem, just as lucky as you.”

“When I heard that Cen Ang had returned to the capital, I knew that she had come to avenge you. I have good eyesight; I took a liking to her when you first married into the family when you were young.”

"They adopted a goddaughter outside, beat up the grasslands and kicked the Great An, and in the end even took over our country."

"If only you could... if only you could see."

In the end, Yuwen Helan broke down in tears.

When Cen Ang first came to the capital, she didn't dare to have too close a relationship with Cen's mother, for fear that the emperor would find out.

Now that's good, she can openly burn paper money for Lan Youxin.

That woman, who is like a little sun, would be happy to see herself like this now.

"Here you go, this is a handkerchief I got from your son. I don't know who your son takes after, but his embroidery is incredibly good."

Yuwen Helan held a pot of wine and wept in front of Lan Youxin's memorial tablet for a whole day, with several men behind her keeping her company.

Seeing that she was getting tired from crying, I gave her some water and pastries to feed her.

"Alright, it's getting dark. I have to go back to the palace to tease Cen Ang. I'll come see you again if anything comes up, okay?"

Cen Ang and Zhao Kai were newlyweds, and the third-ranked scholar finally won the heart of his beauty.

Yuwen Helan mainly wanted to tease her about the kiss they had back then, when Cen Ang was incredibly innocent in matters of the heart.

Huo Xiaolong was very enthusiastic about calling this "auntie," feeling that Cen Ang became much more vibrant every time she came.

That's right, it's not so boring anymore.

Long'er always felt a sense of warmth whenever she saw Aunt Hua and the others together, reminiscing about their childhood.

"Cen Ang! I'm back from burning paper money for your master. Quickly prepare some good wine and food for me!"

Aunt Cen, no, the Empress Dowager, was calculating on the abacus in the room. She resigned herself to her fate and stopped, then walked out of the room.

Although she and He Yi are now empress dowagers, they are still wearing the same clothes they wore at home, with no difference. The main problem is that the bright yellow outfit is too dazzling.

"Yuwen Helan, why are you burning paper money for the Crown Princess when it's not a festival? You're disturbing everyone's peace!"

"What do you mean by disturbing my peace and quiet? If I miss her, I'll go see her. She's my niece-in-law, you know that!"

Cen Ang forced a fake smile, nodded at the woman, and shouted through gritted teeth.

"Xiangxiang, come here!"

Hou Xiangxiang and Huo Xiaolong were grinning from ear to ear in the yard. I don't know what the three of them were talking about, but they were laughing like geese.

"You're here, Aunt Cen. What's up?"

Hou Xiangxiang was running around, her hair still damp with water droplets, showing how much fun she had just had.

“Take her pulse,” Cen Ang said, pointing at Yuwen Helan.

"Huh?" The little girl looked completely bewildered.

"Prescribe her some medicine, get the baby out, and stop bothering my mistress every day!"

"..."