Who would have thought that the gentleman who was once as aloof as the moon would be like this when he got angry?
She stroked her swollen lips, regained her strength, and then forced herself to step back from his embrace, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if she were saying with difficulty, "Grandmother is strong-willed by nature, and once she has made up her mind, it is difficult to change it. Now that she is getting old, she only wishes that the family can prosper for generations to come."
"If I can marry a man of high rank and great power, he can protect my maternal family and ensure its prosperity, so that she can rest in peace after her death."
Seeing the boy's bloodshot eyes, her heart trembled, and she almost couldn't help but reach out and touch them. If she hadn't been forced to, she would have wanted the boy to go back and rest right now.
But that won't work!
Consort Lin was pregnant, and the emperor issued an edict to the six palaces, stating that once the imperial heir in Consort Lin's womb was born, whether it was a prince or a princess, Consort Lin would be made empress and given the Phoenix Seal.
At that time, Xiao Ziyan would become the legitimate heir and the eldest son. Regardless of whether the ministers advocated establishing the legitimate heir or the eldest son, it would be in his favor!
By the time that happens, it will be too late for the young man to exert his strength!
She clenched her fists tightly, afraid that she would soften her heart. She slowly lowered her head, not daring to look anymore. The red agate and gold hairpin in her hair swayed slightly, adding a sense of pitifulness and helplessness.
Her voice trembled slightly as she said, "Tianyun thanks Your Highness for your mercy, but there are too many things to consider in this important matter of marriage. It cannot be decided solely based on feelings. Ultimately... it is not something I can decide."
"I will not give you away, no matter what."
Seeing the glistening snowflakes on her face and the tip of her nose frozen a pitiful red, Xiao Ziwu frowned, took off his crane cloak, draped it over her shoulders, and grasped her slender shoulders with his large hands.
She turned her head slightly to look at him, and the dark white embroidery on his shoulder made his hand look like fine cold jade, while his voice, which fell into the air, was low, husky, and magnetic.
"Look at me." The boy gently pinched her chin, forcing her to look up.
Seeing the girl raise her head, her almond-shaped eyes, which were usually as bright as stars, now dimmed, with large tears hanging from her eyes, Xiao Ziwu's heart instantly melted.
At first, his love was like tiny sparks of fire. He didn't understand why he felt this strange feeling, because no one had taught him, nor had he ever thought about it. Only now, when it could no longer be contained and exploded like fireworks, did he realize that it was too late to take it back.
Her high position and power, which could protect her maternal family, were not enough to become obstacles between them.
"Don't cry." Xiao Ziwu carefully wiped away the tears from her eyes. He said in a hoarse voice, "Even if I'm not qualified and have no chance of winning, I will fight for it in the future. I will fight for that position. Please wait for me a little longer, okay?"
After he finished speaking, his deep, dark eyes locked onto her, as if afraid of missing even the slightest change in her expression.
It was clearly to elicit those words from him that this scene unfolded, but seeing his incredibly gentle demeanor, Tianyun's tears suddenly began to fall uncontrollably.
He is such a clever man; he must have seen through this whole drama long ago, yet he is still willing to coax and indulge me.
The young man already detested getting involved in the intrigues and conflicts of imperial power and fame, so to be able to say these words was already a promise of considerable weight.
She couldn't bear to pressure him any further. She closed her eyes, suppressed the bitterness in her heart, and softly said, "Alright, Your Highness."
Hearing her answer, the fatigue of the past few days and the tension of this morning suddenly relaxed. Xiao Ziwu held his throbbing forehead, but the corners of his lips curled up slightly, like a dragon finding a lost treasure again, and he contentedly pulled her into his arms again.
——
"Did you see clearly? Are they really so shameless?!" The old lady slammed her teacup down, causing it to tip over and spill the steaming Huangshan Maofeng tea inside.
The maidservant, Little Green Meat, was in so much pain that her eyelids twitched uncontrollably. This precious cup of tea was being wasted! It was like a cow chewing a peony. She simply closed her eyes and decided to ignore it.
"Granddaughter dares not speak presumptuously, but I saw with my own eyes my cousin and the man holding hands tightly, inseparable, their love truly deep and sincere. No wonder this morning when Grandmother wanted to force my cousin to stand before the Second Prince, she was so reluctant; it turns out she already has someone she loves!" Shangguan Jingyi concealed the jealousy in her eyes, looked at the old lady's dark face, and cautiously probed, "Grandmother, why don't you grant my cousin's wish? It would be a happy ending for lovers."
The old lady glared at her fiercely: "Have you lost your mind? She's having an affair with that bastard, she's shameless to the extreme, and you're still defending her? Aren't you afraid of ruining your reputation with her!"
No wonder she resisted so much and refused to apologize to the Second Prince; it turns out she had a lover outside! You wretched girl, you're not even of marriageable age yet and you're already so impatient, do you want to die?
Shangguan Jingyi was secretly pleased, and quickly stood up and bowed, looking flustered: "I misspoke, Grandmother, please don't be angry, I know I was wrong!"
"Grandmother, who are you saying is shameless?" Tianyun lifted the curtain and came in, still wearing the moon-white crane cloak that the young man had wrapped around him. His delicate face was flushed from the frost and snow, and his slender fingers gripped the colorful ribbons on the cloak. The wide corners of the cloak trailed on the ground.
Upon seeing her excessively coquettish manner, the old lady was filled with displeasure and snorted coldly, "Don't you know who I'm talking about?"
She covered her mouth and chuckled, teasingly saying, "Just now, only Grandmother and my cousin were in the room..." It was obvious who she was referring to.
She looked at Shangguan Jingyi.
Shangguan Jingyi's face turned pale as he said, "Grandmother is referring to someone else, not me!"
"Oh?" Tianyun casually picked up the hot tea. Her lips were still swollen and slightly itchy when they touched the steam, so she could only sip it slowly.
The old lady glared at her and said in a deep voice, "Look at the state you are in now! You've only been in the capital for a few years, and your father has spoiled you so much that you're wild and unruly! You're getting intimate with men without any betrothal or marriage arrangements, and you don't even care about your chastity. It's one thing for you not to be ashamed, but don't drag my Jingyi into it!"
"So that's what my cousin told you?" She smiled, her bright almond-shaped eyes curving into crescent moons.
Seeing that the blame was about to be shifted onto her, Shangguan Jingyi hurriedly waved her hands and denied it, saying, "Sister, don't misunderstand, I didn't say that. Grandmother was only doing it for your own good. She couldn't bear to see you being deceived by that good-looking playboy, so she said some harsh words. I hope you can understand Grandmother's good intentions and not hold it against her."
"Heaven is watching what people do. Even if Jingyi doesn't say anything, others will. Since you've done something wrong, don't be afraid of what others say!" The old lady slammed her hand on the armrest, furious at Jingyi's nonchalant attitude.
A mere playboy with no substance? Unable to bear the boy being slandered like this, she pursed her lips into a straight line: "Grandmother just said that I've become wild since I came to the capital a few years ago, but my cousin has only been in the capital for two days and has already changed so much. She doesn't even shy away from meeting other men with me. Compared to her, I'm not so surprising."
No wonder the girl felt that she had changed a lot. Even Lingqi felt that she had misjudged her. She originally thought that this cousin was timid and quiet, but now it seems that it was just her illusion!
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