On the day Shen Wan came of age, she got up very early.
Just like in her previous life, she dressed up in her finest attire, after all, she was going to the palace to see the emperor. But unlike in her previous life, this time she didn't dress according to the Prince of Jin's preferences, but instead chose her favorite sky-blue brocade dress embroidered with begonia flowers.
The woman reflected in the bronze mirror was exceptionally beautiful. Shen Wan was always satisfied and confident in her appearance.
It was almost time, and Shen Wan followed her father, Shen Jing, into the palace to meet the emperor.
When they arrived outside the Imperial Study, Prince Jin and several other princes were already there, except for... Xie Jingyan.
The person who arrived around the same time as her in her past life hasn't shown up this time, even after she's been there for a while.
Shen Wan couldn't help but feel a little worried.
Is something bad going to happen to him?
They waited and waited, but Xie Jingyan did not appear.
The father-in-law came out to invite them in, but Shen Wan was still looking around, and she couldn't see Xie Jingyan anywhere.
She entered the imperial study, glancing back every few steps. Shen Wan knelt to pay her respects to the Emperor, who rewarded her with a jade ruyi as a coming-of-age gift. After remarking on how quickly time had passed, he asked, "Of my princes, which one do you favor?"
Shen Wan knelt on the ground, feeling extremely depressed.
In her past life, she never knew Xie Jingyan was such an unreliable person.
Isn't this delaying her important business?
If he doesn't come, can she still choose him?
Shen Wan steeled her resolve, looked up at the Emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, I have long admired Prince Ling and only wish to marry him. I beg Your Majesty to grant my request."
The emperor was stunned.
The other princes stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
Xie Jingyin's face turned ugly.
The other princes all knew that Shen Wan wouldn't choose them; they were just there to go through the motions, with no surprises or disappointments. But Xie Jingyin never imagined that Shen Wan would choose someone other than him, especially someone with a broken leg.
The Emperor glanced at Shen Jing before asking Shen Wan, "Prince Ling has a leg ailment and may never be able to stand up again. Are you really going to choose him?"
Shen Wan nodded emphatically, “I don’t mind that he has a leg ailment. I will accompany him wherever he wants to go in the future. If Your Majesty does not agree to my marriage to Prince Ling, then I beg you to withdraw the engagement. I will never marry again in this life.”
Xie Jingyin's face turned green, and his cold gaze fell on Shen Wan. "On such an important day, even Prince Ling didn't come. You want to marry him, but he may not want to marry you."
Shen Wan was glad that her older brother had asked Xie Jingyan, otherwise her father would have suspected that she was lying to him.
Shen Wan looked at the Emperor and said, "I am of humble appearance and spoiled by nature. If I cannot even be worthy of Prince Ling, I would not dare to be worthy of anyone else."
The Emperor said, "You don't need to belittle yourself."
Shen Jing bowed to the Emperor and said, "I have spoiled my daughter rotten..."
Before Shen Jing could finish speaking, the Emperor raised his hand to interrupt him, "My words are golden, and I have given her the right to choose, and I will not take them back. Since she is so fond of Prince Ling and insists on marrying no one else, I will grant them a marriage."
"Thank you for granting my request, Your Majesty."
Shen Wan kowtowed to express her gratitude.
She didn't stay in the palace long. After expressing her gratitude, she left the palace and went to the Ling Prince's residence.
Stepping down from the carriage, Shen Wan asked the gatekeeper of the Prince Ling's residence, "Is your prince in the residence?"
"Yes," the servant replied.
"Is he sick?"
"No."
"My prince is perfectly fine!"
Shen Wan's worries along the way turned into anger.
Upon entering the mansion, seeing Xie Jingyan sitting in a wheelchair, staring at a kite that someone had flown in the sky, anger surged to the top of his head.
Xie Jingyan, sitting in his wheelchair, turned around at the sound of footsteps and met Shen Wan's fiery gaze.
Shen Wan walked over, gritting her teeth, and said, "My older brother even said you had good character, and you're just so untrustworthy?!"
"If you don't want to marry me, then don't agree! I didn't hold a knife to your throat and force you to marry me. If you want to back out later, at least send someone to let me know so I can be prepared. But instead, you just didn't show up and caught me completely off guard!"
Shen Wan fired off a barrage of words, while Chen Feng stood behind Xie Jingyan, his fists clenched, ready to strike.
How could the Marquis of Pingyang have such a scheming daughter? How could the heir of the Marquis of Pingyang have such a heartless and cruel sister who used his son to marry the Prince of Jin, and then turned around and blamed him after the deed was done?
Do you have to break the prince's heart into pieces and trample it on the ground before you're satisfied?
Xie Jingyan looked at Shen Wan and said calmly, "I will attend your wedding with Prince Jin."
He clearly regretted agreeing to marry her. Even if it was a lie, she knew he had someone he loved and had never married in his previous life. That's why she didn't directly tell the Emperor she wanted to marry him. She asked him first if he was willing to accept the offer, so as not to be rejected and humiliated. But it was no use. He was determined to reserve the position of his Lingwang's principal wife for his beloved, and he wouldn't even lend it to her for a short time.
Although she was very angry, Shen Wan had to admit that she was somewhat moved.
Having witnessed too many relationships tainted by calculation and exploitation, this was the first time I'd seen one so genuine and pure. She truly shouldn't have gotten involved for her own selfish reasons.
But the Emperor has already agreed to bestow a marriage upon them, and the imperial decree is probably on its way...
What a mess they've made.
She wants to form an alliance with Xie Jingyan, not an enemy.
Shen Wan looked at Xie Jingyan with annoyance, "It's your own fault for not handling things well, you can't blame me."
I don't blame you.
"If my dad and the others ask later, just say that you felt you weren't good enough for me, which is why you changed your mind. You can't let me lose face."
"good."
Shen Wan wanted to say something more.
But finding nothing to say, she left.
As for refusing marriage—
Xie Jingyan should do it himself. His leg is broken, so even if the Emperor is angry with him, he can't punish him.
As for her older brother, he's such a faithless person; we should advise him to have less contact with him in the future.
Xie Jingyan sat in his wheelchair, watching Shen Wan leave with her steps heavy and light, his eyes revealing an unfathomable emotion.
Chen Feng angrily interjected, "The prince only refrained from exposing her because of the Marquis of Pingyang's son, but she really thinks the prince knows nothing and even wants the prince to belittle her. This is outrageous!"
Before Chen Feng could finish speaking, a servant came running over, announcing from afar, "Your Highness, the Emperor has sent someone to deliver an imperial edict..."
Chen Feng then asked, "What decree is being proclaimed?"
The servant grinned, "Of course it's an imperial decree bestowing a marriage upon the prince! His Majesty has betrothed the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Pingyang to the prince as his princess consort."
Chen Feng, “…??!”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
