Chapter 128 Is it right to be powerless? Every "taken-for-granted" statement...
The marriage certificate has been issued, and the process of betrothal, name inquiry, divination, and exchanging betrothal gifts takes a considerable amount of time.
Fortunately, she didn't need to make large-scale preparations or receive pre-wedding etiquette training. Song Ai and the other nannies had already taught her these trivial and complicated matters when they were negotiating the marriage with the Jie people.
Gold and silver utensils, furniture, silk fabrics, including wedding dresses and jewelry, were all readily available. Items that the Jie people had no use for were now put to good use.
On top of the original dowry, Zhao Yunfu even sent Feng Changshi to deliver some new trinkets, making her dowry appear even more lavish.
Zhao Yunfu had already announced to the world that Yu Nie and Huan Xun were to get married. This joyous occasion attracted many people to come and offer their congratulations.
People, both acquaintances and strangers, personally sent gifts to congratulate them. Apart from the Li family, who had encountered trouble, the other three prominent families also sent their congratulations.
Zhao Huaruo and Hua Shu also came to Hongzheng Pavilion, each bringing a gift.
Because of Xiao Chengyan's matter, Yu Nie originally thought that Hua Ruo would not come to her door again. She thought that none of the three of them were at fault in the last incident, but emotionally, Hua Ruo would definitely find it difficult to face her for the time being.
No one can accept that the person they've secretly loved for years actually loves their nominal older sister.
Therefore, whatever decision Hua Ruo makes, Yu Nie can understand it.
Unexpectedly, Hua Ruo came to visit.
Not only did she come to his door, but she also nonchalantly stated that she had already made things clear with Xiao Chengyan, that she would no longer shamelessly pester him, and that she would choose a better husband to marry.
Seeing that she had come to terms with it, Yu Nie felt much relieved.
Inside the bedchamber, the three of them sat together. Song Ai poured tea and led the other maids and eunuchs to the side to await instructions.
Zhao Huashu, holding the teacup gracefully with both hands, observed the expressions of the other two.
She maintained her gentle smile, put down her cup, and began to talk.
"It's really unexpected that Sister Hua Yan would marry Young Master Huan. Fate is something else; when it comes, you can't stop it." She looked at Hua Ruo with a smile and teased, "In my opinion, Young Master Huan must have had feelings for you for a long time. Otherwise, why would someone who doesn't give face to anyone and doesn't like to meddle in other people's affairs stand up for you at the Star Gazing Banquet?"
Yu Nie: "Perhaps he is just a nice person. Rather than saying he cares about me, it's more accurate to say he has good intentions."
Zhao Huashu sensed the denial in her words: "Don't you think, sister, that this Junior Tutor Huan is actually in love with you?"
Admiration? To say that about Huan Xun and her is utterly absurd.
What could Huan Xun possibly love about her? Just because she could make those strange and unusual things?
That's obviously impossible.
Besides, would someone like him even develop feelings like "like"?
She firmly believed that such a thing would not happen.
She shook her head, not continuing the topic, and instead asked Hua Shu, "Lord Gu returned yesterday, did you see him, sister?"
Thinking of her encounter with Gu Xiangzhi in the palace yesterday, Hua Shu's smile dimmed slightly.
"When I saw him, he didn't seem to want to see me." She gave a self-deprecating laugh: "That's right, he used to treat me like a younger sister, and our relationship was like that of family."
"But... I messed it all up in the end, and disappointed him."
Having overheard their past, Yu Nie understood why she said that.
Hua Shu, who thought she was unaware of the truth, realized that things had come to this point and she had nothing left to hide. So she told Gu Xiangzhi that she had previously refused the marriage alliance, and that her mother had accidentally learned the secret of Gu Xiangzhi's background from her. She then used this to blackmail Gu Xiangzhi into helping her escape the fate of being forced into a marriage alliance.
Zhao Huashu: "When I told my mother about his secret, I was too young. I thought my mother was the person I could trust the most. I wondered if she could help me solve the problem of his background and erase all traces of him being the son of a criminal from Nan Yin."
"As a child, I never intended to do anything wrong. This incident later became a weapon my mother used to threaten me."
Hearing this, Yu Nie couldn't help but ask, "But even if Cui Meiren didn't threaten him, given your previous relationship, he would still help you, wouldn't he?"
Zhao Huashu understood this so obviously.
Before she could speak, Zhao Hua Ruo, who hadn't said a word for a while, explained: "The marriage alliance is a major event. Consort Cui was afraid that Gu Xiangzhi, who had already entered the Imperial Horse Administration, would not be willing to take risks for the sake of his future, so she used his secret to put pressure on him."
“Cui Meiren is not Hua Shu’s sister. There are some things she can’t understand. Because she can’t understand, she can’t empathize. She has great faith in Gu Xiangzhi’s character and believes that he can take such a big risk.”
Yu Nie listened quietly, his gaze lingering on Hua Shu's somber face.
There was a better way to resolve the dilemma of marriage alliance, but Consort Cui turned a relationship that might have been eternally kinship-like into an unhealable rift.
A sense of regret quietly rose in her heart.
She asked Hua Shu, "Didn't you explain this to Gu Xiangzhi in detail?"
The heartbreak of having one's secrets revealed to someone close to you and used as leverage is hard for anyone to forgive.
Zhao Huashu thought to herself, "I still hurt his feelings. Not revealing this secret to anyone was something I promised him. I have no right to ask for his forgiveness."
At this point, Zhao Huashu mustered her courage and faced her, saying, "But I want... your forgiveness?"
"Me?" Yu Nie was taken aback.
Sitting opposite her, Zhao Huaruo could tell what Zhao Huashu was about to say, and this time, she did not stop her.
After all that had happened, Zhao Hua Ruo knew that Yu Nie was not the kind of person who would complain to the emperor.
Zhao Huashu nodded, and then she sincerely apologized for how she had used a scheme to escape a marriage alliance, which almost led to her being forced to marry into the Jie tribe.
She said, "I almost dragged you into this, Hua Yan. If the Jie people hadn't broken off the engagement in the end, I would have lived with guilt and self-blame for the rest of my life."
She looked at her and said, "When we first met, I wanted to tell you everything, but I was too timid to say anything. Only today do I dare to ask you for your forgiveness."
After listening to Zhao Huashu's words, Yu Nie's face showed little emotion, and his heart was calm and clear.
Zhao Huashu's apology was sincere; she could sense that.
This guilt was genuine, but she knew even more clearly that what drove Zhao Huashu's actions back then was not malice directed at her personally, but the instinct to survive under the pressure of power struggles.
Today's apology is less about gaining her forgiveness and more about Zhao Huashu trying to break free from the shackles of guilt and unease.
After Zhao Huashu finished speaking, the hall fell into a brief silence.
Yu Nie did not respond immediately. Her gaze swept over Zhao Huashu's pleading face before she lowered her eyes.
In that brief silence, an invisible weight pressed down on Zhao Huashu's heart, making her instantly tense.
After a short while, Yu Nie finally spoke softly, her voice calm and without any resentment: "Sister Hua Shu, you are too kind."
She looked up at her, a slight smile playing on her lips: "In this royal family, neither of us has a choice. Marriage alliances are a game of chess, princesses are pawns. Sister, you tried to escape your fate as a pawn, using your own methods—ultimately, it was just human nature. As for me, this pawn who almost got thrown into the furnace…"
She paused, then said knowingly, "Today it's me, but tomorrow it could be someone else. Sister, you don't need to blame yourself entirely. In the end, we're all caught up in this."
She didn't say "I forgive you" lightly, simply because in the game of power, personal forgiveness is insignificant.
She and her were merely pawns sharing the same fate; pursuing the fate of another pawn who was also manipulated is of little significance.
Zhao Huashu's choice was driven by the cannibalistic power.
In the struggle for interests, people can become demons, ghosts, or reflections of themselves that are completely unfamiliar to them.
Faced with supreme imperial power and political interests, a person's marriage, fate, and even emotions are nothing more than commodities that can be exchanged and sacrificed.
The grudges and affections within the palace are intricately intertwined, and behind every seemingly "obvious" situation may lie countless instances of being unable to control one's own destiny.
But being "out of one's control" is not a reason to sacrifice others.
Just when Zhao Huashu thought she would forgive her magnanimously, she said, "At that time, my sister chose to push me out to take risks in order to save herself. In my opinion, this was an evil in itself. Whether this evil was forced or helpless, the consequences it caused were real. If it weren't for the coincidence, my life would have been buried in the bitter cold land of the Jie tribe."
She looked at her calmly: "You and I both know this perfectly well."
Perhaps a few days earlier, she would have said she forgave him, but by then, her mindset had changed, and her perspective on things had also changed.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huashu's face turned pale instantly.
Seeing Zhao Huashu's utterly ashamed expression, she changed the subject, her tone still calm: "However, I also understand that under the rules, it is our instinct to struggle for survival. I am pointing this out today not to humiliate you, or to make you live in guilt forever."
Zhao Huashu: "Then you are...?"
“I wanted to tell you,” Yu Nie continued, “Since we know so well the pain of being used as a pawn, we should be even less willing to be pawns, or even accomplices, to repeat this harm. Today you sacrifice me out of fear, but tomorrow who will sacrifice you for profit? When will this cycle end?”
She didn't spell it out explicitly, only saying, "I appreciate your honesty in sharing the reasons today."
"As for the matter of being implicated... since it never actually happened, further regret is futile. Let's leave it at that." Yu Nie said, "I accept your apology."
At this point, she didn't look at Zhao Huashu, her fingers stroking the teacup: "However, since you feel guilty, I will remember this favor. If there is an opportunity in the future, I hope you will remember what I said today."
The phrase "Remember what you said today" carries a significant implication.
It was an unspoken agreement: she forgives her past misfortunes, but she must make amends through future actions.
Yu Nie skillfully transformed this "debt" into a potential, yet-to-be-realized bargaining chip.
This is very helpful for her in securing resources now.
After agreeing to the matter, Hua Shu did not sit for long. She felt that Zhao Hua Yan in front of her was somewhat different from the Zhao Hua Yan she had first met.
Since they were in the wrong regarding the marriage alliance, Zhao Huaruo couldn't say much and could only leave with Hua Shu.
After the two women left, Yu Nie touched the gifts on the table, lost in thought.
She didn't know if what she had just said might have seemed harsh, but it was indeed her true feeling at that moment.
"Your Highness..." Song Ai, having seen the guests off, entered from outside the door.
Yu Nie composed himself and looked at her: "What is it?"
Song Ai: "Guard Xie is here."
Upon hearing that Xie Cheng was coming, she got up to greet him.
Xie Cheng's arrival must have something important to discuss.
As expected, after Xie Cheng entered and bowed, he said calmly, "Your Highness, I have come on behalf of my master to inform you that the Gao family has been arrested."
"What?" Yu Nie was shocked. "When did this happen?"
"Just now," Xie Cheng continued, revealing an even more bombshell: "Not only that, the Emperor has secretly sent people to place His Highness Prince Xiao under house arrest."
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