Chapter 116 My Lover She was already a dying woman.
Shen Liude: "Speaking of which, isn't Lord Yue almost twenty-one this year?"
Yue Yining was taken aback, not understanding how the topic had turned to her. But then she saw Qiu Yuebai studying her face and nodding. "Yes, although Lady Yue looks like a career-oriented woman, you can still pursue your career while considering marriage."
"If the people of Yue have any preferences or conditions for their husbands, feel free to tell us, and we will keep an eye out for them for you."
Before Yue Yining could say anything, her shoulders were encircled by a pair of white, lotus-root-like arms, and the sweet fragrance of ambergris mixed with azurite wafted towards her.
She paused for a moment, then turned to see Wei Yihua's puffed-up profile, its rounded curve resembling a small hill.
Wei Yihua said with extreme dissatisfaction, "I...don't...want it."
"I know these officials and noble families in the court better than anyone. They are either mediocre talents who rely on their family background or dissolute playboys who indulge in pleasure and debauchery. They are a bunch of good-for-nothings and showy figures. Which one of them is worthy of Yining? Marrying down would just mean living a life of compromise with a man. How could it be as comfortable and carefree as her living alone?"
The thought of Yue Yining marrying a court official, or the son of one of those officials, filled Wei Yihua with waves of displeasure.
In her previous life, Yue Yining remained celibate until she successfully helped Wei Ye ascend the throne, rejecting all the men who admired her.
Others may not know, but Wei Yihua, as Yue Yining's political enemy in her previous life, remembers her every move vividly. She has no one she likes and no intention of getting married.
In her past life, even a weakling like Wei Ye could be plastered up by Yue Yining. In this life, Yue Yining chose her. With their combined efforts, they will surely create a prosperous era. How can Yue Yining be confined to a small, secluded mansion and a mere man? Wouldn't that be like locking a unicorn in a cage or binding a dragon in shallow water?
"She just needs to stay by my side." The princess hugged her advisor, showing a protective stance, and said firmly, "I will give her wealth, honor, high office, and titles, and ensure her a worry-free life."
Looking at Wei Yihua's profile so close to her and her resolute expression, Yue Yining felt a surge of warmth in her heart.
Qiu Yuebai drew out her words, as if teasing, "Your Highness would actually say that!"
Shen Liude: "I understand Your Highness's feelings, but if the Lord of Yue has someone she loves and wants to get married, Your Highness cannot force her to stay, can you?"
"If she has someone she likes, she can just find a husband to marry into the family. As long as she likes him, she can have as many as she wants." Wei Yihua's words were astonishing, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Seeing everyone's stunned expressions, Wei Yihua found it strange. "What's with all those expressions? I'll be an empress in the future, so having a harem of three thousand people is only natural, isn't it?"
“Yining will always be by my side to assist me. I will promote her to become a powerful and capable minister. With her future status and position, what kind of man can’t she have? She can take any man she sets her sights on. I have as many male concubines and husbands as I do, and she can have just as many.”
Qiu Yuebai's pupils dilated in shock, rendering her speechless. Shen Liude remained completely silent, while Zhou Congyi was stunned: "This... does make some sense?"
"It does seem feasible."
"With the talent and endowment of the Yue lady, her future career will surely be smooth and unobstructed. Therefore, there is no need to consider noble families. She can simply find a man who is easy to manage and can take care of the family to manage the affairs of the household."
What is all this nonsense? Yue Yining was both amused and exasperated: "Your Highness, everyone here, please wait a moment. Aren't we thinking a bit too far ahead? This is still a long way off."
Wei Yihua then vaguely realized that she had been impolite, so she lowered her arm from Yue Yining's and quietly stepped back half a body, coughing twice as if to cover it up. "In short, Yining will stay by my side, so there is no need to worry too much about that."
Yue Yining slightly raised the corners of her lips, but her brows furrowed slightly, and her smile seemed more like helplessness.
She thought about it for a while, but still didn't say what was on her mind.
If she truly lives to see Wei Yihua successfully ascend the throne, she will surely have triumphed over fate. Once the people's hearts are at peace and the political situation is stable, she will resign from her post and leave the capital.
She wants to retire to the mountains and live the life she truly desires.
She would train civil and military officials to replace the eldest princess, so that even if she left, Wei Yihua's throne would not be shaken and the regime would remain stable.
She must have already reached the highest position in the court at that time.
Perhaps she will have dear friends and family she can't bear to part with, and precious memories. But even with all the longing in her heart, she knows she will still leave without hesitation.
Becoming a powerful minister who goes down in history is certainly desirable, but it was neither her ambition nor her true desire.
What she wants is to live her life the way she likes.
She planned to spend ten years traveling all over Dongxi, living in various places in the east, west, north, and south, wearing simple clothes and drinking plain tea, living a leisurely and carefree life, just like the year she briefly stayed in Jiulian Town.
She once traveled with Fu Yao for four years in the Eastern Xi Dynasty.
She regretted that during those years, she could never stay in one place for long.
Her purpose in traveling around was to study and collect information about the local people and their lives, to uncover the real hardships of the common folk, and she never had time to experience life firsthand. She also understood that she had no right to waste time; she had to travel to every inch of Dongxi's land before the country was beyond repair, to prepare for the worst as much as possible.
With only one year remaining before the "death of the crown prince" predicted by the divination, Yue Yining and Fu Yao arrived at Jinling City, the closest city to Yanjing, and briefly stayed in Jiulian Town outside the city for a year.
It wasn't until news of the Crown Prince's death reached Yanjing that she finally confirmed that the astonishing divination she had performed on tortoise shells for the first time when she was fourteen was indeed entirely true.
The torrent of fate rolls ever onward, never deviating even by a fraction.
"Where is the Yue people?"
Yue Yining drifted back to the present from her memories, and everyone present looked at her. Only then did she realize that she had been daydreaming: "I didn't hear you clearly just now, what's wrong?"
Qiu Yuebai said with a smile, "What kind of man does the Yue people like? No matter how many husbands the Yue people have in the future, there has to be a first one! I also want to be able to help the Yue people!"
Shen Liude: "I think you're obsessed with being a matchmaker."
"Pfft, hahahahahahaha!!"
Watching the girls laughing and playing together, Yue Yining's eyes softened, filled with tenderness.
What kind of man does she like? She had never really thought about that question.
Suddenly, a stroke of ink appeared in her blank mind, gradually spreading into the silhouette of a figure in a brocade robe. The tall, elegant man's profile was beautiful, like a cloud, with lush skin and delicate bones, as he turned to look at her.
Yue Yining was stunned by what she was thinking.
She didn't expect that Xie Qingyu's face would be the first thing that came to mind.
While everyone else was bickering, Wei Yihua was paying attention to Yue Yining and noticed her unusual silence.
"What's wrong?" the princess asked. "You seem to be lost in thought all day."
Yue Yining was brought back to her senses. Her pursed lips relaxed, and her body paused slightly.
The surrounding ladies-in-waiting fell silent and looked in her direction.
"...Actually, I ran into an old friend on my way back to Beijing," Yue Yining said softly. "We hadn't seen each other for many years, so we took the opportunity to talk about our recent situations. After hearing about what she had gone through over the years, I felt very sad and uneasy."
Zhou Congyi: "Is she not doing well?"
Yue Yining smiled and said, "It's not that it's bad. She was a homeless child in her childhood, but later she was able to fill her stomach and find work by means of a skill, and she was able to support herself. Now her life is several times better than before."
"She said she recently met a man. He liked her very much and treated her extremely well, ever since they first met. He thought about what she was thinking, was anxious about what she was anxious about, and never let her expectations down. She gradually became certain that the man loved her, and it wasn't just a simple and shallow liking."
Shen Liude: "So what does your friend think? Does she like him too? Or does she find him annoying?"
Yue Yining lowered her eyes and thought for a moment: "Hmm...maybe it's not a deep liking, just a shallow affection, but I definitely don't dislike it either."
“She looked at him, and sometimes a subtle flutter would rise in her heart. Because the man was very handsome, she liked him very much, and she was not sure if the reason for this flutter was entirely due to his superficial appearance. She did not want to see him cry, nor could she bear to refuse his kindness and make him sad and disappointed. Even though she had already seen through his little tricks to get close to her, she was willing to indulge him and pretend that she knew nothing.”
Zhou Congyi couldn't contain herself any longer: "Isn't this what liking someone means?"
Yue Yining pondered these words, unconsciously repeating, "This is what liking someone is?"
"Yes! If you don't like someone, why would you worry about them being disappointed or sad, and why would you be willing to indulge them?"
Qiu Yuebai exclaimed anxiously, "Then they are a couple in love! They are meant to be together, so please don't let any more misunderstandings arise!"
"If someone takes the initiative to break the ice, won't they be able to get together smoothly?"
To everyone's surprise, Yue Yining shook her head: "Even if that man solemnly confesses his feelings to her, my friend will not accept him."
Everyone asked in unison, "Why?"
Yue Yining pursed her lips, her smile faint: "My friend is seriously ill and may not have many years left to live. Although she seems fine now, she is a dying person with no future. She doesn't want to be a burden to others and is unwilling to accept a fruitless love. After all, it's always better to never start than to give someone hope and then cruelly destroy it."
Qiu Yuebai was a sentimental girl, and hearing these words, she was heartbroken: "Oh God... no... I can't bear to hear about lovers being separated by death, sob sob sob..."
Wei Yihua frowned as she listened, and couldn't help but ask, "Is she your childhood friend? Where is she now? Why don't we invite her to Yanjing? I can have the imperial physicians in the palace treat her. Perhaps there is still hope."
Yue Yining looked up and met Wei Yihua's gaze.
Yue Yining smiled and said in a low voice, "I thank Your Highness for your kindness on her behalf. Your Highness is benevolent and kind-hearted, and is truly a blessing to all people."
"However, I think that since she was willing to tell me these words, she must have already made up her mind, thought through all the choices, and was prepared to face death calmly."
Wei Yihua saw the emotions in her eyes, which had been veiled by mist but were now clearly revealed, and was suddenly stunned.
An unbelievable yet vaguely certain conjecture, like a rising tide, instantly engulfed her heart.
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The author's note: I don't know how everyone feels, but in the setting, Ningning at this time has not yet seen Xie Qingyu's true colors, and can only be considered to like him 50%.
However, that scheming guy is about to drop his disguise! [Rabbit head with upright ears]
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