Perhaps it was because he had listened to too many of her innermost thoughts on the city wall that night that Lan Jingtang was able to empathize with her feelings.
While Lan Jingtang was trying to understand her, he was also depleting himself.
Even though he knew that the light in her heart had already illuminated others, he still stood there dumbfounded and didn't move.
"I'm not angry. Really."
"Actually, this is for the best. I've been thinking about how to tell you my decision. An Yuan'er, you lied to me once, so please forgive me this once and choose what I chose."
They were supposed to go in opposite directions, but the Lan family behind Lan Jingtang wouldn't allow him to do as he pleased.
"What choice?" An Yuan'er had a vague idea, but she was unwilling to face it.
"The Lan family's choice. Yi Chenxuan."
"I always have my own path to follow."
At this moment, An Yuan'er truly felt powerless.
"No. I don't want to." Her whole being was resisting.
"Lan Jingtang, you're not even angry that I lied to you, so why won't you give yourself a chance? You can just be yourself instead of doing it for the Lan family."
Lan Jingtang avoided An Yuan'er's gaze: "This time, I'm afraid there really is no way to do as you wish."
An Yuan'er cried bitterly, and Lan Jingtang silently stayed by her side, helping her vent her grief.
"Xiao Yuan'er, if I asked you to give up Yi Chenli, could you do it?"
An Yuan'er shook her head almost without hesitation.
"Then you'll understand me."
Lan Jingtang was raised by his family to shoulder the hopes of the Lan family from a young age, just like An Yuan'er has been guarding Yi Chenli since childhood. These are things that are rooted in their bones and blood. For Lan Jingtang, it is a mission, while for An Yuan'er, it is a home.
Fate played a cruel trick on us, and we were destined to meet our end.
"An Yuan'er, you may not like me, Lan Jingtang. But I want you to remember me forever."
Before leaving, Lan Jingtang said this:
His lips gently brushed against the hair on An Yuan'er's forehead, he gave her a light hug, and quickly let go, without any hint of romance.
"That's enough."
"Goodbye, An Yuan'er."
The emotions that belonged to Lan Jingtang were amplified on this night, and then returned to calm.
Restraint is harder than possession, and Lan Jingtang chose the former.
*
After the First Elder left Chenyang Palace, the Third Elder took over his mission.
These three days are crucial for Yi Chenli to recover from his leg injury, and Lao San will report all the information he has gathered to him in detail.
"His Majesty's headaches have worsened again, and he suffers from headaches all day long. Recently, the Fifth Prince has been reviewing almost all the memorials for him. Some ministers in the court have begun to advise him to establish a Crown Prince."
"Consort Li has been busy selecting a princess for the eldest prince lately, and has already been searching for girls from various families. The Empress does not want to lose to Consort Li. Although the fifth prince is still a year away from marriage, the Empress has also been looking for a candidate. The two are competing fiercely behind the scenes. Both the Empress and Consort Li prefer Han Yuanyuan, the eldest daughter of the Imperial Censor."
Yi Chenli didn't show much emotion. The Censor-in-Chief oversaw all officials, and over the years, Lord Han had collected a great deal of evidence against them, leaving him with leverage over so many people. Although his official rank wasn't the highest, his influence was deeply entrenched, connecting him to various ministries. By seizing his information database, he had essentially won over most of the court's connections.
It's no wonder that the Empress and Consort Li were vying for such a coveted prize.
Moreover, Han Yuanyuan was very famous in Shengjing and was known as a talented woman. Marrying a girl from the Han family and having several writers write about it in great detail would be considered a beautiful story.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com