Chapter 93: The Lost Princess Bai Yueguang 24 Matchmaking
As the carriages and horses moved, Xuanping's palace gradually shrank in the distant sky, leaving only a faint outline.
Ji Hanlin pulled aside the curtain of the car window and stared at the shadow for a long time.
My heart felt empty, as if something had taken it away. I knew this was the journey back home and I should be happy, but at this moment my stomach was filled with complicated emotions and I couldn't say a word.
Two years had passed, neither long nor short. In Xuanping City, he had experienced humiliation and tasted the warmth of that man. Now, upon his return, all that warmth had vanished like smoke and dust.
As expected, the Emperor of Dayan showed little affection for this prince, held hostage in another country. Upon his return to Dayan, the court was filled with formalities and pomp, but the Emperor never summoned him.
But it didn't matter anymore. Ji Hanlin had already understood when he was in Xuanping that so-called family affection had never protected him. If he still naively relied on it, he would only lose miserably.
So, after coming back this time, he simply stopped hiding his edge.
In front of the court scholars, he discussed military affairs and history with great eloquence and dexterity. The ministers secretly admired him, saying that he was a young man of strategic talent, well-versed in literature and history, and also a skilled rider and archer, with extraordinary natural talent.
Soon, Ji Hanlin's reputation for talent gradually spread throughout the capital of Dayan.
The young man who had once been looked down upon in Dayan and held hostage in Xuanping had now transformed himself into a gem in the eyes of the public. His current state of glory was a far cry from his former status as a humble and despised figure.
Such a change also made the other princes of the Great Yan Dynasty unable to sit still any longer. The most intolerable thing in the palace was a sudden threat.
To counter the sudden rise of Ji Hanlin, the eldest prince's mother planned to find a stable marriage for her son. Marrying the eldest daughter of the great general was undoubtedly the best choice.
This general guarded the frontier, commanded a large force, and held a high reputation within the court. If the Crown Prince could truly marry his eldest daughter, it was conceivable that he would be able to consolidate his position in a short period of time and regain the support of the people.
But whether the marriage can take place is not solely decided by the Imperial Concubine and the Crown Prince. As the eldest daughter of the Great General, Luan Qianran has been known for her intelligence and perseverance since childhood, and her will is also not to be ignored.
If she is unwilling, even if the imperial concubine and the general are interested, the marriage may not be successful.
Of course... Luan Qianran was unwilling to do so. As Eunuch Su had previously inquired from Ji Hanlin, she was concerned about Ji Hanlin.
Today, Luan Qianran came to the palace to pay her respects to the Queen Mother.
Inside the Cining Palace, the graceful and elegant queen mother sat on a high couch.
Seeing her coming, his eyebrows curved, his eyes full of kindness: "Qianran is here."
"Your humble servant pays homage to the Queen Mother." Luan Qianran bowed and said gently.
The Queen Mother ordered her to stand up, took her hand personally, and looked at it carefully.
"You are really a good child, with outstanding looks and a strong character. Your father has made great contributions to defending the country. As the eldest daughter, you should share the burden of the family." The Queen Mother's tone was subtle, and her words seemed to imply something.
The girl simply lowered her eyelashes and replied "yes." Seeing that she had no intention of continuing, the Queen Mother smiled and stopped talking, asking about other aspects of her daily life.
After an unknown amount of time, a voice came from outside to announce: "Empress Dowager, the Fifth Prince has arrived."
The Fifth Prince?
Hearing this title, Luan Qianran was slightly startled and couldn't help but raise her head, with an expectation in her eyes that she herself had not noticed.
Before he could come to his senses, the long-awaited young man had already walked into the hall.
Born with outstanding talent since childhood, after two years of hard work, Ji Hanlin's temperament has become even more sharp.
After the ceremony, the Queen Mother greeted him warmly: "Han Lin, come and sit down."
Luan Qianran, who was standing by, also hurriedly saluted Ji Hanlin, and happened to meet those cold eyes.
Just a light glance and then moved away.
The Queen Mother sipped her tea and looked back and forth between the two of them.
"I'm old now, and seeing young and energetic children like you makes me feel more at ease." She spoke slowly, with a hint of speculation, "I have always liked Qianran. If I could find a good match for her, it would be great."
The topic swirled around and around, ultimately pointing to Luan Qianran's marriage. Initially, she hadn't been able to fathom the Queen Mother's intentions, so she chose to remain silent. But now that the Queen Mother had spoken in front of the Fifth Prince... Luan Qianran lowered her head, a mixture of anticipation and trepidation welling up in her heart.
But Ji Hanlin remained expressionless and sat quietly.
"I'm tired today and want to rest. Hanlin, take Qianran for a walk in the Imperial Garden. It's better for young people to talk and get closer."
This is a blatant matchmaking.
Luan Qianran was naturally happy to do so. She bowed and agreed, her heart pounding. She understood the Queen Mother's intentions and vaguely understood how rare this opportunity was in the eyes of others.
But when I actually walked with him, that cautious expectation was ruthlessly shattered by the boy's coldness.
The palace aisle was wide, and the taciturn young man walked in front, with Luan Qianran following closely behind, keeping a distance between them. She wanted to speak, but she didn't know what to say.
"Your Highness..." she called softly.
Luan Qianran opened her lips, wanting to talk about the flowers and trees in front of her, the recent rumors in the palace, and the Queen Mother's favor for him. All these words were in her throat, but she couldn't say a word.
Because she seemed unable to get close to him.
As she expected, the young man didn't turn around, only giving a soft "hmm" in response, his voice so calm that even emotion couldn't be discerned. His pace remained steady, neither quick nor slow, nor did he hesitate, as if he were simply passing through a routine walk. Even when accompanied by a dignified and beautiful girl, he never once glanced away.
Ji Hanlin's expression was too cold, and that indifference needed no words; it was the clearest rejection.
It's not that she didn't understand what he meant... He was carrying out the Queen Mother's arrangements, but he would never give her any misunderstanding.
With an indescribable bitterness surging in her heart, Luan Qianran paused by the white stone bridge. She glanced sideways at Ji Hanlin, her voice filled with an unconcealable tenderness: "Your Highness, do you remember when I first returned to the capital and came here and got lost?"
"If Your Highness had not happened to pass by and pointed me in the right direction, I would have gone in the wrong direction in the Imperial Garden."
The words subtly recalled the past interactions between the two of them. She tried hard to pull a thin thread lightly, trying to see if she could create a resonance.
The girl's eyes softened for a moment, waiting for him to nod in recognition, then she smiled and asked about the details of what happened that year.
However, Ji Hanlin, who was standing beside her, clearly had no desire to reminisce with her and replied in a businesslike manner, "I don't remember."
Those three words were like a stone dropped into the water, sending ripples flying. Luan Qianran's smile froze instantly. She tried hard to turn the awkwardness into a smile, but couldn't help but ask, "Don't you remember? Your Highness didn't say much back then. He just pointed the way and left. Don't you remember?"
"I don't remember."
Ji Hanlin frowned. He really didn't remember.
Over the years, he had repeatedly extended a helping hand to those in need. To him, helping Luan Qianran was no different from helping anyone else; they were both simple acts of kindness. Could it be that he had to remember every single one of these things?
Luan Qianran was silent for a moment when she didn't get a response. Then she forced a polite smile on her face and decided not to beat around the bush until the point:
"The situation at court is complicated right now, and the elders have their own plans. The Queen Mother is using me as a matchmaker, or hoping that Your Highness will get engaged to me, all out of consideration for the country. Your Highness is now over eighteen, and there are more and more voices discussing marriage at court. I wonder if Your Highness is interested?"
She spoke calmly, with a hint of caution in her tentativeness. She wanted to understand his thoughts and also wanted to take the opportunity to see if he would accept her, even if it was only for the sake of self-interest.
"Marriage is a matter between two families, and it is also a matter of the court. I have no objection to establishing a foothold for the family, but it will not be my heart's desire."
These subtle and brief words actually indicated that he would not accept the marriage and had already drawn a line between the two of them.
"If we want to exchange marriage for power, Your Highness will not agree?" Luan Qianran was really surprised. After all, relying on the family power behind her, this was a sure-win deal.
He looked up at her and said without hesitation, "Of course I don't want to use marriage as a bargaining chip."
The refusal was resolute. She felt a little disappointed, but not wanting to appear weak, she smoothed things over: "People in the court always like to consolidate their power through marriage. Your Highness is just beginning to show his prominence, so long-term strategies will naturally have different considerations. But..."
Luan Qianran lowered her eyes, but the light in them did not go out. She exhaled softly, as if she had made a great decision:
"Qianran knows that Your Highness has his own ambitions, and also understands that it is impossible for Your Highness to be devoted to only one person for his entire life. In the future, you will have three harems and six courtyards, filled with beauties. That is inevitable. Qianran does not expect to monopolize your attention..."
"But Qianran is willing, willing to offer everything the Luan family has with both hands to pave the way for His Highness to ascend to higher heights. As long as I can be by His Highness's side, no matter what our status is, no matter how many people His Highness will have in the future, Qianran is willing to do it."
The girl raised her eyes and looked straight at Ji Hanlin's profile, each word she spoke was powerful.
“…”
After these words came out, Ji Hanlin's gaze finally lingered on her face.
However, unlike what Luan Qianran had imagined, he wasn't moved. Ji Hanlin simply frowned, as if truly examining her for the first time, with a hint of disbelief in his eyes: "Why would you think that?"
"My considerations are different from power." He paused. "You don't have to commit yourself to an unrequited relationship. Even if you are willing to sacrifice, even if you are willing to give everything the Luan family has, if there is no true love, such a union will only add to the pain. Miss Luan, you are born smart and dignified, and come from a noble family. You are so outstanding, you will definitely find someone who treats you wholeheartedly in the future."
"But that person won't be me."
The last bit of fantasy in my heart was crushed by these words.
She had thought that as long as she was willing to sacrifice her life, she would be able to win his favor. But the man's coldness was like a wall, blocking her long-held hope.
The wind blew in the imperial garden, ruffling her hair but failing to blow away the melancholy on her face.
Having said that, there was no point in arguing further. Luan Qianran had no choice but to accept it calmly. She took a deep breath and showed the composure that a lady from a noble family should have: "Qianran, I understand your lesson."
The two walked side by side back to the palace gate. When they parted, Luan Qianran bowed and thanked him. Her eyes hesitated slightly as she looked at his back, but finally let go.
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