Chapter 281 Princess Anning
How could the Empress Dowager bear not to grant Huo Ran's request, given that Huo Ran had taken the initiative to bring it up?
Seeing Huo Ran's genuine smile, the Empress Dowager smiled with relief. A person is only a person when they have desires. Huo Ran before was like a walking corpse. If that girl can really make Huo Ran very happy, even if it's to fulfill his wishes, what difference does it make?
Huo Ran left with a happy expression on his face. Although he didn't show it very obviously, Liu Min, who had been by Huo Ran's side for many years, could tell at a glance that he was genuinely happy for his master.
"It seems that Your Majesty has come to fruition today. Has the Empress Dowager already agreed to Your Majesty's marriage to Miss Jiang?"
Seeing Liu Min's expectant gaze, Huo Ran smiled and patted his shoulder: "It won't be that fast. Our marriage still needs the approval of the entire Jiang family. But I'm trying my best to reduce external obstacles. I don't want anyone to deliberately make things difficult for her. By the way, are the Jiang family members arriving in a few days?"
Liu Min did some quick calculations and said, "It seems so. The Jiang family is already on their way. As you instructed, our people have been secretly protecting them. The Jiang family shouldn't know. Master truly cares deeply for the Jiang family. I hope Miss Jiang will understand Master's good intentions once she finds out."
Huo Ran smiled. He hadn't really expected Jiang Mi to repay him in any way. He was content as long as she liked him.
"Huo Ran? What are you doing here?"
He turned around abruptly and saw that it was Princess Anning. He quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Princess Anning. I have come to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
Princess Anning nodded. She came to the palace not to talk to the Emperor, but to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. There was nothing else she had to do.
"It's been a long time since we've had a proper talk, hasn't it? You rarely come to the palace, and now that you've finally come, don't rush off. Come with me to the Imperial Garden to see the flowers."
Huo Ran hesitated, "But... wouldn't that be against the rules? It wouldn't be good for the princess's reputation if word got out. I should go back first."
Princess Anning suddenly stood in front of Huo Ran, blocking his way, and said, "No, I finally managed to catch you once, I can't let you get away so easily, Huo Ran, I have something to ask you."
Huo Ran had no choice but to make things clear to her first: "Alright, Princess, you'd better ask what you want to ask this time."
Princess Anning had tears in her eyes. She was not particularly beautiful, but she had a very noble air about her. After all, she was a princess raised in the deep palace, which was different from the young ladies of ordinary families.
"Are you really going to marry Liu Zijun? I remember you didn't like her, right?"
Huo Ran paused for a moment. He wasn't stupid, and he naturally guessed why Princess Anning would ask such a question. However, he wouldn't lie, and said frankly, "I spoke to the Empress Dowager about this matter today. I said I don't like Miss Liu. She is really good. It's my own problem. I'm not good enough for her."
Hearing Huo Ran say this, Princess Anning showed a happy expression: "I knew it! How could Liu Zijun possibly catch your eye? You've always had excellent taste. That wild girl Liu Zijun, who has no manners at all, is not good enough for you. It's not that you're not good enough for her!"
Huo Ran shook his head: "Miss Liu is very good. It's true that I'm not good enough for her. Not just her, I don't like any of the girls in the capital. So I beg Your Majesty not to introduce any more girls from the capital to me. I really don't need it."
Princess Anning's smile froze on her face, seemingly unwilling to believe what Huo Ran had said. What he meant was that he not only disliked Liu Zijun, but also all the women in the capital, including Princess Anning herself.
"Huoran, do you really intend to do this? You know what I mean; by saying this, you are rejecting me. Do you know the consequences?"
Huo Ran calmly looked at her: "What will be the outcome? Forced marriage? I imagine Princess Anning, you are so proud, so many people admire you and want to marry you, but you look down on them. You have your own pride, and I am not worthy of you. What you see of me is only the surface; you don't know the darkness within me, you don't know what lies beneath my mask."
"I'm not a good person; I'm terrifying in real life."
Princess Anning was startled by Huo Ran's words. She took a few steps back, swallowed, and said, "Maybe you're lying to me? Do you mean you'll never marry? I don't believe it. If you dare to marry another woman in the future, I will definitely not let her get away with it."
Huo Ran didn't want to bring hatred to Jiang Mi. "If someone loves you, they will never let you suffer. I don't like you, and if you suffer, I might not even know. As a princess, you should cherish the feelings that both of you have invested, instead of one person's obsession. That won't do you any good."
After hearing Huo Ran's words, An Ning immediately felt that they made a lot of sense. Relationships do require the efforts of both people to maintain them, otherwise they will only end up as tragically as she and her father.
My mother was deeply in love with my father in her early years, and insisted on marrying him, even if it meant becoming a concubine. However, she never managed to win his heart and eventually died of depression. My mother's greatest fear before her death was that she would suffer the same fate as my mother.
“You’re right. Relationships are definitely a two-way street; one person can’t sustain it alone. If you continue to be so heartless, it’s really pointless. Oh well, at least Liu Zijun can’t have you, which saves her from coming to me every day to brag that you’re her fiancé and we’ll be getting married soon. It seems she’s just being wishful thinking.”
Huo Ran twitched the corner of his mouth: "Perhaps it's not that you like me, it's just a fight between you sisters, so I won't play along."
After speaking, Huo Ran walked out of the palace. The palace maid behind Princess Anning whispered a few words in her ear. Princess Anning frowned slightly and asked doubtfully, "Jiang Mi? Is that really your name? Go and find out more about her, don't let anything slip by. Even if Huo Ran and I aren't meant to be, I need to know what kind of woman could catch Huo Ran's eye."
Jiang Mi knew nothing about these matters. She had been working hard to develop her own soap and had invited several people to learn how to make it. She taught them very carefully and meticulously, and had everyone sign a document stating that anyone who leaked the soap's secret recipe would have to pay the Jiang family 500 million taels of gold.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
