Just as Ning Huaizhi was in a state of utter confusion, Jiang Yuwei turned her head slightly and gave Ning Huaizhi a cold look. With just that one glance, Ning Huaizhi saw the determination and coldness in Jiang Yuwei's heart.
At this moment, Ning Huaizhi no longer cared whether Qinglan could still get married, nor did he care about his career. He couldn't think about anything else. He only knew that he couldn't lose Jiang Yuwei, no matter what he lost.
Ning Huaizhi understood that if he could not decisively refuse the Empress Dowager today, Yuwei would definitely harbor resentment towards him in the future, and some rifts, once formed, could never be repaired.
Thinking this, Ning Huaizhi kowtowed deeply to the Empress Dowager, and then firmly said:
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but I already have a wife and children, and I will never marry another in this life."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Qinglan glared angrily at Jiang Yuwei, the lotus seed in her hand already deformed from her grip.
At this moment, the princess also looked at Jiang Yuwei with a smile and whispered:
"Yuwei, please don't blame me for not speaking earlier. Some things must be explained by himself to dispel the thoughts of others."
Hearing Ning Huaizhi's words, Jiang Yuwei felt a warmth in her heart. After calming down and thinking about it, she began to understand the princess's predicament.
After all, the identities of the princess and Ning Huaizhi have not yet been made public. If she were to speak rashly, it would not only invite criticism from others, but the effect would also be greatly diminished.
Now that Ning Huaizhi has made his stance clear, if the princess adds a few more words from the side, then those words will have a different effect.
Thinking this, Jiang Yuwei poured a cup of tea for the princess and said with a smile:
"How could I blame you? I've seen all your good intentions."
The Empress Dowager was unaware that Ning Huaizhi was married. She only regretted not asking clearly before making the match, and now she was in a rather embarrassing situation.
The Empress Dowager, sitting above, looked Ning Huaizhi up and down with a somewhat embarrassed expression.
The Empress Dowager felt that Ning Huaizhi was good-looking and of good character, so it was no surprise that General Sun valued him.
Now that Qinglan has said in front of so many people that she likes General Ning, if I, as her grandmother, don't stand up for her, it might be difficult for her to find someone to marry in the capital.
Having thought this through, the Empress Dowager gritted her teeth and said:
"General Ning, there's a long road ahead. How could you speak so confidently? You mustn't say such things again, lest you embarrass yourself. I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said today."
Ning Huaizhi, upon hearing this, immediately understood the Empress Dowager's intentions and quickly spoke up:
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will keep my word today and will not go back on my word."
Seeing that Ning Huaizhi was unyielding, the Empress Dowager frowned and looked at him, saying:
"You are still too young. Putting aside everything else, which official in the court doesn't have three wives and four concubines? If your words were to get out today, wouldn't everyone say behind your back that you, General Ning, have married a jealous wife and have disgraced the General's Mansion?"
As the Empress Dowager spoke, she reached out and took Qinglan's hand, smiling as she said:
"Right now, I'm actually a little reluctant to marry my precious granddaughter to you, a mere general. You should be grateful that Qinglan doesn't mind that you've been married before."
Hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Jiang Yuwei realized that she wanted to force herself on Ning Huaizhi and give Qinglan to him in front of so many people. She clenched her fists and cursed inwardly that this old woman was truly a disrespectful person.
At this moment, Ning Huaizhi frowned, glanced at Qinglan, and then spoke to the Empress Dowager:
"I also feel that it is really unfair for Princess Qinglan to marry someone like me who has been married before. In my eyes, Princess Qinglan is my own sister. I beg Your Majesty to choose another suitable husband for Princess Qinglan."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager squeezed Qinglan's hand tightly. Ning Huaizhi was truly impervious to reason. Now that she had put herself in such a position, he was not giving her any way out and had rejected her so directly.
The Empress Dowager grew increasingly angry, so she looked at the people below and said coldly:
"General Ning is truly a virtuous husband. I want to see what kind of celestial being his wife is that has captivated him so much."
Ning Huaizhi found the Empress Dowager's words rather offensive. How could she, as the Empress Dowager, speak of her own wife in such a way? Now that she couldn't reason with him, the Empress Dowager was trying to use Yuwei as a pretext.
"Your Majesty, my wife is far better than a celestial being in my eyes. We are a couple who have been through thick and thin together, and I would never betray her."
"This General Ning does have some backbone."
"It's a pity that my husband doesn't have his integrity."
"Who says otherwise? My husband has a bunch of wives and concubines at home, but he still goes out and flirts with other women."
"These days, a man like General Ning is truly one in a million."
"It seems to me that Madam Jiang is skilled at managing her husband."
"Keep your voice down, so no one can hear you."
At this moment, Qinglan could no longer sit still. Her face darkened, and she whispered something to the Empress Dowager, pointing to Jiang Yuwei sitting below.
The Empress Dowager glared coldly at Jiang Yuwei, then slowly spoke:
"Madam Jiang, you can sit here so calmly now. Aren't you afraid that your reputation as a jealous woman will spread and affect your husband in the future?"
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was turning her attention to her, Jiang Yuwei calmly got up, walked to Ning Huaizhi's side, and knelt down before the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, I am not afraid."
The Empress Dowager was surprised that Jiang Yuwei showed no fear at all and instead replied so directly, leaving her speechless.
Seeing this, Qinglan, who was sitting to the side, said with a sob in her voice:
"Jiang Yuwei, how cruel you are! You only care about your own pleasure and completely disregard Huaizhi's situation!"
Jiang Yuwei looked up angrily at Princess Qinglan and said coldly:
"And isn't Princess Qinglan the same?"
"I, I'm not as ungrateful as you. You've truly wasted Brother Huai's sincere feelings for you!"
Jiang Yuwei looked coldly at Qinglan and said:
“Princess Qinglan is truly cunning. First, she deliberately took advantage of my general’s drunken state to get intimate with him at Jingweifang, letting others see it. Now, she has deliberately chosen to cause this scene at the Empress’s birthday banquet when everyone is present.”
Jiang Yuwei paused, looked around, and then slowly began to speak:
"So, everyone sitting here right now is just a pawn in your hands, Princess Qinglan."
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