Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she went inside and sat down. She was starting to really admire this man; he could always remain calm and composed.
"What business does Your Highness have with Yan Che?"
"What, can't I contact you if there's nothing wrong?" Leng Qingning was furious, and her tone became slightly harsher.
Judging from her tone, Wen Yanche knew she must have heard him. Feeling a little flustered, he said gently, "Your Highness can come whenever you wish. If you could inform Yanche in advance, I would be able to make preparations."
Preparation? Hiding the calligraphy and paintings beforehand? Ha.
"Young Master seems to dislike me? Did I come at the wrong time?" As she spoke, her eyes glanced at the painting on the table, her anger intensifying.
When Wen Yanche heard Leng Qingning call him Young Lord and refer to herself as This Prince, he felt a pang of heartache for some reason, and then he glanced at the scroll in Leng Qingning's hand.
"What is Your Highness holding?"
Leng Qingning tightened her grip on the painting, unsure whether she should still offer this token of her affection.
Well, this painting was originally made for him...
Even if he likes someone else, giving the painting to him is a way of putting an end to my feelings.
Unroll the scroll and lay it flat on the table, completely covering the previous painting.
"This painting is titled 'Sleeping Crane,' and it's a work by Mr. Xun." She didn't mention that she had specially commissioned Mr. Xun to paint it, and that the person in the painting represented the image of Wen Yanche in her mind.
Wen Yanche carefully examined the painting. The painting resembled a fairyland, with clouds and mist swirling around it. A giant crane stood on the mountaintop, lifelike and exquisite. Below the crane stood a young man in white robes, whose appearance was stunning.
How could Wen Yanche not recognize that the white-robed young man was him? How could he not be moved by such a meticulously crafted painting?
When she looked up again, her eyes were filled with tenderness: "Thank you, Your Highness, Yan Che likes it very much."
Leng Qingning avoided eye contact, completely unaware of the tenderness that flashed in Wen Yanche's eyes.
"Well, consider this my gift to you. It's good that we... treat each other with respect. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't disturb you any longer, Young Master." With that, he stood up and walked out, not giving Wen Yanche a chance to speak.
Wen Yanche stood up to try and stop her, but she walked too fast…
Leng Qingning felt a sharp pain in her heart, a sense of injustice and frustration, and at this moment she did not want to hear any news about Miss Dong.
He strode away from Anning Palace.
Wen Yanche wanted to explain, but... he suddenly felt a pang of heartache. He sat down and thought about it for a long time. When did he start to have different feelings for her?
Leng Qingning returned to Langya Manor and stood by the pond, her mind replaying their conversation over and over again. Was she truly devoted? Were they destined to be apart?
She would rather they were destined to be together, so that she wouldn't have met him and wouldn't have misplaced her feelings for him. That way, they could love each other and grow old together, without having to travel thousands of miles to Dayue for a political marriage…
Heartache beyond words, a single tear falls into the pond.
Tick-tock~
This was the first time Biluo had seen her mistress so heartbroken, and her eyes welled up with tears. She didn't know how to comfort her, so she could only stand quietly by her side, offering silent solace…
…
next day
Leng Qingning got up early to practice her skills, and now she can practice some beginner-level techniques.
Biluo couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, were you alright last night?" She was worried that Leng Qingning might have cried all night under the covers, and she couldn't sleep at all.
Leng Qingning smiled calmly at her, took Biluo's hand, and told her that everything was alright.
She was certainly sad, but she was the young ruler of the matriarchal kingdom and its future ruler; she had her responsibilities.
Last night, she worked through the night to memorize a portion of Sun Tzu's Art of War and the Thirty-Six Stratagems, and marked the explanation and usage of each stratagem, preparing to present them to the Empress Dowager today.
(Note: The Art of War was written by Sun Tzu during the Spring and Autumn Period. The 36 stratagems are based on historical sources.)
If you're unlucky in love, you should at least be lucky in your career.
Besides, she wasn't completely disillusioned; she still had Nan Shuxian and Cang Yuan. If that person didn't love her, so be it; she would love herself.
After hearing this, Biluo was finally relieved.
Lingxiao Palace
"Hahaha, very good! My son is truly talented, a blessing to Dayue! Wang Li, pass it down so that all my ministers can see it."
The Left Prime Minister received the military treatise written by Leng Qingning, his eyes lit up after reading it, and then passed it on to the Right Prime Minister…
After the ministers circulated the document, they all looked at Leng Qingning with burning eyes, as if she were a savior.
"Your Majesty, these are the 'Art of War' and 'Thirty-Six Stratagems' that I wrote about in the Three Kingdoms period. I racked my brains to compile these two military treatises. I wonder if they will be of any benefit to my Great Yue?"
After saying these words, Leng Qingning herself felt a little disgusted.
Anyone with even a basic understanding of military affairs would regard it as divine decree, but she had no choice but to say it; she had to put on an act.
"It's more than just helpful! Your Highness, this military strategy is like the god of military strategy that I have kept hidden in my heart." General Xie was overjoyed, his eyes filled with tears.
The generals, holding the military treatise, wept with joy, shouting that their Great Yue had sent down a genius, that His Highness was a reclusive god...
Leng Qingning "..."
On the way out of the palace, Changfeng rushed over and asked Leng Qingning to go to Anning Palace, saying that the young lord had something to say to her.
She was puzzled. What else was there to say? Hadn't she already said she would treat him with the utmost respect? What more was there to say…?
Anning Palace Hall
"Young Master, what business do you have with me?" Leng Qingning asked calmly.
“Your Highness, Langyue was just being ignorant yesterday and said things carelessly. I have already punished him,” Wen Yanche said patiently.
"Oh, it's alright."
"..."
Wen Yanche softened his tone: "Miss Dong is the youngest daughter of Prime Minister Dong. She has studied with us since childhood, but I have no romantic feelings for her, only friendship as classmates. Moreover, Prime Minister Dong is the head of the ministers of our Lin Kingdom, with outstanding achievements and loyalty to the royal family. Therefore, my elder sister and I have taken good care of Miss Dong, but it is by no means that we have any romantic feelings for her."
Leng Qingning remained silent, wondering how credible these words were. If they were willing to arrange a marriage for the sake of peace between the two countries, surely they could at least say a few nice words to deceive her now?
Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, Wen Yanche clearly did not believe him.
“Your Highness, everything Yan Che said came from the bottom of his heart and was true in every word.”
"Okay, fine." Leng Qingning had been heartbroken all night, and she had no interest in saying anything now.
Seeing this, Langyue became very anxious. She knelt down immediately.
"Your Highness, it's all my fault. I spoke carelessly and caused you to misunderstand the young master. I am willing to accept any punishment. Please believe the young master. The reason why the young master is still unmarried at the age of 18 is because there is no woman he likes in the Kingdom of Lin. Please punish me instead of the young master."
Leng Qingning replied calmly, "I will not punish you, nor will I hold your young master accountable. This is a marriage alliance. If I were to break up the couple, it would be my fault. If not, then that would be perfect. It would be a good thing for us to be a respectful couple." As she said the last part, she looked at Wen Yanche.
Wen Yanche felt a bitter taste in his throat; it seemed His Highness still didn't believe him.
"Your Highness, Yan Che really doesn't like Miss Dong."
"Oh? You don't like Miss Dong? Then who do you like?" Leng Qingning asked casually.
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