Qin Zhenghu did not imdiately grasp what Lu Rufeng said, then he suddenly looked at Miaoyan.
The Emperor plans to marry Princess Ning’an into the Lu Family?
The benefactor is homosexual?
The benefactor wants to marry Lu Rufeng’s sister?
Upon hearing Lu Rufeng’s words, Rong Miaoyan’s eyes showed a trace of disgust, her already pale face turning even colder, and she directly ordered:
"If you see Lu Rufeng approaching Yonghua Palace in the future, expel him imdiately!"
"Yes."
Two palace attendants stepped forward, intending to "escort" Lu Rufeng away.
Lu Rufeng flung his sleeves and left, unwillingly saying, "Ning’an, you will regret this."
His voice was shut out beyond the great hall as the palace doors closed. At that mont, Rong Miaoyan weakly collapsed into her chair, her face deathly pale.
Qin Zhenghu was shocked and hoarsely asked, "Your Highness, was it because of the fire in the palace last night, were you injured?"
He had never seen Rong Miaoyan like this.
Princess Ning’an was always dazzling, charming, and the most brilliant jewel in all of Dayan, but now she appeared lost and desolate, as if the anger she had just directed at Lu Rufeng at the hall’s entrance had exhausted all the strength from her body.
Suddenly, a trace of unwillingness rose in Qin Zhenghu’s heart. Could it be that what Lu Rufeng said was true, that the Emperor intends to marry the princess to the Lu Family?
His mind had already begun to automatically analyze the significance of this possibility.
Because of the Qian Family’s downfall, the Emperor wanted to quickly elevate another family to balance against the Su Family.
And the simplest way was to marry Princess Ning’an into the Lu Family, and if the benefactor marries the Lu Family’s second daughter, the Lu Family’s status would be completely solidified.
But just because of a so-called balance, must the princess’s lifelong happiness be sacrificed! Qin Zhenghu couldn’t understand.
"I was not injured." Rong Miaoyan gently shook her head, extending a white and slender hand that was clean, yet to her, it seed covered in blood.
"It was I who caused the death of Noble Qian; it was I who set the fire and burned Zhongcui Palace." Her voice was filled with despondency, yet was unusually calm.
"What?" Qin Zhenghu exclaid.
"Princess, how can this be your fault, you did it to save the maid."
A weak voice sounded, and Qin Zhenghu finally saw that behind Princess Ning’an, on the bed obscured by curtains, lay a woman dressed as a maid, injured.
After hearing the maid’s words, he suddenly realized the situation and imdiately took a few steps back, respectfully and ticulously bowing once more to Rong Miaoyan:
"Your Highness, as an outsider, it is improper for to intrude into the palace. Now that the fish have been delivered, I shall take my leave."
Qin Zhenghu recalled hearing a rumor when he entered the palace today, that Princess Ning’an was saved by Zisu, a maid from Zhongcui Palace. The princess was imnsely grateful and took her to her palace to serve at her side.
It must be this Zisu.
It was not Zisu who saved Miaoyan, but Miaoyan who, to find a reason that would let Zisu survive, set fire to Zhongcui Palace. This way, Zisu had the rit of protecting the princess, and could thus live.
Rong Miaoyan gave a self-mocking smile and said, "You think I’m terrifying too, don’t you?"
Qin Zhenghu shook his head indifferently, softly saying, "If the princess did it to save soone, what is there to fear? And killing Noble Qian... wasn’t the princess forced to do it."
"Whether it was forced or not, what difference does it make, the result is the sa. I always thought of myself as noble and exceptionally intelligent, and now even to save a maid, I must be cautious and prudent. Perhaps in a few days, I’ll be married to Lu Rufeng and live my life in a haze. How is this any different from the past princesses and commandery princesses?"
Rong Miaoyan gave a bitter smile, her bright eyes growing dim.
After being knocked unconscious by Zisu yesterday and waking up, she discovered two fighting figures, one she recognized, it was Little Xu, the expert by the Empress Dowager’s side.
Rong Miaoyan knew that Little Xu was nominally sent by the Empress Dowager to protect her, but in reality, the Empress Dowager had long given the order that if she did not kill Qian Ruohua, then he would eradicate everyone at Zhongcui Palace.
As for the taller man, though she did not know him, since he was fighting Little Xu, he was likely soone from the Qian Family.
It wasn’t until the tall man killed Little Xu with one strike and then fled from Zhongcui Palace that Rong Miaoyan ca to her senses.
She heard the commotion outside calling for the capture of assassins, and to cover the man’s escape, as well as to save Zisu, she set fire to Zhongcui Palace.
The Imperial Palace was in chaos, and amidst the commotion to control the fire, Wei Chengyuan was able to escape safely to Xiefang Palace, where he was discovered by Hei.
Now, Rong Miaoyan was tired of all this scheming and intrigue, her expression indifferent as she closed her eyes.
"Princess, Lu Rufeng is not worthy of you," Qin Zhenghu said solemnly, "You must not resign yourself to fate."
Rong Miaoyan looked at the man before her, perhaps because she was too upset, she couldn’t help but say:
"The truths and lies in this palace are utterly vexing to . What can not acknowledging fate do? Just like how I could expel Lu Rufeng from the palace today, but tomorrow, he will co to visit by imperial decree. Can I drive him away?"
Qin Zhenghu gazed at the sorrow and panic in Rong Miaoyan’s eyes, took a deep breath, and said slowly:
"The Emperor wants to marry you to Lu Rufeng because although the Empress and the Empress Dowager are aunt and niece, they are not on good terms. Thus, neither you nor the Empress are truly of the Su Family, which is why the Emperor trusts you to strengthen the Lu Family to balance against the Su Family.
However, if you incline towards the Empress Dowager and the Su Family, and the Emperor finds out that you are backed by the Su Family, he originally wanted to balance the Su Family with the Lu Family; how could he let you marry into the Lu Family again, wouldn’t that be forming an alliance between the two families?
As for the benefactor... she once told that soone who truly wants to die wouldn’t cling to a tree trunk when drowning. She could say such things; Zhenghu doesn’t believe she would willingly marry so second Miss of the Lu Family. Princess, think carefully, have you really resigned to fate?"
After saying this long paragraph, a shy yet firm expression appeared on Qin Zhenghu’s clear and pale face.
Soone who truly wants to die wouldn’t cling to a tree trunk when drowning.
She couldn’t help but share her heart with Qin Zhenghu because, deep down, she treats him as the tree trunk to cling to, holding onto a sliver of hope.
Rong Miaoyan’s lost eyes slowly regained their sparkle, and she forced a little smile, teasing:
"Truly, after parting for three days, one should examine others anew. Third Place Qin, do you realize what you’ve just said is plotting against the Empress Dowager and the Emperor?"
Qin Zhenghu realized he had no desire to see the radiant, proud, and elegant Princess Ning’an looking dejected.
He stared directly into Rong Miaoyan’s eyes, his gaze fearless and steady, each word was like a pounding on Rong Miaoyan’s heart, resounding:
"Zhenghu only knows that whether between ruler and subject or between states, problems should not be solved through marriages and alliances.
I also believe that as long as you don’t resign yourself, the Emperor will never sacrifice you to earn the trust of his ministers!"
Rong Miaoyan looked at Qin Zhenghu in a daze and then muttered to herself:
"If rulers only care about the art of balance, always compromising, if there is only entanglent of interests between ruler and minister, then how can Father beco a wise ruler of a generation."
Then, the gloom in her heart dissipated, she lifted her head and gave Qin Zhenghu a bright smile, her tear mole at the corner of her eye making her even more beautiful.
A piercing light burst from Rong Miaoyan’s eyes, and she said proudly:
"Thank you, Third Place Qin, for enlightening Miaoyan. Miaoyan will personally explain to Father that I will never marry Lu Rufeng.
Surely, Father doesn’t want the world to think he’s an emperor who can’t even control the marriage of his own princess."
The last half of her sentence rang with the confidence and flamboyance of a princess.
She is Princess Ning’an of Dayan, with the right to control her own marriage and life; no one can force her to marry soone she doesn’t want to.
If Father forces her, he will only get her shattered body!
The Rong Miaoyan before him, solemn yet bright, though without makeup, though slender and frail, was the most dazzling presence in the crowd.
Qin Zhenghu’s heart skipped a beat, then he bashfully lowered his head, his face turning as red as a boiled shrimp.
"This humble servant... I, I just... cough, cough, Zhenghu just saw the Princess being so down today... I didn’t an to teach you to oppose the Emperor..."
"Alright, I understand, I wonder if your fish is ready, oh, isn’t Gu Lan your benefactor? Did you give her any fish?"
Miaoyan ca back to her senses, her smile becoming even brighter, resuming her previous nobility and nonchalance.
Qin Zhenghu looked at that stunning face and said blankly, "I did... I asked Vice Minister Xie to deliver it, all the classmates from the Imperial Family have received it."
"Then why did you personally co to give it to ? You could have asked Baoyi to bring it into the palace for ," Miaoyan’s smile spread across her lips.
She found playing with such an upright and honest person as Qin Zhenghu to be truly amusing.
"I, I heard there was a fire in the palace..."
Qin Zhenghu had no idea what he was trying to explain.
He never expected that the restored Princess Ning’an was not soone he could handle.
Rong Miaoyan leaned lightly against her chair, playing idly with a lock of her dark hair, her tone teasing, as if silently provoking:
"It seems the ancient saying of reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles is true; after your trip to Huai City, Third Place Qin, you even dared to cleverly oppose Lu Rufeng; you are completely different from your timid self in the Imperial Family School. I wonder what experiences you have had, can you share them with ?"
Qin Zhenghu hesitated for a mont, cald himself, and stamred, "Su-sure! It’s just that this humble servant is not very articulate..."
"Weren’t you quite eloquent just now, advising not to resign to fate?"
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