Fourth Imperial Brother?
Chu Qianli froze on the spot.
"I didn't ask him..."
"I told him your thoughts, and he agreed to accompany you."
Feng Wuya did not open his eyes, seemingly intending to sleep.
"But..."
"A'li, I'm a little tired." Feng Wuya's voice was faint, with a hint of hoarse weariness.
He was truly tired.
Chu Qianli pouted, casting a resentful glance at him.
Wu Ya still intended to push her towards his Fourth Imperial Brother.
But how could she abandon him and be with another man?
Those words kept echoing in her mind, constantly:
"You owe him, you'll owe him your whole life..."
I will not fall for anyone else! Absolutely not! No matter how handsome or charming he is, I definitely won't!
Chu Qianli closed her eyes again and circulated her energy.
But why did the image of someone eating noodles keep replaying in her mind?
That damned dog man, had he cast some spell on her?
From now on, she would never watch him eat again!
Those lips, stained with soup, tender and rosy, those long, slender fingers, as delicate as jade, holding chopsticks, those drooping eyebrows, those long eyelashes...
Chu Qianli's eyes suddenly widened!
Her breathing, unintentionally, became unsteady.
No!
Absolutely cannot think about it anymore!
Cannot be unfair to Wu Ya!
She suddenly jumped off the chair and quickly walked to Feng Wuya's bed.
Wuya, who was just about to fall asleep, was woken by her somewhat rough footsteps. He slightly opened his eyes and looked at her: "A'li? What is it?"
Chu Qianli took a deep breath, her fists clenched tightly.
After a long moment, she suddenly said in a deep voice, "Wu Ya, let's get married!"
...
Sleepless night.
Chu Qianli was restless, constantly thinking about the matter of Long Xiyue's token.
Feng Wuya was thinking about her saying they should get married, so scared that he had no sleep at all the entire night.
As for a certain person, who happened to be passing by – or rather, accidentally passing by – when he heard the dead woman seducing another man into marriage, he was so angry he wanted to vomit blood all night, how could he possibly sleep?
Chu Qianli finally fell asleep as dawn approached. The next morning, before she had even woken up, she heard some noisy voices outside.
"Miss only fell asleep this morning, and now..."
"The situation is urgent, Your Highness said she must go to the main hall immediately."
It was Fu Ning and Leng Ji speaking.
Chu Qianli yawned and got out of bed.
As she stepped out, she saw Leng Ji's awkward expression.
"What's wrong?" Chu Qianli stretched.
Insomnia was truly draining, she was so tired.
Leng Ji hesitated, then finally chose to avoid the question: "Princess Consort... Miss Chu, you should go to the main hall as soon as possible. People from the Marquis's mansion have arrived."
"My maternal grandfather's people?" Thinking about it, Chu Qianli suddenly felt an inexplicable panic.
"Okay... I, I'll change my clothes and come."
She didn't know why she suddenly panicked so much, but her heart felt tight.
It was as if her breathing had become rapid.
She washed up in the shortest possible time and then followed Leng Ji to the main hall.
A servant from the Marquis's mansion had arrived.
Not the butler, nor her uncle.
A servant...
Chu Qianli clenched her palms, her heart pounding even more at this moment.
Feng Yexuan was sitting on a chair, looking at her.
That gaze seemed to be telling her to be strong!
Chu Qianli's legs went weak. The moment she met Feng Yexuan's gaze, she seemed to understand something.
But she dared not face it.
"Come here." Seeing her expressionless face, Feng Yexuan knew that this girl had guessed it.
Chu Qianli said nothing, never having been so obedient. She obediently walked up to him.
She needed some support, and this man, at this moment, inexplicably gave her a sense of security, as if he could shield her from the wind and rain.
Although she didn't know why she thought this, her whole body felt weak and uncomfortable...
"A'li, Old Marquis... has passed away."
Chu Qianli's legs truly went weak.
Feng Yexuan reached out and supported her. He looked at Leng Ji.
Leng Ji quickly cupped his hands towards the servant from the Marquis's mansion: "Thank you for informing us. His Highness and Miss will go over immediately."
The servant bowed, paid his respects, and then turned to leave.
Chu Qianli was stunned for a long time.
She didn't really know what she was thinking. This was something she should have been mentally prepared for. Even her uncle had told her to be more open-minded.
When people get old, it happens eventually.
But when faced with it directly, her whole body still felt weak, her hands and feet still felt cold.
Her breathing was shallow and weak, one breath after another.
"Send some tea and snacks over," Feng Yexuan glanced at Leng Ji.
Leng Ji responded and was about to leave.
Chu Qianli said hesitantly, "I... I have no appetite... Uncle needs me, I want to go to the Marquis's mansion."
Feng Yexuan waved his hand, and Leng Ji immediately went to prepare the carriage.
After getting into the carriage, Chu Qianli sat in the corner, hugging her knees, lost in thought.
How much affection did she have for her maternal grandfather? Actually, not much.
After all, they hadn't spent much time together.
But, she still felt sad! She felt a genuine sense of loss, like losing a family member.
Such a kind maternal grandfather, such a loyal maternal grandfather, such a maternal grandfather who endured humiliation and bore burdens.
She hugged her knees even tighter.
Feng Yexuan kept staring at her, her small face, the size of a palm, was very pale.
The carriage bumped lightly on the road. After a while, he finally said, "If you want to cry, then cry. No one will laugh at you."
"I don't want to cry..."
But she still buried her face between her knees, tears silently falling.
Feng Yexuan himself hadn't expected that after being angry all night, without even a chance to express his anger, he would start to feel heartache again.
Life is unpredictable.
"Have something to eat?" He handed a bun to her, which he had asked Fu Ning to prepare for her before they got into the carriage.
Chu Qianli shook her head.
Feng Yexuan said faintly, "Your uncle has no other relatives. If you don't eat enough, how will you comfort him?"
Chu Qianli suddenly looked up at him.
For some reason, she felt that his words had a different meaning.
But she couldn't quite figure it out for a moment.
Feng Yexuan's bun was handed to her again: "He is more in pain than you are, so eat well and drink enough, save some strength, and when we arrive, comfort him properly."
His words seemed to make sense.
Chu Qianli bit her lip and raised her hand to rub the corners of her eyes.
Unintentionally, two tears rolled down.
But she still didn't cry; she wasn't used to crying.
However, she didn't know that this silent weeping made her even more pitiable.
Feng Yexuan felt a sense of powerlessness.
She was already so sad, what was there to argue with her about?
What she had said last night about marrying Wu Ya, he would... pretend she hadn't said it, and wouldn't hold it against her!
He picked up his sleeve and wiped her face.
The action was somewhat rough, but his voice was a rare gentleness: "Be strong, your path is still long."