"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
General Yan the Elder did not expect the matter to be resolved so smoothly.
Yan Zhao also breathed a sigh of relief. Previously, he did not know Princess Chang Ning's feelings, so he did not want to make things difficult for her, which was why he refused the marriage.
Now that he knew Princess Chang Ning's feelings, he did not want to let go. Whether he was arrogant or not, he would not give up.
"Father, how can the imperial decree for marriage be treated as a child's play..." Prince Jing was shocked. He had just finished arranging the marriage for Chang Yi, and now he was arranging one for Chang Ning. Wasn't this too frivolous?
"Presumptuous..." Emperor Huangze was furious, his gaze turning icy as he looked at Prince Jing. Prince Jing, upon meeting his father's eyes, realized he had spoken carelessly in his haste.
He quickly knelt and begged for mercy. "Your humble son meant no offense, but how will Father handle Chang Yi's marriage?"
Emperor Huangze cleared his throat and said, "Since Young General Yan's heart belongs to Chang Ning, then the marriage to Chang Yi is naturally void. Chang Yi's marriage will be decided by me."
Just as Prince Jing was about to speak again, he was stopped by a look from Consort Yi.
"Your humble consort thanks Your Majesty." Consort Yi, fearing Prince Jing might say something further reckless, quickly interrupted him.
"If there is nothing else, you may all withdraw!" Emperor Huangze felt a bit tired and waved his hand.
"Mother Consort, why didn't you let me finish what I wanted to say?" Prince Jing was so angry his face turned green.
Consort Yi looked at Prince Jing and asked, "What good would it do if you said it? Your Father Emperor will never go back on his decisions."
"How could he not? He clearly decreed the marriage to Chang Yi, and yet he went back on it?"
"Chang Jing, why don't you understand? Your Father Emperor dotes on Chang Ning the most. He would do anything for her. What are we, Chang Jing, or even Xue Chang'an, compared to her?"
Prince Jing froze. Although he didn't want to admit it, he knew Consort Yi was right.
Perhaps in his Father Emperor's heart, only Chang Ning was his child, and they were all insignificant.
"But what about Chang Yi?" To be betrothed and then have the engagement broken, even for a princess of the imperial family, wouldn't she be ridiculed?
"Imperial Brother need not worry about me."
Prince Jing froze and turned to see Xue Changyi standing there. He couldn't help but wonder if Chang Yi had heard everything he and his mother consort had just said.
"Chang Yi..."
Xue Changyi walked forward and said, "Imperial Brother, don't mind me. I... I am, after all, insignificant."
"Nonsense, you are Princess Chang Yi, the ninth princess of Huangze. How can you be insignificant?"
"Imperial Brother, you don't need to comfort me. I see things very clearly. Besides Chang Ning, what are the rest of us? Just insignificant people. It's not bad to accept it and no longer hold any hope."
"Chang Yi..." Prince Jing sighed upon hearing this.
Hua Shizi's rejection and Yan Zhao's broken engagement had made Chang Yi lose confidence.
"Imperial Brother, don't worry, I'm fine. I've just come to understand many things."
"Chang Yi, remember, as long as Imperial Brother is here, you will not be bullied. I miscalculated this time, but I will definitely keep my word next time."
Xue Changyi, not wanting to trouble her Imperial Brother, nodded. "Alright."
After Prince Jing gave a few more instructions, he left the Shugong Palace. Xue Changyi gazed into the distance, and Consort Yi approached. "Chang Yi, don't overthink things. Your Father Emperor will arrange a very good marriage for you."
"Mother Consort, I want to marry into the Sun family."
Consort Yi froze and took a moment to respond. "Chang Yi... you..."
"Mother Consort, I have decided that I will marry into the Sun family," Xue Changyi said firmly.
Consort Yi shook her head. "Chang Yi, although I hope you will do something for your Imperial Brother, it doesn't mean I want to sacrifice your future happiness. Chang Yi, don't be so hasty."
"Mother Consort, do you think I'm acting out of spite? But let me tell you, I'm not. I've thought it through very clearly. With the Sun family's support, Imperial Brother's future path will be much smoother. Isn't that enough? It doesn't matter who I marry. Why not marry someone who can help Imperial Brother and be beneficial to his pursuit of the throne?"
Consort Yi was taken aback. "Chang Yi..."
"Mother Consort, I am no longer a child. I have thought it through clearly and seen things very clearly. In the imperial family, without supreme power and without Father Emperor's favor, it is actually very difficult to move forward. Since I can help Imperial Brother, why not?"
"Chang Yi, you have grown up." Consort Yi felt a sense of relief. Marrying into the Sun family was currently the best option.
"Mother Consort, after experiencing these events, it would be truly inexcusable if I didn't grow up. I can't always live under Mother Consort's and the palace's protection. I also need to think about doing things for Imperial Brother and Mother Consort."
"Chang Yi, have you truly made up your mind?" Consort Yi asked again, fearing that Chang Yi's decision was still fueled by pique.
"Yes, Mother Consort, I have made up my mind," Xue Changyi said word by word.
"Good, then I will go and speak with your Father Emperor shortly," Consort Yi said.
Xue Changyi nodded. "Then I will trouble Mother Consort."
"Your Highness, will you blame this subject?" Yan Zhao asked Xue Zining, who was beside him, somewhat cautiously.
Xue Zining looked up at him, her eyes clear.
"Why would I blame you?"
Yan Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good that Your Highness does not blame this subject."
"Yan Zhao, do you truly wish to marry me?" Xue Zining asked.
Yan Zhao's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. "Your Highness, this subject could not ask for anything more."
Last night, I met Xue Changjun.
Yan Zhao was startled, unsure why Xue Zining mentioned Xue Changjun, but he still asked, "Did His Highness the Third Prince say anything?"
"Do you remember what I told you before about coming from the future?"
Yan Zhao nodded. "I remember."
"Xue Changjun said that if I want to go back, I can only kill him."
Yan Zhao's gaze faltered. "This..."
"Don't worry, I won't act rashly without knowing if it's true."
Yan Zhao instinctively looked up and saw Xue Zining's profile, extraordinarily beautiful.
He lowered his head. He actually wanted to ask, did she really want to go back that much? Wasn't it good here?
But he couldn't bring himself to ask, fearing that the answer he received would not be what he wanted and would only lead to more trouble.
"I don't know if what Xue Changjun said is true or false, but I've been to the imperial mausoleum. I've decided that what Xue Changjun said might not be false, but I can't bring myself to kill someone alive."
"Your Highness..."
"I'm thinking there must be another way."
"Your Highness, what would you like me to do?"
"I haven't thought of it yet. I'll let you know when I do," Xue Zining said.
"Then the marriage..."
"Let's get married. Don't you want to marry me?"