"This makes no sense!" Zhi Yan clicked her tongue in confusion.
"Her Highness the Princess is so beautiful, even without trying to engineer such romantic encounters, those men would practically glue their eyes to her. Why then, does the same method not work on General Su?"
Zhi Yan had suffered a massive Waterloo in her career.
To help Her Highness the Princess successfully win over her future husband, she had experimented on many people in the manor during this period.
With her help, every matchmaking attempt was successful, earning her the title of a great matchmaker. This was why she had the courage to help the Princess build bridges.
But despite all the romantic ideas she had conceived, which even the Princess found excellent and had a good track record with, General Su was completely unfazed, as if she were naturally allergic to romance.
Zhi Yan sighed heavily, then with a bitter expression, continued to search for other ways to try and bring the Princess and General Su together.
After all, as a servant, her well-being depended on her master's happiness. If her master was unhappy, their lives would also become difficult.
Su Shang left the capital. Feng Ze Yue had no suitable reason to travel all the way to find her, but staying in the capital was rather boring. Within a few days, she received an invitation from her good friend Ling Jiao.
Ling Jiao was the legitimate daughter of the Duke's manor. She had grown up with Feng Ze Yue since childhood, and their relationship had always been very good.
Last time, Feng Ze Yue had refused her because of Su Shang, and Ling Jiao had felt a bit guilty about it. Therefore, when Ling Jiao sent her another invitation this time, she did not refuse.
Ling Jiao saw Feng Ze Yue from afar. As she approached, she immediately spoke in a sarcastic tone, "Tsk! How rare! Her Highness the Princess actually has time to visit my humble abode. What, is General Su ignoring you again?"
Feng Ze Yue's body stiffened slightly, then she found it amusing. "Jiao Jiao, you're still holding a grudge!"
Ling Jiao snorted, looking displeased. "Your Highness the Princess worries too much. How dare I be angry with you?"
Feng Ze Yue: "..."
If you didn't glare at me when you said that, I might have believed you.
Feng Ze Yue could only feign ignorance. "I was wrong! Esteemed Jiao Jiao is magnanimous, please don't hold it against me."
Ling Jiao snorted coldly, and after being appeased by Feng Ze Yue for a while longer, she pretended to generously forgive her.
"Alright! I'll let this slide this time, with you prioritizing love over friendship. But you mustn't do it again next time!" Ling Jiao reminded her.
"Okay, okay, okay." Feng Ze Yue agreed softly, and did not forget to speak well of Su Shang. "Jiao Jiao, you really should meet her. You don't know, she's so beautiful, truly.
She's simply my type, how can anyone in this world be so beautiful! Not a single part of her doesn't strike a chord with my heart. If I weren't afraid of scaring her, I'd really want to pounce on her."
There were only two people in the room, so Feng Ze Yue spoke a bit more freely, her words coming from the heart.
Ling Jiao rolled her eyes and said with disdain, "Then you'll truly become a lecher."
"I'm willing," Feng Ze Yue accepted the title frankly.
After they played around for a while, Ling Jiao sighed, her brows furrowed with worry. "My father is preparing to arrange a marriage for me."
Feng Ze Yue's brow furrowed slightly, sensing something, and she tentatively asked, "Because of my brother?"
Ling Jiao, oblivious, nodded frankly. "Yes!"
"I'm only telling you this. Father said that His Highness the Crown Prince intends to leverage the power of our Duke's manor, so he wants to marry me. And if I marry him, it means dragging the entire Duke's manor into the water. However, I don't want to get married yet, and I don't know what to do now."
In this regard, Feng Ze Yue was truly powerless. In the end, she could only gently place her hand on Ling Jiao's shoulder, offering silent comfort.
Ling Jiao was sad for a while, then quickly adjusted herself, a bright smile appearing on her face. "Forget it, let's not talk about these vexing matters."
"This banquet is being personally organized by my mother. She's thinking of letting me see if there's anyone I might like. When the time comes for me to marry, since you're here, help me observe them carefully and see which one is worthy of standing by my side."
Ling Jiao said this with great pride, and of course, she had the capital for such pride.
Feng Ze Yue smiled gently. "Alright! I will help you look carefully. Not just anyone is qualified to marry our Jiao Jiao."
Ling Jiao pursed her lips shyly, a flicker of sadness flashing in her eyes, but it was fleeting, so fast that even Feng Ze Yue beside her didn't notice.
Mother Ling had put in a lot of effort. The young men invited were all renowned in the capital.
However, Ling Jiao was no less impressive. Not only was her appearance stunning, but she was also known for her talent, attracting countless admirers.
With two beauties appearing simultaneously, countless gazes were immediately drawn to them.
Ling Jiao smiled gently, skillfully using polite language and navigating effortlessly among the guests. Coupled with her beautiful appearance, even if she occasionally made a slight oversight, the men could not get angry with her.
Getting angry at a beauty was a desecration of beauty.
Moreover, they had been strictly educated. They had come precisely because they admired Ling Jiao, so how could they be dissatisfied?
After a round, taking advantage of a moment of solitude, Feng Ze Yue asked in a low voice, "Jiao Jiao, among these people, is there anyone you like?"
Ling Jiao's lips curved into a smile, and she gently shook her head. "They are all good, but there is no one among them that I like."
The one she liked was someone she could never touch. Apart from him, others were all the same to her.
Feng Ze Yue blinked curiously and said softly, "What kind of person do you like? Tell me, and I'll help you find someone."
Ling Jiao gently shook her head. "I don't like or dislike them. It depends on my father's wishes. If he wants it, and that person treats me well, then I can accept anyone."
Feng Ze Yue looked at Ling Jiao suspiciously and placed her hand on her forehead. "Jiao Jiao, are you sick? When did you become so subservient?"
Ling Jiao smiled and said with a hint of sadness, "Your Highness the Princess doesn't understand. Not everyone can marry for love, especially a legitimate daughter like me. I will only be weighed against the benefits I can bring to others. Some things are destined from birth."
Feng Ze Yue was silent for a moment and said, "No matter what, Jiao Jiao is the legitimate daughter of the Duke's manor after all. Whoever she marries, she won't be bullied. If all else fails, just take control of the household and live more freely.
Indifference, for people like us, can sometimes be a good thing."
With emotions, one becomes easily influenced by external matters or people. Without emotions, it means having no weaknesses.
Their status was high, and no one dared to trouble them. In some ways, they were free.
But freedom also came with considerable responsibility.