Chapter 72: A Forced Melon Isn't Sweet, Yet It Still Quenches

"So… I, I can stop being forced to marry my cousin Changsun Chong?"

Li Lizhi was so excited that her face turned bright red, and her speech became incoherent.

In fact, even without Chen Yan, she didn't want to marry Changsun Chong.

As the saying goes, people fear comparison.

Changsun Chong goes to brothels just because he goes to brothels; how many men in this era don't visit brothels?

Even her Father Emperor has gone.

Yet Changsun Chong lies, claiming his brothel visits were exchanges of insights with fellow students of the Imperial Academy, drawing ridicule from everyone.

In comparison, Chen Yan is undeniably far more straightforward.

At least he went and never denied it.

Moreover, Chen Yan has never stayed overnight at Pingkang Fang, nor entered any Pingkang Fang maiden's room.

When Chen Yan first said this, she didn't really believe it; after all, which wealthy man could resist the temptations of those cooing nightingales and swallows inside Pingkang Fang?

But at that time even Gao Yang, who had investigated Chen Yan, offered no refutation, so Li Lizhi believed him.

Gao Yang's temperament needs no explanation; if Chen Yan were lying, she would have mocked him on the spot.

Since Gao Yang didn't mock him, that proves Chen Yan indeed told the truth.

Thinking that way, Li Lizhi no longer had any interest in Changsun Chong.

Even if Gao Yang's presence prevented her from marrying Chen Yan, she still didn't want to marry Changsun Chong.

Moreover......

Li Lizhi glanced secretly at the young man beside her, her mouth forming a perfect curve.

Upon learning that cousins cannot marry, she and Chen Yan might still have a chance!

Of course, provided the other party truly likes her!

Chen Yan, not knowing what she was thinking, said, "Princess, I suggest you promptly conduct an investigation within Chang'an City."

"Then report the findings to His Majesty, clearly explain the dangers of close‑kin marriage, and swiftly issue a prohibition."

Li Lizhi nodded seriously, "Marquis of Weinan, rest assured, I will promptly arrange for people to investigate."

This concerns her lifelong matter; she will certainly not be vague.

Chen Yan recalled her earlier excitement and couldn't help asking, "Why do I feel you seem very happy?"

Li Lizhi gave a soft "hm" and, pursing her lips, said, "Because I have no romantic feelings for my cousin Changsun Chong; if Father Emperor and Mother Empress hadn't intended to matchmake, I would never want to marry him."

"I see," Chen Yan realized, perhaps Changsun Chong is just a bootlicker?

It seems he had misunderstood; Li Lizhi has no pre‑wedding anxiety.

It's simply that she doesn't want to marry Changsun Chong.

Li Lizhi tentatively asked, "Marquis of Weinan, may I ask you another question?"

Chen Yan's mouth twitched; why does this never end?

One question after another, making it impossible for him to even think of going home.

He sighed, "Princess, please ask quickly; I'm in a hurry to go home and eat beef."

Li Lizhi felt a bit embarrassed, "Sorry for taking up your time."

"However, the last question is really important to me; it's not convenient to ask Father Emperor and Mother Empress, so I can only ask you."

Chen Yan: "Wouldn't Gao Yang or your imperial brother be able to answer?"

"No!" Li Lizhi shook her head.

"Alright, go ahead, I'll listen."

"Um......" Li Lizhi lowered her head, fidgeted for a moment, and whispered, "Well… I have a friend who fell for a man, but that man already likes someone else."

"May I ask you what she should do?"

Li Lizhi didn't dare to speak of herself, inventing a friend instead.

Likewise, she didn't dare to say that the man was already engaged, so she altered her wording.

But she didn't know that after she said that, Chen Yan's gaze toward her became subtly different.

A classic within classics: "I have a friend!"

Back before his transmigration, when he studied Chinese medicine with his grandfather, many male companions would say "I have a friend"—they were frail, pleading with the grandfather to save them.

He had long been accustomed to it.

He didn't expect that after returning to the ancient world, he could hear that line from the renowned Princess Changle herself.

Chen Yan's mouth twitched wildly, nearly bursting into laughter.

The "friend" Li Lizhi mentioned was ninety‑nine percent herself!

Chen Yan said earnestly, "Princess, I just said that feelings can be cultivated slowly."

The sage said, as long as the hoe is wielded well, no corner of a wall cannot be uprooted.

The forcibly twisted melon may not be sweet, but it still quenches thirst.

If your friend truly loves that man, as long as he hasn't formally married, your friend still has a chance.

At this point, he cleared his throat, feigning seriousness, "For a woman, marriage is a lifelong matter; it must not be taken lightly."

Rather than spend the rest of one's life married to someone one doesn't love, it's better to strive once to marry the one one loves, leaving no regrets.

The more Li Lizhi listened, the brighter her eyes became.

Chen Yan's words seemed to open a door to a new world for her; although on the surface they sounded odd, they were even more odd upon deeper thought.

Yet she grasped the meaning.

However, she still had a concern, so she lowered her voice and asked, "The man my friend likes is very fond of that girl; he seems determined to marry only her."

"What should we do?"

The marriage between Gao Yang and Chen Yan is already settled, absolutely unchangeable; there's nothing wrong with her saying that.

That's simple!

Chen Yan said via the passage: "Since that guy really likes another maiden, if we forcibly separate them, it might cause him to resent your friend, making it much harder to develop feelings later— not worth it."

Right?

Li Lizhi nodded.

So we can't split them up, right?

Anyway, she can't separate Chen Yan and Gao Yang— it's the same thing.

Chen Yan continued: "First of all, being able to befriend the Princess, her status must not be low; at least she should be a Commandery Princess, or perhaps a young lady from the Duke's mansion."

A woman of such status could never be a concubine after marrying over.

Rather than splitting them up, it's better to see them through; with your friend's family background, becoming the principal wife would be easy.

Seeing Li Lizhi's dazed expression, Chen Yan said meaningfully: "Just imagine, when your friend marries in great style and becomes the principal wife..."

By then, living together day and night, feelings will develop; would you still need to worry about a secondary wife or even a concubine?

Li Lizhi's brain went straight into a crash.

She was left dazed by his persuasion, unable to snap out of it for a while.

Seeing Li Lizhi truly take his words to heart, Chen Yan found it hard to suppress his laughter.

Just as he was about to bid Li Lizhi farewell and leave, his expression suddenly stiffened as he suddenly realized something—

Holy shit!!

Chen Yan's pupils contracted sharply.

As Li Lizhi said, she grew up in the palace since childhood, and aside from her older and younger brothers, she had never interacted with any males her age.

Probability only him.

And the friend Li Lizhi spoke of is likely herself......

Recalling how Gao Yang said Li Lizhi always hides in her room staring blankly at his poetry, and how Li Lizhi just now came rushing out with a nervous look.

Chen Yan suddenly had a bad premonition.

What the hell?

"......"

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