Chapter 506: Won

"My dad must be crazy—either he's crazy or I'm about to go crazy from repression." An Guo Guo wilted the moment marriage was mentioned.

"What's so good about getting married?"

"If you marry, you become a servant—having to eat, drink, and even sleep with them, with no time or life of your own."

"Ah!"

"I can't think about it; the moment I do, I feel like I can't go on living."

An Guo Guo wore a tear‑stained face; even the lemon tea she'd just had couldn't save her broken heart.

Jiang Yun Chu gave a light chuckle; this girl was actually quite interesting.

"Yun Hui, why doesn't your family push you to marry?" An Guo Guo suddenly turned to Jiang Yun Hui.

I never noticed before, but now I think—doesn't Yun Hui's family ever urge her to marry?

"Do you have any secret? Teach me a bit—I don't want to get married." An Guo Guo stared at Jiang Yun Hui, her big eyes flashing with a strange light.

Jiang Yun Hui nodded, gave a hehe smile with a hint of slyness, and said, "You're right—I actually do have one."

"Come on, spill it—we're sisters; with such a great method, how could you not tell me?" An Guo Guo looked eager, as if urging her to speak quickly or else she wouldn't be sincere.

Jiang Yun Hui looked at An Guo Guo, then gently shook her head. "But this method of mine doesn't work for you."

"Well, you have to tell me what it is so I can see if it applies." An Guo Guo pouted, her big eyes blinking repeatedly.

Jiang Yun Hui walked over to her, stopped teasing An Guo Guo, and said, "Because I have a wonderful older sister."

"My sister told Mother that if she hasn't met the right person, she won't settle."

"Don't marry just for the sake of marrying, and don't marry just because it's suitable."

"As a daughter of the Grand General's Manor, I can pursue the one I love, pursue a lifelong partnership, without having to please anyone or yield for anyone."

As Jiang Yun Hui spoke those words, she seemed to glow, her eyes firm.

An Guo Guo felt intense envy, then lowered her head, wondering if her brother were still alive, would he be like that?

Could she also protect herself and live as she pleases?

Brother…

Jiang Yun Hui ruffled her hair, saying, "Guo Guo, you've reminded yourself of a painful memory."

An Guo Guo shook her head; the drinks for everyone were ready, and Jiang Yun Chu led them to a hot‑pot restaurant, the two shops situated close together.

"Nothing can't be solved with a hot‑pot meal."

"If something can't be fixed with one, then have two."

She gave a light laugh and then told An Guo Guo, "I think everything the Yong'an Prince and Princess Consort have done is for your benefit."

"Their original intention in all they've done is to protect you."

"Guo Guo, sit down and talk properly with your father and mother to understand each other's thoughts."

An Guo Guo lifted her head and gave a gentle nod.

"All right, I'll go back and talk with my father."

She doesn't want to marry, and she doesn't like that person either.

"Guo Guo, which young master is the one proposing to you?" Jiang Yun Hui looked at An Guo Guo; her friend's state made her a little worried.

"The Minister's son, Han Wenqing." An Guo Guo slumped over the table; even the spicy hot‑pot could no longer make her cheerful.

Jiang Yun Chu had merely been listening, but upon hearing the name she snapped her head up and asked, "Who?"

"Han Wenqing." An Guo Guo repeated.

Jiang Yun Chu shook her head helplessly and said, "Don't worry—this marriage won't happen."

"Just eat what you should, drink what you should, and put your heart at ease."

An Guo Guo suddenly lifted her head and asked, "Is what the Princess Consort said really true?"

Jiang Yun Chu nodded and used the public chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat for her.

"Naturally."

Jiang Yun Hui glanced at her friend and said, "My sister said it won't happen, so naturally it won't—what are you still worried about?"

Ning Yue Xue looked at An Guo Guo's state and couldn't help covering her mouth to laugh.

"You little girl, dare to mock Elder Sister An?" An Guo Guo thought, I don't dare move against the Princess Consort, I don't dare move against Yun Hui, and I don't even dare to budge this little girl?

In that moment, inside the private room, the big and the small laughed together as one.

But…

An Guo Guo suddenly froze, staring at the birthmark on Yue Yue's nape—originally hidden by her collar, but when they rough‑housed just now, her clothes shifted and it became visible.

An Guo Guo is not one to pretend; the panic in her eyes, mixed with a hint of thoughtfulness, let Jiang Yun Chu see her true feelings.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Yun Chu glanced at An Guo Guo, her eyes flickering slightly.

Yue Yue herself didn't know that there was a birthmark on the back of her neck—a red birthmark shaped like a sword.

"Is her birthmark innate?" An Guo Guo's face turned pale as she stared at Yue Yue, her gaze glimmering.

Jiang Yun Chu gave a light nod, then picked up a bite of meat with her chopsticks and said, "Naturally, Princess An, have some lamb."

"Today's lamb is especially tender!"

Afterward, An Guo Guo seemed to have lost her spirit.

Just after returning to the Regent Prince's Manor, Jiang Yun Chu summoned the secret guards and said, "Check into this patterned birthmark—see if there's anything special about it."

"Yes." The secret guards were puzzled—why suddenly start investigating birthmarks?

But since the master ordered it, the secret guards began to act.

At this moment, the Yong'an Prince's Manor.

An Guo Guo seemed to have lost her soul, nearly bumping into the Yong'an Prince before she snapped back to herself—'Father.'

The Yong'an Prince and Princess Consort still thought the child's unease was due to the marriage matter, which made them feel uncomfortable.

「Guo Guo, your mother has already investigated Han Wenqing's character and also looked into the Han family's situation; if you marry into that family, you won't suffer. 」

In Jingdu, girls should be married by eighteen.

They couldn't bear to part with Guo Guo, so they kept her until she was twenty-three; but as the time she stayed grew longer, the respectable families in Ning Jing became fewer and fewer.

Formerly, suitors could wear out the threshold of Yong'an Wang Fu.

But now, the gate is so quiet you could set sparrows in it, and Guo Guo is getting older.

And they, the Yong'an Wang Fu, also don't want Guo Guo to settle; that's why they've kept dragging it on, and now that they've finally found a suitable match, how could they not be anxious?

"Mother, you should still look into the Han family again."

"My marriage won't work out."

An Guo Guo instinctively spoke those words; recalling the Regent's Consort's firm expression, she trusted her greatly.

"What nonsense are you talking?"

"Guo Guo, do you know how old you are?"

"If you don't look now, do you want to become a nun in a temple?" The Yong'an Consort was so angry she couldn't catch her breath.

Since her brother passed away, Mother's health has grown weaker and weaker.

An Guo Guo stepped forward, seeing her mother's face red from holding back her breath, her own eyes also reddened: "Mother, if my marriage could make your health improve, if it could settle one of your worries, then I will marry."

The Yong'an Consort stared, looking at her daughter before her; many words she could no longer utter.