Chapter 507

Guoguo, Mother just wants you to have someone

You have not married, you have no children; in this world, only you remain.

Guo Guo, Mother isn't trying to force you." Yong'an Princess Consort reached out, touching her daughter's face; since the marriage talk began, her daughter's face, once chubby, now has a pointed chin.

She is unwilling; since she is unwilling, let it be.

Yong'an Prince looked at An Guo Guo and said, "Who told you this marriage won't work?"

"Regent's Consort." An Guo Guo blinked her eyes.

Yong'an Prince furrowed his brows, "Go investigate the Han family for me!"

If it were someone else, he could take it as a joke, even as a little girl's jealousy.

But since it was the Regent's Consort who said it, there must be something fishy; although our An family are princes, we are ultimately surnames outside the imperial line.

Earlier, a mutiny occurred in the palace, and this Regent's Consort's shadow was among it.

Yes.

The person in the shadows flashed and was already gone.

That night, on Yong'an Prince's desk, there was not only the information the dark guards had uncovered about the Han family.

There was also a document that someone had thrown into the courtyard of Yong'an Prince's manor; looking at the entries, Yong'an Prince even broke out in a thin sweat on his back.

If Guo Guo were married into the Secretary's household, then Guo Guo would be doomed...

Their Yong'an Prince's manor was also factored into the scheme.

"Your Highness, why does your complexion look so bad?" Yong'an Princess Consort brought a nourishing soup; when she arrived at the study, she saw Yong'an Prince with a dark complexion.

"The Han family is not a good match for Guo Guo." Yong'an Prince did not conceal anything; he directly told the Princess Consort all of Secretary Han's plans and what he had done.

He also feared the Princess Consort might worry, so he gave her a heads-up.

They now have only one daughter; neither of them could bear the pain of losing her.

If it weren't for the Regent's Consort's reminder, if Guo Guo married into the Han family, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Oh heavens.

"I almost pushed Guo Guo into a fire pit." The Princess Consort looked at the uncovered documents, her face turned pale, and a wave of lingering fear surged in her heart.

Yong'an Prince had already calmed down; "Tomorrow we will prepare generous gifts and go to the Regent Prince's Manor to express our thanks."

"As for the Han family, since they dared to scheme, they must endure the wrath of my Yong'an Prince's manor." A flicker of something passed through Yong'an Prince's eyes.

"Alright, I'll arrange it." Yong'an Princess Consort nodded.

Early the next morning, the people of Yong'an Prince's manor had already gone to the Regent Prince's Manor to deliver the visitation card.

Jiang Yun Chu looked at the elegant handwriting; it must have been written by a woman, probably the Princess Consort herself.

"Tell the people returning from Yong'an Prince's manor that our manor will always be ready to receive them." Jiang Yun Chu put away the visitation card, then instructed Zi Su.

"Yes." Zi Su nodded and hurried out to make arrangements.

Seeing Ning Yue Xue running in from outside, she hastily performed a salute, "Miss."

Yue Yue smiled, "Zi Su sister, you go ahead and be busy; I'm going to find Mother."

She has already moved back to her own courtyard; having just finished her morning practice, then after washing up, she accompanied Mother to have breakfast.

"Paying respects to Mother." Yue Yue lifted her smiling face; her face had lost its baby fat, making her eyes appear larger.

"Why have you come so early? You don't need to come pay respects; running back and forth, when does Mother have so much to do?" Jiang Yun Chu looked at Yue Yue's smiling, squinty eyes, and in the end merely wiped the thin sweat from her face.

I like paying respects to Mother.

These years that Mother and older brother have been away, she has been alone, and she misses Mother terribly.

Now Mother has finally returned; she wants to pay respects to Mother every day.

Alright, our Yue Yue likes it, so come every day to pay respects to Mother." Jiang Yun Chu poked her little nose, just as when she was young, and smiled indulgently.

Yue Yue leaned against Jiang Yun Chu, her head resting on Mother's arm, her heart feeling an unprecedented peace.

Mother can do nothing; as long as she is by Mother's side, she feels as if she has limitless strength.

"Today Yong'an Princess Consort is coming to visit; you and I will receive the guests together." Jiang Yun Chu rubbed Yue Yue's little cheek; these past years, the chubby feeling is gone.

A flicker of heartache passed through her eyes.

Okay." Ning Yue Xue obediently nodded.

In the carriage of Yong'an Prince's manor, Yong'an Princess Consort anxiously looked at her daughter; if it weren't for the Regent's Consort's reminder, if there had been no further investigation, then her daughter...

"Guo Guo, we won't marry." The Princess Consort felt extreme heartache; the resentment she felt toward the Secretary Han's household was matched by her gratitude toward the Regent Prince's manor.

Without the investigation, Guo Guo would become a sacrifice in this game; Yong'an Prince's manor, which usually stays out of affairs, would be dragged in.

In the struggle with the imperial household, Yong'an Prince's manor never intended to participate.

Never expected...

An Guo Guo looked at her mother's appearance, a smile appeared on her face, her eyes glimmering.

"Mother, yesterday I saw the Princess Consort, and also saw Yun Hui."

"Do you know what the Princess Consort said to Yun Hui?" She recalled Yun Hui's words; she is already twenty-three, a rather awkward age.

In Da Ning, ordinary girls are usually betrothed at sixteen, then exchange tokens; by eighteen they select an auspicious day for the grand wedding.

If marriage is delayed too long, many rumors and gossip will spread.

Yong'an Princess Consort also feared her daughter would be slandered, feared her daughter would be harmed by these rumors, and even more feared that when they grow old and pass away, no longer able to protect Guo Guo, what would Guo Guo do then?

Everything, everything, is because they love An Guo Guo.

They wish that while they are alive and capable, they arrange the very best for their daughter.

Alas, heaven does not follow human wishes.

"What do you mean?" Yong'an Princess Consort is of a placid nature; especially after her son's death, she already had poor health, and now she has no other thoughts.

If it weren't for Jiang Yun Chu's reminder yesterday, she wouldn't have wanted to leave the manor.

The regent princess once said, she is a young lady from the Grand General's manor; she can marry if she wishes, or stay unmarried if she doesn't; they have the means to provide for her.

The regent princess once said, if you can't find the best, then don't settle; if there isn't a lifelong partner, why would you wrong yourself?

An Guo Guo had never considered such things before; now, having spoken them aloud, her eyes seem to sparkle with light.

Mother, I also wish to find a man like Father, one who can stand tall and firm, yet dotes exclusively on you.

Mother, if I don't feel affection, I would rather live out my life alone than settle.

My formerly muddled thoughts suddenly seemed to have cleared up yesterday.

Princess Yong'an gazed at her daughter, her expectant eyes letting out a soft sigh—what do the words of the world matter?

Nothing is more important than a daughter's smile.

Good.

Her voice was soft and gentle, tinged with relief.