Upon hearing this, Li Helan’s tears slid down in two more streams.

She desperately wanted to grab Li Qitian’s hand and ask him: Are you telling the truth? Will you really protect me no matter what happens? If you truly have the heart to protect me, then grant me in marriage to Pang Zhixi!

…

But Li Helan was ultimately not a brainless, reckless person. Although she could be somewhat willful in front of her mother, when she saw Li Qitian, she still knew her limits in her heart.

Ever since her brother ascended the throne to become emperor, their relationship could no longer be the same as before. They were no longer siblings in an ordinary family – he was the sovereign, and she had become a subject sister. To put it bluntly, her lifetime of happiness was built upon her brother’s favor. Li Qitian’s single word could determine whether she would be happy or unhappy, whether she would live or die.

Therefore, no matter how much dissatisfaction she harbored in her heart now, all she could do was grit her teeth and bury all her thoughts deeply. In front of Li Qitian, she could only be an obedient and sensible sister.

“Imperial Brother, Lan’er understands. It’s just some trivial matters, nothing important. With Imperial Brother’s favor toward Lan’er, who would dare bully me?”

Hearing this, Li Qitian couldn’t help but pat Li Helan’s head.

After all, this little sister was his only sister. In this affair, he was indeed using her to some extent. Never mind – being able to confirm that Li Helan had already contacted Pang Xiao was enough. He couldn’t expect Li Helan, being a daughter, to have the same political stance as himself.

“Your imperial sister-in-law recently had a new set of jewelry made. I thought it looked quite nice, so I had her make a set for you too. Remember to wear it when it’s ready. You are a Princess Imperial, of golden branches and jade leaves – don’t shortchange yourself just to be frugal. Even if the national treasury isn’t abundant now, I can still afford to support you.” As he spoke, he playfully flicked her nose.

Was this material compensation because he felt guilty toward her?

Li Helan sighed inwardly but smiled joyfully as she bowed: “Thank you, Imperial Brother. Thank you, Imperial Sister-in-law.”

“We’re family – why the thanks?”

Li Qitian was infected by Li Helan’s smile, and his mood improved considerably. He then turned to chat with the Empress Dowager.

The Emperor was the Empress Dowager’s support, so she basically obeyed Li Qitian’s every word and would consider his feelings to accommodate him. She was a clever woman who, like Li Helan, understood clearly where her happiness came from. Thus she had never had conflicts with Li Qitian, and their mother-son relationship was excellent.

Li Qitian chatted very cheerfully and left in high spirits.

Only after Li Qitian departed from Cining Palace did the Empress Dowager dismiss everyone, leaving only Li Helan by her side. She pulled her close and advised in a low voice: “Lan’er, you must be more open-minded. The happiness a woman can obtain in her lifetime – you already possess it. Don’t be greedy for more. As for Pang Zhixi, this dowager doesn’t know why you’re so fixated on him, but you must understand that there’s absolutely no possibility between you two. Your imperial brother intends to marry you to the Marquis of Dingbei – this is already set in stone with no possibility of change. That Marquis of Dingbei is also a person of extraordinary talent and stunning appearance. You should be content, understand?”

Li Helan looked at the Empress Dowager without saying a word, only slowly nodding after a long while.

The Empress Dowager knew that Li Helan hadn’t listened to her advice at all, and sighed helplessly.

A mother knows her daughter best. The Empress Dowager’s guess was indeed correct. After Li Helan returned to her side palace, she buried herself under the covers and cried bitterly. After venting enough, she instructed He Xiang, who attended her.

“Have them prepare the carriage. This palace will personally wait at the gates of Prince Zhongshun’s mansion. I don’t believe Pang Zhixi won’t come out!”

“Princess Imperial!”

“You needn’t try to persuade me! When I personally visit his door, he pretends not to be home and avoids seeing me. When I send invitations, he makes excuses to decline. If I don’t go block him at his family’s gate, when will I ever get to see him?”

“But you are of golden branches and jade leaves, you…”

“Don’t mention those four words again!” Li Helan finally erupted in fury. “Just because I’m of golden branches and jade leaves, my happiness and future can’t depend on the person I like! If I’m not even given the space to fight for it, I’d rather not be of golden branches and jade leaves!”

He Xiang seemed frightened by Li Helan’s shouting and stood there dumbly, unable to react.

Li Helan angrily said: “Why aren’t you quickly going to have them prepare the carriage!”

“Yes, yes.” He Xiang, scolded until her face turned deathly pale, respectfully bowed and quickly withdrew. Only after reaching outside the palace did she breathe a sigh of relief, first speaking a few words with an inconspicuous little eunuch outside Cining Palace before going to prepare the carriage.

“Your Highness, should you first tell Miss Qin and bring her along to see the residence?”

Xie Yue asked with a smile.

Pang Xiao shook his head, putting on his fur coat and picking up his riding whip with a smile: “This prince will go look first. If it can’t even catch this prince’s eye, then there’s no need to show it to her. However, Master Xie handles affairs that this prince can trust – I’m sure that residence is suitable.”

Xie Yue smiled: “It just happened that a family wants to move away from the capital. Whether they’ll sell that residence is still uncertain. Let’s go look first – if Your Highness finds it suitable, we can discuss it further.”

Pang Xiao nodded and had someone prepare horses. Taking Huzi and Xie Yue with him, he rode away from the prince’s mansion.

Who would have known that just as they exited the mansion gates, they saw a carriage stopped in the corner of the street suddenly push open its door and lift the warm curtain.

Li Helan wore an exquisite white fur coat, her pale little face wrapped within the fur collar, making her red lips and white teeth even more prominent. Combined with the natural charm and resentment in her eyes, the affection in her brows was like a vast ocean that could directly drown someone.

“Your Highness, in this freezing cold weather, wasn’t your body not yet recovered? Riding a horse through the snow like this – where are you going?”

Li Helan stepped down from the carriage. After all, she couldn’t put on an arrogant manner in front of Pang Xiao, only smiling gently as she spoke, though the resentment in her words had deepened.

Pang Xiao had originally been sitting on his horse with no intention of acknowledging her, but Li Helan was after all a Princess Imperial with noble status. Moreover, since she had gotten down from her carriage, it would be improper for him to remain mounted and speak down to her from his elevated position.

Therefore, Pang Xiao gracefully dismounted, performed proper courtesies, then said: “So it’s the Princess Imperial. Since you know it’s freezing cold, why aren’t you resting properly in the palace? Why are you braving the snow to linger here instead?”

“Why? Don’t you know? Imperial Brother has granted me in marriage to Ji Lan! I’m going to marry Ji Lan! Tell me what I should do!”

This questioning tone made it sound as if Pang Xiao had seduced and abandoned her.

Pang Xiao raised his eyebrows and smiled: “I already know of this matter. Such joyous news – naturally I must prepare a generous gift.”

“You!” Li Helan looked at the man she had been thinking of day and night, originally believing he would have feelings for her, that he would be reluctant to part with her. How could she have imagined that when she threw this question at him, he would only say he’d prepare congratulatory gifts for her!

Li Helan’s tears couldn’t help but spill from her eyes. Days of grievances made her unable to control herself any longer. She sobbed as she questioned: “What exactly do you mean? Why are you avoiding me! Does our past together not exist at all anymore! All these years, don’t you know my feelings for you at all?!”

Hearing this, Pang Xiao frowned tightly.

At this moment, at another street corner, Ji Zeyu – who had been secretly informed that something significant was happening at the prince’s mansion gates and had rushed over in worry – was witnessing Li Helan weeping pitifully before Pang Xiao.