klisemfg Chapter 354 might not be appropriate.
Chapter 354 might not be appropriate.
When the banquet ended, the Tang siblings were carried back to the Tang family home, which drew sighs from everyone.
Song Ruozhen left the palace with her brother, and Chu Junting walked beside her. Song Yi'an and the other two tacitly kept a distance from him.
"Prince Che has taken the initiative to visit and express his gratitude, but I'm afraid he has ulterior motives. I will go with him tomorrow, so don't worry."
Chu Junting looked at the girl beside him. Under the moonlight, the girl's skin was as white as snow, and her delicate and beautiful face was exceptionally charming, making him feel excited.
Song Ruozhen nodded slightly, "When I saw Prince Che today, I felt that he had some ill intentions."
He approached her inexplicably and tried to show her kindness in various ways, which was not his usual attitude. After all, she was close to the King of Chu, and the King of Che and the King of Chu were rivals.
Something unusual must be going on, but it's unclear what exactly Prince Che is plotting.
At this moment, a maidservant from the Empress's side rushed out and said, "Your Highness, the Empress said that she and Madam Ling have not seen each other for many years and had a very pleasant conversation. She is afraid that Madam Ling will stay a little longer."
Miss Ling was alone, so His Highness escorted her back.
Upon hearing this, Chu Junting and Song Ruozhen exchanged a glance and immediately understood the Empress's meaning.
The three Song brothers also realized this, and their faces unconsciously darkened. Clearly... the Empress still didn't like Ruozhen and wanted to pair up Prince Chu and Ling Qian'er.
Ling Qian'er seemed surprised as well, and looked at Chu Junting apologetically, saying, "It's okay, I can go back by myself."
Song Ruozhen raised her eyebrows slightly, glanced at Chu Junting indifferently, and said with a light smile, "Since it is Her Majesty the Empress's order, Your Highness Chu, please go and attend to your business. My brothers and I will take our leave now."
In that instant, Chu Junting felt that Song Ruozhen's smile was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Chu Yungui rushed over and said, "Miss Ling, the Chu Prince's Mansion and the Ling Mansion are not on the same route, which is really troublesome. Fortunately, the Ruan Mansion and the Ling Mansion are on the same route, so let Yucheng take you back!"
Ruan Yucheng: "???"
Chu Yungui gave Ruan Yucheng a wink.
Ruan Yucheng said with a forced smile, "Why don't you see me off? Isn't it on the same route as your Prince Yun's residence?"
"I'm not stupid. It's obvious that Mother has taken a liking to Miss Ling. My third brother would never agree to it. What if I get close to her and Mother sets her sights on me?"
The Prince of Yun looked serious. He naturally wanted to help his elder brother, but he also didn't want to get into trouble.
Ruan Yucheng: "Fine, fine, you're my good brother, and I'm the scapegoat?"
"Don't put it so harshly. What's wrong with Miss Ling? If you can marry her, that would be your good fortune!" Chu Yungui said frankly. "I heard your family has been urging you to get married lately, haven't they?"
Ruan Yucheng: "Shut up!"
Chu Junting quickly caught up with Song Ruozhen, his handsome face full of urgency, and grabbed her hand.
"Ruozhen, let me explain. I don't know why Mother would make such an arrangement. I already explained things clearly last time. I'll explain again tomorrow..."
"no need."
Song Ruozhen interrupted Chu Junting.
Chu Junting's heart tightened, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and his gaze was fixed on the person in front of him, as if afraid that she would say something heartless next.
"It's getting late, I think I'll go back and rest first, we can talk about the rest later."
A hint of helplessness flashed across Song Ruozhen's clear eyes. Meeting the man's gaze, she ultimately didn't say anything. After leaving those words, she turned and walked towards the Song family's carriage.
However, as soon as she turned around, the man grabbed her hand.
"Don't leave."
The man's voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of pleading.
"I'll take you home. Give me a little time, okay?"
Song Ruozhen turned her head and met the man's deep eyes. Unlike his usual cold and mysterious gaze, his eyes were now wet with discomfort and tension, like a wounded and desperate trapped beast, with a hint of persistence and pleading.
"Fifth Sister, let's head back now!"
Song Jingshen realized something was wrong and quickly urged the driver to leave.
They all understood what had happened tonight, and they were filled with anger. Their younger sister was good in every way, but the Empress just couldn't stand her.
Previously, they planned to marry Tang Xuening to the King of Chu, but now that Tang Xuening is failing, Ling Qian'er has appeared instead.
In any case, whoever it is, she must think they are better than her own sister.
But why?
Seeing her brother leave first, Song Ruozhen felt a pang of helplessness, but still boarded the carriage of the Prince of Chu's residence.
The carriage slowly drove away from the palace. Song Ruozhen listened to the sound of the carriage wheels rolling on the road and looked outside, but her restless heart could not calm down.
"I know today's events upset you. Ling Qian'er and I only knew each other since childhood, and we haven't had any contact over the years. As for what everyone is saying, it's just nonsense."
Chu Junting looked at the person beside him with a serious expression, feeling a surge of nervousness.
Song Ruozhen turned to look at him, "I understand."
"I know you're not angry about this, but you feel that after everything that has happened, Mother still insists that I marry someone else. Your pride makes you unable to bear being disliked like this, so you're planning to abandon me as well, isn't that right?"
Chu Junting lowered his posture to an extremely low level, his ten fingers interlaced, the knuckles white from bending, and he gripped them tightly.
The longer he spent with Song Ruozhen, the more he understood the pride and self-respect beneath her cool exterior; she was definitely not someone who would easily bow her head.
Despite the humiliation inflicted upon her by the Lin family, she was able to annul the engagement without hesitation, even on her wedding day.
Even though everyone said she was too old to get married and that she had been jilted, she didn't care at all, because she simply didn't take these things to heart.
He had finally managed to gain some recognition in this girl's heart, but the Empress Dowager's actions undoubtedly told him that she looked down on Ruozhen.
Song Ruozhen fell silent. It has to be said that she did have this thought in her mind.
From the very beginning, she found the royal family troublesome, not to mention that the Empress liked to nitpick at everything, which was completely different from the carefree life she wanted.
However, the man in front of her remembered her preferences, was caring and considerate, and protected her in every way, which made her start to think that perhaps they could be together.
But the Empress's actions today were another blow to her head, making her think of giving up entirely.
She didn't care about Ling Qian'er's appearance, and she understood that Chu Junting wouldn't change his mind easily, but she really disliked being constantly compared to him, as if she were just an object.
"Your Highness, perhaps we are truly not a good match."
Song Ruozhen lowered her head and looked down, her clear eyes filled with sadness, and her voice was muffled, "The Empress doesn't like me, which is an insurmountable obstacle, and I don't want to wrong myself."