coobybook Chapter 256 We are mutually in love
Chapter 256 We are mutually in love
"Then I'll go with you!"
"Wh...what?" Lou Shenghan looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with astonishment.
She took a step forward and said stubbornly, "Lou Shenghan, I want to go back with you."
"Your Highness, please stop joking with me. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't bother you any longer. I'll take my leave now." Lou Shenghan lowered his eyes and hurriedly said goodbye to her.
Yuan Huaixue blocked his way, preventing him from taking another step. "Lou Shenghan, am I some kind of monster? Why are you avoiding me?"
"When did I..."
He paused for a moment, then quickly adopted a meek and obsequious demeanor, hurriedly explaining, "When have I ever avoided you? I'm just... just very busy with official duties, and Her Highness the Princess is a member of the royal family. As a lowly official, I really cannot have too much interaction with you, lest I tarnish Her Highness's reputation."
Lou Shenghan secretly regretted that he shouldn't have let her stay in the mansion that day. Now, whenever he sees the girl's innocent eyes, he can't help but think of what happened that night, and he can't help but feel a little guilty. That's why he has been avoiding her lately.
Hearing him constantly referring to himself as "this humble subject" and "Your Highness the Princess," clearly trying to distance himself from her, Lou Shenghan no longer mocked him as he used to...
Yuan Huaixue pouted, her voice slightly choked, "You're clearly avoiding me, Lou Shenghan. Are you afraid that if you meet me, my brother will find out?"
"What are you talking about? Your Highness, I do have important matters to attend to. Please step aside."
"No! I want to leave the palace with you."
She held her hands in front of her face, stubbornly pouting.
"Your Highness, please don't be stubborn. I really don't have time to play with you."
Yuan Huaixue persisted, "Then tell me, what exactly is so important to you?"
"I'm going to the General's Mansion."
What are you going to the general's mansion for?
He raised an eyebrow and said proudly, "Of course I'll go find Yan Yan!"
"But isn't Xin Moyan going to marry Emperor Xuan?"
Lou Shenghan: "..."
His face fell, and he instantly became depressed. "It's because your imperial brother inexplicably bestowed this marriage upon me. I need to go find Yan Yan now, just in case there's still a glimmer of hope!"
Hearing this, Yuan Huaixue was stunned. "You...you're going to stop Xin Moyan from marrying Emperor Xuan?"
“That’s right! My little treasure is so dependent on Yan Yan, and I like Yan Yan too. If your… Emperor brother really gives up the idea of making Yan Yan the Empress, then I will definitely fight with the Xuan King to the end.”
Mentioning Emperor Yuan made him furious.
Do you really like Xin Moyan?
“Yes! Yan Yan is so interesting…” He said halfway through, then came back to his senses, “Your Highness, I’m in a hurry to leave the palace, I really don’t have time to chat with you, please enjoy yourself!”
Then, Lou Shenghan took a big step and, without waiting for her to say anything, walked hurriedly towards the palace gate as if the wind was blowing around her.
Yuan Huaixue stared at the flowing purple robe not far away, secretly making a decision in her heart.
Lou Shenghan didn't delay. After walking along the long path, he arrived at Dingkun Gate and immediately had his servants drive a carriage to take him to the General's Mansion.
Meanwhile, in the General's Mansion, Shui Yi was carefully choosing wedding attire with Xin Moyan. Xuan Yuan had over ten sets of phoenix coronet and embroidered robes delivered, waiting for her to select the one she was most satisfied with. The groom's wedding attire would be the same style.
“Yan’er, I see that these fabrics and silks are all of the highest quality. The embroidery is so exquisite and difficult to replicate. I’m afraid that Prince Xuan had them made day and night to achieve such a meticulous style.”
Before she could reply, Xin Moling snorted disdainfully.
"He should be this dedicated. If he didn't have this kind of ambition, I wouldn't want Yan'er to marry him so soon!"
Xin Moyan blinked, looking at the large room full of red things. Before the betrothal ceremony, so many things had already been sent over. If it were tomorrow, would the General's Mansion be able to accommodate them all?
Just then, Lou Shenghan strode in, shouting as he went, "Yan Yan! I'm here!"
"Lou Xiang, what brings you here?"
He ignored Xin Moling and stepped straight into the hall. He was stunned for a moment when he saw the festive atmosphere, but his expression quickly returned to normal.
"Yan Yan, could these have been sent by the Xuan King?!"
Xin Moyan nodded and took a step closer to him. "Lou Shenghan, I just happened to have something to talk to you about, and here you are."
He rubbed his hands together, squinted his eyes, and said excitedly, "Yan Yan, do you want to refuse the marriage proposal and then marry me instead?"
"No, I wanted to recommend someone to you."
Lou Shenghan's eyes instantly turned resentful, "I thought you didn't want to marry him anymore!"
She smiled and shook her head, explaining, "Do you remember what I said last time about introducing a friend? In a couple of days, a young master surnamed Liu will be visiting your home. I'll have to trouble you to take care of him then!"
"Hmph! Yan Yan, I'm not getting much influence in court these days. Who knows, the person you recommended might not be favored by His Majesty!"
"What do you mean?"
"Sigh~ let's not talk about it." He waved his hand and sighed in annoyance.
Lou Shenghan tugged at her sleeve and said pitifully, "By the way, Yan Yan, are you really going to marry Prince Xuan? Can you please not marry him?"
"Why?"
Xin Moling walked over with Shui Yi in her arms, and warned in a sinister tone, "Lou Xiang, what kind of trouble are you going to cause this time?"
"Don't marry him! He's just an ordinary prince, with no money or power. How can he compare to me, the Prime Minister who is second only to the Emperor?"
Xin Moyan raised her eyebrows, crossed her arms, and said helplessly, "Lou Shenghan, you didn't come here today to persuade me to give up on marrying the prince, did you?"
"Yes!"
He grinned and leaned closer. "Yan Yan, look at me. I'm not bad looking, and I have countless riches. If you like, I can give them all to you. You'd better not marry him. Be my Prime Minister's wife and be respected by thousands."
"But Yan'er doesn't like you!"
"Sister-in-law~" Lou Shenghan called out in a coquettish tone, "Yan Yan and I have spent so much time together, and my son likes Yan Yan very much. Everyone says that when you marry, you should marry someone you know well. Our feelings for each other will only grow stronger even after we get married. How can that Xuan Wang who appeared out of nowhere compare?"
Shui Yi was speechless for a moment. Yan'er's feelings for that person were probably even deeper than those for the prime minister in front of her!
"Who said that?"
Xin Moyan shrugged. "Lou Shenghan, I like Prince Xuan. I won't marry anyone else but him."
"What? Yan... Yan Yan, what did you say?"
He could hardly believe his ears, but seeing Xin Moling's ugly expression proved that those words had indeed come from Xin Moyan's mouth.
“I love the Prince Xuan! He loves me too, and we love each other.”
"Yan Yan~"
He looked dejected. Although he wasn't very clear about the relationship between the Xuan King and the royal family, how could the Yuan Emperor have agreed to let go?