Xue Zining saw that Yan Zhao seemed genuinely happy. Just then, a sound came from outside. She leaped up and concealed herself, not wanting anyone to see her.
Yan Zhao glanced at where she was hidden, then withdrew his gaze and looked at the approaching figure. It was Liunian, the head maid beside his mother.
Liunian walked up to him and curtsied. "Young Master, Madam requests your presence."
Yan Zhao nodded, and with an almost imperceptible glance towards Xue Zining's hiding spot, he followed Liunian away.
Xue Zining emerged from her concealment. She watched the direction Yan Zhao had left but did not follow. Being part of the royal family, she understood what Madame Yan intended to do and say. It had nothing to do with her; she trusted Yan Zhao.
"Mother..." Yan Zhao arrived at Madame Yan's chambers and bowed respectfully.
Madame Yan held her forehead and looked at her son. Though he was flesh and blood, she felt their bond was not as close as the one with Xiaoxiao. She always felt her son was distant from her.
"Madam, Young Master has arrived," Liunian by her side couldn't help but remind Madame Yan.
Madame Yan finally came to her senses and said, "Rise!"
Yan Zhao stood up and asked, "Does Mother need me for something?"
Madame Yan looked at her son, feeling a touch of displeasure. "What? If I don't have something, my own son can't come to see me?"
"That's not what I meant," Yan Zhao replied.
"Yan Zhao, although your father doesn't let me interfere in your marriage, you are my son after all. Don't I have the right to inquire?" Madame Yan sat up properly. Old Master Yan had forbidden her from concerning herself with their son's marriage. It was a laughable notion that she, as a mother, couldn't manage her son's marital affairs. Wouldn't it be a laughingstock if this were to get out?
"Mother speaks wisely," Yan Zhao said. He didn't wish to defy Madame Yan, after all, she was the one who bore him.
"Xiaoxiao is someone Mother watched grow up. While she has a few temperamental quirks, she is good in all other aspects. Mother doesn't harbor ambitions of the kind your father has. What princess? Mother doesn't want you to enter the royal family. The royal family isn't as simple as you think. Mother only wishes for you to have a smooth life, and that is enough." Having said this, Madame Yan looked at Yan Zhao and asked, "What do you say, Yan Zhao?"
"Mother speaks the truth," Yan Zhao did not argue.
Madame Yan's eyes brightened slightly. She looked up at him. "Then you agree as well?"
Yan Zhao looked up at Madame Yan and asked plainly, "What does Mother wish to say?"
For some reason, Madame Yan felt a trace of coolness in her son's gaze, a coolness that made her uncomfortable. Yes, uncomfortable, it made her uneasy.
"Mother wishes for Xiaoxiao to be Mother's daughter-in-law, your wife," Madame Yan finally said, forcing herself.
"Mother, I have already decided to marry Princess Changning. If I marry the Princess, I cannot take concubines. I beg Mother to let go of this thought."
"What concubines? I want you to marry Xiaoxiao as your principal wife," Madame Yan frowned.
"Mother, that is even more impossible. I am going to marry Princess Changning."
Upon hearing this, Madame Yan became angry. "Marry a princess? Isn't marrying Xiaoxiao good enough?"
"Mother, I do not like Xiaoxiao."
"Then do you like the Princess?" Madame Yan asked, irate.
Yan Zhao nodded. "Yes."
Madame Yan was taken aback. "You... you like the Princess?" How could she, his mother, not know? "But... but didn't you refuse the Emperor's arranged marriage before?"
"I thought the Princess did not like me at the time, which is why I chose to refuse the marriage. If I had known the Princess also liked me, I would never have refused." Madame Yan frowned. This was the first time she had heard her steady, emotionless son speak of liking someone.
"What about Xiaoxiao? She has liked you dearly since childhood..." Xiaoxiao was someone she had watched grow up, so she was well aware of her niece's feelings. For so many years, Xiaoxiao's feelings had not changed. How could she have the heart to tell Xiaoxiao that Yan Zhao no longer liked her? How could she say it? She simply couldn't!
"Then... then can we take Xiaoxiao as a concubine?" Madame Yan conceded slightly. She truly did not want to hurt Xiaoxiao.
"Mother, I do not like Xiaoxiao, and therefore, I will not take Xiaoxiao as a concubine."
"Yan Zhao..." Madame Yan grew anxious.
Yan Zhao bowed. "If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave." With that, Yan Zhao walked out.
Madame Yan sighed. What a calamity!
"Madam, Miss Gu is outside," Liunian said in a low voice as she walked in.
Madame Yan held her forehead. "Tell her I am a bit tired and need to rest."
Liunian nodded and went outside. She looked at Gu Xiaoxiao and said, "Miss Gu, my Madam is not feeling well. Miss Gu should come back tomorrow."
Gu Xiaoxiao was stunned. She was too slow to understand what this meant at this moment.
"Miss, Madam is..." Gu Xiaoxiao's maid, Guo'er, asked confusedly.
Gu Xiaoxiao's expression darkened. "Let's go, we're returning."
Guo'er looked at her young lady's pale face and couldn't help but ask, "Miss, what's wrong?"
Gu Xiaoxiao remained silent, her hand clenched tightly in her sleeve. She knew there was no hope for her and Brother Zhao. Brother Zhao... She felt a terrible pain in her heart. Suddenly, she felt dizzy and collapsed onto the ground. "Miss, Miss..." Guo'er cried out in alarm. "Help, help..."
Madame Yan heard that Gu Xiaoxiao had fainted on her way back and was extremely worried. She immediately ordered someone to fetch a doctor and rushed to Gu Xiaoxiao's room herself. Seeing Gu Xiaoxiao lying pale on the bed, Madame Yan felt heartbroken. After all, she was a child she had watched grow up; it was false to say she didn't care.
The doctor finally arrived and, after a diagnosis, told Madame Yan that Gu Xiaoxiao had a heart condition, which she likely had from birth.
"Can it be cured?" Madame Yan asked.
The doctor shook his head. "Please forgive my lack of knowledge, but I have not diagnosed such cases before."
"Then... then what can be done?" If Xiaoxiao fell ill here, how could she explain it to her sister?
Yan Zhao heard that Gu Xiaoxiao's heart condition had flared up and also rushed over. Madame Yan, hearing her son had arrived, quickly came out and tugged on his sleeve. "Yan Zhao, save your cousin, save her!"
"Mother, don't worry, I will go to the palace immediately to invite an imperial physician."
Madame Yan breathed a sigh of relief. "Then hurry." With an imperial physician coming, Xiaoxiao would surely be out of danger.
Xue Zining, who was about to lie down and rest, heard Yan Zhao requesting to see her outside. She asked Xuělián to invite Yan Zhao to the outer hall and then, putting on a robe, walked out.
"This subject pays his respects to Your Highness," Yan Zhao said, bowing.
"Rise!" Xue Zining said slowly.