Xue Changyi blinked. She knew her imperial brother was right. Though she tried her best not to admit it, she knew it was the truth.
A fact she could not refute.
"So, you actually want me to give up on Hua Yun Jin too, don't you?"
King Jing looked at her and said slowly, "Changyi, the Hua Yun Jin of today is not the Hua Yun Jin of the past."
Upon hearing this, Xue Changyi sneered, "Isn't Imperial Brother considering himself? Since Hua Yun Jin's current status is of no use to Imperial Brother, he's a discarded piece in Imperial Brother's eyes. Naturally, he wouldn't let me be with him."
"Changyi, why do you think of Imperial Brother this way? Imperial Brother is only doing this for your own good."
"For my good? But I don't believe it. If it were Sun Zi Han, you would agree, wouldn't you?"
King Jing was taken aback and said earnestly, "Changyi, marrying someone is not about whether you like them or not. When you get married in the future, your husband must be someone who can give you a sense of security."
"Don't say any more. In the end, it's all about letting me marry into the Sun family. I'm telling you, I won't marry. Whoever wants to marry, can marry." Xue Changyi said coldly.
"Ninth Sister..." King Jing had not expected Xue Changyi to be so difficult to persuade.
"Imperial Brother, you should go!" Xue Changyi turned her face away, unwilling to listen to King Jing.
King Jing sighed, "Changyi, Imperial Brother wants you to be happy, but there are many definitions of happiness. The most important thing is that Hua Yun Jin doesn't like you. Isn't it tiring to like someone who doesn't like you?"
"Thank you for your kind intentions, Imperial Brother. I don't need Imperial Brother to worry about me." Xue Changyi said coldly.
King Jing shook his head and left.
Xue Changyi sat there. In fact, she had heard everything King Jing said because there was nothing wrong with his words.
Yet, she still didn't want to let go.
But as King Jing had said, Hua Yun Jin didn't like her at all. Even if she took off her clothes, Hua Yun Jin wouldn't even glance at her.
What was she holding onto?
Changan Palace
"Your Highness, the young master cannot withstand more strain. Please ensure the young master does not engage in overly strenuous activities. Your Highness, please allow the young master to rest well."
Xue Changan understood the meaning behind the imperial physician's words. She would "strain" Hua Yun Jin lightly.
Although she was thick-skinned, she felt a little shy when she thought about what had happened in the room earlier.
The imperial physician, knowing the situation well, gave a few more instructions and left.
Xue Changan walked back into the inner chamber and saw Hua Yun Jin lying there. She walked up to him and said, "Rest well and recover from your injuries. This Princess will not bother you these few days."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Hua Yun Jin said.
Xue Changan sat on the bed and said, "Rest well. There are still many things this Princess is waiting for you to accomplish with me."
"Yes, Your Highness," Hua Yun Jin replied.
"Your Highness, His Majesty summons you."
Xue Changan blinked. "Father Emperor is looking for me?"
"Yes, Your Majesty has summoned not only Your Highness but also the Ninth Princess."
Xue Changan narrowed her eyes and said, "Lead the way."
In the Imperial Study, Xue Changan saw that not only her Father Emperor but also the Empress was present.
"Father Emperor, Mother Empress," Xue Changan bowed.
"Rise. Has Young Master Hua's injury healed?"
"It has almost healed, only superficial wounds," Xue Changan replied.
The Emperor looked at her and sighed. "Changan, the matter of you keeping male consorts is known throughout the palace and outside. Tomorrow, an imperial censor will impeach you."
"Father Emperor, your daughter wishes to marry Hua Yun Jin. I implore Father Emperor to grant my wish." Xue Changan knelt down.
"You may rise first. Whether you can marry Young Master Hua depends on whether I am willing."
Xue Changan stood up. Outside, Xue Changyi also entered, accompanied by King Jing.
"Father Emperor, Mother Empress," Xue Changyi and King Jing entered and bowed.
King Jing saw Xue Changan and said, "Imperial Sister."
Xue Changan nodded. "I haven't seen Imperial Brother for some time. How have you been lately?"
"Thanks to Imperial Sister's blessings, Imperial Brother has been doing quite well recently," King Jing replied.
"Imperial Brother is also of marriageable age. Have you taken a liking to any young lady?"
King Jing was taken aback and quickly said, "It is all up to Father Emperor's decision."
Xue Changan looked up at the Emperor on the throne and said, "Father Emperor, what do you think of my cousin, County Princess Jun Zhu?"
"Is it that Yan Jun Zhu from your Mother Consort's family?"
Xue Changan nodded. "Yes, she was enfeoffed as a county princess by Father Emperor for devising a strategy to repair the embankment."
King Jing was slightly surprised. He had heard a little about that County Princess Jun Zhu. It was said she was exceptionally intelligent. If he could marry her as his King's Consort, it would only be beneficial to him.
However, the only drawback was that she was a clanswoman of Consort Yan. If he married County Princess Jun Zhu, then he and County Princess Jun Zhu would surely have different intentions.
"Changan, you should first think about how to proceed with your own marriage!"
Xue Changan looked up at her Father Emperor and asked, "Hasn't Changan's marriage already been arranged?"
"With whom?"
"Hua Yun Jin," Xue Changan replied.
"Impossible," the Emperor flatly refused.
Upon hearing this, Xue Changan spread her hands and said indifferently, "Father Emperor, Hua Yun Jin and I have already shared a bed. If I don't marry him, and marry someone else, would others agree?"
"You..." The Emperor's face turned green with anger.
"Father Emperor, you can scold your daughter however you wish, but these are the facts. Your daughter simply doesn't want an extra resentful husband, so she won't ruin the good men from honorable families."
"Presumptuous!"
"Father Emperor, it's a fait accompli. Your opposition is useless now," Xue Changan said nonchalantly.
"I shall have him beheaded immediately."
"Father Emperor, even if you behead him, it won't change the fact that I've lost my virginity."
"You... you are truly infuriating me."
"Your Majesty. Since Changan likes Young Master Hua, please fulfill Changan's wish!" The Empress, who was beside them, also spoke.
The Emperor looked at the Empress and said, "Empress, are you also causing trouble for me here?"
"Your Majesty, it's not easy to like someone. Changan doesn't need to overthink. Isn't it good to marry the person she likes?"
"This matter can be discussed later. Changyi, I ask you, do you not wish to marry Sun Zi Han?" The Emperor shifted his gaze to Xue Changyi.
Xue Changyi was startled. "Father Emperor, your daughter..."
King Jing stepped forward and whispered, "Changyi, you should think carefully."
Xue Changyi closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she suddenly knelt and said, "Your daughter doesn't not want to marry, but rather feels she is still a little young. After all, my First Imperial Sister is not yet married, and your daughter doesn't want to rush."
"Enough, enough. You are all here to upset me. Withdraw, all of you, withdraw." The Emperor said unhappily.
As Xue Changan passed by Xue Changyi, she sneered, "It seems you have some self-awareness."
"Imperial Sister, Changyi has always had self-awareness."
Xue Changan raised her eyebrows. "Then I hope you will always maintain it."
With that, she left.
Xue Changyi stood there, retracting her gaze. She saw King Jing looking at her.
"Imperial Brother, what are you looking at?"
King Jing stepped closer and said, "I don't know how Changyi suddenly changed her mind?"
Xue Changyi looked up at the distance. "Because just now, I suddenly figured it out."