Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard

Seeing the surprise in Du Xiaoli's eyes, Han Mingze smiled and asked again, "This Emperor is asking you, what are your thoughts on Changle's marriage alliance?"

Du Xiaoli lowered her head, saying, “Does Your Majesty want to hear the truth?”

“This Emperor called you here, obviously to listen to the truth.” Han Mingze leaned back, gazing straight at Du Xiaoli.

“This younger sister doesn’t have any opinions, she just feels aggrieved on behalf of Her Highness.” Du Xiaoli thought about it, and still decided to give a more formal answer.

“Heartbroken? Why?” Han Mingze asked.

Du Xiaoli lifted her head, gazing at Han Mingze, and said, “Because Princess Changle is unhappy, so this younger sister feels grievous too.”

Han Mingze turned the ring on his thumb, quietly saying, “Anle, you’re being perfunctory with this Emperor.”

“Anle just doesn’t want to lose her head,” Du Xiaoli replied.

“This Emperor just wants to hear your thoughts. This Emperor promises, he won’t take your head,” Han Mingze assured her.

Du Xiaoli was silent for a moment, then spoke. “I feel sad for Changle and I also feel angry on her behalf. I feel even more aggrieved for Your Majesty!”

Han Mingze’s hand froze, his face tensed with anger. When he saw Du Xiaoli’s frank, clear gaze, he suddenly smiled bitterly, “What does this Emperor have to be sad about! This Emperor merely made the most appropriate decision.”

“It’s precisely because Your Majesty was forced to do so that this younger sister feels aggrieved for His Majesty!” Du Xiaoli said. “When I first heard that Changle was going to be sent off for a marriage alliance, I felt irrepressibly furious in my heart. Seeing how heartbroken Changle was because of this, I also felt sorrow on her behalf. But later, I gradually came to understand that His Majesty had no choice, and that Changle also has no choice.”

“His Majesty used the discussion of a marriage alliance in an effort to reduce fighting on the battlefield. Although it is the Northern Yuan proposing the alliance, if the peace marriage doesn’t work out, angering Zhao Zhen and leading them to resist until death, Feng Ming might not be able to win against them. Most importantly, if a war is started, there is no guarantee that other countries won't take advantage of the situation. In its current state, Feng Ming is simply incapable of fighting two countries at the same time. We don’t care if Northern Yuan is invaded or not, but we must consider the current state of Feng Ming.”

Hearing Du Xiaoli’s words, Han Mingze opened his mouth, but no words came out.

“In fact, Your Majesty can’t bear to let Changle be sent off for a marriage alliance, right? However you had no choice, because you don’t have the power to protect your people, to protect your sister, so you can only sacrifice Changle’s happiness! This is why I said I feel aggrieved for the Emperor and sorrowful for Changle,” Du Xiaoli finished, “Your Majesty actually knew about the matter of Changle and Ji Liufeng. But you chose to ignore it.”

“Yes, this Emperor knows of their feelings,” Han Mingze replied. “This Emperor indeed chose to ignore them. When Ji Liufeng came to me, this Emperor even ordered him not to speak of it in front of the civil and military officials, and that he couldn’t even tell Changle that he had come to me.”

“That’s why Changle resigned herself to what she thought was her fate, going off to the marriage alliance without resisting,” Du Xiaoli said disdainfully.

“No, Changle actually knew. Even so, she still didn’t say a single word of refutation,” Han Mingze said.

Du Xiaoli looked at Han Mingze, hoping, yet failing, to find evidence that he was lying. She couldn’t help but smile bitterly, “Is that so?”

“Because she knows it has to be this way. She is a member of the royal family, this is her duty.” Han Mingze sighed and continued, “Changle, ever since she was young, has been different from all the other princesses. Although she’s the youngest princess, she’s also the most understanding of them. If she was like the other princesses, ignorant of her duties, ignorant of what she can do for the country’s people, then perhaps she would have still fought for her relationship with Ji Liufeng. But it’s precisely because she understands, so she didn’t say anything.”

After Han Mingze finished speaking, both of them fell quiet. The Imperial Study was awash with silence for a moment.

Du Xiaoli also knew that Han Mingze’s words were true. Han Mingxiang understood this, which was why she didn’t say anything, only carrying all of the pain herself.

She suddenly had some trouble figuring out why Han Mingze had asked her to come here, telling her all these things. Was it for self-reflection? Or as an expression of fake sympathy, showing he had no choice in the matter?

If that was the case, why did he kick everyone out, only leaving the two of them?

What exactly was this Han Mingze trying to do?!

Only after quite some time did Han Mingze continue speaking, “You’re wondering what my purpose is in bringing you here?”

He hit the nail on the head!

Du Xiaoli looked up at Han Mingze, nodding in acknowledgement.

“This Emperor knows you and Changle have a very good relationship. This Emperor also knows that while you are unconcerned about people you don’t care about, you give your all to help those you do care about,” Han Mingze said.

“Your Majesty wants me to help Changle?” Du Xiaoli was somewhat surprised. Did he not intend to let Changle carry out this marriage alliance?

“It’s to have you help her, but not in the way you’re thinking,” Han Mingze said.

“This younger sister doesn’t understand what Your Majesty means.”

“This marriage alliance is something that can’t be changed. However, this doesn’t mean Changle will never return.” Han Mingxiang gazed at Du Xiaoli with a different, deep meaning.

What?

How did he know the intentions in her heart?

She had long ago decided that if Han Mingxiang had a difficult time in Northern Yuan, she would go and bring her back. Could it be that Han Mingze thought this way too?

“What does this have to do with this younger sister helping her?”

Han Mingze smiled and said word by word, “You, can help her. Only you, can help her.”

“This younger sister is afraid.” Du Xiaoli bowed her head and said, not understanding Han Mingze’s intentions.

“This Emperor will be clear with you. If Feng Ming grows stronger, even if you really do go and bring Changle back, we can still preserve our country. We won’t let Changle return and be at unease,” Han Mingze said.

“Your Majesty wants to unify the world!” Du Xiaoli understood Han Mingze’s intention and said with a cold laugh, “If that’s the case, why bother use Changle as an excuse.”

“Yes, this Emperor won’t deny that this Emperor has this goal. However, no matter what the starting point is, isn’t the end result the same? Furthermore, this doesn’t conflict with you helping Changle. To put it accurately, this is a necessary path to take for you to help Changle,” Han Mingze said.

MoonWhisperer, skyrise's Thoughts

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