Chapter 103: Warning
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Yuwen Chu seemed to have anticipated that Jiang Shanshan would ask such a question. With half-lowered eyes, he said lightly, “There’s nothing you lack compared to her, it’s just…” He remembered the sentence Mingzhu had said to him before and smiled slightly. “It’s not that you’re not good, it’s just that we’re not destined for each other. You know, it’s like how you wouldn’t want to marry someone else, it doesn’t mean they’re not good…”
Simply put, he just didn’t like her. Even if you were the most outstanding person in the world, if I don’t like you, I still don’t like you. I like her, even if everyone thinks she’s not good, in my eyes, she’s still the best.
Tears welled up naturally in Jiang Shanshan’s pale cheeks, and she sobbed softly, “I understand. Your Highness likes her.”
Yuwen Chu didn’t answer her but turned to look at the gradually darkening sky outside the window.
This was equivalent to an acknowledgment. Jiang Shanshan felt intense jealousy for a moment, but her face became increasingly desolate. “Actually, I’ve known for a long time that you’ve always liked her…”
Yuwen Chu suddenly turned his head, looking at her coldly, and said in a low voice, “Since you know, why did you insist on marrying me?”
Jiang Shanshan elegantly wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and looked into his eyes sincerely, saying softly, “I didn’t mean to offend you. I just…” She couldn’t help but cover her face and cry again, “I just wanted to tell you, the more you like her, the more I admire you. I’m sincere, and you’re the only one in my heart and mind. Is it wrong for me to like you? Just like how you like her, it’s not wrong, it’s just irresistible love.”
It had to be said that her tactic of retreat and advance was very clever. Almost everyone opposed Yuwen Chu and Mingzhu being together, but she affirmed that it wasn’t wrong, but rather an irresistible love.
The chilling intent in Yuwen Chu’s eyes diminished, and his tone softened a bit. “Don’t say anymore. In the future, when you find another suitable partner, you’ll regret saying these things to me.”
“No, I won’t regret it! Why should I regret it?!” Jiang Shanshan, who had changed from her previous elegant and quiet demeanor, shouted at him excitedly, “Would you look down on me for this? Would you tell others about this? You won’t, because if you did, you wouldn’t be the Yuwen Chu I love. I like you, what’s wrong with that? It’s just that my temperament differs from Mingzhu’s; she likes to flaunt her love publicly, while I prefer to keep it quietly in my heart. We both have sincere hearts and strive for love. There’s no difference.”
Yuwen Chu frowned.
Jiang Shanshan’s words made him very uncomfortable because each sentence seemed to remind him that Mingzhu didn’t like him and that the person se expressed flamboyant and public love wasn’t him. However, Jiang Shanshan’s words didn’t leave any handle, but instead were all praises and affirmations. She also showed vulnerability, making him feel that she loved him like this, but he treated her so ruthlessly, which was truly unfair to her. But he didn’t want to comfort her, so he just remained silent, listening quietly without saying a word.
Jiang Shanshan cried until she was tired. Seeing that he remained silent, she felt extremely hopeless and said, “I haven’t done anything wrong… If you say you want to dissolve the engagement just like that, what am I supposed to do?”
“Don’t worry. Although I was unwilling to marry you at first, it’s been delayed until now because of me. I’ll make it clear that it’s all my fault and won’t involve you. I’ll also give you some compensation. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors outside these past few days; no one is blaming you.” Yuwen Chu looked at the darkening sky again, indicating that he intended to send her away.
Jiang Shanshan could tell that he was about to send her away and felt extremely resentful. However, she looked increasingly desolate on the surface. “Forget about any compensation. I don’t need it. As long as you’re happy, it’s better for me than anything else.” After wiping away her tears, she gracefully stood up to bid farewell to Yuwen Chu, choking up as she said, “After I go back, I will persuade my father to ensure that you won’t be troubled anymore.”
Yuwen Chu originally thought it would take a lot of effort to make things clear, but he didn’t expect her to give in so easily. Apart from her initial loss of control, she behaved very cultured, sensible, considerate, and clever. No matter how much he disliked her, at this moment, he could only remain silent and refrain from saying anything more unpleasant about the matter.
Seeing his expression, Jiang Shanshan’s heart settled slightly. With red eyes, she turned around silently and walked out. When she was about to reach the door, she suddenly heard Yuwen Chu’s deep voice, “You’re a very clever person, so regarding the recent affairs with Wusun, I hope you have nothing to do with it.”
Jiang Shanshan shivered and stopped in her tracks, turning to look at Yuwen Chu with a puzzled expression. “What does Your Highness mean?”
As the sky grew dark, the light in the reception hall dimmed. Yuwen Chu sat on the chair by the window, his sharply defined face partly concealed in the half-light. He spoke quietly, “I know you’re very clever, with many close friends. I also know that not only are you proficient in the language of the Wusun, but you’re also very good at socializing. In just a few days, you’ve become the trusted confidante of the Wusun Princess, and the Empress Dowager values you for it. That’s a good thing, but you must understand that there are some matters that you can’t simply meddle in based on your personal likes or dislikes. If you haven’t yet, that’s for the best. But if you have, then you need to be careful. Consider this a warning, and take care of yourself.”
He had no evidence, yet he suspected her. She had silently done so much for him, but he couldn’t see it. Instead, he warned and scolded her for Fu Mingzhu, who had never even looked at him straight. Why? Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense.
Jiang Shanshan’s expression went from puzzled to angry, then from angry to calm.
She stared at Yuwen Chu, completely forgetting all the etiquette and elegance she had maintained before, and sharply sneered, “What do you mean? Are you saying I interfered in something I shouldn’t have? Then I’d like to know, since you have accusations, there must be a basis. What exactly did I interfere in? You can’t do this. Even if you treat me like a discarded shoe, you can’t trample and defame me just because you want to give her a good reputation…”
Yuwen Chu coldly interrupted her, “Yuwen Xue went against Empress Dowager Min’s wishes and secretly got on Hei Mo’s carriage. Even if she doesn’t die, she must be in terrible condition right now. If you still remember your friendship with her, try to help her out.”
He said this with a calm gaze, without any anger. However, Jiang Shanshan instinctively felt that she shouldn’t continue the previous topic, or it would be very dangerous. So she panicked and exclaimed, “Is she so bold? I never expected that. I just introduced her to the Wusun Princess and didn’t expect her to do this…”
Seeing that Yuwen Chu didn’t respond to her, she blamed herself again, “It’s all my fault, I didn’t think it through. I’ll go find the Wusun Princess.” Without daring to look at Yuwen Chu again, she retreated with a despondent look on her face.
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