She didn't want to!
Jiang Ning'an kept shouting in her heart.
Who wants to marry him!
Who cares!
You stubborn mouth, say something!
But even though Jiang Ning'an exerted all her strength, she couldn't utter a single "no".
She wanted to shake her head, but her head remained motionless.
At this moment, the on - looking commoners around couldn't hold back anymore.
"Look! Isn't that Scholar - Probe Xu? No wonder he could become a Scholar - Probe. He's really good - looking!"
"Exactly! You know, there are so many noble young masters in the capital. In my opinion, none of them can compare to Scholar - Probe Xu!"
"Alas, Princess Zhaoyang is really lucky. First, she was born into a good family. Now, the man she has been pining after is pursuing her instead... When will I ever be this lucky?"
"However, look. Why has the princess been so still for so long? If Scholar - Probe Xu looked at me like that, I'd have nodded already!"
"There's no need to ask. She's just too happy to react! We all know how much the princess used to like Scholar - Probe Xu!"
"Makes sense, makes sense!"
The commoners were chattering away. Finally, no one knew who started the cheer, and after exchanging glances, everyone followed suit.
"Marry him!"
"Marry him! Marry him!"
"Princess! Happiness is right in front of you! Marry him quickly!"
In the crowd, there was a man in a white robe, looking as ethereal as a celestial being, but the smile in his eyes carried an indescribable sense of wickedness. Another man in a brocade robe watched the scene from afar. Even though his face remained calm, the hand hidden in his sleeve was creaking with anger.
Those voices flooded into Jiang Ning'an's mind like a tide, making her feel even more muddled.
No...
It's not okay...
She couldn't marry.
If she did, she would surely follow the same path as in her dream...
But in her heart, a voice emerged.
"Marry him. Isn't this what you've always wanted?
It was just a dream. People always say that dreams are the opposite of reality. Maybe if you marry him, you'll be even happier.
Marry him...
Marry him..."
The words "I do" were almost about to blurt out. But Jiang Ning'an bit her lip tightly first.
Dreams are the opposite of reality?
No! That dream was definitely real!
Only if she stayed sober could she turn that dream around!
She couldn't...
Even though her lips were bleeding, Jiang Ning'an didn't relax.
Seeing this, Xu Linchuan reached out and took Jiang Ning'an's hand in his.
"Ning'an, marry me. I'll make you happy. Trust me, okay?"
Xu Linchuan stared at her intently, his eyes full of tenderness, as if one could drown in them.
Jiang Ning'an had never seen such a look before.
She finally spoke, "I - "
Just as she uttered one word, her vision suddenly went black.
Xu Linchuan was stunned when he saw Jiang Ye suddenly appear beside Jiang Ning'an.
Jiang Ye didn't even look at him. He bent down and picked up Jiang Ning'an horizontally. His gaze paused on the bloodstain on her lips for a moment.
Just when the plan was about to succeed, it was suddenly interrupted by Jiang Ye. Xu Linchuan frowned tightly and stood up, shouting, "Who are you!"
They had met in the Imperial Study before. At that time, this man had also opposed him.
Jiang Ye glanced at him.
His eyes were cold and deep, with a killing intent in them. He was like a large carnivorous beast lurking in the depths of the jungle, making people shiver from the bottom of their hearts.
While Xu Linchuan was in a daze, Jiang Ye had already strode away with Jiang Ning'an in his arms. Lin Ji also emerged from the shadows and dragged Meng Chun, whose eyes were glued to Xu Linchuan, away.
—
At the Princess Dowager's Mansion, Jiang Ye didn't stop walking. Meng Chun, who had already regained consciousness on the way, quickly stepped forward and trotted to lead the way for Jiang Ye.
All the way into Wutong Residence, Jiang Ye placed the unconscious girl on the couch and then walked out without looking back.
Meng Chun knelt on the footstool, already in tears, "Princess, Princess..."
Perhaps her calls had an effect. Jiang Ning'an suddenly opened her eyes.
Seeing that she was awake, Meng Chun cried even harder, "Princess, you've finally woken up! That's great..."
Jiang Ning'an pursed her lips. A sharp pain came from her lips, driving away the last trace of confusion.
Recalling what had just happened, Jiang Ning'an propped herself up and sat up. She tentatively said, "Meng Chun..."
Due to nervousness, Jiang Ning'an's voice was tense.
Realizing that her body was finally under her control again, Jiang Ning'an let out a soft sigh of relief, "Go out first."
"Princess..."
Looking at her current state, Meng Chun didn't dare to leave.
"Go out!"
Seeing that Jiang Ning'an was angry, Meng Chun didn't dare to stay any longer. She had to leave while looking back three times at every step.
Hearing the sound of the door closing again, Jiang Ning'an closed her eyes.
A tear slid down her cheek, and soon, her face was covered in tears.
Since she had woken up, she had never felt out of control again. She had thought that everything would develop as she had expected. But tonight, why?
Why did that out - of - control feeling come back?
Why on earth?
Jiang Ning'an couldn't figure it out.
Was the so - called normality before just temporary? Now that the time limit was up, was everything going back to the original plot?
No...
Why should it be like this!
Jiang Ning'an grabbed the teacup on the bedside and smashed it heavily on the ground.
This loud noise, like a thunderbolt on a dry land, seemed to give Jiang Ning'an some inspiration.
If she was right, from today on, everything would go back to the original track. Then, if she just died, wouldn't everything be okay?
If she was gone, the emperor wouldn't lose the hearts of the people because of repeatedly protecting her, and he wouldn't even be killed in the end.
As long as the emperor remained as he was now, the queen and the crown prince would also be safe and sound.
That's right.
No matter how much Chu Yu stirred up trouble, at least she wouldn't cause the downfall of the court and make the people live in misery.
The current Great Yong was won by her mother with her life and was guarded by the emperor with all his might.
She couldn't just watch it go to that state.
As long as she died, all problems would be solved.
Jiang Ning'an turned her head and looked at the broken pieces on the ground.
There was a rustling sound of clothes. Jiang Ning'an stepped forward and picked up a piece of the fragment.
She raised her hand and gently pressed the edge of the porcelain piece. A thin red mark appeared on her finger.
It was really sharp...
It shouldn't hurt too much.
She was very afraid of pain.
Jiang Ning'an raised her hand and stroked her neck.
The pulse was beating clearly. Presumably, this was the vital part of a person.
As long as it was fast enough, it wouldn't hurt, right?
Jiang Ning'an took a deep breath. Her hand trembled but was determined as it moved towards the beating pulse.
She couldn't hesitate.
If she didn't die in one go, it would be really painful.
And it wouldn't look good either.
Just as she closed her eyes and was about to end her life, her wrist was tightly grasped by a large hand.
That hand was broad and powerful. Through the thin clothes, Jiang Ning'an could even feel the slight warmth of the palm.
Jiang Ning'an opened her eyes and looked up along the hand, meeting a pair of deep and dark eyes.
At this moment, there were emotions in those eyes that she couldn't understand.
It seemed like worry, like fear, and even carried a bit of... anger.