"Just because you couldn't marry Xu Linchuan, Your Highness, are you willing to throw your life away?!"
Jiang Ning'an blinked blankly.
What was he talking about?
Meeting Jiang Ning'an's gaze, Jiang Ye pursed his lips. He first snatched the porcelain shard from her hand and then said, "What on earth is so good about Xu Linchuan that makes Your Highness so willing to despise your own life?"
Jiang Ning'an finally came to her senses. "You don't understand."
It wasn't like that at all.
"I don't understand."
Jiang Ye really didn't understand. That Xu Linchuan didn't seem to be anything special. Why was he worth Jiang Ning'an going to such extremes?
Jiang Ning'an struggled out of his grasp and her gaze fell on the broken porcelain shards on the ground again.
The next moment, her body was lifted into the air.
It was Jiang Ye who picked her up with one hand and headed towards the soft couch in the outer room.
The weight in his arms was so light that it seemed as if he loosened his grip even slightly, the person in his arms would drift away with the wind.
He placed her on the soft couch. Jiang Ye knelt on one knee beside her and didn't get up for a long time.
Maybe it was because she finally felt safe, or maybe it was because this person in front of her had saved her at the last moment. Anyway, Jiang Ning'an suddenly wanted to tell him everything.
She wanted to tell him that she had been influenced and couldn't control herself just now.
She also wanted to tell him about the dream she had once had.
But those words seemed to be under some kind of spell. Her throat tightened and she couldn't say a single word.
"I..."
Jiang Ning'an tried several times, but it was all in vain.
She let out a soft laugh.
The next moment, big tears welled up in her eyes and fell on her hands one after another.
She had always been in poor health. As soon as she started crying, her vision went black and she couldn't even sit still. So she simply used Jiang Ye as a pillar and hugged him while crying.
Jiang Ye's body stiffened and he really became like a pillar.
Jiang Ning'an was sitting on the soft couch while Jiang Ye was kneeling halfway, which just allowed him to support Jiang Ning'an steadily.
Jiang Ye didn't dare to move at all and dutifully fulfilled the duty of a pillar. But his gaze never left Jiang Ning'an for a moment.
Through the thin clothes, he could clearly see a pair of thin shoulder blades trembling slightly.
Jiang Ye wanted to hold her tightly in his arms and keep her by his side.
Jiang Ye slowly raised his arms, but in the end, he could only loosely encircle her, letting her know that he was there with every breath she took.
-
Soon, Jiang Ning'an had no more strength to cry and couldn't sit up straight anymore. So she simply rested her chin on Jiang Ye's shoulder for a while.
Jiang Ye didn't say anything and didn't move either.
It wasn't until Jiang Ning'an had rested enough and sat up that Jiang Ye silently handed her a handkerchief.
After tidying herself up, Jiang Ning'an looked at Jiang Ye. "Aren't you tired of kneeling there like this?"
"I'm not tired," Jiang Ye said. "Your Highness should eat more."
Jiang Ning'an: ... What on earth was he talking about?
"Thank you for today. If it weren't for you, I would really be so angry with myself for the rest of my life."
Hearing her words, a light seemed to shine in Jiang Ye's eyes. "Your Highness means that you didn't try to take your own life because you couldn't marry Xu Linchuan?"
"Xu Linchuan isn't that important."
Jiang Ye lowered his head, seemingly relieved.
"I can't tell you about today's matter, but thank you," Jiang Ning'an said. "Consider it as me owing you a favor. If there's anything I can do for you in the future, just ask."
Jiang Ye wasn't polite at all. "Thank you, Your Highness."
"By the way, don't let Uncle know about today's matter."
The emperor had always been diligent in government affairs. In the past two years, he had wasted a lot of time because of her. She didn't want the emperor to worry about her anymore.
Moreover, nothing serious had actually happened tonight. Jiang Ning'an thought it wasn't necessary to tell the emperor and make him distracted.
Jiang Ye pursed his lips. "It's too late."
Just now, when he heard something was wrong outside, he asked Lin Ji to go into the palace in person to invite the emperor out while he broke into the room to buy some time.
Jiang Ning'an was stunned.
Before she could react, an angry shout came from outside. "Jiang! Ning! An!"
The next moment, the emperor's figure appeared at the door.
The emperor looked around and then walked towards Jiang Ning'an while rolling up his sleeves.
He had been too soft on Jiang Ning'an before!
Kids needed a good spanking!
He should have spanked this unlucky child when Jiang Ning'an was infatuated with Xu Linchuan. If he had woken her up then, there wouldn't have been these things now!
Daring to try to take her own life for a man!
But when he got closer and met Jiang Ning'an's red eyes, the emperor's hand hesitated and couldn't fall.
The emperor tried several times in his heart, but it was all in vain.
In the end, he let out a heavy sigh, resignedly put down his hand, and sat down beside Jiang Ning'an. "It's getting late. You can go back."
Jiang Ye left in response.
He walked very fast, as if he was running for his life.
Jiang Ning'an's resentful gaze followed him all the way.
This guy surnamed Jiang... She remembered him!
Only the uncle and niece were left in the room.
After a moment of silence, the emperor finally spoke. "Did you make such a fuss tonight just for a man?"
As soon as she heard this, Jiang Ning'an knew that the emperor had also misunderstood. She couldn't help but let out a sigh.
The emperor also sighed. "It's just a man. Is it really worth torturing yourself like this?
I didn't let you chase after Xu Linchuan before because it would have a bad reputation. Now that he has taken the initiative to propose marriage, even if you say yes, Uncle won't say anything."
The emperor's gaze fell on the pile of broken porcelain shards not far away. His pupils suddenly shrank and his heart was filled with another wave of fear.
"Uncle," Jiang Ning'an called him. "What are you talking about?"
The emperor gave her an annoyed look. "What? Are you going to pour yourself out like a basin of water?
Even if you get married, you're still Uncle's niece. Uncle will still take care of you and be good to you. Why did you have to go to such extremes?"
Hearing the emperor's words, tears welled up in Jiang Ning'an's eyes again. "Uncle..."
The emperor sighed. "Since Xu Linchuan has proposed marriage several times, if you really want to marry him, Uncle will issue an imperial edict tomorrow and bestow the marriage on the two of you."
"I don't want to!" Jiang Ning'an blurted out. "Uncle, I don't want to marry him!"
Although the emperor didn't know why Jiang Ning'an's reaction was so intense, he still nodded. "If you don't want to marry, then don't. I'll listen to you."
This little girl had grown up and her thoughts were getting harder and harder to guess.
The emperor couldn't help but shake his head.
Just as the emperor was recalling what Jiang Jia was like at this age in his mind, Jiang Ning'an's voice rang in his ear. "Uncle, do you believe in fate?"
"...I believe in it, but I don't accept it."
Jiang Ning'an didn't understand.
"As heaven changes through movement, a gentleman makes unremitting efforts to perfect himself," the emperor raised his hand and patted Jiang Ning'an on the head twice. "Read more books, child."
Jiang Ning'an pouted.
The emperor sighed. "Standing at the present moment, looking forward, everything is full of variables. Looking backward, everything is set. What's this about fate? The most important thing is to live in the present and not let yourself regret."
Not let herself regret...
A light seemed to flash in Jiang Ning'an's eyes.
Yes, who cared about fate? How could she not make a fight for it?
Anyway, no matter how bad the result was, it would just be dying one more time.