"Thank you, Your Highness, for your advice. I will surely keep it in mind."
On the surface, Prime Minister Cheng was in agreement, but in his heart, he had cursed He Lian Duo a thousand times over. Cheng Xiran knew this better than anyone else.
However, if she could think of it, He Lian Duo surely could too. This was a piece of cake for him.
After the two chatted in the front hall for a while about the recent happenings in the court, He Lian Duo excused himself, saying that he was going to visit the old lady.
The key thing was that this time, he didn't take her with him, just like before. People who didn't know any better might think that he and her grandmother were plotting something extraordinary.
He Lian Duo disappeared quickly, and Prime Minister Cheng's expression gradually returned to its usual indifference.
Cheng Xiran sipped her tea boredly when Prime Minister Cheng suddenly asked, "You and His Highness are not a good match."
Cheng Xiran couldn't help but smile. "Father is neither me nor His Highness. How do you know we're not a good match?"
Prime Minister Cheng was momentarily at a loss for words but quickly recovered. "If the princess of Yulin really comes to the capital to be with His Highness, then His Highness may marry her for the sake of the good relations between the two countries. Who do you think you are? Are you willing to be his concubine and be paired with her?"
Prime Minister Cheng's words hit the nail on the head. Seeing a slight change in Cheng Xiran's expression, he continued, "With your personality, I don't think you'd be willing to do that. Even though love in this world is moving, it can't guarantee your future. You're a smart girl. I think you should understand the stakes here."
Cheng Xiran gave a faint smile. After a long while, she replied slowly, "Father has thought so much for Xiran. I'm truly flattered."
Hearing this, Prime Minister Cheng gave a soft cough, as if trying to hide something.
As for Cheng Xiran, on the surface, she was calm, but her slightly improved mood had sunk back to the bottom because of Prime Minister Cheng's words. Even though she knew his purpose was for the Empress Dowager, she still felt secretly unhappy because He Lian Duo hadn't explained himself.
"Tell me when you've made up your mind. It's proper for you girls to handle the matter of annulling the engagement."
After dropping these words, Prime Minister Cheng got up and left the mansion.
Cheng Xiran had no appetite for tea, so she returned to her own courtyard and stayed there until the servant came to announce lunch.
It was obvious that He Lian Duo had a good chat with her grandmother, making her laugh heartily.
Everyone took their seats. He Lian Duo bypassed the main seat and chose to sit beside Cheng Xiran.
After all, they were acting, so she still showed her joy on her face. She didn't forget to serve He Lian Duo food, trying her best to act intimate with him, which made Cheng Zhiyue across the table throw a tantrum.
Mrs. Liu couldn't resist showing off. "We're going to the palace this afternoon to visit the Empress Dowager. Xiran, do you want to come along and have some fun?"
Cheng Xiran was polite and declined politely. "Thank you, Madam, for your kindness. But I have to go to the newspaper office to work this afternoon, so I won't accompany you."
The whole family was putting on a show of harmony here, but in fact, they were all scheming against each other. Because she knew this well and was disgusted by it, Cheng Xiran had no appetite.
There had been too many annoying things these two days.
"I have a friend who studies medicine. He used to travel around the world giving free medical consultations, and he's especially good at treating difficult and complicated diseases. He wrote to me a few days ago, saying that he would pass by the capital. He's already here. How about we take grandmother to see him this afternoon?"
The old lady just smiled. "I've had this cough in winter for many years, and the doctors have never been able to cure it. Let's not trouble Your Highness. It's not a serious problem anyway."
But Cheng Xiran bluntly exposed the truth. "Grandmother, I heard from Nanny Jin that you even cough in your sleep at night. How is this not serious?"
She glanced at He Lian Duo sideways and then said firmly, "Since His Highness has offered, grandmother, please don't decline."
It would be stupid not to take advantage of this!
Her words made the old lady a little embarrassed, so she had to turn to look at Nanny Jin.
The meal was quite harmonious, except that Mrs. Liu and Cheng Zhiyue seemed out of place.
However, this mother - daughter pair was invited to the palace this afternoon, so they didn't have the mood to argue with them. Soon after lunch, they swaggered off to the palace, taking a lot of gifts with them.
As for Cheng Xiran, she stayed in the mansion, waiting for her grandmother to take a nap and then accompany her to see the doctor.
To her surprise, He Lian Duo didn't seem to have any intention of leaving.
"What are you still doing here? The show is over."
Cheng Xiran whispered to him with a cold face.
But He Lian Duo still sat there leisurely, sipping his tea.
She got a little anxious and raised her voice. "I said, you can leave!"
She saw He Lian Duo frown slightly, his eyes looking hurt. He slowly explained, "Nothing happened between me and Hua Bairu. The reason I met her at the Huayan Pavilion that night was that I was actually looking for you, but I accidentally saw her being chased and killed, so I saved her."
Seeing that Cheng Xiran had calmed down, he moved closer to her and continued to explain, "The person I wanted to meet at the Huayan Pavilion before was also her. I haven't figured out the details yet, so I won't tell you for now. But I can swear on my life that I have no feelings for her at all."
Then he gently took Cheng Xiran's little hand and said softly, "If, as people outside say, I grew up with her, then why haven't I been with her for so many years?"
Cheng Xiran suddenly hated herself a little. Why did his few words make her anger disappear?
Anyway, the situation had been secretly reversed.
"Why do you explain so much to me? We have nothing to do with each other anyway..."
Cheng Xiran mumbled indifferently.
The next second, she was caught in the tenderness of He Lian Duo's gaze as he looked up.
"Do you really decide that you and I will have nothing to do with each other for the rest of our lives, no love, and just go our separate ways, each living a happy life?"
She didn't want to.
Before she could say this, the maid announced that the shopkeeper had come.
Cheng Xiran withdrew her hand, thought for a moment, and then playfully stuck out her tongue at He Lian Duo. Let him off for now!
When the shopkeeper came in, he saw the two sitting close together. He seemed to understand something, with a faint smile on his lips. He stepped forward and said, "Miss, the steward of the Minister of War's mansion is here. He said he'd like to invite you to his mansion for a chat after noon tomorrow."
He Lian Duo was stunned. "You know the Minister of War?"
Cheng Xiran first nodded at the shopkeeper. After he left, she said mysteriously, "What? You can keep things from me, but I can't keep things from you?"
He Lian Duo suppressed the smile in his eyes and said seriously, "This Minister Fu is an old fox. How did you get involved with him?"