Sheng Jinyu's gaze shot over like a blade. He stood up and walked forward step by step. Lu Wanning stepped back step by step, but there was a wall behind her, a white wall. She had nowhere to retreat.
The person in front of her turned into a devil with fangs. It pounced on her all of a sudden, opening its blood - red mouth wide, trying to swallow Lu Wanning and the Lu Cheng in her arms in one gulp...
"Ah..."
Lu Wanning's scream pierced the sky.
...
Chaos reigned in the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion. Princess Zhaoyang was ill. Ever since she woke up from a nightmare one morning, she had been in a daze all day long. She had a poor appetite and couldn't sleep at all.
The princess consort accompanied Lu Wanning every day and never left her side even at night, but she couldn't relieve Lu Wanning's sorrow in the slightest.
And the imperial physicians came one after another every day to feel her pulse, but they all shook their heads, saying that an ailment of the heart had no cure and that the knot in her heart needed to be untied.
The princess consort was so anxious that she paced back and forth: "My dear Ning'er, please tell mother what's troubling you. Tell mother, and mother will find a way."
However, Lu Wanning just shed tears and refused to say a single word.
Should she break off the engagement? Would everything get better after that? Relying on the emperor's and her parents' doting, they would surely find her a satisfactory husband. As long as the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion remained intact, the imperial son - in - law would surely treat her well.
But what about her? She wasn't from this world. She couldn't accept a marriage without love. She couldn't accept kindness out of fear of her family background. She had finally fallen in love with someone. Was it all going to end like this without a trace?
What would happen if she really got married and became the Crown Princess and then the Queen? Wasn't the cannibal - like Sheng Jinyu in her dream just his usual cold appearance? Maybe the warmth and cheerfulness were just for her parents' ears?
Otherwise... otherwise, four days had passed. The news of her illness had spread all over the capital, but he hadn't come to see her even once?
Although betrothed couples weren't supposed to meet, rules were made by humans. If he really cared about her, how could he be bound by etiquette?
Thinking of this, Lu Wanning cried even more sadly.
It was Jiang Shishi who rushed over to the door. She bowed to the princess consort: "Princess Consort, Shishi thinks that Ning'er is just a bit nervous because her wedding is approaching, which is why she's like this. Please don't be too worried."
Although Jiang Shishi had been betrothed early, He Nanfeng had discussed with her to postpone the wedding for another half a year. It was only half a year until the complete downfall of the He family. He wanted to continue to pay tribute to his early - deceased parents, and Jiang Shishi understood him very much and was willing to wait for another half a year.
So Lu Wanning's wedding was earlier than Jiang Shishi's.
The princess consort was extremely anxious. She asked Jiang Shishi: "Really? How can I not be worried? She's been like this for four days. I wonder if she was scared. I even thought of finding someone to do some divination and exorcise the evil spirits..."
Jiang Shishi immediately stopped her: "Princess Consort, the Master said not to talk about strange, violent, disorderly, and supernatural things. His Majesty dislikes the art of warding off evil. Please don't say such things again."
The princess consort realized she had said something wrong and just hung her head without saying a word.
Then Zhen Yan stepped forward and said with a smile: "Princess Consort, Sister Jiang and I have come to accompany Ning'er. Maybe we can untie the knot in her heart. Please don't worry."
The princess consort then nodded and got up helplessly. She held Jiang Shishi's and Zhen Yan's hands: "Shishi, Ayan, you've been Ning'er's good friends since childhood. She won't tell me many things. If she can pour out her heart to you, please help her as much as you can."
After getting the promises from Jiang Shishi and Zhen Yan, the princess consort left reluctantly.
Zhen Yan immediately lay down on the bed and patted Lu Wanning's arm: "No way, no way. How did you get yourself into this state? You're going to be the Crown Princess. What's bothering you?"
Jiang Shishi told the maids to go out. Then she sat on a stool beside and sized up Lu Wanning carefully. Seeing her full of sorrow, she didn't seem to be ill but rather over - thinking.
"Ning'er, now it's just me and Ayan. Just say whatever you want. We won't tell anyone."
Only then did Lu Wanning raise her head, wipe away her tears, and ask: "Sister Jiang, Sister Zhen, is it really good to be the Crown Princess?"
Jiang Shishi and Zhen Yan glanced at each other and asked curiously: "You don't want to be the Crown Princess?"
Lu Wanning sighed deeply: "I'm already a princess. Is it better to be a princess or the Crown Princess?"
Jiang Shishi thought for a while and said: "The Crown Princess will be the future Queen. In terms of status, the Queen is the mother of the country, so her power is much greater than that of a princess."
Zhen Yan continued: "That's true. But once you enter the palace and become the Queen, there will be many restrictions. Naturally, it won't be as care - free as being a princess."
Jiang Shishi added: "But you've already been betrothed to the Crown Prince. Everything in the future won't be up to you. Moreover, if you break off the engagement now, I'm afraid... it will arouse the dissatisfaction of the court officials. Those old officials' words are so harsh. You... Of course, you're used to doing things your own way. But for a woman whose wedding is approaching and whose fiancé is the Crown Prince, even if she breaks off the engagement, who else would dare to marry her?"
Zhen Yan shook her head and said: "No, I don't agree with Sister Jiang. Ning'er, if you really don't want to, relying on the emperor's love for you, he won't force you. As for the future, if a man really loves you, he won't mind that you were once betrothed to the Crown Prince. If he really minds this, then he doesn't really like you. It's better not to marry him."
Lu Wanning frowned and didn't say a word.
Jiang Shishi sighed deeply: "Ning'er, you once said that you were in love with him and wanted to spend the rest of your life with him. He also promised you for life in the main hall. Such a relationship is not comparable to that of ordinary people. Are you going to back out at the last minute when the wedding is approaching? However, although Sister Ayan and I have different opinions, our feelings for you are the same. We will support you no matter what decision you make."
Lu Wanning looked up at her two sisters with red - rimmed eyes and choked: "I... don't know how to make a choice."
Jiang Shishi hugged her into her arms: "If you don't know what to do, just close your eyes and feel your heart. Is your love for him strong enough for you to give up everything and run to him?"
Lu Wanning asked: "But what if he betrays me..."
"What will you do if he betrays you?"
This question made Lu Wanning suddenly enlightened. What will I do if he betrays me?
She looked up at Jiang Shishi: "I'll leave him."
Seeing that her eyes were clear, Zhen Yan felt a little relieved: "But why hasn't he come to see you during these days when you've been ill?"
Jiang Shishi explained: "Didn't the Crown Prince tell you? Five days ago, he was ordered to send the deposed king to the imperial mausoleum. It will take about ten days for the round - trip. At this time, he probably hasn't returned yet."
Five days ago? Lu Wanning was stunned. Sheng Jinyu did send someone to deliver a letter that day. It was very late at that time. She was lying in bed letting the maids massage her. She thought she would read the letter after the massage, but the massage made her fall asleep.
When she woke up, she was haunted by the nightmare. How could she still remember that letter?
Just then, a voice came from outside: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you can't go in..."