USWHC -Chapter 448 How Could You Forget Me? (Part 8)

Upon hearing her words, the old emperor let out a long, soft sigh. He lowered his gaze to his daughter, so delicate and beautiful, and stared at her for an uncertain length of time. Seeing no trace of anything unusual in her eyes, he continued, “If you have someone in your heart, you may tell me freely. I will have no objection!”

“My daughter understands, Father. You care for me most deeply; when have I ever hidden anything from you?” Princess Lanqin said with a smile. “I also understand that the arrangements you’ve made for me are the best. No matter how vast the world outside, it can’t compare to the comfort of life inside the palace.”

“Yes! Among all my daughters, you are not only the most beautiful but also the wisest. Only by marrying you to the State of Qi can I feel at ease!” The old emperor sighed softly. “And the Qi emperor is only forty-six this year—a perfect age!”

Upon hearing this, Princess Lanqin immediately nodded. “Yes! I also feel he is a good man. I can still receive fatherly care from him, and he has a delicacy that young men these days lack. It is truly the perfect age!”

Pfft. Could it be that Princess Lanqin actually meant that? Forty-six is fine as a father figure, she thought—indeed, it really is like fatherly care!

At this moment, both of them smiled happily, as if they both thought this was truly a wonderful thing.

Finally, the old emperor could no longer suppress a sigh. “It’s good that you think this way,” he said.

Suddenly, Princess Lanqin giggled. “But I don’t want to leave Father yet! You may not know, Father, but when I was lost outside, the only one I thought of day and night was you. To be separated from you so soon…I really can’t bear it!”

“I can’t bear to marry you off so quickly either!” the old emperor laughed. “Fortunately, the matchmakers haven’t left yet. Even at their fastest, it should take at least a month!”

“A month? That means I only have a month left with Father?” Upon hearing this, Princess Lanqin immediately jumped onto the emperor. What was she planning?

She ran in a circle around the throne and quickly pounded the emperor’s shoulders, cooing, “Then I must spend more time with Father! No concubine can take you away from me now!”

Hearing her playful words, the old emperor couldn’t help but laugh heartily. He reached out, grabbed her arm, and pulled her in front of him. “Alright, no one will compete with you!”

Princess Lanqin hugged the emperor tightly, exclaiming with excitement, “Father, you are the best!”

They embraced happily like this, yet in that very moment, invisible to each other, their smiles gradually faded, slowly disappearing until gone completely.

＊

“Has His Majesty gone to rest?”

When Princess Lanqin finally stepped out of the hall, she noticed someone waiting for her under the moonlight.

She gave her a silent smile and walked toward her. The two of them strolled quietly under the moonlight, walking for an uncertain amount of time.

Finally, Princess Lanqin spoke, “Serving such a capricious, suspicious, and distrustful old man—is this truly the life you desire?”

Capricious? Suspicious? Was she describing the loving old emperor from earlier?

The other let out a soft sigh. “I don’t know either.”

“If it had been Ji Mei back then, I’m sure she would never have chosen to enter the palace!” Princess Lanqin said with a teasing laugh.

Ji Mei? Back then? Who was this person?

“I had no choice. Everyone knew about the Sun family. If I stayed at home, I’d never have been able to marry. Here, perhaps there’s still a chance,” the person said softly.

The Sun family? Could it be…her?

“By the way, Princess Pingning has returned. Sister Hua, have you seen her?” Princess Lanqin asked.

Sister Hua? Who was she calling that?

Indeed, this was Hua Feixue, who had gone in place of Ji Mei to see Consort Li. But why was she dressed as a palace maid now? Could it be…

“I happened to run into her at the empress’s place. You’ve been confined to your chamber for the past few days, so you probably didn’t know. Princess Pingning is pregnant!” Hua Feixue said softly.

Princess Lanqin let out a cold laugh. “I doubt that belly is real.” Then she carefully reminded, “Don’t go near her. That belly could vanish in a moment!”

“I know!” Hua Feixue said with a sigh. “But I can’t provoke her anyway. My status now is different from before.”

At that moment, Wan Yue was already waiting in the distance. She approached respectfully and bowed. “Lady Hua, greetings.”

Seeing it was her, Princess Lanqin gave a faint smile and said to Hua Feixue, “I’ll be going back first,” and then turned to follow Wan Yue in another direction.

From afar, Hua Feixue watched her leave and couldn’t help but sigh again, “She truly is a princess.”