0p0 Chapter 244 Three Little Guardians
Chapter 244 Three Little Guardians
As he said those words, his tears soaked her hair, and her eyes turned red.
How could she not know what he was thinking? But what could she do besides comfort him now that things had come to this?
“My lord, I know how you feel about me, but we have to consider the bigger picture. Besides, after today, you can regain your status as the Crown Prince Regent and get back the Tiger Tally. Miss Zhu isn’t demanding that you consummate the marriage, so what are you hesitating for?”
"I would rather the Emperor not grant my request and simply demote me to a commoner..."
"Ms. sir..."
She raised her hand to cover his mouth, fighting back the tears that were about to spill, and said with a smile:
"Even if you are demoted to a commoner, do you think you can really live like an ordinary person? No, you can't. If you lose your status as the crown prince, the final result will be: a tiger fallen into the plains will be bullied by dogs. Everyone who dislikes you will attack you. Neither I nor the entire Crown Prince's residence will be spared. Therefore, you should find a way to make yourself strong enough."
"Don't worry about that, the Lin family father and son have already promised me they will assist me..."
"Don't trust the words of the Lin family father and son too much. You can tell from Madam Lin that the Lin family members are kind on the outside but ruthless on the inside, and are not good people."
"Why do you say that?"
Wei Jianning looked at her with suspicion in his eyes.
"Mrs. Lin usually seems kind and gentle, not like you say."
"she……"
Before she could finish speaking, someone outside reminded her.
"Your Highness, it's getting late, it's time to go fetch the bride."
Upon hearing this, Wei Jianning's forehead furrowed into a deep frown, and Lan Zhi quickly smiled and reminded him.
"Husband, this is just a ceremony, don't overthink it, go quickly!"
It wasn't that she was magnanimous, nor that she wasn't jealous; she simply didn't want to show him her dejected mood at this time.
Wei Jianning hugged her again, then whispered reluctantly in her ear:
"My wife, wait for me to come back."
After she nodded, she picked up the wedding attire from the table and draped it over him, muttering to herself.
"I told you to change into something new inside and out, but you insisted on only wearing a coat..."
"It's just a formality. Miss Zhu only wants to be a few of the Crown Prince's concubines, not that she really wants to marry me."
"They fell in love with you at first sight..."
"Aren't you angry?"
He looked at her with a sinister gaze, his eyes filled with bitterness and longing.
He longed to hear her answer, but she spoke dismissively.
"If a woman likes you, it means my husband is good enough. I won't be angry. Alright, you go and pick up the bride first. I'll make some arrangements at home."
"Thank you for your hard work, ma'am."
He placed his hand on her shoulder, lowered his lips to leave a kiss on her forehead, and seeing that he could not delay any longer, he reluctantly left the house.
She felt a pang of bitterness in her heart when her husband went to welcome another woman to his residence, even though the other woman claimed that she only wanted the formality.
"Ah Qi..."
Ah Qi pushed open the door and entered.
"master."
"Go tell Steward Ling to follow the rules and not to neglect the newly arrived Consort Zhu."
Ah Qi pouted and muttered under her breath:
"Master, aren't you being too magnanimous? Someone is trying to steal your husband, and you're going to greet them with a warm welcome?"
Lan Zhi's lips curved slightly, revealing a troubled smile.
"Some things are not as simple as you think. Do as I say. I'm tired and want to lie down for a while."
"Then I'll help you lie down first, and then I'll go tell Brother Ling."
As Ah Qi spoke, he came over and helped her lie down, constantly offering words of comfort.
"Don't be too sad. Since ancient times, men with some power and status have all had three wives and four concubines. Besides, Your Highness is the Crown Prince. You should try to think more positively."
After sitting on the bed, Lan Zhi smiled helplessly.
"You brat, it's not that I'm being irrational, it's that you're being irrational! Go on with your work!"
Ah Qi then managed a forced smile, bowed to her, and turned to leave.
Lan Zhi lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and murmured:
"Xiaoxin, come out and chat with me for a while."
Xiao Xin blinked a few times and then appeared in front of her in a flash.
"Master, as a modern person, you certainly cannot accept your man marrying someone else, but you are in ancient times and have no choice in the matter!"
"Xiaoxin, do you think I was wrong? Am I stupid?"
“Master isn’t stupid. Master just knows how to consider the bigger picture. Xiaoxin thinks Master did the right thing. Besides, even if you tried your best to stop it, not only would you fail, but you would also be called a petty and selfish person. By doing this, you not only appear magnanimous, but you also appear to act with generosity and propriety. This was very important in ancient times.”
She took out the small bell hanging from her waist, shook it in her hand, and listening to the clear sound it made, she suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly.
"If my father were a high-ranking official in the imperial court, and my mother were a first-rank imperial consort, who would dare to marry into the Crown Prince's household and think of being my equal?"
After saying this, she couldn't help but think of Madam Lin.
She's a woman with a kind face but a cruel heart. One day, she'll make her taste the bitterness she's suffered today.
She raised her hand and gently touched her protruding belly, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.
"Sister, may we come in?"
She heard the voices of three children and quickly waved her hand. Xiao Xin disappeared instantly. She got up and sat on the edge of the bed, calling out to the outside, "Come in!"
The door creaked open, and three children rushed in like a whirlwind.
Mao Mao was the first to ask:
"Sister, I heard that the Crown Prince is getting a new bride?"
Wei Ming pouted, somewhat annoyed.
"Didn't he say he would only love you for the rest of his life? Why is he marrying a new wife?"
Nana was timid, but she still stood up for her.
"Sister, your baby is about to be born, but the Crown Prince is going to marry someone else. This is not fair."
She listened quietly to the three children's tirade, then suddenly a gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Mao Mao, Ming'er, Nana, I'm really happy that you came to care about me. It's true that my brother, the Crown Prince, is getting married. But you kids don't understand this. You'll understand when you grow up."
Wei Ming, enraged, flicked his sleeves and snorted.
“It must have been my grandfather who forced my brother, the crown prince, to do this. I’m going to find my grandfather now and ask him to rescind the imperial decree.”
As he spoke, he turned to leave, but Lan Zhi called him back.
"Tomorrow, don't do anything reckless."
"But...but what will you do if my brother, the Crown Prince, marries someone else?"
"This is an adult matter, you don't understand, don't meddle."
Wei Ming looked at her with a pitiful expression.
"But……"
"All right."
Seeing the three children's indignant expressions, she quickly advised them:
"I know you mean well, but you're still too young. Wait until you're older and able to protect your sister, then you can protect her, okay?"
After a moment of silence, the three children nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Xiangxiu hurriedly walked in.
"Your Highness, the bride has arrived. The Emperor, the Empress, and Consort Liang are also here. His Highness requests your presence in the main hall."