Chapter Eighteen: Discussing Marriage

The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows and asked gravely, “Have you truly made up your mind?”

Her meaning was clear: the opportunity to decide her own marriage, to have someone speak on her behalf, was exceedingly rare.

If she remained in the palace, the emperor might, at any moment, in a fit of displeasure or for some unforeseen reason, send her away without warning. Such reasoning, Jin’an understood well.

But what could she do now? The true cause she could not bring herself to tell the Empress Dowager.

Had she been the beloved Guli, she could act without care, but she had grown up treading carefully in this palace, living as though walking on thin ice.

She dared not speak. She was merely an unloved princess, while the one she cared for had just returned triumphant, honored for his military achievements, young and promising, the emperor’s favored courtier.

His prospects were bright, and his marriage would surely be determined by the emperor; how could she risk telling the Empress Dowager such a thing?

Furthermore, she did not even know what General Chang’an thought of her. If she were to reveal her feelings rashly, it would only burden him.

Perhaps, if she remained in the palace, even meeting him would become awkward and uncomfortable; rather than risk that, it was better to say nothing for now. If, in time, their feelings became mutual, and he sought the emperor’s permission for marriage based on his merits, the emperor would likely not refuse, and everything would fall into place.

Jin’an bit her lip and nodded firmly. “Yes, I understand, but I truly do not wish to marry yet.”

Her answer was so resolute that the Empress Dowager could say nothing more. She let out a deep sigh and nodded, turning her gaze to Guli beside her.

For Princess Jin’an, the Empress Dowager had already acted with utmost kindness. After all, due to her mother, the Empress Dowager did not like her from the heart, but she was royal blood. If she were to personally arrange a marriage for Jin’an, the emperor, no matter his dislike, would not object.

But now, such a golden opportunity had been wasted by Jin’an herself. From now on, her fate would be decided only by the emperor.

As for Guli, she was the Empress Dowager’s cherished child. Among the noble families, many young men were excellent matches, though Guli was still young, she was old enough to discuss marriage. Smiling, the Empress Dowager asked, “Guli, have you taken a liking to any of the young gentlemen?”

Guli had been listening intently to the conversation between the two. She understood Jin’an’s refusal, but for reasons she could not name, the thought brought her a strange discomfort.

Before she could dwell on it, the Empress Dowager turned her attention to Guli.

Guli, with no mind for such matters, shook her head at once. “No, no.”

All the sons of noble families were here, distinguished and talented, yet neither princess had chosen any of them.

The Empress Dowager could not fathom what these young girls were thinking. With so many young men of good lineage, appearance, and character, were they waiting for some celestial figure?

Seeing that the Empress Dowager’s efforts were not yielding any results, the Empress quickly interjected with a smile, “Guli is still young, her thoughts are likely all on food and entertainment. How could she care for any young gentlemen? Besides, I believe that none of these young men are truly worthy of our Guli.”

“That is true,” the Empress Dowager replied.

This princess, cherished above all, was the very embodiment of royal grace in Li Dynasty; naturally, no ordinary man could be her match. Yet, all the eligible young nobles in the capital were present. If they waited another year or two, the marriage must be discussed eventually. If Guli continued with such childish temperament, she might end up spending her days in the palace well into old age.