Free Web NovelChapter 173: Chapter 172: Scattered Petals
The end of March had long swept away the bitter cold of winter. Although it was not yet the time for flowers to compete in their beauty, the freshness in the air was exhilarating.
The breeze brushed past, and blooming apricot blossoms swirled down with the wind.
One petal happened to land on Princess Nanyan’s dark hair, adding a touch of allure to her serene and gentle face, like the perfect finishing touch in a painting.
Du Yunluo’s gaze fell upon that petal, and she suddenly thought of Princess An Ran.
"The day Princess An Ran was married off, I went to attend the ceremony," Du Yunluo said softly. "She said your fate was better than hers."
Princess Nanyan was surprised, pausing for a moment. "I think she’s not bad either. A starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Marrying into the Enrong Bo Mansion, she’ll have a life free from worries."
Du Yunluo was startled by these words, murmuring "a life free from worries," finally grasping the unusual feeling in her heart.
Could it be that Princess Nanyan knew full well that her life would be far from as smooth as Princess An Ran’s?
Was it because she was at the center of a power struggle that she saw things so clearly?
This speculation, Du Yunluo quickly debunked herself. If living in the palace alone brought such awareness, how could the Holy Emperor remain indifferent to Prince Rui’s secret troop-gathering?
Considering the Empress Dowager’s concerns, she must be the last person wishing to see Prince Rui harbor dissent.
Then Princess Nanyan...
How could it be?
Yet, upon reflection, why couldn’t it be?
If she could start anew, why couldn’t Princess Nanyan?
This kind of experience is indeed extraordinary, but who can guarantee they’re the only one?
Thus, Princess Nanyan said they were alike.
Du Yunluo couldn’t help but gasp when she realized that before she understood Princess Nanyan, the latter had long understood her.
Du Yunluo wanted to ask, but for a moment she didn’t know how to begin. Hesitating for a bit, thinking of the situation, she asked, "Given that the County Princess knows she won’t have a life free from worries, why..."
Why marry Li Luan?
Just as Du Yunluo had told Princess An Ran, Li Luan would not listen to Nanyan.
Li Luan was born with charming eyes; even without a smile, his gaze was gentle like water. But Du Yunluo knew, Li Luan was not a kind or harmless person.
A man daring enough to conspire with his father to rebel and seize power, and then dare to kill his father knowing there’s no escape, how could he be gentle? How could he be harmless?
Li Luan had his own thoughts and plans, and Princess Nanyan was powerless to stop or change them.
In her past life, Princess Nanyan pleaded outside the Princess Mansion for Prince Rui Mansion, ending in suicide. Why bother to meddle in Prince Rui Mansion’s affairs again in this life?
For Prince Rui Mansion?
For Prince Rui Li Xiang who was already killed by Li Luan?
Thinking of this, Du Yunluo’s eyes tightened suddenly.
So it turns out...
This was the reason.
This was what Princess Nanyan meant by "we are the same."
Princess Nanyan noticed Du Yunluo’s expression changed, knowing she had figured out the whole story.
"Your arsenic, my honey," Princess Nanyan laughed, and the breeze blew away the petal from her hair as her gaze followed the scattered petals to an unknown spot.
But her voice, like a drumbeat, struck Du Yunluo’s heart word by word.
Her throat tightened, and her eyes couldn’t help but heat up.
Du Yunluo took a deep breath and said, "I thought I was already fierce enough, but compared with you, I feel inferior."
Princess Nanyan pursed her lips slightly, her smile almost imperceptible, tinged with a bit of bitterness and helplessness.
She liked Li Luan, unaware how it began, but on the day she realized it, she found that he was deeply embedded in her heart.
Living in the palace, she had seen Li Luan many times and spoken to him often since childhood. She even followed Li Luan out of the palace secretly, of course not just the two of them, but also Princess Yunhua, Crown Prince Li Ke, and Prince Cheng Li Yu.
The Li brothers could not endure Princess Yunhua’s temperament, reluctantly bringing her out of the palace, and Princess Yunhua would take Nanyan with her.
The last time they sneaked out of the palace, Nanyan was twelve years old.
That day during Shangyuan, there was no curfew in the city, and at the palace banquet, some were drunk, some were boisterous, creating an opportunity for them to slip out of the palace.
The city was crowded with lantern watchers, and they got separated while walking; only Li Luan was left by Princess Nanyan’s side.
Nanyan was somewhat panicked. If anything happened to the Princess, how would she explain?
Li Luan comforted her, took her hand and searched around for people, until finally all five gathered at the palace gate at midnight.
The next day, they didn’t escape scolding from the Empress Dowager and Empress.
Nanyan bowed her head to receive the reprimand, yet her palm was burning hot as if Li Luan still clutched her hand.
But those thoughts had to be buried in her heart. She knew she was without support, and her future was never in her own hands.
Later, Li Luan married Mu Lianhui, and Nanyan wept and resented, muddling through a year until she abruptly realized she had already been placed on the path determined by Princess Yunhua.
Marry a sickly man and spend her days with the Princess?
She knew Princess Yunhua’s temperament. She didn’t want to become a shattered porcelain doll someday, and she certainly didn’t want to become Shao Yuan.
Shao Yuan had always been frail and passed away from cold, saddening many yet not surprising. Only Nanyan had constantly worried, but unfortunately, she was young then, and many memories had faded.
But even if she remembered clearly, what could she do?
With only a few clues, she dared not tell the Empress Dowager and Empress, and even if she did, it would be in vain.
As the marriage between Princess Yunhua and Duke Zhen’s eldest grandson gradually came to the discussion table, Nanyan knew her time was running out.
She didn’t want to forsake her entire life, just as she didn’t want to forsake her heart.
Li Luan was already married, and as long as Princess Yunhua was around, even if Nanyan didn’t mind, she couldn’t become Li Luan’s concubine.
To distance herself from the Princess and get closer to Li Luan, Princess Nanyan’s choice was Prince Rui Li Xiang.
Disregarding the outcome, risking everything, she succeeded and was now standing under the rockery in the Cining Palace garden, entangled with the drunken Li Xiang.
She became Li Xiang’s second wife, angering the Empress Dowager and Princess Yunhua, but Nanyan didn’t regret it; gain always comes with sacrifice.
Princess Nanyan entered Prince Rui Mansion, and Li Xiang treated her neither well nor poorly. Nanyan didn’t care about that; she only wanted to see Li Luan.
Just to see him, nothing more. Her admiration deeply buried within, she dared not show nor could she show.
She watched Mu Lianhui give birth to Li Luan’s eldest son, observed their harmonious marriage until the Empress Dowager passed away.
Overnight, everything changed.
When she learned of Li Luan killing his father, Nanyan didn’t cry. She had no feelings for Prince Rui, but for Li Luan who staked it all, she ached tremendously.
Princess Nanyan knew well, if there were anyone Li Luan cherished the most, it wouldn’t be his wife or disciple, but his father, Li Xiang.
Killing his father personally, Li Luan’s internal turmoil at that moment, Nanyan could imagine. But Li Luan gritted his teeth and endured, so she wouldn’t shed a tear for him.
Li Luan didn’t need tears.
