Qi Zhenzhen's words to Princess Jinyue sounded like pure boasting. It wasn't just boasting about the engagement being approved by both families, but more so about Gu Sinian's affection for her. The hand beneath Jinyue's wide sleeve clenched tightly, her fingernails digging into her palm as if she felt no pain, only pressing harder. She did this because she knew Gu Sinian's character; if he didn't like something, no amount of pressure would change his mind.
She had a crush on Gu Sinian and had pleaded with her father, the Emperor. However, her father said he needed to seek Gu Sinian's opinion, and only if he agreed would a marriage be decreed.
Jinyue believed that as a princess, Gu Sinian would surely not refuse her willingness to marry him.
She waited, full of joy and confidence, for the imperial decree.
What arrived was a refusal.
Unwilling to accept it, she sought out Gu Sinian privately.
What had he said?
Power and beauty were not what he valued. What he valued was someone who could connect with him on a spiritual level. Otherwise, he would rather remain unmarried for life.
Was this Qi Zhenzhen the one who connected with him on a spiritual level? Jinyue's jealousy burned ever brighter. In her eyes, Qi Zhenzhen's only salvageable asset was her status as a daughter of the Changping Marquisate, but even that wasn't noble enough; she was merely a concubine's daughter. Although she herself was also a concubine's daughter, she was born into royalty, and even a concubine's daughter in the royal family was held in high esteem.
Gu Sinian choosing Qi Zhenzhen, who was inferior to him in every way, was, in Jinyue's opinion, a humiliation.
"Although it is an engagement approved by both parents, it is you two who will be living together after marriage. A Nian has a cold disposition; he might not always be considerate of your feelings. A young lady's heart is delicate; if she feels neglected, won't she have her little tempers? I'm not worried about anything else, only this. If you have a conflict because of this, and you are too embarrassed to tell him, you can come to me. I will help you speak to him." Jinyue's voice became even more tender.
Jinrong glared at her elder sister with resentment. These words were truly shameless; as a princess of the royal family, she was tarnishing the royal honor. Not only that, but her words made it sound as if she and Brother A Nian had an extremely intimate relationship. Qi Zhenzhen was about to marry Brother A Nian, and if she sowed discord and planted seeds of doubt in her heart, conflicts would arise later, wouldn't they?
At this moment, Jinrong could no longer heed her mother's advice to maintain a polite relationship with Jinyue and avoid conflict. On her own territory, her future sister-in-law was being bullied; if people found out, she would lose face too.
"The Eldest Princess worries too much," Qi Zhenzhen interjected first. "This humble subject does not find the Heir Apparent to be a person of a cold disposition. Or rather, while the Heir Apparent may be distant towards others, he is different towards me. I have many small trinkets that the Heir Apparent personally sought out and sent to the Marquisate; they are all exquisite and rarely seen. If he were a cold person, he would likely not make such gestures. Before he went to the border last year, the Heir Apparent specifically came to the Marquisate to bid me farewell."
Jinrong watched Jinyue's strained expression, feeling immensely pleased. She had spoken so venomously to sow discord, and now, with a few words, her future sister-in-law had doused her with cold water, while also showing off how thoughtful Brother A Nian was.
It wasn't that my Brother A Nian was cold-hearted; it was that you were not worthy of my Brother A Nian's tenderness.
Although Qi Zhenzhen did not wish to court trouble for herself, this woman was openly coveting her man. If she remained silent, wouldn't this person think she was weak and easily bullied, thus becoming even more brazen? Hmph, she was never like that. She had no intention of seeking connections with the royal family. As for Consort An, because she was Gu Sinian's aunt and couldn't be avoided, and her personality suited hers, Qi Zhenzhen was willing to associate with her.
But who was this Eldest Princess?