Chapter 262 Live for yourself
Ever since the third prince of the Canglang Kingdom broke into Qianhuan's boudoir at night, Qianhuan avoided him whenever she saw him in the capital.
Fortunately, he is finally going back to Canglang Kingdom, because the king of Canglang Kingdom is seriously ill, and Qi Beiming must rush back as soon as possible to seize that position.
Before leaving, Qi Beiming found the fourth prince Teng Yaogeng to discuss cooperation.
Although Teng Yaogeng did not have the support of his prominent maternal family, he also won over many civil officials and military generals who were loyal to him in the court.
Moreover, the Fourth Prince also raised a lot of private soldiers. Qi Beiming had already found out all this clearly, but Emperor Jingxi was kept in the dark.
Qi Beiming hoped that Teng Yaogeng could lend him his private troops to help him seize the throne.
The Fourth Prince did not expect that Qi Beiming would not ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for help, but would instead ask him for help. After all, Princess Qi Jiaqing of the Canglang Kingdom was married to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
He asked puzzledly: "Why did the Third Prince ask me for help?"
Qi Beiming took a sip of tea and answered slowly, "Of course it's because I know that the Fourth Prince has this ability."
"Even if this prince has the ability, why should I help you? Your Canglang Princess is married to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. What benefit will this prince get from helping you seize the throne?"
"Fourth Prince, it is precisely because our Canglang Princess married His Royal Highness the Crown Prince that she can help you monitor the actions of the Eastern Palace at all times. I wonder if such a great gift is sincere enough to help you overthrow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"
The Fourth Prince was indeed somewhat moved when he heard this, "Are you serious?"
"As long as the Fourth Prince is willing to lend me troops, I will naturally do what I say. In the future, the Fourth Prince can find an opportunity to contact my sister privately. My sister will definitely be able to find an opportunity to lend a helping hand to the Fourth Prince."
The Fourth Prince still didn't quite believe it, "Why would the Princess of Canglang help me instead of her husband?
"Fourth Prince, because my sister didn't want to come to your Dayuan to marry. As long as you overthrow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince will come forward to find a way to protect my sister and let her return to Canglang Country."
This time, the fourth prince Teng Yaogeng finally believed it.
"Okay, then I will cooperate with you. I will help you seize the throne, and you will help me overthrow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Just like that, Qi Beiming returned to the Canglang Kingdom with the private soldiers borrowed by the Fourth Prince, and Qi Jiaqing did often inform the Fourth Prince of the East Palace's every move. When the time is right, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will probably be in trouble.
Since Emperor Jingxi took the elixir offered by Concubine Xue, he has indeed become more radiant than before. He even favored several young concubines for half a month.
There is no emperor in this world who does not want to live a long life. Emperor Jingxi now takes pills on time every day. He also treats the alchemist recommended by Concubine Xue as a guest of honor and obeys his every word.
One day, Qianhuan and Yinhua, the master and servant, went to the street to buy things. Qianhuan walked in front, and Yinhua followed behind carrying large and small bags.
I unexpectedly ran into Meng Yuanzhou, whom I hadn't seen for a long time.
When Meng Yuanzhou saw her, he immediately went up to her and greeted her happily, "Qianhuan, you're out shopping today too?"
Qianhuan looked at the young man in front of her and saw that he seemed a little haggard and no longer as lively and cheerful as before.
She smiled back politely, then said "hmm" softly, and then prepared to take Yinhua away.
Unexpectedly, Meng Yuanzhou called her, "Qianhuan, it's almost noon. I want to invite you to Zuixianju for a meal. Can we have a chat?"
Qianhuan wanted to refuse, but seeing his pleading eyes, she finally softened her heart.
In fact, Qianhuan didn't hate Meng Yuanzhou. If the eldest princess hadn't humiliated and threatened her, she wouldn't have avoided Meng Yuanzhou.
Qianhuan nodded, "Okay."
Only then did a big smile break out on Meng Yuanzhou's face.
After Chu Lan'er got married, Chu Yichen went back to his hometown after arranging the restaurant in the capital. After all, Qianhuan received a share of the profits from Zuixianju, so she would occasionally come to inspect the business of Zuixianju on his behalf.
Seeing Qianhuan coming to eat, the shopkeeper immediately and enthusiastically arranged a private room for her.
Qianhuan also asked the shopkeeper to find a table outside and arrange lunch for Yinhua and Meng Yuanzhou's follower Adong.
When the dishes arrived, they both started eating.
Meng Yuanzhou mostly asked Qianhuan to eat and kept picking food for her. Qianhuan felt a little embarrassed by his enthusiasm.
Meng Yuanzhou would occasionally look up and steal a glance at Qianhuan. Looking at the beautiful face in front of him, he couldn't help but feel his heart beating fast.
Sometimes he would regret why he listened to his mother and gave up on Qianhuan. If he had insisted, maybe Qianhuan would not be with Ziyu now.
He was the first to break the silence, "Qianhua, I will be getting married to Miss Wei next month."
Qianhuan smiled and responded while eating, "Congratulations in advance. Ziyu and I will definitely go to your house to attend your wedding banquet."
Meng Yuanzhou's heart was filled with bitterness. He laughed at himself and said, "What is there to congratulate? I didn't marry the woman I like."
Hearing him say this, Qianhuan couldn't help but put down her chopsticks.
She felt very sympathetic towards these ancient people. In this ancient society where filial piety was paramount, marriages were usually arranged by parents and matchmakers. The major events in the lives of these children were usually decided by a word from their elders, and they had no chance to choose at all.
Modern people are better. They value free love and can be with whoever they like.
Qianhuan felt that if she were asked to marry a man she didn't like, she would feel suffocated even if they were just living under the same roof, not to mention sleeping in the same bed with that man. The thought of it made her uncomfortable.
She remembered a quote on the Internet that said, "If I can't waste my life on the person I love, then I'd rather waste my life on myself. I'd rather let loneliness embrace me and let me immerse myself in the beautiful loneliness of one person than to touch bodies I don't like, respond to words I don't feel, or embrace souls I've never been moved by."
So in modern times, even if she is already an older single woman, she will remain single until she meets someone she likes. She even feels that she would rather live alone for the rest of her life than marry someone she doesn't love.
She really didn't want to see Meng Yuanzhou go down this path, so she looked at him and said seriously, "Meng Yuanzhou, people should live for themselves. Only by marrying someone you love can you be happy. If you really don't like it, don't force yourself. I don't want you to be unhappy in the future."
Meng Yuanzhou said dejectedly, "Qianhuan, you know very well that the person I like is you. Even if I don't marry Miss Wei, I can't marry the person I like because you already like Ziyu."
"You are right. The person I like is Ziyu, so don't waste your love on me. Unrequited love is not worth your effort."
"But I hope you understand that there are many other good women in this world, and you will always meet another woman you like in the future. Only by marrying someone you like can you get real happiness. As a friend, I also hope that you can get that kind of happiness, instead of being forced to marry a woman you don't like. Getting married is a very important event in life. This matter should be decided by you, not by others, even if that person is your parent. Of course, if you want to be a good baby and continue to listen to your mother, I have no right to interfere. After all, everyone's destiny is in their own hands. That's all I can say."
Qianhuan's words had a huge impact on Meng Yuanzhou, because no one had ever told him that he should make his own decision to get married, and no one had ever told him that happiness can only be achieved by being with the person he loves.
He asked back with some uncertainty: "Qianhua, do you think I can really control my own happiness?"
Qianhuan encouraged him, "Of course, as long as you have the courage to fight, happiness will definitely be in your own hands."
Meng Yuanzhou fell silent after hearing her words, and the two separated after finishing their meal.
Qianhuan didn't know what decision Meng Yuanzhou would make in the end, but she had said everything she needed to say.
She also knew that what she said was a bit outrageous and even shocking in this era. After all, people in ancient times rarely disobeyed their elders, but she still couldn't help but say it.
As for whether he is willing to live for himself and fight back, or to listen to the princess and marry someone he doesn't love, that is his own choice.