The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 305 Forced Marriage Before the Emperor

"Sister?" Jing Anle held up a wine cup, a smile on her face.

Jing Rou forced a smile. If she said she wasn't feeling well and couldn't drink now, what about the glass she had just drunk? She had really dug her own grave.

Just as she was in a dilemma, Qi Zhi across from her suddenly spoke up, "Rou'er is delicate, and I myself felt that this wine was a bit too strong. Why don't I drink this cup for Rou'er?"

These words almost brought Jing Rou to tears of joy. At first, she thought Qi Zhi would blame her, but now it seemed that Qi Zhi still cared about her. Her mother was right after all; men in the world love beauty, but they love power even more. So she smiled shyly at Qi Zhi.

Jing Anle readily accepted, "Of course. In a few days, you two will be husband and wife, one and the same, without distinction between you and me." After saying that, Jing Anle drank the wine in her cup in one gulp.

These words sounded particularly harsh to Qi Zhi. What did he mean by husband and wife being one? He, the crown prince of a country, was actually going to pick up a second-hand woman. How could he be willing to do that? Moreover, Jing Rou was pregnant with another man's child!

At this moment, Princess Yongping suddenly spoke up, "In my opinion, the Crown Prince Qi and the Princess are truly as sweet as honey. Brother, I think you don't need to worry about the Princess. They will definitely be a loving couple in the future."

Prince Qing looked at Qi Zhi and Jing Rou with satisfaction and smiled, then said, "It's all the fate and destiny of our children." Although he said this, he was secretly pleased with his arrangements, thinking that he had completely controlled Qi Zhi.

“Anle, since you are congratulating Princess Rou on her wedding, you are actually half a year older than her.”

"Your Majesty, why don't you also consider Anle's future?" Princess Yongping changed the subject and asked Emperor Jing.

Although women in the Jing Kingdom could marry after reaching the age of marriage, Emperor Jing was still reluctant to let them go. He wanted to carefully select a wife for Jing Anle and would not settle for a hasty decision.

Jing Anle naturally knew that Princess Yongping just thought she was an eyesore and wanted to marry her off.

"Speaking of which, Anle will be sixteen after the New Year, which is not young anymore. I think Yongping is right. Not to mention anything else, there are several princes and crown princes sitting below the stage, who are also very suitable for Anle." The Empress Dowager also chimed in.

Does this old hag even deserve to be called an elder? She actually talks about her granddaughter's marriage in front of a prince from another country, as if she's in such a hurry to get married. Isn't this just deliberately lowering Jing Anle's status? Her heart is truly wicked.

They knew that Jing Anle was favored by Emperor Jing, so they made their statement in public, hoping that Emperor Jing would publicly betroth Jing Anle to someone else. However, they underestimated Jing Anle's importance in Emperor Jing's heart.

Although Emperor Jing's expression did not change, his eyes were filled with a murderous aura.

"I will make my own decision on matters of peace and happiness; there is no need for Your Majesty to trouble yourself with this matter," Emperor Jing stated bluntly.

Perhaps having anticipated Emperor Jing's response, Princess Yongping added, "Your Majesty, you only care about your own love for your daughter. You should also inquire about Anle's well-being, since girls are the most adept at keeping their feelings to themselves."

Jing Anle really wanted to tear Yongping's face off. If she refused the marriage, she would be disrespectful to her elders, but if she agreed to the marriage, she would be promiscuous and wanton. Either way, she would be wrong.

So she simply said in a cold and honest voice, "Auntie is really concerned about Anle, but Anle is, after all, a person of Jing Kingdom. Marriage is also a matter of state, and naturally it is up to Father Emperor to decide. If Auntie really wants to organize the wedding, she should put more effort into helping Sister Laili."

This means you, a married woman, are meddling in other people's business.

"Anle, how dare you speak to your aunt like that?" The Empress Dowager's face turned cold.

Princess Yongping's face turned green with anger, but she still said aggrievedly, "Anle is right. I am Princess Yongping, who was married off to the southern border by the late emperor. I was just expressing my concern... Anle, please don't misunderstand..." Her voice even trembled with sobs as she spoke.

Everyone knows that Yongping's marriage to the Southern Frontier was a meritorious act in quelling the chaos, and that she was now being ridiculed by Jing Anle, which made her seem sharp-tongued and mean. Therefore, everyone looked at Jing Anle.

Jing Rou looked at Jing Anle with ill intent, thinking coldly: Jing Anle, let's see how you get out of this!

While some people were laughing at the situation, others were worried. For example, Jing Fengyao looked concerned and wished he could immediately defend Jing Anle. Lin Fei, who was sitting behind Jing Anle, felt the same way, since Jing Anle was also her benefactor.

Oh, I see. These two were putting on a show, waiting for her here. In front of so many outsiders, they labeled her as disrespectful to elders and mean-spirited. They really played their cards well.

Across from her, Xiao Heng also frowned deeply, his fingertips gripping the cup turning white. He had already made up his mind: if Jing Anle couldn't resolve this matter and was forced into marriage, he would propose to her.

Jing Anle smiled mockingly, rose and walked to the center of the hall to bow gracefully. “Empress Dowager, Aunt, Anle’s words just now were hurried because she was flustered. However, Anle thought that although she had come of age, Aunt was also eighteen when she married into the Southern Frontier. Anle still wanted to stay by Father’s side for a longer time and do more for the Jing Kingdom.”

These words made Yongping feel a lump in her throat. Back then, the late emperor delayed arranging her marriage, dragging it out so that she could marry into the southern border. It was all for the sake of the country. Now, her sudden insistence on marriage made her seem selfish and disregarding the overall situation.

Even though she knew in her heart that Emperor Jing loved Jing Anle dearly and would never use her as a political pawn, it only made her more resentful. They were both daughters of the royal family, so why were they treated so differently?

"Furthermore, Aunt, you have married far away to the southern border, so you are certainly not as familiar with the situation in Jing Kingdom as Father. Father will surely find a good match for Anle in this marriage. As long as Father gives the word, Anle will definitely obey."

"Now that Jing Kingdom is at peace, Anle also wants to stay by her father's side to fulfill her filial duties. I hope that the Empress Dowager and Aunt will not worry about this matter anymore." Does this mean that only you can be a princess sent for a political marriage? She, Jing Anle, can also go through fire and water for Jing Kingdom. We are all royal women, so why make things difficult for each other?

The Empress Dowager and Princess Yongping were speechless for a moment, and Emperor Jing then relaxed and nodded with satisfaction: "Anle is right. Let's not mention this matter again."

Seeing this, everyone changed the subject, and the farce of "forced marriage" against Jing Anle temporarily came to an end. Jing Anle also secretly became vigilant and knew she had to be more careful about the scheming of the aunt and niece in the future.