A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1416 - 1414: Time Reveals a Person’s Heart

There’s a rumor in the martial world: those who roam must eventually settle their debts.

Right now... no one understands this more profoundly than Nan Yunze.

After County Princess Yilan completely lost heart for him.

Curiously, he suddenly found himself appreciating her good qualities and tried cozying up occasionally.

But... it seemed to be a little too late.

Yilan was now entirely focused on quickly arranging concubines for him, oh right, marrying wives was okay too, preferably with an immediate separation.

A woman who escapes the bonds of love is rationally terrifying.

Yet the more she behaved this way, the more it seemed to entice Nan Yunze.

As the saying goes, time reveals true character.

Being a pure steel straight man with a strong male chauvinism, Nan Yunze finally realized the true nature of the two women around him with the help of time.

So he wanted to pick up the pieces and mend the relationship.

True to his words, from the day he had this epiphany, Nan Yunze got on the right track.

Today he brought some small gifts while strolling the streets, tomorrow he personally accompanied a horseback ride in the city, and the day after, he found time to go to the theater with his wife.

These actions pleased Yilan greatly.

However, that was the limit of her feelings.

She now neither accepts nor rejects.

She keeps the gifts given and accepts the kindness shown, but as for reconciliation? Sorry, not possible!

Yue Er fully supported this.

"I think you did well!"

"Seeing you move on makes me glad!"

Yilan smiled with some regret.

"It’s all my fault for being stubborn back then. Though I’ve moved on now, I’ve still caused pain to my parents!"

Yue Er waved her hand.

"It’s no big deal!"

"Uncle and Aunt won’t mind; they still want you to be happy!"

Yilan giggled.

"That’s good!"

"I’m happy, truly happy. In the years I’ve been married, I’ve never been as happy as these days!"

Yue Er picked a lychee and popped it into her mouth, speaking casually.

"If Nan Yunze had woken up sooner, I might have even spoken a few words in his favor!"

"But now... I can’t be bothered to deal with him!"

Yilan raised an eyebrow.

"Fine!"

"So what if this marriage is not meant to be? You don’t have to dwell on it!"

"I’m still pure and innocent, with no regrets!"

After speaking, her face changed and she gritted her teeth angrily.

"Count Nan Yunze lucky to still be a man! If he didn’t have feelings, he wouldn’t keep me for himself!"

"If he dared fool me and then abandon me, I’d kill him before agreeing to divorce him easily!"

Yue Er nodded.

"Well said!"

"Not desiring something he didn’t like; at least he has a conscience for that!"

Yilan picked up her fan and fanned herself, speaking with openness.

"No more dwelling!"

"Yue Er, how have you been recently? What about Wei Yu?"

Yue Er thought for a moment and replied.

"I’m just the same as always; everything’s quite good in the palace!"

"Wei Yu has decided to become a nun, reportedly under life-threatening pressure, which has caused Aunt Chen to faint several times out of anger, threatening to sever the mother-daughter relationship!"

Yilan smiled.

"I used to think she was crazy, but now... I think she understands life more than any of us!"

"No matter what others say, I still wish she gets to live the life she wants!"

"Mm!"

Yue Er nodded.

The two chatted for a bit more.

Somehow, the conversation turned to Shih Shaoling.

Yilan smiled mysteriously.

"Yue Er, could it be you like him?"

"Otherwise, why do you always bring him up whenever you visit me?"

Yue Er’s face turned a little awkward and surprised.

"Really?"

Yilan nodded.

"Yes!"

She set down her fan, counting on her fingers with a smile.

"You reckon, I’m only a year older than you, yet I’ve been married for so long, but you haven’t even talked about marriage!"

"The Emperor and Empress are really reluctant to let you go!"

"However... there’s an old saying, a grown daughter can’t be kept at home..."

Yue Er’s face became even more uncomfortable.

"You..."

"Don’t say it like that!"

"Nothing like that!"

"I’m just busy reading books and practicing martial arts, that’s why I only come across those few people!"

"But..." Yilan persisted.

"But then, why don’t I hear you mention anyone else?"

"Apart from sometimes mentioning the Crown Prince, other people, you rarely talk about your third brother or fourth brother, but Shih Shaoling..."

Yue Er felt a bit guilty, her palms started to sweat uncontrollably.

"No... nothing!"

Yilan chuckled softly and came closer to ask.

"Come on, tell me, do you like him? How far have things progressed?"

"I’ll help you judge!"

Yue Er’s expression grew more awkward, stammering for a long time without managing a word.

Yilan couldn’t help but say.

"Hey, you’re always the straightforward one!"

"What’s going on today?"

"A grown man should marry, and a grown woman should wed; there’s nothing embarrassing about it, come on, just tell!"

Yue Er also felt she was being coy and finally took a deep breath, waving her hand decisively.

"Forget it, forget it, if I say there’s nothing then there’s nothing!"

"He saved me last time, I just keep thinking about repaying that favor!"

"However... that guy doesn’t have a clue!"

"I sent him gifts, he didn’t want them; invited him for drinks, he didn’t go, always having a cold demeanor. It’s not like I don’t feel anxious over this!"

Yilan nodded at her forehead and asked.

"So do you... always want to see him?"

"Thinking about seeing him when you can’t, and feeling flustered when you do?"

Yue Er nodded blankly.

"Yes, I just want to repay him!"

Yilan clapped her hands.

"That’s it!"

"Stop finding excuses; you totally like him!"

Yue Er: "..."

...

Riding back to the palace in the evening.

Yue Er wore a veil while on horseback, feeling somewhat distracted.

’Like?’ she thought.

She only wanted to repay a favor, how did it turn into liking?

But saying she doesn’t like him... wouldn’t be right either.

Shih Shaoling seemed different from a year or two ago.

He wasn’t as talkative as during childhood; sometimes, he was actually quite understanding.

When she was upset and vented by playing polo, he purposely lost to her.

When she accidentally sprained her ankle during martial arts practice, he publicly removed her shoes and socks to stabilize her injury.

When she was bored with nowhere to go, he embarrassingly took her for a stroll in the countryside.

When she was bullied while out in plain clothes, he barely managed to stop short of sending the offenders to meet Yama, the King of Hell.

These incidents happened gradually without notice.

At the time, they didn’t seem significant, but now in hindsight...

"Yue Er? Yue Er?"

Xia Ruqing looked at the distracted Yue Er, who was about to bump into a pillar, and couldn’t help but call to her.

Yue Er suddenly snapped back to reality, seeing her mother’s concerned gaze.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she softly called out.

"Mother!"

Xia Ruqing’s heart instantly melted.

She gently cupped her daughter’s face, fair as jade with bright eyes and white teeth, and softly said.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Today’s a rare day of rest for you, how come you’re not happy?"

"Did something happen outside the palace?"

Yue Er quickly shook her head.

"No, I just went to see Yilan, nowhere else!"