Chapter 459
Chapter 459
After hearing the Empress's words, Cheng Qingli couldn't help but let out a self-deprecating laugh.
So her good sister also knew that she was engaged.
Then did she not know that Li Zhiwei was also betrothed?
Thinking this, Cheng Qingli looked at the Empress without any politeness and said, "So Her Majesty the Empress does know what it means to have an arranged marriage!"
The disappointment in Cheng Qingli's eyes as she looked at the Empress was impossible to hide.
The Empress, being gazed at by her beloved younger sister with such eyes, felt extremely uncomfortable, yet she did not regret her decision.
After all, she was not only Cheng Qingli's sister but also the Empress of the nation.
She could not selfishly follow only her own wishes; she also had to consider the people of the world.
In her private heart, she also did not want Li Zhiwei to marry the Third Prince of the Qinling Kingdom.
But her father's words rang in her ears like thunder; she could not act on emotion. She had to consider the people of the Luanno Kingdom.
The Luanno Kingdom simply could not withstand the oppression of the Qinling Kingdom.
Even if the Empress did not want to admit it, she had to face the fact: if letting Li Zhiwei sacrifice herself could bring peace to the entire Luanno Kingdom, why not do it?
She did not know why the Emperor had not agreed to this matter.
As the Empress, she could not allow the Emperor to make a grave mistake out of personal motives.
But when she saw her own sister address her as "Her Majesty the Empress" and look at her with such a disappointed expression, the Empress's heart ached.
Still, she did not change her initial decision to let Li Zhiwei marry the Third Prince.
Seeing the look on her sister's face, Cheng Qingli knew that her sister had not yet given up on the idea of making Li Zhiwei marry the Third Prince.
She did not understand why her sister could be so cruel. The Third Prince did not seem like a good person at all.
Why was her sister so insistent on Li Zhiwei marrying him?
Moreover, Li Zhiwei was to marry Prince An in just nine days, and that marriage was personally decreed by the Emperor Brother-in-law.
Did the Emperor Brother-in-law know what her sister was doing?
Or was this actually instigated by the Emperor Brother-in-law?
"Qingli, your sister doesn't want this either." The Empress's eyes reddened as she looked at her younger sister; she could not bear being looked at like this by Cheng Qingli.
She hoped to gain Cheng Qingli's understanding.
But Cheng Qingli ignored her sister's pleading gaze and instead knelt down directly beside Li Zhiwei.
She performed the most formal and proper bow to the Empress, as standard as could be.
"Qingli!" The Empress's heart tightened at the sight of her sister doing this.
She did not understand how her sister, who had only known Li Zhiwei for a short time, could oppose her, the sister who had cherished her since childhood.
Especially since she knew very well that once Cheng Qingli became stubborn, even ten oxen could not pull her back.
The Empress was truly worried that her naive sister, in order to prevent Li Zhiwei from being sent to the Qinling Kingdom, would offer to go herself.
If that happened, what would be the point of all the painstaking efforts she had made to secure her sister's engagement to Wen Zhaonan?
The Empress looked at her kneeling sister with reddened eyes.
She had held this sister in the palm of her hand since childhood. Even after becoming Empress, she had never made Cheng Qingli perform such a grand bow. Even in front of the Emperor, he had let Cheng Qingli be excused from formalities out of love for her.
"Her Majesty the Empress, your subject truly admires the Third Prince of the Qinling Kingdom. Your subject beseeches Her Majesty the Empress to grant this sincere heart and allow your subject's marriage to the Third Prince!"
Cheng Qingli, kneeling beside her, spoke with utmost sincerity.
Li Zhiwei felt that she understood every word, but put together, she could not comprehend them.
Why would Cheng Qingli do this?
Everyone, even Li Zhiwei who had only known her for a short time, knew that Cheng Qingli liked Wen Zhaonan. She did not believe the Empress was unaware. Now that Cheng Qingli had an engagement with Wen Zhaonan, her wish was fulfilled. Why would she give up this hard-won betrothal for Li Zhiwei?
"Qingli!" The Empress felt a wave of dizziness.
She looked at the kneeling Cheng Qingli in disbelief. What kind of words were those?
After her initial shock, Li Zhiwei felt a ripple in her heart. Originally, she had only asked Cheng Qingli to help persuade the Empress, not to offer to marry the Third Prince in her place.
Seeing the Empress looking as if she might shatter, Li Zhiwei came to her senses and tried to counsel Cheng Qingli.
"Qingli."
Li Zhiwei called out softly.
But Cheng Qingli did not look at Li Zhiwei. Instead, she bowed her head again with determination and continued, "Her Majesty the Empress, your subject's mind is made up. I beg Your Majesty to grant my request."
Hearing Cheng Qingli's cold address and resolute words, the Empress's heart ached with sharp, stabbing pain.
"Qingli, stop this nonsense!" The Empress finally found her voice and scolded Cheng Qingli.
"Your Majesty, I am not being childish. I am serious." Cheng Qingli had never looked at the Empress with such earnestness.
She knew that her sister was the Empress, and she also knew that the Luanno Kingdom needed someone to form a marriage alliance with that detestable Third Prince.
Since that was the case, she would go!
As for Wen Zhaonan, she truly did like him, but compared to the future of the Luanno Kingdom, she had to set aside her personal feelings for now.
The Empress took a deep breath. There was no way she would let her beloved sister marry into the Qinling Kingdom.
"Qingli, do not be foolish. The Third Prince has feelings for you, doesn't he, Miss Li?" The Empress looked at Li Zhiwei with a warning glare.
Her eyes were full of threat.
"Miss Li, I am also well aware that the Third Prince has his heart set on you, that he would have no one else but you. I also know that you were originally betrothed to Prince An, but have you not considered why Prince An left the capital at this time? It was to give you and the Third Prince time!" The Empress looked at Li Zhiwei, her tone heavy with warning.
The Empress's words made Li Zhiwei feel as if she had fallen into an icy abyss.
So, Xu Heming had left the capital to make her marry the Third Prince?
And that portrait...
Was it Xu Heming's way of making sure she could have no lingering attachments before marrying into the Qinling Kingdom?
At this thought, Li Zhiwei felt a chill run through her entire body.
So, her brother had long been gone, hadn't he?
With this thought, a bitter, ironic smile curled at the corners of Li Zhiwei's mouth.
"Your Majesty, if the Third Prince has taken a fancy to me, am I obligated to marry him? Your Majesty should know that in nine days, I am to be wed. That marriage was personally decreed by His Majesty. If I am to be married off to the Qinling Kingdom, should His Majesty not first issue an edict annulling my engagement to Prince An?" Li Zhiwei clung to one last thread of hope.
The Empress was at a loss for words. If the Emperor had agreed, why would she have come to see Li Zhiwei herself?
The Empress had not expected Li Zhiwei to be so ungrateful, unwilling to do even this small thing, and even dragging her own sister here to cause trouble.
"Your Majesty, Miss Li's heart belongs to Prince An. Why must you tear them apart? Your subject sincerely admires the Third Prince of the Qinling Kingdom. Why will Your Majesty not grant my wish?" Cheng Qingli looked at the Empress with displeasure.