Chapter 456 We All Support You
"My… my Empress Mother… she…" she said, but she was unable to finish her sentence.
Yun Niang finally stopped smiling.
Princess Xiangyang tensed up again when she saw Yun Niang reach out for her head.
She instinctively wanted to dodge, but she realized that Yun Niang had no ill intentions. Thus, she decided to accept her gesture.
When she saw this, Yun Niang smiled faintly again.
She stroked Princess Xiangyang's head.
Then, she stroked it a few more times.
"Your Empress Mother is your Empress Mother, and you are you. How can we lump you two together?" she said.
Princess Xiangyang looked at Yun Niang, feeling a little incredulous.
Yun Niang smiled and continued, "You weren't even born when the incident happened.
"It's unfair to put the blame on you."
Princess Xiangyang felt very moved.
Yun Niang smiled again.
"As for you… Ling'er and I have such a background, yet you…" Yun Niang looked at Princess Xiangyang.
"Little girl, are your… feelings for my younger brother Ling… sincere?" she asked earnestly.
Princess Xiangyang's eyes widened.
Then, she blurted out, "I'm sincere!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she regretted it.
She lowered her head and dared not look at Yun Niang.
Being shy was one thing, but more than that, she was worried that Yun Niang despise her brazenness.
To her surprise, she heard Yun Niang's laughter.
Puzzled, Princess Xiangyang raised her head cautiously.
Then, she saw Yun Niang looking at her with a beaming smile.
Princess Xiangyang's little face instantly turned red.
"Sister…" she called out shyly.
Yun Niang looked at Princess Xiangyang with even more fondness and reached out to hold her hand.
"Since you like him, don't give up!
"My younger brother Ling is just a little awkward. After spending some time with him, you will know that he is actually a good person."
Princess Xiangyang was already in a daze.
She couldn't believe that Young Master Liu's elder sister not only did not hate her, but she also approved of her getting together with Young Master Liu.
"Moreover, according to my observations… that kid may have… Hehe! Some feelings for you," Yun Niang continued.
Princess Xiangyang was shocked and raised her head to look at Yun Niang.
Yun Niang nodded.
"It's true.
"You also know that my younger brother Ling was with me at Cloud Scent Court.
"Although he was just a performing courtesan, he still had to accompany patrons to drink occasionally. He did come into contact with quite a number of people.
"When he came into contact with many people, not surprisingly, he also met some who had true feelings for him.
"However, no one could stir his heart.
"Regardless of whether the other party was sincere or not, Ling always responded with the same attitude."
As Yun Niang spoke, she observed Princess Xiangyang's reaction at the same time.
When she saw that Princess Xiangyang really did not appear to despise her younger brother, she was even more pleased with her.
"As for you...
"Although my younger brother Ling tries his best to hide it, I can still tell that he treats you differently from others."
Princess Xiangyang's heart shuddered.
"Is what you said true, Sister?" She almost could not suppress the joy in her heart.
"Mm-hmm." Yun Niang nodded.
"Others only think that he is a friendly person and very smooth in dealing with people. But in reality, he is very aloof to the bone.
"It's too difficult for outsiders to enter his heart."
It was precisely because of this that Yun Niang was worried that her younger brother might die single.
It was not easy for a girl to appear who could make his emotions fluctuate. She didn't want to see him miss the opportunity just like that.
Princess Xiangyang's whole face blushed.
Then, she thought of something and a hint of self-doubt flashed across her eyes.
"But Young Master Liu rejected me outright before," she said.
Princess Xiangyang felt a sense of dejection as she recalled the day she had recklessly rushed to the other party to confess her feelings but was rejected.
If Young Master Liu was really interested in her, he would not have displayed such an attitude.
Yun Niang could see Princess Xiangyang's emotions.
She patted the back of the girl's hand.
"I'm his elder sister. I watched him grow up. How can he possibly fool me?" she said with a smile.
Princess Xiangyang's heart skipped a beat. She then looked at Yun Niang.
Just as she was about to say something, Yun Niang spoke again.
"In short, I support the two of you getting together.
"And I'm not the only one who supports you two. Your master and her husband also approve of this."
Princess Xiangyang's eyes flickered.
Yun Niang smiled and said, "If you still wish to be with him, I can help."
Princess Xiangyang immediately looked at Yun Niang.
Yun Niang continued, "Elder Cousin's business in the capital will not be settled so quickly.
"I think you two can use this time to get in touch with each other more often.
"If everything goes smoothly, I can go and ask my Elder Cousin and Cousin-in-law to ask His Highness for a favor to let you return to Mountain Spring Town with us when the time is ripe."
Princess Xiangyang's expression froze.
She struggled in her heart, but in the end, she still shook her head.
When she saw that Yun Niang was puzzled, she explained, "I... want to stay in the capital."
Yun Niang was astounded but then she thought of something.
"Are you worried about your Empress Mother?" she asked.
Princess Xiangyang lowered her head.
"Mm-hmm," she replied in a voice as soft as a mosquito buzzing. She was afraid that Yun Niang would be upset.
Yun Niang remained silent.
After a while, she sighed.
"It's good that you are so filial," she said.
Princess Xiangyang raised her head to look at Yun Niang and saw that she was not angry.
She lowered her head again. She felt a little guilty.
Yun Niang's lips curled up when she saw the girl's expression.
"Little girl, though you are willing to stay in the capital for your Empress Mother, it doesn't necessarily mean she wants you to do this," she said.
Princess Xiangyang raised her head and looked at Yun Niang again.
"When a new ruler takes over, all the officials in the Imperial Court are changed.
"After His Highness ascends the throne, he will definitely eliminate the remaining members of the Jia and Shen families.
"Although you are a princess, and His Highness may not make things difficult for you, the officials in the court may not let you off.
"In order to show their loyalty to His Highness, it is not impossible for them to scheme against you.
"Precisely because you are a princess, it is easier for you to be schemed against.
"Do you understand what I'm saying?" Yun Niang said with heartfelt concern.
How would they scheme? By arranging for marriage, of course.
For example, a marriage alliance could be arranged for her, or she might be tasked by the Emperor to win over the ministers.
A princess without any support and whose mother had a feud with the current Emperor would find it hard to get the respect she deserved, whether in terms of negotiating a marriage alliance or marrying a courtier or a courtier's son.
Xiangyang's heart shuddered.
When she saw her reaction, Yun Niang patted the back of Xiangyang's hand to comfort her.
"I heard Cousin-in-law say that she will bring you into the palace tomorrow to meet your Empress Mother.
"You can tell your Empress Mother about this matter. Listen to her opinion first," she suggested.
Yun Niang heard that Empress Jia had always doted on Princess Xiangyang. Presumably, she would not object to this arrangement.
Princess Xiangyang hesitated and did not reply.
When she saw this, Yun Niang felt relieved somewhat.
This girl's reaction at least indicated that she had taken Yun Niang's words to heart.
As for the matter of discussing marriage with Empress Jia, Yun Niang would entrust her Cousin-in-law to do this.
Upon thinking of this, Yun Niang quickly changed the topic.
She pulled Princess Xiangyang away and started to talk about other things.
By the time Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que returned from strolling through the night market, Yun Niang and Princess Xiangyang were almost done chatting.