Chapter 428: Chapter 428

"What... what do you think, host?"

A barely perceptible glare was thrown at that mutt.

"As if I, your host, have the final say?"

Still, thinking of how miserable the original's last life had been, hard mode, once in a while, wasn't entirely out of the question.

An Ning rubbed her chin and couldn't help but muse.

Seeing this, the system in her spiritual sea couldn't help but click its tongue.

At the same time, inside a courtyard that screamed luxury.

The Grand Princess cast a glance at her son, her eyebrows lifting almost imperceptibly, then said leisurely:

"Well, what is it? You finally can't hold back?"

But it softened again soon after, and he hesitated:

"Fifth Young Lady doesn't mind, but you know my body, Mother. If something were to happen in the future..."

To be honest, had the match the other side planned today been anything but this situation, Xie Huai would never have interfered so directly.

She knew her unlucky son's temperament.

The Grand Princess gave the unlucky son a faint glare, snorted coldly, and a sharp edge flashed in her narrow phoenix-shaped eyes.

But the expression turned to slight disdain in an instant, and she glanced at him speechlessly:

"Huai'er, do you perhaps think that Young Master Wei's situation is much better than yours?"

Or rather, with that Fifth Young Lady's perceptiveness, if she truly did not approve of this marriage, could it have gone ahead?

Honestly, regarding her son's thoughts, the Grand Princess was not at all surprised.

That sort of vitality and vivid spiritual energy that was hard to ignore at a single glance—never mind her unlucky son, even she felt a little tempted.

"Fine. For being my own son, I'll only say this once today."

"Huai'er, I've told you since you were young, the important things, whether people or objects, you must keep firmly in your own hands. Relying on others is the least reliable approach.

Not to mention, compared to the Duke of Wei's household—though the Duke adores his heir, he still has several illegitimate sons and daughters.

Putting aside power and status, which house do you think would make her feel more comfortable and at ease, ours or the Duke of Wei's?"

The Grand Princess paused for a moment, then continued:

"You know my temperament, I have no time and no patience to trouble a young miss. Even if one day something really happened to you and you left no heirs, under the protection of the Grand Princess's Residence, she could still stay by my side, attend all sorts of events freely, and no one would dare gossip or bully her."

"But could that be done at the Duke of Wei's household?"

The answer, of course, was no, and Xie Huai understood that very well.

As for that Zhou matter, the Grand Princess couldn't care less:

"Rest assured, he's just a pretty face with no substance, a useless snack, and stupid besides. I'm long since tired of him; haven't you noticed I haven't used him much lately?"

Regarding reputation and connections, the Grand Princess spoke even more matter-of-factly:

"Merely a favorite companion. If every household had to be judged by those connections, Huai'er, your group of brothers and sisters would probably circle the Divine Martial Gate a few times over..."

When she finished, Xie Huai's mouth twitched involuntarily.

But her words were useful nonetheless. After a short silence, those present downstairs soon looked up:

"Please, Mother, request an imperial decree on behalf of your son."

Surprisingly decisive in this matter, the Grand Princess raised an eyebrow:

"What, won't you ask them again?"

Xie Huai answered, his expression showing a hint of joy: "When Fifth Young Lady mentioned Young Master Wei before, there was not the slightest hint of affection in her eyes..."

The Grand Princess stared at her son for a moment and couldn't help but snort softly.