Chapter 1758: Chapter 1758

Chapter 1758: 062, I do.

He Lienuo spoke very humbly, saying that if this official daughter was already betrothed, he would have to give up; if not, perhaps she could be considered as a candidate for a marriage alliance.

These words were very pleasant to the Old Emperor’s ears, and he immediately laughed and nodded, asking which family’s young lady had the great fortune to catch his attention.

He Lienuo smiled meaningfully, his enchanting phoenix eyes flowing as they swept over each of the young ladies in the grand hall.

Finally, they settled on one spot.

“Is this the young lady of the Cheng family, Miss Cheng Yuexiu?”

Cheng Yuexiu suddenly looked up, her face full of bewilderment. Among the dozens of unmarried young ladies in the grand hall, how had such a matter landed on her?

No, no, I don’t want to marry!

Cheng Yuexiu instinctively wanted to shake her head in denial, but before she could make a move, she was already stopped by the look in her father’s eyes.

What did that mean? Why was there a familiar yet inexplicable unease in her father’s eyes?

It couldn’t be, could it? Hadn’t her father already chosen the top scholar Ma Junying for her? Why would he have a change of heart and let her marry into Xiliang for a marriage alliance?

Cheng Yuexiu’s internal turmoil went unnoticed by others. The people in the grand hall looked at her with eyes full of either jealousy, sympathy, regret, or schadenfreude.

The Old Emperor had no particular impression of these official daughters, and Empress Su was preoccupied with the incident of exchanging glances with Princess Cuiwei earlier, so she didn’t notice the inquisitive look the Old Emperor gave her.

Consort Shu immediately gave the Old Emperor a tacit look, informing him that the young lady was indeed the daughter of Sir Cheng, Miss Cheng Yuexiu.

The Old Emperor nodded and smiled, saying, “Could it be that the young lady the Crown Prince Helian has chosen is this Miss Cheng?”

“To be honest with Your Majesty, I have long noticed this Miss Cheng. It was only because Consort Liu strongly recommended Miss Yan earlier that I almost missed the chance with Miss Cheng. I just wonder if this Miss Cheng, like Miss Yan, is already betrothed?” For more chapters visit novel~fire~net

It was clearly stated earlier that if she were already betrothed, they would have to choose another person.

Immediately, many people’s expressions changed.

The young women who had previously felt sympathetic and gleeful began to worry. They knew about the entanglement between Cheng Yuexiu and Ma Junying. If the two were already betrothed, Cheng Yuexiu would have avoided a calamity, while they themselves would be in danger again.

Those who were previously jealous now looked eagerly, waiting for Cheng Yuexiu or her father, Sir Cheng, to say that she was already betrothed, so they could seize the opportunity to push their own daughters forward, dreaming of countless promotions that lay just ahead!

He Lienuo’s eyes swept over Cheng Yuexiu with a somewhat indifferent gaze, the smile on his face containing a complex meaning of confidence and a hint of mockery.

Even Lin Yuan, sitting opposite, could sense the ill-intent in He Lienuo’s gaze, not to mention she was aware of Cheng Yuexiu’s feelings for Ma Junying. She didn’t believe that He Lienuo’s words were just a whim.

Cheng Yuexiu panicked, the more she looked at He Lienuo’s smiling face, the more she felt guilty.

Her watery eyes involuntarily shifted to Ma Junying, but this one glance made all her hopes turn into disillusionment.

What was that beloved person doing?

The man, drinking silently with his head lowered, was he really the one she had poured her heart out to over the past few months?

Was he really drinking indifferently, not caring for her at all?

Cheng Yuexiu’s body swayed; she felt her heartbeat stop, even her breathing halted for a moment.

Ma Junying’s reaction was also noticed by many people, especially Cheng Yuexiu’s father, Sir Cheng.

Sir Cheng initially had high hopes for Ma Junying, and both served in the Hanlin Academy. Although he wasn’t sure if Ma Junying could go further in his career, becoming an official of the fourth rank or higher seemed easy enough.

Particularly since Ma Junying came from a regular family; no matter how learned he was, without a strong family background to support him, he probably wouldn’t fare as well in the officialdom as the Second place scholar and the Third place scholar.

Sir Cheng valued Ma Junying for this quality, having been an official for nearly twenty years, he was far more experienced than Ma Junying.

It’s just a pity that his careful plans have fallen through this time. He tried every means to let his daughter get close to Ma Junying, but the man still gave her a lukewarm response, without any clear promise.