Rumor Has It That I’m Pregnant with His Highness’ Child - Chapter 354
Chapter 354: Bitter Fruit
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The old emperor originally wanted to discuss the marriage with Princess Tao Ran.
After all, she was his biological daughter. He could not bear to wrong her too much.
As compensation, he planned to give her more dowry and raise the status of her biological mother.
Unexpectedly, Princess Tao Ran said this, making the old emperor so angry that his blood pressure soared.
How could he be in the mood to think about compensation? His face immediately darkened as he said forcefully. “What I said is an imperial edict. Do you want to resist?”
Princess Tao Ran’s eyes immediately turned red.
No matter how arrogant she was usually, she knew that there were some people she could not afford to offend.
For example, the old emperor in front of her.
One word from him could decide whether she lived or died.
Princess Tao Ran was frightened by her father’s words.
She did not dare to fight head-on again. She hurriedly softened her attitude and knelt down, begging bitterly.
“Father, I heard that the emperor of the Chen Nation is already an old man. I don’t want to marry him. Please don’t make me marry him, okay?”
Seeing her like this, the old emperor’s expression softened.
He advised earnestly, “I can’t bear to part with you either, but this marriage is very important to Dayan.
As long as you became the Empress of the Chen Nation, you could use the Empress’s power to eliminate the Chen Nation’s ambitions for the Dayan.
This way, the two countries could live in peace and the commoners could avoid the pain of war.
This is a good thing. You have to go.”
Princess Tao Ran could not take in these words at all.
She shook her head vigorously. “I’m not going to the Chen Nation! I don’t want to marry an old man!”
The old emperor said, “Can’t you sacrifice yourself for the people of the Dayan?”
Princess Tao Ran cried.
“I’m iust a weak woman. Whv should I make a sacrifice? There are thousands of people in Dayan. What do their lives have to do with me?”
The old emperor could not stand it anymore. He raised his hand and slapped Princess Tao Ran hard.
She fell to the ground, one cheek burning.
She covered her face and looked at the old emperor in disbelief.
“Father, you actually hit me?”
Even though she had not been doted on since she was young, she was still a princess. Everyone would only say a few harsh words to her and occasionally tease her in private.
But no one had ever dared to slap her.
This was the first time she had been slapped.
Not to mention that the person who hit her was her father.
She was shocked and resentful. She felt as if her entire world was about to collapse.
The old emperor looked at her reproachfully and lectured her in a low voice.
“You’re the princess of the Dayan. The Dayan people raised you with countless taxes. They let you grow up in luxury and enjoy privileges that ordinary people could not access.
“You actually say that the lives of the Dayan people have nothing to do with
“If the citizens of the Dayan were finished, so was the Dayan. At that time, can you, Princess Dayan, still live?!”
Princess Tao Ran was powerless to refute. She could only cover her face and sob.
The old emperor said, “I know that the emperor of the Chen Nation is a little old. It’s unfair for you to marry him. But you’re the princess of Dayan. You can’t just enjoy the privilege of a princess and not fulfill your duty as a princess. There’s no such thing in the world.”
Princess Tao Ran cried.
“But I’m not the only princess in Dayan. Why do I have to make the marriage?” The old emperor said calmly.
“You’ll have to ask yourself. You’re usually willful and reckless and ruined your own reputation.”
“Any man with a clean family background doesn’t want to marry you. You can’t stay single forever.”
“It just so happens that the Emperor of the Chen Nation wants a marriage. If I don’t let you go, who else can?”
Princess Tao Ran hurriedly said, “It’s not like no one will marry me. I’m a princess. There are many people in the Imperial Capital who want a royal princess.”
The old emperor spoke unhurriedly, “A royal princess can indeed bring glory to the family, but we have to see what kind of royal princess she is. Who would dare to marry a princess with a bad reputation like you?”
“Even if someone was really not afraid of death and dared to marry you, that person was most likely greedy for utilitarianism.”
“Even if you’re willing to lower your status and marry over, I’m not willing to be in-laws with such a family. Our royal family can’t afford to lose its reputation.”
Princess Tao Ran hurriedly grabbed the hem of the old emperor’s clothes and raised her tear-stained face, looking panicked and helpless.
“But this matter concerns my lifelong happiness. No matter how important the royal family’s reputation is, it’s not as important as my happiness, right?!”
The old emperor didn’t answer.
But she could tell from his expression what his answer was.
In his heart, his daughter’s happiness was far less important than the royal family’s dignity.
The light in Princess Tao Ran’s eyes extinguished bit by bit.
Although she had long known that she was not liked by her father, she still had a little hope that he still had some love for her.
But at this moment, the last hope in her heart was extinguished.
Princess Tao Ran slowly loosened her fingers, and her face turned pale.
Seeing that she had nothing else to say, the old emperor instructed, “Send
Princess Tao Ran back.”
He did not forget to remind the servants to take good care of Princess Tao Ran and not let anything happen to her.
Wei Huai’en understood that the old emperor meant to keep an eye on Princess Tao Ran to avoid unnecessary trouble.
He spoke respectfully to Princess Tao Ran. “Your Highness, please get up.”
Princess Tao Ran neither spoke nor moved.
Wei Huai’en called over two palace maids and helped Princess Tao Ran up.
They helped Princess Tao Ran out, and Wei Huai En followed them unhurriedly.
After sending her to the sedan, Wei Huai’en planned to leave.
Princess Tao Ran suddenly stopped him.
“Eunuch Wei, can you help me plead with Father? You’re the person he trusts the most. He might listen to you.”
When she said this, she looked awkward and her tone was humble.
She was a different person from her usual arrogant self.
As Wei Huai’en smiled at her, his attitude was polite and distant.
“Your Highness, you flatter me too much. I’m just a lowly eunuch. How can I bear your expectations?”
Princess Tao Ran hurriedly said, “Don’t say that.”
Wei Huai’en said, “I didn’t say this. You said it to me yourself that day.” Princess Tao Ran was stunned.
Wei Huai En bowed to her, flicked his horsetail whisk, and left leisurely.
Princess Tao Ran had long forgotten her humiliation of Wei Huai’en that day.
To her, Wei Huai’en was just a eunuch. It was normal to scold him a little. There was no need to take it to heart.
The small matter she thought was not worth mentioning was remembered by Wei Huai’en. It became the grudge he hid in his heart.
Princess Tao Ran watched him leave and finally came to.
She had been hated.
The bitter fruits of the past had all been reaped..
