Hua Qingqing shook her head with a wry smile.
"Of course, I wasn’t willing.
The Crown Prince may be of noble birth, but I don’t want to be anyone’s concubine.
Grandmother feels the sa way.
She thinks the relationships in the Crown Prince Mansion are tangled and complex. If I were to marry into it, I might not et a good end.
Rather than take a risk for a life of imnse wealth and power, Grandmother would prefer I marry into an ordinary family and live a peaceful, stable life."
Hua Manman understood now.
Hua Qingqing and the old madam both disagreed with the marriage. But knowing the character of Elder Zhong’an, Hua Dingzong, he would surely be thrilled to make it happen.
After all, the one who ca to propose was the Crown Prince.
To be connected to the Crown Prince by marriage would be a windfall for the Zhong’an Bo Mansion—a blessing they couldn’t even have hoped for!
Sure enough.
Hua Qingqing’s next words confird Hua Manman’s suspicions.
"Father was very eager to accept the proposal, but Grandmother refused. They had a huge argunt over it.
Grandmother fell ill from anger. Fearing sothing terrible might happen to her, Father was forced to compromise.
But the Crown Prince sending soone to propose was a show of respect to our Zhong’an Bo Mansion; we couldn’t just reject him to his face.
Just then, we heard that the Emperor was going to Yuqing Mountain to escape the sumr heat, so Grandmother ca up with a temporary plan.
She forced herself to go to the palace and request an audience with the Empress Dowager, hoping Her Majesty would take along to Yuqing Mountain to help avoid the Crown Prince’s proposal.
The Empress Dowager is kind-hearted and granted her request."
Hua Manman sighed internally. ’The old madam truly dotes on Hua Qingqing. She’s really gone to great lengths to protect her.’
Unfortunately, according to the plot of *Palace Intrigue*, the old madam would soon fall gravely ill. After a long period of being bedridden, she would finally succumb to her illness.
For Hua Qingqing, this would be a heart-wrenching blow.
Back when Hua Manman read this part of the plot, it had hit her so hard that she had nearly burst into tears.
Recalling the novel’s description now, Hua Manman still felt a pang of sadness.
Hua Manman had a mind to remind Hua Qingqing to pay more attention to the old madam’s health.
However, the thought had barely ford when the system’s voice rang out first.
"Host has been detected with the intent to alter the main storyline. First warning issued. After three warnings, the host will be subject to a heartache penalty. Please proceed with caution."
Hua Manman swallowed the words of warning that had been on the tip of her tongue.
’This damn system is so sneaky.’
’I was just thinking about it, I hadn’t even done anything yet, and it’s already issuing a warning.’
Hua Manman pouted, deliberately putting on a disdainful expression.
"What’s wrong with being a concubine? I’m Prince Zhao’s concubine, and aren’t I living just fine?"
Fearing a misunderstanding, Hua Qingqing hurriedly explained.
"I’m not looking down on concubines, I just... I just..."
She struggled for a long ti but couldn’t think of the right words.
In the end, she could only slump her shoulders in defeat and say with a pained expression.
"Alright, I just think being a concubine isn’t good.
Didn’t you, Second Sister, also refuse to be Prince Zhao’s concubine back then? You nearly died over it.
If you had a choice, I’m sure you wouldn’t have wanted to be Prince Zhao’s concubine either."
That was the honest truth.
Hua Manman agreed completely in her heart, but she still had to refute it on the surface.
"Don’t force your own assumptions on . I’m not like you!"
Knowing her difficult personality, Hua Qingqing quickly soothed her in a gentle voice.
"Yes, yes, you’re not like . You’re much more capable than I am."
Hua Manman: "..."
’I suspect you’re throwing shade at .’
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