Chapter 682: Chapter 683: Continuing the Family Business?

Li Hongyuan said, “After the New Year, there will be a grand selection, and new people will probably join the East Palace. As the legitimate wife, your magnanimity will indeed have the opportunity to be put to use.”

It was hard to say whether his tone had a hint of sarcasm or not.

However, Jiang Ning didn’t care.

She couldn’t go to heaven or enter the earth, and with her family and children to worry about, she had to make a living under the power of the emperor. She wasn’t so naive as to think that the future emperor would disregard the former dynasty and his royal descendants because of her feelings.

That wasn’t realistic.

Since ancient times, emperors who were overly infatuated were not good emperors.

To be an emperor was to become a lonely person.

Occupying that position, they had to deal with enemies.

All enemies.

Whether they were from rival countries, their own officials, brothers, or even nephews.

Because there was only one position, and people’s cravings for power and desire would never disappear throughout the ages.

If a good person becomes an emperor, can he fight against so many enemies?

A good emperor doesn’t equal a good person.

A nice guy definitely cannot become a good emperor.

Jiang Ning knew in her heart that Li Hongyuan liked her, even loved her.

But how heavy is the feeling of love a Crown Prince, the future emperor, has for a woman? It’s hard to say.

Between the country and beauty, which one weighs heavier can be seen by the choices made by emperors throughout history.

One of the reasons Jiang Ning didn’t care about the selections was not only her lack of confidence in the Crown Prince but also her lack of deep, inseparable feelings for him.

That’s right.

Although she had already had two children with the Crown Prince and had been intimate with him several times, she still had no romantic feelings for Li Hongyuan in her heart.

Since there were no romantic feelings, where would jealousy come from?

Li Hongyuan didn’t know her thoughts, but seeing her indifferent expression, he felt a bit irritated and upset.

He hid his emotions, slowly suppressed them, and calmly said, “It’s late. I’m going to see the children and then go back. I’ve been out all day, and there are still many documents to read.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Ning stood up and put down her teacup, personally taking the coat handed over by a palace maid and putting it on Li Hongyuan. She then stepped in front of him, tiptoed, and fastened the belt of the coat, softly reminding him, “The night is cold, ask Li Quan to warm up the room. It’s not good to get sick at this time of the year.”

The sweet and gentle voice, the earnest reminder, the beautiful face before his eyes, the slight smile on her lips, and the faint fragrance emanating from her body.

This was probably the moment every man in the world longed for.

However, Li Hongyuan only gave a faint acknowledgment and withdrew his gaze before leaving with his coat on.

He strode to the door, casually pushed aside the curtain, and left without looking back.

Huang Ying whispered, “This servant really can’t understand the Crown Prince.”

As a close attendant, she could see the Crown Prince’s fondness for the Princess Consort. But every time the Princess Consort spoke softly to him, the Crown Prince never showed a hint of appreciation and always left indifferently.

On the contrary, when the Princess Consort was unwilling to deal with him or even argue with him, he insisted on staying even more.

Huang Ying didn’t understand.

She even secretly thought that back then, Concubine Jin was also indifferent to the Emperor, but he favored her the most.

Could it be that this kind of thing was also inherited from the father?

Huang Ying thought back to her childhood at home when her mother had once said that all men were cheap-skinned; the more you tried to please and take care of them, the less they cared about you.

The women of the brothels laughed and scolded, charging money for their services, yet the men were constantly drawn to them.

Wasn’t that cheap?