Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 684 - 684 685 Extra Changed_1

Chapter 684: Chapter 685 Extra Changed_1 Chapter 684: Chapter 685 Extra Changed_1 “Princess, it’s time for your meal,” Xiao Yu called out carefully, fearful of startling Nangong Anan.

Xiao Yu was even more afraid now; because of the incident with Yu Jin, the princess had been deflated for so long. It was only after the Nanping Prince Heir used the old emperor to provoke the princess that she was able to come out of her downfall. But this good phase lasted only a month before the old emperor passed away, which was a double blow to the princess. If the princess were to feel her life was no longer worth living, what then could be done?

Nangong Anan was dressed in plain mourning clothes, her eyes devoid of luster, making Xiao Yu’s heart sink even further. As she was knitting words together to comfort her, Nangong Anan spoke in a faint voice, “Bring it in.”

Xiao Yu was startled, “Ah, yes! This servant will go to serve the meal right away!”

Having said that, she happily instructed the little Palace Attendants outside the hall, “Hurry and bring in the dishes!”

The Palace Attendants quickly set the meal before her, and Xiao Yu’s heart was overjoyed, yet she still forced herself to remain composed, presenting the dishes to Nangong Anan, “Since it’s the mourning period, we can only have vegetarian dishes. Please make do, Princess. Nonetheless, the royal chef’s skills are excellent. Even His Majesty has praised such vegetarian meals.”

Nangong Anan’s eyelashes trembled slightly. Realizing she had misspoken, Xiao Yu quickly added, “This servant has spoken out of turn!”

After Nangong Qian ascended the throne, the first thing he did was to deal with his brothers in various ways. Nangong Anan had always been close to her brothers, and even if she did not show it outwardly, her heart was definitely in pain.

Nangong Anan ate a few bites of the vegetables and calmly said, “You may leave, I can eat by myself.”

Xiao Yu hesitated, “This servant should stay and serve you, Princess. All by yourself, this servant…”

Nangong Anan looked up at her and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t take leave of my senses. Even if I wanted to die, you couldn’t stop me.”

Xiao Yu felt embarrassed that her thoughts had been unearthed, but looking at Nangong Anan’s demeanor, she suddenly realized that she seemed to have changed a lot in an instant. What exactly had this blow changed for Nangong Anan?

She seemed stronger; while the death of the old emperor grieved her, she did not fall apart from it. She seemed more rational; she did not oppose Nangong Qian, who had dealt with his brothers in a thunderous manner, for it would be like striking a stone with an egg. But she also seemed more distant. Xiao Yu had served her since childhood, yet now, she suddenly could not understand her. In just a few months, the princess had endured successive blows and had indeed changed far too much.

Ultimately not daring to disobey, Xiao Yu could only curtsy and leave.

Nangong Anan quietly ate her food, like a lifeless puppet, yet she continued to eat bite after bite without pause. When she seemed to have had enough, she put down her chopsticks and did not call for anyone to clear them away. Instead, she stood up and walked toward the window.

Now, during the mourning period in the palace, compounded by the heavy snowfall, everything was a vast expanse of white. Nangong Anan heaved a long sigh, her heart aching as she recalled her father’s words on his deathbed. The emperor had loved her dearly and had not forgotten to entrust her with various matters even in his final moments.

No matter how willful she was, how could she defy his wishes at such a time? Her heart ached for her brothers, who had been dealt with one after the other. But what use would it be to seek Nangong Qian? Among all the princes, he was the most decisive and shrewd, the hardest of heart. How could he be swayed by a few words from her? It would only put her in danger, something her father would have least wished to see.

If she truly acted so willfully, her father would not rest in peace in the Netherworld.

“Father, Anan will heed your advice and live well,” murmured Nangong Anan. “Brother Er and Qi have already died. In the days to come, Anan will light incense for them to ease their passage on the Netherworld Road. Brother San and Nangong Yue have been confined. When the situation eases, Anan will do her best to ensure they are well taken care of. Even if they cannot be free, they should at least live well during their confinement. The eldest brother has been exiled to a land of hardship and poverty to become a king. In the future, Anan will provide whatever help she can. Father, may your spirit in heaven find peace. As long as Anan lives, she will do her utmost to fulfill her duty to you and her brothers.”

“As for Xiang…” Nangong Anan forced a bitter smile, “With Father so adamant, Anan has no reason to dissent. After all, the one in my heart has long since abandoned me.”

“Princess, the Nanping Prince Heir has arrived.”

Nangong Anan wiped away the clear tears at the corner of her eye and said softly, “Let him come in.”

Gao Xiang was also worried about Nangong Anan, which is why he urgently came in: “Anan, you…”

“What’s wrong?”

Having a multitude of things to say, upon seeing Nangong Anan’s pale complexion, he suddenly found himself at a loss for words: “You, are you alright?”

The two grew up together, and Gao Xiang, usually so familiar and unrestrained before Nangong Anan, was for the first time this cautious, as if afraid of touching her sore spots.

Nangong Anan forced a smile, “Not good, but what can be done about it?”

Gao Xiang didn’t know what else to say and simply quieted down. For a while, they just stood there, neither speaking nor breaking the silence.

It wasn’t until Nangong Anan spoke up, “Xiang.”

“Huh, yes?”

“About our marriage, I fear…”

A flicker of disappointment passed through Gao Xiang’s eyes as he hung his head, “I know. You had said it before. You agreed to it solely to prevent your father from being upset. Now that your father has passed away, our marriage naturally holds no meaning. I will have my father call off this engagement in the coming days. Whoever you wish to marry, it’s up to you.”

Nangong Anan stepped closer to him before speaking, “What I mean is, our marriage must be postponed for a few years. Since Father passed away, according to custom, I should observe three years of mourning and not marry. Although the royal family is generally lenient about this, allowing three months instead, he was the person who loved me the most in this life. It’s only right that I observe the full three years for him, not a day less.”

Gao Xiang was immediately taken aback, “Postpone?”

“Are you unhappy about it?”

Gao Xiang embraced Nangong Anan in a tight hug, joyfully saying, “Unhappy? It’s the opposite—I’m thrilled! Anan, are you going to marry me? Are you truly going to marry me? If you promise, it doesn’t matter if it’s three years or thirty years, I can wait!”

“But you need to explain this to your father and mother too. During these three years, I want to go to the imperial mausoleum to stand vigil for my father, as my final token of respect.”

“The imperial mausoleum, huh? The conditions there aren’t great…well, if you wish to go, go ahead. I’ll go too, and we can be there together!” Gao Xiang said cheerfully, the thought of Anan marrying him making everything else trivial!