Pregnant Before the Royal Marriage

Chapter 706: Chapter 706: Lusting After Appearances

Love?

Jiang Ning sneered, then fell silent.

She didn’t dislike Li Hongyuan. To say nothing of other things, he was quite attractive just by his appearance.

But to say it was love, that’s a stretch.

In her mind, loving someone meant being willing to accept anything and everything for them, to give everything to them.

Jiang Ning could not do that for Li Hongyuan.

However, she didn’t reject the idea of sharing a bed with him.

What did that mean?

After some careful contemplation, Jiang Ning came to her own conclusion—

Li Hongyuan is very handsome and has a good figure.

Her interest in him was purely physical.

This conclusion allowed Jiang Ning to breathe a sigh of relief.

Good, she wasn’t lovesick.

In that case, she could still reach the peak of power.

Being attracted to someone’s looks isn’t a big deal. Don’t men act the same way?

With so many women in the Emperor’s harem, can they all really be true love?

Obviously not.

Jiang Ning’s mood relaxed, and in her excitement, she asked Huang Ying to bring another spoon, and ate the soup dumplings for the whole night.

Seeing her mood improved, Huang Ying cautiously advised: “Master, even if it’s just for show, you should be nicer to the Crown Prince.”

“What should I do? Cook for him? Sew his clothes?”

“You are the Master, you don’t have to do those things personally.” Huang Ying smiled, “Since the Emperor has been unwell, the Crown Prince has been acting as the Regent and is often busy until midnight. Have you ever visited him during that time?”

Jiang Ning thought for a moment, then shook her head.

“If a woman truly loves her husband, how can she not care about his health? Concubine Li has even sent late-night snacks to him twice.” Huang Ying said softly, “Moreover, if a woman really loved a man, she can’t help but be jealous. The more virtuous and generous you seem, the more it proves that you don’t love the Crown Prince in your heart. He can feel it. In due course, even the warmest heart will grow cold.”

Jiang Ning laughed, “Concubine Jin doesn’t love the Emperor either, yet he dotes on her all his life, isn’t that love without any expectation of return?”

“Why are you so silly, Master? People are all different.”

“You have a point.”

“What does the Master plan to do?” Huang Ying asked expectantly.

“Based on the two points you just mentioned, I’ve decided to put them into practice and see if I can make Li Hongyuan feel that I am deeply in love with him.”

Huang Ying smiled: “Master, please take it slow and do things step by step, don’t overdo it.”

“Understood.”

After eating, she went to see the children and saw that Xiaoqian, Lingzi, and Wenzan had a variety of novel toys in front of them.

There were ingenious puzzles and moving wooden carriages that Jiang Ning had never seen before.

“This is interesting. Where did these come from?” Jiang Ning sat beside the children and asked with a smile.

“Uncle sent them.” Wenzan answered, “Uncle also said he has prepared a lot of fireworks that will be sent over by servants in the afternoon for us to play with tonight.”

“Really? Mother wants to play too.”

“Then Mother can play with us.” Lingzi lifted her innocent little face and said, “But Uncle said that those who are afraid should not go near. If Mother is afraid, stand a little further away with Lingzi.”

“Alright.” Jiang Ning held Lingzi’s little face and gave her a big kiss, “Since Uncle sent so many interesting toys, have you all thanked Uncle?”

“I gave Uncle New Year’s money.”

Lingzi patted the purse on her waist, speaking with pride, “A big handful of gold melon seeds, apart from the ones given by the royal grandmother, there are also those given by the royal grandfather, all for Uncle.”