Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 302: Enduring Hardships and Nursing a Hatred

Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Enduring Hardships and Nursing a Hatred

Si Jun turned to Zhan Xuerou, a trace of pity in his gaze.

Human hearts are the most complex of all.

Although Meng Ling warned him that day that Zhan Xuerou had become a discarded chess piece, he himself, as an illegitimate child, had never had access to any good pieces over the years.

Yet, he had still managed, through forbearance and meticulous planning, to ascend step by step to the position of King Wei.

In this world, one mustn’t only look at the present; enduring the bitterest of hardships is what elevates one above the rest.

Moreover, Zhan Beicang owed a debt to Zhan Xuerou’s birth father, so even if they were to stand in opposition one day, in consideration of Zhan Xuerou’s face, Zhan Beicang wouldn’t be too harsh.

Hence, even a discarded chess piece, if played with care, can still be played well.

Si Jun consoled Zhan Xuerou, "Rou’er, don’t cry. The hardships I suffer today will eventually turn to joy. All of us have things we’re forced to compromise on. Both you and I must endure and persevere, for our forbearance now is for our future."

"Alright." Zhan Xuerou took the ointment from the maid’s hand and started to apply it carefully on him with her fingertips.

"They’ve been too cruel." Zhan Xuerou swallowed her tears back.

Enduring the pain, Si Jun said, "Rou’er, I’m going to tell you something and you must not get angry. You have to understand me; in my heart, I love only you."

Zhan Xuerou’s gentle eyes looked towards Si Jun. As long as Si Jun loved her, she was willing to give everything for him.

"Please speak, Your Highness," she replied.

Si Jun spoke with difficulty, "Today, the Emperor issued an imperial decree cancelling our engagement. The official wife I am to marry is..."

Zhan Xuerou’s hand stiffened upon hearing this, inadvertently hurting Si Jun. She thought that Si Jun was going to marry Zhan Lan.

Si Jun gritted his teeth and said, "Rou’er, you mustn’t be angry. The woman I’m to marry is Bai Lu." frёewebnoѵēl.com

Zhan Xuerou was stunned, frozen in place.

After a long while, she asked, "Are you talking about the Bai Lu I have known since childhood, the one from Yunyin Academy?"

Si Jun nodded, "Yes, it’s her. It is the Emperor’s will, not my request."

Zhan Xuerou’s heart felt like it had plunged into an ice cellar. Hit after hit, she lost everything overnight.

The status as the legitimate daughter of the General Mansion, the status as Princess Wei. These things made her grow up overnight; she knew she could no longer throw tantrums.

She knew Bai Lu all too well. Bai Lu was adept at turning with the wind and was bound to mock her, target her, suppress her, and demean her.

This was not her Jun’s fault. After all, Si Jun had endured for many years, all for the sake of plotting for a greater undertaking.

Si Jun, sweating profusely, reassured Zhan Xuerou, "Rou’er, rest assured, I will not treat you unfairly. Even when she marries into the household, it will merely be a show for the public."

If it had been before, when Zhan Beicang was still her backer, she would have been wilful and ignored Si Jun.

But now, she needed to rely on Si Jun and could no longer be capricious. If even Si Jun didn’t want her, she would have no choice but to wander the streets.

Seeing her sensible demeanor, Si Jun continued, "You might not know, but ever since you left the Zhan Family, Zhan Beicang and Qin Shuang have sent people to search for you. Even now, their people are looking for you in the city."

Zhan Xuerou was taken aback by Si Jun’s words. She remembered how Qin Shuang had coldly turned her away at the door that day.

She recalled Qin Shuang asking Nanny Xie to rent her a residence, instructing her to move out and live on her own.

But upon hearing that Zhan Beicang and Qin Shuang were searching for her, her heart wasn’t as filled with hatred anymore.

Si Jun consoled her, "After all, you said it yourself, it was Zhan Lan who forced your parents to drive you out. If it weren’t for Zhan Lan’s coercion, how could they bear to send you away? Eighteen years of nurturing, watching you grow up little by little, there are feelings involved."

In his heart, Si Jun wanted to say: Eighteen years, even raising a dog would foster affection, but he couldn’t utter such blunt and naked truth.

Zhan Xuerou nodded slightly and said, "But with Zhan Lan there, I won’t be able to return. She’s too domineering, bent on driving me away!"

Si Jun sneered, "You don’t know yet, but she’s no longer that Brave General with military power in her hands. Father Emperor has conferred upon her the title of Prince Zhenbei; she has her own fief now and will be too busy to compete with you for parental love."

Zhan Xuerou was shocked, Zhan Lan’s fate was too good; stripped of military power, yet granted a title.

"Rou’er, you’re so smart, think of a way. You can definitely return to the General Mansion," Si Jun said, looking at her with deep affection.

He was eager for Zhan Xuerou to return, so he could re-establish contact with the General Mansion.

Zhan Xuerou said disheartenedly, "But I feel like my mother really doesn’t like me anymore."

"Silly girl, Qin Shuang’s daughter was treated cruelly by your own mother; in a fit of rage and losing her reason, she raised you for eighteen years like a precious pearl. What Zhan Lan went through before, no matter who, would take out their imbalance on you. The fact that she could send someone to find you proves that she is still thinking of you."

"What should I do?" asked Zhan Xuerou, lowering her stance.

If she were given another chance to start over, she would certainly be an obedient, sensible, and magnanimous daughter, making them proud just like Zhan Lan.

Perhaps she could even win back their affections.

Si Jun stroked his fingers and said, "Rou’er, the more pitiful you are now, the better. Since Zhan Lan has been lonely all these years, which softened Qin Shuang’s heart, you have to appear even more pitiful than her to gain your parents’ pity."

Initially, it was by repeatedly braving dangers to find medicines for Emperor Xuanwu and using his blood as a catalyst that softened the Emperor’s heart, allowing Si Jun to be summoned back to the capital from Lingnan.

Zhan Xuerou had a sudden realization, she clasped Si Jun’s hand and said, "Your Highness is truly resourceful."

Si Jun smiled and said, "Rou’er, I will cooperate with you, but it may require you to endure some hardships. Are you willing?"

Zhan Xuerou’s expression was enlivened; she wanted to regain her parents’ love because she had never once thought in eighteen years that she was someone else’s daughter.

Now what she needed to do was lower her stance and, like Si Jun in the past, endure hardships to be able to return to the General Mansion.

Si Jun nodded in approval.

In his view, Zhan Lan was smarter than Zhan Xuerou. He always felt that Zhan Lan had a wisdom beyond her years.

However, Zhan Xuerou had her own advantages. For instance, Zhan Lan was very decisive, clear-cut in her actions, thinking far ahead, with clear distinctions between love and hate.

But if Zhan Xuerou learned to lower her stance and hide her temper, her personality would be more endearing than Zhan Lan’s.

"Jun Brother, Rou’er understands. Whatever hardship I have to endure, I will return to the General Mansion," she said.

Si Jun got up from the bed, and after standing firm, he touched Zhan Xuerou’s hair and said, "If you can return, I’ll set up a residence for us to meet in private. Once Bai Lu marries over, I’ll have to hide you. Can you bear it?"

Zhan Xuerou nodded, "Your Highness, for our long-lasting future together, Rou’er will try her best to endure."

Si Jun smiled and said, "Rou’er is a considerate woman. If one day our great plans succeed, being born in the imperial family, I will have many women, but I will always remember that you shared hardships with me, and you will always have a place in my heart."

Zhan Xuerou nodded heavily, tears streaming down her face, deeply moved.

Does she have a choice now?

As long as Si Jun does not abandon her, she’s willing to do anything.