Forced to die for his loyalty, he was reborn in the arms of the cold and cruel regent!

"So what you want now..." Shen Mengyao asked tentatively: "Is that it?"

"The emperor has already made the decision. What else can I do?" Qi Sui'an stared at hers with his cold eyes, as if he wanted to see something from her calm expression.

When Shen Mengyao thought that the matter was already settled and that even if he was cleared of the grievances, it would be of no use in affecting the outcome, a trace of inexplicable sadness flashed through her heart.

From then on, the bridge returned to the bridge, the road returned to the road, and there was no longer any connection between her and Qi Suian.

"Don't you have anything to say?" Qi Sui'an looked at her steadily.

Shen Mengyao was stunned for a moment, then shook her head calmly: "No, what does the prince want me to say?"

She was too shy to express her thoughts before things were decided, let alone at this moment. What was the point of expressing them? There were too many things between them.

The marriage contract arranged by the emperor is only one of the reasons. The white moonlight is the biggest obstacle between them.

If a relationship is not pure enough, Shen Mengyao would rather not have it.

"But you are obviously unhappy, and you still have me in your heart, right?" Qi Suian approached step by step.

In the past, Qi Sui'an, who was powerful and feared by everyone, was so humble in front of her, just wanting to find some evidence that she loved him.

Shen Mengyao calmed herself down, met his gaze without fear, smiled bitterly and shook her head.

"Your Majesty, there is no point in saying this now. Even though Meng Yao has been married once, she will only be the principal wife if she marries again. She will not humble herself and become a concubine."

"I have never thought about it this way. The only thing I want is for you to marry me and be my queen." Qi Sui'an's eyes became more and more fiery.

She didn't refuse or deny, as if it was the best answer.

Shen Mengyao's heart moved slightly, and she raised her eyes and smiled softly.

"Your Highness, what you said is meaningless. The relationship between you and me is not that deep. We are just a cooperative relationship now. If you really don't want to marry me, you might as well ask the Queen Mother for help."

Qi Suian said nothing, his expression solemn.

Shen Mengyao spoke in a flat tone, as if she was just a counselor offering advice.

"The Queen Mother has been ill and has never asked about this matter. Besides, you have always been close to the Queen Mother. I'm sure the Queen Mother will not stand idly by in this matter."

Indeed, the Queen Mother holds an important position in the palace and loves him differently than ordinary people, but this matter concerns the royal family's reputation and the Emperor's judgment. Can the Queen Mother really interfere easily?

"The Queen Mother..." Qi Sui'an hesitated, holding a glimmer of hope in his heart, but also knowing the difficulty involved. "She is seriously ill, and this matter may disturb her rest."

Shen Mengyao sighed softly, her eyes gentle but with a hint of determination.

"Your Highness, if you really don't want to, you might as well give it a try. At least, letting the Queen Mother know your determination may help."

Qi Sui'an was silent for a moment, and finally nodded. He knew that this might be the only way. Instead of passively accepting this loveless marriage, it is better to fight hard, even if the hope is slim.

"Okay." Although Qi Sui'an's voice was soft, it revealed his unquestionable determination.

The two of them turned around and entered the hall almost together.

"See the Queen Mother."

The Queen Mother, who was resting on the phoenix couch, slowly opened her heavy eyes, yawned, and looked at him calmly.

"Now that you are here, after the marriage was granted, I wanted to see you, but I heard that you were ill and couldn't have time. Now that you can enter the palace to see the emperor, I think you must have recovered from your illness, so I asked Fuqing to invite you."

"Reporting to the Queen Mother, I am fine now." Qi Sui'an replied respectfully, with a barely perceptible hint of anxiety in his eyes.

The Queen Mother gently raised her hand, motioning him to stand up and come closer, so she could look at him carefully.

"You are always calm and reserved, why are you in such a hurry today? What's on your mind?"

The Queen Mother's words were gentle and caring.

A warm feeling surged in Qi Sui'an's heart. He took a deep breath, knelt on his knees, and spoke in a soft but firm voice.

"Your Majesty, I have an important request. I am unwilling and helpless to accept the marriage granted by Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to help me cancel this engagement for my loyalty and dedication to the country and the people for many years."

The Queen Mother frowned slightly when she heard this, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes. She slowly raised her hand, motioning Qi Sui'an to stand up, and her tone became more solemn.

"You know, marriage is a very important matter, especially royal marriages, which are related to the stability and reputation of the country. Your engagement with the princess is the emperor's decree, how can it be easily changed?"

Qi Sui'an's heart tightened when he heard this, but he did not back down. He knelt down again with a more resolute tone.

"Queen Dowager, I understand the pros and cons of this, but marriage is not a joke. The princess and I have no feelings for each other. If we force a marriage, I'm afraid it will cause a lot of trouble and hurt both parties.

Moreover, the opportunity for the Emperor to grant marriage to the princess and me was all orchestrated by the princess. "

"Oh? Tell me about it." No joy, anger, sorrow or happiness could be seen in the empress dowager's old and cloudy eyes.

Qi Suian told him everything in detail.

"Your Highness, how can I marry her and spend every day with her after she framed me like this? For the sake of the royal family's reputation, I am unwilling to make a big fuss about this matter and severely punish her. I just hope to cancel the engagement, that's all."

After hearing this, the Queen Mother's face became solemn, and her eyes moved between Qi Sui'an and the slightly swaying candlelight outside the hall, as if she was weighing the weight of every word.

After a long moment, she sighed softly, her tone showing both helplessness and understanding.

"Sui'an, you know that royal marriages often affect the court and the people, and every move must be made with caution. Although the princess has made mistakes, she is still of royal blood. If she easily regrets the marriage, it may cause criticism from court officials and even hurt the reputation of the royal family."

Qi Sui'an pursed his thin lips, his attitude extremely firm.

"My Queen Mother, I only believe that I can find someone I love forever. If you really force me to this point, then I can only resign."

The Queen Mother hesitated for a moment and said, "You are so determined in your heart, but do you have a girl you like?"

Qi Sui'an raised his eyes and wanted to look in the direction of Shen Mengyao subconsciously, but he realized that this would bring him trouble, so he had to retract his gaze, but his voice became much gentler.

"When I was young, I once met a woman who was like a banished fairy. Her every frown and smile left an indelible mark in my heart. There is no other woman in the world who can compare to her."

"So you already have someone in your heart." The Queen Mother sighed, thought for a moment and agreed: "I will go and persuade the Emperor."