The princess regretted it.

Chapter 227 Jin An Can’t Sit Still

Before they arrived, Grandfather had sent someone to inform Auntie. When Auntie arrived, Grandfather laid out everything about her relationship with Zhong Chuzhou. Jinan was overwhelmed by the reactions of his grandmother and aunt. Their faces were filled with shock at first, their eyes wide and their mouths slightly open, as if they had heard something truly bizarre. But the shock was fleeting, and then a look of understanding took hold, a look of "I see." The smiles on their faces, filled with meaning, seemed to convey countless unspoken words, gradually being revealed through their smiles.

Jin An felt as if those gazes had substance, falling upon her, making her increasingly uncomfortable. The heat on her face, which had already lingered, now burned even more intensely, like being roasted by fire, burning with no sign of easing. She felt she had made a mistake today. She shouldn't have mentioned Zhong Chuzhou. Wouldn't it have been better to simply say she had no one she liked? She lowered her head, not daring to meet her grandmother and aunt's gaze.

Seeing how uncomfortable she was, her grandmother and aunt were very considerate and did not say anything to tease her. Instead, they quickly restrained the inquiring smile on their faces, and their expressions became serious. They seriously discussed the arrangements for going to the Duke of Huguo's Mansion to discuss Jin'an and Zhong Chuzhou's marriage.

Jin An couldn't get a word in. She could only sit there obediently, a dull expression on her face, trying to appear calm and composed. But her occasional twitching mouth and erratic glances betrayed her inner turmoil. She listened patiently as her grandfather and the others discussed their conversation. The more she listened, the more she felt she had been too reckless. Hadn't she been here today to discuss Lin Qian's entry into the palace and next year's selection? Now... well, I shouldn't have said anything!

Listening to her grandfather and the others almost finishing their discussion, Jin An said weakly, "Will my father really not be angry if he finds out? Or should we wait and see?" From the way they were acting, it seemed as if the marriage was a done deal. She suddenly felt a little uneasy. After all, this marriage was a major event in her life, and she seemed to have barely mentioned it to her father from beginning to end, planning it so quietly. If her father knew the truth, would he feel like he didn't even exist in her heart? The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt.

The three people in the room, who had been chatting animatedly, suddenly fell silent, exchanged a meaningful look, and then simultaneously turned to look at Jin An. Jin An felt as if all three gazes were fixed on him, her eyes darting back and forth between the three of them. For a moment, the atmosphere in the room seemed to freeze.

Finally, it was Zhong Wenqing who broke the silence. She smiled and said, "Jin'an, don't worry. We know how to tell your father about this. Besides, there's your great-aunt, my mother. She's always been a big deal to your father, and he'll be very receptive to her words. We'll just say it was our elders' intention, and you had no knowledge of it. Anyway, we'll clear you of all charges, so rest assured."

Jin An tilted her head slightly, thinking for a moment. Well, her aunt's words seemed impossible to refute. Indeed, her father did have great respect for her great-aunt, and he always took her words seriously and readily accepted them. If she could just feign ignorance, there shouldn't be any major problems. Thinking of this, the weight of worry in her heart seemed to settle a little.

Seeing that she didn't object, the three of them turned around and started discussing again. The topic was like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, and soon they were discussing how to organize Jin'an's wedding.

Jin An was stunned as she listened, feeling a mixture of laughter and tears. Honestly, the parents of both parties hadn't even met each other yet, and it was a bit premature to be discussing a wedding so unilaterally. She felt that if she sat there any longer, it wouldn't be long before they'd be discussing arrangements for her childbirth.

She couldn't sit still any longer and quickly interrupted the heated discussion of the elders. She said anxiously, "Grandfather, grandmother, aunt, it's getting late. I'd better go back to the palace. Well, Cousin Chuzhou isn't in the capital yet. Isn't it a bit too early for us to discuss this now? We should wait until Cousin Chuzhou comes back before we can discuss it." Then, she made a gesture to get up and leave.

When the grandmother heard this, she stood up to see him off, and waved her hand with a smile, saying slowly: "As for this matter, your aunt and I will go to the Duke of Protector's Mansion tomorrow. Didn't you say that it was Chu Zhou who personally asked for this marriage? Since he has this intention, it doesn't matter whether he is at home or not. We will go and make this matter come true. Don't worry about this, just go back to the palace to deal with your business, we are here for you." There was an unquestionable certainty in the grandmother's tone, and it was obvious that she was determined to make this marriage happen as soon as possible.

Jin An heard her grandmother say this and knew it was not good to refute her. After all, the elders were well-intentioned and cared so much about her marriage. If she continued to be stubborn, she would seem ignorant.

So, she stood up and respectfully bid farewell to her grandparents, grandmother, and aunt one by one. "Jin'an will return to the palace now. Thank you, grandparents, and aunt, for your concern today. I hope you all take care of yourselves. I'll come visit again another day." With that, she hurried out of the courtyard with Han Shuang and Zi Yun, even refusing her grandmother's offer to see her off. She simply wanted to leave this embarrassing place as soon as possible.

As she walked briskly, she thought to herself that she had always thought Zhong Chuzhou was a good match for her. He possessed outstanding looks and a distinguished demeanor, and after several interactions, she could sense his unique way of dealing with people. He possessed the youthful spirit of youth, yet also possessed a calm and capable demeanor. However, she was still not used to discussing her marriage to him so openly in front of so many elders; it felt awkward.