The Grand Empress Dowager got annoyed with Jia Li's response. Her first uncle, Tang Hu Qiang intervened and advised Jia Li not to speak that way with her grandmother.
"The Crown Princess should consider marrying since she is already old enough. Typically, the princesses from the royal family get married by the age of eighteen. The Crown Princess' cousins are already married and one of them is even expecting a child soon,'' Hu Qiang remarked.
"First Uncle, I appreciate your advice," Jia Li said with a fake smile. She bowed to them and was ready to go ahead to her manor.
"A woman is expected to be virtuous. I hope the Crown Princess does not make me take the final decision on her marriage," Grand Empress Dowager said sternly, shooting a glance at Court Lady Xuan.
"Make the Crown Princess aware of the marriage proposal once again," Grand Empress Dowager ordered before walking away. Hu Qiang followed his mother while Jia Li headed to her manor.
"If Jia Li gets married, then she may grow in power because of her husband's family, Mother," Hu Qiang asserted. He asked his mother to carefully think about it once more. "I believe she does not fit to be the Crown Princess. Wangjie deserves this position better than her," he suggested.
Grand Empress Dowager hummed in response. "Her future husband's family will owe their loyalty to me. So, what I will say to Jia Li's future husband to do, he will obey," she affirmed with an evil smile on her face.
"It is not going to be easy, Mother. Elder Brother decided to make his daughter the Crown Princess when he knew there were potentially better men than her," Hu Qiang delivered his fury to his mother.
"You don't have to worry, son. Before I take my last breath, I will put my grandson Wangjie as the next Crown Prince. Didn't I tell you to find a way to stop the Crown Princess from taking part in the court matters? Did you work on it?" Grand Empress Dowager asked her son.
"Because the Elder Brother has done good favors on almost every minister. So, gathering them for a rebellion against the Crown Princess is tough," Hu Qiang explained.
"I will have to look into it. Did Wangjie get the response from the General's son?" The Grand Empress queried.
"Lee Xianwu has not responded yet about the offer Wangjie has made," Hu Qiang replied. "However, Lee Xianwu will join our hands, Mother," he said with an assured look.
"I hope Wangjie does not disappoint me this time," Grand Empress Dowager said with a menacing expression on her face.
~~~~~~
Jia Li arrived at her chamber and sat on the floor chair, waiting for the bodyguard.
"The Crown Princess should not have responded rudely to her grandmother. Her Royal Highness never used such a tone with the Grand Empress Dowager before," Court Lady Xuan complained and confusedly glanced at Jia Li for an answer.
Jia Li was surprised by this sudden change in her. She never knew a day would come when she started disliking her grandmother. Jia Li remembered well how her grandmother ordered her beheaded when she refused the allegations. This life was her second Life. She could no longer see Grand Empress Dowager as her elder and kept trusting her.
Seeing the Crown Princess silence, the Court Lady further continued, "Your Royal Highness shall look into the proposal once. Perhaps, she got a better one this time. People will speculate false things about the Crown Princess if she doesn't get married soon. With that, her position as the Crown Princess may get threatened."
A smile was carved on Jia Li's lips and she said, "Court Lady Xuan, I will marry the man whom I will like. I won't go with my grandmother's choice. You can tell this to her since she has refused to listen to me on this matter."
Court Lady Xuan furrowed her brows together in worry and didn't speak on that matter anymore. Instead, she asked Jia Li if she would take her breakfast.
"I am not hungry at the moment," Jia Li said.
"The Crown Princess should not skip her meals," Court Lady Xuan advised her. But she turned quiet when Jia Li glared at her. "You can go out," Jia Li stated and ended her conversation with Court Lady Xuan.
After the Court Lady left, Jia Li waited for the bodyguard to come. Finally, the twenty-minute wait was over and the bodyguard entered the chamber followed by Court Lady Xuan.
"Greetings to the Crown Princess. I heard from Her Majesty that the Crown Princess summoned me to see her. How can I serve Her Royal Highness?" the bodyguard said while keeping his gaze.
Jia Li smiled to see him because he was the one who wanted to save her life till the end. Before she could speak with him, she again asked Court Lady Xuan to leave.
"Follow me," Jia Li said and went to the garden that was situated next to her study. "I would like to know your name. You can look at me," Jia Li said and turned to look at him.
The bodyguard nodded and raised his head. "I am Chen Xin, Your Royal Highness," he replied.
"I am you came. I need your help, Chen Xin," Jia Li said.
"Please order, Your Royal Highness," Chen Xin asserted.
"Someone will poison my father tonight during the grand feast. I want you to help me and stop this from happening," Jia Li stated.
Chen Xin was shocked to know what Jia Li said to him. "How did the Crown Princess know this?" He asked with a bewildered gaze at her and soon lowered his eyes.
"That is not important to know, Chen Xin. Except for you, I cannot trust anyone. That's why I have to ask my mother to send you here. We have limited time for this," Jia Li affirmed.
"Is Her Royal Highness sure about this?" Chen Xin asked her.
"I am. Someone wants to harm my father. I have to stop it at any cost," Jia Li asserted.
"I can inform His Majesty about this. That way it will be easier for us to stop this from happening," Chen Xin suggested.
"No. I don't want the enemies to find out, at least at the moment," Jia Li opined. In her eyes, it would be a foolish mistake. That way her foes would be cautious and they might try to throw her away first from their way.
It was said to remain foolish in the eyes of the enemies rather than showing your strength in the beginning. This was one of the lessons she was taught when she was young. However, she never felt she would ever implement it in her life.