Murong Yu was caught between laughter and tears. If one were to say she was the peony, resplendent in all its national beauty, then Princess Anyang would be the dazzling red rose—beautiful yet thorny.
Both Murong Yu and Princess Anyang were women of devastating beauty, capable of toppling empires. However, many beautiful women are unaware of their own allure.
Princess Anyang felt that her best friend was even more stunning, a beauty without a single flaw. The kind of beauty one couldn't help but want to protect and cherish. Her best friend was neither frail nor delicate, yet she evoked a desire in others to present her with the world's finest treasures, just for a smile in return. Such was the charm of Lady Murong Yu.
"Murong Yu, with your celestial beauty, marrying Huo Yuan is like a fairy descending to Earth only to step on cow dung," Princess Anyang said as she sat down, not mincing her words.
Murong Yu chuckled as she poured floral tea for Princess Anyang.
Princess Anyang had never thought highly of Huo Yuan. Yet as her best friend, Princess Anyang couldn't help but accept that Murong Yu liked Huo Yuan.
Love is often inexplicable; it blinds those involved while being crystal clear to those who observe.
"Do you really think he's that worthless?" Murong Yu inquired as she gestured for Princess Anyang to sip her tea, smiling.
Princess Anyang lifted her cup of floral tea and said, "I'm not joking with you. Huo Yuan seems like a romantic and flirtatious man. You can't marry him!"
"If Huo Yuan is not fit to marry, is someone like Marquis Xu more suitable?" Murong Yu asked.
Xu Chang'an had inherited his title and household and was now referred to as Marquis Xu. He was Princess Anyang's ex-husband in Murong Yu's previous life.
"Of course. If I'm going to marry, my husband should be someone like Xu Chang'an," Princess Anyang said as she raised an eyebrow.
Murong Yu looked at her vibrant best friend and sighed inwardly, 'Perhaps Xu Chang'an genuinely loved Princess Anyang in their past life? After their divorce, he never remarried.'
Love that ends in ridicule is hardly worth it. Had Xu Chang'an not disappointed Princess Anyang so severely, perhaps their relationship wouldn't have ended so tragically. Princess Anyang had no regrets about her divorce, and she never looked back. She was that kind of person, committed when in love, and decisively leaving when it was over. No hesitations.
Murong Yu sighed softly.
"What's wrong? Do you still think he's not suitable?" Princess Anyang laughed.
"Princess Anyang, we both made the wrong choices. Neither Huo Yuan nor Xu Chang'an is our match," Murong Yu said frankly.
In Murong Yu's last life, Princess Anyang divorced shortly after her marriage.
Princess Anyang found that her widowed mother-in-law was sick in the head—jealous of her son's affection for his wife. Her two sisters-in-law were no better.
What led to Princess Anyang's divorce was the loss of her unborn child, pushed by her younger sister-in-law, and her husband did nothing to punish her.
After recovering, Princess Anyang threw her sister-in-law into an icy lake and divorced her husband without hesitation, ending a marriage that was once blessed and wished for happiness.
Within three days of her divorce, a general who had been infatuated with Princess Anyang for years proposed marriage. She didn't want to marry again, but the general went to great lengths, pulling every string he could. Eventually, he won her over.
After that, Princess Anyang didn't make a mistake and she lived happily with her new-found love.
Murong Yu only learned about all this when Princess Anyang visited her at the household of Marquis Huo. At that point, Murong Yu was almost a broken person, isolated and unaware due to the manipulations of others around her.
When Princess Anyang learned of Murong Yu's situation, she immediately advised Murong Yu to divorce.