After being reborn, I stole the female lead's cheat ability and raised the empress.

Chapter 132: She must marry the 3rd Prince as a concubine!

"Oh, Mother, I heard my sister had a miscarriage?"

Just then, Xia Li arrived anxiously and bowed to Cui Fangshu as soon as she entered:

"Mother, please accept my condolences. I was ordered to build the dragon throne for the emperor, and only today did I learn of the disaster that befell the Marquis's mansion. I fainted from grief and have only just woken up, which is why I missed the opportunity to pay my respects to you."

After she finished speaking, she squeezed out a few tears and hurried to the bedside to check on Xia Wanwan. "I heard that my sister has miscarried. This is a big deal. I'll go and ask the physician to come and take a look at her."

Xia Wanwan could easily tell that the other party was deliberately emphasizing the words "miscarriage." She was so angry that her teeth itched: "Get out! Get out! I don't need you to find me some kind of miracle doctor. Are you here to mock me?"

Seeing this, Cui Fangshu quickly said to her, "Wanwan, don't get agitated, take care of yourself. I'll take her out now." With that, she pulled Xia Li out.

Once outside, she said, "Your mother is very relieved to see that you are willing to get along with your sister. It's just that she just lost her child and is still upset. Don't take it to heart."

Xia Li said sensibly, "I won't blame my sister. Mother, you must take care of yourself too. I heard you haven't been able to sleep well these past few days. This is a calming pill that I asked the Emperor to bestow upon you, Mother. It's perfect for you." She took out a bottle of pills.

Cui Fangshu took it, her eyes moist, and stroked her hair: "You sensible child, I neglected you before. After this experience, I understand. I only hope that you and Wanwan will stop being at odds in the future, and that our family can live a good life. That's more important than anything else."

Xia Li's eyes also reddened. "Mother is right—I'll go see my sister again."

……

Inside the house, Xia Wanwan gave her a cold look the moment she saw her: "What are you doing here again?"

"Before, I was kind-hearted and forgave you several times, but now, hehe..." Xia Li sat down on the edge of the bed, gently tucking her in as she spoke, "Isn't what you're most proud of your mother's favor and your status as the legitimate daughter? Then just watch how I take back everything that belongs to me, step by step!"

"You...you dare! Didn't you say you didn't care?" At this moment, Xia Wanwan was extremely panicked.

Xia Li nodded matter-of-factly: "I don't care... but you do!"

She leaned close to Xia Wanwan's ear and whispered, "I never kill people, I only destroy their hearts!"

Xia Li smiled and instructed, "Bai Yue, go to my courtyard and find a few people to serve the Second Miss personally. Make sure to tell her about the affairs of the Xia family every day, especially how Madam Cui dotes on me and how secure my position in the Xia family is. These are things she likes to hear."

……

Xia Li was in a great mood and skipped back to the Prince of Jin's residence.

I had barely stepped into the lobby when I glanced around before immediately backing out!

The atmosphere inside was too tense!

The Prince of Jin sat grimly on his carved chair, speaking in a cold, hard voice to Zhao Jihua standing before him:

“Your father’s mind is made up. You must marry the Third Prince. This marriage is of great importance to the family.”

Zhao Jihua's voice trembled but remained firm: "That Third Prince is arrogant and self-important, and is not a good match for me. I am unwilling, and I hope Father will rescind his decision."

"Nonsense! It's your parents' decision and the matchmaker's words; you have no choice but to marry him!"

"But the Third Prince is already married..."

"The Third Prince said that the Zhou family's words were just the Emperor's angry outburst and have nothing to do with anything. You two are the ones who have been betrothed since childhood. As long as you go and request an imperial decree to grant the marriage, the Zhou family's matter will be dropped."

"Why doesn't Father consider that the Zhou family is currently favored and holds military power, while our Prince Jin's mansion, though seemingly honored, is actually known to everyone in the royal family? It's obvious who the Third Prince will choose. Why did he say that to Father? Why did he send me to request an imperial decree?"

I heard that he pursued Miss Xing.

Let me make a bold guess: if I succeed in requesting the imperial decree, he can then request permission to marry the Xing family's daughter. If he fails, our Prince Jin's mansion will incur the Emperor's wrath. Either way, he suffers no loss.”

"Why does the Third Prince despise us? —Then you should marry him and become his concubine!"

"Why does my father insist that I marry the Third Prince? I don't like him at all!"

Prince Jin flicked his sleeves and turned to leave: "You've always been a person of your own mind, especially now that you've grown up and your wings have hardened. I can't control you anymore."

That's too much to bear; she can't take it.

Zhao Jihua's face turned ashen instantly, her body trembled uncontrollably, her hands gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, and tears stubbornly welled up in her eyes, yet she refused to let them fall.

She knelt on the ground: "Father..."

The other person walked away without looking back.

Only when he could no longer see her did Zhao Jihua finally break down in tears, large drops rolling down her cheeks.

She really didn't want to marry the third prince, but she also didn't want to go against her father who had raised her.

Xia Li was heartbroken to see her older sister crying so bitterly. She rushed in, slid down to her knees, and hugged her tightly. "Sister, you did the right thing! A girl's journey is to live her life the way she wants, to live it happily and openly. You can't give up!"

"Li'er... why are you here?" Upon seeing the person who came, she quickly raised her hand to wipe away her tears, not wanting her younger sister to see her vulnerable state.

Xia Li smiled mischievously: "I'm here to plan my sister's life!"

Zhao Jihua smiled through her tears, but only for a moment before her brows furrowed again: "Li'er, I'm in so much pain. I hate the Third Prince, but Father wants me to marry him..."

"Because of the debt of gratitude for giving birth, you can't repay it, and you can't ever fully repay it. So you have no choice but to bow your head." Xia Li hit the nail on the head.

She nodded in agreement: "Yes, there is a deep blood relationship between parents and children. We are cared for and loved, but we are also constrained and interfered with, and we don't have much freedom of choice."

"But first and foremost, you are yourself, sister. Only you can love yourself unconditionally and forever. So don't limit yourself to being someone's daughter or someone's wife; instead, ask yourself first, what do you want to become?"

You can be anyone if you want; if you don't, then you just need to be yourself.

"What would you do if you encountered such a situation?"

"I am filial, but not obedient," Xia Li said with a slight smile.

“I will try my best to be good to them and repay their kindness in raising me; but I am also myself. I have the ability to make choices for my own life. Rather than being obedient, I prefer to hear my own voice and follow my own heart.”

Zhao Jihua lowered her head, still looking dejected: "But I can't bear to see Father sad..."

Xia Li had a sudden inspiration: "Why don't you try to be compliant on the surface, but still do your own thing in your heart?"