Chapter 285: Unable to Help It

Su Wan took the invitation. A sentence rose to her lips, but she swallowed it back.

The Old Madam Zhao looked somewhat weary. After all, she was of advanced age, and experiencing such a fright had taken its toll on her, leaving her unable to recover fully.

“Su girl, since you’re Xiao Wei’s friend, having you make this special trip here, you should stay and have lunch before you leave.”

After speaking just a few sentences, the Old Madam Zhao already showed signs of fatigue.

Su Wan hurriedly declined, “There’s no need to be so polite. I just returned from Xiliang and haven’t yet visited my grandmother at the nunnery. This is a perfect opportunity to deliver the invitation to her.”

The Old Madam Zhao glanced at Zhao Wei but did not insist on keeping Su Wan. “Madam Rong, see Su girl out.”

Su Wan packed up her medicine box and noticed Zhao Wei accompanying her to the door. “General Zhao, you may stop here. There’s no need to see me off.”

Zhao Wei saw the polite yet distant smile on Su Wan’s face. His thin lips pressed into a tight line, and after a brief pause, he gave a slight nod.

Su Wan and Madam Rong quickly walked away.

From inside the room, the Old Madam Zhao’s aged voice drifted out, carrying a sigh. “So this is why you refuse to settle down? Xiao Wei, Su girl is indeed outstanding and likable, but she is already a married woman.”

“Mother.” Zhao Wei’s tone carried a hint of displeasure.

“You two were never possible in the past, and even less so in the future.” The Old Madam Zhao gave her taciturn, unsmiling youngest son a deep look and spoke with heartfelt sincerity. “If you truly care for her, you must learn to keep your distance and live your own life. That is what’s best for her.”

Zhao Wei lowered his gaze. He understood his mother’s meaning.

In the past, Su Wan was the Crown Prince’s fiancée, and now she was Madam Gu. Unless she divorced, there was no possibility between them.

He had never thought of taking another man’s wife, nor had he deliberately appeared before her.

It was just that…

Zhao Wei’s gaze darkened.

Whenever he saw her, he found it impossible to completely sever the thread of connection between them, no matter how faint it was—even if they would never meet again, even if their interactions were merely business-related.

All his reason was powerless against emotions that surged beyond his control.

“I know my boundaries.”

Old Madam Zhao did not want her son to be trapped by emotions, especially in a relationship that had no possibility.

“The Empress mentioned that County Princess Lin’an, the daughter of Princess Yongfu, has arrived in the capital. She hopes to match the two of you. See if you have time to meet her one day?”

“I won’t.” Zhao Wei rejected her outright.

Old Madam Zhao frowned, just as Zhao Wei continued, “With my current state of mind, marrying anyone would be unfair to them.”

“You…”

“Mother, I still have matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave.” Without waiting for the old madam to persuade him further, Zhao Wei strode away with long, decisive steps.

Left with no choice, Old Madam Zhao sighed. As soon as Madam Rong arrived, she instructed her to decline the Empress’s proposal.

—

Su Wan was preparing to return home and prepare a gift before heading to the nunnery. However, Gu Baozhu’s illness disrupted her plans, leaving her with no choice but to ask Qi Wu to make the trip on her behalf. She instructed him to inform her grandmother about the Old Madam Zhao’s birthday celebration and invite her to attend together.

She had no idea that after Cao Suxue sowed discord in front of County Princess Lin’an, the latter grew uneasy and secretly arranged for someone to keep an eye on Su Wan.

Due to the many secret guards around Su Wan, those spies did not dare to approach her and could only stake out near the Defender Duke’s residence.

When they saw Su Wan visiting the estate and later being personally escorted out by Madam Rong, who served the Old Madam Zhao, with great respect, they immediately returned to the Marquis’s residence to report the matter to County Princess Lin’an.

When County Princess Lin’an heard the servant’s report, her expression darkened. The Dingyuan Marquis Manor had already fallen into decline, and with Su Wan’s status, she should have had no way of gaining entry to the Defender Duke’s residence. Could it really be that Zhao Wei harbored feelings for Su Wan?

At that moment, Princess Yongfu arrived. Seeing County Princess Lin’an’s gloomy expression, a trace of affection and concern appeared in her gentle eyes.

“An’an, who has upset you?” Princess Yongfu glanced at the maidservant, who immediately withdrew from the room.

When County Princess Lin’an saw her mother arrive, her eyes lit up with anticipation as she asked, “Mother, what did Aunt Empress say?”

After seeing the light in her daughter’s eyes, Princess Yongfu felt a pang of reluctance in her heart. She gently stroked her face and said, “An’an, I have selected several outstanding young men from the capital for you. Take a look later and choose one.”

County Princess Lin’an’s expression changed instantly. She bit her lips tightly—the Zhao family had rejected the proposal!

Su Wan had just visited the Defender Duke’s residence, and shortly after, the Zhao family turned down the marriage arrangement!

Her nails dug into her palm as her gaze flickered with uncertainty.