Back then, the House of Murong had already crumbled, and the House of Lord Li had fallen. Murong Yu was left with no choice but to accept being discarded; where did she find the right to talk about separation or divorce? Besides, she had been hoping that Huo Yuan would lend a hand to rescue her family. He was well-connected and highly valued by the new emperor.
But in the end, Murong Yu was treated like an object and gifted to Ji Chengxuan.
Princess Anyang seemed to understand Murong Yu's temperament well, so she painstakingly sent Murong Yu a letter, urging her to stay alive. Only by living could there be hope. That was to prevent Murong Yu from becoming so desperate that she might take her own life.
Now, recalling all of it, Murong Yu's eyes gleamed with a hint of joy. To have a friend like Princess Anyang in life was enough. Having been reborn, Murong Yu had naturally ruled out Huo Yuan. At the same time, she didn't want Princess Anyang to go through the hardships she had experienced in her previous life.
After marrying Xu Chang'an in the past life, Princess Anyang lost two children, which had severe consequences on her health. Since their friendship had spanned both their past and current lives. Murong Yu couldn't watch Princess Anyang suffer the calamities of her past life again.
Murong Yu felt that her rebirth would have been meaningless if that happened.
When Princess Anyang heard Murong Yu say that Xu Chang'an wasn't suitable for her, Princess Anyang accepted it. She felt that Huo Yuan wasn't good enough for her friend either.
Murong Yu also had always thought that Xu Chang'an was not worthy of her beautiful Princess Anyang. But now, to hear that even Huo Yuan was unsuitable—it was big news indeed!
"What happened? Did he do something terrible that you found out about?" Princess Anyang inquired as she looked at Murong Yu.
Murong Yu used to be very fond of Huo Yuan; this was something Princess Anyang knew better than anyone else. Even the most reserved girl would share her hidden affection with her best friend. Princess Anyang was that friend to whom Murong Yu confided her heart's desires.
"Princess Anyang, I had a dream," said Murong Yu, lowering her eyes slightly.
"A dream?" Princess Anyang looked at Murong Yu, waiting for her to continue.
"In that dream, both you and I got married to the men we admired." Murong Yu paused. "But in the end, neither of us had a happy ending."
Princess Anyang was taken aback and said, "It's just a dream."
"Have you ever seen me have a dream that comes true so precisely?" Murong Yu asked as she stared at Princess Anyang.
"Do you mean to say that you knew about all those things with Lady Rui because you saw it in your dream?" Aman, who was standing by with refreshments, suddenly interjected.
"Yes. Otherwise, how would I know about the secret correspondence between Murong Rui and Huo Yuan? They were so discreet," Murong Yu admitted calmly.
"Murong Rui, that illegitimate daughter from your house, she and Huo Yuan?!" Princess Anyang exclaimed as her face turned serious.
"In my dream, Murong Rui ended up as the wife of the Marquis, and I was sacrificed." Murong Yu told her best friend candidly. "At first, I thought it was absurd. But after waking up, I sent Juan'er, who needed ginseng for her dying mother at the time, to investigate. Everything turned out just as I said."
In Murong Yu's previous life, Juan'er had been utterly loyal to Murong Rui because, at this critical juncture, Murong Rui had lent her the ginseng to save her mother.
Murong Yu found out about this later on. She didn't claim the ginseng for herself nor did she meet Juan'er, a mere servant. Of course, the favor naturally went to Murong Rui.
This time, Juan'er had become Murong Yu's spy embedded with Murong Rui. Murong Yu had saved Juan'er's mother, so Juan'er was intensely loyal to Murong Yu.
"That's why you knew about Juan'er's mother being ill, even though she isn't from our side! I was wondering how you knew!" Aman exclaimed in realization.