I felt quite surprised.

　　I knew that person who had traveled through time must have done something in secret, but I never expected that Prince An, who was unpredictable, ruthless, and had harmed several time travelers, would actually...do something good outside? This time, I was perplexed.

　　I paced back and forth, unsure of what to do.

　　Why is it that when I decided to seek revenge for those innocent time travelers, I discovered that he might not be a complete villain? Lost in my thoughts, as I walked back, I heard Prince An speaking to someone in the room through the secret passage wall.

　　'Jiaojiao, this is not the first time you made a mistake.

　　You disappoint me.' It turned out to be...Jiaojiao? But in the next second, the female voice that reached my ears was calm and composed, unlike that of a child.

　　'Father, who can claim to be without faults? I just accidentally lost my older sister.

　　Do you dislike the person who now occupies her body?' ...What?! Jiaojiao also knows that the current Shan Shan is a time-traveling woman?! Prince An sneered, 'Accidentally? Clearly, it was jealousy that got the better of you.

　　You can't stand seeing her doing well! By the way, did you read the letter from the palace, knowing that the emperor intends to send the princess to marry the prince of Shirong?' The emperor wants to marry Shan Shan to the prince of Shirong?! Jiaojiao remained calm, 'Father, you wanted Shan Shan to be a lady in order to use her as a tool for marriage in the court, as a sacrifice.

　　But now, she doesn't want to get married, so I helped her.

　　She pretended to be sick, her personality changed drastically, and she became a selfish and reckless princess.

　　Will you still let her go marry?' Prince An slammed the teacup and angrily shouted, 'Insolence! The marriage between nations concerns the interests of both countries.

　　How dare you treat it as a child's play?! Jiaojiao, I order you to reflect on your actions.

　　It seems you haven't thought it through at all!' Jiaojiao muttered, perhaps injured by the smashing, but she remained stubborn, 'Yes, I am jealous of my sister! This cage of Prince An's residence, why should I be the only one trapped? If she wants to leave, she can dream!' I stood frozen in place.

　　Jiaojiao's hatred towards Shan Shan has reached this level? 'The only one?' Prince An laughed sarcastically, 'Everyone in Prince An's residence is a trapped bird.

　　I am, the queen is, you are, and she is too.

　　No one can escape.' 'But you still want to give her a chance to leave, don't you?"

　　"Jiaojiao suddenly cried with grievances, 'Father, we are both your daughters.

　　Why is it that sister can leave, but I can only stay in the An Prince's mansion? Is it because I am not your and the queen's daughter, because I am not the legitimate princess, so I cannot enter the imperial family's eyes? I can also marry into a noble family, I am also a princess!" Yes, in this era, there is a clear distinction between honor and inferiority, legitimacy and illegitimacy.

　　Their destinies have always been different.

　　I have tried my best to treat them equally, providing them with similar food and clothing, impartially teaching them their lessons, playing and having heart-to-heart talks with them.

　　The people in the An Prince's mansion have never treated them differently.

　　But the An Prince's mansion is too small, and leaving here means there will be no fairness.

　　I thought the An Prince would say to Jiaojiao, 'This is your destiny, you must accept it.' But after a moment of silence, he slowly spoke, 'No, it has nothing to do with legitimacy, this is her responsibility.

　　Jiaojiao, do you think marrying into a noble family is a good thing? Barbaric lands, rudeness of foreign peoples, no relatives in sight, being at the mercy of others...

　　that is what noble women who marry into other families have to face.

　　The emperor didn't give a direct order, but instead discussed it with me through a letter.

　　Do you think there is really room for discussion?' I have faintly perceived the reason.

　　The most noble princesses would not be sent to marry into barbaric lands, only those overlooked princesses...

　　Sure enough, the An Prince revealed the truth, 'The princess is unwilling to marry, but someone still needs to go.

　　The eligible women from the imperial family are only you two sisters.

　　You haven't reached the age of adulthood yet, so should I send you?' 'But...

　　but sister is unwilling to go...' Jiaojiao finally acted like a child again, crying loudly.

　　'Father, don't you remember? Sister said that when she turns eighteen, she will leave the prince's mansion and explore the world.

　　You promised her...

　　are you going back on your word?' My heart ached.

　　Yes, the previous An Prince had promised Shanshan to let her go out into the vast world...

　　But Jiaojiao hadn't arrived at the An Prince's mansion yet, how could she have known? I only heard the An Prince slam the table and warn, 'Jiaojiao! How many times have I said it! That person is not me, not your father! You must not listen to his nonsense!' Boom— It felt like thunder striking my brain, and I couldn't help but tremble all over.

　　What does 'that person is not me' mean...

　　what does 'you must not listen to his nonsense' mean...

　　Could it be that my search...

　　hasn't completely disappeared?