Qu Tan'er smiled but said nothing.
Sometimes a person's smile doesn't mean she's happy. A smile can be out of politeness or even disdain. Sometimes, a smile that's entirely meaningless will appear too—for example, her smile.
Qu Tan'er suddenly said, "Zhan Beilie, I want to see your Emperor."
Zhan Beilie barely flinched imperceptibly, then smiled wryly, "Miss Qu, you really know how to joke. Seeing His Majesty is not something we can just decide."
Qu Tan'er glanced sideways and asked softly, "Can't you ask your elders when you go back to the Zhan Family?"
"The Zhan Family is merely a merchant family," Zhan Beilie replied with a serene smile, "Miss Qu, please don't make it difficult for us."
"..."
Qu Tan'er said no more.
Because the refusal was so clear, continuing to speak would seem unreasonable.
Once the curtain of the carriage was lowered, it was very quiet inside.
