In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the windows of the coffin, casting a golden glow on the floor.

After breakfast, Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan went out of the inner room together. The courtyard had been swept clean, and apart from the lanterns hanging on the corridor and trees, there was no trace of the hustle and bustle of the previous night.

Xie Jingyan was heading to his study when a maidservant came over and announced, "Your Highness, Grand Secretary Han has sent someone to invite you to his residence."

The autumn imperial examination is the day after tomorrow, so Grand Secretary Han's visit to Xie Jingyan must be related to the examination.

Xie Jingyan said, "I probably won't be back for lunch."

Shen Wan was about to nod.

The maidservant added, "The heir of the Duke of Du is hosting a banquet at Deyue Tower this noon, and invites Your Highness to attend as well."

have to.

Just now it seemed like they might not come back for dinner, but now it's definitely not coming back.

After Xie Jingyan left, Shen Wan strolled around the courtyard. The viewing tower would be completed in a few days, and then she could go for walks in the garden.

Today was a day off, and Du Cheng'an arrived early at Deyuelou with fine wine to wait for him.

Staying in the mansion is not very interesting, especially since his parents are not at the mansion when they go to propose marriage for him, it is even less interesting.

They had almost finished eating all sorts of nuts and peanuts when Prince Yanping and his entourage finally arrived.

Du Cheng'an got up to greet him. Seeing more than a dozen jars of wine on the ground, Tang Ze said, "Bringing so much good wine, it seems things have gone well."

Du Cheng'an's ears turned red, and Lu Cheng asked, "How was it? Did the method I taught you last night work?"

Du Cheng'an said, "I didn't use all of them. My father helped me provoke my mother, and she agreed."

Lu Cheng said, "The Imperial Son-in-Law truly dotes on you."

Of course, the eldest princess also loves Du Cheng'an, but the eldest son-in-law doesn't consider anything else, only Du Cheng'an's well-being. The eldest princess also hopes that the empress dowager will be happy, so she has many concerns.

However, although she was persuaded by the eldest son-in-law, the eldest princess still favored Du Cheng'an in her heart.

The Crown Prince of Yanping asked, "When shall we come to propose marriage?"

Du Cheng'an said, "My parents have already gone to the Wang family to propose marriage on my behalf."

Tang Ze put his arm around Du Cheng'an's shoulder and said, "If the eldest princess and the eldest prince consort come to propose marriage in person, then this matter is almost certain."

Du Cheng'an felt the same way.

Although he didn't think of himself as having a particularly noble status, his parents were definitely of the highest rank.

The group sat down, but it was just the few of them, plus Cheng Yi. Yun Qi was busy, and you usually had to ask him to come three to five days in advance. Xu Ji was helping the Minister of Justice investigate a case, so even if he agreed, he couldn't keep his word if a murder case came up, since important matters came first. Xie Jingyan was kept behind by Grand Secretary Han to discuss matters, so he didn't have time to come either.

The group chatted and laughed, clinking glasses, but their joy was short-lived, as there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Upon hearing the response, the servant pushed open the door and went in.

He was a servant in the Duke of Du's mansion.

Tang Ze asked, "Have you come to deliver good news?"

servant, "..."

The servant looked at the table full of delicious food.

The results aren't even out yet, and they're already celebrating.

The servant, steeling himself, said, "Young Master, the marriage proposal didn't go through..."

Du Cheng'an was stunned.

The Prince of Yanping and his entourage were also dumbfounded.

It didn't work out?

How could it have failed?

Princess Huyang and her husband personally went to Du Cheng'an's house to propose marriage. How could this marriage not go through? Are you kidding me?

Du Cheng'an grew anxious, "Why didn't it work?"

The servant said, "The Wang family thinks you're too old, young master."

Du Cheng'an, "..."

Tang Ze, "..."

Lu Cheng, "..."

Prince Yanping, “…”

Old age?

Several people who were a few months older than Du Cheng'an had their mouths twitching uncontrollably.

The three of them looked at Du Cheng'an in unison, then asked the servant, "Why would the Wang family dislike your young master for being too old? Isn't the Princess angry?"

The servant shook his head. "The princess isn't angry. The young master is indeed getting old."

Du Cheng'an, "...???"

He knew that the Wang family's daughter was not yet fifteen.

But he's not even twenty years old yet.

He's only five years older.

The Crown Prince of Yanping asked Du Cheng'an, "How old is the Wang family's daughter?"

Du Chengan said, "I'll be fifteen in two months."

They're not young anymore.

Just as the Prince of Yanping was about to speak, the servant was dumbfounded, "Isn't the Wang family's daughter only eight years old?"

Du Cheng'an, "..."

Tang Ze, "..."

Lu Cheng, "..."

Prince Yanping, “…”

The four of them looked at each other, their gazes failing to meet, before finally settling on the servant.

Tang Ze asked, "What happened?"

The servant also wanted to know what was going on. "The Wang family only has two daughters. The eldest daughter is already married, so the second daughter is only eight years old this year. She just celebrated her birthday last month."

When the eldest princess and her husband went to the Wang family to propose marriage to the young master, the expressions on the faces of Master Wang and Madam Wang became strange as soon as they opened their mouths.

Seeing no joy on their faces, the eldest princess asked, "Why the expressions? Are you unwilling?"

Madam Wang said, "It's not that I'm unwilling. It's my daughter's good fortune that the eldest princess and her husband have taken a liking to her and come to propose marriage. It's just that the young master is not young anymore, while my daughter is only eight years old. She must wait until she comes of age to marry..."

The eldest princess and her husband frowned deeply. "How can she only be eight years old? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Madam Wang said, "My husband and I have two daughters. Our eldest daughter got married last year and her baby is already a month old. Our youngest daughter just turned eight last month."

Just then, the Wang family's little girl came in. Although she was pretty and cute, she was only eight years old.

Although the eldest princess promised her son to help propose marriage to the royal family, an eight-year-old child was something neither the eldest princess nor the eldest prince consort would agree to, let alone the eldest princess.

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