Master Duan naturally understood what she meant, but since she was the daughter of his second wife, he couldn't make the decision himself.

Seeing that her father was somewhat interested, Duan Xinru didn't hesitate to make fun of herself and said, "Dad, I'm not as pretty as my cousin. Besides, my cousin actually looks more like a better match for my cousin Guo."

Master Duan knew his daughter's plans, but he was right about one thing: his niece was indeed more suitable than his daughter. For no other reason than that he knew his daughter well; her personality was not attractive to men, and marrying her might actually lead to enmity.

no need.

"You'll only be well-behaved for a few days. Go back now!"

This matter needs careful consideration, after all, there is someone involved who could be the eldest prince.

Duan Xinru was happy, knowing that she would not be married off to Guo Shu.

As Duan Xinru left the study, she breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, she was worried because she was afraid of being married off.

In fact, in all respects, Guo Shu was quite good, except that he was not from an official family. In particular, his uncle valued him as much as his own son.

Duan Xinru wasn't particularly beautiful, and the Guo family was less well-off than the Duan family. Guo Shu's aunt was also her own aunt, and she treated her quite well. She was sure she wouldn't be mistreated after marrying into the Guo family.

But she was unwilling and even looked down on Guo Shu in every way.

The reason is actually quite simple: a young girl's heart is always filled with poetry, and she has found someone she loves.

The object of her affections was none other than her cousin from her maternal family, and the crucial point is that her cousin was already married.

Her father didn't know what she was thinking, but her mother did. Since she was their only daughter, although she didn't approve, she didn't say anything too harsh, only telling her to avoid her family.

Madam Duan wasn't completely oblivious; she knew that if her daughter really did something wrong, it would be her daughter who would suffer, and the man wouldn't care. At most, it would just be an extra romantic affair, or even, over time, it would become something to brag about.

Then Duan Xinru went to her mother's place. Although Madam Duan was under house arrest, Duan Xinru, the eldest daughter, could still see her if she wanted to.

Why are you here?

Madam Duan was somewhat surprised.

"Mother, your daughter has come to see you."

What's the situation with your dad?

She hasn't received much news lately and isn't very clear about what's happening in the manor.

"My father wants me to marry Guo Shu."

Duan Xinru blurted it out.

Madam Duan looked on incredulously: "What? Your father really said that? Isn't this pushing you into a fire pit? No, absolutely not."

"Mother, don't worry, your daughter has already rejected Father."

Madam Duan was somewhat skeptical: "Will your father listen to you?"

Madam Duan knew her husband's character well and wouldn't easily change her mind: "What did you say to your father?"

Duan Xinru told her mother about the situation, and Madam Duan said, "Your second aunt treats your cousin like her own eyeball and protects her very much. This matter is probably not going to be easy to handle."

Duan Xinru, however, felt that this matter was not difficult to handle.

"Mother, don't forget that no matter how much Second Aunt loves Xinyue, she still has to listen to Second Uncle. And Second Uncle is now relying on Father. If Second Uncle agrees, that's fine. Don't you think that makes sense, Mother?"

When Madam Duan heard what her daughter said, she realized it made sense.

"Let's see. If it doesn't work out, we'll let Xinyu marry him. It's a good match for a commoner like her, who is an illegitimate daughter."

“Mother is right.”

Madam Duan said, "The New Year is just around the corner. Your father probably won't be angry for long. I'll take care of the rest for you."

Then Duan Xinru left. In her heart, she wanted Duan Xinyue to marry Guo Shu. She looked down on Guo Shu and was also a little jealous of Duan Xinyue, which is why she thought that way.

Duan Xinru was the eldest daughter of the main wife, and her mother treated her quite well. However, as she grew older, she realized that what she thought was good treatment was conditional and not wholehearted.

In her mother's heart, the position of the eldest wife of the Duan family and her brother came first, and then came her; she was the one who was dispensable.

And what about Duan Xinyue?

She was her second aunt's only daughter. Although she was not as well-off as her, her second aunt was really good to her. Not only did her aunt care for her and show concern for her, but she also protected her in every way, even at the cost of competing with her second uncle.

She knew in her heart that things were different, so she was very jealous. That's why she was always looking for trouble. To put it bluntly, she didn't want to see her doing well. Why was it that someone of lower status than her seemed to be living a much happier life?

On her way back, Duan Xinru ran into several of her half-sisters and threw a tantrum before heading home.

"Second sister, has eldest sister eaten a firecracker? Why is she so angry?"

Duan Xinyu scoffed and said, "Who knows? She's like this every day, looking at everyone as if they owe her money. She's just lucky, otherwise she would have been dealt with long ago."

"Isn't it inappropriate for Second Sister to say that about Eldest Sister?" Duan Xinqi said cautiously.

Duan Xinyu glanced at Duan Xinqi with a half-smile and said with a smile, "Did I say anything just now?"

Seeing her second sister's smile, Duan Xinqi stammered, "No...nothing."

Duan Xinyu nodded in satisfaction and said, "That's more like it. Let's go. I heard the flowers in the garden are blooming beautifully. Let's go take a look."

Ever since that day when Bobo took her out of the palace, Beibei had been thinking about going outside every day. Although the palace was big, she had lived there since she was a child and there was nothing new to it. The outside world was exciting, so naturally she longed to go out.

"Brother, are you free today?"

Bobo refused, saying, "No, can't you be a little more mature?"

"He is clearly very composed."

"Something like this?"

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