At this moment, near the base of the wall outside the house, a maidservant, Yunyu, was eavesdropping. After listening for a while, Yunyu left.

[I knew Yunyu was no good! He was eavesdropping!]

[Oh no, she must have gone to the ancestral hall to exaggerate the story!]

[Chase after the villainous female supporting character! Don't let her spout nonsense!]

Princess Ning frowned. "Heyi, Princess, are you even listening to me?" Zheng Heyi was lost in thought, feeling a heavy weight in her heart.

“Your Highness, I’d like to go see the County Princess. Perhaps if she listens to me, she can think things through a bit.” Princess Ning pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Never mind. But Shu’er has always been pampered, and now that something like this has happened, I’m afraid she might not be able to… Anyway, you should talk to her more. It might not be a bad thing if she follows our arrangements.”

At this point, Princess Ning burst into tears.

Parents' hearts are truly full of love and worry.

Inside the ancestral hall, Yunyu had already told Jiang Shu that Princess Ning and Zheng Heyi had just discussed her marriage in the room. Upon hearing this, Jiang Shu's voice trembled.

“What Gao Dekai, the third-ranked scholar, what a match made in heaven? Is it that rare? I think my mother just wants me to get married quickly, that’s why she’s lying!” Jiang Shu sat on the prayer mat, looking extremely haggard.

[As expected, it was Yunyu who was sowing discord!]

[Female lead, don't be fooled! The vicious female supporting character is here to help you, not to harm you!]

At this moment, Zheng Heyi had arrived at the ancestral hall.

“Heyi,” Jiang Shu turned around, “you were just discussing with my mother that Gao Dekai and I are a match made in heaven? Don’t tell me you also want me to marry a stranger without any understanding of the situation?”

"Huh? The news spread that fast?" Upon hearing this, Zheng Heyi was completely stunned.

When did she say that?

Everything that had just happened was clearly Princess Ning talking to herself. Zheng Heyi neither intended to participate in nor comment on Jiang Shu's marriage. At this moment, she looked at Yun Yu, whose lips seemed to be curled into a mocking smile.

"Princess, even now, you still believe Zheng Heyi?"

Zheng Heyi was furious and wanted to slap Yunyu. "Sister Shuer, if I really wanted you to marry Gao Dekai, why would I come to the ancestral hall now? I came here to talk to you about this matter. I did not express my opinion in front of Princess Ning, but your matter is indeed complicated. Don't always blame Princess Ning. She has her own difficulties."

"Then! Why did Yunyu say that..."

Jiang Shu looked at her with suspicion and gritted her teeth, "If you weren't helping my mother, why did you stay in the warm pavilion for so long just now?"

It seems this secret must be blurted out. That's right, only by quickly revealing everything can there be a chance to change one's future fate. After hesitating for a moment, Zheng Heyi murmured, "Princess Ning told me that His Majesty wants you to go to Wusun for a marriage alliance! Sister Shu'er, your mother said it herself."

Zheng Heyi could no longer care about the details. "She wants you to marry Gao Dekai, the third-ranked scholar. He was personally selected by Princess Ning and your father. The reason for this arrangement is simply to help you avoid this disaster!"

Hearing all this, Jiang Shu was stunned. She slowly looked at Zheng Heyi.

In that instant, Jiang Shu felt dizzy and almost couldn't stand up. Zheng Heyi looked at the sudden look of astonishment on Jiang Shu's face and didn't know what to say for a moment.

[A marriage alliance with Wusun! This is incredibly revealing!]

[Speaking of which, Princess Ning was actually trying to save her daughter! We've all misunderstood her!]

"His Majesty wants me to be sent on a political marriage?" Jiang Shu murmured repeatedly, her body trembling like a leaf. "To Wusun? Like all those princesses who were sent on political marriages in the past, they all died abroad?"

Zheng Heyi wanted to comfort her, but all the warm words stuck in her throat. In the end, all Heyi could do was hold Jiang Shu's hand with lingering affection.

However, at this moment, Jiang Shu's fingers were icy cold, as if they were driftwood that had just been pulled out of cold water.

“Your mother is worried that you might do something rash, which is why she wants you to get engaged first. As for Gao Dekai, I have never met him, but your mother says she has met him once. Sister Shuer, I will never stand by and watch you jump into a fire pit.”

Jiang Shu was still in a daze, her lips moving, but she didn't know what to say.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the ancestral hall.

The steward of the Prince Ning's residence bowed breathlessly: "Princess! Your old nanny Li has arrived. She says there's an emergency at the residence and she wants you to return immediately!"

What? Something's happened at the Princess's residence again?

[One problem after another, it's really tough being the villainous female supporting character!]

[Go back quickly, you vicious female supporting character, lest your own home be in turmoil.]

Upon hearing this, He Yi's heart tightened. She looked at the steward again and realized that the steward of the Ning Prince's Mansion was even more anxious than she was. Zheng He Yi didn't want to linger, so she looked down at Jiang Shu.

"Sister Shu'er, I'm afraid something extremely urgent has happened at my home. To be honest, I've already dismissed Granny Li. If it weren't for something urgent, she would never have rashly come to the Prince Ning's residence."

Jiang Shu stood up slightly and said pitifully, "You should go back and take a look first. Things at home are naturally more important. I'll think about my own affairs slowly. I will seriously consider what you said."

Zheng Heyi could only nod helplessly and agreed to meet with Jiang Shu when she had time.

Before leaving, He Yi glared fiercely at Yun Yu, that troublemaker, utterly unreasonable. Seeing He Yi about to leave, Princess Ning stood under the eaves watching her go, her expression complex.

This kid is just like me when I was young—full of energy and enthusiasm.

Although he is a bit impatient, he has a good and sincere heart.

Inside the ancestral hall, Jiang Shu coldly looked at Yun Yu and fiercely accused her, "He Yi did not encourage my mother to marry me off to that top scholar, why are you spouting such nonsense!?"

Yunyu rarely saw her mistress angry, but now that Jiang Shu was furious, Yunyu was terrified. "Princess, spare me! This servant... this servant only heard Princess Ning mention the third-ranked scholar and blurted it out. I was just trying to amuse you, Princess."

"Trying to amuse me?" Jiang Shu sneered. "You almost made me misunderstand the person I should trust most."

Yun Yu left dejectedly, her hatred for He Yi only intensifying after this incident. Meanwhile, Zheng He Yi hurriedly left the mansion and spotted Granny Li from afar.

Granny Li stared anxiously at the gate of the mansion. When Zheng Heyi approached, Granny Li bowed without wiping the sweat from her forehead. Her already haggard old face was as white as a sheet of paper.

Before He Yi could ask, Granny Li said, "Logically, this old servant shouldn't be coming to see you, but Qingju ordered me to come to you immediately."

Zheng Heyi's heart pounded wildly. What on earth was going on? Why was Granny Li so panicked? The more anxious she became, the more she forced herself to calm down.