Lu Yucheng's eyes widened in disbelief. "Xiaoyun, do you mean that your stepmother didn't prepare a single dowry for you when you married Prince An?"
Zhu Yu nodded, her lips pursed and her eyes brimming with tears, as if she had just realized that her mother had left her so many things, only to have them taken over by outsiders.
I felt extremely wronged.
"Well, as I mentioned last time, my stepmother carried me to the Prince An's mansion in a sedan chair, with only two sets of clothes to change into. She didn't even give me a penny of the money you gave me, brother, and I don't even know what a dowry looks like."
A tear fell down her cheek: "I had no idea that my mother had prepared so much dowry for me."
Lu Yucheng was furious. He grabbed Zhu Yu's hand and started walking outside: "Come on, your brother will take you to check Mother's dowry right now. If there's anything missing, we'll ask her for it. I don't believe that she can keep our mother's things for herself."
Zhu Yu nodded repeatedly; this was something he excelled at: "Yes, yes, not a single bit will be left for her."
"Of course, that's my mother's dowry, all of it is for you."
Was it all left for him?
If he could marry Lu Xiaoyun as a woman, this would already be a grand wedding procession. If the Prince of An's mansion were to prepare even more betrothal gifts, their wedding would be the most magnificent in the entire world.
Just thinking about it is wonderful.
But before his romantic fantasies could fully blossom, Lu Yucheng poured cold water on them.
"His Highness the Fifth Prince has come of age, and the Emperor intends to select a consort for him. Since you were both injured when you married into the Prince An's mansion and have not yet consummated your marriage, the Emperor has made an exception and allowed you to participate in the selection."
"Ah...!" Has the fifth brother gone mad? He's his fourth brother now, his fourth brother!
How can two brothers possibly marry?!
Could it be that the fifth brother is attracted to Lu Xiaoyun's appearance rather than her soul?
"What do you mean 'ah'? I think it's great. My sister is no worse than anyone else, and the Fifth Prince is as handsome and refined as a mirror. In this world, only he is worthy of you."
Zhu Yu: "..."
Zhu Yu had a headache, but soon his mood became somewhat depressed.
The fifth brother must already know how to switch their bodies back; Lu Xiaoyun must have told him.
She really wanted to marry the fifth brother.
Upon hearing the news, Lu Xiaoyun was so shocked that she jumped up from the soft couch, nearly breaking her leg again.
"Has Zhu Dan gone mad?"
Lu Yuyan helped his older sister up and nodded; he also thought Zhu Dan had gone mad.
Even if he gets the old emperor to issue an imperial decree to grant Zhu Yu a marriage and bring him back to the mansion, how will the two brothers get along in the future?
The key question is how to consummate the marriage?
Thinking of this, Lu Yuyan shuddered.
This is even scarier than a horror movie.
When Feng Yan returned from outside and saw Lu Xiaoyun, he said, "Master, the fish has taken the bait."
Lu Xiaoyun chuckled softly, "Very good."
Upon hearing Qi Yu's report, Zhu Yu of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion also let out a cold snort: "Very good."
That day, before the morning court session, the old emperor had already received a military report from Mu City. He immediately left 20,000 of the remaining 120,000 troops in the Xishan Military Camp and sent the remaining 100,000 to Mu City to suppress the bandits.
How can 20,000 troops be enough to defend the city?
Sure enough, the fish couldn't resist and took the bait.
Now they're just waiting to close the net on March 18th, the day of the imperial examination.
Zhu Dan, from the Fifth Prince's residence, was holding a document in his hand at that moment.
"Your Highness, all arrangements for this year's imperial examination are complete," Zhu Dan's attendant, Zuo Xiu, respectfully reported.
With less than a month to go before the imperial examination on March 18th, the exam questions have been finalized and sealed in the last two days, and he is keeping them in his personal custody.
However, the emperor still had reservations and only allowed the sons of merchants to participate in the imperial examinations, while women were still not allowed to participate in the imperial examinations to enter officialdom.
However, thanks to his efforts, girls' schools have been established throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty, which is already a great step forward.
Zhu Dan knew that the ideas of the 21st century would not be so easily accepted by people of this era. The idea of male superiority and female inferiority was deeply rooted. Once a woman entered officialdom, it was equivalent to taking away men's jobs and trampling on men's dignity.
Furthermore, in this era, women were expected to marry and have children at the age of fifteen. Medical care was underdeveloped, and many women experienced complications during childbirth. If a woman held a high position of power, it would be detrimental to the continuation of the grand plan. There were simply many supporting measures that could not keep up.
Zhu Dan did not insist.
However, the emperor had already granted permission to open a girls' school, and for both boys and girls under the age of twelve to be exempt from tuition fees.
After the preparations for the spring imperial examinations are completed, a decree will be issued to the whole country.
Zhu Dan glanced through the official documents and casually hummed in agreement.
Zuo Xiu hesitated for a long time before speaking hesitantly: "Your Highness, you have finally agreed to the Emperor's request to select a concubine, but why do you want Miss Lu from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to participate as well? She is a woman who was divorced by Prince An and is not worthy of you. Why make her a laughingstock?"
The emperor wouldn't agree to it either.
Even if she doesn't divorce Prince An, the reputation of Miss Lu, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, is truly disgraceful. How could such a woman be worthy of the handsome and refined Fifth Prince?
Zhu Dan looked up from his official documents and stared at Zuo Xiu. His usually gentle face immediately turned cold: "Zuo Xiu, you have overstepped your bounds!"
This master is fine when he's not angry, but when he is, his oppressive aura is very strong.
Zuo Xiu was so frightened that he immediately knelt down with a thud: "Your Highness, I know I was wrong. But, but I feel indignant for you. Miss Lu is truly..."
Zhu Dan slammed the official document onto the table with a loud bang: "Get out!"
Zuo Xiu stood up sullenly and walked out.
A person who is too kind cannot become an emperor, but the fifth prince is born to be an emperor.
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