Chapter 174 Return to Beijing
The original trip to Lizhou was postponed because Xiao Mingyi was eager to propose marriage to the Duke's Mansion. Song Lingyi specially wrote a letter to her second uncle to explain the reason.
When Lu Hanzhi received the letter, he smiled from ear to ear: "She is truly worthy of being my niece. With the departure of Erlang from the Pei family, now here comes His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. This marriage is exactly what I like, exactly what I like, hahahaha..."
Mrs. Wen glanced at him, her gentle eyes filled with worry. "This marriage is indeed a good one, but does my husband think Lingyi's personality is suitable for living in the imperial city?"
"What's inappropriate?" Lu Hanzhi was particularly tolerant of his niece. "She has a gentle appearance and a refined heart. Since last year, my wife has asked the tutor to teach her etiquette. I think she's doing well."
Mrs. Wen shook her head lightly, her tone rather helpless: "Once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea. The rules of the imperial city are much stricter than those of the Duke's Mansion."
What's more, she was worried that her niece was pure in heart and would suffer in the future.
"Don't worry about it. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince saved Lingyi in Huaizhou City this time. The two of them have been through thick and thin together and have a deep friendship. No matter how strict the rules of the imperial city are, can they be stricter than His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? With His Royal Highness the Crown Prince protecting her, Lingyi will not suffer any loss." Lu Hanzhi waved his hand.
The parents were discussing something when they suddenly saw Lu Ling running into the hall crying.
"Why isn't my cousin coming to Lizhou? I've already planned to take her to so many places to play. Yesterday, I told Yan Song and the others that she was coming, but now she can't come today. Isn't this embarrassing for me..."
Lu Hanzhi glanced at his daughter who was throwing a tantrum, and immediately frowned: "Playing again? You should finish the homework assigned by the teacher, but have you reviewed the martial arts moves taught in class? All you do is play all day long..."
Feeling guilty, Lu Ling threw herself into Wen's arms and acted coquettishly, seeking protection.
"Well, your cousin is getting engaged again. Maybe in a few months, we will have to go to Beijing to attend the wedding banquet." Wen said softly.
"engagement?"
Lu Ling's eyes suddenly lit up, and she was surprised and happy: "Who are you with?"
Lu Hanzhi shook the letter in his hand and said with a smile, "Of course it's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Your cousin should be arriving in Kyoto soon. In a few days, the crown princess appointment will be announced to the world."
“!”
Your Highness the Crown Prince!
Lu Ling's eyes opened wide, and her expression changed from surprise to great joy in less than two breaths, and then she ran out.
"Hey! Where are you going now?!" Lu Hanzhi shouted.
"Go find Yan Song!"
My cousin is going to be the Crown Princess. That’s such an honor!
…
Imperial city.
Upon hearing the news that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wanted to marry Song Lingyi, Princess Changyang went to Yongning Palace without stopping.
The main hall was silent, and the summer breeze blew gently, swaying the silk tassels on the bamboo curtains.
"Mother!"
There was a delicate call from outside the palace gate. Queen Shen paused slightly while turning the white jade beads, put down the scroll in her hand, and slowly raised her eyes.
Princess Changyang walked quickly into the main hall, bowed respectfully, and asked anxiously, "Mother, do you know that my brother is going to marry a young lady from the Song family?"
Queen Shen looked calm and continued to fiddle with the beads: "Of course I know."
She had anticipated this day when the Lu and Pei families had called off their engagement earlier this year. The Crown Prince wasn't being too absurd, knowing enough to wait a few months before proposing again. If she'd called off the engagement and he'd come back to propose right after, she'd be completely embarrassed.
Princess Changyang frowned slightly, as if she had not expected Queen Shen to have such an attitude, and whispered softly: "Mother, the Song family's sister is not of high birth, don't you mind?"
"Do you mind?" After hearing this, Empress Shen snorted softly, looking at the scroll without looking up. "Your royal brother has been back in the capital for over a year, and there are already a pile of imperial concubines' applications submitted to the court. I have advised him countless times, but have you ever heard him listen?"
If she didn't agree to the Song family girl entering the Eastern Palace, she was afraid that the prince would tear the roof off Yongning Palace. Since she knew she couldn't change the prince's mind, why bother with it?
“…”
Princess Changyang's eyes turned slightly, and she sensed something was wrong from these words.
Could it be that the royal brother was unwilling to participate in the selection before because he had a candidate for the Crown Princess in mind, and that person was a sister of the Song family?
The moment this thought popped into Princess Changyang's mind, she raised her hand to cover her lips in surprise.
Oh my God!
The Song family's younger sister was clearly engaged last year... No wonder the emperor defended her everywhere and vowed that "this marriage will not take place."
Thinking of this, Princess Changyang felt particularly complicated.
"But mother, the Song family's younger sister—"
Before he could finish his words, the voices of palace servants greeting each other were heard outside the hall, and the figure in the crimson brocade robe immediately stepped into the main hall.
"Your son pays his respects to the Queen Mother."
Xiao Mingyi's brows relaxed as he respectfully paid his respects to Empress Shen, who was seated at the top of the table. He then glanced at Princess Changyang with a sidelong glance and curled his lips slightly, "Changyang, what were you talking about with Mother just now?"
Seeing her brother looking so refreshed and elated, Princess Changyang subconsciously looked at Queen Shen, her face embarrassed. "Nothing much to say. I heard that my brother was interested in discussing marriage with the younger sister of the Song family, so I came to ask Mother out of curiosity."
"What are you curious about?"
Xiao Mingyi picked up the tea brought by the palace maid and took a sip. "I'm here just in time, why not tell me something?"
Princess Changyang's eyes were half closed.
Although the emperor loves her, they are not biological siblings after all. From what the queen mother said, the emperor likes the Song sister very much, and she cannot sing a different tune at this moment.
"My brother, the emperor, refused to participate in the selection before going to Huaizhou City to quell the pirates. In less than a month, he is about to be crowned the Crown Princess. How can I not be curious?"
Xiao Mingyi glanced at Empress Shen, who was quietly reading a book at the top seat and remained silent about this, and said calmly, "I have been attracted to Lingyi for a long time. At the beginning of the year, the Lu and Pei families broke off their engagement, and she left Huaizhou City in anger. I respected her decision. This trip to Huaizhou City to quell the pirates was fate. I happened to save her. As for the marriage proposal, I also asked her opinion."
What he meant was that he did not use any coercion or bribery this time. Song Lingyi had personally agreed to this marriage, so he could not find fault with it and disagree with the marriage.
Queen Shen snorted softly and raised her eyes from the book: "You are quite frank. I haven't asked anything yet, and I haven't said anything yet."
"As long as your Majesty Mother has no objection, that's all well and good. I've already sent someone to the Duke's Mansion to announce the decree. As for preparing for the enthronement ceremony, you'll have to put some thought into it."
“…” Queen Shen frowned and tightened her grip on the scroll.
Less than two days after returning to Beijing, the imperial edict was issued. Does this look like a negotiation?
Well, it's hard not to agree to this marriage, since he's willing to marry anyway. Miss Song's family is ordinary, but she is the descendant of a loyal hero, and the most rare thing is that she is liked by the prince.
Princess Changyang's eyes shifted between her mother and her brother. It seemed that this marriage was a foregone conclusion.
I don’t know what’s so good about the Song family’s younger sister. First, Jianzhi, and then the emperor’s brother, both of them have a special liking for her.
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