Perhaps because she was a little shy about choosing a husband, the Third Princess didn't insist on leaving the palace together, which was quite unusual.
But Jiayin promised her a bunch of delicious food and fun things, and she was coaxed into being very happy.
Just as they were about to leave, Eunuch Feng rushed over to deliver the news.
"Princess, His Majesty has summoned the top three scholars (Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua) to the palace for a talk. Chief Eunuch Yi asked me to tell you that if you are not in a hurry, you can wait for the top scholar to leave the palace together."
Jiayin was overjoyed and quickly thanked him, then had Shuiling hand a heavy purse to Eunuch Feng.
Eunuch Feng refused to accept the money, jokingly saying, "Your Highness, you're being too polite. After all, I'm a comrade-in-arms who has gone through thick and thin with you! It's only right that I run an errand for you!"
Upon hearing this, Jiayin promptly accepted the purse and said with a smile, "Alright, we're family, so I won't stand on ceremony. I remember that Eunuch Feng likes to eat tangerines, so I'll bring him a basket when I return to Suijintan."
"Great! Thank you, Princess. This old servant is delighted with this reward." Eunuch Feng squinted his eyes with joy, exchanged a few more casual words, and then hurried back.
The third princess, remembering her father's purpose in summoning Lu Zong to the palace, couldn't help but blush and make up an excuse to retreat back to her own palace.
Jiayin waited a while longer before leaving Zhilan Palace. She waited in the passageway for less than a quarter of an hour before seeing Jiaren, Lu Zong, and a middle-aged man with an unfamiliar appearance walking over together.
Jiaren was very happy to see his younger sister waiting.
Of course, he was even happier when his sister wore a veil that covered her eyes and eyebrows.
After all, Lu Zong, who was traveling with him, was someone he was familiar with, but the runner-up was a complete stranger.
Lu Zong wore a gentle smile, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
Only when looking at Jiayin did a touch of warmth appear.
“Sister, have you been waiting long?” Jiaren stepped forward and stood next to his sister. After speaking, he briefly introduced her to the second-place scholar, “Brother Zhao, this is my sister, whose title is Princess Kangle.”
"Greetings, Princess." The second-place scholar was very polite, bowing and greeting her with his eyes half-lowered.
Jiayin returned the greeting briefly and then followed behind her brother.
Shui Ling gave the young eunuch who was leading the way a purse, then took over the task and led the masters out.
After all, they were in the palace, and there was a second-place scholar among them, so no one said much.
After leaving the palace gates, the second-place scholar took his leave, and everyone boarded the carriage.
Jia Xu, who had been waiting in the carriage with a heavy heart, couldn't help but ask, "So, Brother Lu, does the Emperor really... have that intention?"
Lu Zong subconsciously looked at Jia Yin, who had removed her veil, his voice a little hoarse, and after a long while he replied, "His Majesty did not say it explicitly."
Jia Xu sighed and slapped his forehead in frustration. "I was wrong. Even if the Emperor had this intention, he wouldn't say it outright."
Outside the carriage, Mu Xu suddenly appeared out of nowhere and walked to the carriage. He overheard a few words and couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth. He asked loudly, "Princess, shall we go to the shop first before returning to the Earl's mansion?"
Inside the carriage, Jiaren was the first to come to his senses; it was indeed inappropriate for his sister to ride in the same carriage with them.
Although he is still alive, if outsiders harbor ill intentions and spread rumors, it could be quite unpleasant.
So, he bowed to Lu Zong and Jia Xu to say goodbye, and after agreeing to meet again the next day, he took his sister and got off the carriage and boarded his own.
Mu Xu snatched Zheng Yi's place, cheerfully cracked his whip, and left before the Lu family's carriage could even move.
With no outsiders around, Jiaren no longer held back and asked his sister in a low voice.
"Fu Niu'er, is the Third Princess choosing a consort recently?"
Jiayin wouldn't hide it from her brother, no matter who she was trying to hide it from. Besides, the Emperor appointed Lu Zong as the third-ranked scholar and summoned him to the palace today. I'm afraid that in a few days, the whole capital will know the Emperor's intentions.
She thought for a moment and then said, "His Majesty visited Zhilan Palace a few days ago and talked with the Third Princess for a long time. I wasn't there, but I know some of the details."
"His Majesty did indeed intend to choose a husband for the Third Princess. On the day of the palace examination, the Third Princess and I secretly watched from behind the screen, which was with His Majesty's tacit approval."
Jiaren frowned, lowering his voice even further, and asked, "Is the Third Princess... has she taken a liking to Lu Zong?"
Jiayin couldn't say much, after all, the Third Princess had treated her well, and if she said too much, she would be suspected of betraying her.
She hesitated for a moment, then replied vaguely, "The Third Princess had seen Brother Lu twice before at our house, and seeing him again during the palace examination inevitably made her feel a bit more familiar. Most importantly, the Emperor is also interested..."
Jiaren sighed upon hearing this, finally understanding.
It seems that Lu Zong's marriage to the Third Princess is inevitable. The Third Princess is favored by the Emperor, who also wants to consolidate his control over the southwestern border.
Furthermore, given that the Lu family is certainly willing, whether Lu Zong is willing or not seems to be truly unimportant in the end.
Seeing that her brother looked unwell, Jiayin tentatively asked, "Brother, is it because Brother Lu doesn't want to be the prince consort? Actually, although the Third Princess seems a bit willful and capricious, she is very kind-hearted and very protective of the people she likes."
"She didn't have parental love growing up, so it's no wonder she had some personality issues, but she's much better now."
“Brother Lu is a steady and patient man. As long as he is willing to accommodate and guide her, the Third Princess will definitely get better and better.”
Jiaren sighed, ruffled his sister's hair, and smiled without replying.
My younger sister is still too young to understand human emotions and love.
People often say that a young girl is in love, meaning that a woman about to get married will always imagine what her future husband will be like.
In fact, young men are no different.
Youth fades quickly, and beauty withers easily. Compared to beauty, everyone wants to find a wife who understands and cares for them.
They accompanied and supported each other for decades to come.
Whether in times of hardship or happiness, we will never abandon each other.
How wonderful this is!
Just like him and Wan'er, their relationship was harmonious and loving, which often made him feel lucky.
Inevitably, he also hopes that his brothers and friends will do the same.
Unfortunately, Lu Zong probably won't have that chance...
Seeing that her brother was unwilling to talk, Jiayin changed the subject and asked, "Brother, when the Emperor summoned you just now, did he say where you would be assigned to serve as officials?"
“I did,” Jiaren said, opening the pastry box and giving his sister a crispy little twisted dough stick. “The Emperor asked the three of us what positions we wanted. I said I didn’t want to write books, but wanted to be sent out to be an official and govern a region.”
Jiayin nodded repeatedly; she had originally thought the same thing.
My elder brother studied diligently for ten years, not to be locked up in the Hanlin Academy and spend his days revising books with a group of old men.
If one could be sent to serve as an official in a remote area, broaden one's horizons, and do practical things for the people, that would be the best outcome.
"Brother, do you have any ideas about where you want to take up an official post? Our family is in Xindu, so I'm afraid we can't assign you to a post nearby. But we also have businesses in Quanzhou, and my third brother is an official in the Hailan Army, so I guess we can't go to the southeast either."
"After much consideration, only the Southwest remains. But the Southwest is barren, and being an official there would surely be arduous. Fortunately, Brother Lu's family is there, so perhaps we can lend them some assistance..."
Jiaren listened to his younger sister's rambling and couldn't help but feel warm and amused. He quickly stopped her and said with a smile, "Alright, little housekeeper, leave these things to me and the elders in the family. You're just a little girl, do whatever makes you happy, don't worry about it so much."
“I’m afraid you’ll age prematurely and have gray hair at a young age. I don’t know how heartbroken Grandma and Auntie will be when they come back and see this.”
Jiayin chuckled as she crunched on the crispy fried dough twists. She was used to it, always treating her brother like that country boy, afraid he might suffer a loss.
Just then, Zheng He appeared out of nowhere and hurriedly stopped the carriage.
Two updates today, one of which is an extra update for the Spring Festival. Tomorrow, I'll be busy with all sorts of cooking, so I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year in advance! May the Year of the Rabbit bring you health and happiness!
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