Chapter 397 Sixth Princess
Nian Qing's face flushed even more as she asked Su Qingwan and the eldest princess, "Which princess do mother and aunt have their eyes on?"
Qing Wan and the eldest princess also spoke frankly, each revealing their choice. Nian Qing nodded in understanding, his gaze sweeping over the princesses. In his eyes, these girls were truly young, still immature. After gazing at them for a moment, he whispered, "Mother, Aunt, please allow the princesses to withdraw first."
"Have you already made your choice?" Su Qingwan was slightly surprised - she and the eldest princess were still dazzled and had not yet made up their minds.
Nian Qing nodded in response, his nervousness and shyness barely concealed, but he forced himself to remain calm. The eldest princess and Su Qingwan found this amusing, so they signaled the matron to lead the other princesses away.
The two of them were even more curious and asked in unison, "Who will be chosen?"
Considering that he was still young, not yet at the stage of first love, and with a deep mind, it was difficult to predict his likes and dislikes. Even his mother, the eldest princess, did not know what kind of woman he preferred.
"Sixth Princess." The person chosen by Nian Qing was neither the one preferred by Su Qingwan nor the one favored by the eldest princess. She had her own reasons.
Su Qingwan and the eldest princess were both bewildered upon hearing this: "Sixth Princess? Who is she?"
The princesses were either exceptionally talented or stunningly beautiful, but apart from the exceptionally talented ones, the others were so numerous that the two of them had no idea how to remember them. In a hurry, they hurriedly fetched the ladies' pictures and the princesses' list for reference.
It turned out that the Sixth Princess was a legitimate daughter of the Xilin clan, the elder sister of the Ninth Princess. Her talent was not very apparent, and she was quiet and taciturn, like a mute person. She was insignificant among the other princesses, almost lost in the crowd.
Only after Nianqing mentioned it did Su Qingwan and the eldest princess vaguely remember the girl—she was only eleven, the same age as the Fifth Princess. While all the other princesses were trying to show off, she remained docile, quietly sitting aside, savoring snacks and occasionally whispering to her younger sister. Su Qingwan's most profound impression was that she was the most voluptuous of the princesses, with plump cheeks but unusually bright eyes, giving her a look of innocence.
"Could it be that Nian Qing prefers such a lovely girl?" Su Qingwan thought to herself, then asked, "Have you ever seen the Sixth Princess?"
Nian Qing lowered her eyes and replied, "No."
"Then why choose her alone?" The eldest princess became more and more curious.
Nian Qing spoke slowly, "Ever since Huainan and Xilin agreed to a marriage, Lord Lin has thoroughly investigated the princesses of Xilin. The Sixth Princess's mother, the late Empress, died young, leaving the Imperial Concubine in great favor. The Imperial Concubine and the late Empress were sworn enemies in their youth, both ruthless and merciless. The Sixth Princess once protected her younger sister in the cold palace for three years, remaining unscathed and later gaining the favor of the Prince of Xilin. The two legitimate princesses were able to survive under the noses of their enemies, and after escaping the cold palace, they were able to clear their mother's name, demonstrating their intelligence and strategic prowess. I have always favored intelligent individuals, and the situation in Huainan is complex. The future Princess needs to be able to manage the household internally and intimidate the ministers externally. Choosing her as a consort will give me peace of mind in the future."
The Princess fell silent upon hearing this, and Su Qingwan was also momentarily speechless. The two had previously carefully considered their selection, both hoping to find someone Nianqing would like, but they hadn't expected him to choose a concubine so completely considering the overall situation and personality, without regard for personal likes and dislikes.
Su Qingwan hesitated to speak, but the eldest princess finally spoke: "Nianqing, you are still young, and perhaps you don't know that mutual love is the most precious thing in the world. If you can find the woman you love and spend the rest of your life together, your life will be full of joy. If you and the Sixth Princess don't get along, what will you do in the future?"
"Mother, you're wrong." Nian Qing's tone was gentle but firm. "This is a marriage of convenience. No one can predict whether the princesses' personalities will be compatible with mine. Since it's the same no matter who you choose, why not choose someone who is intelligent? I believe that after marriage, with daily interactions, affection can be cultivated and our personalities can be mutually compatible. Mother, Aunt, I've made up my mind. I'll marry the Sixth Princess."
Su Qingwan raised her eyebrows and asked, "Have you already made up your mind?"
"That's right." Nian Qing nodded. "I had originally intended to have Lord Lin convey this to Mother and Auntie, but I didn't expect you to summon me to choose for me personally."
Su Qingwan couldn't help but sigh—Nianqing truly was a very opinionated child. When Xilin proposed the marriage, he'd made the final decision. He'd already made up his mind which princess to choose as his consort, having dispatched people to thoroughly research and weigh the options beforehand, and he knew each princess's personalities like the back of his hand. The investigation Lord Lin had presented must have been far from brief; it must have been thorough and comprehensive. Nianqing had singled out the Sixth Princess, so he must have had something extraordinary.
The eldest princess and Su Qingwan looked at each other, both knowing that this boy was no longer under their control - his mind was too meticulous and his opinions were too firm.
After a long while, the eldest princess sighed softly: "Forget it, it will be as you wish."
Nian Qing immediately bowed and saluted: "Thank you, mother, for your help!"
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