As he spoke, he turned to look at Gu Qinlan: "Madam, before Miss Mei's brother passed away, he entrusted me to take care of her. The military camp is full of men, and it is really inappropriate for her, a woman, to stay there. I would like to trouble you to take her to the capital and find her a good marriage."
Meiyun looked up in shock, tears welling up in her eyes: "Your Highness! Meiyun does not wish to marry, Meiyun only wishes to spend her life..."
"If you do not wish to marry, then become a nun. I will have my wife help you choose a quiet nunnery and make proper arrangements."
Zheng Dinglian's words were cold and harsh, making them unbearable.
Meiyun's heart was shattered. Unable to bear it any longer, she shoved the box into someone else's hands, covered her face, and ran away.
Gu Qinlan clutched the exquisite box tightly, looking somewhat helpless in the cold wind.
What on earth is going on?!
Zheng Dinglian was extremely embarrassed. He picked up the box and casually handed it to one of the attendants behind him, saying with a hint of fear on his face, "Madam... please don't misunderstand, my relationship with her is absolutely innocent..."
Gu Qinlan chuckled and replied, "I trust the young master; there's no need for further explanation."
Zheng Dinglian's eyes lit up instantly: "You really believe me?"
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly and nodded.
Zheng Dinglian felt incredibly sweet inside. His wife was so considerate, unlike ordinary women who were prone to jealousy.
Gu Qinlan, unaware of his thoughts, asked with a serious expression, "What are your expectations and requirements regarding Miss Mei's marriage, Your Highness?"
Zheng Dinglian pondered for a moment and said, "A respectable family background, upright character, and not too many people in the family. It would be best if they were of equal social standing... That's about it. Then we'll prepare a suitable dowry for her. It doesn't need to be too extravagant; a small business will suffice."
Meiyun was alone and helpless, and a stranger in a foreign land. If she married into a prominent family, she would likely suffer mistreatment. If she chose an ordinary family and her dowry was too generous, it might attract the covetous eyes of others.
Gu Qinlan nodded slightly: "Your Highness has considered things very carefully."
These points were clearly well thought out and were made specifically for Mei-yun's well-being.
Zheng Dinglian pursed his lips, finally mustered up his courage, and took out the gift he had prepared earlier from his pocket.
It was a white jade hairpin.
Pure white as snow, carved into the shape of a plum blossom, simple yet elegant.
"This is something I acquired in the northern border region the other day. I think it suits your temperament quite well, so please accept it."
After Zheng Dinglian finished speaking, he froze, his heart pounding like a drumbeat against his chest.
This was the first time he had ever given jewelry to a woman.
Gu Qinlan was surprised that he would give her a gift, and the hairpin just happened to match her aesthetic. She wanted to thank him and accept the gift, but she found that he seemed very nervous.
So she changed her mind at the last minute.
She smiled gently: "Since it is Your Highness's intention, then please put it on for me yourself."
"ah?"
Zheng Dinglian was utterly astonished.
Gu Qinlan looked at him with a smile: "Does the young master not wish to?"
Zheng Dinglian quickly replied, "No, I... I just haven't done this kind of delicate work before, and I'm afraid my hands are rough and I'll hurt you."
Gu Qinlan smiled gently and said, "Then let me do it myself."
She thought Zheng Dinglian made sense. A grown man with clumsy fingers might accidentally prick his scalp, which would be troublesome.
As she spoke, she reached out to take the jade hairpin.
Unexpectedly, Zheng Dinglian backed down: "I'll just be more careful."
How could he easily give up such an opportunity!
But why were his hands trembling slightly?
Gu Qinlan couldn't help but chuckle and nodded, saying, "Then I'll trouble you, Your Highness. I'll wear it here."
She pointed to her hair bun.
Zheng Dinglian took a deep breath, held the jade hairpin in his hand, and carefully inserted it into her hair.
He was afraid that he would use too much force and hurt her, so he nervously observed her every expression. If she frowned even slightly, he would stop immediately.
Finally, the jade hairpin was perfectly inserted into her hair.
Gu Qinlan gently stroked the hairpin, smiling radiantly as she asked, "Does it look good?"
Zheng Dinglian blushed, a rare occurrence, but still tried to remain calm: "It looks good."
Gu Qinlan said gently, "Thank you for the gift, Your Highness. I like it very much."
Zheng Dinglian was filled with boundless joy. "I'm glad you like it."
On the other side, Meiyun watched the warm interaction between the couple from afar, tears welling up in her eyes, her heart filled with bitterness.
Why is that dignified and solemn prince so cold to her, yet so tender to Gu Qinlan? Gu Qinlan is just a woman from a humble household, but she possesses extraordinary medical skills and has even fought on the battlefield. How many people in the world can be as resilient as her?
Why would the Crown Prince favor such a mediocre person?
Meiyun felt as if her heart was being torn apart.
Just as she was in great pain, Fuyu, along with Wanying and Xiaoman, surrounded her.
"What do you intend to do!"
Mei Yun stared warily at Fu Yu and the others, "Don't do anything reckless, I... I'm going to call for help!"
Fu Yu let out a contemptuous sneer: "You can rest assured, we are not the kind of people who bully the weak. We are here today only to remind you to rein in your despicable thoughts. The young master once swore to the heavens in front of everyone in the Zheng family that he would protect only his wife for the rest of his life. Shameless women like you should leave now and stop making a fool of yourselves here."
In reality, the situation was not like that at the time. There were only the master of the Zheng family and his personal maid in the cave, plus the Yang family, totaling less than fifty people.
However, there is no need to clarify each of these points.
Meiyun's eyes widened in astonishment: "This is absolutely impossible! How could the young master make such a vow! He is a man; having three wives and four concubines is the norm."
Wan Ying smiled sarcastically: "A greedy woman like you would love for a man to be surrounded by beautiful women, so that you can take advantage of the situation. If you are so eager to become someone's concubine, then go find a family that is willing to take concubines, and stop tarnishing the reputation of our lady and prince."
When she was a maid in the Zhao family, such things happened frequently.
In those days, men had multiple wives and concubines, and their homes were filled with strife and intrigue. Women who wanted to climb the social ladder would stop at nothing, even sacrificing their dignity. However, once they succeeded, their fate was often tragically miserable.
Some of them, who were basking in glory one day, might be kicked out of their homes the next day for a small mistake, or even poisoned and hastily buried.
Even with utmost caution, peace was not guaranteed. She had seen concubines who had given birth; they were timid and obedient, behaving respectfully before the principal wife every day. Although they were called half-mistresses, their lives were less respectable than those of a maid. Even so, their children could not call themselves mothers, but had to call the principal wife "mother." If they were lucky, they might be able to grow closer to their children, but if they encountered a ruthless principal wife, it was common for the mother to be taken away, leaving only the child.
It was precisely because she had witnessed too many tragedies like this that she cherished the simple and peaceful life in the Zheng family all the more.
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