Concubine Liu couldn't sit still any longer, and kept pestering Duke Lu to find a solution. Duke Lu really loved Wan Qi'er, so he went to the palace to ask Empress Wan for help.
Empress Wan said that Emperor Jianning had become ill due to anger, and asked Duke Lu to be patient and wait for an opportunity.
After watching the excitement for a few days, Wan Shan'er went to Duke Lu's study. "Dad, what are your plans for the fifth sister?"
Duke Lu's face suddenly turned cold. "What? Are you here to step on your sister too?"
This sentence was like a cold arrow, piercing Wan Shan'er's heart. She blurted out the words without mercy, "She did such a shameful thing. I'm afraid of dirtying my shoes if I step on her."
"She's your biological sister!"
"It's precisely because she and I share the same surname, Wan, that I've suffered so much cold stares and ridicule. If she can't get married, how can mine be a good marriage? Shouldn't I ask?"
Duke Lu knew he was in the wrong, so he softened his stance. "Your marriage is still decided by your mother and me. It's not proper for a little girl like you to talk about marriage everywhere."
Wan Shan'er calmed down and asked, "Dad, don't you want to listen to my ideas?"
"you say!"
"The concubine daughter of Duke Lu's mansion is not worthy of the Eighth Prince, but I, the legitimate daughter, am! Dad will ask the emperor to issue an order, allowing me to be the principal wife and my fifth sister to be the concubine, so that the two women can share one husband."
Duke Lu refused without a second thought, "Nonsense! It's impossible for the daughter of Duke Lu to share a husband." It's not impossible, it's impossible to promise her to the Eighth Prince!
"The Duke Lu's mansion has already lost face, what else is there to fear? I can't find a good family anyway, so why not just marry the Eighth Prince? Or, is Dad willing to watch Fifth Sister suffer in humiliation for the rest of her life, or to finish her off with a three-foot white silk scarf?"
"You..." Duke Lu was speechless. He couldn't bear to see Wan Qier end up like that.
The two daughters were at odds, and he didn't believe Wan Shan'er would truly care about Wan Qi'er. "Qi'er's marriage, don't worry about it. I'll lower my status, and Qi'er won't have trouble finding a husband."
"Madam Liu is hoping that the fifth sister will become the prince's consort. How could she be interested in a small family like ours?"
A concubine's daughter, with a bad reputation, would not be willing to marry into any noble family. The families that could marry into her were not of high status.
This hit the nail on the head for Duke Lu. Concubine Liu was truly unwilling to do so, crying and making a scene, asking him to find a solution. "These aren't your concerns. Go back!"
Wan Shan'er stood up, looking rather gloating, "Dad, please think about it carefully. Shan'er will take her leave."
After leaving the study yard, Wan Shan'er looked back and snorted in her heart.
She must marry a prince. With her wisdom, she will surely help her husband seize the throne. Then, she will be the queen, and her father will have to kneel and kowtow to her when he sees her.
The butler brought a picture album into the study and handed it to Duke Lu. "Here are the students who made the list last year, the sons of noble families born out of wedlock, and the legitimate sons of some low-ranking officials."
Duke Lu flipped through a few pages. The album contained a picture of a man, along with his name, age, family background and other information. He took the album to Concubine Liu's yard.
Concubine Liu patiently read through the pages, pouting in dissatisfaction, "Master, our Qi'er is your biological daughter. How can these people be worthy of her?"
Duke Lu was annoyed and threatened, "If you still don't agree, I will have someone build a nunnery for Qi'er in the suburbs of Beijing and let her become a nun."
"Master, you, you are..."
The hand that Concubine Liu was holding turned cold. Duke Lu's heart softened, and he tried to persuade her kindly, "These people are of lower status, but they dare not make Qi'er angry. Besides, I am here, and I can always help my son-in-law in the future. His future prospects will not be bad."
"But that's too low. He's either a bastard or from a poor family. Qi'er was raised in pampered circumstances, how could she endure hardship?"
"Then give her a larger dowry and ensure she lives a life of prosperity and wealth."
Having said that, Duke Lu was determined, "My poor Qi'er, why is her life so miserable..."
Aunt Liu fainted in Duke Lu's arms and accepted his proposal after waking up.
Since Concubine Liu agreed, Wan Qi'er had no choice but to agree. The mother and daughter looked through the album sent by Duke Lu, comparing them carefully, trying to pick the best one.
Wan Shan'er is older than Wan Qi'er, so her marriage had to be arranged before Wan Qi'er, but Duke Lu only helped Wan Qi'er choose a partner and never showed any concern for Wan Shan'er.
Gao went to argue with Duke Lu, and the first thing he said was rules and etiquette.
Duke Lu was very anxious because Emperor Jianning had changed his attitude towards him, so he sent Gao away without mercy.
Gao was at a loss and had no one to turn to, so she fell ill out of depression.
Wan Shan'er hated Duke Lu and Concubine Liu even more. She went into the palace one afternoon to talk to Queen Wan.
Empress Wan disapproved of her marriage to Chai Shiqin and listed several unmarried young men from prominent families in the capital, only to be rejected by Wan Shan'er one by one. "It seems you're determined, Shan'er. Why do you insist on marrying the Eighth Brother?"
"My aunt had said that I should marry into the royal family. Currently, the only suitable age is the Eighth Prince. He's not talented enough to compete with my cousin for the throne, but his status as a prince is there, and he'll definitely become a very useful steel knife in my cousin's hands in the future."
Chai Shiqin had already established his own residence, and was only one step away from being crowned a prince. His status as a prince was indeed very valuable. However... "The emperor wouldn't agree! He's mad at your father because of Qi'er, and he won't agree to you marrying the Eighth Prince."
"I understand what you are saying, Aunt, but could you please send someone to persuade the Eighth Prince to ask His Majesty for help?"
"Take the initiative to ask? The Eighth Prince doesn't have the emperor's favor to begin with, so how could he be willing to go against the emperor?"
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