Upon seeing this, Song Wenyue finally understood that Song Yaozhu wanted to marry Yongle off.
And look at this bear-like fool. So what if he's a scholar? Looking like this, he'll probably be scared to death on his wedding night.
But thinking about it, it makes sense. Yongle is always chasing after Xie Liwei; if she were Song Yaozhu, she'd be anxious too. Only by marrying him off can she secure her position as princess.
“You can decide for me, Madam!” Cao Zhi didn’t refuse, his generosity making Song Yaozhu burst into laughter.
"Steward, you look down on Scholar Cao, how can you know he won't be the top scholar one day?"
The steward thought to himself, although he wasn't very learned, he knew that the top scholars in previous years were all from prominent families. Very few from humble backgrounds could even make it onto the list, let alone someone like him who was just a farmer!
That wasn't from a poor family, that was just a commoner!
How could his princess, a woman of noble birth, be allowed to marry such a commoner! This carefree princess is so unreliable; she should at least find her a husband from a humble background.
"Alright, we'll talk about this another day. But it's true that I want to be a matchmaker for Scholar Cao. Whether he becomes a princess or not depends on their fate."
The steward was sweating profusely, unable to understand why his own princess would allow the carefree princess to take the lead.
She and her own princess are clearly rivals in love!
It's unclear what the steward was thinking, but after Song Yaozhu dismissed Cao Zhi, she set up a screen and met with several scholars. Only then did the steward stop sweating.
On the way back with Song Wenyue, Song Yaozhu wanted to tell her to shut up again, but Song Si had learned her lesson this time and spoke up first: "Sister, did you know that your brother-in-law's Nanshan Academy is about to start enrolling students?"
"I don't know, I don't go to school."
Song Wenyue choked up, then continued, "Several ladies have come to me asking if I could ask my brother-in-law for a favor, even if it's just to listen in."
Song Yaozhu raised her hand to rub her temples, her sleeves slipping down to reveal the pink and green jade bracelet on her wrist. She sighed and said, "Oh dear, it's all the prince's fault. I told him not to accept gifts from people so casually. Now look what's happened. He opened a loophole, and everyone wants to take advantage of it."
Song Wenyue almost lost her composure; she was so angry!
"Don't rush back. Let me go back and whisper some sweet nothings in your ear before we talk!"
Song Wenyue: "......"
When Xie Liwei returned in the evening, Song Yaozhu showed him Cao Zhi's information.
“I like this young man, and he said that the women in his village are no less than him. Could Your Highness send someone to bring him here?”
After Xie Liwei finished reading Cao Zhi's information, he put the booklet on the small table, said nothing, and tapped the table with his finger.
Song Yaozhu immediately understood and poured him a cup of tea.
"Your Highness, you've worked hard. Let me give you a shoulder massage!"
In her heart, she was cursing: You brat, you've got some nerve, daring to make your older sister serve you!
A light but firm pressure landed on Xie Liwei's neck, causing his body to tense up slightly.
As he drank his tea, the scent on his breath wasn't the aroma of tea, but rather the fragrance of Song Yaozhu's cosmetics.
This is so strange, how come even the tea tastes like hers?
He turned his head slightly and met Song Yaozhu's bright eyes, only then realizing how close they were.
Song Yaozhu knelt on the chaise longue, her body only a fist's distance from his. If she lowered her head, she could lean against him.
"I've provided you with food and drink, and now you expect me to do your work?" Xie Liwei was furious, thinking about how she had taken his ten thousand taels of silver and only said one nice word. "I just said I'd never go west if I told you to go east, and now you're asking me to go east?"
Song Yaozhu grinned, inwardly cursing the little brat for being so calculating now, then pounced on him, coaxing, "Your Highness, please help me~"
Half of her weight was on Xie Liwei's back, and she took the opportunity to grope his chest with both hands, recalling the sensations she had forgotten.
Xie Liwei was caught off guard by her antics, and his face immediately turned red.
The room was warm from the underfloor heating. Song Yaozhu wasn't wearing too many layers, so when she lay on his back, he could feel her softness.
His body became even stiffer.
"Let go! What kind of behavior is this, so unruly!" Xie Li scolded, but his tone was less reprimanding and more like annoyance and embarrassment.
Song Yaozhu hugged his neck and shook his body violently.
"Your Highness, please help me! It wouldn't be a loss for you, would it? Or you could just assign me a few trustworthy people! You said you could ask me for money, but you can't expect me to buy people with money. I don't know their background, what if it causes you trouble?"
Song Yaozhu had already used her door-guarding skills. She knew Xie Liwei was easily swayed, and if he still wouldn't listen after all this, then she would have no choice but to hug him and cry!
"Understood!" Xie Liwei pursed his lips. He really couldn't stand this woman's coquettishness! "Go find Qin Yu and ask for two people. Then find Peng Er and hitch a ride with his caravan to the west. I don't think you'll attract attention that way."
Song Yaozhu immediately raised her arms and cheered, "Your Highness is the best!"
After saying that, she tapped his shoulder a few times with her little fist to express her gratitude.
Xie Liwei remained silent, then got up and hurried to the side room to wash up.
Her antics made me feel all hot and bothered. It was truly... an insult to my refinement!
Hmm, no, it's more like a couple's romantic gesture!
Thinking about it this way, apart from not having consummated their marriage, the two of them really did act like a married couple.
Although this is his first marriage and he doesn't know what it's like for a married couple, this kind of discussion and cooperation... well, it should count, right?
Back at the Song family residence, after returning to the Song mansion, Song Wenyue couldn't wait to tell Grand Tutor Song what she had seen that day.
Grand Tutor Song stroked his goatee and frowned.
"Although the Xie family no longer concern themselves with politics, most of the scholars who have entered officialdom in the past ten years have benefited from the Xie family's kindness," Grand Tutor Song pondered.
"Now they're helping impoverished scholars. Could it be that Xie Liwei is secretly cultivating his own power?" Song Chengzhang wondered.
"But didn't you hear? They're holding up a banner to find a husband for Princess Yongle!" Grand Tutor Song said. "We can't let this get out. For the next few days, Wenyue should stay home and not go anywhere!"
Song Wenyue was startled. She was very confused. Why wouldn't they let her go out?
What does this have to do with her!
Her grandfather, father, and uncles still had matters to discuss, so Song Wenyue was sent out of the study. On her way back to her own courtyard, she grew angrier and angrier.
Combining this with what she saw in her dream, she immediately felt that Xie Liwei was a wolf in sheep's clothing!
He's already starting to build his own power base so early! Then we absolutely have to expose what's going on at this manor!
Song Wenyue whispered a few words to her personal maid and told her to take care of it.
The following evening, Qin Mama entered the room with a grim expression. "Your Highness, Princess Yongle has come to make a scene, saying that you are heartless and rotten and that you want to harm her."
Song Yaozhu got up unhurriedly, and Caijin and Caiyin brought her a cloak and a hand warmer.
"Your Highness, it's getting late. If we go to the palace now, we might not be able to return today."
Song Yaozhu sighed, "Sigh, who told Yongle to be so useless? If he had made a scene earlier, he could have gone and come back sooner."
Granny Qin was taken aback, but then relaxed. It turned out that the princess had already anticipated this.
Wait, no, the princess shouldn't cause trouble for herself like this.
"Granny, after the Prince returns to his residence, tell him to go to the palace to bail me out!"
Granny Qin: "..."
The word "捞" (lao, meaning to fish or scoop) is unnecessary.
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