Once outside the Xuan Prince's residence, Madam Cui urged everyone to hurry home, as she was too ashamed to face anyone in public.
Whether it was her son breaking off his engagement and marrying someone else, or her niece getting engaged to a family like the Song family, both things plunged her into despair today.
Upon returning home, she happened to run into her son, who was about to leave. Cui Yan bowed to Madam Cui and asked, "Mother, have you reached an agreement with Princess Xuan on a date?"
Madam Cui glanced at him and said in an unfriendly tone, "I will no longer interfere in your marriage. Let whoever wants to interfere do so!"
After saying that, she turned and left.
Cui Yan knew his mother was displeased with him because he had broken off his cousin's engagement. But his cousin's family was now down on their luck; what help could they offer him? The Cui family needed a powerful backer to climb the social ladder.
Back home, their plan is to bet heavily on the current situation, disrupt it, and then choose someone outstanding in every way to take that position.
The Cui family is one of the four great families, how could they be willing to decline like this!
Cui Yan felt exhausted by her mother's lack of understanding and cooperation. She comforted herself, thinking that her mother, being a woman, naturally lacked a broader perspective, and that she could only seek help from other elders in the clan.
However, before he could find a suitable person to go to the Prince Xuan's residence to discuss the date for the betrothal and the wedding ceremony, he received news that the Shen family had gone to the Prince Xuan's residence with a matchmaker to propose marriage!
Who is the Shen family? They're just the son of a mere Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices! Where did he get the audacity to propose marriage at the Prince of Xuan's residence?
Cui Yan became a little anxious, but his father, Cui Maosheng, told him to be calm.
"Don't rush. Didn't you say Princess Yongle is infatuated with you? As long as she's devoted to you, you don't need to panic." Cui Maosheng stroked his beard and said, "Princess Xuan is holding a grudge against you for seducing her daughter and is throwing a tantrum at her. It seems that this Shen family is someone she brought in to spite you. Isn't that divorced daughter of the Shen family Princess Yongle's tutor?"
After her father said that, Cui Yan calmed down.
That's right, Yongle wants to marry herself, not that little brat from the Shen family.
"It's just that Mother is unwilling to get involved in her son's marriage right now, so Father needs to ask an elder to speak with Princess Xuan on my behalf."
Cui Maosheng waved his hand dismissively and said, "There's no rush. Princess Xuan is still angry, which is why the Shen family is acting this way. Wait until she calms down before we go to propose marriage."
Meanwhile, inside the Xuan Prince's residence, Yongle looked coquettishly at Shen Qingque, who was only a step away from her. She had completely lost the audacity she had shown before, and was now filled with the shyness and embarrassment of a young lady.
"Why did you actually come to propose marriage?" Yongle asked, kicking one foot on the ground and looking at the other person's toes.
The maids hid behind the pillars, eagerly watching this side. It was a rare sight for them to see their young mistress with a shy expression on her face; it was truly amusing!
Shen Qingque looked puzzled. "Didn't you tell me to take responsibility for you?"
Yongle paused, frowned, and looked at him, her tone annoyed.
"If I tell you to marry, you will. But if another woman tells you to marry, would you marry her too?"
Shen Qingque was still puzzled. "There are no other women."
He spent his days either at the academy or at home, and the women he saw most often were his elder sister and her maid. Where would he have other women?
Yongle was both annoyed and amused by his lack of romantic understanding.
She was annoyed that he was like a block of wood, but amused that such a pure-hearted person actually came to propose marriage.
"Do you really want to marry me, or are you only proposing because I want you to marry me?"
Shen Qingque felt that he had wasted so many years of his studies. He knew that her question had two different meanings, but to his ears, they seemed to be the same.
Or rather, in her presence, one's thinking begins to become sluggish.
Shen Qingque looked at her with utmost sincerity and said, "After I went back that day, I thought about it all night, and I felt that I should marry you."
Yongle pursed her lips, thinking that she should not ask why; the answer would definitely not be what she wanted to hear.
Then she heard Shen Qingque say, "I'm moved by you, it's a wonderful feeling. I'm always so clumsy and slow in front of you. I know I'm not good enough for you, but you've given me a chance, so I have to try and not have any regrets."
Yongle's eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe he was hearing these words from his own mouth.
She opened her mouth, pouted, and asked, "You don't mind that I'm older than you?"
She wondered to herself, how old is Shen Qingque this year? Sixteen or seventeen?
"You can't tell from that." With Yongle's baby face, people would believe she's not even of marriageable age yet.
Yongle was delighted. She slightly raised her chin and looked at Shen Qingque, saying with a rather arrogant tone, "Alright, since you've sincerely asked for my hand in marriage, I'll mercifully grant your request!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingque couldn't help but grin. His smile was as dazzling as a thousand peach blossoms blooming all at once overnight in spring.
A youthful spirit appeared on his face with that smile, and he no longer had that old-fashioned, rigid demeanor, which made Yongle's heart flutter.
She tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek, then ran away quickly, leaving Shen Qingque frozen in place.
The maids who had been peeping quickly covered their eyes, feeling extremely embarrassed!
I never expected my princess to be like this when she's in love. She's nothing like her previous spoiled self!
After hearing the maid's report, Princess Xuan, who was in the flower hall, smiled so broadly that it almost reached her ears!
This Shen Qingque is good-looking and comes from a good family. Although the Shen family has indeed declined in recent years, it is still a scholarly family that values rules and regulations the most.
Unlike that guy surnamed Cui, who just said he wanted to call off the engagement without a second thought, showing no regard for the woman at all!
This is different. Apparently, it was his own daughter who flirted with him, prompting him to come and propose marriage. And he actually dared to come! Not only did he come, but he also prepared excellent gifts. The betrothal gift list was already written, just waiting for her nod to bring it in!
He's Shen Qingyu's younger brother, and even the Princess Consort of Xiaoyao praised him. She likes him no matter how you look at him!
Princess Xuan coughed twice to compose herself. She said with some difficulty, "It's like this, the Prince and I only have one daughter. We were thinking of finding a husband for her so she wouldn't have to marry out and wouldn't be bullied. Lord Shen only has one son, Shen Qingque, so I'm afraid he wouldn't be willing to marry into the family."
Since the Shen family had no mistress, it was an aunt from the Shen family who came to act as matchmaker for Shen Qingque. She looked very old-fashioned and didn't smile much after entering the house, as if she was reluctant to make the trip.
She took out the answer she had already discussed and repeated it: "I have discussed this with Qing Que, and we have decided that the first boy will take the mother's surname and be raised by Prince Xuan and you. What do you think?"
This is really not good!
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