The fifth prince ran into Fengwu Palace crying: "Father, Father, I don't want to be sent on a political marriage. Please tell Mother not to send me on this mission, okay?"
The Empress frowned. "Who told you you were going to be sent on a political marriage?"
"It was Wei Wangqing who said that an alliance between the two countries requires a marriage alliance, and Xiaoqing is too young, so only I can go. I don't want to go, Father!" Wei Wuyan said, choking back tears.
The Empress reached out and tapped the Fifth Prince's forehead, saying with a hint of exasperation, "You silly child, don't you know how to use your brain? You believe everything Wei Wangqing says! Who says a marriage alliance has to be between men? Have you forgotten what kind of country the Southern Dynasty is?"
The Fifth Prince was taken aback: "This... does it mean that our Great Wei is going to marry off a woman to them?"
"This is a matter for our Great Wei to discuss with the Southern Dynasty; it's not something you or I can interfere with!"
"Hmph! That Wei Wangqing! He actually dared to lie to me, I'll make him pay!" The Fifth Prince was furious and started to walk out.
The Queen quickly pulled him back, saying, "When will you ever change your temperament?"
He turned around and said in a deep voice, "The Sixth Princess must not be moved for now."
"Why?" the Fifth Prince asked, puzzled.
"She's just returned to Beijing, and every move she makes attracts attention. I haven't even scolded you for your reckless behavior last time, and now you're trying to cause trouble again?"
The Fifth Prince lowered his head guiltily, then glanced furtively at the Empress: "Father, you know everything?"
"If I hadn't cleaned up for you, people would have already found a way to use you against us. You should know that your every move will affect your elder sister, the Crown Princess. The Third Princess is keeping a close eye on you!"
"As for the Sixth Princess, I wondered why the Emperor brought her back; it turns out he had this in mind," the Empress murmured.
"In short, you don't need to worry about your marriage. I will finalize the engagement with the Prince's Mansion as soon as possible."
We need to distract Xiao Wu so he doesn't keep staring at the Sixth Princess.
"Father... what do you mean?" The Fifth Prince's eyes widened, seemingly in disbelief, yet also filled with barely concealed joy.
The Queen smiled and said, "It means exactly what you think."
"Ahhhhh! Finally! Am I going to marry my cousin Fengyue? Ahhhhh! I'm going to marry my cousin Fengyue!" The Fifth Prince jumped up with joy.
The Empress looked at the Fifth Prince with a mixture of helplessness and affection. "Alright, alright, be more reserved. So behave yourself for now and wait patiently for news. Hmm?"
"Okay, okay." The Fifth Prince nodded hurriedly.
With his greatest wish in life about to be fulfilled, the Fifth Prince had no mind to care about anything else.
After returning to his residence, Wei Wangqing summoned the steward for questioning.
"Steward He, do you know of any places in the capital where people are bought and sold?"
The steward hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, are you short of manpower? Would you like me to send a few more people over?"
"No need, just tell me if you have it or not?" The original owner really didn't have many people under her command, which made it quite inconvenient to get things done.
"Your Highness, there are indeed some underground forces in the capital that privately buy and sell slaves, but those places are far too corrupt and chaotic. Tomorrow happens to be the day of the Wanzhen Auction, which will also auction some slaves. Your Highness might as well go there and take a look."
An auction? There's an auction here? That's interesting!
"Yes, this Wanzhen Auction opened three months ago and is held once a month. I don't know who owns it, but it's been incredibly popular since its first auction, with everyone vying for it. And the items inside are indeed quite good. I heard that the grand finale this time is a pill that can bring the dead back to life and heal bones! It's going to be a mad rush to buy it!"
"Okay, I understand." I'm not interested in pills or anything like that, but this employer...
The next day, Wei Wangqing took Lüzhi out.
The streets were still bustling with people, just like the day I first arrived in the capital.
The two strolled leisurely toward the auction.
I saw a few people standing around, pointing and talking.
"Miss, look over there." After leaving the manor, Wei Wangqing instructed Lüzhi to change her form of address.
"Let's go take a look." Hmm, we've got nothing else to do, so it wouldn't hurt to go and check it out.
Suddenly, a woman sneered, "Oh, isn't this Li Nuo? You've fallen to this state without me, Miss!"
The man on the ground looked up and gave the woman a cold glance. "You don't need to worry about my affairs."
"How can you say that? No matter what, your mother once worked in our general's mansion. Why don't you beg me? I'll help you bury your mother."
The people on the ground finally couldn't help but show their humiliation.
It was originally a play about selling oneself to bury one's father—no, it was about selling oneself to bury one's mother!
Should we lend her a hand? She's lucky; I happen to be short-staffed, and this Li Nuo seems alright. Let's just take her in!
The crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger.
At that moment, a pair of beautiful eyes looked in this direction from outside the crowd, their eyes filled with astonishment, as if they had discovered something extraordinary.
Wei Wangqing stepped forward and said to Lüzhi, "Give me the money."
Green Branch hurriedly took out two silver ingots from her bosom and placed them next to Li Nuo.
"Once you've taken my money, you're mine."
Li Nuo was still in a daze when the young lady from the general's mansion couldn't hold back any longer. "Who are you? Mind your own business!"
A kind-hearted citizen in the crowd warned, "Young lady, be careful! This is none other than Li the Little Devil from the General's Mansion!"
"Yeah, yeah, if it doesn't work out, let's just leave!"
The woman became even more smug upon hearing this, "Are you scared now? My mother is the mighty General Xianwei."
Li Nuo, lying on the ground, also showed a worried expression.
Trying to compete with me based on my father's connections? Bah, I mean, my mother's connections!
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