In the evening, brothers Jiang Zhixu and Jiang Shuyan returned home. The two sisters-in-law set up a dining table in the hall, and the aroma of food filled the air.
Jin Linlin came forward with a calm expression and took his coat. "Husband, did you have a smooth day out?" Jiang Zhixu nodded slightly. "Everything is fine."
Jiang Shuyan helped his pregnant wife sit down slowly.
Everyone took their seats one by one. Jin Linlin gestured to Chunxue, and Chunxue led the maids to serve the dishes and rice.
Cao Jiao thought for a moment:
"Hongguo, please invite the second young lady to come and have dinner with us." Hongguo bowed and left.
In the hall, maids were busy serving dishes, while the four masters were talking solemnly.
"We need to tell Jiang Shiwei about the Fourth Prince and hear her opinion. The Fourth Prince will be leaving for his fiefdom tomorrow." Cao Jiao said to the two brothers.
"That's true. It's good to hear her thoughts! Although breaking off the engagement has a bad reputation, at least I don't have to go to that bitter and cold place with him." Jin Linlin responded.
Just as she finished speaking, Hong Guo came back and reported with an embarrassed look on her face, "Madam, the second young lady said she is not feeling well and does not want to eat."
Cao Jiao frowned slightly, looking unhappy: "It's already this late, and you're still throwing a tantrum." Jiang Zhixu waved his hand, "Forget it, let's eat first, I'll go talk to her later."
Jiang Shuyan curled his lips slightly:
"Why tell her? What girl can decide her own marriage? It's all decided by her parents and the matchmaker."
Cao Jiao patted his hand:
"Don't talk nonsense. She is engaged to the Fourth Prince, so this matter must be handled with caution. The Emperor and Empress are furious at the moment. Although the Fourth Prince has fallen on hard times, he is still a prince after all. How can we despise him?"
"Well, the Queen's family, the Ouyang family, is a prominent family. If my second sister wants to cancel the engagement, can you handle it?" Jin Linlin frowned and looked at Jiang Zhixu.
"Don't worry, I'll ask my second sister later!" Jiang Zhixu picked up the chopsticks and signaled everyone to eat.
Everyone started eating, still talking and laughing. After finishing the meal, Jiang Zhixu came to Jiang Shiwei's yard.
Jiang Shiwei was sitting by the window in a daze. When he saw him come in, he didn't get up, but said coldly: "Second brother, you don't have to persuade me. Let me think about it and give you an answer tomorrow morning."
Jiang Zhixu sighed and sat down beside her. "The Fourth Prince will be leaving for his fiefdom tomorrow. It's bitterly cold there. Think carefully."
Just as he finished speaking, the servant Babao rushed in and whispered in Jiang Zhixu's ear:
"Second Master, Eunuch Guo from the palace has arrived and is waiting in the front hall. He said he wants to see the Second Young Lady."
Jiang Zhixu and Jiang Shiwei were both slightly stunned, then stood up and went to the front yard.
Eunuch Guo brought the emperor's oral order, and the engagement between Miss Jiang Er and the Fourth Prince was cancelled. Instead, they had to participate in next year's selection.
Jin Linlin raised her eyebrows and wondered in her heart, is the emperor going to grant Jiang Shiwei a new marriage, or take her into the harem?
Jiang Shiwei's heart sank suddenly, but her face remained as calm as a lake as she bowed down to express her gratitude.
After Eunuch Guo left, everyone in the hall looked at each other, all of them confused.
Cao Jiao was the first to break the silence: "This emperor suddenly canceled the engagement and ordered a beauty pageant. I really don't know what his intention is."
Jiang Zhixu frowned, thinking hard: "No matter what, there's no way I can avoid this talent show. I'll just go and participate."
Jiang Shuyan snorted coldly, his tone filled with disdain: "Perhaps the emperor wants to take my sister into the harem. After all, my sister's appearance and talent are both outstanding."
Jin Linlin rolled her eyes at him fiercely and said angrily, "Stop talking nonsense. Even if you're selected in the imperial selection, you might not be chosen by the emperor. Who knows, he might be chosen by some prince."
Jiang Shiwei was silent for a long time, then suddenly said softly, "In that case, I will participate in the selection. No matter what the result is, it will be better than going to that bitter cold place with the Fourth Prince."
Jiang Zhixu nodded slightly: "That's very good."
Jiang Shiwei stepped into the room with a face as cold as iron. Several little maids knelt on the ground trembling with fear, nodding their heads and lowering their eyebrows, not daring to look directly at Jiang Shiwei.
Jiang Shiwei took a deep breath, tried his best to suppress the anger in his heart, and said slowly: "Everyone, stand up." The maids stood up hurriedly as if they had been pardoned.
"Go get my box of purple-hair brushes and prepare some ink," Jiang Shiwei ordered. Although the maids were skeptical, they quickly followed his orders.
Jiang Shiwei spread out the rice paper, picked up his brush and wrote the two words "selection", then he fell into deep thought without saying a word.
She had painstakingly planned to marry the Fourth Prince and help him ascend the throne, but all her previous efforts were in vain. The fight for the throne had not even begun, but she had already withdrawn.
It was clear that he was the ultimate winner in his previous life, how could this happen?
What had he done to cause His Majesty such wrath? His path to becoming Crown Prince was cut off.
On the contrary, by chance, Cao Qiang did not marry the Fourth Prince, but married the First Prince instead. She did not have to go to Ningguta, and the Green Tea girl got the advantage.
She was so angry that she smashed the jade pen holder on the table into pieces.
The largest inn in Lucheng
It has been six days since the fourth prince, Prince Li, arrived at his fiefdom, and he has been feeling uneasy for the past few days.
His cousin agreed to find a death row prisoner to replace the third prince in exile and sent the third prince to his side. However, several days passed without any news.
After dinner, he returned to his room and saw Ouyang Jin sitting in the room drinking tea.
He quickly closed the door, walked up to Ouyang Jin and asked:
"Cousin, how is it? Did it succeed?"
Ouyang Jin glanced at him:
"The person has been brought to you and placed on your bed." He quickly ran to the bedside, lifted the curtain, and saw the third prince sleeping peacefully on the bed.
He was overjoyed and gently stroked the third prince's face, his uneasy heart finally settled.
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