Upon hearing Ning Zixuan's words, the princess abruptly released his hand, leaned back onto the bed, and stared at the ceiling for a long while before speaking.
"Very well, there's no one suitable anyway. You might as well find someone you like. The Wang family's status isn't particularly conspicuous. If you really marry a Miss Wang, the Emperor will be at ease."
Seeing this, Ning Zixuan quickly frowned and explained:
“Mother, I, I didn’t say I wanted to marry her.”
Jiang Yuwei smiled and looked at Ning Zixuan, who still didn't understand her feelings, and said:
“Young Master, if you don’t marry Miss Wang, how about marrying Princess Anping, or the second young lady of the Prime Minister’s mansion?”
Ning Zixuan glanced at Jiang Yuwei, then went through the two people she had just mentioned in her mind, and hurriedly shook her head. Compared to the two, Wang Yurou looked more pleasing to the eye.
Seeing that Ning Zixuan remained silent, Jiang Yuwei and the princess both understood the situation. The princess looked at Ning Zixuan and said:
"Once I've recovered in the next few days, I'll find a matchmaker to propose marriage. But in the end, it's up to you two to live your own lives, so as your mother, I shouldn't interfere too much. Since you like her, let's bring her into the family."
Ning Zixuan stood up with a stern face.
"Let Mother decide on the matter of marriage. Since Mother is alright, I will take my leave now."
Having said that, he strode away without waiting for the princess to speak.
Jiang Yuwei watched Ning Zixuan's departing figure and said with a smile:
"Your Highness, look, this man is getting embarrassed when the topic of the Married Prince comes up."
The princess glanced in the direction Ning Zixuan had left, then shook her head and said:
"So be it, so be it. A son is beyond his mother's control when he grows up. Let him be. I'll just do what I'm supposed to do. It's just a pity about the second young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion. She seemed like a well-behaved and obedient girl."
Jiang Yuwei turned her head and smiled at the princess, slowly speaking:
“There are plenty of obedient and well-behaved people in this world, but unfortunately our young master doesn’t like them. Although Wang Yuru is unconventional, Zixuan is willing to be around her from the bottom of his heart.”
Upon hearing Jiang Yuwei's words, the princess instantly understood. Marriage is a matter of principle; the two people are meant to support each other for a lifetime. If someone were to marry someone they could only look at and dislike, life in the Prince Jing's mansion would surely be chaotic.
It would be better to grant Zixuan's wish, so that he can have a good marriage.
Thinking this, the princess looked at Jiang Yuwei and said:
"Since that's the case, let's settle on this girl from the Wang family. But I don't know what the Wang family thinks. In the next few days, could you find a suitable matchmaker to go to the Wang family and sound them out?"
Jiang Yuwei smiled.
“I think Madam Li from the Sun family would be a good matchmaker. After all, she has a relationship with Madam Wang. If we ask her to speak on our behalf, this matter will probably be much easier to resolve.”
The princess nodded.
"Alright, I'll have to trouble you to run errands for me. I'm not feeling well right now, and I can't think of things as thoroughly as you do, so please take good care of me."
After Jiang Yuwei nodded in agreement, she stood up and smiled at the princess:
"Now, Your Highness has only just recovered a little and still needs to rest. Don't think about too many other things. I will take care of things in the manor, so you can rest assured. Right now, you need to get well as soon as possible."
As she spoke, Jiang Yuwei stood up and bowed to the princess.
"Your Highness, please take a nap. I'll go out and make arrangements for Aunt Lin and Zhu'er."
After saying that, Jiang Yuwei left.
Seeing Yun Qing waiting outside, he instructed him:
"Order someone to give Zhu'er twenty lashes and then find a servant to sell her far away. As for Qin'er, give her ten lashes, give her two taels of silver as compensation for her mother, and then kick her out of the mansion."
Then, Jiang Yuwei spoke solemnly again:
"Remember to tell her to keep her mouth shut. If she dares to reveal even a little bit about what's going on in this manor, the Prince Jing's manor will not let her off the hook."
Yun Qing received the instructions and went out to make the arrangements.
Jiang Yuwei then instructed Xia Yue:
"Go to Aunt Lin's courtyard and shout that the Princess has spoken, and that no one in this courtyard is allowed to enter or leave. When the Prince returns, lift Aunt Lin's confinement. Also, give clear instructions to the guards, and tell them not to be careless, or they will not be spared."
Xia Yue received Jiang Yuwei's order and hurried to Aunt Lin's courtyard.
Jiang Yuwei had been busy all day and was feeling a bit tired, so she went back to Jinglan Pavilion and made some simple food. After eating with Ning Wan and Ning Zhao, she lay down to rest.
The next day,
Jiang Yuwei first went to the Princess's courtyard to check on the Princess's health, and then dealt with the affairs of the Prince's Mansion briefly before taking Yun Qing and Xia Yue to the shops on Jin Street.
When the three arrived at the shop, they saw Qinglan sitting in the center of the shop on the first floor. Aunt Zhou and the others did not dare to go up and provoke Qinglan, so they all stayed far away from her and went about their own business.
Jiang Yuwei frowned upon seeing this. Hadn't she made herself clear enough last time? What kind of trouble was she trying to cause today?
As Qinglan sat in the shop, she looked up and met Jiang Yuwei's murderous gaze. She smiled and stood up.
"Oh, does Madam Jiang dislike me so much?"
Jiang Yuwei gave a faint "hmm".
Qinglan chuckled lightly, seemingly unconcerned.
"I have come today to discuss something good with Madam Jiang."
Jiang Yuwei gave her a suspicious look.
"What good things could you possibly have to do with it?"
Qinglan glanced at the guests coming and going around her and said with a smile:
"There are too many people and too many eyes in here. Does Madam Jiang really want to talk to me here?"
Jiang Yuwei glanced at Qinglan, pondered for a moment,
"Come on, follow me to the backyard."
Jiang Yuwei had also built a tea room in the backyard of this delicious city to receive distinguished guests, but now Qinglan has used it first.
Jiang Yuwei led her to the tea room in the backyard, and then instructed Xia Yue to serve tea before turning to Qinglan and saying:
"If you have something to say, say it quickly. I'm busy outside."
Qinglan took a sip of tea.
"I have a way to get the Empress Dowager to cancel my arranged marriage with Huaizhi. Are you willing?"
Jiang Yuwei, unaware of Qinglan's intentions, simply snorted coldly.
"You treat the Empress Dowager's decrees as a joke, something you can decide to take or reject at will?"
Qinglan put down her teacup and nodded gently.
"To be honest, the Empress Dowager once promised me that I could make my own decisions about my marriage."
Jiang Yuwei raised an eyebrow and looked at Qinglan, saying calmly:
"Aren't you begging Huaizhi to marry you like you were before, all desperate and futile?"
Upon hearing Jiang Yuwei's words, Qinglan's face instantly turned bright red.
"Before, I was young and competitive, and I thought that Brother Huai was the best man. But now it seems that's not the case."
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