The princess was indeed kept busy. Apart from the preparations for the visit to the Yu Prince's Mansion the next day, she inevitably sent her personal nanny back to her natal family to persuade her elder brother once again. Considering the family and the children, it was not advisable to divorce his wife.
This time, the Duke of He didn't insist. He sent a message back with the nanny, saying that if his sister didn't pursue the matter, he would forgive Lady Shi this once. However, in the future, he would never let Lady Shi manage the household again. All the affairs would be handed over to his eldest daughter - in - law.
The princess frowned and asked, "Did he really say so?"
The nanny nodded. "Yes. I tried to talk to the duke about Yuniang, but he didn't want to say much. Princess, Yuniang is just a concubine. It's not appropriate for the duke to entrust so much to a concubine."
The princess nodded slowly. Yuniang was sent to her second brother by their mother when she was alive. At that time, they thought her second brother was too naughty, so they let the steady - minded Yuniang watch over him. It wasn't that she was partial to the person her mother had given, but when her eldest nephew Wenhao got married, her sister - in - law wasn't satisfied with so many famous ladies in the capital. Finally, she found the legitimate daughter of the Liu family, the family of the provincial governor Liu Xiang.
The Liu family was not of a low rank. However, since they had been away from the capital for a long time, and the legitimate daughter of the Liu family had rarely been out since childhood, she really didn't seem like a well - informed person. It was a pity that her sister - in - law thought the most important qualities for a girl were being gentle, obedient and well - behaved. After Wenhao's wife got married, she was really obedient and didn't make any decisions on her own. She just listened to her sister - in - law.
No matter how good such a person was, she was not qualified to be the mistress of a great family.
Seeing the princess looking unhappy, the nanny could only comfort her. "Princess, since the He family is so insistent, it's not something the princess can control."
The princess nodded. "Forget it. I'm no longer a member of the He family. I can't bother about those things. It's more important to think about Ning'er's marriage..."
Lu Wanning, who felt weak all over but couldn't fall asleep, lay in bed with her eyes closed. Her mind was full of the thrilling scene of today. She felt so weak that she thought she was going to die, but then he came like a hero from the sky and caught her.
Not to mention that the hero - saving - the - beauty act had touched her beyond words, just his peerless face...
Ah, he was so handsome, so handsome! How could her thigh (a pet name in Chinese slang here, which might be translated as "hunk" in this context) be so handsome? It wasn't her fault that she was acting like a fangirl. It was all because he was too handsome.
Jiyue rushed in out of breath, knelt in front of the bed and said urgently, "Princess, something's wrong. Sister Cuiyu from the Princess Consort's yard just told me..."
Lu Wanning looked up at her and said, "Didn't I tell you? You should be calm when doing things. Being unhurried is the right way. Don't panic when something happens. Go, pour yourself a glass of water, calm down and then talk to me."
"…Okay."
Jiyue was extremely anxious, but she had to obey and go pour a glass of water. After drinking it, she came back and continued, "Princess, it's like this. Sister Cuiyu told me that the princess consort plans to settle the princess's marriage. It's... the Crown Prince of the Jia King..."
Lu Wanning sat up in a hurry. "What did you say? My mother? How could she play matchmaker randomly? And why did you tell me now? What were you doing just now?"
Seeing Lu Wanning pacing around anxiously, Jiyue couldn't say that it was the princess who told her to be slow just now. She quickly went to find shoes for her and asked, "The princess consort is now sorting out the gift list for the visit to the Yu Prince's Mansion tomorrow. Does the princess want to go there?"
When Lu Wanning was putting on her shoes and about to go out, she stopped. "You mean my mother thinks I should be with Sheng Li?"
Jiyue nodded. "Yes. That's what Sister Cuiyu said."
Lu Wanning frowned and said, "But my mother knows that Sheng Li and I are sworn siblings. He's just my younger brother."
Jiyue said, "Cuiyu said that the princess consort thought the princess was old enough, and there was no suitable young man in the capital. The Crown Prince of the Jia King is well - known to us, and the Jia King and the princess consort are easy to get along with. The princess consort is extremely satisfied. She also said... she also said that the princess had been too picky and wouldn't be able to find a good one. Soon, no young man in the capital would dare to come and propose marriage..."
"Nonsense!" Lu Wanning said angrily. "How am I old? That guy A Li is three years younger than me. Who would take a fancy to a little kid?"
Jiyue nodded and said, "Princess, but at present, there really isn't a suitable candidate."
Lu Wanning lowered her head and pondered. Last time, her mother thought she had taken a fancy to He Nanfeng, and this time, she thought she liked Sheng Li. If she refused like last time, there would be a new candidate soon.
It was not easy to be a woman in ancient times. Unless a woman lost her virtue and became a nun, if she didn't get married all her life, she would be unacceptable to her clan and the society. She didn't want to be the one who would be criticized all her life, so she had to think of a way out.
She had no interest in cultivating that little kid Sheng Li. Moreover, she had already taken a fancy to someone.
Sheng Jinyu, if you're not proactive, don't you think I can't be proactive?
Lu Wanning took off her shoes and lay back on the bed.
Jiyue was anxious. "Princess, aren't you going? Aren't you afraid that the princess consort will really settle this marriage?"
Lu Wanning waved her hand. "Don't worry. A Li is only fourteen. It's not time for him to get married yet. Even if they want to settle the marriage, they'll have to wait until he grows up. As for me, hehe, I have my own plan. Jiyue, tell the others that from tomorrow on, when they go out and talk to the servants of any family, they should talk about me and say that I've already got on the good side of the Yu Prince."
Jiyue blinked her eyes. "What's the use of saying these things?"
Lu Wanning tapped her on the head. "Just do what I tell you. Why do you ask so many questions?"
She didn't sleep well all night. Her dreams were all about that thrilling scene and the scene of falling into the water together in his warm and strong embrace.
The Yu Prince didn't seem to want to have any connection with her. They had both fallen into the water and their clothes were wet. Although the Yu Prince admitted that he had saved her, he didn't want people to know about their intimate contact.
Didn't he like her? It didn't matter. Lu Wanning was not so easy to be defeated.
The next day, before the Lu family set out, a servant from the Yu Prince's Mansion came to return the visiting card. He also said that the Yu Prince was very busy and saving her was just a simple act of kindness not worth mentioning.
Lu Wanning pouted. Was Sheng Jinyu even unwilling to meet her family?
Lu Hongxi was extremely comforted. He sighed to the princess, "It's said that the Yu Prince is dedicated to the people. Such a capable minister is no wonder the emperor values him so much."
Lu Wanning murmured to herself. Did you think Sheng Jinyu just wanted to be a minister? He wanted to be the monarch.
She curved her eyebrows and didn't care too much. She told the princess and then arranged for a carriage to go to the Jiang family.
Jiang Shishi had caught a cold yesterday, so she felt a little unwell today and stayed in the room without going out.
Lu Wanning was extremely worried. She asked a lot of questions. After confirming that Jiang Shishi just had a minor cold and was not seriously ill, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The maid Xiaoling smiled and said, "The princess is always so worried about our young lady. Yesterday, when the young lady just went to the bookstore, the princess sent a servant to inquire. She couldn't rest assured for a moment."
Jiang Shishi also smiled. "You used to be so carefree. When did you become so worried?"
Lu Wanning gave her a coquettish look. "Who am I doing this for? Isn't it for you? By the way, Sister Jiang, my servant reported yesterday that there was already a servant beside you. Did your father arrange a guard for you?"
Jiang Shishi shook her head. "They're servants from the Yu Prince's Mansion."