The next day, Lu Hongxi returned to the mansion with a heavy heart. Even when the princess told him that Ning'er had eaten well and rested well that day, he didn't really care.
The princess asked in confusion, "What happened today? Why do you look like this?"
Lu Hongxi pursed his lips and had someone summon Lu Wanning before asking, "What did you say to the Crown Prince yesterday?"
He had always been gentle with his daughter, believing that he owed her too much. So he doted on her especially. On normal days, he was afraid that even raising his voice a bit would scare her. But today, his tone was very serious, even interrogative.
The princess was startled and quickly said, "What did Ning'er say yesterday? Is there a problem? She's been ill for a few days. It's only natural for her to say a few words when she saw the Crown Prince. Could it be that the Crown Prince wants to break off the engagement because of this?"
Lu Hongxi let out a long sigh. "If that were the case, I wouldn't be worried. But today, the Crown Prince presented a petition in the main hall, asking the emperor to depose him as the Crown Prince."
The princess widened her eyes. "Depose the Crown Prince? Why... why?"
Lu Hongxi said, "Because the Crown Prince said that he suffered from a serious illness when he was young, which affects his ability to have heirs..."
Lu Wanning was stunned. A serious illness affecting his ability to have heirs? This wasn't mentioned in the book, and he had never said anything about it before... No, it must be because of what she said yesterday. Since he didn't give her a promise, his actions today were his guarantee.
Lu Hongxi added, "The Crown Prince did have a serious illness when he was young. A sorcerer even predicted that he wouldn't live past twenty. But he's already twenty - one now. Maybe he's okay, but it has affected his ability to have heirs."
The princess was extremely surprised. "So, did the emperor agree?"
At the same time, Lu Wanning also asked, "Did he say anything about breaking off the engagement?"
Lu Hongxi and the princess both glanced at her. The princess was the first to say, "Ning'er, although he has problems with having heirs, at least he has feelings for you. Aren't you being too heartless?"
"Ning'er, if you really don't like it, you should take your time. It's not something that should be decided immediately. You should talk to him properly later."
Lu Wanning didn't want to break off the engagement. She asked this to confirm whether Sheng Jinyu really couldn't have children or was just pretending. Seeing her father's reaction, she understood that Sheng Jinyu hadn't proposed to break off the engagement. So, just as she thought, Sheng Jinyu said those things to reassure her.
Otherwise, given Sheng Jinyu's character, he should have said it yesterday. Even if he only found out last night, he should have proposed to annul the engagement in the court today.
Thinking like this, Lu Wanning let out a slight sigh of relief.
The princess pondered and asked, "Ning'er, were you sad before because of this?"
Lu Wanning waved her hands repeatedly. "No, no. I really had a nightmare. Yesterday, when I talked to... my two elder sisters, I felt much better."
The princess didn't believe it was because of her conversation with Jiang Shishi and Zhen Yan. She thought to herself that her youngest daughter's emotions were probably still because of her lover. But it was a pity that her lover couldn't have children.
Lu Hongxi said again, "The emperor was anxious and had the imperial physician examine the Crown Prince. The imperial physician also confirmed that the Crown Prince couldn't have children. But the imperial physician said that if he was properly treated, there was still a chance."
Lu Wanning secretly laughed. It wasn't a matter of proper treatment to have a child. Sheng Jinyu was clearly doing it on purpose. Anyway, since he had problems with having heirs, it was normal for him not to take concubines. If she got pregnant in the future, it could be attributed to proper treatment. Everyone would be happy.
Lu Hongxi was worried. "Ning'er, if you really don't like it, I'll take you to see him and then personally petition the emperor."
Lu Wanning smiled. "Father, who said I don't want to? I'm very willing. If he can't have children, then so be it. Giving birth is so painful. I don't even want to give birth."
The princess covered her mouth. "Nonsense."
Lu Wanning giggled. "Okay, mother. I know. He's very good to me. I... I also like him. Of course, I'm willing."
Seeing her daughter's carefree look, the princess had mixed feelings. She thought that her daughter's marriage was really full of hardships. She would go to the Buddhist temple later to pray to the Bodhisattva for blessings.
Half a month later, it was the grand ceremony for the current Crown Prince to marry the Crown Princess. The Crown Prince rode on a tall horse with a red flower on his chest. Behind him was the wedding procession, which came out of the palace in a grand manner and went all the way to the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion.
After the Crown Princess was carried out, the sedan chair didn't go directly back to the palace. Instead, it circled around the capital for half a day before returning to the palace. By the time the groom leading the horse in front had reached the Eastern Palace, the last dowry still hadn't left the general's mansion.
Such a grand wedding on the long street dazzled the common people. They didn't know whether it was because the palace attached great importance to the wedding and gave extremely generous betrothal gifts, or because the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion doted on their daughter and gave countless dowries.
Anyway, the emperor was in a very good mood and held a three - day banquet in the palace to celebrate. Such a grand celebration made people speechless.
And the matter that the Crown Prince had revealed his inability to have heirs half a month ago was quickly suppressed. The sensible families shut their mouths early, and those who weren't sensible were also somehow silenced.
No one noticed a beggar standing on a street corner, looking far away at the high - spirited man on the horse in front. The curtain of the sedan chair behind was blown by the wind, and he could vaguely see the bride sitting inside, holding a silk fan to cover her face. He couldn't see clearly, but he knew who it was.
She was the woman he once thought would be his wife forever.
He had thought about marrying her. Even if he couldn't treat her well, he would take care of her for the rest of her life. He had disliked her for being vulgar, for looking down on others because of her power, and for forcing him to marry her without considering his wishes.
But in fact, wasn't he happy in his heart? Being liked by her wasn't something to be disliked. It was just that he understood too late.
He regretted it very much. If he hadn't taken that path back then, if he had understood his own heart and known that it belonged to her, would he not have been so stupid? For the sake of that vicious woman, he had given up his pearl and treasure.
He knelt on the ground and buried his head, crying bitterly.
Some passers - by on the street looked at the ragged man in surprise, but the music in front was so attractive that they quickly forgot about this beggar.
A violent voice came from behind. "Good for you, Hei Dog! You're actually slacking off! I agreed to let you into the city. Is this what I let you do? Hurry up and pull the cart, useless thing!"
It was a fat woman in patched clothes, waving a whip in her hand and hitting the man hard.
The man didn't resist. He got up in a hurry, looked at the high pile of goods on the cart, and without hesitation, bent down and pulled the cart.
Maybe he was too strong. The cart bumped, and the goods on it suddenly fell off and hit the man on the head.
The fat woman let out a scream and rushed over to try to protect the goods, but it was too late.
The thin man was hit by the heavy goods until his head was bleeding. He lay on the ground, still looking at the hustle and bustle in the distance. If... he could go back to the past when he was still the high - ranking heir, he wouldn't wait for her to pursue him. He would pursue her actively and be good to her for the rest of his life...