In the Yong'an Marquis Mansion.
"This is the newly made scented tea. Auntie, do try it," Chen Ruxia said as she served the brewed scented tea to the Princess Jingning.
Because she had been applying the ointment, she was wearing a loose robe and a thin veil on her face.
The Princess Jingning's eyes fell on Chen Ruxia. She said with concern, "Ruxia, how's your wound?"
After recognizing Chen Miaochun and seeing the Yong'an Marquis spending days sitting idle in the palace, Chen Ruxia was in a good mood. She had also done something big yesterday. "It's getting better. Thanks to Baozhu's ointment, I'll be able to show my face by autumn... Auntie, look what this is."
Chen Ruxia handed the marriage certificate with red paper and golden characters to the Princess Jingning.
The marriage certificate was exquisitely made, with grand and imposing characters. The names of the two betrothed were also very nice, Chen Miaochun and Yan Mingli...
The Princess Jingning's hand trembled, and the marriage certificate fell onto the table. Looking at Chen Ruxia's delighted expression, she said euphemistically, "Is there a mistake in the names on this marriage certificate?"
Hearing this, Chen Ruxia picked up the marriage certificate and checked it carefully. "Is there a mistake? No, there isn't. It's my elder sister and Yan Mingli."
Under the hesitant gaze of the Princess Jingning, Chen Ruxia finally realized something. She quickly explained to the Princess Jingning.
She had already discussed with the Yan family and changed the betrothed person to Chen Miaochun. At that time, when the Princess Jingning was matchmaking for the two families, she only said that it was the youngest son of the Yan family and the eldest daughter of the Yong'an Marquis Mansion, without specifying the names.
So Chen Ruxia took advantage of this loophole and insisted that this marriage was arranged between Chen Miaochun and Yan Mingli.
The Princess Jingning didn't expect Chen Ruxia to suddenly do such a big thing. She was a bit stunned.
Chen Ruxia, on the other hand, was overjoyed. "That Yan Mingli is very good-looking and has a good character. Only such a person is worthy of my elder sister."
Actually, Yan Mingli was not outstanding in the capital. He was the youngest son in the family. Compared with his elder brothers, he seemed useless and idle all day long.
The main reason he was chosen by the Princess Jingning was that he was a good person with a low bottom - line.
Yan's father and mother were an extremely harmonious couple. There wasn't even a concubine in the family. All their sons were like their father. Even if they didn't like their wives, they would still fulfill their responsibilities.
After seeing the inaction of the Yong'an Marquis, the Princess Jingning told Chen Ruxia that when choosing a husband in the future, one should value his character. If he was a good person, even if the couple had a rift, the good person would show mercy out of old feelings.
One should be vigilant against people like the Yong'an Marquis. When he loved someone, he was extremely affectionate, making all kinds of vows and sweet - talking non - stop. But when he didn't love anymore, he would discard that person like an old shoe.
The Yong'an Marquis once had a sweet time with Chen Ruxia's mother. Later, he fell for Concubine Zhao and indulged Concubine Zhao to bully his wife. Then, when he didn't like Concubine Zhao anymore, he left Concubine Zhao and Chen Pan'er to live a hard life.
But Yan Mingli was different. He grew up under the love of his parents and was a good person with a bottom - line.
This was also the reason why Concubine Zhao tried hard to get her daughter to marry him. Compared with a high - ranking family, it was better to marry a reliable man.
Chen Ruxia understood this too, so she transferred the marriage to Chen Miaochun. She explained, "Auntie, don't worry. I've already asked for my elder sister's opinion. She trusts me and told me to make the decision."
As she said this, a faint look of pride flashed across Chen Ruxia's face.
Her elder sister trusted her so much!
"The Yan family has also discussed it. Lady Yan has agreed to let Yan Mingli marry into our family and help my elder sister obtain the title. The Yan family requires that my elder sister cannot take a male consort. I took the liberty to agree."
These days, the Yong'an Marquis had been going to the palace. He only had two requests: to depose Chen Linchun from the position of the heir and to let Chen Miaochun establish herself as the head of the household and inherit the Yong'an Marquis Mansion.
The emperor quickly agreed to the first request, but when it came to the second one, he showed no reaction.
Now everyone understood the emperor's intention. He wanted to take the title of the Yong'an Marquis Mansion this way.
Chen Ruxia's move of getting Chen Miaochun engaged to Yan Mingli was very clever. With the help of the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and the "filial piety" of the Yong'an Marquis, even if the title was really gone, Chen Miaochun could still establish herself as the head of the household and be in charge.
In just a few days, she was able to get the Yan family to agree and prepare the marriage certificate. Chen Ruxia was really amazing. But... The Princess Jingning hesitated for a moment and finally couldn't help asking, "What about Yan Mingli? Does he know about this?"
This question made Chen Ruxia stunned for a moment. She hesitated and said, "Do I need to tell him? His opinion doesn't matter, does it?"
"Or, should I tell him now?"
...
In the Zuiyin Tower.
Hearing that his role model had left the capital, Yan Mingli was shocked, angry, and confused. "The imperial examination is next March. Why would Shen Heqing go on a tour now? Are you guys lying to me?"
The members of the poetry club had a good impression of Yan Mingli. Usually, they might have explained it to him patiently, but now that Ning Shanyuan was in a coma, they were all a bit distracted.
Su Qian saw that Yan Mingli had brought Shen Baozhu up too. He quickly pushed him downstairs. "You take Baozhu downstairs to play first. Shanyuan suddenly fainted. We're waiting for the doctor."
When it came to his role model, Yan Mingli's mind was a bit slow. He had a sudden thought. "Did you guys bully Shen Heqing away?"
As soon as he said this, everyone looked at Yan Mingli in a strange way.
Even Su Qian thought Yan Mingli was stupid. "The poetry club was organized by him. Who would dare to bully him? Just looking at how hard Brother Heqing studies every day, we don't even have the time to bully him."
[Hahaha, is Yan Mingli just too worried? With that stupid look of his, who could bully him? Even the crybaby thinks he's stupid.]
[Yan Mingli should be a fan of Baozhu's elder brother. In the eyes of a fan, they would feel bad for their idol's hand even if the idol beats someone.]
Lin Yu's words were exactly what Yan Mingli was like. If Shen Heqing beat someone in front of him, Yan Mingli would really feel bad for Shen Heqing's hand and then rush up to help himself.
After Su Qian said a few words, Yan Mingli finally came to his senses. He looked around the second - floor blankly and finally his eyes fell on a strange girl.
She was not very tall, with a cold expression. Her almond - shaped eyes were looking at him. Just standing there, she made people's hearts beat wildly.
Taking a closer look, Yan Mingli even thought she looked a bit familiar. That girl looked a bit like Shen Heqing.
A wild - beating heart and looking like his role model... Yan Mingli blinked blankly. It seemed that he had fallen in love at first sight. He wanted to court her!
No, the first step to court someone was to break off the engagement with Chen Ruxia!
Yan Mingli was too excited. He turned around, picked up Shen Baozhu, and went downstairs. Then he sat on the steps. "Baozhu, I think I've fallen in love at first sight with that girl."
[There was only Chen Miaochun on the second - floor just now. Did Yan Mingli fall in love at first sight with Chen Miaochun?]
"Baozhu, that girl gives me a very familiar feeling. Even her standing posture looks familiar to me."
[I remember that Miaochun was trained hard by Baozhu's elder brother for a whole day because of her bad standing posture. Yan Mingli is a fan of Baozhu's elder brother. It's normal for him to find the standing posture familiar.]
"Baozhu, this is love!"
[He's so stupid.]
Shen Baozhu was already confused. While listening to Yan Mingli's words and looking at the subtitles, her head was dizzy.
Who? A newly - acquainted friend liked Sister Miaochun?
Yan Mingli had already planned in his mind. He stood up, ordered ten big pancakes, and planned to tie them to his body. "I haven't even gotten married yet, but I've met the one I like. This must be a gift from God! I'm going home to go on a hunger strike to break off the engagement!"
Even the Dragon King, who liked to watch gossips, was a bit surprised. [Breaking off the engagement so quickly? Which girl is engaged to this fool? She's so unlucky.]
Looking at the pancakes, Shen Baozhu finally had a chance to speak. "Why do you need to bring pancakes if you're going on a hunger strike?"
While tying the pancakes, Yan Mingli told his little trick. "I just want to break off the engagement, not really starve to death... Baozhu, I'll buy you some more snacks."
"I plan to consider this street as compensation for that person. I'll have to pay for things I buy in the future."