Hearing this, Bai Zhi quickened her movements.
The princess had told her to tear up the marriage contract. Suddenly, someone shouted, "Spare the contract!" This must be a troublemaker trying to stop her from fulfilling the princess's order. That wouldn't do.
Seeing Bai Zhi grab the marriage contract and about to tear it up, a man suddenly rushed in from outside, snatched the contract from Bai Zhi's hand, and held it protectively.
Bai Zhi reacted quickly. She immediately yanked the man aside and snatched the contract back. "Where did this scoundrel come from? How dare you act so boldly in the princess's mansion!"
"Wait, this scoundrel looks a bit familiar," Mrs. Yan said doubtfully.
To be precise, he didn't just look a bit familiar. Mrs. Yan thought he looked extremely familiar. The hat, the clothes, the jade pendant... and that handsome face. No matter how she looked at it, he was familiar, just like her good - for - nothing son.
No, this was clearly her Mingli.
Just as Mrs. Yan recognized Yan Mingli, Shen Baozhu walked in with Chen Miaochun.
Seeing Princess Jingning, Shen Baozhu let go of Chen Miaochun's hand and rushed towards her mother. She still remembered to complain, "Mother, Baozhu doesn't want to play with Yan Mingli anymore. He even cursed Sister Ruxia. It's so unfair!"
Mrs. Yan, who was just about to claim her son, paused. She touched her throat, feeling a bit of pain. She decided to recognize her son later.
Mrs. Yan thought to herself, yes, it was a sore throat. It definitely wasn't because she was embarrassed.
Bai Zhi glanced at Yan Mingli and continued her actions, but she failed to tear the contract several times.
Looking at the intact marriage contract in her hand, Bai Zhi turned to Princess Jingning for help. "Princess, this marriage contract can't be torn."
Princess Jingning was holding the little one in her arms. Her gaze fell on the marriage contract. After a long while, she remembered. "The paper of the marriage contract is specially made. Not only can't it be torn by hand, but it can also be preserved for a longer time than ordinary paper. Order someone to get scissors."
Chen Ruxia was very concerned about her sister's affairs and tried to make everything perfect. The paper for the marriage contract was bought at a high price. Just three sheets cost fifty taels of silver. Now it seemed that the money was well - spent.
Seeing the maid go to get scissors, Yan Mingli paced anxiously on the spot.
Chen Miaochun walked over and stood beside Princess Jingning. She endured it for a long time but finally couldn't help it. "Do you want me to call a doctor for you?"
[Lin Yu: After spending so much time with Baozhu's elder brother, Miaochun has also learned to be sarcastic.]
Mrs. Yan understood the implication of Chen Miaochun's words. Although she quite agreed, Yan Mingli was, after all, her own son. She smiled and said, "Young lady has a sharp tongue. I wonder which lucky family will be able to marry you."
Yan Mingli blushed for no reason. He tugged at his mother's sleeve and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito, "It's our family."
These words surprised Mrs. Yan. She turned to look at her son, her eyes full of disbelief and a hint of asking him to repeat it.
Maybe it was because the first time was awkward and the second time was more familiar. This time, Yan Mingli said loudly, "Mother, I said I like Miaochun!"
"Can we not cancel the marriage?"
After saying these two sentences, Yan Mingli closed his eyes because he saw the killing intent in his mother's eyes. He was scared and didn't dare to look at his mother.
On the side, Princess Jingning already knew the whole story. A more genuine smile appeared on her face.
She didn't expect that Yan Mingli had fallen head - over - heels for Miaochun at first sight. He was even willing to break off his engagement for Miaochun after only one meeting.
This absurd incident might make people think that Yan Mingli was unreliable and not a good match. But in Princess Jingning's heart, it added a few points to Yan Mingli.
Princess Jingning looked at Yan Mingli and said gently, "Mingli, although the marriage contract hasn't been torn, I've already discussed with your mother about breaking off the engagement. This is a fact and cannot be changed."
"Why? Can we make a new engagement? Mother, please help me." Frightened, Yan Mingli was at a loss. Regardless of the killing intent in his mother's eyes, he just kept shouting for his mother.
Mrs. Yan was annoyed by Yan Mingli's shouts. She quietly pinched the flesh on the back of his hand, which finally made her ears quiet.
Looking at her son grimacing in pain, Mrs. Yan secretly thought him useless, but she still had to fight for him.
As a smart person, Mrs. Yan understood what Princess Jingning meant. She smiled and said, "Princess, you're being too kind. It was our Yan family who was presumptuous. We'll still offer the land deed as compensation, and double the betrothal gifts for the son - in - law. What do you think, Princess?"
"Miaochun is a good girl, but my second daughter - in - law is pregnant, and our Yan family is really too busy."
Dragon King: [What's the connection between these two sentences? Chen Miaochun is good, and then her second daughter - in - law is pregnant?]
Lin Yu saw a bit of the meaning. [Is she trying to compensate Miaochun but saying she's too busy?]
Qingyun True Man helped to explain. [Princess: The marriage contract isn't torn, but you keep changing your mind. It's your fault, so give compensation.]
[Mrs. Yan: We've given it. We'll double the betrothal gifts. There are other children in the family. This is our greatest sincerity.]
Dragon King: [So it's about money. Why make it so complicated...]
Shen Baozhu nodded silently. She thought the same as the Dragon King.
Mrs. Yan had shown her greatest sincerity, but Princess Jingning didn't reply. She just picked up the teacup and took a sip.
The Dragon King was anxious and asked again. [What does this mean?]
Qingyun True Man: [The compensation is not enough.]
Mrs. Yan also understood what Princess Jingning meant. She glared at her stupid son and said, "My son has been naughty since he was a child. I heard that Miaochun has been staying in the princess's mansion these days. How about I send him here too so that he can develop a relationship with Miaochun?"
"Mrs. Yan, you're being too polite. We're all doing this for the sake of these children. As long as Mingli doesn't mind the smallness of my place, I'm naturally welcome," Princess Jingning put down the teacup and replied with a smile.
This time, without the Dragon King saying anything, Qingyun True Man knew he didn't understand. [She got what she wanted successfully.]
Lin Yu couldn't figure it out. [Letting Yan Mingli stay in the princess's mansion. What kind of benefit is this?]
Qingyun True Man: [Yan Mingli has a simple personality and likes Chen Miaochun. Letting him stay in the princess's mansion for a few days will make him more obedient. Simply put, they've struck a deal.]
Chen Ruxia and Princess Jingning's opinion of Yan Mingli was that he was good - looking, which made Chen Miaochun like him; he had a good family background, which could help Chen Miaochun; and he had good character and wouldn't harm Chen Miaochun.
Just now, Princess Jingning discovered a fourth advantage of Yan Mingli: he wasn't very smart and was easy to deceive.
While Yan Mingli was in a daze, Mrs. Yan and Princess Jingning reached an agreement. They would send his luggage over today, and he would stay here today.
Mrs. Yan wanted to admonish Yan Mingli. "If you're bullied, just come home..."
"Mother! You're amazing! Not only didn't we break off the engagement, but you also let me stay in the princess's mansion!" Yan Mingli was extremely excited. He summoned up his courage and asked, "Princess, can I stay near Brother Heqing?"
Princess Jingning looked at him with a smile. "Heqing has left the capital to study. His yard is just empty. You can stay in the guest room in his yard, but you must never enter his study."
Previously, Shen Heqing and Shen Yunfeng had a good relationship. They also had the habit of "not allowing outsiders to enter the study." However, different from Shen Yunfeng, who only allowed the steward and Shen Heqing to enter his study, Shen Heqing simply cherished his collection of books.
There were many ancient books he had copied by hand in his study. Each one was a treasure to Shen Heqing.
Mrs. Yan looked at Yan Mingli jumping up and down and forced a smile.