Chapter 2: Ze'er, Marry Princess Qi

At this moment, Qi Yuning was brimming with fury toward the Lu family. Seeing the purple-clad young master of the Lu family approaching through the light, even though he was handsome and well-mannered, Qi Yuning's eyes were filled with nothing but disdain.

Watching Qi Yuning's bright red wedding dress swaying in the autumn mountain breeze, Lu Ze said, "Do not be angry, Princess. I will go immediately and have Lu Yun return to secular life to marry you."

Qi Yuning said coldly, "He has already entered the clergy, and I have already been made a laughingstock. He thinks he can just return to secular life and marry me? In his dreams! Regarding today's humiliation, my Qi family will not let your Lu family off easily."

Qi Yu'an also arrived on horseback. Hearing his sister's words, he dismounted and walked up to Lu Ze, saying, "Correct. From now on, the Qi and Lu families share an irreconcilable enmity. With so many fine men in Shengjing, even if your brother returns to secular life, my Qi family's daughter would not care to remarry him."

Lu Ze knew they were in the wrong. Lowering his eyes, he said, "Prince Qi, Princess Qi, our Lu family will certainly give you an explanation for this matter."

Qi Yu'an said irritably, "And what kind of explanation do you intend to give?"

Lu Baozhu spoke up to Lu Ze first, "The Lu family has two sons. If my brother is unwilling to marry her, then let my brother marry her. Prince Qi, what do you say?"

Qi Yu'an sized up the Lu Ze before him. This was actually a good idea; Lu Ze was indeed much better than Lu Yun.

As the youngest son of the Duke of Lu and a Princess, Lu Yun had been overly pampered since childhood, resulting in a profligate manner. He was also two years younger than his own sister. To be honest, if it weren't for his good family background and looks, Qi Yu'an would have looked down on this brother-in-law.

In contrast, Lu Ze had grown up by the side of His Majesty and the late Duke Lu. He was steady and dignified; at only twenty, he was already the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review with a limitless future. More importantly, between the two brothers, Lu Ze's appearance was a notch above Lu Yun's.

While Qi Yu'an was deliberating, Lu Ze lightly scolded Lu Baozhu, "Baozhu, stop talking nonsense. I am already engaged to the Guan family."

Hearing the name "Guan family," Qi Yuning let out a mocking laugh.

Lu Ze heard Qi Yuning's mocking laugh and glanced at her; his cold, phoenix-like eyes seemed to harbor even more distaste for their Lu family.

Lu Baozhu looked up and said, "You're engaged? How come I didn't know? Who is this Guan family girl? Can she compare to Qi Yuning? Brother, you can't not marry Qi Yuning. If my brother won't marry her and you won't marry her, how is she going to serve me?"

Qi Yuning felt utterly helpless. At a time like this, Lu Baozhu actually still hoped she would marry into the Lu family to serve her?

What kind of daydream was she having?!

Lu Ze was also getting a headache from his sister's antics. "Lu Baozhu, it seems Mother and Father have spoiled you too much. After you return home, you are grounded for a month!"

Normally, Lu Baozhu feared nothing in heaven or earth—not even the Emperor or the Empress—but she was specifically afraid of her eldest brother, who was three years older than her.

Lu Baozhu hung her head and said, "It was my brother who acted foolishly, why ground me?"

Lu Ze said, "One more word, and it will be two months."

Lu Baozhu immediately fell silent.

Lu Ze looked toward the frost-rimmed Qi Yuning beside them. "Princess, Prince Qi, our Lu family will certainly offer a proper apology to satisfy you both. Please, calm your anger."

Qi Yu'an gave a light snort, "Hmph!"

Having not seen her brother for a long time, Qi Yuning did not wish to stay long. She mounted her horse and rode back to the manor alongside her brother. "Brother, how many days will you stay this time?"

The military horses of the Prince Qi Manor were all at the border. Her brother usually stayed in the military camps and rarely returned. He had originally come back to drink her wedding wine, but now that was out of the question.

Qi Yu'an said, "I originally intended to leave after your return to your natal home, but since you were so insulted by the Lu family, I must stay for a few more days."

Qi Yuning said, "Brother, don't worry. I will not let the Lu family off for today's great shame."

Qi Yu'an knew his sister's vengeful nature well, so he let her go about her revenge. He had lived in military camps since he was ten, enduring wind and sun for twelve years—wasn't it all for the sake of backing up his sister?

The siblings returned to the Prince's manor. The wedding decorations were no longer visible. Qi Yuning took off her wedding dress, finding it unlucky, and had her maid take it away to be burned.

...

Inside the Princess Pingrou Manor.

After dinner.

Princess Pingrou accused the Duke of Lu of being too indulgent toward his youngest son, which had led to the boy's reckless behavior of entering the clergy and breaking an engagement.

The Duke of Lu had always feared his wife and dared not say more than half a sentence in front of the Princess, even though it was clearly Princess Pingrou who was overly indulgent.

Lu Ze said, "Mother, it is useless to blame Father for spoiling my brother now. The main issue is how to make up for the debt owed to the Qi family. Since my brother entered the clergy today, many rumors and jokes have already been circulating in the streets mocking the Princess."

Princess Pingrou said helplessly, "Sigh, it seems there is only one way left. Ze'er, you marry Princess Qi. That way, the mockery toward her will subside."

Lu Ze: "..."

His mother and Lu Baozhu truly were mother and daughter.

The Duke of Lu followed up, "Ze'er, you are already twenty. Ordinary young men would have married long ago. Just marry Princess Qi!"

Lu Ze said, "Father, Mother, I am already engaged."

Princess Pingrou was stunned. "When did you get engaged?"

Lu Ze said, "Two months ago. Grandmother made a verbal engagement with the Guan family for their sixth daughter."

Princess Pingrou had never met the sixth daughter of the Guan family, but she had heard of her reputation for beauty.

In Shengjing over the past two years, the saying went: "When marrying a husband, marry a Lu heir; when taking a wife, take a Guan daughter." This "Guan daughter" referred to the sixth Miss Guan, who was said to be highly skilled at managing a household.

The ladies of noble families valued the ability to manage a household above all else. Miss Guan had been assisting her legal mother with household management since she was thirteen, so her reputation among noble ladies was excellent.

Old Madam Lu had always lived in the Duke's manor and not in the Princess's manor; Princess Pingrou only saw her mother-in-law during festivals.

However, Lu Ze had grown up by the side of the old Duke and had a deep bond with his grandmother. He frequently visited the Duke's manor to show filial piety to the Old Madam. He hadn't expected Old Madam Lu to even decide his marriage.

Princess Pingrou couldn't help but feel a bit sour. "Marriage is by the command of parents; how can a grandmother decide it? Also, isn't the Guan family's status too low? They seem to be just a sixth-rank official family, and they've only been promoted from local officials a few years ago, haven't they?"

The reason the Guan family was famous was that their five daughters had all married into noble families; otherwise, Princess Pingrou wouldn't even know of their existence.

Princess Pingrou did not care about the background of her daughter-in-law, as no family could be higher than hers anyway.

But since her son was so outstanding, his wife shouldn't be too mediocre. Why did her mother-in-law insist on choosing a bride from such a small household?

Princess Pingrou sighed, "Your grandmother is even worse at matchmaking than your sister. Look, she chose Princess Qi for your brother—it's also because your brother is too reckless!"

Lu Ze said, "Two months ago, Grandmother suffered a sudden asthma attack in the Xianglin Temple, and it was Miss Guan who saved her. That is why Grandmother made the verbal engagement. Because Mother and Father were busy with my brother's wedding matters, they hadn't discussed it with you both yet. We intended to speak with you and go propose once my brother had entered the household."

Lu Ze had also never met Miss Guan. He couldn't say whether he was satisfied with this fiancée or not, but since she had saved his grandmother's life, he felt he should repay the favor.

Princess Pingrou said helplessly, "Propose? Having offended Qi Yuning, I'm afraid even your maternal grandfather will demote me to a commoner."

The Duke of Lu said from the side, "It won't come to that. Her Highness is, after all, the Emperor and Empress's most beloved daughter. How could they bear to let Her Highness be demoted to a commoner?"

Princess Pingrou took her eldest son's hand, her face full of worry. "Didn't my eighth brother get exiled to Cangzhou for offending Qi Yuning? Father often says that without the Qi family, there would be no Zhao dynasty. Now that only the two Qi siblings are left, and Lu Yun has bullied Princess Qi like this, Father certainly won't forgive me.

Ze'er, Mother does not want to be demoted to the bitter, cold lands of Cangzhou. Just marry Qi Yuning. As for that Miss Guan, Mother will certainly find a good family for her to marry into!"

Lu Ze said, "Mother, I believe Princess Qi likely does not wish to marry me either."

(End of Chapter)