Chapter 3

Prime Minister Lu returned to the Prime Minister’s residence in a flurry, heading straight for the Prime Minister’s wife’s courtyard the moment he stepped through the door.

"My lord, Anan has always been well-behaved and has never done anything out of line. I, too, cannot fathom why the Empress Dowager would choose Anan to be the Princess Su. You know Anan’s status; in the eyes of the nobles in the palace, she really amounts to nothing! Although she grew up by my side and I have taught her everything she ought to know, her status is what it is, and I have never done anything more."

Prime Minister Lu understood that his wife was a perceptive woman. She knew what should and should not be done, and she managed the vast Prime Minister’s residence with such order that he felt completely at ease.

However, after visiting the palace yesterday, he received the Emperor’s marriage decree today. Prime Minister Lu truly could not make sense of it, and he did not see this as a supreme honor, but rather as a death warrant for Anan!

Who was Prince Su? He was the current Emperor’s only full brother and the Empress Dowager’s most beloved youngest son!

Of course, these were not the points Prime Minister Lu was focused on. What he cared about was that Prince Su was a notorious jinx who was fated to kill his wives and have no descendants! Since Prince Su’s first engagement at the age of fourteen until now at twenty-one, every woman chosen to be his bride had passed away due to one reason or another before even crossing his threshold. The entire court knew that the Empress Dowager doted on her youngest son, Prince Su, the most. The young ladies betrothed to him were all from prominent families, well-bred and in good health. How could these healthy, pain-free girls die from accidents or illnesses just as they were about to be married? With this happening so many times, it was impossible not to suspect something sinister!

And that was not all. After three future Princesses Su died unnatural deaths, the Empress Dowager, finally refusing to believe in such bad luck, went to White Horse Temple to have a renowned high monk cast a fortune for Prince Su. The conclusion was shocking: he possessed the physiognomy of great wealth and status, but was fated to kill his wives and have no descendants, destined for a bleak and lonely old age.

Well, what else was there to say?

Poor Prince Su—no matter how immense his power, his fate was truly wretched!

Although Anan was a daughter of a concubine, she was still a daughter whom Prime Minister Lu had cherished since she was small. How could he bear to let her die an unnatural death?

"Wife, tell me about your visit to the palace yesterday, so I can prepare myself mentally."

The Prime Minister’s wife also did not want Anan to marry into the Prince Su residence. Setting aside Prince Su’s fate of killing his wives and having no heirs, his personality alone was not easy to deal with. Prince Su was the Emperor’s full brother and the Empress Dowager’s favorite son; he held great power and was temperamental. It was rumored that he detested women, and the number of maidservants beaten to death in the Prince Su residence for various reasons was countless. It was said that there were very few young women left in his residence now; those who remained were elderly matrons, and everyone else was a young male servant. Furthermore, this phenomenon in the Prince Su residence led busybodies to speculate that Prince Su had a penchant for men. Wouldn't a woman marrying him be living as a widow in all but name?

Prime Minister Lu was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He and his wife shut themselves in the room to discuss it for a long time, but they could not figure out why, among the many young ladies at the flower-viewing banquet—many of whom were exceptionally talented—the Empress Dowager had singled out Anan. Could it be just because Anan looked plump and rosy, and didn't look like someone with a short life?

Even they didn't believe that!

Of course, it wasn't just the Prime Minister and his wife who were anxious; the maidservants in Anan’s room were also worried for her.

"Wuhu... Miss, you are so pitiful, why is your fate so bitter? The Empress Dowager is so wise, why did she pick you? Miss, you aren't very pretty, and you don't have any special talents; you're the type who would disappear in a crowd, so how were you chosen? Wuhu... Miss, your life is so hard. They say ugly people live long lives, but you only have a month to live. What will happen to Rucui in the future..."

The maidservant Rucui threw herself onto the table, sobbing heart-wrenchingly. Anan listened with black lines appearing on her forehead. Was she grieving for her, or was she roasting her?

Listening to Rucui’s wailing, Anan gradually began to feel gloomy as well.

Anan’s wish in this life was very simple: to find an honest and steady man to marry.

In her past life, Anan had seen too many men’s true colors. Those who had a wife at home would absolutely seek out a beautiful little vixen as a mistress once they became successful, just to show off. Because of this, she didn't have high hopes for men and had even considered staying single until old age. After all, she was a homebody who could endure loneliness.

Having transmigrated into this ancient era and becoming the daughter of a concubine to the Prime Minister of this fictional Chu Dynasty, she knew that with her status, being a lifelong single aristocrat was impossible. Therefore, she had planned early on that when the time came to marry, she would find an honest, steady, and easily managed man—because although marriages for Lu family daughters were decided by parents and matchmakers, if the children disagreed, the elders would respect their wishes. That was why Anan had developed this rebellious idea.

But who was this Prince Su who had suddenly popped up? Their statuses were worlds apart; how did they get tangled together?

Although Anan had transmigrated from an egalitarian socialist society, she had grown accustomed to the strict hierarchy of this world. She knew that with her status as a concubine’s daughter of the Lu family, she wasn't even qualified to be a concubine for Prince Su, let alone a Princess.

Anan also fell into a state of conflict and panic.

In the imperial palace, the Empress Dowager sat propped up on the *kang*, looking with loving eyes at the handsome and refined man before her.

The man’s expression was very serious, his thin lips pressed into a line, his demeanor resolute. He sat there with his back as straight as a model.

"My son, do you resent your mother for arranging this marriage for you?"

The man’s brows furrowed slightly, his expression somewhat displeased. His low voice was a bit hoarse: "Mother, you know full well my fate..."

"That is nothing. Not to mention just one Lu family girl, the entire world belongs to our Chu family; sacrificing one Lu family girl is nothing." The Empress Dowager’s well-preserved, youthful face revealed a cold smile, but when her gaze shifted to her youngest son, it was filled with deep maternal love. "Baning, do not worry. Mother has observed that Lu girl; although she is no great beauty, she is plump and rosy, sweet and adorable. It seems she is someone with a long life. If she cannot survive this, then it is her lack of fortune, not that my son is a jinx."

Prince Su’s brows relaxed slightly. It was just a concubine’s daughter from the Lu family; it wouldn't hurt to let his mother be happy.

For so many years, Prince Su had grown weary of the women betrothed to him dying for one reason or another. If this Lu girl could survive the wedding, she must have something special about her. Of course, a woman who could catch his mother’s eye must have her own merits.

Prince Su lowered his eyelids and said, "I leave it all to Mother’s decision."

The Empress Dowager revealed a satisfied smile. She knew her youngest son had just returned from official business out of town yesterday and had come to see her without even resting, which pleased her greatly. She affectionately inquired about his life before letting him leave to find the Emperor.

The old matron beside the Empress Dowager massaged her hands and smiled, "Prince Su is filial; he would never go against your or the Emperor’s words. The bride you chose is also a good one; he certainly won't refuse."

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Matron Zhang, that little Lu girl is only a concubine’s daughter; her status is indeed a bit low. But fortunately, the Prime Minister’s wife is a perceptive woman, so even a concubine’s daughter’s upbringing is not bad. Looking at that snow-ball of a person, smiling so sweetly and softly, it really makes one want to give her the world. I imagine Baning will get along with her."

Matron Zhang smiled and echoed, "Indeed. Although that appearance isn't exactly a great beauty, she shouldn't look too bad once she grows into her features."

"It is only a pity that it wrongs my son! If it weren't for the fact that all those young ladies bestowed upon Baning over the years kept meeting with various accidents, why would I have settled on her? I had originally favored the Minister’s daughter, but among all those young ladies yesterday, the Lu girl’s attire made it impossible not to notice her."

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, recalling the chrysanthemum banquet yesterday, and couldn't help but laugh. "The Prime Minister’s wife is a perceptive one. Knowing it would seem unconventional, she still dressed the girl that way; there must be a special reason. For the sake of this uniqueness, I am willing to give her a chance. Whether it is a blessing or a curse depends on her own destiny."