The Pingnan Princess Consort naturally couldn’t have imagined that her son had developed improper feelings for a young man, but instead thought of Luo Sheng.

You Jian Tavern was opened by Miss Luo. Her son had been frequenting the place these past days—could he have taken a fancy to Miss Luo?

This thought was like boiling water dropped into an oil pan, violently churning in the Pingnan Princess Consort’s heart, leaving her horrified to the extreme and chilled throughout her body.

For someone like Miss Luo to become her daughter-in-law—just thinking of this possibility made the Pingnan Princess Consort unable to breathe.

Never mind entering the prince’s manor—even if rumors spread about her son and Miss Luo, she couldn’t accept it.

What kind of woman was that? Setting aside her arrogant and domineering behavior, at only thirteen or fourteen years of age she had already taken a male companion.

What terrified the Pingnan Princess Consort even more was the woman’s heretical ways. If she had plans to marry into the prince’s manor, the manor could simply refuse. But if she only wanted to carry on an affair with her son, there would be no way to guard against it.

That little wretch wanted to ruin Feng’er’s reputation!

Though tumultuous waves crashed through the Pingnan Princess Consort’s heart, her face remained impassive as she asked: “Feng’er, why don’t you want to marry so early? Our royal lineage doesn’t require descendants to take the imperial examinations, nor must they struggle in the military. At most you’ll learn some administrative affairs following the manor’s officials. Marrying and having children is the proper business.”

Wei Feng was stumped by the question.

As heir to the prince’s manor, his responsibility was to continue the family line. Finding a reason to avoid marriage was extremely difficult.

Under the Pingnan Princess Consort’s scrutinizing gaze, Wei Feng steeled himself: “Your son isn’t yet prepared for marriage—”

The Pingnan Princess Consort frowned: “All wedding arrangements will be handled by others. What do you need to prepare? Unless… you already have someone you fancy? If so, you might as well tell me. If her family background is suitable and her appearance and character outstanding, I won’t object.”

Wei Feng was greatly surprised by the Pingnan Princess Consort’s open-mindedness.

From Mother Consort’s meaning, if he truly had a young lady he fancied, he could actually make his own decision?

This was utterly unexpected.

What a pity that what he fancied wasn’t a young lady!

Wait—Wei Feng’s heart stirred.

What if he married Miss Luo?

With Miss Luo’s lawless temperament, she might very well bring Fuxue along—

Wei Feng’s heart moved for a moment before he quickly dismissed this impractical notion.

No matter how open-minded Mother Consort was, she would never approve of Miss Luo.

“Your son has no one he fancies.” Wei Feng’s hopes died as he replied listlessly.

The Pingnan Princess Consort’s expression turned serious: “In that case, you’ll accompany me to offer incense tomorrow.”

“Mother Consort—”

The Pingnan Princess Consort’s expression turned cold: “Men should marry when grown, women should wed when grown. Since you have no one you fancy and haven’t met Miss Wang, why are you unwilling to go for this meeting?”

Wei Feng took a quiet breath and had no choice but to agree: “Your son will accompany you to offer incense tomorrow.”

The Pingnan Princess Consort showed a slight smile: “Remember to rise early tomorrow. Go rest now.”

Wei Feng returned to his room and tossed and turned until midnight when he suddenly understood.

This matter of marriage was definitely inescapable. If Miss Wang truly was as gentle and kind as Mother Consort said, marrying her wouldn’t be so bad.

Once he was married, Mother Consort would find it inconvenient to meddle in certain matters, and naturally a woman of weak temperament wouldn’t be able to control him either.

When that time came, he might even have more freedom.

Having thought it through, Wei Feng immediately fell asleep. The next morning, he only opened his eyes after his servant called him for quite a while.

There’s no need to elaborate on how the prince’s manor prepared carriages and horses to go to Dafu Temple. At Director Wang’s residence, the atmosphere was also different from usual days.

Second Miss Wang rubbed her eyes as she accompanied First Miss Wang to Old Madam Wang’s courtyard.

“This time Grandmother is going to offer incense earlier than usual.”

The sky had just begun to brighten when she and her sister rose to wash and dress. Just doing their hair took a long time, making her think today was some special occasion.

First Miss Wang’s eyes harbored unease, though her lips held a smile: “It’s good to go early and return early.”

Ever since Grandmother had called her aside a few days ago to tell her that today she would go to Dafu Temple to meet with the Pingnan Prince’s Heir, she hadn’t slept soundly.

Becoming the heir’s consort would indeed bring boundless glory and would make the stepmother who had tormented her and her sister for years humble herself from then on. Yet she didn’t want to be that sparrow flying up to the branch to become a phoenix.

She had seen the lofty Pingnan Princess Consort and had contact with the lofty young county princess of Pingnan Prince’s Manor. Thinking that she might marry into such a lofty household made her shudder.

She knew her own worth and lacked the confidence to thrive in the prince’s manor. That glorious face would ultimately not replace actual daily life.

Such careful, constrained days—she had lived enough of them these eighteen years and didn’t want to continue.

However, she ultimately couldn’t follow her heart’s desire. Especially for major matters like marriage, she could only let Grandmother or her stepmother decide.

Thinking of her stepmother’s countenance, First Miss Wang gave a self-deprecating tug at the corner of her mouth.

If she really had to let her stepmother decide, she’d rather listen to Grandmother.

Second Miss Wang had grown up depending on First Miss Wang. Though her temperament was more lively than her sister’s, she wasn’t the carefree type. She immediately detected some clues from First Miss Wang’s expression.

“Sister, do you have something on your mind?”

First Miss Wang shook her head: “No, don’t overthink it.”

Second Miss Wang stopped walking, pressing her lips as she looked at First Miss Wang.

First Miss Wang had no choice: “We’ll talk more once we’re in the carriage.”

The two sisters entered Old Madam Wang’s room side by side.

Old Madam Wang was quite satisfied that her two granddaughters had come early as instructed, but scanning First Miss Wang over, she frowned slightly: “Why aren’t you wearing the jewelry set Grandmother had sent to you?”

First Miss Wang lowered her eyes: “The jewelry set Grandmother sent is too precious. Your granddaughter couldn’t bear to wear it.”

“Fine things are meant to be worn.”

“Your granddaughter thought it would be better to be more modest before the Buddha.”

Thinking of today’s meeting with Pingnan Prince’s Manor, she didn’t want to dress herself up in elaborate finery.

However, Old Madam Wang thought of another layer of meaning: her eldest granddaughter’s consideration also made sense. Being modest and steady might better catch the Pingnan Princess Consort’s eye.

Pingnan Prince’s Manor—a family status she didn’t dare even dream of. Yet the Pingnan Princess Consort would actually consider her eldest granddaughter.

Pingnan Prince’s Manor’s fortunes had declined somewhat recently. They said the Pingnan Prince had become a useless invalid…

But precisely because of this, it would be good for her eldest granddaughter to marry in. Perhaps in less than two years she could take charge of the household.

Second Miss Wang listened to the conversation between Grandmother and her elder sister, completely confused, her curiosity growing ever stronger.

Just then a maid reported that the First Madam and Third Miss had arrived.

Old Madam Wang nodded. Shortly after, a beautiful woman entered with a young girl.

The girl was about fourteen or fifteen years old, with picturesque features and snow-white skin, her beauty far surpassing the Wang sisters.

Today Third Miss Wang had obviously dressed with special care. Her hairstyle, clothing, even her shoes and socks—every detail was exquisite, completely outshining her two older sisters.

Old Madam Wang’s brow twitched as she said to the woman: “Didn’t San’niang catch a cold some days ago?”

The woman hastily replied: “She’s completely recovered. San’niang has been useless, sick all these days without paying respects to Old Madam. Now that she’s recovered, letting her accompany you to offer incense is also this girl’s filial devotion.”