Lin Shi hesitated: “The Heir of Prince Jing is indeed excellent, but his poor health is a significant problem.”

What if he couldn’t grow old together with A’Hao?

The Old Madam’s tone was calm: “But A’Hao likes him.”

“Even if she likes him, we can’t rashly decide such a major life matter.”

“But A’Hao likes him.”

“Mother!”

The Old Madam’s expression grew serious: “If you find A’Hao a husband as sturdy as a young ox, but she doesn’t like him, could she be happy?”

An image of an ox suddenly flashed through Lin Shi’s mind, and she hurriedly shook her head.

Who could be happy looking like that!

“Over these years I’ve observed coldly—the Heir of Prince Jing’s health isn’t as poor as the world believes. At most he’s somewhat frail. He’s excellent in all respects, and most rare of all is that the two children are mutually in love. In my view, let’s follow A’Hao’s wishes. A thousand gold pieces cannot buy what the heart desires.” The Old Madam spoke calmly.

At her age, having experienced so many storms, she had long since gained perspective on many matters. Even if the Heir of Prince Jing’s lifespan wasn’t long, if A’Hao could live a flavorful life with someone she liked, it would still be better than marrying someone she felt nothing for and muddling through her days in confusion.

Of course, the prerequisite was that the man’s parents were reliable people, and that her maiden family would forever be a place that could shelter her from wind and rain.

Lin Shi was moved by the Old Madam’s words.

Yes, a thousand gold pieces cannot buy what the heart desires. When she had insisted on marrying Wen Rugui, she hadn’t considered anything else. Compared to that man surnamed Wen, at least the Heir of Prince Jing was genuinely sincere toward A’Hao.

“Alright then. Mother has always had better judgment than me. If you think it’s suitable, then it’s settled.”

Since they were willing to accept this match, and the General’s Manor wasn’t a family that put on airs, by afternoon Lin Shi sent someone to deliver a card to the Princess Consort of Prince Jing.

When the Princess Consort of Prince Jing received the card, her mood was actually somewhat nervous.

The card came too quickly!

After drinking two sips of tea first, the Princess Consort slowly opened the card, quickly scanning the words on it, and couldn’t help but reveal a smile.

The card invited the Princess Consort of Prince Jing to visit the General’s Manor at her convenience—this was a tactful agreement to the marriage.

The General’s Manor still had good judgment.

The Princess Consort of Prince Jing let out a long breath and instructed her maid: “Go ask the Heir to come here.”

That unfilial son had come to pay his respects to her several times in just half a day—truly lacking composure!

Thinking of how her usually steady son couldn’t contain himself like this, the Princess Consort felt a bit sour inside.

Before long, the curtain lifted and Qi Shuo strode in with large steps.

“Mother summoned me?”

“Mm.” The Princess Consort of Prince Jing responded unhurriedly with a sound, deciding to observe her son’s anxious appearance.

From the corner of his eye, Qi Shuo’s gaze fell briefly on the plain elegant card by the Princess Consort’s hand. His heart pounded like a drum, though his face remained completely calm.

Rational judgment suggested the General’s Manor should have agreed, otherwise Mother wouldn’t have this reaction.

Heaven knew what he most feared seeing was Mother with a face full of gentle sympathy.

“The General’s Manor has sent a reply—” The Princess Consort of Prince Jing drew out her tone.

Qi Shuo became even more certain of his inner guess, yet still grew nervous.

Until that outcome was clearly confirmed, even the most rational judgment could not put his mind at ease.

“Then the General’s Manor’s meaning is—” Qi Shuo cooperatively continued the question.

A smile appeared at the corners of the Princess Consort’s lips: “Naturally they agreed.”

Joy bloomed like fireworks in the young man’s ink-dark eyes: “Thank you, Mother!”

The Princess Consort gave him a sideways glance: “You’re not young anymore, be more steady. Don’t let people see you as a laughingstock.”

This foolish boy—was he incapable of finding a wife? It infuriated her.

The corners of Qi Shuo’s lips, lifted upward, simply couldn’t come back down: “Your son understands.”

The Princess Consort pointed at the door: “Go back now.”

Just looking at him annoyed her.

“Then your son takes his leave.” After taking two steps, Qi Shuo suddenly turned around and, enduring the Princess Consort’s eye roll, asked: “Mother, when will our family formally go to propose marriage?”

In the end, Qi Shuo fled amid the Princess Consort’s laughing scolding, and ran head-on into the young Princess Qi Qiong.

Qi Qiong vaguely overheard something and asked in puzzlement: “Elder Brother, did you make Mother angry?”

Qi Shuo recovered his steady composure: “No.”

Qi Qiong examined her elder brother once, then relaxed.

Elder Brother’s joy couldn’t even be hidden—so he probably didn’t make Mother angry, otherwise that would be far too unfilial.

Qi Qiong entered the room and saw the Princess Consort of Prince Jing with her face set sternly.

She gently stepped forward and took the Princess Consort’s arm: “What’s wrong, Mother?”

The Princess Consort looked once at her beautiful daughter, then sighed: “Qiong’er, you must strive to excel!”

She also had a daughter!

“Oh.” Qi Qiong was completely confused but nodded her head.

Qi Shuo returned to his courtyard and practiced a full set of martial arts forms before barely suppressing his soaring emotions.

Changshun scratched his head and whispered to Changning: “The Heir seems really happy.”

Changning blinked: “Does he?”

Changshun glanced again and became even more certain: “Absolutely no mistake. But the Heir didn’t go out today—why is he suddenly so happy?”

Changning chimed in with a question: “Yes, why?”

It wasn’t until the matchmaker hired by Prince Jing’s Manor went to the General’s Manor to formally propose marriage and brought back the good news of the woman’s side agreeing that Changshun, upon hearing this, sat down hard on the steps as if struck by lightning.

After quite a while, he tugged at Changning’s sleeve: “Changning, pinch me.”

Changning unceremoniously extended his hand.

“Ow!” Changshun cried out miserably, tears nearly falling from the pain. “Who told you to pinch so hard!”

Changning chuckled: “Wasn’t that to help you properly wake up?”

He’d never seen anyone so dense.

Oh wait, no—there was also that maid called Baozhu by the future Princess Consort’s side.

“Changning, I think letting parents completely decide marriage matters is very unreasonable…” Changshun still hadn’t recovered from the shock.

The Second Miss Lin who climbed over walls from time to time and could even beat up bandits who kidnapped her—was she really going to become their Princess Consort?

Changning looked at his companion sympathetically, patted his shoulder and said earnestly: “Changshun, think about why the Heir was so happy.”

By the time Changning went before Qi Shuo to offer congratulations, Changshun was still in a stupefied state like a wooden chicken.

When news of the marriage alliance between Prince Jing’s Manor and the General’s Manor spread, there were quite a few people as shocked as Changshun.

Lin Shi’s public explanation was perfectly thorough: “The two children were raised under the watch of both families, and there was already intention to form a marriage alliance. With the eldest daughter gravely ill, perhaps drawing some joyful energy from her younger sister’s betrothal will help her recover.”

Quite a few noble ladies privately couldn’t help feeling sour.

Miss Lin was critically ill and had proactively broken off the engagement with Prince Wei. They’d thought the General’s Manor would decline, but unexpectedly Second Miss Lin secured such a fine match.

That was the legitimate eldest son of a Prince, young, handsome, and even rarer was that Prince Jing didn’t even have a single concubine and was famously devoted to the Princess Consort. With such an upright upper beam, the lower beam certainly couldn’t go crooked.

When Princess Yi’an returned to the Kou Manor to visit her mother, she heard her mother’s sighs of feeling.

The young lady sitting beside Madam Kou, whose brows and eyes bore some resemblance to Princess Yi’an, looked completely impatient: “Mother, you’ve already said this several times. Elder Sister rarely comes home—why do you keep bringing it up?”

Wasn’t it just envying Second Miss Lin for obtaining a good marriage match and thinking she herself wasn’t striving hard enough?

But was this something she could achieve just by striving?

“You think the Heir of Prince Jing is a good son-in-law—ten years ago you should have moved next door to Prince Jing’s Manor.” The young lady said irritably.