With Third Miss Wang’s smile, Wei Feng felt somewhat dazed.

Staring at this young girl, he noted her snow-white skin, which involuntarily reminded him of that youth.

And this smile with parted lips resembled him even more.

Third Miss Wang’s heart raced wildly under Wei Feng’s gaze, both nervous and delighted.

Her delight was that the Pingnan Prince’s Heir indeed regarded her differently. Her nervousness stemmed from the fact that the Pingnan Prince’s Heir wasn’t truly the one making decisions after all.

Third Miss Wang couldn’t help sneaking another glance at the Pingnan Princess Consort.

The delicate, pale woman had a gentle temperament, with a smile at the corners of her mouth that made one feel, beyond her noble bearing, an irresistible sense of warmth.

Third Miss Wang’s nervous feelings eased somewhat.

Mother had said that since there was this meeting today, it showed the prince’s manor wasn’t particular about Director Wang’s family status. She and her eldest sister were both young ladies from Director Wang’s household—to the prince’s manor, there wasn’t much difference between them.

The Pingnan Princess Consort now had only the Pingnan Prince’s Heir as her son. Surely she would follow her son’s preferences?

Mother had instructed her to grasp this opportunity well. She definitely wouldn’t disappoint Mother’s expectations.

Thinking this way, Third Miss Wang gained confidence.

“Greetings to the Princess Consort.” Old Madam Wang performed a courtesy.

The three sisters followed suit.

“There’s no need for such formality, Director’s wife. Are all three of these children your granddaughters? Each one is like a flower.”

“They are this old one’s granddaughters.” Old Madam Wang hastily introduced the three sisters, smiling: “Today I brought them to offer incense. I didn’t expect to encounter the Princess Consort—it’s their good fortune.”

As the Pingnan Princess Consort listened to Old Madam Wang’s introduction, the majority of her attention was on First Miss Wang.

Willow-leaf eyebrows, an oval face—though her appearance alone wouldn’t strike one as stunning, she was very pleasing to look at, appearing steady and proper.

The Pingnan Princess Consort was satisfied in her heart.

Both being in the capital, even though the two families had little interaction, there were always occasions when they gathered together. But with her status, she naturally wouldn’t pay attention to a mere granddaughter of a junior director of the Court of Imperial Stud.

Having scrutinized her carefully today, finding no discrepancy with the information she had gathered, she felt reassured.

Standing beside First Miss Wang was Second Miss Wang, who looked very similar to her sister, just appearing one or two years younger. The Pingnan Princess Consort didn’t look at her much.

The two sisters had the same background. With the elder sister present, of course she wouldn’t consider the younger.

As for Third Miss Wang, the Pingnan Princess Consort gave her but one glance before putting her out of mind.

The youngest young lady of Director Wang’s household was indeed an exceptionally beautiful woman. However, she had seen countless well-born beautiful women and had never considered beauty an advantage when selecting a daughter-in-law.

As the Pingnan Prince Manor’s heir’s consort, character was paramount. Middling to above-average looks were sufficient.

Third Miss Wang sensed the Pingnan Princess Consort’s disregard, her heart tightening.

Pingnan Prince’s Manor was indeed considering her eldest sister.

But this wasn’t strange. Eldest Sister was already eighteen years old, while she herself was still several months away from her coming-of-age ceremony. Families wishing to arrange marriage with Director Wang’s household naturally wouldn’t skip over her elder sister to consider her.

Precisely because of this, she needed to strive for it herself.

While the Pingnan Princess Consort conversed with Old Madam Wang, Third Miss Wang took the opportunity to steal glances at Wei Feng.

As if sensing her gaze, that person looked over casually.

Third Miss Wang curved her lips upward, smiling once more.

Then, as expected, she saw that person shed his casual manner, adding a few degrees of seriousness.

Third Miss Wang’s thick, long lashes trembled slightly.

In such a setting, she couldn’t do anything improper. What she could do was make him remember her smiling face.

Very early on, she had known she was far more attractive than her two sisters. When the three sisters appeared together before men, she was always the one who could capture their attention.

Today would be no exception.

And Wei Feng, staring at that smile on Third Miss Wang’s lips, made up his mind: if he absolutely had to choose one of the three young ladies to marry, it might as well be this youngest one.

She appeared only slightly older than that youth who had stirred his heart, and her smile especially made him think of him involuntarily.

Even if he didn’t like her, having her moving about before his eyes in the future at least wouldn’t be annoying.

As for First Miss Wang—Wei Feng shook his head inwardly.

Just looking at First Miss Wang made him drowsy. Why would he marry her?

This type of meeting disguised as a chance encounter wouldn’t last too long. Before long, the Pingnan Princess Consort said: “Today’s chance meeting with Director’s wife has been most congenial. I won’t delay you from taking your granddaughters to offer incense. Another day I’ll invite Director’s wife to the prince’s manor for a small gathering.”

Old Madam Wang was overjoyed in her heart but thanked her calmly on the surface.

The two parties discreetly separated.

On the road back to Director Wang’s residence, Second Miss Wang leaned close to First Miss Wang’s ear and whispered: “Sister, I saw Third Sister smile at the Pingnan Prince’s Heir. The Pingnan Prince’s Heir kept staring at Third Sister.”

Speaking of this, Second Miss Wang grew increasingly dejected: “Clearly the Pingnan Prince’s Heir also judges by appearance.”

If the Pingnan Prince’s Heir fancied Third Sister but married Eldest Sister, just thinking about it was nauseating.

Her sister was so wonderful—she deserved a future husband who would wholeheartedly cherish her.

Hearing her sister’s words, First Miss Wang said indifferently: “Everyone loves beauty. There’s nothing wrong with the Pingnan Prince’s Heir being this way.”

The disparity in status—that was her reason for resisting this marriage.

Second Miss Wang rubbed her handkerchief, murmuring: “I wonder how the Pingnan Princess Consort treats the Pingnan Prince’s Heir…”

Did she dote on him primarily, or was she strict with him?

Though the Pingnan Prince’s Heir had kept staring at Third Sister, in the Pingnan Princess Consort’s eyes she only saw Elder Sister.

First Miss Wang didn’t respond, reaching out to lift the carriage curtain, allowing the early winter wind to pour in.

She naturally understood her sister’s meaning, and it was precisely because of this that she felt even more helpless.

For a woman to grasp her own destiny was too difficult. Often, she could only leave it to luck.

This time, she hoped her luck would be better.

The Pingnan Princess Consort returned to the prince’s manor and summoned Wei Feng to her room for questioning.

“Having met First Miss Wang today, are you satisfied?”

“Your son doesn’t like her.”

The Pingnan Princess Consort frowned: “First Miss Wang is dignified and proper, her appearance isn’t poor either. What about her doesn’t suit your preferences?”

“First Miss Wang isn’t lacking in any respect, but there’s nothing particularly outstanding about her either. In your son’s view, what difference is there between First Miss Wang, First Miss Zhang, or First Miss Li? Your son doesn’t want to be unable to even remember his wife’s face in the future.” Wei Feng spoke the words he had calculated: “If Mother Consort insists on your son marrying a young lady from Director Wang’s household, then let it be Third Miss Wang.”

“Absolutely not!” The Pingnan Princess Consort blurted out.

That little girl who hadn’t even come of age yet?

“One marries for virtue. If you fancy good looks, you can take concubines later.”

Wei Feng shook his head vigorously: “In any case, I don’t approve of First Miss Wang.”

“Then we’ll arrange meetings with young ladies from several other households.”

In selecting a heir’s consort for her son, naturally First Miss Wang wasn’t the only option.

“If Mother Consort keeps selecting according to First Miss Wang’s criteria, then there’s no need to look.” Having said this, Wei Feng turned to leave.

The Pingnan Princess Consort became furious: “Stop! Did I give you permission to leave?”

Wei Feng turned back around, asking seriously: “Mother Consort, must you continue treating me as a child?”

As the Pingnan Princess Consort remained silent, Wei Feng said word by word: “You must understand—a child cannot properly fulfill the role of prince’s heir.”