The piercing gaze fell upon her, like needles pricking.
Mingzhu lowered her eyes without looking directly at the Commandery Princess.
When you dislike someone, even their breathing feels like a mistake.
In the past, the Commandery Princess merely ignored her.
But now as Yun Zhen initiated a conversation with her, the Commandery Princess must believe she had schemed to entice Yun Zhen.
When that incident happened in the previous life, the Commandery Princess similarly believed she had used something unclean on Yun Zhen.
She even planned to send her to a nunnery.
If it weren't for the intervention of her aunt, Mingzhu doesn't dare to imagine how miserable her end would have been.
Though she later endured many hardships, it was still far better than going to a nunnery.
Her own son is pure, and everyone else is at fault.
This is the attitude of the Commandery Princess.
Mingzhu understood the personalities of the three people present, so she did not rashly speak.
She sat upright in her seat, watching silently as things unfolded.
The calmer she remained, the more unfriendly Princess An He's gaze became.
This indeed seemed to be a stubborn character.
If there truly was an entanglement with Ah Zhen, it wouldn't be easy to resolve.
Though her gaze was cold to the extreme, the corners of her mouth curled into a smile, beckoning to Mingzhu.
"Mingzhu, you've come at just the right time. Come and help Auntie look over the list. Which family's girl do you think would make a suitable wife for Ah Zhen?"
Three years ago, when she came to the Xie family, in front of everyone, the Commandery Princess asked her to call her Auntie like the children of the second branch.
At that time, Mingzhu was anxious and fearful, thinking she had received the love of an elder.
Later, when they met by chance in the garden and she called Auntie again, the Commandery Princess did not respond.
Mingzhu then realized it was all her own wishful thinking.
Now, as the title is mentioned again, Mingzhu feels a strange urge to laugh.
Where is there so much true affection in the world? It's all just a performance on a stage.
Being sincerely treated by her aunt is already a great fortune, and she should not hope for anything else.
Mingzhu rose and moved gracefully to the side of the Commandery Princess.
Every move she made was in the style of a noble lady.
Dignified and elegant.
With her beautiful appearance, even thrown into a pile of noble ladies, she would be the most eye-catching one.
The old lady was observing Mingzhu.
She was slightly surprised; apparently, without her noticing, Mingzhu had already grown into a graceful young woman.
No wonder Brother Xuan was so attentive to her, perhaps harboring thoughts of that nature.
The old lady did not want to be too harsh, nor did she want to make things difficult for the second daughter-in-law.
But some issues must not be allowed to develop unchecked.
She turned the jade bracelet on her wrist, considering that if Mingzhu was sensible enough, she could stay at the Duke Mansion as Brother Xuan's concubine.
It wasn't that she intended to treat the descendant of a general's family harshly; blame lay solely with Mingzhu's father who passed away early.
With the shifting power dynamics, where does the Ji Family have a say in the capital now?
If Mingzhu wanted to be a legitimate wife, only a run-down household or a small family would accept her.
The Xie family, with a century-long foundation, even the illegitimate sons are pursuing their ambitions.
A noble family doesn't lack illegitimate daughters, so even if marrying off an illegitimate son, it wouldn't be Mingzhu's turn who has nothing at all.
The old lady tilted her head, her face smiling warmly.
"Mingzhu is coming of age this year, right? Once the matters for Ah Zhen and his brother's marriages are settled, Grandma will help you find a good family and add some dowry, so you can marry gloriously."
Princess An He laughed, "It doesn't have to be that long. If Mingzhu is in a hurry to marry, tomorrow I'll invite some suitable young men, and let Mingzhu choose slowly."
"That's a good idea, so your sister-in-law doesn't have to worry and find it hard to make a decision. A girl's prime years shouldn't be wasted; otherwise, a hundred years from now, meeting Mingzhu's parents underground, I would feel ashamed."
Princess An He's smile was even broader, with the old lady on her side, things were much easier to handle.
Glancing at Mingzhu, she better not have any improper thoughts, otherwise…
Just wait until she marries a playboy and suffers for a lifetime.
She affectionately tugged Mingzhu's hand and had the maid place the list in front of her.
"All the good girls in the capital are here. They are either famous for their talents or are virtuous and graceful. Every one of them is a good girl, but I'm so troubled by my indecision about whom to choose as a daughter-in-law. Give me your advice, whom do you think is best, and tomorrow I'll send out invitations and arrange the meetings."
The old lady added, "Choose one for Brother Xuan as well. If both brothers get married promptly, it would be twice the joy."
Xie Yunzhen frowned slightly, "Grandmother, Mother, there's no rush in this matter of marriage."
Princess An He teased, "Are you really not in a rush, or are you leaving room for someone else?"
"What room?"
The Commandery Princess sighed, feigning blame and resentment, "Mother-in-law, see this foolish child. He's been embraced how many times and still doesn't understand."
The old lady agreed, "Your mother is right; only by getting married can some people's thoughts be ended."
Mingzhu tightened her handkerchief, feeling humiliation sweeping over her.
She expected the old lady and the Commandery Princess to reprimand her, but she never expected such words.
In this life, she hadn't expressed her feelings.
Nor had she been schemed upon and ended up in Yun Zhen's bed.
Why were they humiliating her like this?
Xie Yunzhen was about to retort when he looked up and was stunned.
Mingzhu had lowered her eyes, and from his angle, he could see the glistening wetness in her eyes.
Was she... crying?
A strange tightness gripped his heart, as though pricked by a needle.
It didn't hurt, but Xie Yunzhen knew it wasn't a mere illusion.
He didn't understand why he felt this way; he and Mingzhu had no deep connection.
Touching his chest, surely it's because the injury hadn't healed.
Not wanting to be affected by Mingzhu anymore, Xie Yunzhen stood up and left, "I know what to do with my marriage, no need to worry about it."
With that, Xie Yunzhen walked away briskly.
As he turned at the door, his peripheral vision once again fell on Mingzhu.
She was suffering an unwarranted disaster, beset in front of everyone.
So desolate.
So helpless.
Indeed, she seemed quite pitiable.
Xie Yunzhen curled his fingers; he's not a good person, so why pretend to save her?
He just left like that, prompting Princess An He to angrily set down her teacup heavily.
"Mother-in-law, see, he's impervious to soft or hard approaches, indifferent to all, does he truly want to be a bachelor for life?"
The old lady was also troubled, "Knowing he's like this, we should have proposed at the Grand Tutor Mansion back then; he wouldn't be like this now."
Upon hearing this, Princess An He felt guilty.
Back then, she looked down on Du Peilan, wanting to choose a daughter-in-law from among the Emperor's relatives...
Speaking more gently, "But Du Peilan is two years older than Ah Zhen; when Ah Zhen could marry, she'd be an old maid. Not proposing was for her own good."
"Moreover, Ah Zhen had never expressed liking her, those were mere rumors."
No one focused on her, so Mingzhu took the opportunity to wipe her eyes.
Upon hearing Du Peilan's name again, she was bewildered for a moment.
Soon, that person would be able to return to the capital.
Xie Yunzhen, powerful and influential, in this life without her as a hindrance, would surely achieve his wish of embracing the beauty.
Not wanting to be laughed at by Mingzhu, and considering the reprimand had already been carried out, Princess An He let her leave first.
Mingzhu had no preference for official humiliation, leaving without hesitation.
Princess An He clicked her tongue.
This girl had such a strong temper; merely reprimanding her led to tears.
Without taking it to heart.
Pointing at the list, "Mother-in-law, this is also a girl from the Du Family, who resembles Du Peilan. Let Ah Zhen meet her, what do you think?"
If Ah Zhen was fond of Du Peilan, seeing someone resembling her would surely make him respond differently.
The old lady hesitated, "You've seen Ah Zhen's attitude; will he meet her?"
Princess An He's eyes shifted, "The plum blossoms outside the city are blooming beautifully; let Ah Zhen and Brother Xuan take a few sisters out to enjoy the scenery."