Unwilling to Accept It
If someone really tries to ruin their lives, as long as they're on guard, a single shot from a firearm will be enough to decide who gets wiped out.
If there's no other way, it wouldn't matter if Xiao Lingyan reluctantly became emperor. As long as their son grows up, they can still live their leisurely lives.
Therefore, as long as you are strong enough, there is really no need to worry about this or that or be on edge.
Xiao Lingyan was deeply moved upon hearing this and immediately gave Zhao Ruxi a deep kiss.
"Xixi, you're so wonderful. I'm so glad that even here, you're here with me."
"I feel the same way." Zhao Ruxi leaned on his shoulder and nodded.
The two leaned against each other and talked for most of the night before Xiao Lingyan finally left.
In the days that followed, Zhao Ruxi continued to study behind closed doors, only visiting her Kang Residence for half a day on her days off. She would also send someone to deliver her completed articles to Peng Guoan for him and the other teachers to review. She rarely went out.
Zhao Ruyu's days were anything but peaceful.
Fu Yunlang originally intended to keep Zhao Ruyu in the dark until his own wedding day, when he would announce his marriage to Tenth Miss Cen.
Unfortunately, Zhao Ruyu was studying at the Capital Women's Academy, a breeding ground for gossip.
So-and-so got engaged, so-and-so's family had some trouble—everyone was related, their families were deeply intertwined, and factional struggles and clique conflicts were extremely complicated. There were also countless jealous people, and fawning over the powerful and belittling the weak was a basic practice. Therefore, the fact that the Marquis of Marquis of Pingnan's Residence sent someone to the Cen Family to deliver gifts quickly became known.
Zhao Ruyu came from a poor background and had a foster mother like Lady Wei, so some people already disliked her. If she had kept a low profile, it would have been fine, but recently she has become more and more beautiful, making it hard for people not to notice her. This has made those female students who are confident in their beauty even more disgusted with her.
So, as soon as they heard the news, someone went up to Zhao Ruyu and publicly mocked her.
With the system at her disposal, Zhao Ruyu knew immediately when Fu Yunlang was talking to Lady He and Fu Yunlang, and Fu Yunlang Lady He to let He Shi send a matchmaker to the Cen Family to agree to the marriage.
She was just waiting for this news to come out.
When she was exposed in public, she immediately ran out of the academy crying.
"Miss..." Fushu helped her into the carriage, wanting to comfort Zhao Ruyu with concern.
Zhao Ruyu waved her hand to stop her, and instructed, "Go to the Duke of Wei's Residence tonight and ask Miss Qi Xuan to bring all my things back for me. I don't want to go to school anymore."
"Young lady, how can this be?" Fushu exclaimed anxiously upon hearing this.
Zhao Ruyu has nothing left now. No noble birth, no generous dowry. Besides her status as a student at the Capital Women's Academy and her title as a third-place winner in a musical competition, what else does she have? The second young Fu Family family used to be deeply in love with her, but now that the engagement is off, if she doesn't go back to school, where will she find a good marriage?
Just look at Zhao Rurui, who spends all day at home throwing things around and cursing.
"No need to say more, just listen to me." Zhao Ruyu was unusually stern with Fushu.
Fushu immediately fell silent.
After escorting Zhao Ruyu back to her residence, she checked the time and guessed that Qi Xuan had finished school, so she took a carriage to the Duke of Wei's Residence.
But as soon as she entered the Duke of Wei's Residence, she noticed that the atmosphere was not good. The maid who greeted her didn't smile, and she sat at the gatekeeper's door for a long time, but Qi Xuan didn't send a maid to lead her in.
Qi Xuan was inside the house throwing a tantrum at her mother.
"Why? What's wrong with me? Why can't it be? Didn't you say that the Cen Family was the ones who proposed this marriage?" She tugged at the handkerchief in her hand, her face full of resentment as she questioned.
When the Cen Family came to inquire about the intentions of the Duke of Wei's Residence on behalf of Xiao Lingyan, in addition to the Duke of Wei and several heads of the family discussing it, the old lady also asked Qi Xuan for her opinion.
The Old Madam Duchess of Wei was a wise old woman. She knew that if Qi Xuan did not agree to the marriage, and she became dissatisfied with it, it would not be a marriage but an enmity. In that case, it would be better not to have the marriage at all.
Qi Xuan had seen Xiao Lingyan at a banquet once. His handsome appearance captivated not only her but also countless girls in the capital.
However, they knew that the prince's marriage involved court intrigues and was not something they could simply choose to do. Therefore, the noble ladies kept their feelings hidden, not daring to express them, lest they bring trouble upon their families.
She never imagined that such a wonderful thing would happen to her.
The Fifth Highness not only possesses handsome looks, but he also personally went to the border during a time of national crisis and rendered great service. His abilities have been praised by his grandfather several times. At a young age, he was enfeoffed as the Prince of Qi and is also greatly favored by the Emperor. Marrying him, she is now the Consort of the Prince of Qi, and who knows, she might even become the Empress in the future.
Such a person, such a status, such glory— Qi Xuan was so overwhelmed that she didn't know how to express her excitement.
If it weren't for her grandmother and mother's repeated warnings, she would have couldn't help but show it off at the Women's Academy.
But when she came home from school today, her mother told her that the marriage was off. The Prince of Qi himself had not agreed.
This was even more devastating than a bolt from the blue. Qi Xuan was completely unable to accept it.
She complained, "Didn't you tell me before that there are very few families like our Duke of Wei's Residence that are powerful and don't take sides? The Prince of Qi doesn't have many potential wives either, Cen Family sending someone to test the waters already shows their sincerity? Why has it turned out like this? Could it be that Grandfather and the others have made some demands?"
The second wife sighed, her face full of helplessness. "You said it yourself, it was the Cen Family who sent someone to test us. We agreed to proceed with the marriage proposal. Noble Consort Cen has a good impression of you, but His Highness Prince of Qi said he doesn't want to get married yet and rejected the Cen Family's proposal. The main party doesn't agree, and the Cen Family is helpless. What can we do?"
Qi Xuan remained silent for a long while.
She was silent for a moment, then stepped forward and shook the second wife's arm. "Mother, please, please tell Father to send someone to investigate and see if Prince of Qi Highness Prince Qi has a girl he likes. If not, please also inquire about his whereabouts."
The second wife exclaimed in shock, "What do you want to do? You're not..."
"Oh dear, Mother, what are you thinking?" Qi Xuan stamped her foot. "I just wanted to test the waters and see if His Highness Prince of Qi had a girl he liked; if not, perhaps he misunderstood my appearance and character. After all, many people want to marry His Prince of Qi. If someone speaks ill of me to him, it would be perfectly normal for him to refuse the marriage proposal. Otherwise, why would he refuse?"
"Since Grandfather has agreed to this marriage, he must think highly of Prince of An and Prince of Qi. If I can successfully marry Prince of Qi and become Consort of the Prince of Qi, it will be very beneficial for the family, for our second branch of the family, and for you. Your aunt will no longer dare to boss you around; even your grandmother will have to treat you with great respect. Don't you want to live like that?"