Chapter 225: Chapter 225

The Princely Heir, concerned, entered the inner room.

He touched Li Jing’s head; Li Jing slept like a puddle of mud, with no response even when his ear was pinched, breathing evenly.

Guoguo slept at the other end, covered with a small quilt, also sleeping soundly.

He wasn’t worried about Guoguo; it wouldn’t matter even if Guoguo was awake.

Guoguo was only nine months old, completely unable to understand adults’ words.

The Princely Heir tucked the quilts for the two children, closed the bedroom door, and walked into the outer room.

However, what he didn’t know was that the moment the door closed, Guoguo opened her eyes. She gave a delicate yawn, turned over to look at the door, listening to the conversation outside.

The Princely Heir bowed earnestly to Prince Luling and his wife, "Son disturbs your rest, Father and Mother."

The Princess Consort waved a hand at him, "Alright, just tell us, what exactly is the matter?" She was extremely tired.

Prince Luling yawned again, sitting on the chair drowsily.

"Son intends to marry Miss Chai." The Princely Heir took a breath and said calmly.

Prince Luling’s sleepiness vanished without a trace, he looked up abruptly at his eldest son.

The mind of the Princess Consort also instantly cleared; she said in surprise, "Eldest, what did you just say? Marry Miss Chai?"

Inside the room, Guoguo’s eyes widened.

"She is unmarried and unbetrothed, and son is divorced without a wife; we... are perfectly matched," the Princely Heir said.

"You want to marry, but does she want to marry you?" Prince Luling thought of the current situation and worried for his son.

"Miss Chai’s character, naturally, is beyond reproach; I think it feasible, it’s just..." The Princess Consort examined her home, worriedly furrowing her brows, "The family is too poor, afraid it might wrong her."

At home, there wasn’t a single spot with bricks, only yellow mud or bamboo and wood, poverty-stricken beyond comparison.

Whereas the Chai Family was a significant household in the village, Miss Chai had a nanny with her, and when she went out, there was a special coachman and mule cart.

The Li Family, however, only had a hand-pushed wheelbarrow.

The disparity was too great.

"She said, she’s willing to marry me. I will do my utmost to marry her." The Princely Heir said.

The Princess Consort sighed, "The family now only has thirty taels of silver, first take it out as your betrothal gift. As for the bridal chamber, all the old things have been removed, I’ll think of a way to get you something new, so she isn’t wronged."

"Thirty silver, in the village is not considered little, but sent to the Chai Family, it’s too little; I heard from Liu the bricklayer that when the Chai Family married off the second daughter, they collected a betrothal gift of five hundred taels. Thirty taels compared to five hundred taels, is too disproportionate." Prince Luling shook his head.

The Princely Heir said, "She said she doesn’t want a betrothal gift."

The Princess Consort said, "How could that be? It’s her matter to refuse, that’s mere politeness, if you take it seriously, it’s a mistake; she might not say anything, but what about her family? The villagers outside? She doesn’t want it, but we must give it, this is the etiquette of marrying off a bride."

Prince Luling also said, "Eldest, your mother is right, Miss Chai’s words were courteous, we cannot act according to her words, the betrothal gift should be given where it’s due."

The Princely Heir did not want to argue about the betrothal gift.

To genuinely offer a betrothal gift, he could borrow some and repay it in the future.

"I understand, I will make arrangements for the betrothal gift. We have only just discussed this matter, and have yet to speak with her brother, it’s still early for the actual marriage to take place; by that time, the funds for the betrothal gift should be accumulated." The Princely Heir said.

The Princess Consort enlightened, "Look at me, I got confused with urgency. Yes, yes, set the marriage first, and by the time it’s appropriate to give gifts, the betrothal gift will be prepared."

She laughed and said.

"Eldest, when do you plan to go to the Chai Family to propose marriage?" Prince Luling asked.

"Tomorrow, her brother will come to take her home, I will send her back and speak about this matter at the Chai Family." The Princely Heir said.

Prince Luling surprised, "So soon?"

The Princess Consort shot a glance at Prince Luling, "Marrying requires speed, besides, they have agreed, shouldn’t we hurry before she changes her mind?"

Prince Luling muttered, "I’m just surprised, I didn’t say I disagreed with being fast."

The Princess Consort, in a good mood, patted her son’s shoulder, "It’s not early anymore, go to bed early, rise early tomorrow to send E Ying off."

"Understood, Mother." The Princely Heir nodded to Prince Luling and his wife, then turned to leave.

After he left, Prince Luling frowned, "Let’s hope this marriage doesn’t turn out like the Xue Family, leaving after having two children." ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel·fiɾe·net

The Princess Consort, furious, pounded on him, "What nonsense are you saying? E Ying and Xue Family are different! I didn’t want the Xue Family from the first time I saw her, if not for the late Emperor’s marriage grant, I wouldn’t have wanted such a daughter-in-law, luckily my fate was strong, she didn’t irritate me to death!"

Prince Luling rubbed his shoulder, "Isn’t this just a precaution on my part? Better safe than sorry."

"Rest assured a hundred thousand times, she and the Xue Family are worlds apart, she will not be a second Xue Family!" The Princess Consort asserted confidently.

Prince Luling yawned, "That’s good, that’s good, the eldest hasn’t had it easy either. Sigh, being the Princely Heir means the palace decides your marriage, I have no say. Fortunately, we’re no longer there, so now we can decide this marriage on our own."

Princess Consort Luling also resented the late Emperor for mismatching couples, ruining her son’s life.

Early the next morning, Li Yuzhu saw the Great Princess, Second Princess, and Second Young Master off before going to see Miss Chai.

Tomorrow was the Dragon Boat Festival. The Great Princess went to sell sachets, while the Second Princess and Second Young Master went to buy some festival supplies.

Miss Chai would be leaving soon, and Li Yuzhu came to bid her farewell.

To her surprise, Miss Chai’s luggage was not packed.

Not even a small bundle was organized.

It’s important to know that in this room, only the bed Nanny Jiang slept on and the tables and chairs were from the Li Family. Other items, like Miss Chai’s bed, the curtains hanging in the room, the canopy on the bed, window curtains, tablecloths, porcelain vases, bookshelves and books, bed quilts, pillows, and cushions, all came from Miss Chai’s own house.

Li Yuzhu asked in surprise, "Eying, aren’t you going to pack your luggage?"

Miss Chai, having her hair combed by Nanny Jiang, mischievously smiled, "Don’t call me by name, call me sister-in-law."

Li Yuzhu, "..." She snapped back to reality and smiled, "Did my brother propose to you?"

The smile on Miss Chai’s face was impossible to hide.

Her eyes and brows were full of smiles, "Yes, he told me yesterday."

Li Yuzhu joked with her, "No wonder you’re in a hurry to go home, you’re going home to wait for marriage."

So, this was the reason for not packing luggage anyway, since she was getting married, moving the luggage back and forth would be troublesome.

Miss Chai pursed her lips and smiled, "Don’t call me sister-in-law in front of others outside, your brother hasn’t proposed to my brother yet. This matter, it’s only us two who have agreed."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "In my family, if my brother agrees, it’s like the whole family agrees. I think your brother dotes on you very much, so he’ll definitely support your decision."

"Yes, he has always doted on me." Miss Chai pursed her lips and smiled.

Outside, came the sound of a man’s light cough.

Li Yuzhu smiled and said, "I have to go now."

Miss Chai recognized the voice of the person who arrived, she smoothed her hair, looked in the mirror, and then went to the door.

Nanny Jiang, smiling, followed to greet them.

Li Yuzhu went outside and smiled at the Princely Heir, "Good morning, brother."

He came openly and honestly.

The Princely Heir used to only dare sneak a glance at Chai Eying and never dared to speak to her. Today, he finally had the courage.

The Princely Heir looked slightly embarrassed, "Third sister, why are you here?"

"I came to bid Eying farewell, but now she’s busy, so I’m leaving first, brother." Li Yuzhu waved at him with a laugh and ran away, lifting her skirt.

The Princely Heir frowned slightly and walked into Chai Eying’s room.

Nanny Jiang paid her respects, smiled, and said, "I’ll go check on the young lady’s breakfast," then tactfully left.

Chai Eying adjusted the chair and smiled at the Princely Heir, "Brother Li, have a seat."

The Princely Heir looked around the room and said, "Why haven’t you packed your luggage? There’s quite a bit of it."

Chai Eying raised her lips, mischievously said, "Move it away and bring it back in a few days? If you don’t mind the trouble, I actually do, and my family’s coachman minds even more."

The Princely Heir was taken aback; it didn’t take him long to understand her meaning.

"I’m afraid your brother might have some thoughts." The Princely Heir thought and then said with a frown.

"Don’t worry, he won’t mind," Miss Chai smiled. She glanced at the Princely Heir, daringly took his hand, "Will you see me off?"

Her small hand was very soft, squeezing and kneading, making the Princely Heir’s heart pound wildly.

He held her hand, looked up at her, "Mm, I’ll see you back, then talk to your brother about some matters."

Chai Eying smiled slightly, leaned down, and hugged his neck, "Good."

The Princely Heir, bashful, straightened her up, "Don’t be naughty."

Chai Eying laughed softly, he actually blushed, "No one will come, the nanny doesn’t dare disturb us."