Chapter 34: Off to Propose?

"Wanniang, are you sure about this?" Lingdang stared at Wanniang with wide, curious eyes.

Wanniang looked at Yin Sumo with a meaningful expression. "Your Highness, this news came straight from the Grand Princess’s estate. It is highly likely to be true. I hear the Grand Princess intends to bring this matter up to the Emperor the moment you return to the city..."

In other words, the situation was urgent. If the Prince did not want to marry that Princess, he had better come up with a plan.

"My Imperial Aunt certainly knows how to calculate," Yin Sumo chuckled, appearing entirely unconcerned.

While the Prince remained calm, Lingdang was frantic. "Your Highness, surely you don’t intend to actually marry Princess Nianzhao as your consort?"

"What do you think?" Yin Sumo replied with an ambiguous smile before standing up.

"Your Highness, this is no laughing matter..." Marriage was a life-altering event; why was the Prince so indifferent?

"Enough. The Prince knows what he is doing. The Grand Princess may have a clever plan, but our Prince is not a mere bead on her abacus." Uncle Ji, who had remained silent until now, spoke up to prevent Lingdang from worrying himself sick. *This boy,* he thought, *does he not know his own master’s temper and capabilities? Is he the kind of man to be pushed around?*

"By the way, Your Highness, that girl from the palace has been released. How should we handle her?" Uncle Ji caught up to Yin Sumo, who was walking outside.

Yin Sumo paused. He had almost forgotten that matter. Before leaving the city, he seemed to have instructed Lingdang to hand the task over to Uncle Ji.

After a moment of thought, he said, "She only asked that I keep her alive... Very well. Since it was she who wanted to save her, send her over and let her decide what to do."

"You mean to Miss Xu’s place?" Uncle Ji was clearly asking a question to which he already knew the answer.

"Otherwise?" Yin Sumo replied magnanimously.

"Understood. I will arrange it immediately!"

"...Forget it. I shall take her there myself. After all, I gave my word. Lingdang, bring that girl. Follow me to the Xu estate. Bring plenty of silver; it is my first time visiting, so I shouldn't arrive empty-handed. We’ll stop to buy some gifts on the way." With those instructions, Yin Sumo strode off.

"The Prince is going to the Xu... the Qiu estate?" Lingdang corrected himself quickly.

"Go and prepare!" Uncle Ji urged, impatient with Lingdang’s denseness.

"Uncle Ji, if the Emperor issues an imperial decree for the marriage, can the Prince really defy it?"

Wanniang slowed her pace, looking worriedly at Uncle Ji.

"The Prince would naturally not dare to defy an imperial decree. That is why he is taking action first..."

"What? What do you mean?" Wanniang did not catch on immediately.

"You are usually so clever; why are you as slow as Lingdang today? You don't understand why the Prince is going to see Miss Xu now? He even had Lingdang go prepare the betrothal gifts!"

"Betrothal gifts?! Is the Prince going to... to... propose?" It was no wonder Wanniang was so shocked.

"Shh, keep your voice down. This is called 'speed is the essence of war.' You said it yourself: the Grand Princess plans to have the Emperor issue a decree upon the Prince's return. Do you really expect the Prince to sit at home, waiting to be served a decree of forced marriage?"

"But... he shouldn't be so rash..."

"Did you not understand when the Prince brought her to the estate last time? This is not rashness; he has clearly planned this for a long time. His marriage is already imminent, and he feels Miss Xu is just right. He is simply accelerating the process." Uncle Ji explained patiently.

Wanniang processed this for a moment. "So... the Prince is going to present betrothal gifts?" It was all so sudden!

"Uncle Ji, even if the Prince presents betrothal gifts, will the marriage be legally binding?" Princes' marriages were always arranged by edict, or at the very least, an imperial order from the Empress Dowager. Even the Empress could not decide a Prince's marriage on her own. Without a decree, it wouldn't be recognized by the royal family!

"Whether it is binding or not... we don't know. The Prince has his own reasons. We just need to follow orders. You hurry and go with him. Keep an eye on what gifts are bought; I’m afraid Lingdang won't handle it properly. Regardless, once the Prince visits her, Miss Xu and our Prince will be inextricably linked. We can't treat her too poorly, and besides, it’s our Prince’s first time proposing to a lady; it shouldn't look too shabby... Actually, I’ll go along too!"

Uncle Ji’s words made Wanniang nervous.

"Then... let's hurry and catch up... Wait, Uncle Ji, you go ahead, I’ll go get some more silver notes..." Uncle Ji was right; they couldn't ruin the Prince's reputation, nor could they slight the young lady. The betrothal gifts had to be generous!

Meanwhile, as Yin Sumo left the Prince's estate, Zhaojiao had also left the Qiu estate.

The meeting place arranged by Liu Xu was an opera house.

This was also Zhaojiao’s private property. In the past, she loved listening to storytellers and watching plays. Her father, the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, who had doted on her as his only precious daughter, had built this opera house for her.

Naturally, the Grand Princess knew nothing of this, as she considered such things to be idle pursuits. It was only because she remained ignorant that the place was preserved.

When Zhaojiao reached the door of the private room accompanied by Liu Xu, she could not help but pause and look around. Everything here remained exactly as it had been.

"My Lady, this room has been kept vacant, and everything inside remains untouched."

Zhaojiao nodded and gently lifted the bamboo curtain. An elderly man inside was looking at her with tear-filled eyes.

"Prin...cess?!" He sounded hesitant, as if he dared not confirm his suspicions.

"Old Dad, it’s been a long time!"

Zhaojiao tried to squeeze out a smile, but it looked worse than crying.

"Duan Xuanzhen pays his respects to the Princess!" Upon hearing the term "Old Dad," the old man could no longer contain himself. His frail body trembled with excitement as he performed a deep, solemn bow.

Zhaojiao stepped forward and helped him up. "Old Dad, please rise. I am truly happy to see you again." Old Dad had been her father's strategist; her father had respected him greatly, often saying that keeping him at the Marquis's estate was a waste of his talents.

"If only the Marquis knew of this in the afterlife..."

"Old Dad!"

Before meeting him, she had instructed Liu Xu to explain her current situation to the old man. She had feared he wouldn't believe it so quickly, given her current state.

"Old Dad, Princess, please sit and talk. I will keep watch outside." This was her own territory, so she felt relatively safe.

Liu Xu retreated, partly because she could not bear to watch the emotional reunion.

Zhaojiao helped the old man to a seat, and he sat down accordingly.

"As long as the Princess is alive, that is all that matters!" Looking at the unfamiliar face before him, Old Dad murmured softly through his tears.

"Yes, I am still alive. Old Dad, there are some things I cannot explain to you..." She herself did not know how this had happened, so how could she explain it?

Old Dad waved his hand quickly. "If you cannot explain, there is no need. As long as you are alive, that is enough... The Marquis would be comforted to know this..."

"Old Dad, my father died unjustly, and you must know that... If I had died, it would be the end of it, but since I am alive, I will not let this go. Old Dad, are you willing to help me? This is a path of no return..." Zhaojiao spoke with sincerity; she could not force them to embark on this path of vengeance with her.

"Silly Princess, you wound me with such words! My life belongs to the Marquis; if it weren't for him, I would have died in that dark dungeon long ago. Besides, I watched you grow up... there is no need for talk of 'help.' As long as I have breath in my lungs, I am duty-bound to avenge the Marquis and the Princess!"

"Old Dad..." How could she not be moved by his words?

"Enough of that. What is your plan, Princess? Where shall we begin?" Old Dad wiped his eyes, gathered his composure, and steeled himself for the task ahead.