I have suffered enough in my previous life, my cousin will never marry me

Chapter 157 Marriage
Hearing her say things with such disdain, but the smile on her face was undeniable, Chu Yin couldn't help but smile secretly.

Over the years in Tongyang, she had watched Wanwan grow up step by step. This girl said she didn't care about her father's love, but she knew very well that no child didn't want to be cared for by their parents.

Fortunately, the Gu brothers were by her side for those ten years, making up for the void in her childhood.

“Wanwan, the past is the past. We should always look forward. You taught me that.”

Holding her hand, Chu Yin said gently, "All of this is undoubtedly the best arrangement for you now. With Uncle Ji's care and the Yongning Prince's Mansion treating you so sincerely, your days in Yuezhou will only get better and better."

These words really struck a chord with Ye Wanshu.

She had hoped to be reborn and live a peaceful life in Peach Blossom Village, but unexpectedly, she was blessed with good fortune. Not only did she gain her father's love, but she also met Fu Mingchi, which made up for the regrets of her previous life.

Just thinking about Ji Yunze made her feel uneasy.

"Ah Yin, have you heard any news about Young Master Ji these days?" Ye Wanshu asked anxiously. "Has he returned to Yuezhou Prefecture?"

Chu Yin raised an eyebrow: "It is said that it is still in Yuzhou City. A few days ago, Prince Yongning ordered the addition of county and prefectural examinations, and the examination venue was set in Yuzhou. I suppose Ji Xuezheng has been handling this matter recently."

At this point, Chu Yin's interest grew even stronger, and she continued with a smile, "These days you've been busy preparing your dowry in Taowu, so you probably don't know how lively Yuzhou City is. Recently, a young master named Wei Wan has won first place in the provincial examination. Even the great scholars in the provincial capital are full of praise for his talent."

“Wei Wan?” Ye Wanshu was stunned for a moment: “I’m so ignorant. I’ve never heard of such a person in Yuezhou.”

"I'm afraid he's a reclusive master," Chu Yin sighed. "I don't know why he missed this year's imperial examination. I heard that even Ji Xuezheng sighed that if this person had participated in the examination with him, he would probably have admitted that he was inferior."

"That's just him being modest," Ye Wanshu said dismissively. "Ji Xuezheng is a man of great learning, far beyond what ordinary people can compare to."

She had no time to care about this matter. According to her adoptive father, the wedding arrangements for the Prince of Yongning were handled by the Yuzhou Prefecture. Apart from the Dowager Consort taking A'ni and Qingqing back to Yuezhou, Fu Mingchi and his uncle and aunt were still in Yuzhou City.

But ever since he returned from Qizhou, he hasn't been to Taowu for a single day. The sudden addition of county and prefectural examinations suggests that he's still angry about that day and is clearly trying to make things difficult for Ji Yunze.

She couldn't let the two of them continue arguing.

"Sister Yin, Father said that you've been helping with the negotiations with the Yongning Prince's Mansion recently. Have you heard anyone from the Prince's Mansion mention His Highness's whereabouts?" Ye Wanshu asked hesitantly.

"You've already missed him after just a few days apart?" Chu Yin covered her mouth and laughed. Seeing her embarrassed expression, she quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, I heard from General Zhu that His Highness will come in person tomorrow to formally propose marriage."

Hearing this, Ye Wanshu felt much more at ease. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Sister Yin, there is something else I need you to do for me."

Looking at Chu Yin, she slowly said, "I want to meet Ji Yunze before the wedding."

"Wanwan, are you crazy? How can you go see him at a time like this?"

Chu Yin looked terrified: "I heard that Ji Xuezheng has been getting very close to Princess Qi Ning and her only daughter lately. I guess Princess Qi Ning has taken a liking to Ji Xuezheng and wants him to be the Zhao family's son-in-law. You can't be fooled."

"Sister Yin, what are you thinking about?"

Upon learning that Ji Yunze was close to the mother and daughter, Ye Wanshu felt even more uneasy.

If Zhao Yingying really had her eye on Ji Yunze, that would be a good thing. But Zhao Yingying's heart was clearly set on her cousin, and the two of them getting together probably didn't have any good intentions. However, she couldn't say these things to Chu Yinming, so she could only say tactfully, "After all, I wronged Ji Xuezheng in our previous marriage. He was imprisoned in the Zhenfu Shisi that day, and I couldn't explain it to him. There are some things I need to make clear to him."

"Okay, I'll take care of it for you."

Chu Yin handed her the calming soup and urged her, "You should take the calming soup and rest well, lest your prince come tomorrow and see you looking listless and complain."

Seeing that it was already late, Ye Wanshu obediently took the calming soup and drank it. Only then did Chu Yin feel relieved and leave.

Once the room was quiet, Ye Wanshu lay back down on the bed. The calming soup took effect, and she quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Yuzhou, the temporary residence of Prince Yongning

As night deepened, the entire courtyard remained brightly lit. Zhao Yun and the state officials were busy checking the betrothal gifts to be presented the next day.

Looking at the betrothal gifts piled up across half the courtyard, Zhao Yingying felt extremely bitter. She had some late-night snacks with her father and mother before returning to her room.

Fu Yu'e noticed her daughter's unhappiness and led several trusted nannies to follow her.

After closing the door, Fu Yu'e smiled and comforted her, "What, you don't trust your mother that much? I said I would let you marry your cousin, and I will never go back on my word."

Zhao Yingying sat sullenly on the edge of the bed, pouting in dissatisfaction, "My cousin is going to Yuhua Town to propose marriage tomorrow. I heard from my father that after the betrothal, the wedding procession will be taking people to Yuezhou in three days. How can I not worry, Mother?"

“This marriage won’t happen.” Fu Yu’e’s eyes were unusually firm: “Based on the evidence I’ve gathered for Ji Yunze, the imperial court will definitely be determined to attack Yuezhou this time. Your cousin will be busy dealing with the imperial army, so he won’t have the mind to get married.”

“But my cousin has no intention of rebelling,” Zhao Yingying said anxiously.

“This time, he has no choice.” Fu Yu’e smiled sinisterly. “Mother has already received news that the court has ordered Gu An to mobilize 300,000 troops and they are heading towards the border of Yuzhou. The Mu family army in the north is also isolated and helpless. If he does not rebel, wouldn’t he be watching his aunt lose her life?”

“Mother, although I dislike that fool Mu Qingqing, her mother is, after all, my aunt’s sister. If anything happens to her, my aunt and cousin will definitely blame you.” Zhao Yingying asked suspiciously, “Mother, haven’t you gone too far this time?”

"I will not let anything happen to Madam Zhang or the Mu family army," Fu Yu'e said, taking a letter from her bosom and handing it to her daughter.

Upon reading the letter, Zhao Yingying's eyes lit up: "Mother wants to persuade the Empress Dowager and His Majesty to make peace with the Northern bandits through marriage?"

“That’s right.” Fu Yu’e said in a deep voice, “Your mother isn’t stupid either. Ji Yunze’s request for me to persuade your cousin to rebel is clearly a sign of his malicious intent. We just need to go along with him for now. As for that wretched girl from the Ye family, not only do we not want to see her marry into the Yongning Prince’s Mansion, but Empress Dowager Gu is even less willing. The situation in the northern border is worrying right now. Since this little slut has received the Emperor’s favor, she should share the burden for the court. If we let her go to the northern border for a marriage alliance, it would be a win-win situation for everyone.”

"Mother's idea is truly brilliant."

Zhao Yingying laughed triumphantly: "Cousin is unwilling to go to the capital to serve the emperor simply because he is worried about the instability in the northern border. Once the marriage alliance is reached, cousin will have no more worries. At that time, we can confidently persuade cousin to go to Lin'an to purge the emperor's inner circle."

"You've really improved a lot," Fu Yu'e said with satisfaction, holding her hand in her palm. "Now you believe your mother can grant your wish, right?"

"Yes, I knew Mother loved her daughter the most."

Zhao Yingying nodded happily and obediently nestled into Fu Yu'e's arms, secretly delighted.