My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 70 Matchmaking for the Princess

Rong Yi didn't ask aloud because he found it somewhat absurd, but hearing Xiao Zhang'er calling out "Ah-gu-gu," he still asked, "My royal sister?"

The only person who might fear he would interfere was that girl, who was his closest relative.

If his cousin from the Rong family could marry Lu Xiao, Rong Yi would definitely not stand in his way. He only has one sister, Princess Yongjia.

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "Congratulations, you guessed it right away!"

Rong Yi looked at Lu Jinshi in his arms and said, "I strongly disagree with this marriage. Lu Xiao is the same age as me, and my sister is five years older than us. When my sister got married, we were still children. If he wants to marry my sister, it's possible that he's not sincere, but just wants to be my brother-in-law since I'm his brother-in-law."

Lu Jinshi: "Do you think Lu Xiao is as bored as you?"

Lu Jinshi raised his eyes and said, "Marrying a princess means staying away from the power in the court. The military power of the Prince An's mansion may have to be handed over. Moreover, Lu Xiao is the only son of the Lu family."

As for the princess... I don't think it's a big deal that the princess can't have children, but Lu Xiao is willing to marry her and has already planned to adopt Yiran's son in the future. I think Lu Xiao is sincere towards the princess.

This marriage isn't bad. It's truly pitiful for the princess to have met such a scoundrel. I believe Lu Xiao will treat her well. Your elder sister can have a good match; why are you so adamant about it?

Rong Yi said, "My elder sister is five years older than Lu Xiao."

“I’m two years older than you,” Lu Jinshi said.

Rong Yi said, "Can two years old and five years old be the same? The difference between two years old is not much, but when my elder sister came of age at five, Lu Xiao and I were still little kids playing in the mud."

Lu Jinshi said, "You, as the younger brother, have no say in your sister's marriage. You take Zhang'er back to the other courtyard first. I'm going to the princess's residence."

Lu Jinshi instructed the coachman to drive the carriage to the princess's residence.

When Lu Jinshi arrived at the princess's residence, he saw Princess Yongjia assembling the embroidered "Hundred Longevity" picture into a small screen.

Princess Yongjia smiled as she saw Lu Jinshi arrive, saying, "Tomorrow is the Empress Dowager's birthday, and I've finally managed to send my birthday gift in time."

Lu Jinshi said to Princess Yongjia, "The Empress Dowager will surely like this beautiful Hundred Longevity Screen tomorrow."

After Princess Yongjia finished setting up the screen, she said, "You seem hesitant to speak. Is there something you need?"

Lu Jinshi said with a faint smile, "I came here to act as a matchmaker for you, sister."

Princess Yongjia looked at Lu Jinshi and said, "I don't want to get married again."

"Aren't you curious, sister, about who I've come to play matchmaker for?"

When Princess Yongjia looked at Lu Jin, her expression changed, and her face flushed: "What did he say to you?"

"Does the Imperial Sister know who it is?"

Princess Yongjia said, "No matter what Lu Xiao tells you, don't believe it. It's impossible for me and him to be husband and wife. He is the heir of the Prince of An's mansion and the only son of the Lu family."

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "He's not the only son of the Lu family; he has two younger sisters."

Princess Yongjia used the back of her hand to cool her cheek and said, "Your two younger sisters will eventually get married. Please go and refuse him, tell him that I can never be his wife in this life, and make him give up this idea." Lu Jinshi said, "Sister, Lu Xiao said he doesn't care that you can't have children. If you really can't have children, then let your cousin Yiran marry into the family and have a child to be adopted to continue the Lu family line."

Princess Yongjia stared blankly for a while before asking, "Did he really say that?"

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "He even set his sights on me, wanting me to adopt a son for him."

Princess Yongjia continued to cool down her cheek with the back of her hand, saying, "This, this is really outrageous. Jinshi, you must help me reject him. Tell him to give up on this marriage. I will not marry him."

Seeing Princess Yongjia's resistance, Lu Jinshi could not persuade her any further and could only agree, "Yes, sister."

When Lu Jinshi left the princess's residence, it was already getting dark, so she went straight back to her villa, planning to refuse Lu Xiao again the next day.

They returned to the separate courtyard.

As soon as Lu Jinshi entered the room, he saw Rong Yi anxiously asking, "What did my elder sister say? She wouldn't really make Lu Xiao my brother-in-law, would she?"

Lu Jinshi shook his head and said, "My elder sister has rejected this marriage proposal."

Rong Yi said, "Fortunately, my elder sister is not confused. This marriage was never going to work out. Lu Xiao is the heir of the Prince of An. How could he be a prince consort?"

Lu Jinshi looked into Rong Yi's eyes and said, "You don't need to doubt the loyalty of our Lu family to your royal family."

Rong Yi said, "I never doubted it, but as the heir of Prince An, it would be inappropriate for Lu Xiao to become a prince consort. Besides, he and my sister have absolutely no connection. I don't know when he fell in love with my sister."

Lu Jinshi said, "Both princesses have declined, so you don't need to worry anymore."
-
On the day of the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet.

Inside the residence of the Marquis of Yongxing.

Looking at her exquisitely dressed daughter, Liu Xiuxiu said, "Lan'er, why are you dressed like this today? You are still in mourning, so you should be mindful of your reputation. You shouldn't be dressed so brightly."

He Jinlan said, “Mother, Lu Jinshi is also in mourning, so it’s not necessarily true that she’s dressed plainly. Besides, today is the Empress Dowager’s birthday, so I should dress more festively to go to the palace to celebrate.”

Liu Xiuxiu said, "You're going to the palace to celebrate a birthday? Our Marquis's residence hasn't received any invitations. How can you possibly enter the palace to celebrate a birthday?"

He Jinlan asked in confusion, "Why aren't there any invitations? My wedding to the Seventh Prince is only a month away, and I will soon become the Seventh Prince's consort. How can I not attend the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet? Perhaps it's because my grandfather recently passed away that the palace didn't send us any invitations."

Liu Xiuxiu pointed out what she had been feeling was off these past few days: "Jinlan, the eldest daughter of the He family mentioned in the imperial edict should refer to Lu Jinshi, not you..."

He Jinlan said, "How could it be Lu Jinshi? Lu Jinshi ruined her reputation by having a child out of wedlock, leaving the father behind. How could the Seventh Prince possibly marry her as his princess? The Seventh Prince is His Majesty and the Imperial Noble Consort's only child, and he has been a member of the imperial family since childhood."

Liu Xiuxiu said, "But if the Seventh Prince is going to marry you, why haven't any officials from the Ministry of Rites come to discuss the marriage with us yet?"

He Jinlan said, "Mother, you are overthinking it. The palace and the Ministry of Rites are handling all the matters related to the Seventh Prince's marriage. I just need to wait for my wedding in peace. Why worry about the marriage? The officials of the Ministry of Rites will definitely arrange everything properly in the future."

“That’s right, Xiuxiu, you’re overthinking it.” Old Madam He came over with her cane and said, “My Jinlan is a proper daughter of a noble family who grew up in Chang’an, while that Lu Jinshi is a wild girl who grew up in a rural village and doesn’t know any rules. She’s a disgrace. How could the Seventh Prince possibly marry her as his princess?”

"But Mother, today is the Empress Dowager's sixtieth birthday, and Jinlan was not invited to offer her congratulations."

Madam He said, "The reason why Jinlan was not invited to the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet today is probably because Jinlan is still in mourning, and it would be unlucky for her to attend the banquet."