After the milk ball arrived, the father who had no heirs had a string of good luck.

Zhu Miaoling's eyes were red, and her mother was extremely anxious: "Yu Rao, can you help us? We can't... we can't just stand by and watch your sister jump into a fire pit!"

Consort Zhu looked utterly incredulous upon hearing this: "No, didn't my sister get engaged to that young man from the Minister of Rites a few days ago? Why did the Empress send an invitation to our house?"

Don't tell her the Empress doesn't know this news, how could that be!

The two families didn't keep this a secret; the Empress would find out as soon as she inquired!

Zhu's mother looked around, and Consort Zhu immediately understood and dismissed all the maids.

Once everyone was out of the room, Zhu's mother whispered, "Your father suspects it's about the money."

"Silver?" Consort Zhu didn't quite understand at first. "What silver?"

Zhu's mother glared at her daughter's head in exasperation, completely forgetting that she herself had been utterly baffled when she first heard about this. It was Zhu's father who enlightened her: "Oh dear, your father is the Minister of Revenue. Who doesn't know that the Ministry of Revenue is a lucrative position? Who believes that your father is truly not corrupt? Your father speculates that the Crown Prince used to make a lot of money by buying and selling official positions. Now that this path has been cut off, he can only look for other ways out, which is why he has set his sights on your sister."

Consort Zhu was stunned: "No way, aren't they shameless? Is that Crown Prince a good-for-nothing? If he wants money, he should earn it himself. Why is he always eyeing women's money?"

Mother Zhu's face darkened: "Shut up, don't talk nonsense!"

"There's no one here, what am I afraid of? The Crown Prince is a piece of trash, I spit on him!" Consort Zhu became increasingly dissatisfied with the Crown Prince.

Zhu Miaoling also took her hand, her eyes brimming with tears: "Elder sister, I didn't want to trouble you, but I really have no other choice. Looking across the entire court, only Prince Li is not afraid of the Crown Prince. Please, help me! I'm already engaged to the son of the Minister of Rites. I'm a member of the Chu family in life and in death; a woman cannot serve two husbands!"

"Oh dear, don't worry. The Prince isn't in the manor right now. You two should go back first. When he returns, I'll talk to him about this and see if we can come up with a solution." To avoid worrying the mother and daughter, Consort Zhu added, "Don't worry, the Prince is a true gentleman who loves to stand up for the weak. He won't stand idly by."

Seeing her confident words, the mother and daughter felt somewhat relieved and obediently went back to wait for news.

However, as soon as they got home, the mother and daughter noticed that something was wrong.

When Zhu's mother called over her maid, she learned that the Chu family had just left and had even sent a letter announcing the annulment of the engagement.

Upon hearing this, Zhu's mother felt dizzy and fainted.

Zhu Miaoling felt like the sky had fallen, and she really wanted to close her eyes and faint.

But since Zhu's mother had fainted, she could only force herself to stay awake, help Zhu's mother and send someone to fetch the royal physician. Then she sent someone to inform Consort Zhu of the news.

Consort Zhu was so angry that she trembled all over. Holding the letter from home, she stormed into Qin Zhiyan's courtyard.

When she arrived, several women were there, discussing matters concerning the shop.

Even Tang Rui was there.

Seeing her like this, Tang Rui asked curiously, "Aunt Zhu, what's wrong?"

"It's all because of the Empress and the Crown Prince! This is outrageous! This is outrageous!"

Consort Zhu blurted out the story to the other women, pleading with Qin Zhiyan, "Sister, please send someone to call the Prince back! I'm at my wit's end."

"Don't panic, don't panic!" Qin Zhiyan looked troubled. "This... I don't know where the Prince went either!"

Tang Rui then raised her hand: "I know! Ninth Imperial Uncle is coming back today, and Father went outside the city to meet him. Mingyue, hurry and go find Father and bring him back!"

"Yes!" Mingyue's voice echoed through the air, accompanied by a gentle breeze.

The women immediately felt relieved.

They firmly believed that as long as Situ Che was willing to take charge, there would be no problem.

No one noticed that Tang Rui's face was contorted with worry as she considered whether or not to tell the truth.

Zhu Miaoling's fiancé was really no good; it's good that they were able to break off the engagement.

However, marrying the crown prince isn't so good.

...

Situ Che returned quickly, bringing with him Situ Ze, whom he hadn't seen in a long time!

For the past few months, he has been out searching for the Valley of Divine Healers for Situ Che, and he has gotten quite tanned.

Upon seeing his sisters-in-law, he respectfully bowed with his hands clasped.

But upon seeing Tang Rui, he immediately revealed his true colors, smiling as he pulled out a handful of silver notes and handed them to her.

Tang Rui was speechless: "Ninth Imperial Uncle, I have money, you can keep it for yourself!"

"Take it if I give it to you. Your Ninth Uncle doesn't have much else, but I do have a little money." Without further ado, Situ Ze stuffed the silver note into Tang Rui's arms.

Consort Li glanced at it and saw that it was a hundred-tael note, and immediately curled her lip in disdain.

However, due to Situ Ze's status, he did not say that Situ Ze was petty on the spot.

Consort Zhu was in no mood for jokes. Upon seeing Situ Che, she tearfully recounted her ordeal, then grabbed his hand and pleaded, "Your Highness, you must think of something! My sister is only twelve, and the Crown Prince is already so old! We can't let him harm my sister!"

Situ Che frowned deeply: "This is not a good matter!"

There's an empress over him.

Filial piety is of paramount importance, so I won't let him interfere.

As for the emperor… forget it, he'll definitely side with the empress.

Just as Situ Che was racking his brains for a solution, Tang Rui's eyes lit up: "Isn't this easy to solve? Just find Sister Zhu another husband of high status, right?"

Qin Zhiyan was speechless: "Besides Father Emperor, whose status is higher than Mother Empress and Crown Prince? We can't possibly send Miaoling into the palace to become Father Emperor's concubine, can we?"

Putting aside whether Zhu Miaoling was willing or not, her father was known for only collecting things related to the Empress, and he would not look favorably upon Zhu Miaoling, who bore no resemblance to the Empress whatsoever!

Not to mention, Zhu Miaoling is only twelve years old. Marrying the emperor would be worse than marrying the crown prince!

At least, the crown prince is younger than the emperor, isn't he?

Tang Rui chuckled, "Mother, it doesn't necessarily have to be a higher status than the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince. A few princes would also be fine. Once Sister Zhu becomes a princess, the Empress can't very well let the Crown Prince forcibly take my brother's wife, can she?"

Situ Ze stroked his chin and nodded: "That's one idea, but... where are we going to find a prince for that Miss Zhu?"

This…

The group realized what was going on and all turned their attention to Situ Ze.

Isn't this a perfect example, and the only one without a princess?

Situ Ze finally realized what was going on, his face stiffened, and he took a step back, stammering, "No... really? I'm nineteen this year, and Miss Zhu is only twelve. Do you want me to be an old cow eating young grass?"

Tang Rui chuckled mischievously, "Seven years older? That's normal!"

Qin Zhiyan took out a handkerchief and pressed it against her wildly upturned lips: "The Ninth Prince is indeed quite suitable, and he is about the same age as Miss Zhu."

Gu Ruoxue said calmly, "She is, after all, the second daughter of the Zhu family. She is qualified to be a princess."

Consort Zhu nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, Ninth Prince, my sister is very beautiful. She is a well-bred lady carefully cultivated by my mother. You will definitely not regret marrying her."