“Cousin, I heard that the Eldest Princess is choosing a husband for the Princess… What kind of family would you like to marry into in the future…”
After returning to the residence, Huang Yaning “latched onto” Xian Jie’er.
After the “two sisters” had washed up, they lay in bed whispering private matters, and Huang Yaning took the opportunity to ask.
The Princess’s feelings for Sheng Mingshu had reminded Huang Yaning that Xian Jie’er was now gradually blossoming into a young woman with a graceful charm.
Xian Jie’er had delicate features, elegant manners, and courage and wisdom far beyond ordinary people.
Apart from her background, Xian Jie’er was no less impressive than daughters from those prominent families.
Huang Yaning often thought that Minmin really knew how to raise children—so much better than she herself did.
In this life, Xian Jie’er was so wonderful.
She was determined to give Xian Jie’er the same happiness as Minmin—to marry a man she loved and who was outstanding, and to live a contented life according to her own wishes.
She would never let Sheng Yong use Xian Jie’er as a pawn to be manipulated at will…
So, Huang Yaning wanted to know what kind of person Xian Jie’er liked and what kind of life she envisioned for herself.
That way, she could prepare in advance, since Sheng Yong still held onto the property that rightfully belonged to Xian Jie’er.
Actually, she also wanted to ask Minmin, but with her and Minmin…
Thinking of this, a hint of bitterness rose in Huang Yaning’s heart. After years of effort, Minmin was no longer so resistant to her.
But Minmin still wasn’t willing to see her in private—at most, she’d see her when others were around.
And when they did talk, Minmin would only discuss daily life or trivial matters in the household.
Nothing deeper than that…
It was as if several invisible walls separated her from Minmin, making true heart-to-heart connection nearly impossible.
Still, there was one thing Huang Yaning was certain of—Minmin also wanted a bright future for Xian Jie’er.
Minmin had a special fondness for Xian Jie’er…
“Cousin… why are you suddenly asking this…” Xian Jie’er’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she couldn’t help pulling the quilt up to cover half her face.
“We’re about at the age where we can start considering potential matches. We should think ahead a bit…”
Huang Yaning tried to sound casual, pulling the covers up over herself too.
“I… haven’t thought that far ahead…” Huang Xianjing said softly.
“I don’t believe you—”
Huang Yaning turned on her side to gaze at Xian Jie’er, reaching out to “liberate” her from under the covers, revealing a face that was now bright red.
She couldn’t resist teasing Xian Jie’er, so she reached out and tickled her underarms.
“Haha… Cousin… spare me…”
Huang Xianjing was ticklish and quickly caved, begging for mercy, and only then did Huang Yaning let go.
Once she’d caught her breath, Huang Xianjing finally opened up.
“As long as the person has a good character, comes from a simple family, and is easy to get along with, that’s fine…”
Huang Yaning was a bit surprised. That was it?
“Don’t you want to marry someone you truly love?”
“Cousin… I don’t have anyone I love.”
“What if you meet someone in the future?”
“Then… we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it…”
Huang Yaning felt like she’d asked but hadn’t really gotten anywhere, so she pressed further.
“And if you don’t meet anyone, do you have any requirements about appearance, talent, or family background?”
Huang Xianjing paused for a moment, then chuckled softly.
“Cousin… given my status, what wealthy or noble family could I possibly marry into?
“And to be honest, even if I had the chance, I wouldn’t want to marry up. In fact, I’d rather not marry into an official’s family at all.
“The noble ladies in those grand mansions might seem glamorous, but how many of them truly have freedom?
“As for talent and looks—of course, they’d be nice to have, but if not, as long as the person has good morals, that’s enough…”
Huang Xianjing actually had some deeper thoughts she kept to herself.
When she was little, her aunt was too busy to look after her, and for several years she was confined to her small courtyard.
That tiny yard left her feeling listless every single day.
Only in the past year or two had she realized that those years had felt like she was shackled by invisible chains.
So deep down, she harbored a strong desire to explore the world outside.
Huang Xianjing felt that what she wanted most in this life was freedom.
If, after marriage, she could travel far and wide, measuring the beautiful mountains and rivers with her own feet, she’d fall asleep smiling every night and wake up smiling every morning…
Unfortunately, even if she married into a merchant family that traveled constantly, the womenfolk still seemed to be confined to the inner courtyard…
Of course, marrying into a modest household would definitely give her more freedom than marrying up.
She hoped to maximize her freedom within the limited conditions available to her.
But she didn’t want her cousin to overthink things, nor did she want her aunt to feel guilty about the past, so Huang Xianjing kept these thoughts to herself.
Meanwhile, Huang Yaning had already started mulling things over.
She found herself thinking about Xian Jie’er’s husband in her previous life—Sheng Mingli.
In that past life, Xian Jie’er had been frail and, under Sheng Yong’s control, married Sheng Mingli, only to pass away early, leaving no descendants before she died…
But this life was different.
This time, Xian Jie’er was healthy, no longer as sickly as before.
And Sheng Mingli was no longer just a handsome face with a weak character like in the past.
In this life, Sheng Mingli had good morals and solid talents.
His birth mother, Concubine Shui, was also easy to get along with.
Minmin, of course, would never make things difficult for Xian Jie’er.
If she and Minmin swapped back in the future, she would also protect Xian Jie’er…
If Xian Jie’er married Sheng Mingli, both her “mother-in-law” and “sister-in-law” would have her back…
And Xian Jie’er could have the freedom she desired.
As for the Huang family property in Sheng Yong’s hands, they could slowly find ways to take it back.
Of course, Sheng Mingshu was actually more outstanding, but considering the Princess’s feelings for him…
Huang Yaning didn’t want Xian Jie’er to clash with the Princess.
She was still counting on the Princess’s help when the time came to recover the Huang family property from Sheng Yong.
As she thought it through, Huang Yaning felt that Sheng Mingli was a good match for Xian Jie’er.
But Xian Jie’er had said she didn’t want to marry into an official’s family—did that mean she was rejecting the Sheng family?
And even if Xian Jie’er were willing, they’d have to ask Sheng Mingli how he felt…
In her past life, Huang Yaning wouldn’t have considered a concubine-born son’s opinion… but in this life, she’d changed a lot too…
Seeing that Xian Jie’er had closed her eyes, signaling she didn’t want to talk anymore, Huang Yaning sighed inwardly.
Oh well, she’d take it slow and test the waters later.
Furong Courtyard.
Sheng Mingzhu had left the house in high spirits, but returned to her courtyard with a sour face.
She threw herself onto the bed and burst into tears.
Sheng Mingzhu had long ago arranged to meet her elder brother Sheng and her senior martial brother at the tavern that night.
But somehow, someone had leaked elder brother Sheng’s whereabouts, and a gaggle of young ladies had excitedly flocked to the tavern to find him.
Elder brother Sheng got scared and fled in a panic!
Sheng Mingzhu suppressed her anger and waited for her senior brother, but after waiting forever, he only sent an old servant woman to deliver a ruby bracelet…
Saying it was a gift he’d brought back from the capital for her, and that he’d forgotten to give it to her last time…
Sheng Mingzhu was so furious she almost burst into tears on the spot!
Her senior brother was too much!
Last time he’d come to the residence to see her but left without saying goodbye, and now tonight he didn’t even show up…
Sheng Mingzhu decided she wouldn’t speak to her senior brother for the next few months—let him stew!
What Sheng Mingzhu didn’t know was that Lin Zhijing, ever since he’d discovered she was under the influence of the Soul-Snatching Spell, had been too afraid to see her…
And in the future, he probably wouldn’t dare see her either.
Because compared to his beloved junior sister, Lin Zhijing valued his own life far more.
