Prince Rui, don't spoil your adopted daughter too much: she will eventually get married

Chapter 208 Princess Mingyue makes Zhai Yun her husband

As long as Zhai Yun continues her studies at the Imperial Academy, he can temporarily refuse the position of general on the grounds that Zhai Yun grew up in the northern wilderness, never attended school, and is eager to learn more characters so that she can better serve the country by mastering both literary and martial arts.

As soon as they stepped into the Prince's residence, Qi Nuo came up to them and reported, "Your Highness, the Second Prince Chu has returned with Miss Xia. He has added a lot of furniture to Miss Xia's room and moved his own luggage to stay next door."

Zhai Yun wasn't too surprised. It was reasonable for Xia Lanyan to come back, after all, Xia Lanyan truly loved her Yi-gege.

Feng Chenyi turned to look at Zhai Yun. Chu Xuan was, after all, her former friend, and he wanted to hear Zhai Yun's opinion on this matter.

"Let them be!" Zhai Yun knew that Xia Lanyan would not give up easily. As for Chu Xuan, "He is a guest, so let's find him and Miss Xia a more spacious place."

If word gets out that he went to live with Xia Lanyan in the maid's quarters, what will become of the reputation of the Prince Rui's mansion?

The imperial edict appointing Zhai Yun was already on its way. Feng Chenyi sent Zhai Yun back to her residence and rode off alone to the palace, intending to intercept the imperial decree appointing Zhai Yun as the Grand General of the Border Garrison.

To put it bluntly, a general guarding the border will eventually have to go and defend the frontier.

Once the imperial edict is read, there is no turning back.

Just as Zhai Yun was about to return to Tingyu Pavilion, someone came to report at the door: "Young Master, someone outside wants to see you."

Zhai Yun was somewhat surprised. No one she knew in the capital would openly come to visit her. Who was this person who had come to visit her now?

Seeing Zhai Yun's expression, Qi Nuo asked the newcomer, "Who is it?"

The guards answered truthfully, "It's a woman, and judging from her clothes, she's from the palace."

With Feng Chenyi absent, Zhai Yun didn't recognize most of the people in the palace. "Are you sure she came to see me?"

If the people in the palace are really after her, she really can't refuse to see them.

After receiving confirmation from the guard, Zhai Yun instructed the guard to take the woman to the front hall, where she would wait.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Zhai Yun did indeed have a vague recollection of her. She had seen her on the day of the competition, when she was cheering and was particularly conspicuous among the imperial heirs.

The princess was a member of the royal family. If Zhai Yun remembered correctly, Emperor Xin'an, with the Empress's encouragement, had already decided to send Princess Mingyue to marry a foreign ruler.

After recognizing her as a princess, Zhai Yun knelt down to pay her respects according to custom, and everyone in the front hall followed suit the moment Zhai Yun knelt down.

Even with Qi Nuo behind her, Zhai Yun's voice was neither humble nor arrogant, "This humble subject greets the princess."

Seeing that everyone in the Prince Rui's mansion had knelt down in unison, she looked somewhat embarrassed. She took a few steps forward and helped Zhai Yun up, saying, "Get up, everyone!"

Upon receiving the order, the others also stood up one after another.

The intimate gesture from a complete stranger made Zhai Yun feel extremely uncomfortable, and she quietly pulled her wrist away from his grasp.

Although it was very light, Princess Mingyue still noticed it. She looked at Zhai Yun, her eyes full of admiration, "I heard that my father has appointed you as the Grand General of the Border Defense. Congratulations."

Zhai Yun appeared somewhat apprehensive, "This humble commoner dares not accept such praise. The princess has condescended to descend upon us; what brings you here?"

A sudden visit must have a purpose.

Qi Nuo watched as Princess Mingyue's gaze never left Zhai Yun from the moment she entered, and she seemed increasingly pleased with herself.

Princess Mingyue walked to the main seat somewhat shyly and sat down, her hands clasped together, her face flushed: "Are you... betrothed?"

Zhai Yun was a little confused by the question, but Qi Nuo seemed to know what was going on.

"No...no," Zhai Yun replied hesitantly.

She thought to herself, "Is Princess Mingyue just bored? She actually came to Prince Rui's mansion to inquire about whether a nobody like her is married."

Princess Mingyue stood up excitedly from her chair, her voice brimming with emotion: "Now that you're past the age for marriage, would you like to settle down and start a family?"

"Huh?" Married? She's already in her early twenties. Men his age should indeed be married by now, otherwise Brother Yi wouldn't have been engaged so hastily after returning to the capital.

As a woman, she should have been a mother long ago.

Zhai Yun blurted out, "I don't want to."

Her past life experiences were like nightmares, leaving her physically and mentally devastated. She never felt any joy and never saw any light.

To this day, she still doesn't understand why the bride and groom can smile so happily when other people get married. Is getting married something to be happy about?

Princess Mingyue was clearly surprised by Zhai Yun's answer, after all, someone his age would have already made preparations and plans for getting married.

Zhai Yun's answer was as if he had never thought about starting a family, and his tone, which used the word "never," was so firm that it seemed he would never start a family in his life.

The light in Princess Mingyue's eyes dimmed for a moment before blazing again. "How about becoming my consort? I'll guarantee you a life of plenty, with power and influence."

The guards and servants standing beside Prince Rui's mansion were all shocked by Princess Mingyue's words. A prince consort—that was something countless people dreamed of. Once you became a prince consort, it was equivalent to becoming half a member of the royal family.

Enjoying royal treatment, everyone except true members of the royal family had to treat the驸马 (驸马) with utmost respect.

With the prince away, Qi Nuo panicked and stepped forward, saying, "Princess Mingyue, be careful what you say. His Majesty has personally betrothed you to Emperor Che, and the wedding is less than a month away. If what you say today gets out, even the prince cannot bear the consequences."

Princess Mingyue is challenging imperial authority; not only that, she has also dragged Prince Rui's mansion into the mess.

How could Qi Nuo remain calm in this situation?

The guards and servants around them, who hadn't thought of this before and were quite envious of Zhai Yun, were now so frightened that they lay on the ground, wishing they could cover their ears and bury themselves in the ground.

If today's events were to reach the Emperor's ears, everyone here would be in trouble.

Princess Mingyue looked at the frightened crowd without a trace of worry on her face. "Don't worry! Father still loves me very much. Father is only worried about my marriage. As long as I get married, Father will not object to who I marry."

Princess Mingyue spoke as she comforted the frightened guards and servants, and finally reached out her hand to Zhai Yun.

Qi Nuo shielded Zhai Yun behind him, looked at her with worried eyes, and shook his head.

With just one glance, Zhai Yun understood that Qi Nuo was worried about her getting too close to Princess Mingyue.

This princess is clearly not normal. The entire Fengli Kingdom is already preparing for her marriage to the Xuanyuan Kingdom, but she still thinks she can follow her own heart.

Princess Mingyue's face darkened instantly. Looking at Zhai Yun, who was being protected by Qi Nuo, she couldn't reach her. Even the best patience had run out.

She was a princess of a nation, while Zhai Yun was merely a general about to be appointed.