APSIL -Chapter 109 Asking the Heart

Perhaps it was because her husband, the Duke of Zhao, Zhu Jing, was absent.

Perhaps it was because the Lady Dowager had lowered her posture and spoken with unusual gentleness.

Perhaps it was because Zhu Ying had clung to her mother, pleading and coaxing her to stay.

Or perhaps it was simply because the future mother-in-law found herself liking her future son-in-law more and more the longer she looked at him…

Whatever the reason, Ninth Aunt finally agreed—albeit reluctantly—to remain at the Duke’s residence.

Even so, she insisted firmly, “I’ll stay two nights. No more.”

After Zhu Ying whispered with the Lady Dowager for a while, her face suddenly lit up with delight. She happily helped her mother away to wash and change, even inviting Madam Wu to accompany them.

The Lady Dowager, meanwhile, kept Zhang Shou behind to ask about everything that had happened that day.

Zhang Shou frankly recounted how he had met Chu Ying and Qi Jingshan at Zhigong Tower, and how he had later encountered Minister of War Lu Wan.

He had expected the Lady Dowager to connect this with the previous night’s visit to the Lu residence and question him thoroughly.

Instead, she merely smiled faintly and asked something entirely unrelated.

“A-Shou, do you know how Yingying managed to find you right outside the Directorate of Ceremonial?”

Only then did Zhang Shou realize he’d overlooked the matter.

“Now that you mention it… that is rather strange.”

The Lady Dowager laughed.

“Because someone mistook you for the Second Prince, who’s famous throughout the palace for his extraordinary looks. The rumor spread through every government office nearby.”

“You boldly walked straight into the Directorate of Ceremonial. That’s a place everyone else avoids like the plague. Of course people misunderstood.”

“When Yingying secretly told me about it earlier, even I was startled.”

After teasing him a little and seeing the embarrassment on his face, she continued.

“Yingying went to your house after hearing her mother had returned, but you weren’t there. She learned there was a public trial at the Shuntian Prefecture and guessed you’d gone to watch.”

“She went to Zhigong Tower first and happened to hear that you’d met Master Chu, Master Qi, and Minister Lu there.”

“So she hurried off looking for you.”

“She asked everyone she met whether they’d seen an exceptionally handsome young gentleman.”

“Then she heard someone say the Second Prince had entered the Directorate of Ceremonial.”

“Immediately she knew the rumor was false.”

“She’s been in the palace these past two days and knows the Crown Prince and Second Prince were both confined after their quarrel. There was no way the Second Prince had been released.”

“So she guessed the person who’d gone to see Chu Kuan was probably you.”

“And as it turned out…”

“She guessed correctly.”

Zhang Shou couldn’t help laughing helplessly.

But what the Lady Dowager said next surprised him even more.

“Our dynasty differs from the Han, Tang, and Song.”

“The Founding Emperor once said, ‘Why should every prince receive a title at birth? At that point, who knows whether he’ll become a capable talent or a useless fool?'”

“So all princes wait until they’re eighteen. Only then do we see whether they’ve become dragons, phoenixes… or merely rats.”

“Princesses, on the other hand, receive their titles at birth. In that respect, they’re treated even more generously than princes.”

She paused.

“Actually…”

“Back then, your marriage agreement was only a verbal promise.”

“No one ever specified which girl you would marry.”

Zhang Shou blinked.

Seeing his surprise, the Lady Dowager explained earnestly, “In other words…”

“It’s entirely possible Consort Yu also had her eye on you and wanted you to become Princess Yongping’s prince consort.”

“After all, you’re not only talented, but exceptionally handsome.”

“The world judges by appearances.”

“Those born plain-looking often have to work hundreds or thousands of times harder before others recognize their talent.”

Zhang Shou smiled.

He wasn’t offended by her bluntness.

As for becoming a prince consort…

He simply didn’t believe it.

“Consort Yu only showed concern because of my mother,” he replied frankly.

“She certainly didn’t have such intentions.”

“As for Princess Yongping…”

“In my opinion, she’s far too proud to think much of me.”

“Oh?”

The Lady Dowager smiled knowingly.

“And if you’re mistaken?”

“What if she truly did fancy you?”

Zhang Shou chuckled.

“These things require mutual affection.”

“Even if someone likes me…”

“I might not necessarily return those feelings.”

The Lady Dowager immediately pressed further.

“So…”

“Are you saying Yingying is better than Princess Yongping?”

He hadn’t expected such relentless questioning.

After a brief silence, Zhang Shou answered honestly.

“To be truthful…”

“I’ve never been able to accept the idea that parents and matchmakers should decide a person’s marriage.”

“I want to make that decision myself.”

Such a declaration bordered on audacity.

The Lady Dowager stared at him.

The teasing amusement gradually vanished from her face, replaced by the careful scrutiny of a grandmother protecting her granddaughter.

“You don’t like Yingying?”

“When she first appeared…”

“I was shocked.”

“I wanted to keep my distance.”

“But very quickly I realized that was impossible.”

“She’s genuine.”

“She’s wonderful.”

“She’s not one of those perfectly virtuous wooden dolls who merely pretend.”

“The longer someone spends with her…”

“The harder it becomes not to fall for her.”

“Myself included.”

Meeting the Lady Dowager’s sharp gaze directly, Zhang Shou spoke each word clearly.

“I don’t want her to regret anything in the future.”

“So…”

“I want her to know the real me.”

“And I also want to know the real her.”

“If, after seeing my true personality and character, she still doesn’t change her mind…”

“Then discussing marriage later won’t be too late.”

The Lady Dowager burst into laughter.

“You…”

“You could have simply said you need more time.”

“You don’t want to marry so quickly.”

“You just want to spend some carefree time together with Yingying first.”

Seeing the composed young man suddenly become somewhat flustered, she smiled contentedly.

“So long as you admit you’ve fallen for Yingying.”

“It took her so long to truly love someone.”

“I don’t want her sincerity wasted.”

Then, just as she appeared every bit the loving grandmother…

Her tone shifted abruptly.

“A-Shou.”

“Last night you accompanied Yingying and even dragged Second and Zhu Gongquan to Minister Lu’s residence.”

“Were you trying to find out why Lu Wan has been targeting Yingying’s father?”

He had been prepared to answer that question much earlier.

Instead, she’d circled around it until he was forced to confront his own feelings.

Now she suddenly returned to it.

Anyone would have been caught off guard.

After a brief pause, Zhang Shou answered honestly.

“Yes.”

“Because Yingying said…”

“She felt it was time she grew up.”

The Lady Dowager nodded faintly.

“Then why did you persuade Second yourself, while leaving Yingying to convince Zhu Gongquan?”

“You could easily persuade Second.”

“But Yingying’s straightforward methods might not necessarily intimidate someone as experienced as Zhu Gongquan.”

“She didn’t understand that.”

“Did someone as clever as you truly not understand either?”

“At the time,” Zhang Shou admitted, “I did think threatening Zhu Gongquan wasn’t the best approach.”

“But afterward I realized…”

“So what?”

“Even if Zhu Gongquan entered the Lu residence only to secretly warn Minister Lu…”

“Second Young Master would still have met Lu Sanlang.”

“Minister Lu would probably invite Yingying and me inside.”

“That would give us the opportunity to confront him directly.”

“And…”

“Everything happened almost exactly as I’d anticipated.”

The Lady Dowager shook her head, smiling.

“Yingying may be fearless to the point of recklessness…”

“But you…”

“You actually indulged her instead of stopping her.”

Though her words sounded like criticism, her smile betrayed only approval.

“Very well.”

“You two children stumbled into it by accident…”

“But you still managed to unravel the mystery behind those secret letters.”

“Now Minister Lu has reason to hesitate.”

“Perhaps certain matters will finally quiet down.”

As she spoke, she suddenly rose to her feet.

Then, with utmost solemnity, she performed a full curtsy toward Zhang Shou.

“No matter what…”

“I must thank you.”

“The wisest thing I’ve done these past days…”

“Was sending Yingying to the countryside.”

Startled, Zhang Shou quickly stepped aside before returning the salute.

“My mother and I have lived comfortably all these years thanks to your generosity.”

“This time was merely a fortunate coincidence.”

“There’s no need for thanks.”

“Though…”

He hesitated.

Then he finally asked, “The sack A-Liu brought back last night…”

The Lady Dowager answered calmly, “Oh.”

“We sank it to the bottom of Shichahai.”

Zhang Shou’s eyes widened instantly.

Seeing his expression, she laughed.

“I was teasing you.”

“You convinced Yingying to hand Zhu Yu over to the Shuntian Prefecture.”

“So what else would we do with a steward who betrayed his master?”

“Didn’t Yingying threaten Zhu Gongquan with the evidence the Zhu family held over him?”

“I’ve already handed him over to the prefectural court.”

“Along with proof that he’d embezzled grain and supplies over the years.”

“Fortunately, the matters he handled for Yingying’s father were only routine affairs.”

“He never dealt with confidential correspondence.”

“Prefect Wang is a capable man.”

“So I’ll just have to trouble him with one more case.”

Zhang Shou stood there speechless.

He felt profound sympathy for Prefect Wang, who had already been overwhelmed with work lately.

But very soon he realized…

He’d sympathized with the wrong person.

Because only moments later, Nanny Jiang’s voice came from outside.

“Lady Dowager!”

“Someone has arrived from the Shuntian Prefecture.”

“They say Prefect Wang is summoning the future young master.”

She paused for emphasis.

“Prefect Wang says it’s a matter of the utmost urgency.”

“If the young master hasn’t eaten, he can dine there.”

“If he wants to sleep, he can sleep there too.”

“But no matter what…”

“He wants to see him within half an hour.”

“Otherwise…”

“He’ll personally come here himself.”

“And…”

“He’s even sent a sedan chair.”

“It’s waiting outside the gate.”