APSIL -Chapter 159 Whose Daughter Falls for a Worthy Man?

In full view of everyone, Zhu Ying actually splashed an entire cup of wine onto Princess Yongping’s dress. No one knew how many noble ladies and madams were left staring in shock. Even Princess Qingning, who had deliberately cleared out space earlier to let the two of them talk privately, was somewhat surprised.

However, what most people found even harder to accept was that Princess Yongping shot to her feet, yet she did not slap Zhu Ying across the face or loudly curse her. Instead, she merely glared at her viciously, then turned and bowed slightly toward Princess Qingning.

“Third Aunt, I suddenly feel a little dizzy. I will take my leave first. I will come another day to apologize properly.”

Seeing Princess Yongping actually leave directly without even arguing with Zhu Ying, her face full of embarrassment and anger, the noble young ladies who had previously wanted to compete with Zhu Ying exchanged glances. At the same time, they all secretly felt fortunate that they had not acted on impulse.

Even a princess, a supreme golden branch of the imperial family, could not withstand Zhu Ying. What chance did ordinary noble daughters like them have?

Under Princess Qingning’s displeased gaze, Zhu Ying walked directly to the seat beside the main table and sat down, hugging the princess’s arm while acting spoiled.

The drums were still beating, so she lowered her voice and said: “Third Aunt, please don’t be angry. I didn’t mean to disrupt your birthday banquet. There’s a reason for this…”

Without hesitation, Zhu Ying quietly told Princess Qingning about what had happened at the Cuiyun Pavilion’s Qingfeng Xulai Hall—the rebel ambush that targeted Zhang Shou and herself, as well as the assassin who had attacked them.

Then she angrily added: “That assassin was later thrown into the outer office of the Directorate of Ceremonial. A-Liu, A-Shou’s personal servant, is Uncle Hua’s disciple, so he sneaked inside and beat that fellow up.”

Princess Qingning had originally been shocked and angry, but when she heard that Hua Qi’s disciple had inherited the same rebellious temperament, she could not help feeling both amused and annoyed.

However, after hearing what came next, her smile disappeared.

“A-Liu recognized that the assassin’s martial arts came from imperial guards serving before His Majesty. He used some methods, and the man later confessed that Princess Yongping had ordered him.”

Zhu Ying paused briefly before changing the direction of the conversation.

“But I don’t believe it at all! Although Yongping and I have always had a bad relationship, I don’t think she would be so bored as to do something like this. So a few days ago, I told her about it. Naturally, she immediately became furious and went back to investigate.”

Princess Qingning did not even need to hear the rest.

The fact that Princess Yongping had just endured Zhu Ying’s provocation without exploding was enough to show what kind of enemy these two girls were secretly dealing with.

Sure enough, Zhu Ying soon revealed the name she had already expected.

Princess Qingning’s expression darkened as she said unhappily: “You two actually used my birthday banquet to pull such a trick? You really are becoming lawless!”

She sighed.

“Forget it. Anyway, I never had much affection for the Empress. Do whatever you want.”

Her imperial sister-in-law had relied on her family background and so-called virtuous reputation to win over the Empress Dowager and become Empress. She had grown arrogant ever since.

Even Princess Qingning, the Emperor’s own younger sister, was not greatly respected by her. As for the imperial consorts, she was even more cold and domineering toward them.

Although Consort Yu had always enjoyed the Emperor’s favor, that was because she only had Princess Yongping as her child and no son. Moreover, the Empress herself had difficulty controlling her own two sons.

Otherwise, even with the Empress Dowager and Emperor protecting her, the Empress would have used every possible method against Consort Yu. She would never have tolerated her.

Zhu Ying had already expected Princess Qingning’s answer.

She immediately happily hugged the woman’s arm and repeatedly praised: “Third Aunt is the best!”

As for Zhu Ying’s little schemes, Princess Qingning did not take them seriously. She poked Zhu Ying’s forehead twice with her finger.

“You used to be the person who hated using your brain the most, but now you suddenly became so cunning. From now on, I’ll have to watch out for you. Go away, I’m not talking to you anymore!”

Knowing she was only teasing, Zhu Ying smiled and returned to her own seat.

She watched as a large group of ladies presented poems and writings to Princess Qingning. Thinking about how the eldest prince was eighteen and the second prince seventeen, yet because of the ancestral teachings of Emperor Taizu—“better marry late than early”—they still had not taken consorts, she immediately understood their intentions and sneered inwardly.

After another opera performance ended and the luncheon was over, Princess Qingning casually told everyone to freely tour the garden.

Zhu Ying deliberately stayed at the back.

However, halfway there, she saw Liu Qing, the youngest daughter of Vice Minister Liu of the Ministry of Works, waiting for her.

She smiled and walked over.

Liu Qing hurried forward and greeted her happily: “Elder Sister Zhu!”

Since Zhu Ying was the youngest child in her own family, she was naturally delighted by this form of address.

Vice Minister Liu had some friendship with her father, Zhu Jing. He was neither arrogant nor rigid, and even her grandmother spoke highly of him. She also liked Liu Qing’s straightforward and lively personality.

After chatting for a while, Zhu Ying suddenly thought: Wouldn’t such a good girl be wasting herself if she married Lu Sanlang?

A flower stuck into cow dung.

So she lowered her voice: “Although Lu Sanlang really does have some talent in mathematics, don’t force yourself.”

“I’m actually very curious how Lu Sanlang suddenly became a genius. Seeing is believing, but there must be another reason.”

Liu Qing stuck out her tongue, then whispered: “I’ve secretly overheard my parents several times talking about people proposing marriage to our family. I’m just preparing ahead of time so they don’t secretly sell me off!”

She lowered her voice further.

“I don’t expect to have a fiancé like Doctor Zhang, who is like an immortal being, like Sister Zhu. I don’t care about appearance either. But a person must have ambition, and most importantly, good character!”

“Then it’s settled. We’ll keep the original date.”

Zhu Ying smiled and poked Liu Qing’s slightly chubby cheek. Her finger happened to touch the girl’s tiny dimple.

Then she said confidently: “If you think Lu Sanlang isn’t suitable, and your parents’ choice isn’t reliable either, I’ll ask my grandmother to speak with them!”

“Why rush? There are plenty of good men in this world!”

“Then it’s a promise!”

After seeing Liu Qing off, Zhu Ying suddenly stopped smiling.

“Have you heard enough?”

As soon as she said this, rustling sounds came from behind her.

When she turned around, a young girl stepped out from behind a tree.

The girl lowered her head awkwardly and stammered: “Ying… Yingying, I didn’t mean to.”

Zhu Ying froze.

She had noticed someone halfway through her conversation and thought it was some noble daughter secretly eavesdropping. She had planned to use that person as an example after sending Liu Qing away.

But she never expected it to be Princess Deyang.

Most people simply called her the Second Princess and ignored her actual title.

Zhu Ying was not extremely close with this imperial sister, but their relationship was still quite good.

She immediately removed the fierce expression from her face.

“Sorry, Sister De Yang. I didn’t know it was you. I thought it was someone with bad intentions secretly listening.”

“Please don’t tell anyone about what happened just now. After all, Qing’er is still young, and besides, nothing has even been decided yet…”

“I won’t say anything! I absolutely won’t!”

Princess Deyang shook her head like a rattle drum.

After hesitating for a moment, she suddenly stepped forward, as if gathering all her courage.

“Yingying… can you help me too?”

“I don’t want others choosing my husband for me. Can you help me choose one?”

Me?

Zhu Ying was completely stunned.

But the words Princess Deyang said afterward slowly caused her eyebrows to rise.

“Because… because you chose Doctor Zhang yourself. Father once privately mentioned him and often nodded in approval, saying your judgment was excellent.”

“Now you’re also helping Miss Liu choose someone…”

“I rarely leave the palace, and I don’t know many people. My mother is always timid and cautious. I’m afraid Empress will listen to someone else and casually marry me off!”

“I don’t ask for someone extremely wealthy or powerful. I only hope he is a steady person with good character.”

Although Zhu Ying was already eighty percent willing, she still asked: “You don’t trust the Empress, but you trust me?”

“Of course I trust you!”

Princess Deyang answered without hesitation.

“I have never been good with words. My brothers and sisters in the palace are all distant toward me. Only you have always treated me exactly the same as everyone else.”

“Other than you, I don’t know who else I can trust.”

“Alright, I’ll try.”

Zhu Ying was satisfied, but still gave a warning: “But I’ll tell you first, among the people I know, there are almost no proper gentlemen. They are practically all spoiled young masters.”

“Most of them are now studying at Half-Mountain Hall.”

“If we talk about ambition, only Lu Sanlang qualifies. The others’ futures are uncertain, and I’ll need time to judge their character.”

“It’s fine.”

Princess Deyang gave a faint smile.

“At worst, I am still a princess. As long as I behave properly, I can guarantee my future husband will live a wealthy and peaceful life.”

As she spoke, she removed a jade pendant she wore close to her body. It still carried her warmth.

She handed it to Zhu Ying.

“This was gifted to me by Father.”

“You usually cannot easily come see me in the palace, and I also don’t know when I can meet you.”

“If one day you find someone suitable, just say you found this and want to return it to me. Then you’ll have a reason to come see me.”

Seeing this, Zhu Ying laughed.

“That’s actually a good idea. Fine, we’ll do that.”

Originally, Zhu Ying had been attending all these gatherings she normally hated because she wanted to find a suitable marriage partner for Lu Sanlang, while also helping those spoiled young masters see if there were suitable girls.

Now Princess Deyang had personally come to ask her for help.

Could it be that this girl, who had never acted as a matchmaker before, already had such a trustworthy reputation?

Although Zhu Ying was proud by nature, because of both her family background and personality, she naturally had several close female friends.

Most of them came from extremely prestigious families.

Because of seating arrangements earlier, she had not had the chance to talk with them.

During the garden tour, she used those close friends to introduce herself to several other girls with good personalities.

Without exception, all of them came from families of newly appointed officials in the capital.

After all the socializing ended, Zhu Ying climbed into the carriage feeling more exhausted than after horseback hunting or practicing martial arts all morning.

She rubbed her shoulders and asked impatiently: “Which family business are we visiting today?”

Thinking of the chaos caused by the young lady’s recent inspections of Zhu family businesses, Zhu Hong silently mourned for the shopkeepers who were about to suffer.

Then he answered seriously: “Wufu Money House on Chongwen Gate Inner Street.”

“Excellent.”

Zhu Ying smiled and rubbed her wrists.

“Hard bones should be saved for last.”

She swung her imaginary whip downward and declared: “Let’s go to Shuntian Prefecture first, call Deng Xiaodai over, then we’ll investigate the accounts!”

Although Deng Xiaodai was actually only a beginner in the household department and his accounting skills were nothing extraordinary, he carried several powerful titles:

A student of Zhang Shou.

A descendant disciple of Ge Yong.

And the person who helped present data charts to Prefect Wang Daren.

With all those reputations combined, when Zhu Ying brought him along, the intimidation effect was enormous.

And that was exactly what she wanted.

She wanted to scare them into revealing the truth.