Becoming a widow for the sake of good fortune? The short-lived prince lived a hundred years

At the door of the private room on the east side, Yuan Yiming stopped and knocked on the door three times.

The door opened, and it was opened by an old woman.

She looked at Yuan Yiming and stepped aside: "Master Yuan, please come in!"

Yuan Yiming couldn't see inside the private room. When he walked in, he could see clearly that there was a noble lady inside. She was about thirty-eight or thirty-nine years old. She was wearing a dark purple, gold-woven long dress with a front opening and wide sleeves. The texture was soft and smooth, and the hem of the skirt was embroidered with intricate and gorgeous patterns in gold thread.

She sat upright on a carved pearwood chair, her posture elegant yet revealing an indescribable arrogance. Her head tilted slightly upward, and as she looked at people, her eyes seemed to peek downward from the corners of her eyes. The corners of her mouth curved slightly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes; it was just a habitual, superior expression, as if to express her condescension.

Yuan Yiming didn't know her.

But he still bowed politely: "Greetings, Madam. May I ask who you are? I wonder why you asked me to come here. What advice do you have for me?"

"Oh, number one scholar, you didn't have this attitude when you came to the Marquis' Mansion a few days ago!"

Yuan Yiming's eyes flickered slightly: "Are you the wife of Marquis Weiyuan?"

The old woman laughed and said, "Madam, Yuan Zhuangyuan is really smart. He actually guessed your identity!"

Tian Jiaying's gaze fell on Yuan Yiming and she said, "He is indeed a handsome and talented top scholar with a bright future."

Yuan Yiming didn't know what his intention was. Although he was humiliated by the second lady at Weiyuan Marquis' Mansion last time, he endured it. After all, it was he who didn't understand the situation clearly and made a fool of himself.

But what did the wife of Marquis Weiyuan want from him?

He had asked the question just now, but the other party didn't answer, so he didn't ask again.

"Master Yuan, please take a seat!"

Yuan Yiming sat down opposite.

Tian Jiaying smiled and said, "I heard that you went to Weiyuan Marquis's Mansion last time, but I happened to be away at that time. The Marquis said that you came to propose marriage to Xining."

"I didn't know Miss Yan was already married at the time. How presumptuous of me!"

"It's not that presumptuous. Ignorance is not a crime."

Seeing that she was talking about other things and not getting to the point, Yuan Yiming couldn't help but frown slightly: "Madam, if you have anything to say, just say it directly."

Tian Jiaying laughed: "Master Yuan is really anxious, have a cup of tea and talk slowly!"

Seeing Yuan Yiming's impatience, she asked, "Were you and Xi Ning childhood sweethearts in the countryside?"

"Madam, what do you mean? There's no such thing as childhood sweethearts for country folk. We've only known each other a few times!"

"Didn't you say that Xining funded you?"

Yuan Yiming said: "Miss Yan has a kind heart!"

Tian Jiaying laughed. "Mrs. Yuan is kindhearted and doesn't want others to think too badly of her. How do you know she funded you back then not because she thought you had a bright future and was just trying to show her goodwill in advance?"

Yuan Yiming's face was displeased. "What are you talking about, Madam? She is the eldest daughter of the Weiyuan Marquisate. Even if I were the top scholar, I would only be a sixth-rank official. Why would she need to show kindness to me?"

"Master Yuan, you're wrong!" Tian Jiaying glanced at him with a half-smile. "At that time, she was in the countryside, but she didn't know her true identity. For a country girl, isn't a scholar who might win the top prize the most likely tree to climb?"

Yuan Yiming's face darkened: "Madam, please be careful with your words. I believe Xining is not that kind of person!"

Tian Jiaying picked up the teacup and gently blew away the steam rising from it, but she wasn't in a hurry to drink. She glanced at Yuan Yiming from the corner of her eye and said slowly, "I know she must have shown a very good side to Master Yuan. Simple and kind, hardworking and sensible, considerate, gentle and honest... or maybe more, right?"

She burst out laughing. "But that was all fake. Think about it, a wild girl who grew up in the countryside, wouldn't she try her best to make a good future for herself?"

"If that's what Madam wants to say, then there's nothing more to discuss. Yuan will take his leave!"

"Master Yuan, why are you so anxious? Don't you want to know what kind of person Yan Xining is?"

Yuan Yiming originally wanted to stand up, but after hesitating for a moment, he sat back down.

"Aren't you surprised? How did she become the Princess of An after such a short time in the capital? Even if Prince An is in poor health, he is still a prince. From a country peasant girl to the daughter-in-law of an imperial family, could a truly simple and kind person have done it?"

"What exactly does Madam want to say?"

"Let me be frank with you. Actually, this marriage was originally intended for Miss Yan Er. But then, Yan Xining was suddenly taken back to the Marquis' Mansion. Their status and position were completely different. Everyone in the mansion felt that she had suffered in the countryside and that they owed her something. They treated her with great care and tried their best to make up for it. But I didn't expect her to take advantage of this opportunity to propose this condition, wanting to marry into the Prince's Mansion in her sister's place, and she also said, and said..."

"What else?" Yuan Yiming clenched his hands unconsciously.

Tian Jiaying sighed and put the teacup back. "She also said that if I didn't agree to her marriage, she would say that the accident that year was a deliberate abandonment by the Marquisate, bringing shame and disgrace to the Marquisate! The Marquis thought, after all, it's a daughter being married off, it doesn't matter which one he marries. Since Yan Xining wants her, he'll give her up as compensation for her sixteen years of living in the countryside!"

"Then, will the Second Young Lady agree?" Yuan Yiming asked doubtfully. He had seen the Second Young Lady before, and with that kind of personality, she didn't seem like someone who would suffer any loss.

Tian Jiaying shook her head gently: "What can we do if she doesn't agree? The Marquis has agreed. Besides, Xining is her sister after all. A sister who has suffered so much outside for so many years finally came back and made such a request. Even if it is to ask for her husband, she can only give in!"

Yuan Yiming's brow furrowed even more tightly, and the veins on his forehead throbbed slightly. He suppressed his emotions, "Madam, please stop slandering Xining. I've met her several times and can truly feel her sincerity. I don't believe she's as hypocritical as you say."

"Master Yuan, you're simply too confused by your own experience. You've only met her a few times, so how can you truly understand her? Think about it, if she were truly as innocent and kind as you think, how could she have become the noble prince's consort?"

Tian Jiaying gently put down the teacup, making a slight clinking sound. She raised her chin slightly, her eyes full of contempt, "Prince's Consort, how many noble ladies in the capital have fought tooth and nail for such a good marriage? How could a country girl like her get one?"

Yuan Yiming gritted his teeth, his voice low and cold: "Madam, do you have any evidence? If you don't have any evidence, it's slander!"

Tian Jiaying smiled softly, a hint of sarcasm in her laughter: "Evidence? Lord Yuan, how can everything in the Marquis' Mansion be proven? As the wife of the Marquis, would I really make up lies to deceive you? You said that you are only a sixth-rank official. How can I, a Marquis' wife, gossip in front of you?"

"I don't believe what you say!"

Tian Jiaying looked at him with pity, her face confiding, "Then how do you think a country girl who just arrived in the capital could become Princess An in such a short time?"