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

Quanzhong stood in front of the steps, and two young eunuchs stood behind him, looking dignified and solemn, but there was no movement for a long time.

Yan Xiaozhen looked up and saw Quanzhong's eyes on Yan Xining, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

His eyes darted around a few times. Quanzhong didn't even bother to exchange pleasantries, saying he had to get down to business first. They were already kneeling, but where was the business? What did he mean by that?

Quanzhong coughed and said, "This is the Weiyuan Marquis' Mansion. Your Highness Prince An, please stop kneeling here!"

Yan Xiaozhen felt even more certain in his heart. It seemed that it was indeed that rebellious girl who had angered the emperor.

He immediately scolded Yan Xining softly: "Why don't you step aside?"

Yan Xueqi reached out and pushed her: "I'm talking to you, why don't you leave quickly?"

Yan Xiaozhen had been paying close attention to Quanzhong's expression. When he saw that the latter seemed to smile, he immediately turned around and frowned: "Your affairs have nothing to do with our family. Don't get involved in our affairs!"

He asked tentatively, "Eunuch Quan, I wonder if the emperor's will has anything to do with my daughter?"

Quanzhong nodded: "Indeed, it is related. Yesterday, Prince An and his wife entered the palace, and something happened..."

It seems that beating the prince and princess is indeed true! Before Quanzhong could finish, Yan Xiaozhen took over, accusing and shirking responsibility as soon as he opened his mouth: "This girl has been disobedient since she was a child, otherwise she wouldn't have gotten lost. Now she just came back and caused such a big disaster. Eunuch, I have to ask you to say a few good words in front of the emperor. This really has nothing to do with my mansion!"

Chu Jinxun frowned. "Marquis Yan, you have absolutely no regard for the father-daughter relationship. No matter what, ahem… Xining is also the eldest daughter of the Marquisate. There's no need for you to be so hasty in distancing yourself from her."

Yan Xiaozhen sneered, "A daughter once married is like spilled water. Yesterday, she became Princess An. Why should my mansion take responsibility for the trouble she caused?"

Chu Jinxun was helped up by Yan Xining, his expression becoming even worse: "Does Lord Yan really want to be so heartless?"

"Your Highness, you just got married to her, and I understand your desire to protect her. But I've already done my utmost to bring her back and marry her off!" Yan Xiaozhen quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, and when he looked up again, his tone was firm: "She's not the only child in the Marquisate, and I can't abandon the Marquisate for her!"

Yan Xining was not surprised at all. She lowered her eyebrows and said quietly: "Forget it, it seems that I shouldn't have come to the return visit today. Prince, since the Marquis's Mansion doesn't recognize me. Then let's take our return visit gifts back!" After saying this, her shoulders trembled, as if she was extremely sad.

Yan Xueqi was delighted to see this. She sneered and said disdainfully, "Look at your petty attitude. Who do you think cares about your rags?"

Tian Jiaying also chimed in: "The Marquis is right. She is not the only child in the Marquis's Mansion. We cannot let her influence Qi'er and Chang'er."

They no longer even maintained superficial politeness. Except for Yan Luchang, who had not returned from the academy, the three of them had surprisingly consistent attitudes.

Quan Zhong, who had been watching the show for a while, said with a smile: "You guys should handle your own family affairs. Just listen to my orders!"

He waved his whisk and said, "Your Majesty has decreed: The dowry of the late wife of Marquis Weiyuan, Luo Yiyun, shall be given to her daughter, Yan Xining. As for the gains and losses, no calculation shall be made! This matter must be carried out immediately without delay. I decree!"

Yan Xiaozhen's face froze. Tian Jiaying reacted quickly and blurted out, "Luo didn't have any dowry back then!"

The couple looked at each other in bewilderment. They originally thought that Yan Xining had caused trouble by hitting the prince, and now the emperor was coming to punish her. Who would have thought that he was here to ask for Luo's dowry?

Quanzhong glanced at her, his tone a little harsh: "Madam Hou, you are the second wife, so it is normal that you don't know. Luo's dowry list has a backup in the government office. It's not up to you to decide whether it is there or not!"

Tian Jiaying's teeth nearly snapped. How could a eunuch speak so harshly? Did he even have a backup of the list? She'd handled everything in the mansion, leaving no one in the know besides herself and the Marquis. Yet, she hadn't expected Luo to hold back.

Yan Xiaozhen forced a smile. "Eunuch Quan, why would His Majesty issue such an order? Back then, Mrs. Luo left behind two daughters. Even if all the dowries were given to them, they should have been divided equally."

Quanzhong chuckled and looked at him meaningfully: "I am just a messenger. If you have any doubts, you can directly speak to the emperor!"

Yan Xiaozhen suddenly stopped talking.

Tian Jiaying's face also looked ugly.

Even without counting the surplus, if Luo's dowry was given to Yan Xining, the Marquis's residence would be emptied of one-third. No wonder that wild girl had only mentioned it briefly before and didn't say much. Did she know there was something else waiting for her?

Quanzhong glanced at them sideways: "Is the Marquis' wife planning to disobey the order?"

Yan Xiaozhen forced an unpleasant smile and kowtowed hurriedly: "I accept your order!"

Quanzhong walked down the stairs and smiled at Chu Jinxun: "Your Highness Prince An, the Emperor said that you are not in good health. You should think less and rest more. Take care of yourself!"

There was some sympathy in his eyes as he looked at the two of them. Alas, it was pitiful for the prince and princess to have only steamed buns and pickles for breakfast!

Quanzhong took it and handed it to Yan Xining with a smile: "This is the government's backup copy. After you have counted it, you can go and register it. From now on, this is the princess's private property!"

When he returned to the palace in the morning, he told the emperor everything he had seen. Hearing that a prince could only eat those for breakfast, even the emperor was speechless.

Otherwise, the emperor is busy with all kinds of affairs, so why would he care about such trivial matters as a woman's dowry?

He turned around and stretched out his hand behind him, and a eunuch handed him a booklet.

"Thank you, eunuch!" Yan Xining took it.

Yan Xiaozhen got up by himself, trying hard to maintain a smile on his face. No one noticed that his fists were clenched under his sleeves.

Yan Xining smiled brightly: "I asked Madam Hou about my mother's dowry before. At that time, I thought that if Madam Hou was more honest, I would be grateful for her kindness and give half of the dowry to Yan Xueqi. After all, it is also a thought from me as her elder sister."

Yan Xueqi's eyes lit up, and Tian Jiaying's expression also relaxed.

But Yan Xining continued slowly, "But first, the Marquis' wife flatly denied that my mother had any dowry left, saying that it was just a few melons and dates, which she didn't even care about. And then you turned against me so cruelly, which really caught me off guard."

She waved the booklet in her hand and said, "So, in the eyes of the Marquis' wife, these are just trifles. The Marquis's Mansion is much richer than I thought. So I'd better take all these trifles away!"

Tian Jiaying's face turned pale with anger.

How could she know that the emperor would care about such trivial matters?

Yan Xueqi was filled with jealousy, hatred, and resentment. Her eyes moved and she took a step forward: "Yan Xining, you can't be so shameless, right? Since it's something left by mother, I have a share too!"

"Really? Then you should go and tell the emperor!" She glanced at Yan Xueqi. She had run away crying in anger before, but now she had changed into a goose yellow dress. She looked cute and tender, graceful and elegant. Every move she made was like a mass-produced product made from a carefully crafted mold.