I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

Two horse-drawn carriages were galloping along the country road, raising a cloud of yellow sand.

The villagers who had gathered around Yang Tiezhu's house dispersed, but Yang Tiechui and his family stayed. Old Lady Yang again brought up the conscription money. But it was clear that they weren't satisfied with just ten taels of silver, and each of them stared at the wooden box.

Mother Yang said anxiously, "Master, you are old enough. We will keep the money and take you a concubine."

These words touched Yang Tiezhu's heart. He was only in his early forties. If he had the money to take a concubine, how could he not have a son?

"Brother!" With so much money before his eyes, Yang Tiechui couldn't give up. He said hurriedly, "Our own children are all here, why are you giving birth to another child? How about the third child? Let him take care of you in your old age."

"Uncle, I will live with you in your old age and be filial to you." The eldest son, who was worried about going to the army, spoke first and knelt in front of Yang Tiezhu and kowtowed.

"No need." His second brother's sarcasm about him not having a son, along with all the years of grievances, suddenly flooded back. Yang Tiezhu hugged the wooden box and said proudly, "Brother, prepare Dad's three acres of land for me. Next year, I'll be able to plant winter wheat."

Laughter resounded through the sky.

Yang Nian'er watched this scene with a chill running down her spine. Her recently deceased brother was still lying in the room, yet they seemed to have forgotten about him.

In the past, she always hated her parents for favoring her younger brother and took out all her resentment on him. Now she realized that they didn't like her younger brother at all, they just wanted a son.

Yang Nian'er turned and ran out of the yard, chasing the departing carriage like crazy.

"Second sister, please take me away, please take me away!"

The sound was piercing and heartbreaking.

Yang Xier opened the window and saw her sister fall to the ground. But she ignored the pain and got up to run after the carriage. The whole world was filled with the sound of her stubborn footsteps.

"Stop, stop quickly!"

Yang Xier jumped out of the carriage and threw herself into his arms stubbornly.

"Second sister, please take me away. I don't want to watch them give birth to a son."

There was sobbing in the panicked voice.

Yang Xier knew that her sister did not make this decision on impulse. When she was wronged in the past, she often planned to run away from home with her.

Now she has the opportunity, but she doesn't know what she will face, so how can she dare to take her sister away.

Yang's parents, who realized what was happening, caught up with her and tried to persuade her to be sensible. But Yang Nian'er held on to the carriage tightly and refused to let go.

Seeing that it was getting late, Chunxiang got off the carriage and handed twenty taels of silver to Yang Tiezhu, "Here are twenty taels of silver for you. From now on, your daughter will belong to our Chengyang Marquis Mansion."

"This..." There is only one daughter left in the family, and they are not short of money now. Yang's mother does not want her daughter to leave.

Aunt Liu said, "There's no need to sign a contract to sell yourself. Miss Yang can come back anytime she wants."

Seeing her husband accept the silver, Mother Yang said distressedly: "Nian'er, then you can go to Chang'an with your second sister. Don't play around and come back as soon as possible."

Yang Xier pulled her sister into the carriage and thanked Aunt Liu. Even if there was danger, it would be for her alone, so she took her sister with her. She was reluctant to let go of her hand.

The carriage drove away from Yangjia Village and gradually stabilized.

Yang Xier asked tentatively, "Marquis Chengyang... I heard my father died at the border. How did he die?"

"As a woman, I don't know about the important events in the court."

Aunt Liu didn't want to say more, so Yang Xier asked again: "What about my biological mother? I remember you called her Miss?"

"I was originally the maidservant that came with the lady's dowry. After the lady died, the marquis took over the curtain and raised me as a concubine."

Yang Xier wanted to ask something more, but Aunt Liu had already closed her eyes and was resting. She looked like she didn't want to say anything more.

At dusk on the third day, the carriage slowly entered Chang'an City. The tall buildings, splendid clothes, and a dazzling array of goods were dazzling.

Yang Nian'er leaned against the car window and exclaimed, "How beautiful!"

"Is it that beautiful?" Yang Xier smiled and moved closer.

"It looks great!" Yang Nian'er pointed to a beautiful red building and said excitedly, "Second sister, look, there are many beautiful young ladies there, dressed so beautifully."

Yang Xier looked in the direction of her finger. It was so cold, but those women were still wearing summer gauze, standing at the door to solicit customers.

It turned out to be a brothel.

The women were happily discussing a man: King Ningyuan.

"Prince Ningyuan is so suave and handsome, especially in that aspect, he is amazing." The brothel girl who spoke had a shy look on her face.

The purple-clad woman next to him couldn't stand it any longer and said disdainfully, "Who in that brothel hasn't served Prince Ningyuan? What are you bragging about?"

"Yes, there are many people who have served King Ningyuan, even my sister has served him, but have you ever received any reward?" She touched her neck proudly, where she wore a pearl necklace. Each pearl was as big as a grape, round and shiny.

"These are pearls from the South China Sea. King Ningyuan said he'd ask me to come next time, as he has many more good things for me to choose from."

Everyone in the brothel knew that although Prince Ningyuan often asked prostitutes to serve him, no one was ever called a second time.

The purple-robed woman teased, "Congratulations, sister. The last time I was there, Prince Ningyuan was coughing up blood. If he dies in your bed one day, I wonder how you'll explain it to the Emperor."

These romantic affairs of princes and nobles make people blush when they hear about them.

Yang Xier was worried about corrupting her sister's young mind, so she went to close the curtains, but she heard news from the Marquis of Chengyang coming from the teahouse in front.

In Shangyang Village, the common people still regarded the Marquis of Chengyang and his son as national heroes who fought against the Xiongnu and died gloriously in battle. However, in the eyes of the common people in the capital, the Marquis of Chengyang became a criminal who secretly started a war and put the Sheng Dynasty in danger.

Yang Xier's heart, which had originally calmed down, became tense again.

"People say that the flowers in Luoyang are as beautiful as brocade, but it's not spring when I come."

"Second sister, when did you learn to recite poetry?" Yang Nian'er lowered the car curtain and held her sister's hand, wondering, "Second sister, why are your hands so cold?"

Along the way, Chunxiang heard Yang Nian'er calling her "Second Sister" countless times. Now that they were almost at Chengyang Marquis' Mansion, she had to remind her, "Yang Nian'er, you are now a servant of Chengyang Marquis' Mansion. You should call the Fourth Young Lady the Fourth Young Lady."

"Madam Liu, I..."

Before Yang Xier could finish, Aunt Liu said, "Miss Yang can leave anytime she wants, but as long as she stays at Chengyang Marquis Mansion, she must abide by the rules of Chengyang Marquis Mansion. Otherwise, if the news gets out, it will bring shame to our Chengyang Marquis Mansion. Since the Fourth Miss doesn't have anyone to serve her, let her be your personal maid."

Yang Nian'er asked: "What does 'close' mean?" She only knew what 'maid' meant.

Aunt Liu explained: "You must always stay by the side of the fourth young lady and take good care of her."

"I do!" Yang Nian'er responded excitedly.

Yang Xier didn't say anything else. She felt more at ease knowing that her sister could always stay by her side.