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

Madam Yu said, "Back then, I was far away in Yunzhao, so I don't know exactly what happened. I only know that your parents were stationed in Longxi County. While your father was in the capital to report on his work, the Xiongnu invaded Lintao, and your mother led troops to rescue them. She was nine months pregnant at the time, and the jolting ride on the horses was too rough, so she gave birth to you before reaching Lintao. Perhaps out of concern for your safety, she placed you with a commoner. Your mother's health was severely damaged, and she died of exhaustion while defending the city."

Yang Xier was shocked. "Can't someone else go?"

Madam Yu sighed, "It's not enough to just send reinforcements. We still have to defend the city against the enemy. Your father is away, and Yuan'er is worried that the reinforcements and the garrison commander will disagree, which will lead to delays in military operations."

It turned out that she had lost contact with him because of her mother's death. At this moment, Yang Xier felt a sense of identity with her new identity: Lu Mingyang, this name seems quite nice.

Madam Yu began to instruct her about the marriage to the Xiongnu: "Prince Ningyuan is here as an envoy to accompany the bride. You must pay close attention to him along the way. Don't look at him as a sickly person now. He was very powerful in his time."

Thinking of his humiliation, Lu Mingyang smiled awkwardly.

Yes, it was really amazing. Just a few words made her feel ashamed. But she was still very grateful to him. After all, he saved her life today.

Thinking of the strong hand that Prince Ningyuan had on her waist, he didn't look like a sickly person at all. Lu Mingyang asked, "Grandma, do you think he's faking his illness?"

"Why do you ask that?"

Madam Yu recalled the past, "The battle at Black Dragon Rock outside Ningwu Pass three years ago was definitely not fake. In that battle, Prince Ningyuan won a great victory but was also seriously injured. This is known to the world. Both military doctors and imperial physicians have seen it, so it's hard to fake it. At that time, His Majesty hadn't imprisoned him yet, so he had no reason to feign illness."

"As for the subsequent absurdity!" Old Madam Yu lamented, "It was nothing more than unfulfilled ambitions and self-destruction."

Lu Mingyang nodded vigorously: "Everyone said that he was murdered by a woman, but only my grandmother spoke the truth."

"Those men are pedantic and incompetent, always blaming the blame on women. They have no sense of responsibility. Don't believe their nonsense and let yourself suffer."

"I know!" Lu Mingyang smiled at Madam Yu. "Grandma, everyone in our village prefers boys to girls. Why do I feel like you like my mother more than my uncle?"

"How can your uncle compare to your mother? Giving birth to a son is only for the continuation of the family line, while giving birth to a daughter is out of love."

What’s the point!

Although Yang Xier hated her parents' preference for boys over girls, her grandmother's behavior suddenly made her feel a little sympathetic to her uncle who had chased her for three thousand miles.

The night was getting darker and darker, and Madam Yu fell into a deep sleep, but Yang Xier could not fall asleep. Thinking of Concubine Liu who had harmed her, Yang Xier got up and walked out.

The lights were on in the accounting office, and Uncle Zhong was busy packing his wife's dowry.

Yang Xier knocked gently on the open door and asked, "Uncle Zhong, can I borrow three hundred and fifty taels from you?"

Since Aunt Liu went to find me without telling my second sister-in-law, the silver she gave to her parents must be her private property.

"What are you talking about, Fourth Miss? You are the head of the family, so naturally you have the final say on the money in the mansion." Uncle Zhong didn't ask anything and directly gave Yang Xier a silver note of 350 taels.

Yang Xier took the banknote to Liu Yi Niang's courtyard and passed by Shuyun Pavilion on the way. There were two figures in the pavilion, who looked like her uncle and cousin.

She was just hesitating whether to go over and say hello when her uncle's voice came out.

"Contact the people who saved your cousin, and don't let them reveal the truth to your grandmother."

Wei Luo said anxiously, "Father, we have every hope of rescuing my cousin. Why did you lie to Grandmother?"

The Duke of Wei sighed, "So what if I rescued her? Even without evidence, Your Majesty would have guessed it was the Duke of Wei's Mansion. Your Majesty's spies are everywhere in the Duke of Wei's Mansion these days. Let alone a niece, even if it was my own daughter, I couldn't risk the fate of the entire Duke of Wei's Mansion to save her."

Yang Xier covered her mouth and turned to flee. Even when she cried, she would walk to a deserted corner, squat against the wall, and cry silently.

She asked herself how she could be so lucky.

She has been neglected by her father and mother since she was a child, so why should she let her uncle gamble his family's lives to save her? She shouldn't have such fantasies that are beyond her ability.

But because of her stupidity, she harmed Nian'er.

"How about you stay with me for one night and I'll remove your name from the marriage list?"

Prince Ningyuan's words echoed in his mind. Yang Xier naturally knew that the marriage was a big deal, and the emperor would naturally not listen to his disliked stepson. But what if he caused trouble?

With this little support, Yang Xier wiped away her tears and took a detour to Aunt Liu's courtyard.

"Aunt, I don't want to go. I'm scared. I heard that there are Huns on the Cuju field." As soon as I stepped into the yard, I heard Lu Mingqin's soft voice.

"His Majesty has already issued an order for the fourth young lady to come with a dowry. His Majesty is a man of honor. Don't be afraid anymore." Aunt Liu gestured towards her daughter with beautiful clothes.

"Now that all the male members of the Chengyang Marquis's mansion have died, they won't be able to hold out for many more days. I had hoped that, relying on the relationship between the Young Madam and the Imperial Concubine, I could have her find you a good marriage. Unexpectedly, she actually went with the Second Young Master.

Madam Yu refuses to help, and the eldest daughter refuses to show up. Now we can only rely on ourselves. You don't have to worry now, but after the Chengyang Marquis's mansion is stripped of its title and plaque, it will be even harder to find a good family."

Yang Xier stood outside the door and suddenly didn't want to go in. She knocked on the door, leaned over and put three hundred and fifty taels of silver at the door, then turned and left.

Aunt Liu, since you don't care about my life or death, then I don't need to worry about yours either. Who lives and who dies depends on our own abilities.

The next morning, someone from the palace came to pick up Lu Mingyang, and Old Madam Yu accompanied her to Xiangguo Temple.

"Why is the room so simple? There's not even a charcoal fire?"

"Yes, I've already gone to get the charcoal." The accompanying maidservant did not hesitate to comply with all of Old Lady Yu's requests. Even the temple's standard bedding on the bed was replaced with the palace's finest silk quilt.

Lu Mingyang looked at his busy grandmother and felt mixed emotions.

What would happen if I told her?

She didn't dare. That was her biological son, and she was just his granddaughter whom she had known for a few days. She didn't want to lose even this little bit of warmth. At least, her grandmother really wanted to save her.

"That's enough, really enough, grandma." Lu Mingyang smiled and took his grandmother's arm and sent her down the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, Mrs. Yu, who was completely unaware of the situation, was given numerous instructions before she reluctantly got on the carriage.

Duke Wei, who had been waiting in the carriage for a long time, saw his mother and hurriedly ordered the driver, "Quick, return to Yunzhao!"

He had already made a grave mistake by coming to the capital without an imperial edict. Fortunately, he had entered the palace early this morning, and the emperor had not pursued his actions. However, if he had remained in the capital, he would have inevitably aroused the emperor's suspicion.