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

The next morning, Lu Mingyang chose a blue and white jacket and skirt and added a few more plain hairpins to his hair. This was a show of respect for his late father while also showing the importance he attached to the Empress Dowager's banquet.

On the carriage leading to the palace, Lu Mingyang warned Yang Nian'er: "Don't speak for a while. Don't say anything unless someone asks you. Also, no matter how tired you are, you are not allowed to sit; no matter how greedy you are, you are not allowed to eat."

Now that the danger was gone, she also wanted to take her sister to see the palace that everyone was curious about.

Yang Nian'er patted her chest and assured, "Second sister, I know!"

"Well, what did you call me?"

Yang Nian'er reacted and saluted properly, "Yes, Fourth Miss."

The carriage, filled with laughter and joy, slowly stopped at the palace gate. The two men got off the carriage and followed the eunuchs of Shoukang Palace to Shoukang Palace.

Yang Nian'er looked at the towering red walls and couldn't help but sigh, "The walls in the palace are so high!"

"Shh!"

"Is there anything you can't say?"

A man's deep laughter came from behind him. Lu Mingyang turned his head and saluted hurriedly.

"Your Highness, my maid, wishes you well."

Chu Mingzheng walked up to Lu Mingyang and said to the eunuch who was leading the way, "You go ahead first. I will go with Miss Lu later."

"Yes!" The young eunuch took Yang Nian'er away.

On the palace path, enclosed by the towering palace walls, only two tiny figures remained. One leaned against the wall, while the other's figure pressed down.

"I heard from the Royal Grandmother that you want to marry this prince?"

"Yes!" Lu Mingyang suppressed the nervousness in her heart and slowly raised her eyes: "Ever since Your Highness went north, Your Highness's handsome face has appeared in my dreams every night. I only realized it later. What does it mean to be deeply in love with him?"

The soft and gentle voice actually carried some emotion.

Chu Mingzheng originally thought it was the Empress Dowager's decision, and seeing her dress so carefully, he felt relieved. Who knew that he had been worried that she would find a way to turn it down for Song Wei, and he hadn't slept well that night.

But how could he admit it?

"It's a nightmare!" Chu Mingzheng raised his eyebrows.

Lu Mingyang: “…”

Chu Mingzheng looked at the embarrassed girl in front of him, leaned over and whispered in her ear: "Could it be a wet dream?"

"Your Highness is joking!"

"But now, I don't want to marry you anymore!" Chu Mingzheng flicked his clothes and strode away.

Lu Mingyang was anxious: "Your Highness, Your Highness..."

The harder she chased him, the faster he walked.

Upon entering Shoukang Palace, Lu Mingyang heard Prince Ningyuan complaining, "Grandmother, look at how silly she is! I don't want to marry her!"

The Queen Mother poked Chu Mingzheng's forehead in dissatisfaction, "You little monkey, why didn't you call the girl stupid when you acted recklessly? Now you don't want to take responsibility?"

Lu Mingyang walked in while the two were talking.

"Your humble servant pays homage to the Queen Mother and Your Highness."

Chu Mingzheng looked at the woman kneeling on the ground and said wantonly, "Since the Empress Dowager has asked me to be responsible for you, then I will reward you with being my maidservant!"

After slapping Chu Mingzheng on the back of the head, the Queen Mother stood up and walked towards Lu Mingyang. She kindly pulled her up and coaxed her softly, "Don't listen to his nonsense. I have chosen you as my granddaughter-in-law. If he doesn't want to, I will change to my eldest grandson."

"Royal Grandmother!" Chu Minzheng wailed.

"Come here quickly!" The Queen Mother pulled Lu Mingyang to the table.

This lunch was originally meant to bring the two together. After the Queen Mother sat down, she patted Lu Mingyang's hand and said, "Sit down!"

Pointing to the seat next to Chu Mingzheng.

"I'd better wait on the Queen Mother for dinner."

When Lu Mingyang was reserved, he glanced at Chu Mingzheng with affection, which was seen by Xu Pei.

"Miss Lu, please take a seat and don't take over my job." Aunt Xu smiled and poured a bowl of soup, hinting, "This fresh bamboo shoot and beef soup is His Highness's favorite soup. Miss Lu, please help me take it over."

There was a long table, and Chu Mingzheng sat to the left of the Empress Dowager.

"Thank you, Aunt Xu!" Lu Mingyang thanked him softly, took the soup with both hands and walked to Chu Mingzheng's side.

"Your Highness, please have some soup."

Lu Mingyang wanted to put it on the table, but Chu Mingzheng blocked her way with his hand. He glanced at the soup in her hand and said disdainfully, "I don't eat coriander."

But this is his favorite soup. If he doesn't like coriander, how could Aunt Xu not know it?

Lu Mingyang sat down, picked up the spoon, picked out the slices one by one, and held them up with both hands again, "Your Highness, please enjoy."

Chu Mingzheng raised his hand and knocked over the soup bowl.

The Queen Mother was old and always liked to eat hot food. This pot of soup had just been served on the table, and Lu Mingyang's hands were burned red.

"Your Highness, please do not blame me for my stupidity."

Lu Mingyang hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe the table, and another palace maid picked up the soup bowl that had fallen on the ground.

Chu Mingzheng kept tapping the table, feeling aggrieved and unable to vent his anger: "Don't you know how to get angry?"

Xu Pei smiled, "Our little prince feels sorry for us."

As she spoke, she ordered the maid to get the ointment. Yang Nian'er, who was standing behind Lu Mingyang, hurriedly took it and applied the ointment to her.

The Queen Mother also laughed, "Yang'er, you can be angry as much as you want, I will never favor him."

Chu Mingzheng complained, "Grandmother, she is fierce by nature, and this appearance is all fake."

But he didn't look like he was really angry. Maybe he just wanted to teach me a lesson and vent his anger, not that he really didn't want to marry me.

Thinking of this, Lu Mingyang raised his eyes softly and asked innocently, "How did your servant become so fierce?"

"You're still pretending!" Chu Mingzheng said, "Last time, you stopped me from eating a persimmon."

Is this happening?

Lu Mingyang retorted softly, "Your Highness is weak and cannot eat cold frozen persimmons."

"Look, Grandmother, she's quite reasonable."

He looked like a little boy who had been wronged. The Queen Mother smiled from ear to ear and joked, "Yang'er did the right thing. We should have kept an eye on him."

Chu Mingzheng begged for mercy again, "Grandmother, she's controlling me even before we get married. What will happen after we get married?"

Xu Pei said happily, "Your Highness has agreed?"

Chu Mingzheng turned his head to look at the woman beside him and said, "If you want to marry me, you must be obedient!"

Lu Mingyang nodded obediently, but before he could say anything, a young eunuch walked in.

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother, the Duke of Qin has arrived at the Qinzheng Palace and is now in audience with Your Majesty. Your Majesty has sent a servant to announce that the Duke of Qin will be here shortly."

Xu Pei asked, "According to the schedule, shouldn't we arrive in Beijing tomorrow?"

The young eunuch said, "Duke Qin said he was worried about the Queen Mother and rushed all day."

"That's quite a coincidence." Xu Pei smiled and coaxed the Queen Mother, "Your Excellency has a double blessing today."

Steady yet urgent footsteps were heard in the yard.

"I pay my respects to the Queen Mother. May the Queen Mother be blessed with good health." Duke Qin knelt outside the palace door and kowtowed.

"Come in quickly, why are we going through all that empty formalities with our own family?"

The Queen Mother looked at the little daughter kneeling behind Duke Qin and waved her affectionately, "This must be Miao'er, right? Come here and let me take a look."