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

Lu Mingyang was curious: "Aren't you afraid that they will abandon you?"

"Only the weak worry about being abandoned. Don't use that word again."

The voice was low, carrying a faint, eager command. Lu Mingyang nodded, half understanding, "What about betrayal? Aren't you afraid they'll betray you?"

"I'm not afraid, because I trust my own judgment."

Lu Mingyang suddenly understood: "You mean, if you want to trust others, you must first trust yourself?"

Chu Mingzheng smiled, "So, you have to choose someone you can trust yourself, using your intelligence and talent."

"I don't have any intelligence or talent. What if I make a wrong judgment?" Lu Mingyang sighed. "You're right. When I said I believed in myself, it was just empty talk."

"Then let's start from now on. A trapped beast will still fight. Do you think you will become a lamb to be slaughtered?"

That's right.

In this situation, I can't get out of this situation by myself, so I have to choose a reliable person as an ally.

Who can I choose?

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Lu Mingyang's mind was filled with the heroic figure of Lu Mingyuan rushing into the court and protecting him behind him; on the second day of the Lunar New Year, Lu Mingyang stared in a daze at the dowry sent by Lu Mingyuan.

The sound of Uncle Zhong knocking on the door interrupted Lu Mingyang's daze.

"Fourth Miss, the eldest daughter is returning to her parents' home today. She sent someone to say she'll stay for a day. The maids are tidying up Yuanzhi Pavilion. It's not convenient for this old servant to go in. If you have time, please go and keep an eye on it."

Lu Mingyang opened the door and confirmed again: "Is my eldest sister coming back?"

She hadn't seen her elder sister since the murder of Lord Zhongxin. She was supposed to go to Lord Zhongxin's funeral, but because of the enthronement ceremony, the palace sent someone to prevent her from going, fearing it would disrupt the process. She was happy with that, but right now, she wasn't ready.

Uncle Zhong had no idea what the fourth girl was thinking, so he sighed, "The second day of the New Year is the day when the eldest girl returns to her parents' home. It's a pity that Uncle Zhongxin couldn't come with her."

"It's New Year's Day, why are you talking about him?"

Lu Mingyang washed up quickly and took her sister to Yuanzhi Pavilion to clean. The burning silver bone charcoal warmed the cold house, little by little, and she thought of the word "home".

Uncle Zhong said that the dowry sent by the eldest sister was the dowry that Old Lady Yu had asked him to sort out for my mother. She sent it all back. In addition, there was also her dowry from that time, which was at least 30% of it.

Even if it's just to keep people quiet, it's too much to give.

Or did she really consider herself a relative, like the father and brothers she always mentioned? Otherwise, why would she come to save herself at all costs?

With this thought in mind, Lu Mingyang couldn't help but feel a little more expectant as he sat in the main hall filled with delicious food.

Lu Mingqin is also looking forward to it.

"Mom, look at my embroidery. Will my elder sister like it?" Lu Mingqin took out the baby bellyband that she had been embroidering for many days.

"It looks good!" The voice was obviously spoken without thinking.

"I told you not to ask her, but you insisted on going. How could she care about my marriage? I still have to rely on my eldest sister."

Lu Mingqin sat down next to her mother and said comfortingly, "Don't worry. Even though she and my elder sister share the same mother, the bond we've shared since childhood is far greater than hers. My elder sister gave her such a large dowry, so how could she treat me badly? By then, my dowry will definitely be larger than hers. With a dowry of ten miles, anyone can marry with it."

The more she thought about it, the more certain she became. She shyly said, "Today I will ask my elder sister to mediate. Perhaps we can form another marriage with the Duke of Song's Mansion."

Aunt Liu didn't want to spoil her daughter's fun, but she was worried that she couldn't bear it, so she couldn't help but remind her.

"Qin'er, forget about it, Duke Song's Mansion. I secretly looked at the dowry list that the eldest daughter gave to the fourth daughter. All of Madam Yu's dowry was in there. There was also her own dowry from back then, at least 50%. She still has to raise children with the rest. Tell me, what else can she leave for you?"

"Why should she?" Lu Mingqin didn't believe it.

"How could I lie to you about something this big? The fourth lady is now the princess, and it's not easy for the eldest lady to raise a child alone, so she naturally has to rely on the fourth lady. We can't help her, so of course she has some plans in mind."

Aunt Liu sighed, "So, if the eldest lady can find you a suitable family, you should accept it. Don't ask for too much, or you will upset her again."

"Auntie, the eldest girl is here!" Chunxiang shouted outside the door.

"I understand." Aunt Liu hurriedly pulled her daughter to the front hall, and as they walked, she told her not to be angry and to try her best to please the eldest girl.

After not seeing him for so many days, Lu Mingyuan looked even more haggard, as if he could be blown down by the wind. Uncle Zhong looked at Lu Mingyuan and sobbed with heartache. After finally convincing Uncle Zhong, Aunt Liu came over and sobbed to comfort him.

Seeing that the food was getting cold, Yang Nian'er rubbed her poor stomach and muttered softly: "If you don't eat now, the food will get cold."

When he spoke, it happened to be when Aunt Liu was gasping for breath while crying. The voice was not loud, but everyone heard it.

"Eldest sister can't go hungry now." Lu Mingyang stood up and helped Lu Mingyuan to the table. Suddenly, he realized that someone was missing. "Where's my nephew?"

Lu Mingyuan said, "We won't let him come to our house."

How old is the child? How can he leave his mother? Lu Mingyang wanted to ask again, but Qin Xin shook her head and signaled her not to ask anymore.

At this time, Lu Mingqin also took out the bellyband she had embroidered and gave it to her eldest sister. Aunt Liu took the opportunity to talk about Lu Mingqin's marriage. Her words were similar to the compliments she had given Lu Mingyang on New Year's Eve.

Seeing that Lu Mingyuan remained silent, Aunt Liu smiled awkwardly and said, "I don't ask for great wealth and status, as long as the family is well-off so that I won't suffer if I marry into the family."

Now that she knew her daughter's background, she didn't dare ask for too much. She only hoped to be a mistress with a dozen or so servants under her command.

Lu Mingyuan had been so preoccupied with uncovering the truth behind her father's defeat and death in battle that she hadn't considered that her fifth sister was now of marriageable age. Thinking of her grandmother's letter from a while ago, she said, "Grandmother said she'd take my fifth sister to Yunzhao and marry her to a young and promising general. It's a good place, far from trouble."

Aunt Liu's face was a little stiff: "It's good, but it's a bit far. If I go, I'm afraid I will never see Qin'er again in my life."

"You can come too."

"Really?" Aunt Liu smiled and said, "Qin'er doesn't want to be separated from her elder sister. If there's someone suitable in the capital, there's no need to travel so far."

"I'm afraid there aren't many suitable ones in the capital." Although she was nominally the daughter of the Marquis of Chengyang and the sister of Princess Ningyuan, she had Xiongnu blood after all. Which official family would propose to her in marriage?

Lu Mingyuan was very practical and didn't shy away from the topic. Lu Mingqin almost cried when she heard this. "I'm still young, there's no rush for marriage."

"Yes, yes, it's rare for the young lady to come back. Let's eat first." Aunt Liu hurriedly picked up some dishes for Lu Mingyuan.

Everyone had their own thoughts while eating, but only Yang Nian'er ate her fill and even burped.

Aunt Liu looked at the dispersing crowd, her smile finally breaking. "What does the eldest lady mean? She knew that Old Madam Yu hated me, yet she still asked you to go to Yunzhao. Did she want you to be bullied?"

"My eldest sister cares about Daddy's reputation the most. She must think that I have tarnished Daddy's reputation, so she wants to keep me away." As she spoke, Lu Mingqin's tears fell.

Aunt Liu slapped herself in the face. She didn't blame anyone else, but herself for not being able to find a good marriage for her daughter.

"Qin'er, don't worry. Even without them, mother can find a good family for you."