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

"Don't underestimate yourself. Although I've only met him a few times, I can tell he has you in his heart." Lu Mingyuan comforted him, "Don't worry too much. If Qin Miao gives birth to a child, you will be the child's mother and the future princess dowager. But it's best to have your own child. A child will inevitably be attracted to their biological mother. Besides, she has a powerful family."

"What if it's a daughter?" Lu Mingyang asked.

Lu Mingyuan said, "A daughter cannot inherit the throne, but the Imperial Clan Court will allow the princess to raise her daughter until she is fifteen and then marry. Then she can become a nun, or live with her in her husband's family."

It's so uncomfortable for the mother-in-law to live with her brother-in-law.

"It's better to have a son." Lu Mingyang broke out in a cold sweat as he said this. How could he be like his mother and elder sister, saying the very words he once hated the most?

She looked at Lu Mingyuan and asked, "Eldest sister, when you were pregnant with Yin'er, did you also hope that he would be a son?"

After all, only a son can inherit the title of Earl of Zhongxin.

Lu Mingyuan hummed softly, but the reason she gave was even more heartbreaking. "I thought at the time that as long as I gave birth to a son, I wouldn't have to let him touch me anymore."

But unexpectedly, fate played a trick on them and they couldn't even treat each other with respect.

"Don't talk about him anymore, don't talk about him anymore." Lu Mingyang hugged his elder sister tightly and leaned in her arms.

Lu Mingyuan gently stroked his sister's hair. "I'm going back today. You have to take care of yourself. If you have anything, ask Uncle Zhong to send a message to me."

"Why go back? I don't want you to go back."

Lu Mingyang hugged her tighter. Lu Mingyuan said, "My husband just passed away, and I've been living in my parents' house. It's inevitable that people will gossip about me. This matter is not negotiable."

"OK then!"

Back at Xunyang Pavilion, Lu Mingyang stared blankly at the plum blossom silver hairpin on his dressing table. It was time to make a break. Mustering up his courage, Lu Mingyang went to Yuanzhi Pavilion. The wet nurse and Zhuxin had already packed their things.

Lu Mingyang walked at the back holding Lu Mingyuan's arm.

"Eldest sister, can you help me find someone? He should be serving in the army in the Yanmen area." Lu Mingyang said embarrassedly when talking about Tian Qing: "I'm about to get married, and I can't let him still think about me. If possible, can you exempt him from military service? He joined the army because of me."

"Dad's old subordinates are all over the world, so it's not difficult to find someone." Lu Mingyuan took the silver hairpin and letter from his sister's hand and shook them.

“So thick?”

"I put two banknotes in." Lu Mingyang felt uncomfortable: "Eldest sister, tell me, am I a bad person?"

"The fact that you asked that question means you don't really like it."

"Eldest sister,"

Lu Mingyang was surprised by his elder sister's summary and wanted to refute it, but was interrupted by Lu Mingyuan.

"Whether it's for love or for oneself, the world has no definitive answer. You're only willing to go so far for him. As for whether he's willing to fulfill your wish or resent you, you don't have the final say. The only thing you can do is accept it."

Lu Mingyuan patted his sister's hand and got on the carriage.

After a few days of bustling activity, the Chengyang Marquis' Mansion became quiet again. Yang Nian'er sat by the window and sighed, "Without a child, how could it be so deserted?"

At that time, Lu Mingyang was sitting across from her, counting the dowry list. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "If you like children, then get married quickly and have one yourself."

Speaking of getting married, she wanted to talk to her sister about this issue.

"Stop it, do you think I'm the one from Qinfang Pavilion who's crazy about getting married?" Yang Nian'er frowned in disdain: "I don't want to get married, I want to be with you forever."

"Don't say that. There's nothing wrong with wanting to get married." Lu Mingyang remembered his elder sister's advice and sighed, "Wait until I marry into the palace, and see if I can find a good marriage for her."

"Do you really care about her?"

"After all, she's my sister in name only. Her mother is also my savior." Lu Mingyang stopped talking about Lu Mingqin and looked at his sister in confusion: "Didn't you always want to get married?"

Yang Nian'er said, "I used to think about marrying a man who treats you well like Tian Qing, so I can eat good food and wear beautiful clothes. But now I have my own money, why should I look for a stinky man and suffer the pain of giving birth to a son for him? If I can't give birth to a son, I will be beaten."

Her voice was cheerful, but it made her feel strangely distressed. Lu Mingyang retorted weakly, "Not all men in the world are like Dad."

When I was a child, whenever my father was in a bad mood, he would take his anger out on my mother for not being able to give birth to a son, and beat me over and over again.

At that time, she huddled in a corner with her sister, listening to her mother's miserable cries all night long. It was probably those days that caused the third sister indelible psychological damage.

If I didn't have three more years of modern memory, I would probably have nightmares all the time, just like my sister.

"Second sister!" Yang Nian'er said seriously, "Even if not all men in the world are like Dad, why should I gamble my life's fate for an unknown result?"

These words don't sound like something a thirteen-year-old girl would say.

Lu Mingyang felt that it was more like what he said now that he had modern memories. He smiled and asked back, "Didn't you say that we girls are destined to be like grass seeds? Wherever we land, we're destined to be?"

"I want to go home on my own now." Yang Nian'er had already thought about it. She pointed at the dowry list in her hand and smiled with narrowed eyes: "Second sister, take me to the palace."

"No!" Lu Mingyang shook his head firmly. "You are a guest living in the Marquis' Mansion now. What right do you have to live in the Prince's Mansion if you don't have status?"

"Then I'll sign a contract to sell myself."

Before Yang Nian'er could finish her words, she was hit on the head. Lu Mingyang lectured her, "Do you think that's a good thing? Don't mention it again."

"You have to find a way to get me in anyway."

"I have no choice."

"Then I'll go find King Ningyuan."

"you dare!"

"See if I dare!"

Yang Nian'er was about to run out. Lu Mingyang used a sweeping kick and a grabbing move to pin his sister down on the couch. He said fiercely, "Are you going to listen or not?"

Yang Nian'er was shocked: "Second sister, when did you become so powerful?"

However, after studying for a few days, Lu Mingyang didn't expect it to be so amazing. He said proudly, "Do you want to learn? If you listen, I will teach you."

"..."

While Yang Nian'er was thinking, Zhong Bo rushed over.

"Fourth Miss, great news! His Royal Highness Prince Ningyuan has solved the case, and the murderer of Earl Zhongxin has been apprehended."

Just a few days later, Lu Mingyang let go of his sister and confirmed again: "Did the murderer confess himself?"

"Yes, I have confessed. I heard that it has been submitted to His Majesty. His Majesty even praised Your Highness."

The news was good, but why did it feel so strange? Song Wei didn't want Chu Mingzheng to investigate the case and gain merit, so how could he let him find out the "truth" so easily?

Lu Mingyang felt uneasy and rushed to the residence of Marquis Zhongxin to tell Lu Mingyuan about this.