The next day, Princess Yi Ya came with gifts. She was impatient and went straight to the point without saying a few polite words. "I heard that the new candidate is your brother-in-law's foster brother. Is it true?"
The Zhou family had never concealed their former identities as slaves, and Jiang Changning admitted frankly, "It's true."
"I would like to ask my sister-in-law to do me a favor."
Jiang Changning smiled faintly, "Princess, please tell me, I will definitely help if I can." If I can't help, I'm sorry.
"You can definitely help. Mingzhu is now of marriageable age. I think Zhou Chuanlu has good looks, character, and talent. I want you to talk to the Zhou family and ask him to propose marriage."
"Princess, I'm afraid this won't work. My foster brother is already engaged, but he hasn't gotten married because he's in mourning for his mother. Once the mourning period is over, I'll go and ask for the marriage."
"It turns out that my sister-in-law doesn't know yet."
Jiang Changning was startled. "Don't know what?"
"Zhou Chuanlu's fiancée is dead." Princess Yi Ya said with a smile.
Jiang Changning was shocked. "Dead? When did it happen? How is it possible?"
"Yiya, my daughter-in-law is pregnant, so please don't bother her with these things. You should ask someone else for help." The concubine said with a cold face.
Don't listen to bad words during pregnancy, especially since Xu Lifang died of poisoning at such a young age, which can be considered a violent death.
Everyone was hiding something, but Princess Yiya came out and revealed it. It would be strange if the Concubine Dowager was happy.
"Aunt, the marriage between the two families is a good thing and a happy event. If my sister-in-law can help Mingzhu to make this happen, I will reward her handsomely." Princess Yiya said with a smile.
"Princess, I'm sorry. It's not that I don't want to help you, but my belly is so big that I can't run back and forth. Princess, you don't want to see me having a miscarriage, right?" Jiang Changning declined.
"There's no need for you to run back and forth. Just come once and talk about the matter, and then let the official media handle it." Princess Yi Ya said with a smile.
"Princess, there is really no need for me to go, and it is not appropriate for me to go." Jiang Changning knew, of course, that Princess Yiya wanted her to use her status as the former master to put pressure on the Zhou family.
But why should she help Princess Yiya
"It's very suitable for you to go. You have a long history with the Zhou family. If you go and talk to them, they will definitely agree." Princess Yi Ya made it clear.
Jiang Changning said coldly: "It is precisely because I have a history with the Zhou family that it is inappropriate for me to go there."
Having said that, Princess Yi Ya had no choice but to return in disappointment.
She had just returned to the courtyard and sat down, and hadn't had time to drink her tea when Zheng Mingzhu came in after hearing the news. As soon as she entered the door, she asked, "Mother, will the Princess of Jin agree to go to the Zhou family to plead for us?"
"The Princess of Jin did not agree." Princess Yiya did not expect Jiang Changning to be so disrespectful to her.
"What if she doesn't agree?" Zheng Mingzhu pouted.
Princess Yiya took a sip of tea and said, "This matter can be done without her. I'll ask someone to invite Mrs. Zhou's sister-in-law to come over and let her talk to her."
"Thank you, mother. You have worked hard." Zheng Mingzhu said with a flattering smile.
"I don't know what's so good about Zhou Duxin that makes you miss him so much and insist on marrying him." Princess Yi Ya did not want her daughter to marry Zhou Duxin. She felt that Zhou Duxin was not worthy of her daughter.
However, Zheng Mingzhu insisted on getting married. She went on a hunger strike and even hanged herself. The situation became so chaotic that the family had no choice but to give in to her wishes.
"I just think he's good and I won't marry anyone else but him." Zheng Mingzhu said without any shyness.
The next day, Miao's sister-in-law Miao Wang entered the Princess's Mansion. At the same time, Miao and Luo also entered the Prince of Jin's Mansion.
When Jiang Changning saw Miao and Luo, he asked directly, "Why did Third Brother's fiancée suddenly die?"
"Princess, how do you know this?" Miao asked in surprise.
"Someone told me what happened?" Jiang Changning asked with a frown.
Miao hesitated for a moment and said, "Lifang didn't die of illness, but of poisoning. However, the government has investigated but couldn't find out who did it."
"The doctor thought it was arsenic and treated him for arsenic poisoning, but the patient couldn't be saved," Luo replied.
"What do you mean you think it's arsenic?" Jiang Changning frowned. "This doctor's diagnosis is too irresponsible. Why don't you invite a few more doctors?"
Miao sighed and said, "The Xu family invited four doctors to see him, but they still couldn't save him."
"This is her fate." Luo said sadly.
She quite liked her younger sister-in-law Xu Lifang. What a pity.
"What are your plans for Third Brother's marriage?" Jiang Changning asked.
"Xiao San said that he doesn't want to get engaged for the time being. He wants to observe mourning for Lifang for a year." Miao replied.
Jiang Changning's eyes moved slightly. If this was the case, Zheng Mingzhu's marriage might still be a hassle. He smiled and said, "Third brother is very affectionate and righteous. This is good."
"Xiao San is not that old anyway, so just take care of him for one year. During this year we will slowly visit him and find a good one for him." Miao said.
"Thank you for your hard work, sister-in-law." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
"It's my duty. I'm the eldest sister-in-law." Miao said with a smile.
The Zhou family's sisters-in-law had lunch at the palace before leaving. Not long after they returned home, Miao Wang came to their door.
As soon as she saw Miao Wangshi, she asked excitedly, "Sister, your brother-in-law hasn't gotten engaged yet, right?"
"Not yet." Miao was a little confused. Why did her sister-in-law suddenly care about Duxin's marriage
Miao Wang was overjoyed, "That's good, I have a good marriage proposal for your brother-in-law."
"Sister-in-law, you know that my brother-in-law's fiancée passed away not long ago, and now my brother-in-law has no intention of getting engaged." Miao declined politely. She didn't think her sister-in-law could find a good marriage for Zhou Duxin.
"It will take at least eight or nine months, if not a year, to get engaged and go through the six rituals. By then, your brother-in-law will be ready, married, and have children, and everything will be complete."
Miao thought that what she said made some sense, "Which family are you talking about, sister-in-law?"
"It's Princess Xiaochang's daughter, Zheng Mingzhu," said Miao Wang with a smile.
When she heard that it was Zheng Mingzhu, Miao frowned and said coldly: "The Zheng family is too high-class, and the Zhou family can't afford it."
"Sister, don't say that. The Zhou family has changed its status a long time ago. Three of them have become Jinshi scholars. All the brothers have become officials. If they can establish a relationship with the Princess's Mansion, their careers will be even more prosperous."
Miao curled her lips in disdain, "The Zhou family does not need to try to establish a relationship with the eldest princess."
"The Zhou family started from a humble background, so they have to marry into these people's families. Sister, don't be foolish," Miao Wangshi advised.
"I am not confused. Sister-in-law, there is no need to persuade me anymore. The Zhou family will not enter into this marriage." Miao said firmly.
"Sister, this is your uncle's lifelong event after all, so it would be better for you to ask your uncle what he thinks."
"No need to ask, I know what my brother-in-law means." Miao had met Zheng Mingzhu and had a bad impression of her and did not want to be her sister-in-law.
Miao Wang tried to persuade her a few more times, but she remained unmoved. Miao Wang said helplessly, "Sister, please discuss this matter with your brother-in-law. I will come back in a few days."
Without waiting for Miao to say anything, she left.
(End of this chapter)