When Princess Zhaoming asked Shi Ning'an for her opinion, it really gave Shi Ning'an quite a start.
"This... this is Grandfather's idea?"
Princess Zhaoming nodded. "Yes. That Master Yu has taken a fancy to you. Your grandfather thinks he won't feel at ease until you're settled down."
Shi Ning'an was completely stunned.
Princess Zhaoming took Shi Ning'an's hand. "Ning'an, don't think I'm boasting about my own family. Your third cousin is well-known throughout the capital. In terms of looks and temperament, if he's second, no one can claim to be first. Moreover, our Rong family has a family precept. A man can only take a concubine after he reaches forty without an heir, and he can only take a concubine from a good family, not a noble or lowly one."
Shi Ning'an asked again, "Has cousin... agreed?"
Princess Zhaoming lovingly tucked a strand of hair behind Shi Ning'an's ear. "Ning'an is so beautiful. How could your cousin not agree? However, your grandfather also said that as long as you don't agree, no one can force you."
Shi Ning'an hung her head, not knowing whether she was happy or disappointed. Last night's dream of that kiss was so real. Her cousin and she... what if it was just her wishful thinking?
Although blind marriages were common these days and many couples got married and had children without much affection, she always felt that it would be a pity if she couldn't find someone who truly loved her in this life. She thought she was the one for Rong Sui, but she was afraid that Rong Sui wasn't the one for her.
What if Rong Sui had someone he liked? Even if he didn't, what if he just didn't like her and only agreed because of Grandfather's request and because she was his cousin?
Seeing Shi Ning'an looking so anxious and shy, Princess Zhaoming quickly continued, "Ning'an, I know you're worried that A Sui is too cold, but he has sworn in front of your grandfather that he will treat you well. Don't worry... Besides, your grandfather, your uncle, and I will always protect you."
Shi Ning'an nodded absent-mindedly. Right now, the most suitable person was indeed her third cousin, and she liked him in her heart anyway.
She should have been happy, and there was even a shy smile on her face, which made Princess Zhaoming very satisfied.
But why did her heart still feel so heavy?
He was going to marry her, not out of love.
Just thinking about it made her a little depressed.
...
The spring scenery was infinitely beautiful. There was a swing by the pond. Grandfather was afraid that she would be bored, so he asked her uncle and several cousins to build it for her by hand. It was sturdy and nice.
Maybe afraid that Shi Ning'an would be bored, Princess Zhaoming invited the daughters of several families to accompany her. They were all playing in the yard at the moment. They were mainly from the Prince Zhuang's Mansion, the Shao family, Zheng Chi, and the daughters of a few other ordinary families.
At the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Shi Ning'an received a reward and was named a county princess. This was an extraordinary honor. Even though the title of the county princess was "Zhonghui", it was something that other families couldn't even dream of. Therefore, all the young ladies present tried their best to please this newly appointed county princess.
The flowers in every corner of the yard were blooming beautifully. At this time of the year, there was no need to cultivate them in the greenhouse, and there was a magnificent sight of colorful flowers.
The young ladies' most discussed topic was, of course, the news they had heard.
"Ning'an, I heard that your family is planning a marriage within the family?"
Shi Ning'an made a reserved gesture, shyly turned her face away, and didn't answer.
The young lady clapped her hands and laughed. "A gentleman like Master Rong San has finally been taken by you. It's really a cause for celebration."
The young lady beside her also giggled. "That's right. At the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Master Rong San's dance made many young ladies fall in love with him."
Several people surrounded her and teased her. Shi Ning'an pretended to be angry and shy as appropriate, and finally managed to deal with the teasing.
Miss Shao laughed heartily. "Since you're already a family, you just need to send the betrothal letter from one side to the other. There's no need to go through so much trouble with the betrothal gifts and dowry. It's really convenient."
It was Zheng Chi who pulled Shi Ning'an aside and whispered, "You... are you really engaged to your cousin?"
Shi Ning'an nodded.
The young ladies were still discussing. "I heard before that Princess Zhaoming was looking for a marriage for Ning'an. I thought there was nothing wrong with a marriage between cousins. I thought they weren't interested in each other. I didn't expect they would end up together."
"Haha, didn't you see clearly at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet? If Ning'an didn't get engaged soon, it might be difficult..."
Hearing this, Zheng Chi became even more worried. "Ning'an, although I've been raised delicately by my mother, I can still see some things clearly. Tell me the truth. Is this engagement between you and your cousin just a temporary measure?"
Shi Ning'an looked up at her, her gaze calm. "It's fine."
Zheng Chi stroked Shi Ning'an's hand and sighed. "Alas, a temporary measure... However, with Rong Sui's appearance, he's not a bad match for you."
Shi Ning'an glared at her angrily. "What are you talking about? How can you judge a person just by his appearance?"
Zheng Chi clicked her tongue a few times. "I'm just such a superficial person. When I see a person for the first time, of course, I look at his appearance. Ning'an, don't blame me for speaking bluntly. For a good-looking gentleman, even if he causes some trouble after marriage, just looking at his face will make you feel less angry. If he's not good-looking, you'll probably get angrier the more you look at him."
Shi Ning'an pushed her. "Then what do you think of your Brother Chu Yao? Do you think he's good-looking or not?"
Zheng Chi blushed. "I'm talking about you. Why are you bringing me into this? I'm saying that for people like you who get together without much affection, a good-looking one is always better than an ugly one."
Shi Ning'an was in a daze for a while, then turned to ask, "Do you think he thinks the same way?"
Zheng Chi burst out laughing and poked Shi Ning'an on the forehead. "With Rong Sui's personality? Does he care whether you're beautiful or ugly, round or flat? It's only because you're his cousin. Otherwise, in my opinion, he's an iron tree that will never get married in his life."
Rong Sui never got married in her previous life.
Shi Ning'an lowered her eyes.
This look in the eyes of the young ladies had a special meaning. No matter what Shi Ning'an was like, everyone knew Rong Sui's personality. Ordinary people didn't even dare to get close to him. If someone got a little closer, he would turn cold and unhappy. The hostility on him could freeze people.
Although they thought so in their hearts, they couldn't say so on their lips. They all said nice things to comfort Ning'an.
Fortunately, Zeng Ruoyun, who was good at medicine, was pulling a few noble ladies aside and taking their pulses. For a moment, the young ladies changed their focus and rushed to Zeng Ruoyun one after another, asking her to take their pulses too.
Zheng Chi also wanted to go up in a hurry, but was grabbed by Shi Ning'an.
"What are you going for? You've all been raised delicately in the mansion. A female doctor comes to take your pulses every three days. Are you still afraid that you have some kind of illness?"
Zheng Chi waved her hand. "No, I'm going to take a look at your cousin. She's a girl from the Zeng family! I have to see what kind of skills she has. Can she really compare with the imperial doctors in the Imperial Medical Academy?"
Zeng Ruoyun heard this. She looked up and saw a round-faced girl. Because she was young and energetic and the Zeng family never looked at power, her face was not very happy.
"If this young lady says so, there's no need for me to take your pulse. I'm a girl from the Zeng family, not someone who does things for money. Judging from the young lady's appearance, you're a blessed and noble person. The people I usually diagnose are mainly ordinary people. I'm afraid that after touching the hands of the poor, if I touch your precious hands, you'll dislike me."
Zheng Chi was originally a straightforward person. She just said it casually, but she didn't expect that Cousin Zeng would be so impolite. She also had a temper, and she sneered immediately.
"Miss Zeng is really different from ordinary people. She disdains money. But if so, why did the Zeng family come to the capital? The capital is not a rural field. There are no people who can't afford to see a doctor or buy medicine."
Zeng Ruoyun stood up abruptly.
Zheng Chi didn't give in. "Am I wrong? Since you're so high and mighty, you should be consistent. The Zeng family said they wouldn't join the Imperial Medical Academy, but now they're trying their best to get into the capital. Who knows if they're just people who seek fame and reputation?"
"Zheng Chi!"
Shi Ning'an called out loudly.
Only then did Zheng Chi come to her senses. She felt that she had been too outspoken and had spoken very rudely. She subconsciously looked at Miss Zeng.
Zeng Ruoyun had never suffered such a great humiliation. She immediately packed up the things on the table for diagnosis and turned around to leave.
The young ladies quickly tried to persuade them. On one hand, they persuaded Zheng Chi to apologize actively, and on the other hand, they persuaded Zeng Ruoyun, saying that Zheng Chi was just a person who spoke without thinking.
By chance, a noble lady accidentally explained, "She's the daughter of the Grand Princess. She's been spoiled."
This sentence really irritated Zeng Ruoyun. Zeng Ruoyun sneered repeatedly. "The daughter of the Grand Princess? No wonder she's so arrogant and doesn't know how to understand the sufferings of the common people. She also makes random speculations, thinking that everyone is as snobbish as the Princess Mansion and wants to climb up at all costs!"
On one side was her good friend, and on the other side was her cousin. Shi Ning'an was in a dilemma. She tried to persuade them from both sides. Finally, she was about to lose her temper before the two of them reluctantly made up.
But this reconciliation was only on the surface.
Shi Ning'an was too lazy to care about them. She went to the flower bed beside to enjoy the flowers.
The other young ladies divided into two groups. After persuading the two of them to make up, they went to the flower bed to enjoy the flowers together.
Zeng Ruoyun was arrogant and deliberately said that no matter how precious the flowers in the flowerbed were, they were not as good-looking as the wild flowers in the mountains.
Zheng Chi also wanted to sneer, but fortunately, Miss Shao from the Shao family quickly changed the topic and turned the conversation around.
Shi Ning'an was sitting on a chair. For some reason, she suddenly burst out laughing.
Zheng Chi was angry. "You're still laughing. What are you laughing at? Your cousin is really fierce."
But in the end, she didn't dare to speak too loudly for fear of angering that little ancestor.
Shi Ning'an patted her head. "You, no wonder the Grand Princess always says that she's spoiled you and is afraid that you'll have a hard time in your husband's family in the future."
She walked to the swing and sat on it, gently swinging back and forth.
Zheng Chi followed her. By now, she had calmed down. "I was too outspoken just now. Ning'an, please go and apologize for me."
Shi Ning'an shook her head. "No, you go by yourself."
Zheng Chi pleaded, "Ning'an, we're good sisters. Please help me."
Shi Ning'an still didn't agree.
Zheng Chi stamped her foot. "If you don't agree, just wait."
She walked behind Shi Ning'an and gave her a hard push.
Shi Ning'an had been walking around the flowerbed for a long time today. She felt that the new shoes on her feet were a bit uncomfortable. After sitting on the swing, she loosened the shoe on her right foot and just slipped it on.
Being pushed by Zheng Chi like this, she was caught off guard and swung high into the air. And the shoe slipped off her foot and flew out all of a sudden.