It seemed that Shen Yuning's words were prophetic. Sure enough, the next day, Zhu Bin came to the Marquis's Mansion to apologize on bended knees, carrying thorns on his back.
Although spring had arrived, the late - spring cold snap in February was no joke. Zhu Bin was only wearing a middle - layer robe, and his back was bare. One glance was enough to shock people. What was shocking was not how painful the thorns looked, but the numerous old wounds of various sizes on Zhu Bin's back.
These were the marks left by years of injuries in battles.
The feud between the Zhu Family and the Prince Rong's Mansion had made quite a stir. To show his sincerity this time, Zhu Bin took off his clothes at his own doorstep, put the thorns on his back, and walked all the way to the Marquis's Mansion.
Naturally, this attracted quite a few onlookers along the way.
From the crowd, a maidservant from an unknown mansion spoke rather loudly, "The young master of the Zhu Family is so affectionate. The young lady of the Xue Family should have no reason to make a fuss anymore, right?"
Shen Yuning had just walked out with her father. Hearing this, she frowned slightly and looked up.
Although the woman looked like a servant sent to do some shopping, her clothes didn't fit well, and her face didn't look that old. She didn't seem to have done much hard work.
The maidservant continued, "After all, she's a princess. The young lady of the Xue Family is so intolerant. She's really wasting the young master of the Zhu Family's sincere feelings."
Shen Yuning frowned even more. Before the Xue Family members could say anything, the young servant beside Zhu Bin quickly stood up.
The servant grabbed the maidservant's wrist and pulled her out of the crowd.
The maidservant screeched, "What are you doing? What are you doing? Why are you pulling me?"
The servant sneered contemptuously, "Which mansion do you belong to? You're so ill - behaved. How dare you judge the master's affairs? You're so audacious. Why don't you go down to the underworld and be a judge?"
Zhu Bin was a military general, and his servants were also highly skilled. After this intimidation, the maidservant was so scared that she stood there stupidly.
The servant said to the guards on both sides, "This maidservant is so ignorant and refuses to tell the truth. Go and find out which mansion she belongs to."
There was no need for the guards to investigate. Another girl in the crowd who looked like a maid spoke up, "It seems she's a nanny from the Prince Rong's Mansion."
The maidservant shivered, and her face turned even paler.
Someone else murmured, "Nanny?"
The maid quickly shook her head, "I didn't see clearly. There used to be a woman with a similar appearance beside the princess. But this one doesn't seem to be a proper nanny. She's just a rough - working maidservant. Maybe it's just a resemblance."
These words seemed rather evasive.
The servant sneered coldly, "So you're a servant of the prince's mansion. You're really shameless. My young master and the young lady of the Xue Family are deeply in love and have been engaged for a long time. But some people keep talking about their so - called admiration and want to interfere. Truly, like master, like servant."
The onlookers, including the common people and servants, all showed disdain in their eyes. They never expected that the prince's mansion would do such things secretly.
The maidservant's face turned red with embarrassment. The servant's grip had dislocated her entire arm, and she was in so much pain that she couldn't move for a long time, let alone speak.
Zhu Bin ignored these disputes. He just knelt on the ground. When Marquis Xue stepped forward, he said loudly, "Marquis, I swear to the heavens that I have absolutely no romantic relationship with Princess Zhaoming. In this lifetime, I only have feelings for the eldest daughter of the Xue Family. Please make the decision for me, Marquis."
Marquis Xue asked in a deep voice, "This is a matter between the Duke's Mansion and the Prince Rong's Mansion. How can I make the decision?"
Zhu Bin raised his eyebrows and smiled, "The Prince Rong's Mansion is a force that the Zhu Family can't afford to offend. But I definitely don't want to marry anyone else, whether as a wife or a concubine. If the marquis doesn't mind, I sincerely hope that the marquis will allow me to marry into the Xue Family. In this lifetime, I will never let down the eldest daughter of the Xue Family."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was in an uproar. The next head of the Zhu Family was actually willing to marry into another family?
Was this the young man's deep love or a disregard for his national mission?
Not only the people present thought so, but the Prince Rong also thought the same.
At this moment, the Prince Rong was angrily blocking the horse of the Heir Apparent Zhu. Originally, he wanted to invite the Heir Apparent Zhu to a restaurant for a chat.
However, the Heir Apparent Zhu just bowed his hands and said, "Your Highness, we don't have much acquaintance with each other. My nephew really can't be the son - in - law of your mansion. It may not be appropriate for us to meet privately, right?"
The Prince Rong was so angry that he shouted, "You, you, you... Good for you, Zhu Song. Do you look down on the prince's mansion?"
The Heir Apparent Zhu bowed his hands respectfully, "I wouldn't dare."
But there was not a trace of respect on his face.
Regardless of the large number of people coming and going in public, the Prince Rong scolded repeatedly, "Zhu Song, your nephew is so reckless and ignorant. He abandons his national mission for love and even wants to marry into the Xue Family. Such a rebellious act. As his uncle, why don't you dissuade him?"
The Heir Apparent Zhu didn't even lift his eyelids, "The young man has grown up. As an elder, I can't control him. Can't you control your daughter from embarrassing herself everywhere?"
The Prince Rong was so angry that he was speechless for a while. Then he said, "How can it be the same? Zhu Bin is the heir of the Zhu Family. You only have one junior in your family who can inherit the family business. How can he go to another family as a son - in - law?"
The Heir Apparent Zhu remained calm, "Your Highness is wrong. How can we in the Zhu Family only have him left? Not to mention the collateral branches, even in the direct branch, I still have a young nephew named Zhu Ming. Besides, I'm only in my forties. Why do you think I can't be like a hero in his prime and have another son later?"
The Prince Rong was so angry that he stamped his feet and scolded again, "Zhu Song, do you have any sense of shame? Do you? Being like a hero in his prime? It's so embarrassing. Everyone in the capital knows that your nephew Zhu Ming is a sickly person. He can't even get out of bed or pick up a sword. How can he inherit the huge Zhu Family?"
The Heir Apparent Zhu was used to living in Wuyun and dared to say anything. Naturally, he didn't think some words were inappropriate like the Prince Rong did.
The Prince Rong felt that he couldn't reason with such a vulgar person. He had to suppress his anger and persuade him kindly, "Zhu Bin is a good talent. His ability is no less than that of your elder brother. Are you really going to give up on him? He's being naive, but are you also being naive?"
The Heir Apparent Zhu looked at him coldly, "How the Zhu Family acts doesn't need others to judge. I know Zhu Bin's ability well. When did I ever say I was going to give up on him? Will he stop being a member of the Zhu Family just because he marries into another family?"
The Prince Rong was stunned, "But... but..."
The Heir Apparent Zhu continued, "If he's willing, what's wrong with giving the entire Zhu Family Army as a dowry to the Marquis's Mansion? If he's not willing, there are many capable people among the young men of the Great Zhou. Can't I find a general to inherit the Zhu Family Army?"
His bold words really shocked the Prince Rong. Marrying into another family was like marrying off a daughter. Once a daughter was married off, she was like spilled water. Was the Zhu Family really willing to give all their wealth to the Marquis's Mansion without hesitation?
Even if it was just empty talk, the Zhu Family didn't have a suitable heir. Could they really just choose an heir randomly from the Great Zhou? How could they just hand over such a powerful force as the Zhu Family Army to others?
"Absurd, simply absurd."
The Heir Apparent Zhu raised his eyebrows and looked at him, sneering, "It was the prince's mansion that bullied others with power first."
The Prince Rong widened his eyes. Was it bullying when he was willing to let his daughter marry as a concubine?
The Heir Apparent Zhu waved his sleeve, ignored the prince's shock, mounted his horse, and rode away first.
The next day, some court officials accused the Prince Rong of being unable to manage his family well and allowing his children to ruin their reputations. Then some people brought up his past close association with the Second Prince.
That night, the Prince Rong's Mansion announced that Princess Zhaoming's illness had worsened and she was no longer fit to get married. She was quickly sent to her maternal grandfather's house.
However, some well - informed ladies specially went to the Xue Family and vividly told them what had happened.
It turned out that the Prince Rong had been hit on his sore spot and wanted to send his daughter away that night. Originally, the Princess Rong was very reluctant and cried so hard that she could hardly catch her breath. She said that her daughter was young and naive. If she was sent away for a few years, wouldn't she become an old maid when she came back?
The lady was talking non - stop. At this point, she seemed a bit stunned. She realized that it was inappropriate to say this since the daughters of the Xue Family were also considered old maids.
She quickly changed her words and only said how angry the Prince Rong's Mansion was. They said that if they didn't send the daughter away, they would send her to a temple to become a nun.
The Princess Rong was reluctant to let her daughter suffer. She could only persuade her daughter to be obedient and go to her maternal grandfather's hometown to avoid the limelight first. When the situation calmed down, they would find a good family for her to marry into.
However, Yin Zhaoming was not a sensible and obedient girl. She refused to leave no matter what. She just wanted to see Bin Lang and asked why he was so heartless that he would rather watch her die or become a nun.
The lady clicked her tongue a few times, "She thought she was affectionate, but she didn't know that the young master of the Zhu Family didn't even care about her. He only had eyes for your eldest daughter of the Xue Family. Later, it was the princess who was cruel enough to tie her up with a rope and send her away that night."
She thought that after saying this, the people in the Xue Family would be very happy. But when she looked up, she saw that the Lady Xue, the young mistress, and the two young girls sitting beside them drinking tea didn't show any reaction. Especially the two young girls, there seemed to be a trace of pity between their eyebrows.
The Lady Xue chatted with her for a few words and then excused herself, saying she had something to do. Although she wasn't very cold, she wasn't very enthusiastic either.
After the lady left, Xue Yuxin gently put down her teacup and sighed, "Most girls in the world are so pitiful. If a man pursues a girl relentlessly, people will probably say that he's affectionate. If the girl doesn't agree, she will be considered ungrateful. But if a woman pursues a man, she will be condemned by everyone, and even her family's daughters will be affected. Even if she's a princess, she can't escape the stigma of a bad reputation. It's really pitiful and lamentable."
Mrs. Shao was a bit nervous and quickly asked, "Yuxin, do you not like the young master of the Zhu Family? Our daughters don't have a good reputation anyway. If you're being forced, your father and elder brother will definitely make the decision for you."
Xue Yuxin blushed.
Shen Yuning noticed this and couldn't help but tease her, "That's right. If you're really being forced, for the sake of our younger sisters' reputations, you don't have to endure it. Anyway, we don't have a good reputation, and our family is willing to support us. We're not afraid. Oh, why aren't you answering? Mother, I think sister probably doesn't like him. How about..."
Xue Yuxin quickly covered her mouth, "You little rascal. If you keep talking nonsense, when you meet a young man you like, I'll treat you the same way you're treating me today!"
The smile on Shen Yuning's face froze. The beloved young man.