Chapter 40 Dinner Invitation

“Ning Shinzi, you’re not young anymore. It’s time for you to settle down and marry a virtuous princess!” The Princess Ning suddenly spoke with a serious face.

“Exactly!” Prince Ning Shinzi wholeheartedly agreed.

Upon hearing this, Prince Ning Shinzi laughed, “Oh? Then can I pursue a merchant’s daughter?”

“You!”

“You want to drive me crazy?????.”

The Princess Ning glanced at Prince Ning Shinzi’s expression and quickly pulled her son, “Stop talking nonsense. When you marry a princess, it doesn’t matter if her family background is lower. What’s most important is her good character, virtue, and generosity.”

After hearing this, Prince Ning Shinzi, lost in thought, tugged at the corner of his mouth, “I have something to attend to. I’ll leave first. You two discuss it well.”

When Prince Ning Shinzi walked away, Prince Ning Shinzi chuckled, “Mother, when you talk about generosity, aren’t you contradicting yourself?”

The Princess Ning’s face darkened, but she didn’t get angry with her son. She simply said, “When your father and I got married, he said one wife was enough for him. These concubines shouldn’t have existed!”

“How can you then demand my princess to be virtuous and generous?”

The Princess Ning’s face tensed, and she fell silent.

“Alright, Mother, rest assured. I won’t be like father. As long as you let me marry the one I want, I will treat her well for the rest of my life, just her alone.”

Prince Ning Shinzi, carefree in his demeanor, assured her.

The Princess Ning was still taken aback, “Do you have a girl in mind? Which family’s daughter caught your eye?”

“I can’t tell you for now. Once I have a clear target, I’ll let you know so you can help me propose.”

“Can you promise me that no matter which family she’s from, you’ll help me propose?”

The Princess Ning hesitated, “We can’t have someone like the Zhao family!”

“How could I ever be interested in a woman like that!”

“Commoners are also not suitable. Even if we don’t prioritize status, we still need some background!”

The Princess Ning, coming from a noble family herself and with a son who is a prince, couldn’t accept a commoner as her daughter-in-law.

“Of course not.”

“Then it’s settled!” The Princess Ning felt relieved.

“Alright, let’s make a deal. If I like someone, you’ll help me propose!” Prince Ning Shinzi said cunningly.

“Rest assured, as long as she’s a decent girl from a respectable family, and you’re willing to marry her, Mother will help you propose.”

“Thank you, Mother!” Prince Ning Shinzi stood up and respectfully bowed.

The Princess Ning was pleased. Marrying off her son was indeed a different matter. She began to look forward to it.

…

The next day.

Prince Ning Shinzi invited Shu Yuyang to dinner.

Thinking back to Prince Ning Shinzi’s splendid performance at the Anding Marquis’s wedding yesterday, Shu Yuyang gladly accepted the invitation.

As soon as he entered, Prince Ning Shinzi warmly welcomed him, “Brother Shu, please have a seat.”

Shu Yuyang solemnly bowed, “Thank you, Prince, for helping our Shu family yesterday!”

Prince Ning Shinzi waved his hand, “Brother Shu, you’re too polite! It was nothing significant.”

“I should have been the one inviting the Prince to dinner.”

“Let me treat you today, and next time, you can treat me.”

“Then it’s a deal!”

As Shu Yuyang sat down and saw no one else around, he couldn’t help but ask, “The Prince invited me here alone today. Is there something important you’d like to discuss?”

Prince Ning Shinzi adjusted his expression and couldn’t help but feel nervous, “It’s like this, I wanted to ask, does your sister have any plans to remarry?”

Shu Yuyang fell silent, not understanding Prince Ning Shinzi’s intentions, and cautiously replied, “If my sister were to remarry, it would have to be a distant marriage. On one hand, the family is worried about not being able to take care of her after she moves far away, and on the other hand, she’s reluctant to leave her child, so she doesn’t plan to remarry.”

“What if she remarries in the capital and the husband’s family is willing to accept your sister’s child?” Prince Ning Shinzi’s eyes sparkled.

Shu Yuyang was surprised, “Who are you asking for?”

Uncomfortably, Prince Ning Shinzi coughed twice, “Brother Shu, just consider this scenario. Is your sister willing to remarry?”

Shu Yuyang stared at Prince Ning Shinzi, as if trying to read his intentions from his face.

Prince Ning Shinzi nudged Shu Yuyang, “Brother Shu?”

“Well, I need to go home and ask my parents and sister.”

“I’ll wait for your news.”

Persistently, Shu Yuyang asked, “Is there really such a family? Whose behalf is the Prince asking for? I need to discuss this with my parents when I get back.”

Biting his lip, Prince Ning Shinzi gathered his courage, “It’s me!”

Shu Yuyang’s eyes widened instantly!

Nervously, Prince Ning Shinzi said, “Brother Shu, rest assured, I won’t be the same in the future. I acted recklessly before because our Ning Prince’s residence isn’t suitable for outstanding offspring. That’s why I acted freely.”

Perplexed, Shu Yuyang asked, “But why…?”

“What why?”

In a serious tone, Shu Yuyang said, “Why do you want to marry my sister, especially since she’s divorced and has a child?”

“Because if I must marry, I only want to marry her. In fact, I’ve known your sister for a long time, but due to some reasons, I missed the opportunity…”

The meal started too early with the topic, and they didn’t even touch their chopsticks.

After discussing with Prince Ning Shinzi, Shu Yuyang hurriedly took his leave, went straight back to the Shu residence, and headed to the main room.

“Mother.”

Madam Shu put down her account book and smiled, “Why did you come to me as soon as you returned today? Shouldn’t you go see Yuwan?”

“I have something to tell you, Mother.”

Shu Yuyang detailed the conversation about Prince Ning Shinzi inviting him to dinner and the matter he discussed with him…

Madam Shu frowned, “Yuwan already has a child. Even if this Prince Ning Shinzi is deeply in love with her and doesn’t mind, how could his father and mother agree?”

“Prince Ning Shinzi said he would convince his parents.”

“How will he convince them?”

Shu Yuyang shook his head, indicating he didn’t know.

Madam Shu wasn’t too optimistic. The Princess Ning was strong-willed. Years ago, when Prince Ning Shinzi was infatuated with a distant cousin and kept her outside, they had a big fight, and Prince Ning Shinzi didn’t even care about the girl.

Over the years, Prince Ning Shinzi still flirted outside secretly, but none of the women dared to enter the residence, and even if they were pregnant, his mother made sure they were taken care of.

Although Madam Shu didn’t think that Ning Shinzi mother was jealous, having such a strong mother-in-law, Shu Yuwan might not have an easy time if she married into that family.

However, there was still a glimmer of hope in Madam Shu’s heart.

If Yuwan married  Ning Shinzi, she wouldn’t have to hide in that small courtyard all day.

“Let’s wait and see. Let’s see if Prince Ning Shinzi can truly convince her father and mother. This marriage is not final even if Prince Ning Shinzi says it.”