An Eight-year-old Princess

Chapter 163 Flower Show Guide (Part One)

"My mother is annoying. Somebody will surely marry me one day. If I can't find a husband, she still

doesn't need to worry right now. Those men she recommends are sons from rich and powerful families.

They are so weak that they wouldn't be able to stand a breeze. I've had enough." Wang Jinyan moaned

before adding, "Do you know my mother's three favorites? They are Ning Ye from Prince Shun Qing's

Mansion, Li Zhiyan from Li Mansion, and Liu Qiyan, the Zhuangyuan."

Yun Shang raised her eyebrows and smiled at Wang Jinyan before she said, "They are good choices.

Ning Ye and Li Zhiyan are pampered sons of wealthy families and they share one common point. They

are sons born of the first and legal wife, although they aren't the oldest sons. It can be seen that Lady

Wang cares about you very much. If you marry one of them, you will live comfortably. Sons born of the

first and legal wife are much better off than the others. Most importantly, you don't need to manage

domestic affairs, which is lucky for you. As for Liu Qiyan, the Zhuangyuan, his sister is Lady Ya who is

loved by the Emperor. Thus, he has a bright future awaiting him. Besides, he's an orphan. If you marry

him, you don't need to look after your parents-in-law, which will certainly reduce your burdens."

The corners of Wang Jinyan's mouth twisted. Lying on the chaise lounge, she sighed heavily, "I know

my mother is doing all this for me. However, I don't like them. For example, Ning Ye has too many

female confidants, and is now entangled with the most beautiful woman, Qian Qian. Everybody knows

that Li Zhiyan looks down upon military officers, which makes him as stupid as Grand Councilor Li. I

don't like him. As for Liu Qiyan. I have never met him. If he is the Zhuangyuan, a pedant he must be."

Yun Shang couldn't help smiling. These three men were the most eligible bachelors in the Imperial City.

However, Wang Jinyan belittled them as if they were insignificant. NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

Wang Jinyan paused for a moment and continued, "Now, I have only two options. Ning Ye is unwilling

to marry me. My brother said that when he and mother went to buy jewelry at Beauty's Jewelry Shop,

they saw Ning Ye with a beautiful girl at the shop. They were selecting a hairpin. Ning Ye greeted my

mother and brother respectfully as per formal etiquette. However, when my mother returned to the shop

for something she had left there, she heard Ning Ye tell his companion, 'Minister Wang wants his

daughter to marry me. Wang Jinyan, as a girl, knows nothing except how to wield swords. She is not as

gentle and soft as you are.'

Yun Shang frowned. Ning Ye, beyond all question, was good at Kung Fu. How could he not realize that

Lady Wang had returned to the shop? He would certainly know. But he still spoke in a belittling manner

and that was puzzling.

"I see. You are right. But, your mother doesn't worry for no reason. You are old enough and should

consider your marriage carefully and seriously. Now, tell me, what kind of husband do you want?" Yun

Shang smiled.

Wang Jinyan lost her vitality immediately and leaned against the cushion. She replied, "I will only share

this with you. I would like an ordinary man. I'm too lazy to guard against plots within large families.

Besides, I'm bad-tempered and wish to marry a man who can tolerate me."

Hearing those words, Yun Shang kept silent for a moment before sighing. Many girls expected the kind

of husband that Wang Jinyan desired. However, it was impossible to find such a husband for a woman

born in a royal household.

Wang Jinyan blushed scarlet. However, shortly after, she recovered and smiled, "Shang'er, you are so

evil as to embarrass me. Anyway, my brother is still unmarried. If mother forces me to marry, she

should first talk my brother into it. If I'm being forced to marry a man I dislike, I would prefer to leave my

family quietly and find a husband against my parents' wishes."

Yun Shang shook her head. "You can do that because your parents love you too much to punish you."

Wang Jinyan smiled, "Besides, you can ask Prince Jing to find me a suitable husband from among his

generals and set a date for us."

Yun Shang couldn't help smiling and replied, "You have no shame."

Although they were joking, Yun Shang took this suggestion seriously. When she returned to the

Imperial Palace, she wrote to Prince Jing about this matter, and sent a servant to deliver a message to

Ning Qian, reminding her to keep watch on Ning Ye.

Yun Shang recalled her conversation with Wang Jinyan and frowned. Who was Ning Ye?

Lord Hua Guo kept his promise. He visited the Imperial Palace and paid his respects to Emperor Ning

the next day. However, in spite of the many people she had dispatched to ask for information, Lord Hua

Guo's real intention couldn't be discovered. On the contrary, he, with an air of importance, asked Prince

Jing to help him prepare pictures of unmarried girls in the Imperial City. It looked like he had come here

just for the future wife of the Crown Prince of the State of Xia.

Yun Shang smiled. The Crown Prince of the State of Xia was the oldest son of Empress Ji. That day,

Prince Jing was right in saying that he had a dignified and handsome appearance. He liked Kung Fu

and was said to be brave and good at the art of war. However, he, apparently, lacked wisdom. He was

big and tall, but had no insight.

Compared with Xia Houjing, they had immeasurably vast differences.

The primary selection for the Flower Show Festival had been done, and it was time for the Flower

Show Banquet. Yun Shang pleaded with Emperor Ning with the hope of lifting the ban on Hua Jing,

thus allowing her to walk around. Although Emperor Ning had his doubts, he didn't refuse Yun Shang.

Perhaps the Emperor knew that without Hua Jing, Yun Shang's scheme wouldn't succeed. Envoys from

the State of Xia and the State of Yelang had come to the State of Ning to discuss marriage. However,

although the two Princesses in the State of Ning were unmarried and old enough, those envoys didn't

dare to covet Prince Jing's fiancee. Thus, Princess Hua Jing was their only choice. She had been

married before and had been involved in a scandal not long ago. But it didn't matter. She was still the

oldest daughter of the Empress. Besides, her grandfather was regarded as the head of officials of all

ranks and descriptions.

The ban upon Hua Jing was lifted three days before the opening of the Flower Show Banquet.

Although it was declared that she had recovered her health, the scandal on the day of the hunting

competition was well known. Outsiders understood this matter and chose not to say so in public.