I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

Chapter 283: Bride Price

Lu Mingyang looked at Zheng Xuan with disdain. She hadn't even married yet, so was there any need for her to rush over to his own house to defend her status as the principal wife?

Who cares about your position?

My wives and concubines are competing for my favor, but I really think I have nothing to do.

It seemed that he was really bored. Lu Mingyang smiled, told Zhong Bo to serve tea, and turned to go into the hall.

Zheng Xuan followed in, held herself in high esteem, and said slowly, "My sister will be getting married the day after tomorrow. This is the betrothal gift I prepared for her. Time is short, so I hope she won't mind."

Lu Mingyang rested his chin on his fist and looked at Zheng Xuan with a puzzled expression, "The betrothal gift is a buyout fund. His Majesty has promised to reconcile the Chengyang Marquisate and the Song Duke's Mansion. How dare you buy me out?"

Zheng Xuan shuddered and said with a smile, "Sister, what nonsense are you talking about? This is a gift for you."

"Gift?" Lu Mingyang sighed. "No merit, no reward. If it's a gift, please take it back, Madam Song. However, if it's a betrothal gift, I should accept it."

Zheng Xuan's face looked ugly, with blue and purple patches all over it.

Don't say anything? If you have the guts, just keep silent. Lu Mingyang ordered coldly: "Uncle Zhong, take out the 'bride price' sent by Madam Song."

What if this gets carried out on the street and reaches the ears of His Majesty?

"Wait!" Zheng Xuan smiled with frustration, "My sister will be married soon, so this is naturally a betrothal gift for her..."

"Thank you, Madam Song, for coming here to deliver it." Lu Mingyang raised his hand, "Uncle Zhong, open it!"

Zhong Bo was stunned.

I have never seen anyone opening the betrothal gifts in front of the in-laws when marrying off their daughter.

Seeing him stunned, Lu Mingyang stood up and walked out, personally opening box after box. There seemed to be a lot of boxes, but they were empty. Most of them were filled with worthless pots and pans, and some gaudy clothes and fabrics.

"Your Majesty has granted me the marriage, and you're giving me these betrothal gifts." Lu Mingyang looked at Zheng Xuan who had followed him and asked, "Are you dissatisfied with His Majesty's granting of the marriage?"

"Sister, please don't talk nonsense." Zheng Xuan gritted her teeth in anger. "Sister, you also know that the Duke of Song's mansion is going through a difficult time right now. Since you are family, you should share the joys and sorrows with us."

"Alright then!" Lu Mingyang slammed the box shut. "In that case, I won't ask the Song Mansion for the money for the wedding banquet."

"What banquet?" Zheng Xuan was confused.

"It's a wedding banquet." Lu Mingyang smiled. She even thought her smile was a bit provocative, but it was you who came to me so arrogantly. Don't blame me for taking it out on you.

Zheng Xuan couldn't help it and said sarcastically, "Sister, rules are rules. Don't embarrass yourself and make others laugh."

"Mrs. Song, have you forgotten?" Lu Mingyang sneered. "Your Majesty granted me a fifth-rank imperial title so that I could marry Song Wei. Since I'm a court lady, how can I have wives or concubines?"

"you……"

"Mrs. Song, don't be angry."

Lu Mingyang opened her trembling hand that was pointing at someone and reminded her with a smile, "These are His Majesty's actual words, not just my empty words."

"Madam Song, it's cold in the courtyard. Come in and have some tea to warm yourself up." Uncle Zhong looked really worried. He said nice things to Zheng Xuan while waving at Lu Mingyang.

In the future, the fourth young lady will have to make a living in the Duke of Song’s mansion. If she offends the mistress of the house, how will she live?

Lu Mingyang gently patted Zhong Bo's arm, indicating that he knew what was going on.

Liu Mingqin had been humble and fawning enough in the Duke of Song's mansion, yet she still nearly lost two lives. With their status, they were destined to not coexist peacefully.

If he showed weakness everywhere, it would only embolden Zheng Xuan. But if he started a fight with her, the bigger the fight, the more likely the emperor would help him. After all, he didn't want the Song family to be at peace.

The young hero from the most prestigious Chengyang Marquis Mansion and the most powerful Beian Marquis are both loyal to the Song family. That dog emperor must be worried every day that one day he will wake up and become the emperor emeritus.

"Uncle Zhong, quickly send out invitations and hold a wedding banquet so that all the relatives and friends of our Chengyang Marquis Mansion can feel the emperor's great grace." After Lu Mingyang gave the order, he was almost out of breath and looked at Zheng Xuan to make the final arrangements.

"Madam Song, in the backyard of the Duke of Song's mansion, you and I should call each other sisters. But outside, please bow to me according to the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects. I am also tired. After bowing, Madam Song, please leave on your own!"

Zheng Xuan was furious and could no longer bear it.

"Lu Mingyang, stop using Your Majesty to pressure me. It's just a fifth-rank imperial edict, what's there to be proud of? If I wanted it, I could get it easily. Don't forget, my father was the commander-in-chief who won this great victory over the Xiongnu, and your brother was just a deputy general."

"Really? My brother was already a deputy general before he even reached the age of twenty. What was your father doing when he was twenty?" Lu Mingyang covered his lips with his hands and chuckled softly, "He gave you a sister who was born out of wedlock in a brothel?"

"You!" Zheng Xuan raised her hand and slapped him angrily.

Lu Mingyang dodged to the side and said coldly, "Zheng Xuan, I advise you that your current embarrassment is not caused by me. This marriage was arranged by Song Wei through the Emperor. If you are dissatisfied, go to Song Wei and the Emperor, don't come to me to show off your power."

She wanted her to face reality, but to Zheng Xuan, all she heard was bragging.

"Bah! You're a vixen, you only know how to get into men's beds..." Zheng Xuan stumbled back to her feet, then angrily waved her hand forward again. Suddenly, she nearly bit her tongue off, and her hand, raised in the air, faltered and stopped.

Lu Mingyang followed her gaze and saw Chu Mingzheng.

Chu Mingzheng stepped forward and shouted angrily, "Hit him!"

Zheng Xuan shuddered. "I spoke carelessly. I beg Your Highness to forgive me."

Chu Mingzheng acted as if he hadn't heard: "If you don't fight, I will do it."

Zheng Xuan gritted her teeth and slapped herself in the face. She had never been humiliated like this since she was a child, and tears immediately fell from her eyes.

She felt not only aggrieved but also resentful. She did not understand why Prince Ningyuan was still so deeply in love with such a fickle woman.

"Get lost!" Chu Mingzheng was too lazy to even look at her.

The maid hurried forward and helped Zheng Xuan, whose legs were weak, away.

Uncle Zhong hurriedly left with his servants, leaving only Chu Mingzheng and Lu Mingyang in the courtyard. The ice and snow melted, and the willow trees by the pond sprouted new buds. It should have been spring, a season of blossoming flowers and prosperity, but the distance between them seemed to grow ever wider.

"Your Highness, you shouldn't be here."

Lu Mingyang silently took a step back and turned to leave. Chu Mingzheng followed behind, silent. But each of those gentle footsteps pounded on Lu Mingyang's heart, and each step drew blood.

The gate of Xunyang Pavilion was within sight. Lu Mingyang took two quick steps, ran inside, and turned to close the door. A heavy force pressed against the door, preventing it from being pushed any further.

Chu Mingzheng's face peeked out from the crack in the door, approaching the retreating woman. As the sky darkened, Lu Mingyang couldn't see his expression clearly. She was about to speak when a warm touch fell on her face.