In truth, not only An Ning found it hard to believe.
The person involved, Lin Jinghuai, didn't quite believe it either.
Sisters fighting over one husband sounded bad enough - would an aunt and niece be any better?
Though this matter only circulated within palace circles before being strictly forbidden by the emperor, as the saying goes, walls have ears.
Under such circumstances, Princess Zhaohua still deliberately requested an imperial decree. How likely was it that a royal family mber, especially one who had survived succession struggles, could be so lovestruck?
Moreover, An Ning suspected whether this so-called "coincidental encounter" was truly accidental or deliberately arranged.
Perhaps their family background had already been thoroughly investigated.
"By the way, son, what does this princess look like?"
Watching her usually composed son grow uncharacteristically flustered, An Ning propped her chin with amusent, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Cough! Cough!"
Lin Jinghuai nearly choked on his tea.
Especially seeing his mother's teasing expression, the young scholar could only tilt his head back in speechless exasperation.
All his earlier worries seed pointless now - he'd been concerned that the proud princess might bully his delicate mother when he wasn't around, given her noble status and strong personality.
After all, though his mother was intelligent and capable, she'd always been physically fragile and unused to hardship.
Who would have thought...
Shaking his head helplessly, the troubled young man paced away.
Only after his stone-blue robe disappeared from view did An Ning finally burst into laughter.
She could easily guess her son's thoughts, though she found it equally puzzling.
Except for pretending to be sickly during her Xie family days, this body of hers rarely fell ill. Yet inexplicably, everyone from her father-in-law to her own son believed her to be extrely delicate.
The entire household viewed her through so sort of "fragile Lin Daiyu" lens.
Was it simply because she preferred a leisurely lifestyle?
Inside her consciousness, the system nearly facepald.
Seriously, host? "Leisurely" doesn't begin to cover it - you practically demand to be hand-fed!
Though the Lin family remained sowhat perplexed about the arranged marriage, once the imperial decree was issued, there could be no turning back.
An Ning only had the system investigate the princess - decent looks, good health, and no violent temper - before washing her hands of the matter.
Unlike princesses who received their own estates, as a titled royal family mber, Princess Zhaohua still required appropriately grand accommodations.
Thus, the originally modest two-courtyard Lin residence expanded by more than double. Fortunately, Lin Xiuyuan had wisely purchased the adjacent property years ago, anticipating future needs when Ah Jing married.
Now they simply needed to renovate and connect the two compounds.
Truthfully, the Lin family could have afforded larger premises earlier. But Old Master Lin understood their humble origins - in a capital swarming with nobility, excessive display invited trouble.
Especially with his grandson serving in the prestigious Hanlin Academy.
But now circumstances differed.
In the following days, as the future princess's mother-in-law, An Ning received nurous invitations. During several etings with Princess Ning, the woman appeared dignified and gentle, showing no contempt toward her rural-born counterpart.
In fact, after eting Madam Lin in person, Princess Ning concealed her astonishnt poorly.
Returning ho, she couldn't help telling her daughter:
"Ah Ran, you were right - your future mother-in-law is extraordinary. That innate grace about her..."
Princess Ning shook her head. "No rchant's wife should carry herself like that. Standing beside , she didn't seem the least bit inferior."
Especially that indescribable elegance in her every movent, effortlessly commanding attention.
She possessed more natural nobility than most cultured gentlewon.
Who would have imagined such refinent erging from rural obscurity?
"How else could she have raised the current Tanhua scholar!"
Unlike her mother's bewildernt, the crimson-robed maiden responded with confident ease.
Indeed, as An Ning had guessed, this marriage was no accident. During the victory parade, Zhaohua had been instantly smitten by the strikingly handso Tanhua scholar.
Call it love at first sight - she'd imdiately investigated his background.
Crucially checking for any childhood sweethearts or cousin attachnts.
Having witnessed her elder sister's mistakes, she wasn't about to repeat them.
The investigation results, however, shocked even Zhaohua herself.
That brilliant Tanhua scholar, whom even the emperor frequently kept by his side, had been educated solely by a housebound woman.
Honestly, if not for her most trusted agents swearing to its truth, she'd never have believed it.
What phenonal natural talent!
If initially interested in the scholar, now she found Madam Lin far more fascinating.
How extraordinarily intelligent must one be to hoschool a Tanhua scholar without any formal education?
But royals prioritize interests. What truly decided Zhaohua was the palace farce.
Thanks to her father, she'd interacted often with her imperial uncle since childhood. Appreciating beauty was human nature - even emperors weren't exempt.
Her entire Shangguan family, from father to herself to the emperor, shared this aesthetic appreciation.
Yet rarely did anyone earn such imperial favor that over a transparent sche, her uncle not only suppressed rumors but punished both princesses for "tarnishing his favorite official's reputation."
As if she didn't know - though the aunts eventually got their marriages, what worthless families they wed! Weak internally, already marked on her uncle's grudge list for future retribution.
Her imperial uncle cherished favorites dearly and despised enemies utterly. Once in his good graces, one's future was assured.
With such pleasing looks, the scholar would remain favored for years.
Hearing her mother still lanting the family's humble origins, the maiden called Ah Ran retorted:
"Mother, given my status, any marriage would be beneath . Why not choose soone handso and clever?"
"At least I won't end up like eldest sister - useless husband, dull-witted nephew, and not even good looks to show for it!"
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