Chapter 347: Whoever Marries Her Will Be Unlucky

Xiao Yu’s expression was cold. “I never said I wasn’t getting married.”

“It’s just that girl from the Guardian Lady’s family. She’s ugly, arrogant, and willful. Not to mention cruel. I would never marry someone like that!”

The Princess Consort’s jaw dropped. “That Qingluan girl is ugly?”

‘Heavens, is there something wrong with my son’s eyes!’

Xiao Yu sneered, “She *is* ugly. In any case, I don’t want her.”

The Princess Consort and Nanny Xu exchanged a glance. The Princess Consort asked cautiously, “Did Miss Shen offend you in some way?”

Xiao Yu said impatiently, “I can’t stand the sight of her. Don’t mention her to me again!”

The Princess Consort sighed helplessly. “Well, tell me then, which family’s young lady do you fancy? Mother will send someone to arrange the marriage for you.”

Xiao Yu stood up. “I don’t want a lady from any family. Mother, you don’t need to worry about this for now.”

The Princess Consort grew anxious. “Your older brother’s wife has been gone for almost a year. I heard they’re planning to discuss a new marriage for him soon. Aren’t you worried? He’ll snatch up all the good ones!”

Xiao Yu found this amusing. “What ‘good ones’?”

“Mother, I’m telling you, that Shen Qingluan woman is definitely no prize. Whoever marries her is in for a world of misfortune. You just wait and see.”

This was the first time in days that the Princess Consort had heard Xiao Yu call her ‘Mother.’ Delighted, she decided to go along with his wishes. “Since you don’t like Qingluan, Mother won’t force you. She’s not the only good girl in the world, after all. It’s just that there aren’t many in Ping’an City whose status matches our family’s. How about we find you a highborn lady from the Capital City?”

“If you’re willing, I’ll write to your maternal grandmother right now and have her make inquiries for you.”

Xiao Yu frowned. He was about to refuse, but then he changed his mind. “Then let my grandmother make some inquiries first. However, the choice isn’t final until I’ve given my approval.”

Seeing Xiao Yu relent, the Princess Consort nodded repeatedly. “Of course. Don’t you worry. There isn’t a family that would be unwilling to form a marital alliance with us. I’ll have someone paint portraits of the most outstanding noble ladies in the Capital City and bring them here for you to choose from yourself.”

Xiao Yu nodded and turned to leave.

The Princess Consort immediately called for a maid, “Bring me a brush and ink! I need to write a letter to my mother.”

Xiao Yu let out a long sigh of relief as he walked out of the courtyard.

‘I won’t marry Shen Qingluan, and I won’t marry some highborn lady from the Capital City either.’

‘It will take a good deal of time for Mother to write to the Capital City and get a reply.’

‘I’ll just drag this out for now. I’ll deal with it after I’ve resolved that girl’s vicious oath.’

He had just returned to his courtyard when a servant of the Prince’s came over. “Young Master Heir, the Prince summons you for questioning.”

Xiao Yu didn’t ask why the Prince was looking for him and simply followed the servant to the outer study.

The Prince was polishing a sword with a cotton cloth. When he saw Xiao Yu arrive, he didn’t stop, asking nonchalantly, “I hear you went to the Maritime Trade Office to get a permit and are planning to form a fleet to go to sea. Is this true?”

Xiao Yu stood a few meters away and replied lazily, “It is. A few friends wanted to make some money by going to sea and invited me to join, so I agreed.”

Prince Qi’s brow furrowed slightly. “Why bother? Is there anything you want that the family won’t provide? When have we ever been short on silver for you to spend? You’d be better off focusing your energy on military affairs.”

Xiao Yu replied in a devil-may-care tone, “It won’t take much energy. It’s not like I’ll be doing the work myself, anyway. I’ll have stewards underneath me to handle it.”

“Besides, I didn’t even want to do this in the first place. But your son is truly poor.”

“These days, even a mere steward in the manor has a much greater fortune than your son. I am the Princely Heir, for crying out loud, yet I’m worse off than a steward, let alone my older brother. If word of this got out, wouldn’t it be a complete joke?”