Chapter 545 Can Let Both Children Continue to Be Together

After Wei Shuangyan and Wei Zihang greeted the elders, and after the exchange of pleasantries, the Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery turned eagerly to Xingxing: "My dear Township Lady, how have you been these past few days? A couple of days ago, I sent someone to the residence of the General of the Western Garrison to deliver some freshly acquired hundred-year-old blood ginseng to my dear Township Lady and Miracle Doctor Da Xi. I heard that both my dear Township Lady and Miracle Doctor Da Xi had come to the Duke of Xinguo's residence."

Xingxing replied politely, "Thank you for your concern, Princess Consort. The Duke and the Dowager Duchess have treated me exceptionally well."

The Dowager Duchess cut in with subtle pride, "These old bones of mine were previously afflicted by that ominous energy, and it was my dear Township Lady who saved them."

At this, the Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery became excited as well: "Yes, yes! At the time, my son Ah Hang and I also relied on the protective talismans my dear Township Lady gave us to escape disaster."

The Dowager Duchess beamed with pride.

This was her own granddaughter!

As a junior, Wei Zihang naturally sat in a lower seat, directly across from Xingxing.

Wei Zihang couldn’t stop staring at Xingxing, feeling that after just a few days apart, she seemed even more radiant, even her hair seemed to glow.

As his mother and the Dowager Duchess went back and forth praising Xingxing, Wei Zihang wholeheartedly agreed with every word.

Jiao Shi, however, was growing more uncomfortable.

After the round of compliments, the Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery got to the point of her visit.

"I understand that the Duke of Xinguo's household is also a victim in this matter, but that maid was pure evil—she ruined my Yan Yan’s entire life and nearly cost our entire household their lives. If not for my dear Township Lady and Daxisipo, we all might have died because of that wretched maid." The Princess Consort’s voice was still furious as she spoke.

Then, with a hint of reproach, she turned to Lady Heir. "Lady Heir, I don’t mean to stir trouble, but with that maid being so cunning and ruthless, how could Ming Zhu have failed to notice?"

This carried an implication of holding the Duke of Xinguo's household accountable.

Jiao Shi stiffened inwardly but pretended to share her outrage: "That’s precisely why we say that maid was so deceitful! Our Zhu Zhu has always been naive—she was completely fooled by her."

The Princess Consort snorted, emphasizing how this incident had been a calamity for their entire household, especially her daughter. The five-year Fate-Changing Tower had been almost complete, only to be ruined by this disaster, altering her fate for life.

Jiao Shi caught the undertone and immediately adopted the demeanor of an experienced household manager—expressing sympathy on the surface but refusing to make any concrete promises.

Just as the Princess Consort was about to press further, Wei Shuangyan impatiently cut in, her eyes blazing: "Where is Second Brother Yu?"

Jiao Shi was displeased. How could Wei Shuangyan be so lacking in manners?

She replied evenly, "Chong En had to go out on business."

Wei Shuangyan frowned but said nothing more.

Jiao Shi’s dissatisfaction with Wei Shuangyan deepened, and she stopped talking.

The Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery coughed lightly, then laid out clearly the previously discussed marriage arrangement: "Our two families know each other well, and the two children share deep affection. Chong En has remained unmarried all these years, waiting for our Yan Yan. But after this incident, with Yan Yan’s fate unaltered, we can no longer insist on the marriage alliance between our households."

"However, the two children do care for each other..." The Princess Consort hesitated before continuing, "We consulted a master, and there is a way to allow them to remain together."

The Dowager Duchess’s interest was piqued: "Oh?"

Jiao Shi, however, thought to herself: A daughter-in-law like Wei Shuangyan—no matter how auspicious her fate—was someone she would never welcome into the family. Let alone one with a fate that was "lonely and destructive!"

The Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery also felt somewhat embarrassed to propose this—but then she reconsidered. Her daughter, upon marriage, could be granted the title of County Lady or Township Lady, with status and beauty unmatched. The only flaw was her inauspicious fate. If she were to follow Chong En without formal recognition due to her fate, wouldn’t that mean the Duke of Xinguo's household was getting the better deal?

Chong En could take concubines or maids, live at the Duke of Xinguo's residence or theirs—but all they asked was that he never take a formal wife, leaving the position of principal wife vacant in name for their daughter. Was that really too much to ask?

Not at all!

The Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery felt entirely justified.

At this point, she made no effort to conceal her intentions from Xingxing. Right in front of her, she spoke amiably to Jiao Shi and the Dowager Duchess: "Dowager Duchess, we're all close here, so I'll speak frankly. My daughter's been wronged—she was perfectly fine until that maid from your household ruined her FateChanging Tower. Otherwise, we'd be planning their wedding by now."

The Dowager Duchess of Xin sensed that the Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery was not here to settle scores. With a composed "Oh?" she responded just as amiably, "Then, what did you have in mind?"

The Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery cleared her throat. "Here's what I'm thinking: let them live as a couple without holding a formal wedding or registering a marriage with the authorities. As long as both families understand the arrangement, that will suffice. This way, it won't count as a marriage, and Shuangyan’s fate won't bring harm to the Duke of Xinguo’s household. Of course, Chong En may take concubines or maids—that's fine by us—but he must not have a principal wife. The title of principal wife must remain reserved for our Shuangyan. If, in the future, we find a way to break her cursed fate, she won't have to live beneath another woman. What do you think of this?"

Upon hearing this, Jiao Shi, who had already been reluctant, nearly lost her composure and slammed the table to stand up.

What was the Jiping Commandery Prince’s household implying? That their Chong En should live with Wei Shuangyan without any formal recognition?!

Jiao Shi could no longer restrain herself: "...Your Highness, even if your Shuangyan doesn’t care about gossip, the Duke of Xinguo’s household still values its dignity!"

The Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery’s expression darkened, her voice turning cold. "What do you mean by that, Madam? Our Shuangyan, the daughter of a commandery prince, is willing to follow your second son without any formal status—how does that disgrace your household?!"

Jiao Shi’s face twisted in displeasure, and for a moment, she abandoned all pretense of decorum, arguing heatedly with the Princess Consort: "Living without formal recognition is inherently disgraceful! Moreover, Chong En is my legitimate second son. If Second Miss Wei bears children, would they be considered legitimate heirs, illegitimate offspring, or—children born out of wedlock?"

The moment the term "children born out of wedlock" was uttered, the Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery, Wei Zihang, and Wei Shuangyan all paled.

Wei Shuangyan bit her lip. "...Where is Second Brother? Let him come out and speak."

Jiao Shi’s gaze was icy. "Second Miss Wei, this discussion is over! Chong En is the second son of the Duke of Xinguo’s household. His actions represent not just himself but the entire family! If he acts recklessly, what will people say about his younger siblings?!"

Wei Shuangyan’s face went white—she hadn’t expected Jiao Shi to oppose so vehemently!