Chapter 626 One Can Only Say It’s the Work of Fate

**Chapter 626: One Can Only Say Fate Is Fickle**

Although Wei Shiqing had disciplined his younger brother Wei Shiyu, he couldn’t help but frown at the suggestion that the Nie family was trying to pair Nie Lvming with Xingxing.

Before Wei Shiyan’s return, Wei Shiqing, as the eldest brother, wouldn’t tolerate any complications—especially not from his mother’s side, the Nie family.

After some thought, he went to the palace to see Empress Nie.

Upon hearing this, Empress Nie pondered for a moment and quickly came up with an idea.

She summoned her mother, Dowager Duchess Cheng’en, and her sister-in-law, Madam Nie, into the palace. After some small talk, Empress Nie, playing the part of the doting aunt, casually inquired about the marriage prospects of the younger generation.

“Ah Ming isn’t getting any younger… and A Ke is of marriageable age,” she asked. “Has the family made any arrangements for their marriages?”

Dowager Duchess Cheng’en, unaware of Empress Nie’s intent, smiled and replied, “What do you think of Lady of Blessed Peace? Although the Yu family isn’t well-established, their descendants are quite exceptional. We could overlook that.”

Empress Nie felt a pang.

The Nie family was indeed her maternal kin, but her nephew could never match up to her own A Yan.

“Mother, to be honest, I already have other arrangements in mind for Lady of Blessed Peace,” Empress Nie said with a composed smile.

Madam Nie’s expression immediately shifted.

Dowager Duchess Cheng’en, surprised, asked, “Your Majesty means… for the Crown Prince?”

Empress Nie smiled meaningfully. “Not the Crown Prince. Mother knows how stubborn he is. Even when the Crown Princess remained childless for five years, countless ministers urged him to take a concubine, yet he refused. Now that she’s carrying twins, he’s even more resolute. How could we possibly consider Lady of Blessed Peace for him?”

As Empress Nie spoke, Madam Nie barely kept her expression neutral.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that her imperial sister-in-law, while seemingly talking about Lady of Blessed Peace, was actually hinting at A Ke—telling her not to get her hopes up, because A Ke would never enter the Eastern Palace.

Though Dowager Duchess Cheng’en didn’t suspect anything deeper, she was still puzzled. “If Your Majesty doesn’t intend Lady of Blessed Peace for the Crown Prince, then what other plans are there…?”

Empress Nie simply smiled enigmatically.

Under her meaningful gaze, Dowager Duchess Cheng’en suddenly realized—Her Majesty had more than one son!

Her youngest son, Wei Shiyu, was close in age to Lady of Blessed Peace!

Dowager Duchess Cheng’en finally understood.

Since the Third Prince was still young and not yet of marriageable age, Her Majesty must be biding her time.

Believing she had figured it out, Dowager Duchess Cheng’en quickly said, “Since Your Majesty has already made arrangements for Lady of Blessed Peace, Ah Ming’s mother and I will look for another suitable match for him.”

Empress Nie smiled. “It’s just that Lady of Blessed Peace is still young, and things may change in the future. Please keep this between us, Mother and Sister-in-law.”

Both Dowager Duchess Cheng’en and Madam Nie quickly assured her they would.

Dowager Duchess Cheng’en then mused aloud, “Come to think of it, that young lady from the Duke of Xinguo’s household is truly remarkable—very beautiful too. Our Ah Ming might even be beneath her… but he doesn’t like her.”

Empress Nie glanced at her mother, realizing that she still didn’t know that Yu Mingzhu was not a true Yu by blood.

Otherwise, her mother would start grumbling again about their families not being well-matched.

Empress Nie smiled but said nothing of Yu Mingzhu, changing the subject instead: "Come to think of it, I remember that the Minister of Personnel’s darling daughter has also reached the age to marry."

At Empress Nie’s remark, Dowager Duchess Cheng'en paused in thought: "Forgive me, Your Majesty—I can’t quite recall which young lady that is..."

But Madam Nie remembered, since she had once considered the Minister of Personnel’s daughter as a potential match.

"Mother, have you forgotten? It's the Zhu family from Swallow Lane. Last year during your birthday celebration, Madam Zhu brought Miss Zhu Yaoxu to offer her greetings," Madam Nie prompted.

The Dowager Duchess still looked blank: "Did she?... I can't seem to remember."

Madam Nie’s mind raced.

Empress Nie simply smiled without comment.

After all, arranging marriages involved both families. Success was another matter entirely.

Once they’d finished discussing Nie Lvming, Dowager Duchess Cheng'en turned to Nie Yuke’s prospects: "...Your Majesty, regarding A Ke’s marriage, does Your Majesty have any suitable candidates in mind?"

Dowager Duchess Cheng'en was unaware that her granddaughter’s heart's desire was to marry her cousin, the Crown Prince.

But as her mother, Madam Nie knew full well.

Hearing her mother-in-law raise this topic before Empress Nie, her scalp tingled with apprehension, and she couldn’t help glancing anxiously at Empress Nie.

Empress Nie appeared unaffected, smiling as she replied to Dowager Duchess Cheng'en: "For a girl, marriage is like being reborn. A Ke has been pampered since childhood in the Nie household, so naturally we must carefully choose someone worthy—a match who will allow her to become lady of the house. Only then will A Ke not be slighted… There’s no rush. We must take our time."

Dowager Duchess Cheng'en nodded repeatedly: "How wise of Your Majesty."

Madam Nie, however, felt her heart sink further.

Empress Nie clearly had no intention of keeping it in the family by marrying A Ke to the Crown Prince.

Taking a deep breath, Madam Nie pasted on a smile and nodded in agreement.

After leaving the palace, Dowager Duchess Cheng'en and Madam Nie summoned Nie Lvming.

When they relayed Empress Nie’s stance, Nie Lvming fell silent for a moment before murmuring, "No wonder the Third Prince has been out of sorts these past few days."

Dowager Duchess Cheng'en sighed: "Lady of Blessed Peace is truly fortunate. Even though her family isn't noble, the Yu family’s sons are all promising and sure to achieve great success. It’s a pity—your aunt has her eye on her for the Third Prince."

Nie Lvming frowned.

Dowager Duchess Cheng'en continued cautiously: "A Ming, don’t worry. Your grandmother will surely find you a proper match. As for Lady of Blessed Peace, put it out of your mind. Your aunt holds her in high regard and specifically warned us not to let word get out, fearing it might harm the lady’s reputation. Fortunately, your mother hasn’t sent a matchmaker yet."

Nie Lvming finally sighed: "Grandmother, I understand."

It wasn’t meant to be.

...

Madam Nie entered Nie Yuke’s room, where her daughter sat by the window, intently arranging flowers.

Seeing her daughter, thinner than before, Madam Nie felt a pang of sorrow.

"A Ke…"

Nie Yuke looked up, her face brightening as she prepared to ask her mother how things went in court. But upon seeing Madam Nie’s expression, her heart sank.

Sure enough, Madam Nie exhaled heavily: "A Ke, you must give up on the Crown Prince. Let me find you a good match instead..."

Nie Yuke sprang to her feet: "Mother!"

Madam Nie, eyes filled with grief, seized Nie Yuke’s hands: "A Ke, the Empress, your aunt, must have already noticed your feelings for the Crown Prince. Today, during my audience with her, she mentioned it several times. I could tell—she absolutely won’t allow you to marry into the Eastern Palace. This must also be the Crown Prince’s wish. A Ke… listen to me. You must give up this hopeless dream."