After Gu Nian left, she didn’t go home; instead, Little Hu and Sanhu dragged her to the small pond outside the village.
Recently, the snow made the roads slippery, and the private school had no choice but to close, so Little Hu and Sanhu had free time.
The small pond outside the village had a thick layer of ice, and many children from the village were skating on it. At first, Gu Nian was apprehensive about stepping onto it, fearing that the ice might suddenly crack and cause some danger.
However, seeing others play so happily, her initial fear was gradually replaced by playfulness, and soon she joined in with the others.
"Is it that girl?" Nanny Wang, sitting in the carriage, happened to lift the front curtain as they passed by and immediately saw Gu Nian laughing heartily.
Mrs. Zheng followed her gaze and looked outside, hesitating, "This girl seems to have good fortune. Jinyu has been aloof since childhood, unwilling to interact with anyone, so for this girl to catch his eye, she must have some remarkable qualities."
"Just a wild girl!" Nanny Wang said with a sneer, "You’ve seen the Princely Heir’s attitude as well. What does the lady plan to do?"
"What plan could I have? When I return, I’ll persuade the second girl; you can’t force a melon to be sweet. Since Jinyu truly has no interest, the daughters of the Zheng Family can still marry well enough. Besides, given our relationship with the Prince Nan’an Mansion, marrying a daughter to an official family is still feasible, although her status won’t be as noble as Nan Jin Yu’s."
"The lady is always so uncompetitive, letting everything take its course naturally, but it’s a pity for the old lady’s intentions. She hoped the Princely Heir would marry the second girl, as the old lady sees the second girl as she sees you, at least there’s something in her heart..." Nanny Wang sighed, "Alas, now as she gets older, the old lady’s health is declining day by day. When I left, she was still lamenting, wondering how much longer she can live. The mansion has no worries left for the old lady, except for you; the Prince, focused on the borderlands, fears that if she passes, the weakened Zheng Family might cause you grievances!"
In truth, the legitimate daughter of the Prince Nan’an Mansion shouldn’t have fallen so low, but Mrs. Zheng was expelled from the mansion by the Old Prince Nan’an for marrying Mr. Zheng.
It was only after Nan Jin Yu’s father took over that he showed more care for his only sister, which improved her situation in the Zheng Family somewhat.
But being expelled from the mansion was the Old Prince’s decision, and even though the Prince Nan’an couldn’t openly reclaim her as his sister due to filial piety, he still provided some aid secretly.
This is why the Zheng Family was so eager to cling to Nan Jin Yu’s connection.
Years of living have long stripped Mrs. Zheng of the pride she once had as a legitimate daughter of the Prince Nan’an Mansion, leaving her instead weak and vulnerable, "What else could be done? Jinyu looks down on my daughter; how can we forcefully push her on him?"
"Lady, think about it, how did the Princess get the Prince to marry her back then? Except for those initial years of enduring everything, now who dares look down on the Princess?"
"This... how can this be possible?" Mrs. Zhao immediately shook her head.
"Why not? It’s not my place to say much, but if you let the raw rice be cooked into cooked rice, especially with the old lady managing the situation, the Princely Heir will definitely marry the second girl. By then, your daughter will be the heir’s wife, the future Princess Nan’an. Who would dare look down on you and your daughter?" Nanny Wang coaxed, "You and the old lady are mother and daughter by blood; it’s been nearly 20 years, and the old lady has always missed you. Can you bear for the old lady not to see her own daughter before she dies? Once the second girl marries the Princely Heir, you will be in-laws with the Prince Nan’an Mansion, and visiting the old lady would be legitimate!"