I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

Chapter 227 The Difficulties of Getting a House

"Isn't he your father?"

Wei Luo had never seen Yang Nian'er cry so sadly before, and he panicked instantly: "Sister Nian'er, it's just a house deed, why are you so angry about such a small thing? If you like it, I can buy you another one."

"Yes, it's a small matter. All my matters are small matters. If you're happy, you'll tell me I bought it for a hundred taels. If you're unhappy, the deed we signed is a joke. The house is yours. You can give it to whoever you want. Who am I to ask? It's all my fault for being so stupid as to trust you."

Yang Nian'er pushed Wei Luo hard, turned around and ran away.

"Sister Nian'er!"

Wei Luo wanted to chase after him, but Lu Mingyang stopped him, also looking puzzled.

"Cousin, what are you thinking? Even if you want to pass the house on to my father, you should discuss it with Nian'er first."

With a bang, the servant knelt down outside the door and said, "Miss, it's all my fault, don't blame the master."

"What's your business? Get out!"

Wei Luo scolded him, looking at Lu Mingyang with an unpleasant expression, his voice hoarse from the pain in his throat, "I was planning to ask Nian'er first, but Uncle Yang said that it would be bad for her reputation if she lived in the house under my name. I think he's right, but the important thing is, how can I tell Nian'er this reason?"

"I understand. Cousin, don't say in front of Nian'er that a house is a trivial matter. To you, it's a trivial matter, but to Nian'er, it's her hope of survival."

After Lu Mingyang finished speaking, he turned around and chased Nian'er.

Yang Nian'er ran very fast and disappeared in the blink of an eye. Lu Mingyang searched for a long time and found his sister at the end of a dead end alley.

She squatted at the foot of the wall, her hands hugging her knees, her head buried deep in them, no expression visible. All that could be heard was her breathless sobbing, as if she was about to faint from crying any second.

"Nian'er!" Lu Mingyang squatted down and called softly.

Yang Nian'er looked up, her eyes unfocused. "Second sister, why, why can they still control my life even though I've fled to the capital?"

"They can't." Lu Mingyang wiped away his sister's tears and said distressedly, "I'll give you the deed back and I won't give Old Yang a penny."

Yang Nian'er smiled: "Second sister, I don't want to come back just because I am the princess's sister. I think I can also come back just because I am an ordinary woman in this world."

"Okay!" Lu Mingyang held his sister's hand and said resolutely, "I'll go to Jingzhao Prefecture with you."

Yang Nian'er suddenly raised her eyes.

After her parents arrived, Yang Nian'er followed her second sister's example and hid her valuables under her bed. She found the contract she had written with Wei Luo under the bed and rushed to Jingzhao Prefecture with her second sister.

Outside the Jingzhao government office, drums roared to the heavens. Upon learning it was Princess Ningyuan beating the drums, the Jingzhao prefect personally invited her into the government office. She wasn't in the main hall, but in the study, where she used to conduct her daily official duties.

"What can I do for you, Princess?"

Lu Mingyang said, "I'm here with my sister."

Yang Nian'er handed the deed to the Jingzhao Yin and said, "I would like to sue Wei Luo, the prince of the Duke of Wei, and Yang Tiezhu, a resident of Shangyang Village, Hongnong Commandery, Sizhou, for the private sale of my house."

Jing Zhao Yin was confused and asked curiously, "Princess, isn't Prince Wei your cousin?"

Lu Mingyang didn't know how to explain it, so he just said, "Just tell me, can this case be handled?"

He put down the irregular contract in his hand and looked at Princess Ningyuan in embarrassment: "Princess, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that I have never handled such a ridiculous case before, and I don't know where to start."

Lu Mingyang asked back, "How is it ridiculous?"

The Jingzhao Yin choked and said frankly, "Our Dasheng laws clearly stipulate that women are not allowed to privately own fields, shops, houses, and similar land. Any sale of fields, shops, houses, and similar land must be signed by a male in the family to be valid."

At this point, he pointed to the deed and said helplessly, "This is useless. If I were to handle the case based on this, and someone brought a complaint before Your Majesty tomorrow, I would lose my job."

Lu Mingyang asked, "Is there no solution at all?"

In order to curry favor with Concubine Song, the Jingzhao Yin had offended the Ningyuan King. Now he wanted an opportunity to ease the situation. So he thought for a moment and said, "Yes. I don't know who your father is. If he can come forward and say that he had his daughter sign this draft contract on his behalf, I might be able to give it a try."

Yang Nian'er gritted her teeth: "Yang Tiezhu."

Jingzhao Yin's head was buzzing: "Why do I seem to have heard this name somewhere before?"

Yang Nian'er said, "I'm suing him, my father, Yang Tiezhu."

Jing Zhaoyin: "..."

He looked at Yang Nian'er as if she were a monster, but he couldn't say anything to the princess's sister, so he could only respond with an awkward smile.

Lu Mingyang asked, "Just tell me, can this case be brought to court?"

Jingzhao Yin nodded reluctantly, "Of course we can open the court." But wouldn't opening the court be humiliating? He really didn't understand what the two little girls in front of him were thinking.

Lu Mingyang had already pulled Yang Nian'er away.

"Nian'er, don't worry, let's go ask someone else." Lu Mingyang looked at the sun and brought her to the Ministry of Justice.

Shen Yan hurried out after hearing from the messenger that someone from the Chengyang Marquis' Mansion was looking for him. He didn't see the face he expected to see, so he hid the disappointment in his eyes and stepped forward to pay his respects.

"What does the princess want to see me for?"

Lu Mingyang pointed to the restaurant across the street and said, "Please sit down for a while. I have something to ask you, sir."

The restaurant was a bit shabby, without a second floor, so they sat down in a quiet corner and ordered a pot of tea. At this hour, they were the only table in the restaurant.

Lu Mingyang didn't shy away from explaining the situation to Shen Yan, "Your Excellency is well-versed in Dasheng laws. Is there anything you can do?"

Shen Yan said, "The law is like this, and I don't have any good solutions. If Miss Nian'er has evidence of giving money to Master Wei, there are two ways. First, Miss Nian'er's indenture is in the Chengyang Marquis's mansion, where she helps the master with shopping. Second, Miss Nian'er is already engaged, and the mansion is a draft deed signed by Miss Nian'er on behalf of her husband."

This method was no different from what Jingzhao Yin had said. This kind of thing wouldn't be a problem for a man at all. But for a woman, this simple request was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Lu Mingyang was just thinking about whether to transfer Nian'er's indenture to the Chengyang Marquis Mansion when Yang Nian'er stood up.

"I can't work, I can't move, or I'm a fool who needs to be supported by others. Why should my own things be in the name of either my father or my husband?"

After saying that, she ran out angrily.

"Excuse me, Lord Shen." Lu Mingyang put down the silver and stood up to leave. Shen Yan stood up, blocking her way, and said with difficulty: "Princess, is your sister okay now?"

Lu Mingyang asked, "Since you want to know, why don't you go visit my eldest sister yourself?"