Chapter 159: Engage Her as Wife

Xuanming Palace

The candlelight flickered in the study, and the atmosphere was solemn.

Xie Xuan held the eight hundred li secret report in his hand, his face as cold as ice.

General Zhang stood aside, his beard flying in anger, as if every strand was expressing his dissatisfaction.

"You...how can I tell you what to say?" General Zhang rubbed his face anxiously, his eyebrows and beard seemed to be tangled together. "In this situation, aren't you just shooting yourself in the foot?"

Xie Xuan's eyebrows were stern and unmoved. "The Xie family's ancestral golden medal of immunity from death can be used nine times, and there are still two left, which is enough to absolve my wife's family of their sins."

His answer left General Zhang dumbfounded, and he was so angry that he almost couldn't breathe.

"You...you kid, you are so calm, this is what you came up with!" General Zhang looked around for something to vent his anger on, and finally picked up a thick military book and smashed it on Xie Xuan's head.

"The ancestors of the Xie family made great contributions and helped the First Emperor to found the country, so they were awarded this honor. How dare you treat it like a joke?" He roared, his voice almost shaking the roof.

Xie Xuan did not dodge or evade, allowing the military book to hit his head heavily and then roll to the ground.

His voice was as cold as ice, "If it weren't for this, how could Father be forced to death?"

With just one sentence, even the furious General Zhang was brought back to his original form.

He was panting like an ox, but he could do nothing to Xie Xuan. In the end, he could only close his eyes and sigh: "Forget it, forget it. It's come to this. There's no turning back."

After opening her eyes, she looked at Xie Xuan's stubborn expression and couldn't hold back her anger. "You two really are mother and son! Why don't you learn from others' mistakes and insist on doing things your own way? When you're stubborn, you're even scarier than your mother!"

Xie Xuan just raised his eyebrows when he heard this: "I'll have to trouble you again later..."

Before he could finish, General Zhang interrupted him with a wave of his hand: "What's the difference between this and forced marriage? What's with all the three letters and six ceremonies? Just be quick and decisive and go straight to the bridal chamber!"

General Zhang was so angry that he lost his mind, and his furious voice could be heard almost two miles away.

Just then, Mu Ze coughed lightly outside the door.

Old Master Su's face froze. He turned around and saw that Su Shengsheng had been taken out of the study.

His heart tightened, and for the first time he felt like deserting.

Without even glancing at Su Shengsheng's gaze, he simply glared at Xie Xuan, "It's just marrying a wife, but you're already fighting and killing each other. If someone didn't know better, they'd think you were enemies!"

After saying this, he didn't care whether Xie Xuan heard it or not, and ran away in big strides.

Su Shengsheng couldn't help but frown slightly as she watched General Zhang disappear like a gust of wind.

She walked into the study and bowed to Xie Xuan.

Xie Xuan glanced at General Zhang who disappeared into the night, then glanced at Mu Ze and Chu Zhao standing beside him.

The two men's faces froze and they quickly retreated.

Su Shengsheng knelt on the ground, feeling Xie Xuan approaching, and finally lowered her body.

Seeing him extend his hand, she quickly stood up without waiting for Xie Xuan to support her: "Thank you, General."

Su Shengsheng was restless the whole way, worried about whether Xie Xuan had overheard something, and also worried that her grandfather would not leave...

As I walked along, I didn't pay attention to the argument between the two people just now.

Xie Xuan handed over a secret letter that he had already read: "Open it first."

When Su Shengsheng saw the wax seal on the letter, her heart skipped a beat.

She took the secret letter and opened it slowly.

"The nation's demise is not due to external enemies, but rather to internal treachery... Scoundrels like Qin Qi, in high positions, have no regard for serving their country, instead reveling in abusing their power, oppressing the people, and undermining the government... They even instigated the emperor to pay tribute and pledge vassalage to the Northern Rong. This is a disgrace for Nanling and a pain for all its people! These sycophants have embezzled the treasury, currying favor with the Northern Rong while ignoring the two imprisoned emperors... They then forced the people to waste their money and labor to build a new capital, disregarding the hardships faced by the people in both regions. How is Qin Qi and his companions any different from traitors to the state?"

Your Majesty is the ruler of all people, yet you have been deceived by treacherous ministers and are willing to beg for peace...

Even though it was not his grandfather's handwriting, but just copied by someone else, Su Shengsheng could still feel his grandfather's deep grief and helplessness.

"...The rise and fall of a nation depends on the heart of the emperor. I hope that Your Majesty will learn from the past, eradicate the treacherous and corrupt, and revive the government, not allowing the foundation laid by our ancestors to be destroyed... We still have countless loyal and brave men in Nanling who are willing to sacrifice their lives for Your Majesty and resist the kidnapping!"

Attached below is the content of the imperial edict issued by the emperor.

Considering the kindness of my teacher, I have been tolerant again and again. I did not expect that Su Zhiyuan would rely on the grace of the emperor who taught him and refused to change his ways despite repeated admonitions. He made remarks that misled the public, discussed state affairs without authorization, and slandered court officials. Such a crime of disrespect is truly unacceptable!

Not only did he slander loyal and good people, but he also spoke words that were offensive to his superiors, saying that a king who was about to lose his country was about to lose his country.

To serve as a warning to others, I hereby issue an edict to execute the entire Su family. This will be carried out immediately upon receipt of the edict!

Anyone who dares to speak nonsense again in the future will be punished equally and there will be no leniency!

The imperial edict was a page long, and every word was as sharp as a sword, revealing that his anger had not yet subsided.

Send an order to Nanling: anyone who colludes with the imperial teacher and makes irresponsible comments on state affairs will be regarded as a traitor and will be severely punished!

I want to see who dares to follow these people who disregard the emperor's grace, slander the country, and shake my kingdom!

At this time, Xie Xuan took the envelope from Su Shengsheng's trembling hands and put in a heavy golden medal of immunity from death.

"This is the golden medal of immunity from death bestowed upon my ancestor of the Xie family. Today I use it as a betrothal gift to marry the sixth young lady of the Su family." Xie Xuan stared at Su Shengsheng, whose expression changed little by little, and his voice was as sharp as the raging snow and wind outside.

Su Shengsheng struggled to speak, "Thank you very much, General, for your kindness...but Su Shengsheng is unlucky and unworthy of this honor."

The emperor was incompetent and not only did he dislike honest advice, he also blocked the channels for speech.

The spring imperial examination was approaching, and this decree was issued to announce to the world: The emperor was not wrong, surrendering to the northern barbarians was not wrong, erasing loyal and good people was not wrong, and not listening to the people's wishes was not wrong...

Such a blind and deaf king even handed over the lost territories recovered by General Zhang, and was so flattering and plundering that he was extremely foolish!

Even if ten Yue Feis were reborn, they would still not be enough to kill this tyrant.

Today, even if her grandfather refused to leave, she would knock him out and take him away.

She returned the gold medal to Xie Xuan and said, "General Xie, you must be more careful in the future."

After saying this, she bowed again, then started to leave without paying any attention to etiquette.

"Su Shengsheng." Xie Xuan's eyebrows tensed for a moment. "I know today's situation is urgent and you can't understand it for the time being. Tomorrow I will come to marry you in person and will protect you and your family."

However, the bone-chilling cold wind that blew in did not bring back any response from her.

General Zhang returned and, upon seeing this scene, shook his head repeatedly: "I thought this girl would at least be touched..."

When he looked back at Xie Xuan's frozen face, he couldn't help but sigh: Could this be the legendary "one thing conquers another"?

Everyone in the Su family was anxiously awaiting Su Shengsheng's return, and they were all shocked to see her return with a frozen face.

They came forward one after another to inquire about the situation.

Su Shengsheng explained the truth one by one. Before the shock on her family's faces could subside, she continued, "Grandfather, that man's actions are only intended to completely eliminate public opinion. Are we going to let him succeed?"

General Zhang was speechless for a long time. After a while, he said, "Grandpa and grandma are old. You should stop worrying about us. Run for your lives..."

Upon hearing this, Su Shengsheng knelt down instantly and said, "Grandfather, please believe me this time. I will definitely be able to get you all out of the border safely."

Su Nianwei, who had been silent the entire time, had a slight twinkle in her eyes. "General Xie, since I'm calling you over this time, I'm sure you've already got a plan in place, right?"

Su Shengsheng's eyes froze slightly, and she lowered them calmly: "General Xie said that he is willing to marry me in exchange for the golden medal of immunity from death."

Everyone was shocked when they heard this.

They still had a glimmer of hope, but it was not until they received confirmation from Xie Xuan that they realized the seriousness of the situation.

But they never expected that Xie Xuan would resort to such a desperate measure...

But, is this really a bad idea?

Everyone looked at Su Shengsheng's pretty face, thinking about something.