Chapter 130 The Daughter of Destiny

The emperor frowned, looking very unhappy, and did not speak for a while.

The Second Prince's party was completely unable to sit still. "Your Majesty, even Master Wen Yin said so, which shows that this matter is extraordinary. You are in good health, how can this girl of destiny marry the Fourth Prince? This will shake the foundation of the country."

"Yes." More and more people stood up to oppose.

Wen Yinchi's face turned red as he stood in the hall, turning his Buddhist beads non-stop. The emperor was in a dilemma and his eyes suddenly fell on him.

"Master Wenyin, what do you think I should do?"

Wen Yin paused for a moment, uttered "Amitabha" again, and then spoke in a calm voice.

"What the donor said makes sense. The emperor is still in his prime, and marrying the daughter of destiny to someone else would be detrimental to your dragon body. I have a suggestion. You can recruit Miss Duan San into the Imperial Observatory as a female official in charge of destiny, and when the next emperor is selected, you can grant her marriage."

This is the best way.

The emperor did not have to marry her, which would be criticized by later generations as stealing his son's daughter-in-law. He could also take the opportunity to cancel the marriage and wait for the crown prince to be chosen before granting the marriage.

"This method is very good. It achieves the best of both worlds." The emperor nodded in approval.

However, he kept in mind Wen Yin's words that it would be detrimental to his dragon body if the girl of destiny were to marry someone else.

The emperor made the final decision and immediately sent the eunuch to Duan Mansion to read the imperial edict. Duan Mengmeng jumped from being the future consort of the fourth prince to the future crown prince, and was also appointed as a female official.

The entire Duan Mansion was filled with joy, except for her, who was dazed, as if her soul had been taken away.

Old Madam Duan could only comfort her, saying that after Xiao Yuan broke through the siege and took the position, she would still be the queen. If not, she would not have to risk failing in the fight for the throne.

Disappointment was only a moment. Both Duan Mengmeng and Duan Yingying would choose the side that was more favorable to themselves. After all, she was the daughter of destiny. If Xiao Yuan wanted the throne, he would definitely marry her.

On that day, Duan Mengmeng was brought into the palace, and the emperor issued an edict that except on important festivals, she was not allowed to step out of the Imperial Observatory.

Xiao Yuan raised the corner of his mouth sarcastically, and stared at the emperor with an ambiguous look. He must be worried that the girl of destiny from Daliang was secretly having an affair with someone else.

After all, everyone knew what Duan Mengmeng felt for him.

He curled his lips in disdain, and after the dust settled, he suddenly spoke, "My son's Wutong Garden has been arranged. Now everyone knows that I am going to marry a wife. What do you think of this matter, father?"

It would be a lie for the emperor to say that he did not feel guilty. He had forced her to marry him in the first place, and now that this had happened he immediately broke off the engagement. He felt very embarrassed.

"As compensation, you can propose a condition, and I will agree to it."

"No need." Xiao Yuan sneered, his stern face showing extreme disappointment and ridicule, "I have lost my fiancée, what compensation do I need from you?"

The emperor choked. Although he was a little angry, his guilt overwhelmed that anger.

"It's already deplorable that my fiancée is gone. Now my prince's mansion has been busy for several days. If the marriage is cancelled in the end, my backbone will be exposed and I won't have to show my face to the public anymore."

"..." The emperor exhaled and said, "You can choose any girl from the civil and military families in the court. I will issue an order immediately."

Hearing this, many officials looked at Xiao Yuan eagerly.

"My son's Fourth Prince's Mansion is not your harem. Anyone can be compatible."

This sentence completely angered the emperor, and he waved his hand and asked the eunuch to announce the end of the court session.

He pointed at Xiao Yuan and said, "Come to my study and talk."

This rebellious son's words were always so infuriating. There was no one else in the imperial study, so even if the father and son had a huge quarrel, no civil or military officials would know about it.

Xiao Yuan raised his eyes and followed slowly.

Shen Wen looked back every few steps, and only after everyone had gone far away did he frown and quickly leave the Fengtian Hall.

This incident was really strange, and he never believed in ghosts or gods.

In the imperial study, the head eunuch's forehead was dripping with sweat. He whispered to Xiao Yuan, who had a stern face, "Fourth Prince, the door of the imperial study has just been replaced by the Ministry of Crafts. Please be gentle."

Xiao Yuan glanced coldly at the eunuch and walked into the imperial study. The emperor was sitting behind the dragon throne, staring at him.

That look couldn't be described as angry, but it was mixed with scrutiny and extremely penetrating, as if trying to see through his true thoughts.

Xiao Yuan didn't care and sat down leisurely in the chair.

The emperor was suspicious, and he had long since experienced this.

The palace maid served tea to the father and son. The emperor was unusually calm and said, "I remember that when you granted the marriage, you were not willing to marry the Duan family. Now... is it because of her status as the daughter of destiny that you changed your mind?"

Xiao Yuan paused with the teacup in his hand, and put it back before bringing it to his lips. "Father, why don't you be more straightforward and not beat around the bush like this?"

"You should ask me if I suddenly want to marry Miss Duan San because of her status or because I covet your throne."

The emperor's expression suddenly turned cold. "You will never learn to be tactful when speaking. You are just like your mother."

"So that's why father hates us mother and son?" Xiao Yuan raised his eyes to meet his cold gaze.

The emperor snorted coldly and looked away. "If I hated you and your son, how could you have survived to this day? I have said that except for the death of your mother, I have never owed you and your son anything."

Xiao Yuan curled the corners of his mouth in mockery, lowered his head and took a sip of tea, without responding.

He will naturally check whether it is true or not. When the truth comes out, he will naturally make the distinction in his heart.

"I asked you a question, and you haven't answered me yet."

Xiao Yuan nodded slightly, looked up at him, and said, "If I say I don't covet your throne, would you believe me?"

The emperor narrowed his eyes dangerously, his expression becoming unpleasant, "Even if it is, you shouldn't be so straightforward."

"That's because I'm not like you, cold-blooded and hypocritical. Not to mention me, any prince who has the potential to compete would want to be with me, but..."

He paused and didn't say anything else.

"Just what..." asked the emperor.

"Filial piety comes first among all virtues. If marrying the girl of destiny would harm your father's health, I will not marry her."

Finally, he said something decent. Before the emperor's expression could completely ease, he continued to speak in a cold voice.

"But it is one thing for me not to marry, and it is another thing for you to force me not to marry. If I let this go, how can I gain a foothold in the court in the future? Wouldn't I become a laughing stock in the capital?"

After the break-off of the engagement, everyone will know that he, Xiao Yuan, does not enjoy the emperor's favor, and there is no intention for him to pass the throne to him. Those officials in the court who are sitting on the fence will not work for him.

After all, he had been granted marriage to Miss Duan San, and the marriage was cancelled after she was found to be the girl destined by heaven. The emperor's intentions were very clear.

The emperor rarely showed anger but remained silent for a long time.

"I am not getting any good things in the court, which is not in line with your temperament of treating everyone equally."

The emperor looked up and glared at him. This rebellious son never said anything nice.

"Your second brother has never dared to be so presumptuous in front of me."

Xiao Yuan didn't respond at all, nor did he show any intention of getting up and leaving. He just sat there drinking tea, and after finishing one cup, he refilled his cup with another.

The emperor's eyelids twitched and he finally spoke first.

"Tell me, what do you want?"

"Ten thousand soldiers stationed in the east of the city." He answered very straightforwardly.

The emperor's expression changed immediately.

It is a taboo for a prince to hold military power, not to mention that Xiao Yuan already has a lot of soldiers and horses, and now he is asking for more from him so brazenly.

"You just said that you covet my throne, and now you dare to ask me for military power?" The emperor looked at him coldly.

Xiao Yuan didn't care and smiled faintly, "Father knows clearly that my troops are all in the south. Even if something happened in the capital, it would be too far to rush over. The troops in the West Camp are not enough to protect themselves."

"My second brother has more than twice as many soldiers as I do. It is not too much for me to ask for 10,000 soldiers to protect myself in case of emergency."

He didn't ask for much. Ten thousand soldiers and horses, plus the Western Camp, were just enough to keep up with Xiao Ze.

The emperor frowned and thought for a while. Xiao Yuan did not disturb him. Time passed bit by bit, and when the teapot was almost empty, he finally spoke.

"Yes, but I have a condition. The troops in the south are not allowed to approach the capital within a hundred miles of the capital city unless they are summoned. If you violate this, I will execute you."

Xiao Yuan nodded and said, "Okay, but since it has been given to me, I will have the final say on the deployment of the generals in the army."

The emperor waved his hand and said, "It's up to you. I'll have someone give you the token later."

Xiao Yuan put down the teacup, but still had no intention of getting up and leaving. The emperor was impatient. "I've given you everything. Why don't you leave?"

"The wedding on the 23rd..."

"It's up to you. Love it however you want."

"Then please issue an order, father. I will marry Miss Shen as my principal wife."

The emperor's eyelids twitched, and he looked up and stared at Xiao Yuan coldly.

Xiao Yuan was not afraid at all.

"Are you deliberately going against me?"

"I dare not." Xiao Yuan said in a calm voice, "I like Miss Shen, please allow me, father."

He said this with great sincerity. The emperor looked at him in silence. After a while, he waved his hand impatiently and said, "Alright, go back to your palace and wait."

"Thank you, Father."

This conversation was the most peaceful one between the father and son. At least the emperor did not smash anything.

After Xiao Yuan left, the emperor's cold expression gradually relaxed, without any dissatisfaction on his face, and he ordered the eunuch to grind ink.

The chief eunuch's eyelids twitched as he looked at the rewritten imperial edict. He didn't understand how the Fourth Prince had done it. Given the Emperor's dislike for the Shen family, he would not agree to it.

But the chief eunuch was not the only one who was curious. Ling Chenyi stared at the imperial edict and did not come back to his senses for a long time.

Finally, the imperial edict was taken away from his hand, and he came back to his senses, "Xiao Yuan, how did you do it?"

It was unbelievable that the emperor’s uncle actually agreed to let Shen Anan be the principal wife.

Even if out of guilt, she wanted him to issue an imperial decree to enthrone Shen Anan as his principal wife, it would probably be impossible.

After Xiao Yuan snatched the imperial edict back from his hands, he carefully put it away and placed it on the shelf behind him.

Sitting back in the chair, she answered Ling Chenyi's question, "I first asked him for the troops in East City, and then I asked her to be his principal wife, and he would naturally agree."

There was a sarcastic smile in his eyes.

Having the troops from East City would not be a great help to him, but it would also be a great help and guarantee. At this time, if he proposed to marry the daughter of a minister, the emperor would definitely not agree.

The Shen family is now in a state of decline. Not only does it not help him, but it even requires him to worry about it. Only by talking about marrying a wife who can do nothing can the emperor feel balanced.

Don't worry! !

At least, he should have been relieved when he heard that he wanted Shen Anan to be his principal wife.

He really understood the emperor's thoughts!

Ling Chenyi sighed, "She is so affectionate. If that girl doesn't treat you well, I won't agree with her."

Xiao Yuan curled his lips, feeling happier than ever before.

Ling Chenyi glared at him and said, "If you put this much thought into the great cause, maybe we would have succeeded."

He no longer has to hang around in an idle position all day, and the Yongning Marquisate no longer has to be so cautious and tread on thin ice.

"No hurry, wait until she comes in."

Once she came in, he could plan his big plans with peace of mind, and those things that had been temporarily put on hold could be continued to be implemented.

Ling Chenyi raised his eyebrows, "You are thinking beautifully, has the girl agreed? Don't say I didn't remind you, there are only four days left until the wedding day."

After saying this, she frowned again, "But I don't think she won't refuse to marry. After all, she has been promoted from a concubine to a principal concubine. You have sacrificed so much. If she doesn't want to marry, you are too pitiful."

The smile on Xiao Yuan's lips froze and he glared at Ling Chenyi coldly.

"Don't get out of here yet."

Ling Chenyi spread his hands and said, "Where else can I go except hanging around in your house?"

Xiao Yuan glanced at him, with a smile on his face. "Take a look at the betrothal gifts in the warehouse, and go back and inform your mother. The betrothal will be arranged tomorrow."

He wanted the eldest princess to accompany him in person to propose marriage.

Ling Chenyi nodded.

He is the son of a marquis, and he has almost become his little follower, and he has to worry about all the messy things.

After he left, Xiao Yuan returned to his bedroom and fiddled in front of the bronze mirror for a long time.

Qing'an and Qingfeng were both waiting outside, and had no idea what their master was doing inside. It was not until quarter of an hour later that the door was finally opened.

The two of them looked at their master who came out, and were stunned for a long time, their mouths slightly open and almost forgetting to close them.

"Master... Master?"

How come they didn't know that their master had such fancy clothes?

Xiao Yuan has always preferred dark colors, whether it is his robes or the colors, they are almost all black or navy blue. Now that he puts on this outfit, hmm...

It's very good-looking and suave, similar to the attire of those dandy young men on the street who often hang out in brothels and gambling houses. However, the master has a good temperament, and this alone makes him far better than those guys.

The only flaw is the gentle smile on his face, which makes people feel creepy.

"How?" Xiao Yuan asked, pursing his lips.

If you look closely, you can see the red tips of his ears.

"Good, it looks good. It looks really good."

Please forgive them for being so rough and not being able to use fancy words. After trying for a long time, I could only think of this compliment.

Xiao Yuan frowned, not very satisfied with the words the two used to praise the woman.

Qing An touched his nose and said, "Didn't the master say that he would propose marriage tomorrow? It's getting late today. Shouldn't we go to the Shen family and discuss the details?"

"Hmm." He lowered his head and looked at his robe again.

There shouldn't be any problem.

After all, my aunt often said that at his age, he should be free and unrestrained, and shouldn't be so lifeless.