Chapter 121

Xie Sui'an's gaze swept over the several servants attending to him in the hall.

Prince Ning'an looked at him gently for a long time before finally waving his hand to dismiss everyone.

The housekeeper was the last to leave, closing the door from the outside. But Xie Sui'an knew that someone was still guarding the door.

He turned his gaze away, clasped his hands together in front of him, and bowed deeply.

Prince Ning'an stared at him, his tone calm: "What are you doing..."

"I have a deal I'd like to make with Prince Ning'an." Xie Sui'an remained bowed and did not stand up.

"Cough cough..." Prince Ning'an suddenly coughed, as if the cough came from his heart and lungs. He coughed for a long time without stopping. Just as the door was pushed open again and the Emperor stood out worriedly, Prince Ning'an covered his mouth with a handkerchief, barely calmed down, and waved to the door.

The door was closed again.

"Stop sticking your nose out, tell me what's on your mind first, I'd like to hear it."

Xie Sui'an straightened up, frowned, and asked, "Your health..."

"It's nothing. I was chased by experts sent by the Crown Prince on my way back to the city and was hit by two arrows. Don't be afraid, I'm much better now," he smiled slightly. "Perhaps it was your grandfather's spirit in heaven that protected me, and I managed to survive out here."

Xie Sui'an didn't know how to answer this, so he could only lower his head and say, "Your Highness is a lucky man."

"Speak," Prince Ning'an reminded him again.

Xie Sui'an's eyes were sincere. After a slight hesitation, he said, "I would like to ask you to give up the idea of ​​marrying Qin Sang as your princess."

A wisp of white smoke rose from the incense burner beside him and quickly dissipated into the air. The air in the hall seemed to freeze, and Prince Ning'an's expression changed slightly.

Perhaps finding the request too incredible, he moved his lips but remained expressionless, unsure how to respond.

"What?" he asked softly, afraid he had misheard.

The words had already been spoken, and there was no going back. Xie Sui'an's voice was a little louder than before: "I would like to ask Prince Ning'an to retract his decision and abandon the marriage..."

However, before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Prince Ning'an in a rather gentle manner: "Are you joking with me?"

Xie Sui'an: "..."

"This matter has already reached the ears of the Emperor; it is a marriage bestowed by the Emperor. You dare to come to me to make a request? It would be better to go directly to the Emperor and plead your case." Although he refused decisively, he smiled and spoke calmly, showing no anger.

Xie Sui'an naturally knew this matter would be difficult, but fortunately, their current emperor wasn't the type to leave no room for negotiation. Years ago, he had bestowed a marriage upon Princess Yingzhao, but she refused to marry him because her future husband was a gambler. Later, the emperor investigated and, finding the truth, revoked the imperial decree on the grounds that their horoscopes were incompatible and their personalities clashed. Therefore, he also considered… perhaps fabricating a similar reason…

Even so, Prince Ning'an's consent was still required. Therefore, he had to persuade Prince Ning'an first. Prince Ning'an's purpose in marrying into the Xie family was naturally not Qin Sang, but rather the support of the Xie family's deeply entrenched power.

If so, as long as he is openly loyal to Prince Ning'an, he can also represent the Xie family in supporting Prince Ning'an, without necessarily having to go through a marriage alliance.

He took a deep breath and said, "I know this is a difficult matter, but I am willing to serve Prince Ning'an. Qin Sang is just an outsider. Even if she marries the prince, people will still speculate whether our Xie family has a backup plan. If I step in, I will definitely be more reliable than her."

Prince Ning'an listened attentively with a smile, and finally asked, "How do you know I don't genuinely want to marry her?"

Xie Sui'an: "..."

Prince Ning'an's tone remained calm and gentle: "You came here so early in the morning to openly covet my future queen, Xie Er, you've got some nerve."

Xie Sui'an knelt down with a thud, prostrating himself on the ground: "Your humble servant dares not."

"You wouldn't dare?" Prince Ning'an said with a playful tone. "Then tell me, who sent you to speak so arrogantly in front of me? Don't tell me it was my future princess."

Xie Suian felt an immense weight on his heart, his blood rushing to his limbs with his rapidly beating heart, his mind racing. He had only ever considered that the Prince of Ning'an was marrying Qin Sang because of the Xie family's background; he had never imagined that the Prince of Ning'an would marry Qin Sang for any other reason. They hadn't even met more than a few times.

“No,” he said with difficulty, “but I am willing to serve Prince Ning’an at all costs, just to gain her freedom.” He raised his head, “You don’t necessarily need her…”

"Shut up!" Prince Ning'an interrupted him, raising his voice to call out, "The Three Pure Ones!"

The steward, who had been standing guard at the door, immediately opened it upon hearing the sound: "Your Highness."

Prince Ning'an glanced at Xie Sui'an: "I will pretend I have never seen you today. You may leave."

Before Xie Sui'an could speak, Prince Ning'an had already stood up, leaning on the table, not wanting to say a single unnecessary word.

Xie Sui'an watched as he was helped back into the inner room, his throat tightened, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

A moment later, the steward beckoned someone to go in and serve Prince Ning'an, while he himself respectfully asked Xie Sui'an to leave.

Staring at the smiling butler, Xie Sui thought to himself, "This family is all smiles and treacherous faces." However, he was also convinced that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Prince Ning'an would gradually prevail in his confrontation with the Crown Prince. Just like how, after escaping from the jaws of death this time, it would be much more difficult for the other party to make a move against him again.

Before leaving the Ning'an Prince's Mansion, he suddenly stopped and said to the steward, "Before everything settles down, many things are not absolute. The situation in the court is constantly changing. I ask Your Highness to reconsider. This is my humble wish."

The steward gave Xie Suian a deep look, smiled and bowed: "I will convey this to His Highness. Please take your time, young master."

Xie Sui'an nodded, turned around and left the Ning'an Prince's Mansion.

He hadn't slept all night, his mind was foggy, and he wandered the bustling streets like a ghost. The cries of street vendors, the sounds of children playing, and the shouts of street performers all went in one ear and out the other like the wind. All he could think about was Ning'an Prince's words—"How do you know I don't really want to marry her?"

He wandered back to the side gate of the Xie family mansion, stared at the open gate, and suddenly dared not take a step.

He walked dejectedly to a corner and squatted down. A tall elm tree grew inside the high wall opposite him, its branches casting dappled shadows. He looked up at it, feeling utterly powerless.

Just then, footsteps suddenly came from inside the door. He turned around and saw Xie Wu leading a maid across the threshold.

"Hey? Second brother, you're back? Why aren't you going inside? What are you doing squatting here?" Xie Wu asked curiously.

Xie Sui'an looked up at her, and a terrible thought popped into his mind uncontrollably. He swallowed, about to speak, when Xie Wu had already come down the steps in a hurry, leaving behind the words "Xie Xiao is looking for you. I have something to do. We'll talk when I get back" before running off.

Xie Sui'an stared at that lively and cheerful figure, feeling that he had truly done something terrible.

He propped himself up on his knees and walked towards the door, feeling dizzy and disoriented. After passing through two courtyards, he looked up and saw a small girl standing upright in the middle of the porch.

Xie Xiao crossed her arms, blocking his way as if she were about to challenge him to a fight.

"Sweetie, let me go back to sleep and then I'll play with you." He reached out to rub Xie Xiao's head, but she dodged away in disgust.

Xie Sui'an found nothing, but he wasn't annoyed and continued walking forward.

"Stop right there!" Xie Xiao said forcefully, but Xie Sui'an seemed not to hear her and didn't even stop walking.

Xie Xiao had no choice but to run a few steps faster, go around to the front, and spread her arms to block her brother's way.

"Stop it, be good..."

"Do you want to marry Qin Sang?" Xie Xiao stared at him through gritted teeth, wanting to shout but having to lower her voice to ask.

Xie Sui'an was stunned.

Seeing his expression, Xie Xiao smugly withdrew her hands and continued to cross them to her chest, her arrogant chin slightly raised, and said to her brother, "I have a way."

Xie Sui'an raised an eyebrow. Although he thought the other party was talking nonsense, he still blurted out, "What method?"

Xie Xiao took a step closer to him and beckoned him with her finger. Xie Sui'an leaned in and whispered to his younger sister, "The Prince is replaced by a cat... On the wedding day, you switch me with her."

Xie Suian stood up straight, staring at his little sister, who was only twelve years old, with a look of incomprehension.

"Don't look at me like that!" Xie Xiao said angrily, as if she knew what he was thinking. "I turned thirteen yesterday! Fourteen in the traditional Chinese way of counting age! My older sister also got married at fourteen!!!"

Xie Suian stood still, but every word she said was heard.

Fourteen years old, old enough to get married… He couldn’t help but take a closer look… Fourteen years old, wasn’t she only twelve last year? But he suddenly realized that his younger sister, who only reached his chest last year, had indeed reached his shoulder height this year… Upon closer inspection, she had gradually shed her girlish innocence…

What are you thinking? It felt like another little person jumped out of his head and slapped him. Xie Sui'an snapped out of it and took a step back.

"No." He only said two words.

"Why not?" the little girl retorted sharply.

“I’m your brother. If I say no, then no. There’s no reason why.” After saying that, he walked past Xie Xiao toward his own courtyard.

However, Xie Xiao persisted, following closely behind, nagging, "Xie Sui'an, let me tell you, don't underestimate me. I'm of marriageable age, and I can get married now. Besides, I saw you sneaking into Qin Sang's room. If you don't want your affair to be discovered and implicate our family, you'd better seriously consider my suggestion..."

Xie Sui'an stopped and turned around, and Xie Xiao also stopped, looking up at him arrogantly.

The two stared at each other for a moment, when Jinyun, who was sitting on the roof shelling peanuts, leaned over the eaves to try and break up the fight: "Second Young Master, Fifth Miss, what are you doing?"

"Shut up!"

"Shut up!"

The two siblings spoke in unison.

Jinyun said "Oh" and silently withdrew his head to continue peeling peanuts.

Xie Sui'an frowned slightly: "Are you serious? Why?"

"What do you mean 'why'? Qin Sang can marry me, but I can't? Don't forget, I am the genuine fourth daughter of the Xie family! You... Anyway, think carefully about what I said. I'm not joking with you. This is a win-win situation. Once you've thought it through, come find me to discuss the details! I'm leaving!"

Xie Xiao blushed and ran away under her brother's probing gaze.

When Xie Sui'an saw Xie Xiao's face gradually turn red, he suddenly realized why she had made that suggestion. He couldn't help but start to recall when and where this girl had seen Prince Ning'an.