Xiao Qingyin had just lain down when she thought Yi Jiu had returned. She asked in surprise, "The door isn't latched, so you can come in."

When the door opened and Han walked in, she was very surprised.

"Grandmother, it's you? Aren't you asleep yet?"

Han put the quilt on the bed, sat down on the edge of the bed, and stared at her intently.

Xiao Qingyin's heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that Han saw Yi Jiu leave?

As expected, the next moment, Madam Han said earnestly, "Qingyin, I know you are a very opinionated child, so your grandmother usually doesn't say anything to you. But I have to say something about what happened tonight."

"You are engaged to Prince Yi, how can you be associating with his subordinates?"

“Grandmother knows you don’t want this arranged marriage and may not like Prince Yi, but as long as your engagement remains unbroken, you will always be his fiancée in other people’s eyes.”

"If you date his subordinates while claiming to be his fiancée, people will definitely say you are morally corrupt, shameless, and licentious."

“You may not care what others say, but Prince Yi has not done anything wrong to you. You and Yi Jiu cannot bully people like this, right?”

Xiao Qingyin looked somewhat embarrassed.

She didn't feel she had wronged Yi Shuihan. Yi Shuihan knew about Yi Jiu's visit, and he allowed Yi Jiu to contact her. Who knows what he was planning?

Yi Jiu never showed any remorse towards her master. Xiao Qingyin thought that Yi Shuihan probably never intended to marry her, so he didn't care about her and Yi Jiu at all.

She told Yi Jiu early on that she wanted to break off the engagement and asked him to find a way, but Yi Jiu didn't take it to heart. She was too busy to pay attention, so she kept putting it off until now.

As a result, Han caught her having an affair.

However, Han is right. It is indeed inappropriate for her to associate with Yi Jiu while holding the title of Yi Shuihan's fiancée, as it makes her seem like she is having an affair.

God is my witness, she really doesn't have that kind of fetish.

An engagement was difficult to dissolve before, but it's not so easy now.

The exoneration of the Yun family army must have displeased Emperor Chengtai. He probably wouldn't want to see his granddaughter from the Yun family marry his trusted general. With a little push, the engagement could probably be dissolved.

It's a good thing that she's not bound by an engagement and won't be forced to run away someday.

Thinking of this, she said to Madam Han, "You are right. It is indeed not good to be sneaky like this. One should be open and honest. I will go to the Princess tomorrow to discuss the annulment of the engagement."

Han was relieved.

She chuckled and said, "What kind of girl goes to discuss marriage on her own? Leave this to your mother and me."

“No, no,” Xiao Qingyin shook her head, “It’s not something you can discuss. I’ll go myself. I’m quite familiar with the Princess, so she should understand my choice.”

Seeing that she insisted, Han had no choice but to let her have her way.

"If you can't handle it yourself, your mother and I will step in."

Xiao Qingyin smiled and said, "Okay!"

The following morning she went to the Yong'an Marquis's residence.

Princess Zhaoyang was very pleased to see her visit.

"The estate has sent a few more pigs to your residence. I was just about to send someone to inform you, but I didn't expect you to come here on your own."

Xiao Qingyin laughed and said, "It seems I'm quite lucky to have such a good meal."

Princess Zhaoyang laughed heartily: "That's right."

After chatting for a while, Xiao Qingyin revealed her purpose: "Your Highness, I'm really sorry, but I've come here today to annul the engagement."

Princess Zhaoyang: "!!!"

She stared blankly at Xiao Qingyin.

What did you just say?

“I’ve come here today to annul the engagement,” Xiao Qingyin replied. “Of course, that’s not entirely accurate. My marriage to the prince was bestowed by the Emperor, so there’s no question of annulment. I simply want to break off the engagement.”

Princess Zhaoyang was astonished.

"Why do you want to break off the engagement? What did Han'er do to offend you?"

“Your Highness has not wronged me,” Xiao Qingyin said with a smile. “It is my own heart that belongs to someone else, and I want to be with the person I love.”

Princess Zhaoyang: "..."

Oh no, Han'er is heartbroken.

This boy finally fell in love with a girl, but she didn't like him back.

Why is his love life so bumpy...?

Is it because he's too successful in his official career?

I've never heard of someone who's successful in their official career inevitably failing in their love life.

She couldn't help but ask, "May I ask who your sweetheart is? Don't worry, I don't mean anything by it, I just want to know."

Xiao Qingyin smiled and said, "The young master knows the answer; you can ask him."

What? !

Princess Zhaoyang was shocked.

Did Han'er already know?

Then why isn't he disappointed at all? He seems to be in a particularly good mood lately, and I've seen him grinning like an idiot several times.

Could it be that he and Qingyin have feelings for each other?

That doesn't make sense either. Didn't he always like Qingyin?

Princess Zhaoyang herself got confused.

“I’m here to inform you,” Xiao Qingyin continued, “I will go to see the Emperor later and ask him to rescind his order.”

Princess Zhaoyang was speechless: "This, this is too hasty. Why don't you two discuss it when Han'er comes back?"

"Whether we discuss it or not, the result will be the same."

Xiao Qingyin replied.

"He definitely won't have any objections."

Yeah?

Princess Zhaoyang had some doubts.

Regardless, she, as the mother, had to help her son.

"Have lunch before you go. I'll have someone slaughter a pig right now."

Xiao Qingyin shook her head: "His Majesty will probably need to rest this afternoon, so I'd better go to the palace early."

She just wanted to end the engagement quickly and decisively.

After saying that, he took his leave.

Seeing that she couldn't stop her, Princess Zhaoyang could only instruct her servants: "Go to the palace quickly and inform Han'er about this."

...

Xiao Qingyin left the Marquis's residence and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

Emperor Chengtai did not summon her, so it was naturally not easy for her to see him.

After reporting to the palace servants, they made her wait at the palace gate for half a day before leading her to see Emperor Chengtai.

Emperor Chengtai and a group of civil and military officials were watching the martial arts contest to find a husband for the eldest princess of Xilin Kingdom outside the Chaotian Hall.

The emperor of Xilin Kingdom had few children, and Crown Prince Yelü Sui was the most promising one. After being captured alive by Yi Shuihan, the emperor of Xilin Kingdom proposed to cede half of the northern grasslands to Da Xi and send his eldest princess to marry Yelü Sui in exchange.

Emperor Chengtai agreed to the terms, and the Xilin Kingdom quickly sent a marriage alliance delegation. Today is the day that Princess Xilin and her entourage will arrive in the capital.

Emperor Chengtai was already exhausted and had no intention of taking Princess Xilin into his harem.

As for who should marry Princess Xilin, he hadn't decided yet.

Princess Xilin suggested that she choose for herself, and Emperor Chengtai, with a "let's see what happens" attitude, agreed.

Princess Xilin said she was skilled in martial arts and hoped to find a husband through a martial arts contest. Emperor Chengtai then had a fighting arena set up so that she could fight against anyone willing to participate.

Now is the time for the first person to step into the fray.

"Your Majesty," a palace attendant stepped forward to report, "Miss Xiao has arrived."