Yi Shuihan repeatedly stated that he would only have one wife in his life and would not have a harem, and the other party did not change her mind.

He had no choice but to give up.

“The king of Nandan is not hereditary. What use is it for him to give me his granddaughter? His great-grandson will not become the next king.”

Yi Shuihan returned and complained to Xiao Qingyin.

"What an old fogey."

Xiao Qingyin laughed and said, "He's probably gambling. People's hearts are fickle. If you don't establish a hereditary system now, what if you change your mind in the future?"

“Yes,” Yi Shuihan agreed, “A person like him is not suitable for my court.”

If ideologies clash, even vast knowledge is useless.

He prefers to employ young people who are less knowledgeable but more open to new ideas.

For example, swallows flying together.

Xiao Qingyin comforted her, "Once the national civil service exam is over, you won't be so short-staffed."

Yi Shuihan nodded: "The national civil service exam is next month."

He invited these great scholars to serve as examiners, but some of them proved to be utterly incompetent.

Xiao Qingyin just listened to it casually and didn't take it to heart.

Unexpectedly, the old scholar became anxious when he heard no further news.

Instead of going to Yi Shuihan, he went to Xiao Qingyin.

That day, Xiao Qingyin went to the medical school to give a lecture. After the class, she walked out of the medical school and was thinking about what to have for lunch when an old man wearing a flowing robe and with a long white beard walked up to her and blocked her way.

"You are from the Xiao family, right? I am Guan Yongde, and I have some things I would like to discuss with you."

This was the first time Xiao Qingyin had been addressed as "Xiao Shi". After a brief eye contact, she understood his attitude.

The old man clearly did not regard her as an independent individual, but rather as an appendage of Yi Shuihan.

She smiled and said, "Please go ahead."

Guan Yongde frowned as he looked at the crowd passing by. "This isn't the place to talk. Let's find somewhere else to discuss this."

"I'm sorry, my family has strict rules, and I don't dare to be alone with you, a man and a woman, in the same room."

Xiao Qingyin replied.

"Public places are more suitable."

Guan Yongde's face turned bright red instantly.

He had lived most of his life and was always respectfully addressed as "Old Guan" wherever he went. He had never been treated like a lecher, which made him so angry that he almost vomited blood.

"My granddaughter is here too. We're not some lonely man and woman!"

He turned around and shouted at a tall young woman wearing a high-necked dress, "What are you standing so far away for? Come over here right now!"

The woman, her face stern, stepped forward.

Xiao Qingyin almost burst out laughing.

The sight of a man's imposing physique paired with the graceful lotus-like steps is simply too comical.

Like a female bodybuilder.

“This is my granddaughter, Guan Hongdou,” Guan Yongde introduced. “Hongdou, this is the king’s fiancée, Lady Xiao.”

Guan Hongdou opened her mouth and called out, "Sister Xiao."

The voice was rough and gruff; if you didn't see the face, Xiao Qingyin would definitely think it was a man speaking.

The moment Xiao Qingyin heard the phrase "the king's fiancée," she knew who this old man Guan was.

—The great scholar who wanted to give his granddaughter to Yi Shuihan.

She smiled and said, "Alright, let's talk at the teahouse."

After saying that, he walked toward the teahouse on the right.

Guan Yongde followed with a cold face.

Guan Hongdou walked behind him with small steps. Xiao Qingyin caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of her eye and felt tired for her.

After taking their seats in the teahouse, Xiao Qingyin noticed the prominent Adam's apple under Guan Hongdou's collar and thought that perhaps she and Yi Shuihan had both guessed wrong.

This great scholar probably didn't want his granddaughter to enter the palace because he coveted the throne.

What kind of tea would you like to drink?

She asked the grandmother and grandson opposite her.

Guan Yongde said with a straight face, "Maojian."

Guan Hongdou said in a hoarse voice, "Anything is fine."

Xiao Qingyin then ordered a pot of Maojian tea.

After the waiter served tea, she took a sip and asked Guan Yongde, "What can I do for you?"

Guan Yongde said with a serious expression, "Do you know what happens to a jealous woman?"

"I know."

Xiao Qingyin smiled.

“They are picked by herb gatherers, processed into medicinal materials, sold to pharmacies, and then bought by patients to take home, where they are boiled and drunk.”

Guan Yongde: "..."

"I wasn't talking about Scutellaria baicalensis!"

"If it's not Scutellaria baicalensis, then what is it?" Xiao Qingyin feigned ignorance. "I only know that Scutellaria baicalensis is also known as 'jealous woman.' Could there be another herb with the same name?"

"Isn't a woman like you also a jealous woman?"

Guan Yongde glared at her.

“She stopped her husband from taking a concubine, disregarded moral principles and ethics, and had no virtue or feminine qualities whatsoever.”

Xiao Qingyin slowly finished the whole bowl of tea.

"You may have misunderstood something. I have never stopped anyone from taking a concubine."

"If you hadn't stopped him, how could the king have refused to choose a concubine!"

Instead of answering, Xiao Qingyin asked, "Do you eat chili peppers?"

Guan Yongde was a little confused: "Why are you asking this? I don't eat spicy food."

"Was it your granddaughter who stopped you from eating?"

"How could she possibly stop me from eating..."

Guan Yongde was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly realized what he had said, and his face darkened.

"These are not the same thing at all!"

Is there anything different?

Xiao Qingyin asked in return.

"You say she can't stop you, isn't it because you have enough authority that she wouldn't dare to disobey you? In your eyes, I'm just a mere member of the Xiao family, a woman who depends on the king's whims. What makes you think I have enough power to stop his ideas?"

Guan Yongde was speechless for a moment.

Xiao Qingyin continued, "If it weren't for my weakness, would you have come here to cause trouble? In the end, you're just picking on the weak."

Guan Yongde had never been ridiculed like this before, but Xiao Qingyin was right. He did indeed think she was ignorant and easily fooled, which was why he came to her.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!