"What's wrong? What's going on? Why aren't you talking?"

Seeing Duan Qingxi so anxious, Duan Sijin comforted her and said, "It's nothing serious, it's just..."

After a pause, he said, "Today in the court, the emperor wants to grant me marriage."

"Ah?! Another arranged marriage?!"

Duan Qingxi stood up immediately. She really didn't understand what the emperor was thinking. Why did he always want to grant marriages?!

She said, "Last time when the Emperor wanted to grant me a marriage, didn't I make it very clear? Brother, you can only marry one woman in this life, and this woman..."

Duan Hong interrupted Duan Qingxi and said, "The girl the emperor has granted marriage to this time fully meets the conditions you mentioned the other day. Not only is her horoscope compatible with your brother's, but she is also of noble status, the only legitimate daughter, has a beautiful appearance, and is also good at singing and dancing..."

Duan Qingxi asked, "Who is it?"

Duan Hong opened his mouth but couldn't say anything, so Duan Sijin said, "Yun Xinling..."

"Who?! Yun Xinling?!"

Duan Qingxi was going crazy. This woman was indeed of noble status. Not only was she the only legitimate daughter of Prince Yun and the eldest princess, she was also their only child. Putting aside whether their horoscopes were compatible, how could this woman be a good singer or dancer?!

But these were not the main points. Duan Qingxi couldn't help but ask, "How could the Emperor... marry her to my brother?!"

Everyone in the capital knew about the grudge between Duan Qingxi and Yun Xinling. Even the eldest princess and Prince Yun knew about it. The eldest princess even rushed back to the capital specifically to deal with Duan Qingxi.

Duan Hong and Duan Sijin dote on Duan Qingxi so much, and Yun Xinling had done that kind of thing to Duan Qingxi before. The emperor must be crazy to betroth Yun Xinling to Duan Sijin, right?

Duan Hong wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't. He was probably in a bad mood, so he couldn't speak.

Duan Sijin said, "This morning, several senior officials in the court reported me. I don't know who ordered them, but since the past few days, someone has been targeting me, and even my father. We have been trying to avoid them, but they are always aggressive. The emperor has repeatedly stood up for us, but it's no use, so..."

Duan Qingxi sat down. "So, the Emperor betrothed Yun Xinling to my brother in order to protect him?"

Then things become tricky.

Yun Xinling is the beloved daughter of the eldest princess and Prince Yun. Let’s not talk about the attitude of these two elders towards Duan Qingxi, but they like Duan Sijin very much, especially Prince Yun. He looks at Duan Sijin as if he is looking at his own son. Every time he comes to the capital, he praises him in front of the emperor. He has long wanted to marry Yun Xinling to Duan Sijin.

It was just because Duan Sijin had never entered the officialdom and did not hold any official position before, and Duan Sijin did not like Yun Xinling and Yun Xinling was obsessed with Helian Yun, so neither the eldest princess nor Prince Yun had ever thought of this.

Now, Duan Sijin has entered the court and holds an official position. Not only does he have a bright future, but his sister is a first-rank princess and his brother-in-law is the Ninth Prince. His status is naturally extraordinary. Moreover, there are not many young men of noble status in the court, and even fewer who are unmarried or unengaged. Duan Sijin is a perfect commodity.

Helian Yun also married a princess. The eldest princess and Prince Yun would never let their daughter be a concubine under any circumstances, so the emperor's marriage was very satisfactory to both the emperor himself and the eldest princess and Prince Yun.

In fact... Duan Hong himself was quite satisfied. After all, after marrying Yun Xinling, Duan Sijin would be safer in the court. As for the past grievances between Yun Xinling and Duan Qingxi, it was not impossible to resolve them.

But the problem is that Duan Sijin himself is unwilling to do so.

Duan Sijin said, "I have already turned down the emperor's request."

This was within Duan Qingxi's expectations. After all, she knew that Duan Sijin liked Chan Xue. Whether here or in the 21st century, the one he liked and wanted was only Chan Xue.

However... the emperor had good intentions in granting the marriage, and it was also for Duan Sijin. Duan Sijin's refusal not only hurt the emperor's feelings and face, but also made the relationship between the eldest princess and Prince Yun and their Duan family even more tense.