58. Chapter 58 Adding Trouble

The next morning, Xiao Chen entered the palace early. Pei Jing did not need to attend the morning court today, but the two of them still had classes in the morning, so they planned to compete early.

At dawn, Pei Jing and Xiao Chen arrived at the martial arts training ground.

The two young men were going to compete in horseback riding and archery. In order to save time, they planned to combine horseback riding and archery into one competition. The two of them needed to ride three laps around the training ground. Each of them was given fifty arrows, Xiao Chen's were green arrows and Pei Jing's were red arrows.

While they ride, guards will gallop across the training ground holding targets. At the end of the race, the first person to reach the finish line will receive three points, and for every five targets hit, an additional point will be awarded. The person with the highest score will be the winner.

The two young men climbed onto their horses, both wearing black riding clothes. Under the sunlight, each one was more motivated than the other. When the whistle blew, Pei Jing was like a wild horse that had been set free, galloping out. He was extremely fast, but Xiao Chen was not far behind, only half a step behind him, chasing him closely.

The two men moved very fast. They had to control their speed while drawing their bows and shooting arrows. For ordinary people, this was a huge challenge. They could easily fall off their horses if they were not careful. Even though they both practiced martial arts since childhood, they were still very cautious.

As time went by, sharp swords shot out quickly.

When they reached the bend, Xiao Chen overtook Pei Jing. Not long after, Pei Jing caught up with him. The young eunuch watched nervously from the side, holding his breath.

In the last lap, Pei Jing surpassed Xiao Chen again and scored three points, but Xiao Chen hit more shots than him, so he narrowly defeated Xiao Chen by only one point. In the second round, Xiao Chen scored one more point, and the two had no choice but to fight another round. At the beginning of the third round, Pei Jing knew that he might lose. Even if he could tie with Xiao Chen in horse riding and archery, his physical strength could not compare with Xiao Chen.

As expected, when he couldn't lift his arms due to shooting too many arrows, Xiao Chen still maintained the expected level. In the end, although the two arrived at the finish line at the same time, the target Xiao Chen hit was higher than his.

Pei Jing hadn't enjoyed riding so much in a long time. He dismounted and said cheerfully, "I lost. Tell me, what do you want me to do for you? I'll make it clear first, cousin, I can't force you to do anything."

After he finished speaking, he took the water bag handed to him by the eunuch and drank a few gulps. When he was drinking happily, he saw Xiao Chen kneeling down and said, "I would like to ask the emperor to grant me a marriage."

Xiao Chen almost choked and started coughing violently.

Xiao Chen still maintained his kneeling posture, his expression very serious, with no intention of joking at all.

Although he knew that he was not the kind of person who would joke, Pei Jing was still a little shocked when he heard him propose a marriage.

The young eunuch hurried over and patted him on the back.

Pei Jing stopped coughing and was about to agree readily when a thought flashed through his mind about Xiao Chen's special feelings for Xiao Xiao. He had a vague bad premonition and his expression grew slightly serious. "I can grant you a marriage, but I must be frank. The woman must agree. If she doesn't want to, I won't say anything."

Xiao Chen nodded. If she didn't want to, he wouldn't force her. After thanking her, he stood up.

Pei Jing looked him up and down, a complex look flashing in his peach blossom eyes. In the end, he couldn't help but ask, "Are you Xinyue Xiaoxiao?"

Xiao Chen's expression was slightly restrained, but he didn't say anything.

However, his expression said it all. Pei Jing rarely felt any sympathy for him. He patted Xiao Chen on the shoulder and said, "Give up. She already has someone in her heart."

After Pei Jing finished speaking, he didn't care about Xiao Chen's reaction and went straight back to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Xiao Chen stood there for a long time.

When the sun rose, the warm sunlight enveloped the entire capital city. In the martial arts training ground, Xiao Chen's figure seemed particularly lonely. He looked up to the east with a slightly absent-minded look in his eyes.

After Pei Jing returned to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, he couldn't help but sigh. When he learned that Xiaoxiao liked the emperor's uncle, he had tested her again and again, and even deliberately said a lot of words about how the emperor's uncle and Gu Zhen were a good match. In fact, he didn't want the little girl to get too deeply involved.

After all, the emperor's uncle has never been interested in women. There are even rumors in the capital that he has practiced evil skills and needs to remain pure and free from desires, which is why he has always avoided women like the plague.

I wonder if Xiaoxiao has given up on the challenge. In Pei Jing's mind, not only is the emperor's uncle an unsuitable match, but Xiao Chen is also the same. He knows his aunt; she's not very smart and still values ​​family background. If Xiaoxiao marries into the Xiao family, managing the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law alone will be very difficult for her. Xiaoxiao is too obedient and easily bullied.

Even if my aunt could understand, my cousin's personality was too cold. He was always taciturn and rarely expressed his thoughts. Xiaoxiao was also sensitive, so it must be tiring for her to get along with him.

In his opinion, Xiaoxiao should find a man who has no mother, is knowledgeable and interesting, and can treat her wholeheartedly. She doesn't have to deal with the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and can also be in harmony with her husband.

Thinking that Xiaoxiao had no chance of meeting any other men, Pei Jing simply called Eunuch Zhang over and said, "Send someone to find out which of the many talented young men in the capital are both handsome and motherless. Collect them and present them to me."

Xiaoxiao didn't know that Pei Jing was trying to arrange a marriage for her. When she woke up, she was still in a good mood. She was very happy just thinking about the agreement they made last night.

She was in a good mood all morning. When she finished lunch with Xiaoxing, Butler Li came to Su Yuexuan and said that Eunuch Zhang had come to Prince Yan's Mansion and the Emperor wanted to summon her to the palace for something.

When Xiaoxing heard this, his eyes moved slightly. He pulled Xiaoxiao's sleeve, and there was curiosity unique to teenagers in his eyes.

Xiaoxiao understood what he meant. He was always well-behaved and rarely asked for anything. So she couldn't help but ask Eunuch Zhang, "Xiaoxing has never been to the palace. Can I bring him in with me?"

Fearing that the palace had too many rules, Xiaoxiao added with a smile, "He's probably curious about what the palace looks like. Eunuch Zhang can have someone take him around and just visit the places he can."

Eunuch Zhang knew her position in the emperor's heart and said with a smile, "Then I will take him for a walk in the Imperial Gardens and then bring him back to you when you leave."

Xiaoxiao nodded, and Xiaoxing curved his lips, his brows full of smiles. He picked up the pen and wrote on the paper: "Thank you, sister."

Xiaoxiao touched his head and realized that Xiaoxing was almost as tall as her. She couldn't help but sigh in her heart that boys grow up really fast.

Luzhu looked at Xiaoxing calmly.

Pei Jing has a full schedule today and can only summon Xiaoxiao at noon, sacrificing his lunch break.

The young eunuchs were very efficient and it only took them one morning to gather all the young talents without mothers in the capital. Because Pei Jing had placed special emphasis on character, any unmarried talents with bad habits or bad reputations were screened out.

After Pei Jing got the list, he found the emperor's uncle on it. Thinking that the emperor's grandmother was indeed gone, the young eunuchs probably wouldn't dare to classify him as having bad behavior, so Pei Jing wiped out the emperor's uncle's name with a stroke of his pen. He looked through it carefully and eliminated a few more names.

Pei Jing had seen these people before. Either they were not outstanding in appearance or their talents were average. The rest were not very familiar to Pei Jing. Judging from the photo album, each of them looked presentable, with good family background and character.

After Xiaoxiao arrived at the palace, Pei Jing handed her the album and said, "I think these people are all good. Take a look and see if there is anyone you like."

Xiaoxiao couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. She never expected that he called her here for this.

She couldn't help but touch the tip of her nose, and her face wrinkled up. She thanked him honestly, and then said, "Your Majesty, there is no need to make arrangements for me."

Pei Jing smiled and said, "Why are you being so polite to me? Your brother is not in the capital, and I have nothing to do, so I might as well worry about it. I heard that someone has proposed to you. I'm afraid that you might agree in an impulsive manner, so I might as well select some outstanding young talents. You can take a look and see if there is anyone you like."

Although Xiaoxiao was very grateful to him, she refused again, "Your Majesty, there is really no need to arrange things for me. I have no intention of getting married in the past few years."

Even when she was refusing, her voice was still cheerful and she was obviously in a good mood. Pei Jing's heart couldn't help but be moved.

"What happened? What makes you so happy?"

Xiaoxiao was a little surprised by his sharpness. She didn't dare to mention the agreement. She just smiled and said, "It's nothing. I'm still young. My brother hasn't even got engaged yet. I can't rush my marriage."

Pei Jing always felt that this little girl was hiding something from him.

At this time, Pei Xiuhan was also in the palace. Unfortunately, a flood occurred in the Central Plains. He discussed the follow-up events with several ministers. In fact, they had already discussed it briefly when they went to court yesterday. Due to disagreements, they discussed it again and finally decided on the amount of money for disaster relief and who to send south.

In the past, when disasters occurred, there were always people who embezzled disaster funds. This year, Pei Xiuhan formulated some rules, and finally three officials were selected to go south. These three people belonged to different camps, and they could play a role in mutual supervision.

When he finished his work and was about to return home, he heard that Xiaoxiao had entered the palace. Pei Xiuhan frowned slightly and asked the eunuch beside him, "Why did the emperor call her into the palace at this time? What was he busy with this morning?"

The young eunuch naturally didn't dare to hide anything and told the truth, "The Emperor also had the portraits of these young men brought here, perhaps intending to let Miss Zhang choose from them."

Pei Xiuhan paused when he heard this. He immediately walked towards the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

When he came over, he saw the portraits on the desk at a glance. There were several young men. He had just taken away two yesterday, but he found several more at once.

Pei Xiuhan couldn't help but narrow his eyes, and his expression became a little dangerous. He felt that this kid would cause him trouble.

Xiaoxiao saw him at a glance, her eyes lit up instantly, she picked up her dress, ran to Pei Xiuhan, and obediently called him Brother Pei.

As soon as he appeared, Xiaoxiao's mind was full of him. Pei Xiu Han rubbed her head, and Xiaoxiao followed him obediently.

Seeing her looking like a young wife, Pei Jing couldn't help but twitch his eyes. He clicked his tongue and then looked at his uncle.

Pei Xiuhan had always been unfathomable. Although Pei Jing could see that he was somewhat unhappy, he was so unhappy so many times that Pei Jing had no idea that he was irritated with him. He simply thought that it was the elders who had upset the emperor's uncle.

Seeing him coming, he couldn't help but smile, "Uncle, you've come at the right time. I've chosen a few husbands for Xiaoxiao. Please take a look and see which one you like."

Pei Xiuhan couldn't help but sneer and walked towards him, "You're stretching your hand so far, don't you want it anymore?"