Chapter 30 "Shen Xi is the one I am about to formally marry..."
Shen Xi had only had a sudden inspiration. She thought that if Xie Chengyan was willing to help her, he must have some approval for her as his future sister-in-law. That's why she dared to ask him for help.
After all, besides him, Shen Xi couldn't find anyone else who could help her in this matter.
Unexpectedly, after waiting for a long time, she finally received this ambiguous answer.
There seemed to be some other meaning hidden in this sentence, and Shen Xi subconsciously felt that something was wrong.
But before she could think it through, or even say anything more, Xie Chengyan had already gotten up and walked out, no longer looking at her.
"Let's change our clothes first, then we'll get ready to go."
Where to?
Shen Xi's attention was diverted, and she looked at him with confusion.
Xie Chengyan glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and calmly asked, "Will I take you back to the clinic? Or do you want to stay in my general's mansion?"
His face looked normal, but his jawline was taut.
They had originally brought her to the General's Mansion, but it was because Wen Tingmao's Renfeng Hall was too noisy, with many people coming and going, and it was inconvenient for the two of them to stay there for a while.
Xie Chengyan couldn't tolerate the slightest mistake before everything was settled, as he always had.
Now, sending her back to Renfeng Hall is the same principle. Shen Xi should not appear in the General's Mansion, nor should she return to the Shen Mansion from the General's Mansion.
Of course, these are all just for the moment.
He was waiting for an opportunity, a legitimate opportunity to keep her by his side.
Suppressing these unspeakable thoughts, Xie Chengyan suddenly remembered something, paused, turned back to the bedside, took something out of his sleeve, and slowly handed it to her.
Shen Xi looked closely and saw that the large palm was open, and there was her hairpin in it.
When she fell into the water, she used it to pierce the arm of the little eunuch. She thought it had been lost in the chaos, but unexpectedly it ended up in his hands.
Seeing that she did not move, Xie Chengyan took another step forward, bent down slightly, took her hand, and put the hairpin back in her palm intact, his clear and cold voice ringing out.
"Next time, once you hold on tight, don't let go."
With that one sentence, he turned and left without lingering for another moment.
Shen Xi stared at that retreating figure, her fingertips curling up as she clenched the object in her hand.
Thinking back on their conversation, his actions... could be considered an agreement to help?
In any case, she can only take it one step at a time.
Therefore, Shen Xi stopped worrying, changed into the clothes brought in by the maid, and quietly left with the carriage waiting at the back door.
Unbeknownst to her, the handkerchief she had just used was left on the couch, crumpled and rolled up in the quilt.
Xie Chengyan did not return to the room until she left.
With just one glance, he spotted the handkerchief wrapped in the quilt.
Xie Chengyan stepped forward and picked it up from the couch. He gently twirled it with his fingertips, and a faint fragrance of a young woman remained on it. The fragrance of ebony and sandalwood in the room was soft yet resilient and flowed into his nostrils.
His pupils grew increasingly dark and deep.
Then, with her slender fingers, she carefully folded the handkerchief and tucked it into her sleeve.
*
In front of Renfeng Hall.
Meanwhile, Shen Xi left in a carriage. Although Xie Chengyan had never given her a definite answer, she pondered the situation on the way and guessed roughly how he had gotten involved in this matter.
A person like Xie Chengyan would naturally not have the time to care about their grudges and affections, let alone take the initiative to rescue her from the palace, unless Xie Wenlang asked him to plead for her and ask for his help.
The fact that Xie Wenlang inquired about her situation at the General's Mansion just now also confirms this.
However, due to the difference in their status, she and Xie Chengyan could not get too close and needed to avoid being seen. He was very thoughtful, which is why he had to shuttle back and forth between the General's Mansion and the clinic.
Once he understood this, Shen Xi couldn't help but regret that he had previously doubted his motives; he had truly been judging a gentleman by his own petty standards.
After spending time together, Xie Chengyan, though inevitably a bit aloof and cold, always appeared whenever she needed to be seen, which inexplicably made her feel at ease.
Putting everything else aside, Xie Chengyan is actually a very good person.
While constantly repenting for not recognizing a kind heart, Shen Xi followed Liang Tuo to Renfeng Hall.
Before getting off the car, Liang Tuo handed her a veiled hat. Shen Xi understood immediately and readily accepted it and put it on.
With her face veiled, Shen Xi stepped into Renfeng Hall. Her eyes swept casually across the room, but she suddenly stopped when she saw a familiar figure.
Unexpectedly, she encountered that unexpected person here—Wen Tingmao.
Shen Xi frowned slightly. After seeing him outside the Shen residence last time, she had tried to have Qing Qiu investigate him, but to no avail.
She had indeed doubted the man's identity several times, but she never expected that he was actually a doctor, and that he was in the capital city.
Shen Xi looked at him with some doubt, and through a gap in the veil that was blown up by the wind, she happened to meet his gaze as he looked back.
Their eyes met, but Wen Tingmao's gaze seemed not to fall on her; it was somewhat wandering, as if he were looking through her at someone else.
He stopped in his tracks when he saw the gold hairpin in her black hair.
However, this unconsciously revealed abnormal reaction only lasted for a moment. Before others could notice anything was wrong, Wen Tingmao had already come to his senses.
Renfengtang was quiet with few patients at the moment.
Wen Tingmao sat back down at the table, lowering his eyes to pick through the medicinal herbs on it again. He snorted coldly, "Where is he? He was so arrogant when he left with his men, but now that they're back, he doesn't even show his face?"
Shen Xi was slightly surprised and didn't quite understand why he said that.
Liang Tuo, who was standing nearby, replied, "It is inconvenient for the general to leave the palace, so he specially ordered his subordinates to escort him."
Wen Tingmao glanced at him, still annoyed: "Since he's such a busy man, he should have stopped causing trouble in the first place. It's his fault for taking advantage of his status and position to do whatever he wants, which is very improper!"
After listening for a couple of sentences, Shen Xi gradually came to her senses.
Wen Tingmao continued, "Your general is really no good person. Making a patient run back and forth like this, I think he's deliberately making things difficult for him."
The others knew perfectly well who he was referring to, so Liang Tuo dared not utter any further words of defense.
Seeing that he remained silent, Wen Tingmao felt stifled by his own monologue and didn't bother to pay any more attention.
Therefore, he turned to look at Shen Xi and gestured with his chin toward the empty seat next to him.
"sit."
Shen Xi glanced at Liang Tuo, and seeing that he had no reaction, she hesitantly stepped forward as instructed.
But he was somewhat puzzled. The doctor from Renfengtang was too obviously dissatisfied with Xie Chengyan. He vented his dissatisfaction in front of Xie Chengyan in a very open and undisguised manner.
Could it be that the two are old acquaintances?
Or is it an old grudge?
Before Shen Xi could figure it out, Wen Tingmao had already taken her wrist and glanced at Liang Tuo: "What? You need to see a doctor too?"
Liang Tuo understood the implication of being asked to leave, so he didn't linger. Instead, he left as if he had been granted a pardon.
Then, Wen Tingmao began to carefully examine Shen Xi's pulse, and his previously tense expression gradually softened.
Chen Xi's curiosity was piqued, and she carefully examined him. Then, she glanced at the small flute-playing puppet on the corner of the table. The workmanship was not exquisite, and it looked quite old. The shape was rather childlike, which did not quite match his appearance.
It looked like the toy of the little boy who had been following him before.
Shen Xi glanced at the interior furnishings without making a sound, and gradually began to understand.
After a while, Wen Tingmao, who was focused on taking Shen Xi's pulse, asked Shen Xi to switch hands, "Did you have a high fever before?"
Shen Xi nodded.
"How was it diagnosed and treated that time?"
"Although I saw a doctor, I still had a recurring high fever for more than three months, and the medicine was ineffective. In the end, I don't know why, I suddenly got better."
Wen Tingmao frowned: "A high fever for three months, yet you only saw one doctor?"
"right."
Upon hearing this, Wen Tingmao snorted coldly again: "This Shen Guangjun..."
He lowered his voice completely after that, and Shen Xi didn't hear what he said next. She could only vaguely make out the name Shen Guangjun. She wasn't sure if she had heard it clearly.
But she had some guesses about Wen Tingmao.
So, Shen Xi turned her eyes and said in a friendly greeting, "Thank you for the prescription you gave me last time. It was very effective, and the injury on my leg has been completely cured."
"There's nothing to thank me for, it was just a small favor."
"Your medical skills are so superb, how long have you been practicing medicine?"
Wen Tingmao took it as casual conversation and replied casually, "My family has been practicing medicine for generations. My ancestors started in this field. As for me, I've been able to recognize medicines since I was a child, which is a long time if you count from that time."
He looked quite old, but when he chatted, his tone was light and slightly unserious.
Shen Xi smiled gently: "That's quite a coincidence. When my mother taught me to read when I was young, she also used medical books. I read through all those books of hers over and over again, but unfortunately, the originals were burned a while ago, and all that's left are the copies that I copied from memory."
Upon hearing this, Wen Tingmao's shoulders stiffened, and his gaze fixed on a certain spot, as if he were thinking about something.
After a long while, he realized his lapse in composure and forced a smile: "You're so young, yet you can memorize a medical book you've only glanced at a few times. That's truly impressive."
But as soon as he finished praising her, the forced smile on Wen Tingmao's lips vanished. After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked, "Besides that, what else did your mother... say to you?"
This was a very broad question, and there were countless things a mother and daughter could talk about, but Shen Xi knew what he really wanted to know.
So she observed his expression calmly and said slowly, "There are many. In fact, my mother often tells me about her time studying medicine. She always feels nostalgic and sentimental when she talks about it."
“Missing…” Wen Tingmao murmured, repeating the two words over and over. “How is she now?”
Shen Xi lowered her eyes and said calmly, "She passed away when I was seven years old."
The moment the words left his mouth, Shen Xi noticed that the fingertips that were taking her pulse unconsciously increased the pressure.
Wen Tingmao remained silent, and the atmosphere fell into silence for a moment.
Only a sudden gust of wind swept through the hall, carrying a low, almost sobbing sound.
Shen Xi broke the awkward silence by changing the subject: "Does Dr. Wen always practice medicine in the capital? I've been to this clinic before, but I've never seen you before."
Wen Tingmao took a deep breath, as if trying to pull himself out of some quagmire, and after a moment, he replied, "No, I was in another place before, and only recently came to the capital."
He then stopped chatting with her and released his hand from her pulse.
"It's nothing serious, it's just that your body hasn't fully recovered from that high fever, and you're still a bit weak. I'll prescribe some medicine for you, so go home and take good care of yourself."
Shen Xi nodded and thanked him.
After speaking, he fell silent again, seemingly having no intention of speaking again.
As Shen Xi watched him write the prescription with flowing strokes, she suddenly asked, "Did it snow early in Qingzhou this winter?"
Wen Tingmao, unaware of the change, subconsciously replied, "It's still the same, not much has changed..."
As soon as he said it, he suddenly realized what he had said.
This little girl isn't just here for a medical checkup.
From the moment she stepped into Renfeng Hall, every word she uttered was a test of him, and he was completely unprepared, thus being led astray by a mere young girl.
Wen Tingmao's brows furrowed suddenly as he noticed that Shen Xi was staring intently at him, her round eyes revealing utter shrewdness.
Before he could ask, Shen Xi smiled gently, turned her gaze away, and looked at the small puppet playing the flute on the table.
"Please don't misunderstand, I just saw that thing. My mother is from Qingzhou and once mentioned to me that this is a unique custom of Qingzhou, so I guessed that perhaps you are also from Qingzhou."
"Looks like I guessed right."
She tilted her head, a glint of starlight flashing in her eyes.
Not only did she guess his origins correctly, but Wen Tingmao could even vaguely sense that she had some understanding of his identity.
He stared at that faint smile for a long time before snapping out of his daze, shaking his head with a cold snort, seemingly helpless: "You are quite clever."
She's much smarter than her mother.
*
Meanwhile, Xie Chengyan had already arrived at the palace.
Inside the Imperial Study.
The candlelight flickered and swayed, casting a dim light and filling the room with tranquility.
Xie Chengyan bowed and stood silently below the steps, waiting for the Emperor to speak.
Meanwhile, the supreme ruler sat high in the Mingtang Hall, writing in vermilion ink, carefully reading a memorial, glancing at it over and over without raising his head.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, asking seemingly casually, "Minister Xie, how do you intend to explain what happened a couple of days ago to me?"
Xie Chengyan calmly replied, "My younger brother is impulsive and hasty. Since my father is not in the capital, I have already punished him on his behalf."
The words had barely left his mouth when a sudden "snap" rang out in the silence.
The emperor finally looked at him, throwing the memorial in his hand aside, his gaze sharp: "That's not what I'm asking. Tell me, what exactly is the relationship between that girl from the Shen family and the Duke's mansion? How could she have provoked your brother to make such a fuss, almost tearing down my nine-layered palace gates?"
"Your Majesty, Shen Xi is already engaged to the Duke's family."
He knew this without him saying it.
The emperor responded coldly with displeasure, waving his hand: "Your younger brother is quite sentimental. If you like him, why don't you marry him sooner?"
"Your Majesty misunderstands. Shen Xi is not my brother's wife, but my soon-to-be bride."
Upon hearing this, the emperor finally became interested, leaned forward, and asked with great interest, "Oh? The news I heard is not like that."
Xie Chengyan spoke slowly and deliberately: "Your Majesty, the rumors circulating in the capital are not true. It is because I have been fighting on the frontier for many years, which has caused the wedding to be postponed again and again. Being far away from home, I was really worried about her, so I asked my brother to take care of her for a while. I didn't expect that the rumors would spread and cause a misunderstanding."
It's rare to hear Xie Chengyan speak at such length about matters outside of military affairs.
The emperor smiled, a thought forming in his mind: "According to what you've said, if it's your engagement, then why was Xie Wenlang making such a fuss the other day?"
Xie Chengyan calmly and slowly presented his prepared remarks.
"I have already questioned Wen Lang. It was only because I had entrusted him with taking care of my future sister-in-law that he acted rashly, fearing that I would punish him for failing to take good care of her."
His words were spoken with absolute certainty.
The emperor listened with great interest, then suddenly remembered something else: "Oh, so he's not married yet?"
Xie Chengyan replied without hesitation, "That's right, my brother is not yet married."
The emperor seemed to be deep in thought, then asked, "How is his relationship with the Fifth Princess?"
“I do not interfere with Wen Lang’s social interactions, but last month on the Lantern Festival, I saw him strolling through the streets with Her Highness the Princess and admiring the lanterns together.”
This answer was extremely subtle. It wasn't exactly a lie. Chu Yi and Xie Wenlang did spend time together during the Lantern Festival, but it was only a rare occasion. However, it inevitably carried a different meaning in other people's ears.
As expected, the emperor had already grasped Xie Chengyan's unspoken meaning and nodded repeatedly: "That's very good."
This arrangement is naturally the best.
The Xue and Xie families wielded too much power, which had long made the emperor wary. After the incident at Chengyang Mountain, he was even less inclined to trust the people behind the Eastern Palace.
Unfortunately, there is no one in the court at present, and Xie Chengyan's power to command troops cannot be taken back for the time being. His marriage has always been a worry for the emperor.
I had never heard of Xie Chengyan having any engagements before, and he himself didn't seem to care much about it.
Given his status and achievements, if the emperor were to arrange a marriage for him, and the woman's family was of a high social standing, the two families would form an alliance, which would inevitably cause the emperor to lose sleep. If the woman's family was of a low social standing, there would inevitably be voices saying that the emperor was mistreating his loyal minister.
After all these years of searching, he still hasn't been able to find a suitable daughter to marry Xie Chengyan.
But now that the Xie family has finalized the marriage themselves, it saves him trouble. The Shen family just happens to be neither a wealthy nor powerful family, so the emperor doesn't need to worry about it.
Moreover, this opportunity can also be used to resolve the recent troubles caused by the Fifth Princess.
Killing two birds with one stone, achieving two goals at once.
The emperor stood up with satisfaction, let out a long breath, and asked with a smile, "When will my beloved minister be married?"
The wedding date is yet to be set.
Upon hearing this, the emperor walked down the steps with his hands behind his back, shook his head, and said disapprovingly, "No, no, you are not young anymore. The two of you have already delayed for so long, we can't drag this out any longer. How about I choose a date for you two to get married as soon as possible?"
These words were exactly what Xie Chengyan had planned.
He cupped his hands slightly, lowered his eyes to conceal the glint of light that had flashed in them, and bowed in gratitude.
"Your Majesty, I thank you."
*
That night.
There was no moon in the sky; a heavy, oppressive darkness pressed down. The dungeon was dimly lit, deathly silent, devouring all life.
Xie Chengyan, wearing black boots, slowly walked down the stairs. As the candlelight flickered, a stench of blood wafted from the depths of the dungeon.
In the dungeon, the hidden guards, their faces covered, were surrounding a place when they suddenly saw Xie Chengyan arrive. They all bowed their heads and tacitly made way for him.
He marched straight in without any hindrance, and finally stopped in front of a body on the ground, glancing at it indifferently and expressionlessly.
In the dim light, one could barely make out a person curled up on the ground, their body a bloody mess, panting heavily, their breaths scattering the dust on the ground, their whole body trembling from unbearable pain.
Suddenly hearing a noise, the person on the ground opened his eyes with difficulty. Before he could even recognize who it was, he was grabbed by the arms and lifted up by the guards on both sides without any explanation.
He was in so much pain that he was exhausted and his head was out of control. He slumped to one side, but someone grabbed his chin and turned him back up, lifting his blood-stained face without saying a word.
Xie Chengyan looked down at the face, his eyes devoid of any emotion, his deep-set eyes appearing cold and sinister in the dappled light and shadow.
"General, the interrogation has been completed. It was this man who pushed Lady Shen into the water."
No sooner had the guard finished speaking than a low, hoarse roar escaped from the man's throat. It was not loud because he was exhausted, and it seemed to be a form of resistance, or perhaps a sign of fear.
Xie Chengyan didn't have the patience to listen to others' irrelevant remarks. He simply spoke indifferently, his tone calm yet chilling.
Which hand touched her?
There was no response.
Clearly, after being tormented by the guards for so long, he was unable to answer, even if he wanted to.
Xie Chengyan ignored the reasons behind it, coldly lowered his eyes, and waited for three breaths, but still did not hear the answer he wanted.
His patience exhausted, Xie Chengyan didn't linger. He threw something on the ground, which gleamed coldly in the firelight.
It was a dull knife that had long since lost its edge; a light graze on the skin would only leave a thin white mark, and a single strike would not cause any injury.
Xie Chengyan stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at him with a fierce look in his eyes. He ordered the guards in a cold voice, "Don't leave either of your hands alive."
After saying that, he didn't linger for another glance and turned to leave.
A newly arrived bodyguard, completely bewildered by the implication, quietly asked his colleague, "Does the general mean to spare his life?"
The other person glanced at him with considerable surprise, and said in a low voice, "If someone falls into the general's hands, who can get out alive?"
Xie Chengyan's meaning was crystal clear: ordinary methods were too swift; he needed to use this blunt blade to slowly erode the life force before he could truly end the matter.
The newcomer finally realized what was happening, and a layer of cold sweat involuntarily appeared on his forehead.
Ruthless, vicious, and unscrupulous – that's the real Xie Chengyan.
Meanwhile, Xie Chengyan had already walked out of the dungeon, just as the moonlight peeked out from behind the clouds.
Seeing this, Liang Tuo, who was waiting outside, followed him and whispered, "General, the lady requests that you return to the Duke's mansion."
Xie Chengyan rubbed his fingertips, not surprised, vaguely aware of Xue's purpose.
Sure enough, the moment the thought crossed my mind, Liang Tuo uttered the next sentence.
"This evening, the eunuch from the palace came to the Duke's mansion to announce the imperial decree that the Emperor had bestowed a marriage upon the Second Young Master and the Fifth Princess."
Xie Chengyan raised an eyebrow slightly. This emperor was indeed efficient. Just yesterday, he had summoned him to the imperial study to inquire about the relationship between the several people, and today the imperial edict had already reached the Duke's mansion.
I'm really afraid things might change over time.
However, he didn't care about it; naturally, the sooner the better.
The carriage drove into the boundless night, and half an hour later, Xie Chengyan stepped into the Duke's mansion.
Upon entering the main hall, they saw Xue Hongming and his sister Xue sitting upright. Xie Yi was not currently in the capital, so it was understandable that Xue sought out her brother to discuss matters.
Sure enough, when Xue Hongming saw him, he first sighed: "Have you heard about the arranged marriage?"
Xie Chengyan nodded silently and sat down to the side.
Before he could speak, Madam Xue hurriedly asked, "Brother, what does His Majesty mean by this? Why would he suddenly bestow a marriage upon Lang'er?"
As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently glanced at Xie Chengyan.
Xie Wenlang received the imperial edict in the evening and immediately made a scene. No amount of persuasion worked. He insisted on going to the palace to speak with the emperor in person.
Madam Xue dared not let him out, so she hurriedly ordered her servants to keep him confined in the mansion, and then quickly sought out Xue Hongming to discuss the matter.
Putting everything else aside, whether considering age or etiquette, if a marriage were to be bestowed, Xie Chengyan should be the first to be betrothed. Why has the eldest been bypassed and Xie Wenlang been chosen as the consort directly?
There must be something wrong with this.
Xie Chengyan pretended not to notice Xue's occasional probing glances, remaining as usual and showing little enthusiasm for anything related to the Duke's mansion.
After careful consideration, Xue Hongming decided: "The Shen family is nothing special and is not worthy of entering the Duke's mansion. Moreover, His Majesty has decreed this marriage. How can we disobey the imperial decree? I heard that Lang and that girl from the Shen family had not gone through the proper formalities and only had a verbal engagement. Let's just call it off."
That's the logic.
However, Madam Xue felt reluctant to do so. Even though she herself did not think much of Shen Xi, Xie Wenlang genuinely liked her, and she feared that he might do something rash for Shen Xi.
Tonight, a servant reported that Xie Wenlang has locked himself in his room, refusing to eat or drink, and has stated that he will not see anyone except Shen Xi, and will not step out of the door until he sees Shen Xi.
As a mother, she naturally feels sorry for her son.
However, the Xue family has no say in the matter at present.
As soon as Xue Hongming finished speaking, Xie Chengyan, who had been silent until now, slightly lifted his eyelids, cast a faint glance over, and spoke.
"This matter cannot be abandoned."
After he finished speaking, the Xue siblings asked, puzzled, "Why?"
Xie Chengyan continued calmly: "Although the two families only have a verbal marriage agreement, if it is abandoned so easily, it will easily give rise to gossip and be used by those with ulterior motives, which will inevitably have some impact on the Crown Prince's side."
He didn't say how this matter affected Xie Wenlang, but instead pointed directly to the Eastern Palace. For Xue Hongming, no matter what, he would definitely consider the Eastern Palace first.
Sure enough, Xue Hongming thought about it and realized that Xie Chengyan was right. His brows furrowed tightly.
His concern all afternoon stemmed from the same worry Xie Chengyan had mentioned, but he had yet to find a solution.
Originally, Xue Hongming thought that the Shen family was nothing more than a minor family and not worth paying attention to. However, with a major event approaching, he could not afford to be careless. He hesitated again and looked at Xie Chengyan.
"Chengyan is right, but there's absolutely no chance of a change in the marriage arrangement now. As for the Shen family, what do you suggest we do?"
Unlike Xue Hongming, who had a solemn expression, Xie Chengyan didn't think there was any need to consider this matter. With a noble and indifferent look in his eyes, he slowly and deliberately spoke, as if he were saying something indifferent.
“The two families already have a marriage agreement in name only. Since we haven’t formally exchanged betrothal gifts, I will naturally marry the lady from the Shen family.”
Upon hearing this, both the Xue siblings were taken aback.
Madam Xue was only slightly surprised, but didn't say anything more.
Now, she can't control Xie Chengyan anymore. He's grown up and become independent. He rarely comes back to the Duke's mansion, and even Xie Yi himself can't persuade him to stay.
Besides, it's just Shen Xi. If Xie Chengyan wants to marry her, then let him. Anyway, she won't amount to much.
This also happens to break the deadlock.
However, Xue Hongming was not as open-minded as Xue Shi, and he was about to object immediately.
Given Xie Chengyan's wealth and status, marrying Shen Xi would be a waste of his time. Moreover, Xue Hongming already had someone in mind for Xie Chengyan's marriage and was just waiting for the right opportunity to discuss it with him.
Before Xue Hongming could speak, Xie Chengyan casually added, "Besides, I'm not married yet, so how can Erlang get married?"
He lowered his eyes, slowly stroking his fingertips, his voice clear and refined, falling into the dark undercurrents of the empty night, each word startling.
"Besides that, Uncle, do you have any other good ideas?"
This question completely stumped Xue Hongming.
If we want to resolve this matter gracefully and without leaving any evidence, Xie Chengyan's suggestion should be the most convenient and quickest way.
Any other action taken, as long as the marriage with the Shen family is abandoned, will give others a handle to use against them, no matter what.
With Xie Wenlang's marriage to Princess Shenxi now a done deal, the only way to win over the hearts of the people is for Xie Chengyan to accept the marriage contract and marry Shenxi.
Xue Hongming remained silent, but this was tantamount to acquiescing.
His indifferent gaze swept over the two people in front of him, each with their own thoughts, yet neither of them spoke a word.
Xie Chengyan's lips twitched almost imperceptibly as he stood up, not lingering any longer.
In just a few words, his marriage to Shen Xi was settled.
-----------------------
Author's Note: To avoid being influenced by the data, I usually only log in once a week to post my drafts. Today, I suddenly saw so many comments, I'm so happy! [Please!]
Thank you so much to all my enthusiastic little angels for following along! I'll be writing and updating like crazy! Let's all accompany Xiaoxi and Xiaoyan to their happy ending together! [heart][droopy-eared bunny head]
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