After entering the palace, Lin Yuxin went directly to Kunning Palace, while Li Xiaochen could not go to the inner palace on his own and could only go to the Imperial Study to find the Emperor.
When the Emperor saw Li Xiaochen reluctantly walk in, he said in an annoyed tone:
"How could you bear to go to the palace? I was just saying you were reluctant to leave the Zhao residence!"
The guard told him that this kid goes to the Zhao residence to see Lin Yaya every day, which is a disgrace to men!
"Isn't it because Xin Xin came to the palace to treat the Empress? Otherwise, this humble subject wouldn't want to go to the palace!"
Li Xiaochen remained expressionless and stood there motionless as he spoke.
The Emperor was momentarily speechless, glared at Li Xiaochen, and then began to speak about the important matter:
"My men have reported that the second prince of Zhao has left Zhao and we don't know where he went. Send people to look for him, lest he come to my Xia Kingdom to cause trouble!"
He was no longer able to deal with the occasional disturbances from other countries. If Hao'er weren't still too young, he would have wanted to abdicate and live a life of his own with the Empress.
Li Xiaochen paused for a moment before speaking:
"Your Majesty, I will investigate the whereabouts of the Second Prince."
However, what Li Xiaochen didn't say was that he had a gut feeling that the second prince would come to their Xia Kingdom.
"The Holy Maiden of the Northern Frontier has not yet been dealt with. After being brought back, she has been kept in a separate courtyard. I sent someone to deliver a message to the Zhuge family of the Northern Frontier, and they only gave up two of their snow lotuses and three cities. They will not give anything more."
The Emperor spoke again.
"Your Majesty, in this case, Shangguan Yan has been abandoned by the Northern Frontier. However, if we really deal with her, the Northern Frontier will have an excuse to attack our country. Why don't you bestow a marriage upon her, Your Majesty? This would help to promote diplomatic relations between the two countries."
Li Xiaochen thought for a moment and then spoke.
The Emperor's eyes lit up. "That's right! How come I didn't think of that? If we leave this woman in Xia Kingdom and don't kill her, then the Northern Frontier won't have a reason to attack them. They might even swallow this bitter pill and accept this marriage alliance!"
In this way, Shangguan Yan won't be able to cause any trouble. Ah Chen said that Lin Yuxin has a way to suppress Shangguan Yan's Gu poison, so he doesn't need to worry about this woman causing trouble in Xia Kingdom.
The emperor grew happier and happier as he thought about it, and finally burst into laughter:
"Hahaha! Great idea! You young people really know how to use your brains!"
"Your Majesty flatters me!"
Li Xiaochen said modestly.
"Alright, that's settled then. As for who to give her to...!"
The Emperor immediately decided to bestow the marriage upon her, but then he couldn't decide who to give the woman to. He knew he wouldn't accept her anyway, so he looked at Li Xiaochen.
"Your Majesty, I am not yet married, and I will only marry Xin Xin in my life, so please don't think about it. However, I do have someone in mind."
Seeing the Emperor staring at him, Li Xiaochen was afraid that the Emperor would suddenly arrange a marriage between them, so he quickly spoke up.
The Emperor rolled his eyes. This kid reacted quickly; he hadn't even said anything yet.
"Tell me, who is the most suitable?"
The Emperor asked.
"Your Majesty, I believe the Third Prince is the most suitable. He is currently the eldest prince and is not yet married!"
Li Xiaochen looked at the Emperor and offered a timely reminder.
The Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince have both been deposed. Currently, the Third Prince is the most powerful. If not him, then who?
Moreover, the Third Prince had teamed up with Shangguan Yan to sabotage them in the Northern Frontier. Although Xin Xin had resolved the situation, Li Xiaochen was still holding a grudge.
Now that they've been put together, it's a match made in heaven!
This Holy Maiden of the Northern Frontier, Shangguan Yan, has a body full of Gu poison. Even though Xin Xin has taken away her natal Gu, she still has a lot of poison in her body.
If they were to sleep together for an extended period, the Third Prince's health would surely be ruined, but he had no intention of telling the Emperor this.
"Can this third brother handle it? If he can't keep Shangguan Yan in check, he'll just be giving Shangguan Yan an ally."
The Emperor hesitated. He knew his own son well. Despite his seemingly carefree and playful nature, the Third Prince was actually a very calculating person at heart.
Shangguan Yan is also a ruthless person. Can the two of them be a good match?
"Your Majesty, don't underestimate the Third Prince. Although Shangguan Yan has some ambitions, this is the Xia Kingdom. Even if she wants to do something, with you keeping her in check, she can't cause any trouble. Aren't you going to help the Third Prince?"
Li Xiaochen quickly flattered the Emperor, saying that although the Emperor didn't like his sons, they were still his sons, and he wouldn't let others bully them.
"That's right! Okay, let's do it that way!"
After thinking for a moment, the emperor nodded in agreement to the marriage.
Upon seeing this, Li Xiaochen's lips curled up for a moment, then he suppressed it and returned to his calm state.
...
When Lin Yuxin arrived at Kunning Palace, she saw Cheng Tinghao guarding the place.
"Xiao Hao, no, the Ninth Prince is well!"
Lin Yuxin originally wanted to call him Xiao Hao, but considering that they were in the palace and there were servants guarding them, she respectfully called him Xiao Hao instead.
"Sister, you've become distant from Xiaohao. You haven't come to see him in so long!"
A look of grievance appeared on Cheng Tinghao's expressionless face, and his eyes reddened slightly.
“Xiao Hao, you are a prince now, and I can’t come to the palace to see you anytime I want. But I promise you, I will come to the palace to be with you whenever I have time, okay? Besides, Li Xiaochen comes to the palace often, so you can have him deliver any messages to me.”
Lin Yuxin couldn't bear to see Xiao Hao cry, so she quickly comforted him gently.
"All right!"
Cheng Tinghao only felt sorry for himself because he saw his sister and had someone to rely on.
These past few days he's been busy getting familiar with the palace. Li Xiaochen has taken leave, so his father's memorials have all been left to him. There are some he doesn't understand, and no one is teaching him. He feels both exhausted and wronged.
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