The Emperor actually only wanted to summon Ye Zeyu. He heard from the palace servants that Ye Zeyu and Su Muxi were both in the Empress Dowager's palace, so he thought he would also call Su Muxi over to take a look.
Upon closer inspection, Su Muxi doesn't seem particularly special.
Su Muxi was indeed as ugly as rumored. Although she spoke with a bit of cleverness, she seemed rather dull overall. It was hard to tell whether Ye Zeyu truly liked her or was just pretending.
Qiao Xiuyuan could understand Su Muxi's special feelings, after all, Su Muxi was a skilled doctor who had saved his son and daughter.
Qiao Xiuyuan only has one son, Qiao Ziming, so naturally he hopes to have a daughter-in-law with superb medical skills to take care of him, so that Qiao Ziming's legs, which he had finally managed to stand up, would not become lame again for some unknown reason.
However chaotic a minister's family may be, it is none of his business; he can only listen to it as a joke when he has nothing else to do.
"Su Muxi, you may leave now. I have something to discuss with Prince Yong'an."
"…yes."
Su Muxi bowed in agreement, but then Qiao Xiuyuan suddenly said, "Then this humble subject will not disturb Your Majesty and Prince Yong'an any longer and will take his leave first."
"Hmm." The Emperor slightly raised his hand, signaling Qiao Xiuyuan to leave.
However, he was very clear about Qiao Xiuyuan's little scheme!
Isn't it just that they want to use him to get rid of Ye Ziyu?
But he forgot that Ye Zeyu was still his biological son, while he, Qiao Xiuyuan, was nothing more than a dog!
Seeing this, Ye Zeyu said to Su Muxi in front of the Emperor in a very open manner, "Xi'er, wait for me at the palace gate. I will personally escort you back to your residence in a while."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor chuckled and teased, "It looks as if I've separated you all. Standing at the palace gate must be tiring. Someone, invite Miss Su to the side hall for tea. Sitting and waiting is better than standing."
Upon hearing this, Su Muxi and Ye Zeyu thanked him in unison, while Qiao Xiuyuan could only manage a forced smile.
I had originally planned to take this opportunity to say a few words to Su Muxi on the way out of the palace.
It seems that the emperor ultimately favors his own son.
If a father can kill his own brother without hesitation, how deep can the bond between father and son be?
Oh!
…
Su Muxi was led into a side hall by a young eunuch. Looking at the exquisite tea and snacks in front of her, she had no appetite at all. She kept an eye on the main hall and was worried about Ye Zeyu.
However, they did not notice that there was another person in the side hall.
The man hid behind a pillar, looking Su Muxi up and down. Due to the angle, he could only see the right half of Su Muxi's face, which was free of birthmarks. Upon seeing this, he couldn't help but stare at her, somewhat mesmerized.
He leaned forward and accidentally bumped into a chair, making quite a noise that startled the beauty…
Su Muxi suddenly heard a noise beside her and subconsciously turned her head to look. Unexpectedly, she met a pair of slightly narrow phoenix eyes. At first, there was an infatuated look in them, but it was quickly replaced by fear.
"ghost…"
After seeing Su Muxi's appearance clearly, the man instinctively wanted to scream, but before he could speak, he quickly covered his mouth with his hand, thus avoiding disturbing the people in the main hall.
As darkness fell and no candles were lit in the side hall, those unfamiliar with Su Muxi's appearance would indeed be easily startled upon seeing her for the first time.
The person was hiding behind her, and their sudden shout startled her.
She hurriedly took out the veil she always carried with her and put it on, covering up the ugly birthmark. This instantly transformed Su Muxi from an ugly woman with an ugly face into a beautiful woman who easily aroused people's imagination.
"This humble woman, Su Muxi, greets Your Highness, the Third Prince."
Su Muxi bowed respectfully, which surprised Ye Zemin.
"You know me?"
"...I don't know him."
"Then how did you know I was the Third Prince?"
Su Muxi looked up at Ye Zemin and answered honestly, "This is a side hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. It is impossible for ordinary guards to slack off here. No minister is as young as you. There are three princes in my Qi Kingdom. I have met the first two. So if there is no surprise, you are the Third Prince."
Ye Zeming's eyes showed admiration, "I didn't expect that you, though a bit ugly, are so smart. You're a barely acceptable match for my older brother. But you should still wear a veil when you go out. If you encounter someone who is weak and sickly, they might be frightened by your appearance!"
"...Yes, I will follow His Highness's teachings."
Su Muxi nodded good-naturedly, showing no sign of anger. After all, many people said she was ugly, and Ye Zemin was not even in the running.
Moreover, she wouldn't stoop to the level of arguing with a sixteen-year-old brat.
Ye Zeming was born to Consort Li. It is said that Consort Li was rather rigid and very strict with Ye Zeming.
Although Ye Zemin appears harmless, Su Muxi does not underestimate any prince.
As a prince, being able to live under the Empress's nose until the age of sixteen must mean he had some extraordinary abilities.
Ye Zemin circled Su Muxi, his eyes scrutinizing her. "You're Su Muxi?"
Su Muxi was speechless. Just now Ye Zeming said that she was barely a match for Ye Zeyu, and now he was confirming her identity?
"Yes, my name is Su Muxi."
"What are you doing in this side hall? Is my elder brother in the Hall of Mental Cultivation?!"
Ye Zeyu was clearly very excited when Ye Zeyu was mentioned.
Su Muxi nodded honestly, "Prince Yong'an is indeed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
But then Ye Zemin looked at Su Muxi with a half-smile, "I know what Father Emperor wanted to talk to my elder brother about. So, do you want to know?"
Su Muxi: "..."
I have a feeling that Ye Zemin has a wicked sense of humor? Could it be that he's become too close to Ye Zerui and has been corrupted by him?
Or is it that he was too well protected by Consort Li, making him a bit too naive, with a childlike mentality?
"The Emperor and Prince Yong'an must be discussing matters of state. I am of lowly status and do not wish to know, nor do I dare to know."
Ye Zemin found a chair and sat down. He then picked up a piece of pastry, took a bite, and looked at Su Muxi, who was still standing there like a wooden block. He said with a half-smile, "What Father and my elder brother were talking about is indeed a matter of national importance, but it is also related to you. Are you sure you don't want to listen?"
Su Muxi didn't even raise her head, and firmly said, "I won't listen."
If she wanted to know, Ye Ziyu would tell her; there was no need to hear it from someone else.
And who knows what this third prince is really thinking?
Therefore, it's best to minimize contact.
Seeing that Su Muxi was unmoved by reason, Ye Zemin threw the pastries in his hand on the ground and said angrily, "No way! You have to listen whether you want to or not! This prince is going to tell you!"
"The Northern Yan Kingdom says they want to send their princess to our Qi Kingdom for a marriage alliance. Judging from the time the letter arrived, they should already be on their way and should arrive in the capital in about ten days!"
As he spoke, he revealed his original ambiguous smile again.
"Who do you think the princess of Northern Yan would want to marry?"
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