Xie Rangchen pulled his lips in an ambiguous manner, and his complicated look made Helian Yu feel puzzled.

"Hurry up and tell me!"

The more confused he was, the more embarrassed Helian Yu became. Because of anger, a blush appeared at the corners of his eyes, and the glow on his face was as lively as the morning sun.

"Two years later, you..."

Xie Rangchen only said four words, and Helian Yu felt dizzy and fell down.

When I woke up again, there was a warm little white fox sleeping soundly with its head curled up next to my pillow.

Helian Yu thought carefully about what happened last night, then turned his gaze to the little white fox and poked its back: "Wake up, what did you want to say last night? Also, since you can transform into a human, why do you still pretend to be a fox? Master? Wake up..."

"That's a fox."

A familiar voice came from the outer hall.

Helian Yu was silent. He then pinched the skin on the back of the little white fox's neck and saw that there was no phoenix pattern on the little white fox's forehead. He realized that he had misunderstood.

Just as she was about to put the little white fox down, the little white fox blinked its sleepy eyes with a look of pure doubt, turned around, hugged Helian Yu's wrist with its four paws, rubbed its little head against her hand twice, and licked her palm with its pink tongue.

The barbs on the tip of the tongue feel tingling and numb.

"Master, what exactly did you want to say last night?"

Helian Yu caught a glimpse of crimson in his peripheral vision and asked without raising his head.

"This matter cannot be discussed." Xie Rangchen approached and sat on the Eight Immortals Chair near the bed. The aura of alienation and weakness around him became more and more obvious. "These few days..."

Helian Yu didn't hear the rest of the story. He put down his hand that was fiddling with the little white fox and looked at Xie Rangchen. His questioning and criticism became more intense: "Master, why are you becoming more and more indecisive? What happened these days? Is it going to rain heavily?"

Xie Rangchen was silent: "It's best not to go out these few days, and don't meet anyone from Zhongzhou."

"Why can't we meet?" Helian Yu pulled the pillow and propped it against his back, then he crossed his legs and asked Xie Rangchen, "Is it you who has the secret, or me? Do I have some extraordinary identity? Someone from Zhongzhou asked me to destroy the world?"

Xie Rangchen lowered his eyes slightly, as if he had something to hide: "No."

"Someone from Zhongzhou wants to kill me?"

Xie Rangchen's fingertips subconsciously crossed his heart, and a trace of pain quickly flashed across his calm face: "No."

Helian Yu almost punched him, wanting to hit him hard twice.

You don't have to reveal secrets that you don't want to or can't tell. It's really annoying to have to say it but not be able to.

Helian Yu held the little white fox and stuffed it into his arms in a huff, "Master, my father has something else to talk to me about. I'll go to the palace first."

"you--"

"Master, you must be hungry. I'll ask Caiyun to prepare a meal."

The two men passed each other and separated, one stayed where he was, and the other went to the outer hall.

Helian Yu's porcelain-white face was as cold as frost, without any expression.

She didn't know what was going on, but his concealment made her particularly unhappy.

Imperial study.

When Helian Yu went in, Chang Hai had just led his men to replace the incense in the incense burner and was leading his men back out.

After Chang Hai paid his respects, he bowed and left.

Helian Yu nodded slightly and walked inside. The dense aroma of tea and ambergris blended together, and his restless mind finally calmed down.

At the desk, Helian Su was reviewing memorials.

"Father."

"The envoys from Zhongzhou will arrive in Beijing in advance. You should prepare as soon as possible. If you feel that you lack the energy, ask your royal brother to assist you."

"I understand." Helian Yu lazily leaned on the chair, picked up a cup of tea, and expressed his irritation in his heart, "Father, if the person closest to you is hiding a secret from you, what method would you use to make him speak out?"

Helian Su put down the pen in his hand and asked with interest: "Is the Imperial Master hiding something from you?"

Helian Yu's eyes widened: "Father's guess is correct."

"The Imperial Master has remained beautiful and capable over the years. How can he be without secrets?" Helian Su chuckled, his deep eyes making it hard to see through the mist. "Besides, doesn't Xiao Yu'er have secrets too? Who in this world is completely without secrets?"

"But Master and I are the most——"

"Being close doesn't mean you can be completely honest with each other." Helian Su sighed, "The most precious thing about people is being confused."

"I don't want to be confused."

Helian Yu did not agree with Helian Su's point of view at all, and knew that he would not find a solution if he continued to talk to him, so he simply explained the government affairs and left quickly.

However, Helian Su stopped her.

"Xiao Yu'er, you have reached the age of marriage, it's time to think about marriage."

Helian Yu had her back to Helian Su. The rejection she showed when she heard these words made her face cold, and she simply didn't turn around.

"I am not forcing you to marry a prince or a crown prince who is stunning to the world, and from then on be trapped in the harem and live the life of an ordinary woman."

"You should be aware of your influence on the people of Daxia. If you don't consider marriage, all the women in Daxia will follow your example, and Daxia's population will probably stagnate."

"If it was any other prince or princess, it would be fine, but you are different. Your choice now concerns more than just you."

"Who does my father want me to marry?"

Helian Yu lowered her eyes. She agreed with Helian Su's point of view. If she was just an ordinary princess, he would not interfere in her marriage, and it would not even matter whether the marriage took place or not. But she... interfered too deeply in Da Xia's affairs, and she was involved in too many things.

"I know you don't want to give in, and I don't want just any man to get my precious pearls." Helian Su stood up and walked towards Helian Yu, saying one sentence at a time, "I sent someone to investigate, and among the young men you are familiar with and of the same age, Lu Chengchuan is not bad."

"Over the years, you have openly and secretly made Marquis Lu give up the silver he had embezzled, and you also let several sons of the Lu family serve as officials in the court and set up separate camps. Except for their loyalty, the Lu family has cut off all other ties."

"Lu Chengchuan is not very old, not yet twenty, and has a very outstanding appearance. He does not have any messy concubines around him, and he is still a virgin."

"He has been working behind you since he was young and admires you. If you get married, he will be married into the princess's mansion. If you don't want to touch him, he won't say anything. If there is a young man you like, just bring him back home and keep him as a concubine. Lu Chengchuan will not say a word to protect your reputation."

"If you get pregnant in the future, no matter who the father is, as long as the mother is Princess Zhaoyang of Great Xia, he will have the best of everything in the world."

Helian Yu turned around and looked at Helian Su: "Did your father ask for Lu Chengchuan's opinion?"

"Not yet." Helian Su has been the emperor for decades and has always been confident in himself. "I hope to make it clear with Xiao Yu'er first to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. Today's Great Xia is changing with each passing day and becoming more and more powerful. How can I make a great contributor unhappy?"

Helian Yu raised her lips, her bright black eyes slightly curved: "Since it is just a deal under a cover, it is up to the emperor. The news of the engagement can be released, but the marriage must be after the age of eighteen, and the newly revised marriage law must still be followed. In addition, I will arrange for the Beijing News to do a special interview to build momentum for this engagement."