Lord Xiao was called back from the yamen.
Madam Xiao looked embarrassed. "Qin'er, that girl, insisted on seeing you. She also said that if you don't come back, there's nothing to talk about."
Marquis Xiao's face was cold and hard. "Why do you insist on seeing me? Didn't you explain it clearly to her?"
"I just started it, and Qin'er guessed it all. Then she asked to see you. This child's temper is getting harder and harder."
Lord Xiao said, "I understand. I will go see her. You go ahead and do your work."
"Sir, please talk to her carefully."
Mrs. Xiao was extremely worried and kept looking back.
When Lord Xiao walked into the study, he saw Xiao Qin'er standing in front of the bookcase with a worried look on her face, not knowing which book to choose.
“Ahem…”
Lord Xiao coughed twice.
Xiao Qin'er heard the noise and turned around suddenly, "Father, you are finally back. Your daughter has been waiting for you for a long time."
"If you have something to say, just talk to your mother. Why do you have to see your father? Don't you know that your father is very busy?"
Xiao Qin'er raised her eyebrows and said with a smile, "No matter how busy my father is, or how important the mission is, can it be more important than Liu Yi's fight for the throne?"
Lord Xiao subconsciously looked around and then closed the door.
He scolded softly, "Stop talking nonsense."
"A father knows best whether his daughter is talking nonsense or not. He wants to hear his opinion."
Lord Xiao's face was serious. "You want to know what I think?"
"Yes! My daughter wants to know." Xiao Qin'er's eyes were firm, not afraid of Lord Xiao's gaze.
Lord Xiao considered it for a while before saying, "Liu Yi is a legitimate prince, so he has a great chance of winning."
Xiao Qin'er retorted, "Above him are Liu Zhao, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince."
Lord Xiao shook his head repeatedly, "The Second and Third Princes are nothing to worry about. As for Liu Zhao, he's the eldest prince. The eldest princes of this dynasty never have a good ending, and Liu Zhao will be no exception."
"So father intends to support Liu Yi in his bid for the throne?"
"Aren't you happy?" Lord Xiao was full of doubts. He heard opposition in Xiao Qin'er's tone.
Xiao Qin'er nodded heavily, "Not only do I oppose the Xiao family supporting Liu Yi in his bid for the throne, I even oppose Liu Yi's participation in the fight."
Marquis Xiao's mind was full of lawsuits. "Why is this happening? Liu Yi has a natural advantage. This is a great opportunity. Why doesn't he seize it?"
Xiao Qin'er said solemnly, "Because if Liu Yi becomes emperor, my daughter will be the second Ruizhen Empress Cui, and will die at his hands sooner or later. My children will not have a good ending either, and he will order them to be executed sooner or later. I risked the lives and property of thousands of members of the Xiao family to support him to the throne, but in the end, another woman's child will benefit, and the Xiao family will end up being confiscated and exterminated. I don't want this! I firmly oppose it!"
Lord Xiao frowned, "Are you confused? You are husband and wife, husband and wife are one."
"Being an emperor doesn't mean husband and wife are one."
"Although you and your wife often argue, it's not as serious as you say. Liu Yi is not the heartless person you say he is."
Xiao Qin'er sneered repeatedly, "Two years ago, when Zheng'er was going out to study and broaden his horizons, he scolded him for not doing his job properly. Two days ago, when he learned that His Majesty was going to the temporary palace to recuperate, his first thought was to bring a few of his illegitimate sons with him to the palace to broaden his horizons. He even had a quarrel with me over this matter. He's so partial now. When he takes that position, what good will it be for mother and son?"
Lord Xiao frowned. "You two used to have such a good relationship, why did it become like this now? How is Zheng Ge'er inferior to those bastards?"
"Father should ask Liu Yi about this and ask if his conscience has been eaten by dogs. In my heart, he doesn't deserve to sit on that position, and the Xiao family has no reason to support him in his bid for the throne. I would rather he remain an idle member of the royal family, so that my child and I can still live a life of wealth and glory, and I can also take care of my mother's family."
Xiao Qiner's attitude is already very clear, now it depends on what Marquis Xiao thinks.
Lord Xiao frowned and paced back and forth in the study, his mind in turmoil.
"Does Liu Yi know your attitude?"
"He should have known, but he never took it to heart. He didn't care about my attitude at all. I guess in his heart it didn't matter whether he had my support or not."
After saying that, Xiao Qin'er laughed at herself.
He laughed at himself for giving his heart to the wrong person, and laughed at Liu Yi for daydreaming.
Lord Xiao asked, "What's going on with the Pei family? Does Liu Yi have any contact with the Pei family?"
"Except for festivals, they rarely come out on weekdays. Father, you don't think the Pei family will abandon Liu Zhao and support Liu Yi, do you? The Pei family is not crazy, and the Duke of Lu is not senile."
Lord Xiao waved his hand. "It's not as simple as you think. Liu Zhao is too strong, and the ministers don't like overly strong emperors, like the late emperor. Liu Yi has a gentler temperament. Compared to Liu Zhao, he should be a more suitable candidate in the eyes of the ministers."
"Ridiculous!" Xiao Qin'er couldn't help but scold.
Lord Xiao was stunned. He was being scolded by his daughter?
Xiao Qin'er also realized she had slipped up and hurriedly explained, "The ministers' thoughts are ridiculous. Liu Yi couldn't even defeat Liu Zhao, so how could he be qualified to ascend the throne? And judging by His Majesty's attitude, he is very likely to leave the position to Liu Zhao."
"As long as Your Majesty has not issued an edict of succession, everything is possible."
"Father, stop dreaming. Do you really want Liu Yi to take the throne and then kill the four of us, mother and son, and the entire Xiao family?"
Lord Xiao slumped down in his chair.
"Are we just going to give up?"
I'm not willing to accept this!
Anyone with eyes can see that His Majesty is in poor health and will not live long.
In other words, the fight for the throne has reached its most intense stage.
Who can sit in that position depends entirely on ability and luck.
All those struggles and tactics before were just minor skirmishes. Now is the time to see the real deal.
Xiao Qin'er asked angrily, "Father, do you really have to send your daughter into the fire pit? The Xiao family has produced a queen mother and a Zhaoyi, do you want to produce another queen? Father, you are too greedy. I don't understand the truth, and I haven't read many history books. But I know that overly greedy relatives never have a good ending. I don't want the Xiao family to be confiscated and exterminated, so father, please quickly give up your inappropriate attitude."
Lord Xiao closed his eyes tightly, worry crept up his brow, and he looked very tired.
"Since you've given up, what about Empress Zhaoyi..."
"Don't be so foolish." Xiao Qin'er interrupted Marquis Xiao rudely.
Lord Xiao still had ambitions in his heart and he was unwilling to give up.
However, Xiao Qin'er insisted on shattering his ambitions.
"Liu Zhao and Liu Yi are still alive. Even if the legitimate prince dies, it won't be the Ninth Prince's turn. A young boy thinking of surpassing his brothers to ascend to that position is clearly a pipe dream. Father, you can't be foolish! Liu Zhao is not that easy to deal with. The only way to keep the Xiao family safe is to remain calm, do nothing, don't get involved, and wait for everything to settle down."
Lord Xiao looked at Xiao Qin'er and suddenly laughed.
He sighed, "You were so stubborn and willful back then, but now you can talk about great principles clearly and have a clear understanding of the world."
Xiao Qin'er was embarrassed. "My daughter is not stupid. She has been married to the royal family for many years. She will definitely make progress under the influence of her surroundings."
Lord Xiao smiled and said, "I am happy for you, truly happy for you."
Xiao Qin'er also laughed, "My daughter at least has some knowledge."
"Yes! Better than being a father."
"Father was simply blinded by desire."
Lord Xiao tapped the table lightly. "Your elder and second brothers are both fighting on the front lines, and have made great military achievements. This time, they were ordered to lead the troops to pursue the Beirong Royal Court. If they can successfully wipe out the Beirong Royal Court, your elder and second brothers' military achievements will be enough to be recorded in history books. From now on, the Xiao family can completely rely on military achievements to survive, without having to rely on the harem."
Xiao Qin'er muttered quietly, "It should have been done long ago. Look at the Pingnan Marquis's Mansion and the Zhuguo Duke's Mansion. They never send their daughters to the palace, yet they still have a place at court. I heard that the Pingnan Marquis and his son both made military achievements, so when it comes to rewarding merit, they will definitely be included."
Lord Xiao sighed, "But the Pingnan Marquisate has a niece, the Princess of Qin, and the Zhuguo Duke's House is also married to the Pei family, so they are also related by marriage to the Pingnan Marquisate."
"Does father regret it? If I hadn't married Liu Yi, would I have been able to marry into the Marquis of Pingnan's mansion, or even the Duke of Zhuguo's mansion?"
Upon hearing this, Lord Xiao laughed, "When you were a teenager, would you marry a man other than Liu Yi?"
Xiao Qin'er shook her head.
Given her stubbornness when she was young and her love for Liu Yi, she would definitely not marry anyone other than Liu Yi.
If anyone forces her to marry, she will definitely go on a hunger strike in protest.
Thinking of the ridiculous things she did when she was young, Xiao Qin'er couldn't help laughing.
She asked bluntly, "Father will no longer support Liu Yi or the Ninth Prince, right?"
Lord Xiao nodded, "I am not stupid. I wouldn't jump into the fire pit knowing that it's right in front of me."
Xiao Qin'er felt relieved, "Thank you, father, thank you!"
She left her parents' home contentedly.
Madam Xiao came to the study and asked, "Does the Marquis really want to give up?"
Marquis Xiao remained noncommittal. "Tomorrow, stay at the Fourth Prince's residence for two days and ask someone how Qin'er and the Fourth Prince get along. Does the Fourth Prince favor his illegitimate son over his legitimate son?"
Madam Xiao asked nervously, "What is the Marquis going to do?"
Lord Xiao said, "I cannot accept Qin'er's one-sided story. Your Majesty must find out what happened between them."
Madam Xiao agreed, "I'll be there tomorrow. Qin'er will be leaving for the palace in a few days. I don't know how much time this will take."
"Just stay a few more days under the pretext of visiting my grandson and find out what's going on."
"I listen to the Marquis."
Both husband and wife were worried.
How could something that had been planned for many years be completely abandoned just because of Xiao Qin'er's words?
It’s not that easy!
However, Mrs. Xiao felt a little regretful.
"If I hadn't sent Concubine Zhaoyi to the palace, and she had married other nobles, would it be..."
"At this point, making such assumptions is of no use."
"I just think what Qin'er said makes some sense. His Royal Highness Prince Qin has a great chance of winning."
Lord Xiao said sternly, "If the Fourth Prince really has fallen out with Qin'er, then he will certainly not have the support of the Xiao family. Therefore, you must find out what is going on between them."
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