Chapter 003 Chapter 3

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu didn't even think twice before scolding him, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"If you want to marry, there are many good men in the world, you can choose any of them, but what kind of match is Xie Qingya? A playboy, he only knows how to flirt with beautiful women all day long. If I had not been foolish enough to arrange this marriage, I would not have been willing to marry Baozhu."

I really don't want to say more.

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu held Xu Duanyi's hand and said to her in a slow voice, "I know what you are thinking. You don't have to worry about this matter. I will handle it myself."

"What is your aunt going to do?" Xu Duanyi asked slowly.

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was silent; she had not yet made up her mind.

Baozhu was foolish and did such a foolish thing. Although the matter has not spread yet, rumors have already spread.

The old ministers of the previous emperor's time and the officials who had always been dissatisfied with her being in power now submitted memorials every day, asking how the marriage between the Xiao family and the Nan'an Palace should be handled. Why were there rumors that the Xiao family wanted to cancel the marriage?

She originally wanted to select a few suitable women and give them to Xie Qingya as a reward, and then give his younger sister as Princess Shuyi, so as to get away with this matter, but it was not appropriate in the end.

If the affair between Baozhu and Liu Xun were to be exposed, where would the Xiao family's face be?

Where is her face?

Although Cao Da's account was confusing, he did make some good points.

The only way to turn the tide and save the situation at this time is to find a better marriage for Xie Qingya.

But looking across Da Xia, how many people can compare to Baozhu?

They are the daughters of a few clansmen who were left behind during the reign of the previous emperor.

But how could it be so easy for these people to marry Baozhu off?

If she did so, those censors would probably have to submit memorials, spit, or kneel in front of the imperial gate.

However, no matter how inappropriate it was, she was reluctant to marry Zhaozhao to the Prince of Nan'an's Palace, and she had never thought about it this way.

"No matter how it's handled, it has nothing to do with you. You don't have to worry about it."

Xu Duanyi asked in a good-tempered manner: "Why doesn't my aunt want me to get married?"

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu stared at her: "Why do you say that?"

She just thought Zhaozhao was confused today and couldn't understand such a simple thing.

Xu Duanyi smiled and took Empress Dowager Zhaoyu's arm, and leaned her head on her shoulder.

Only Xu Duanyi has done such intimate actions in all these years.

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu felt extremely soft-hearted for a moment, as if she saw the appearance of her younger sister when she was young.

She couldn't help but raise her hand and stroke Xu Duanyi's head.

Xu Duanyi said softly, "I know my aunt is thinking about me, but there is no one in this world that I want to marry. If I still want to marry someone in the future, why not marry the King of Nan'an now?"

"Although the Prince of Nan'an is a bit confused, the staff of the Prince of Nan'an's Palace is simple. If I go, I don't have to serve my parents-in-law, and I don't have to deal with the relationship between the sisters-in-law."

When Xu Duanyi spoke the latter part, his voice was a little soft.

If possible, she only hopes that there will be as many people as possible in the Nan'an Palace. If Uncle Xie and the others were still there, how could Xie Qingya become like this?

In her heart, he was always the man who shone like the sun in her childhood.

He should have lived a brilliant and honest life.

She did not let anyone notice her strangeness, and with her eyes still lowered, she said softly, "There have been enough voices from the previous dynasty. If I marry the King of Nan'an, the matter of Baozhu will be resolved."

"You can't really let her die."

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was naturally reluctant to do so.

Although Baozhu is not as to her liking as Zhaozhao and does not make her happy, she is also of the Xiao family after all. She cannot bear to see her committing suicide for such a thing.

"But how can I explain to your mother? If she knows, she will definitely blame me." Empress Dowager Zhaoyu always felt guilty when she talked about Xu Duanyi's mother.

Xu Duanyi looks very much like her mother.

Willow eyebrows and almond eyes.

But compared to that ill-fated woman, and compared to the timidity hidden beneath her gentleness and kindness, Xu Duanyi was calmer and more composed.

At this time, she still smiled gently and advised Empress Dowager Zhaoyu: "Mother will not blame you. This is the path I chose myself. If mother were still alive, she would agree."

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu stroked Xu Duanyi's head in silence and did not speak for a while.

After a long while, she finally spoke: "Let me think about it."

Xu Duanyi agreed.

After that, no more mention was made of it.

Just this matter did not allow Empress Dowager Zhaoyu to think about it for too long.

At the morning court the next day, many people submitted memorials, saying that they saw the daughter of the Xiao family having a close relationship with the man who won the third place in the imperial examination. They also said that they wanted to cancel the engagement with the Prince of Nan'an. They asked the Empress Dowager Zhaoyu whether this was true.

Nowadays, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu no longer governs the country from behind the curtain as she did in the past, but the young emperor is still young, so all matters, big or small, are still arranged and handled by her first.

Early in the morning, Cao Da had someone deliver a lot of memorials.

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was furious as she read the memorials, and finally threw all the memorials to the ground, causing so much noise that all the palace residents in Shoukang Palace knelt on the ground in fear, silent as a cicada.

It was Xu Duanyi who bent down and picked up the memorials, then rearranged them one by one and placed them in front of Empress Dowager Zhaoyu.

"aunt."

Xu Duanyi squatted in front of Empress Dowager Zhaoyu, gently holding her hand and looking up at her.

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was still angry. Upon hearing this, she lowered her eyes and looked at her.

There was a long silence.

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu finally put her hand on Xu Duanyi's head, rubbed it gently, and then twisted the string of dark green jade beads in her hand for a full circle before closing her eyes and shouting: "Go and call the emperor!"

Someone will take the order and go.

Xu Duanyi knew that her aunt agreed, but she was a little confused for a moment.

If he knew that she was so willing, how would he feel? Would he hate her?

he……

Do you remember her?

It didn't matter if she didn't remember, she wouldn't disturb him anyway.

*

The morning court is over.

The young emperor Liu Xie only kept this year's top scholar, Mei Xuezheng, now a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, by his side.

The editor of the Hanlin Academy was a sixth-rank official, whose main responsibilities were to compile the annals, record the emperor's words and deeds every day, lecture the emperor on classics and history, and draft documents related to rituals.

Therefore, no one would suspect anything when Mei Xuezheng followed the emperor.

Liu Xie is sixteen this year.

However, he was frail and sickly due to the fear he had suffered since childhood.

His complexion is much paler than that of ordinary people and his body is much thinner.

But today, he was happy from the bottom of his heart.

Since no one was around and Mei Xuezheng was a trustworthy person, Liu Xie did not try to hide his joy, and it all showed on his face: "The ministers are furious. It seems that the marriage between the Xiao family and my cousin will definitely not be counted this time!"

"That's good, that's good. My cousin has been hiding for many years. I'm just afraid that he will be discovered, and then all our years of planning will go to waste."

Mei Xuezheng was also happy.

But he is older after all, and he had expected such an outcome.

No matter how happy he was, he would not be as ecstatic as the young emperor. There was even a hint of doubt in his heart.

This time, the number of angry court officials was too great, beyond what he and Qingya had originally imagined.

I wonder who is behind this and stirring up the storm.

But His Majesty is too young and cannot handle things, so he is not in a good position to talk about these things with others, lest he becomes anxious and sleeps restlessly.

Just as he was about to say a few more words to comfort him, he suddenly heard someone outside saying, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother wants you to come over."

The young emperor, who had been smiling brightly before, immediately became nervous upon hearing this, and his face turned pale.

"Lord Mei, what should I do?" He was terrified, afraid that Empress Dowager Zhaoyu would know that this matter had something to do with him, and even more afraid that she would know about his secret conspiracy with his cousin.

I was so scared that I even started to tremble.

Mei Xuezheng had never expected that at this time, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu would send someone to convey a message to summon him.

He went over it quickly in his mind.

Make sure that no one knows what happened with Qingya, and there is no way that Empress Dowager Zhaoyu would know anything.

"Don't be afraid, Your Majesty. You know nothing, and the Queen Mother knows nothing either. You just need to go as usual, be obedient, and talk less."

Seeing that the young emperor was still trembling with fear.

Mei Xuezheng felt helpless, but he also knew what he had been through in these years living under the control of Empress Dowager Zhaoyu and Cao Da.

I can only continue to comfort her softly: "With Qingya and I here, no one can hurt you. You just need to be the same as before and do nothing."

In the end, he was comforted.

Shoukang Palace was where Empress Dowager Zhaoyu lived, so he, an outsider, naturally could not go there. Fortunately, the little noblewoman beside the young emperor was Xie Qingya's mother, who had once been a subordinate of the Grand Princess. She was loyal and smart.

The little noble was smart. When his eyes met Mei Xuezheng's, he immediately bent over and stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I will help you out."

Before Liu Xie stood up, he glanced at Mei Xuezheng beside him again.

Seeing Mei Xuezheng smiling and nodding to him, he took a deep breath, and walked out with his body stiff, supported by someone.

As he did not know why Empress Dowager Zhaoyu had suddenly summoned His Majesty, Mei Xuezheng could not leave and continued to wait in the palace.

…

A quarter of an hour later.

The young emperor entered Shoukang Palace.

Except for Dan Feng who served beside the empress dowager, the rest of the people left after serving tea to the young emperor.

The young emperor still sat there with his eyes downcast.

From Empress Dowager Zhaoyu's perspective, she could only see his pale face, tightly pursed lips, tense body, and tightly clasped hands.

Just one look and Empress Dowager Zhaoyu felt upset.

If her Qi'er was not gone, why would she support such a good-for-nothing?

"Did you hear what the censors said at the court this morning?" she asked coldly.

Liu Xie knew what she was asking, so he didn't dare to say he didn't know. He nodded quickly and said he heard it.

"What do you think?" Empress Dowager Zhaoyu asked him.

Liu Xie stammered, "...I, your son, don't know either."

These words made Empress Dowager Zhaoyu angry again: "I don't know, I don't know, is this how you are supposed to be an emperor? How can I trust you to hand over Daxia to you?"

Liu Xie was even more frightened when he saw her angry.

He was helpless and could only stand up and say, "Mother, mother, please don't be angry."

Dan Feng also hurried to comfort her.

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was persuaded to drink a sip of tea to calm her anger before she spoke in a deep voice: "I have already written the decree. Please have someone send it to the Nan'an Palace."

Dan Feng passed the order over.

Liu Xie opened it and saw the contents. His eyes widened immediately. He was unable to calm down for a moment and asked in shock, "My mother wants to marry Sister Yi to the Prince of Nan'an?!"

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu narrowed her eyes at him and asked, "What do you think?"

How could Liu Xie dare to say anything?

He and his cousin had been planning for so long to finally arrange the marriage with the Xiao family, but he never expected that it would all come to nothing. How could he know what to say? His mind was in a mess and he could not think of anything. He could only vaguely say "no".

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was dissatisfied with his attitude and wanted to say something, but Danfeng, who had received Xu Duanyi's instructions in advance, spoke first.

"Your Majesty must be surprised, after all, the one the Prince of Nan'an married this time is your most precious princess."

"Don't even mention your majesty. If this gets out, those court officials won't dare to say a word. I'm afraid they will be dumbfounded and won't praise you anymore."

Liu Xie also came back to his senses and hurriedly lowered his head and said, "Aunt Danfeng is right. I was really surprised. I didn't expect that my mother would be willing to marry Sister Yi to Prince Nan'an..."

He was extremely anxious, but he didn't dare to show it.

Fortunately, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was too lazy to say anything more to him. After giving his instructions, she let him leave.

Liu Xie hurriedly took the imperial edict, said goodbye to Empress Dowager Zhaoyu and left. As soon as he went out, he ran into Xu Duanyi who was returning from the small kitchen.

"His Majesty."

Xu Duanyi stopped and called him softly.

"Sister Yi?"

When Liu Xie saw Xu Duanyi, he also stopped.

He still held the imperial edict in his hand, and opened his mouth to ask if she knew about Xu Duanyi's marriage. But thinking about their current situation, he forced a smile and changed his mouth to: "... Congratulations, sister."

Xu Duanyi knew what he was congratulating her for, but she could also see the anxiety between his brows.

I sighed silently in my heart.

When he was young, he followed her and Xie Qingya around, always calling her little brother "Sister, Sister", but eventually he became a stranger to her.

Xu Duanyi knew the reason, but couldn't say anything.

"I knew your Majesty was coming, so I specially asked someone to prepare snow pear bird's nest soup and your Majesty's favorite plum blossom cake. Since your Majesty is leaving, you can take them back and enjoy them."

After Xu Duanyi finished speaking, he asked Bixi to pass the food box to the young nobleman beside him.

"Thank you, Sister Yi..."

Liu Xie forced a smile, without even looking at the food box. He just let the little nobleman take it, and then left with his men.

Xu Duanyi looked back under the umbrella and saw the young emperor walking away before he continued to move forward.

"There seemed to be something wrong with the expression on your Majesty's face just now." Bixi whispered at the side.

Xu Duanyi walked forward on the snow, and upon hearing this, he simply said, "No need to say more."

Bixi replied: "Yes."

Xu Duanyi walked slowly on the path.

The soles of my shoes made a slight sound as they stepped on the snow.

She knew that her aunt and Cao Da had actually been worried over the years, fearing that Xie Qingya's current romantic and dissolute demeanor was just an act.

I've been thinking about it these days.

She guessed that they might place someone close to Xie Qingya this time.

Although the Nan'an Palace has fallen into decline in recent years.

But after all, it was the former residence of Prince Nan'an and the Grand Princess, and the people who stayed there were all loyal. It would not be easy for Xian to send people in.

Therefore, getting married is the best way to arrange staff.

She didn't know whether Xie Qingya was pretending or had really become like this, but if she was destined to place someone next to him, she would rather that person be her.

But she didn't know that if Xie Qingya was really pretending, and one day he and her aunt would really become enemies...

What should she do then?

Who should she help?