Chapter 335 Tian'er, Prince Xiao said he and you are old friends
Xie Zhan was furious and drew his sword again.
"Chu Jin, stop talking nonsense!"
He was originally resentful of Chu Jin for taking possession of Manluo's body, causing her to become pregnant before she even got married. Although he didn't care about Manluo's uncleanness, he was still jealous and resentful of Chu Jin in his heart.
Manluo was reluctant to agree to marry him, and it was obvious that she was still thinking about this hateful guy. He had long wanted to teach this pervert a lesson.
The atmosphere in the hall was tense and a fierce fight was about to break out.
"Stop it, everyone!"
Xie Zhen slammed the dragon desk, causing the gold-inlaid jade paperweight on the desk to jump three inches. He glared at Xie Zhan fiercely:
"Zhan'er, how can you be so ignorant of the rules? Where have you forgotten the etiquette and morality that your father taught you? Why don't you step back!"
"I know I was wrong." Xie Zhan gritted his teeth and sheathed his sword.
Helian Feng also tugged at Chu Jin's sleeve and scolded:
"A Jin, please be patient and don't lose your composure in front of the Southern Emperor."
Chu Jin's chest heaved violently, and he finally swallowed his anger back into his stomach. When he sat down, he almost crushed the armrest of the rosewood chair.
Xie Zhen sneered and glanced at the three visitors from Tianqi in the hall:
"It seems that the Prince Regent and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince have both come for my princess. However, Tian'er has just returned to the palace to reunite with me, and as her father, I really can't bear to let her marry far away. Moreover, her mother, the Queen Mother, is still unconscious due to illness, and she still needs to fulfill her filial duties by her bedside—"
He paused, deliberately drawing out his tone: "As for this marriage, it's better to consider it in the long run."
"What the Southern Emperor said is absolutely right." Xiao Nanyan suddenly spoke:
"I also know that the Southern Emperor loves his daughter deeply. However, during the Moon Festival yesterday, I caught a glimpse of the princess, and her beauty lingered in my mind. Today, I just want to see her in person. The Southern Emperor must grant me this little favor."
Helian Feng and Xiao Nanyan rarely spoke in unison:
"The Regent is right. The marriage can be postponed, but the princess must confirm with her own mouth that she is not the Xiyan the Regent is talking about. If this is truly a misunderstanding, it will save the Regent from further wasted efforts and delaying his search for his wife and children."
Xie Zhen tapped the armrest of the dragon throne with his fingers, a look of hesitation on his face, then he suddenly clapped his hands and smiled:
"Well! My Tian'er is the Princess of Nanzhao, of noble status, and shouldn't be kept hidden. Since you two want to meet her, I will bring her here right away."
He looked at Xie Lan beside him and said in a deep voice:
"Go to Qionghua Palace and summon your sister. Tell her that your father wants to discuss something with her."
"Your son obeys your command." Xie Lan bowed and accepted the order, then left the hall.
Just after a cup of tea, one hears the tinkling of rings and bracelets outside the hall, like broken jade falling on a plate.
Xiao Nanyue and Helian Feng turned around almost at the same time, holding their breath and watching intently.
But Xie Lan was walking in front, and behind him, followed a woman in gorgeous clothes.
She was dressed in a lotus-colored palace dress embroidered with double phoenix patterns in gold. Three fresh golden osmanthus flowers were pinned on her temples, contrasting with her black hair. Her figure was slender, like a willow swaying in the wind. Under her dark eyebrows like distant mountains, she had a pair of smoky and misty eyes, calm and still. The bottom of her nose was half covered with a thin veil.
The woman walked lightly to the center of the hall, her long skirt trailing silently on the ground. She frowned slightly, lowered her head slightly, and bowed gracefully:
"Tian'er pays respect to the Emperor."
Ever since the woman entered the hall, Xiao Nanyue and Helian Feng had been staring at her, their eyes like eagles, sweeping across the woman's beautiful face and her bulging belly. She looked no different from the woman on the rooftop last night.
However, both Xiao Nanyue and Helian Feng had a sense of loss in their eyes.
Xie Zhen raised his hand to stroke his beard, a smile as deep as a cold pond in the corner of his eyes:
"Tian'er, Prince Xiao said he's an old friend of yours. Come forward. Do you recognize him?"
The woman nodded when she heard that, a faint smile appeared under her veil, and she slowly came to Xiao Nanyue.
The hem of the skirt embroidered with gold thread and cloud patterns swept across the gold bricks, bringing with it a faint fragrance, but it did not alarm Xiao Nanyue in the slightest.
But she brushed her body slightly, her voice as cold as a mountain spring:
"Are you Prince Xiao? Father said you knew Tian'er?"
Her eyes and eyebrows were full under the veil, and she was really 70% similar to Xi Yan.
Xiao Nanyan stared at her bulging belly with a sharp gaze. After a long moment, he suddenly let out a cold smile:
"Forgive my poor eyesight. The princess and my old friend may look similar, but they are not the same person."
Xie Zhen curled his lips slightly:
"Prince Xiao, have you taken a closer look? Are you sure my daughter is not the one you are looking for?"
"It's indeed a misunderstanding." Xiao Nanyan never looked at the woman again, his eyes calm and still.
"I guess we were so far apart last night that I mistook a similar face for an old friend. I hope the Southern Emperor will forgive me. Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, I will not bother you any further."
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Xie Zhen said with a smile:
"I have prepared a state banquet at Wangchun Garden to welcome the guests who have come from afar."
Xiao Nanyan had already stood up and bowed slightly:
"I appreciate the Southern Emperor's kindness, but I have important matters to attend to. Farewell."
After Xiao Nanyan finished speaking, he turned around and the corner of his robe brought up a gust of wind.
Helian Feng looked at Xiao Nanyan's back as he disappeared at the palace gate and stood up.
"Southern Emperor, I have something important to attend to and I need to say goodbye to you."
A smile appeared on Xie Zhen's lips: "The marriage that His Highness mentioned just now..."
Helian Feng smiled faintly:
"Since the Southern Emperor is unwilling to let his daughter marry far away, I will not force him to do so. Let's put the marriage on hold for now and discuss it later."
Xie Zhen nodded slightly:
"Your Highness is kindhearted, and I am deeply moved. However, you and the Imperial Preceptor, are not planning to stay and taste the delicacies of Nanzhao, which cannot be found anywhere else."
"Thank you, Southern Emperor, for your hospitality. I'll see you again some other day."
Helian Feng winked at Chu Jin, and the two of them bowed and left the hall.
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