Liu gasped for the fresh air, coughing incessantly.
General Xie had just placed his hand on Liu's back when he heard Xie Shiyan's words and was stunned.
He stiffly helped Liu to her feet and asked in return:
"You just said... Jiang Li's baby?"
Old Madam Xie walked over, leaning on her cane. "Shi Yan, what you just said... were you saying that Miss Gu is pregnant with your child?!"
Madam Xie was both surprised and delighted, but also vaguely afraid.
"She just fell to the ground, is she alright?"
Xie Shiyan coldly replied, "How could a woman who is only a month pregnant suddenly fall to the ground without being seriously injured?"
Then, he glared fiercely at Liu, causing her to cower behind General Xie.
"I didn't kick her twice or hit her with a stick today; that's already showing her mercy!"
Standing behind General Xie, Liu said timidly, "I really didn't lay a hand on her. I don't know how Miss Gu fell to the ground. It really has nothing to do with me."
Xie Shiyan roared, "Shut up! If you say another word, I'll kick you again right now."
Xie Shiyan's anger was genuine.
No one doubted his words at all.
If Liu were to utter another word, even with General Xie blocking her way, Xie Shiyan would surely break through the obstacle and kick her hard.
Despite having many grievances, Liu could only keep them to herself and remain silent.
General Xie, recovering from his surprise, angrily addressed Xie Shiyan:
"Shi Yan, no matter what, Liu is your elder. You are being extremely rude! Liu just said that she didn't push Gu Jiangli down! What if Gu Jiangli just lost her balance on her own!"
Xie Shiyan interrupted him directly: "If you speak up for the Liu family again, I'll beat you up too. Don't think I can't do it!"
General Xie's back stiffened.
He had never seen such intense hatred in his son's eyes.
That kind of hatred is not what a son should have for his father; it's more like the hatred one would have for an enemy on the battlefield.
It was as if Xie Shiyan's spear would pierce his throat at any moment, causing him to bleed profusely.
General Xie was so frightened that he took a step back, and Liu Shi behind him also took a step back.
Despite Xie Shiyan's rude behavior, Madam Xie did not utter a single word of reproach.
Instead, they joined him in condemning General Xie and Lady Liu's actions today.
"Yongshan, isn't it enough that you've already made such a fool of yourself in front of so many guests today!"
"I didn't give you two blows because of your outrageous behavior, but that was only because of His Majesty's sake."
"If others saw me at my age still beating my son with my cane, it would be a laughing stock!"
"And Liu, how can you still have the nerve to plead for your own brother who has caused such a huge disaster?"
"As for Shi Yan's marriage, it should indeed be arranged by her parents and a matchmaker, but I am also Shi Yan's elder."
"Although his marriage to Miss Gu was conditional, these conditions were not intended to make things difficult for Miss Gu, but rather to make their marriage more reasonable."
“If I truly do not wish for Miss Gu to become Shi Yan’s wife, then I will never allow Miss Gu to live in the Xie family’s residence.”
Madam Xie's words made everything clear.
Her attitude was also very clear: she was on Xie Shiyan and Gu Jiangli's side.
General Xie also understood that in the old lady's heart, Shi Yan's next generation of offspring was the most important thing.
Now that Gu Jiangli is pregnant, nothing he does can change Shi Yan's mind.
He couldn't help the princess, so he couldn't help Liu Baoxuan either.
In this way, Liu Baoxuan had no choice but to die.
Liu understood this as well, and covered her mouth and cried behind his back.
Princess Jinghe's jaw was practically grinding to powder.
She spoke up, "Gu Jiangli has only been at the Xie residence for less than two months. Is she really pregnant? Or is this just an excuse you came up with to reject me, Brother Ayan?"
Xie Shiyan ignored her anger and still didn't look at her directly. "Whether she's pregnant or not, I don't need to prove it to you. Besides, whether she's pregnant or not, I will never marry you."
“Even if an imperial edict were issued, I would still disobey it.”
Xie Shiyan's words left him no way out.
He didn't care whether he offended the princess or the emperor.
If he doesn't want to marry a woman, he won't accept the imperial decree even if it's issued by the emperor.
This resolute attitude completely extinguished any lingering affection Princess Jinghe had for him.
"You hate me that much?"
Xie Shiyan coldly replied, "I don't like any woman other than Gu Jiangli, including you."
Princess Jinghe swayed and slumped into a chair.
The emperor looked at Xie Shiyan with a complicated expression.
After a moment, the emperor finally spoke:
"Since Shi Yan has already chosen someone, it is not appropriate for Jing He and I to force her."
Xie Shiyan replied, "It is naturally a good thing that His Majesty is reasonable."
The emperor nodded with a smile, then said to Jinghe:
"Your marriage to Liu Baoxuan is off today. Everyone here knows that Liu Baoxuan treated you badly, which is why you are in this predicament."
"Shi Yan has no interest in you, so you don't need to chase after her. You are a princess of Northern Qi, and there are countless people who want to marry you."
"I will make proper arrangements for your marriage in the future."
Princess Jinghe was unusually quiet.
She nodded, then stood up, intending to return to the palace.
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