“Xi’er likes Su Jingzhan!” Yan An repeated each word carefully.
With a "bang," Yue Xiyuan suddenly stood up, his face gloomy, his eyes burning with anger, and even the veins on his forehead bulging.
“I treated him like a brother, and he actually tried to steal him from my family. You, Su Jingzhan, are something else.”
Seeing him slightly move, Yan An grabbed him and said, "What do you want to do? Beat him up? Su Jingzhan hasn't even said whether he likes Xi'er or not yet. If it were my senior brother, he wouldn't even have such thoughts."
As Yue Xiyuan spoke, his anger flared even more. "That's my imperial sister! How dare he not like her?"
...
If Yuexi knew that her respected fourth brother was protecting her like this, she would probably be very happy.
"What if he truly doesn't like her? Would you force him into marriage? Or make him your son-in-law? Have you considered how Xi'er would face that?"
"I..." Yue Xiyuan stammered, genuinely unaware, as he was indeed not very adept at this.
He only managed to win over his wife because she took the initiative.
"If you ask me, as a member of the royal family, one cannot escape marriage in the end. At worst, one can only find a good match among the officials. Ruoxi'er already has someone she loves. Isn't that better than marrying a stranger?"
Perhaps because she was a girl he had watched grow up, Yue Xiyuan had long held her in his heart, but he simply didn't want to express it.
“Jing Zhan is indeed someone you can entrust your life to.” Yue Xiyuan gave him a very high evaluation, and naturally accepted the relationship in his heart.
"After we return to the palace, I'll ask Xi'er if she likes it or not. We'll know once we try it out." Yan An had a smile on his lips, and it was clear that he had a mischievous idea. "From my many years of experience, the two of them... are quite suitable."
"Oh? Years of experience? Several years? With whom? I just remembered, I've never asked you that before. Did you have any experience over there?"
The problems that followed were eventually drowned out by the silent resistance.
——
After Yan An's interrogation, it was confirmed that Yue Xi liked Su Jingzhan.
After some discussion, the two decided that their relationship should come to a conclusion.
At the second morning court session, Yue Xiyuan announced to the public that, in order to promote friendly relations between the Yue Kingdom and the Yan Kingdom, the two countries would arrange a marriage alliance.
As a princess sent to the Yan Kingdom for a political marriage, Yuexi was married to the Yan Emperor, who was Yan Shaoheng's cousin and is now the Emperor of Yan.
Su Jingzhan, who was still receiving treatment at the clinic, learned of the news immediately and, disregarding the guards' attempts to stop him, forced his way into the Qianqing Palace.
"Yuexi is your own sister, you can't send her to a political marriage!" Su Jingzhan roared at Yue Xiyuan. This was the first time he had ever disliked his brother.
"Why not? Xi'er is his cousin, and a marriage between two families would be even more beneficial to the people and promote friendly exchanges between the two countries in the future."
"No means no! That's the Yan Kingdom. What if something happens to Xi'er?" Su Jingzhan glared angrily, not believing Yue Xiyuan's excuse.
Yue Xiyuan's eyes dimmed slightly. "I have my own plans. Nothing will happen to Xi'er."
"Did you ask Xi'er's opinion?" Su Jingzhan retorted.
"That's none of your business. Xi'er is very sensible and will naturally be willing to do this. Besides, it's a marriage between an unmarried man and a married woman, so why wouldn't she be willing? He was personally helped to the throne by me, so he will naturally treat Xi'er well."
Su Jingzhan wanted to say something more, but he was dragged out by the guards.
"You said the man is unmarried and the woman is unmarried. What if Xi'er has someone she likes?" Seeing the guard release him, Su Jingzhan broke free and angrily pointed at Yue Xiyuan.
Yue Xiyuan said calmly, "Then I will choose someone else."
Upon hearing this, Su Jingzhan breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly knelt on the ground, "Xi'er and I have long been in love, please grant our wish, Your Highness!"
"What?" Upon hearing this, Yue Xiyuan's face flashed with surprise, then turned sharp and cold. Yue Xiyuan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Su Jingzhan. "Do you know what you're saying?"
Su Jingzhan straightened his back and met Yue Xiyuan's gaze without fear. "My feelings for Xi'er are as clear as day and night. I hope Your Highness will grant my request."
After a moment of silence, Yue Xiyuan said, "In that case, I will personally ask her what she thinks. If she is also in love with you, I will not interfere. But if she has no such intention, you should not pester her any further."
Su Jingzhan breathed a sigh of relief, but Yuexi, who had been hiding in the shadows, stepped out. Her eyes were fixed on Su Jingzhan. "Brother Jingzhan, let me ask you one question: are you saying this to prevent me from being forced into a marriage alliance, or is it really true?"
Looking into Yuexi's eyes, which were filled with pain, he felt his heart ache terribly. Perhaps only now did he realize that he had loved Yuexi for many years.
“I have no wealth or power, only medical skills. But even with my prized medical skills, I now know that there are always people more skilled than me and there is always something beyond my reach. I have nothing, but you are a princess of a country. I don’t want to implicate you, but I can’t help wanting to get closer to you. What I just said was from the bottom of my heart, Xi’er. I love you. I am willing to take the imperial examinations and become an official. As long as you promise not to marry into a foreign land, I will do anything you ask.”
Yan An's mind went blank. Su Jingzhan was treated as an honored guest in every country he went to, and even the ruler of a country treated him with courtesy. Yet, he was described as utterly worthless by Yan An.
So, is PUA hereditary? No! It's contagious?
"Then let's forget about it."
"Let me do it..." Su Jingzhan completely panicked and wanted to continue explaining, but he was immediately dumbfounded, "What? What do you mean, forget it?"
"If my hearing isn't good, then I'd better give up."
Su Jingzhan immediately got up and grabbed Yue Xiyuan's arm, "Don't be like that, Fourth Brother. A gentleman's word is as good as his bond, let alone you, the Regent. My ears are perfectly fine, perfectly fine."
A sly glint flashed in Yuexi's eyes, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. "In that case, come find me again when you pass the imperial examination with flying colors." With that, she turned and left, leaving Su Jingzhan and Yan An standing there.
Su Jingzhan watched her departing figure, and Yan An patted his shoulder, "Senior brother, what are you waiting for? Winning back your wife isn't something that can be done with just a few words."
"Xi'er, wait for me!"
——
A few days later, the Empress Dowager issued an imperial decree, bestowing marriage upon the two, as she adored Su Jingzhan.
Ever since receiving the imperial decree, Su Jingzhan has been sleeping with his wife in his arms all day long, fearing that he might lose her if he's not careful.
Even if Yuexi accidentally let slip the news of the marriage alliance, he wasn't angry. He just said that Yuexi had set a trap for him, so why didn't Xi'er let others fall into it? It was only because Xi'er liked him that she did this.
——
In the dead of winter, with snow falling heavily, the two looked at the memorials on the table and couldn't help but sigh, "What was Master calculating? What Phoenix Destiny? He's clearly destined for a life of toil!"
While the real empress was traveling and enjoying herself, she was in the palace helping Yue Xiyuan handle state affairs. How could she not be considered to have the destiny of a phoenix?
"The New Year is almost here. Once my brothers return to the palace for the New Year, they'll be in confinement after giving birth next spring. We'll make our way then!"
(The End!)
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