297. I will also do my best to support her.
Xie Wenling stopped trying to persuade her and turned to look at the people from the Beiding Marquis's residence. His tone was a bit colder, but every word he said made sense: "Lord Marquis, Lady Marquis, and the two young masters."
"I didn't mean to take the county princess away. It's just that out of so many of you, you failed to protect her, leaving her lost and vulnerable to soldiers who nearly killed her several times."
“You say you will change, but what if there is a next time? Will the county princess be so lucky again?”
"Rather than putting her in danger again, it's better to adopt her to me. I can guarantee that she will never suffer any danger or injustice in the future."
These words struck a nerve with the people of the Marquis of Beiding's household. Jiang Xiyue opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a word.
The fact that Yue'er was in danger was indeed due to their negligence, and they felt deeply guilty.
Now that Xie Wenling had pointed it out, he was speechless.
Wei Xiuming coughed guiltily and didn't say anything more.
While it can't be said that he was entirely to blame for the little boy's disappearance, the palace certainly bears some responsibility.
He bears even greater responsibility for the little princess's disappearance.
Although he still can't understand how the little princess managed to run out of the palace like a ghost in full view of everyone, without leaving a trace.
But whenever he thinks of the two missing children, he feels so remorseful that he wants to slap himself twice.
Xie Wenling brought both children back this time, and he already felt somewhat indebted to him.
Now that Xie Wenling has said that, it's even harder for them to refute it.
Marquis Beiding took a deep breath, and even though he was full of guilt, he still refused to budge: "Lord Xie, you are right. It was our fault that Yue'er was in danger this time. We admit it."
"We will be extra careful from now on, and send more people to protect Yue'er. We will never let anything happen to her again."
“We may admit our responsibility, but adoption is absolutely out of the question. Yue’er is our own flesh and blood. We will protect her even if it costs us our lives, and we will never let her leave our side.”
Jiang Xiyue's eyes were filled with tears: "Lord Xie, Yue'er is the child I carried for ten months and gave birth to. How can I not be heartbroken if she is lost? If I lose her, I won't live anymore..."
Jin Qizhi nodded in agreement: "Thank you, Uncle. We will definitely protect our sister from now on and this kind of thing will never happen again."
The second brother clenched his fists, his face flushed red: "Me too! I will study martial arts hard and follow my sister every day. If anyone dares to touch her, I will beat them up!"
They wouldn't budge, and Xie Wenling wasn't going to budge either.
He said directly, "I know you're reluctant, but this isn't just a passing fancy."
“If Your Majesty grants permission for adoption, I hereby swear that I will never marry or have children in this life, and that I will only ever have the county princess as my child.”
"All the fertile fields, shops and houses under my name will be left to the county magistrate in the future."
"She will be my only heir, and I will do everything in my power to support her."
"I promise that I will make sure that she can live a decent, comfortable, and carefree life without having to rely on anyone in the future."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the people of the Marquis of Beiding's residence, his tone calm yet hitting the nail on the head: "But you are different, you have three children and two older brothers."
"When the family property is divided in the future, the two elder brothers should get married, start their own families, and inherit the family business."
"As a daughter, the county princess might only be entitled to a dowry, right?"
"If you encounter difficulties in the future, you will either rely on the help of your brother from your maternal family or depend on your husband's compassion."
"You should know which is better and which is worse."
“If you truly care about her, then you shouldn’t have rejected me.”
The moment these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.
Qu Zijin and Wei Xiuming, who originally disagreed with Xie Wenling's idea, exchanged a glance and saw shock and wavering in each other's eyes.
Xie Wenling offered incredibly generous terms: no marriage, no children, and all he could do was support the little one.
This is definitely all beneficial for the little one.
Marquis Beiding and Jiang Xiyue were also briefly speechless.
They naturally understood the advantages of these conditions.
Although Xie Wenling was all alone, his power was no less than that of the Marquis of Beiding.
In addition to what he possesses, it is indeed something they cannot compare to.
As parents, how could they not consider their child's future?
But do we really have to give our daughter away for adoption?
They really couldn't bear to part with it.
Just thinking about it makes my heart ache as if it's being cut by a knife, almost bleeding.
The two hesitated, their gazes unconsciously drifting to their two sons beside them, their hearts filled with uncertainty.
The little dumpling didn't quite understand. She blinked her round eyes, tugged at Jiang Xiyue's sleeve, and whispered, "Mother, what is a dowry? And what is this 'adoption' that Brother Xie mentioned?"
Before Jiang Xiyue could answer, Jin Qizhi stepped forward and blocked the little dumpling's path.
His eyes and brows already showed the spirit of a young man, and his tone was particularly firm: "Uncle Xie, you don't need to worry about the family property!"
"Although my younger sister is a girl, she is still our family's child. In the future, she will naturally have a share of the family's assets."
"Moreover, as the eldest brother, I am willing to give her the share of the family property that I am entitled to."
"I can go out and work hard, even if I start from the bottom, I can support myself. I will never compete with my sister!"
“Yes! I’ll give it to you too!” The second brother immediately chimed in. “I’ll learn martial arts in the future, and either become a great hero or join the army. That way I can earn money. I’ll also give my share of the family fortune to my sister, so she can have lots and lots of money and won’t have to rely on a dowry!”
Seeing their two sons protecting their sister so well, Marquis Beiding and Jiang Xiyue were instantly relieved.
Jiang Xiyue wiped her eyes and hugged the little dumpling even tighter: "Thank you, sir. We've thought it through. We absolutely will not agree to the adoption!"
"You heard what my two sons said: all the family's assets will belong to Yue'er in the future."
"My husband and I will protect her and never let her suffer any injustice."
Marquis Beiding nodded in agreement: "That's right! Although we are not a powerful or wealthy family, and I don't have any great abilities, our love for our daughter is no less than anyone else's!"
Xie Wenling looked at the family huddled together and said nothing more. He just lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyes, obscuring the emotions in them.
The hand inside the sleeve clenched quietly, then slowly loosened.
Seeing this, Wei Xiuming was about to speak up to smooth things over and change the subject to the evidence against the Prince of Zhennan.
Suddenly, the little princess skipped and hopped to his side, clutching his dragon robe tightly with her little hands, tilting her face up with bright, excited eyes: "Father! Father! I have a great idea!"
Wei Xiuming was pulled so low by her that he bent over: "Sigh, what good ideas do you have, girl? Tell me first, or you might be thinking of sneaking out of the palace again."
“No, that’s not true!” the little princess immediately shook her head.
She pointed her little finger at the little dumpling, then patted her chest, saying proudly, "Since Brother Xie wants to adopt Little Moon, and Little Moon's parents are reluctant to part with her, why don't we adopt Little Moon?"
"That way, Little Moon can stay in the palace and play with me. When Father Emperor gets old, he can give the throne to Little Moon and let her be the emperor!"
"That way, Little Moon won't have to rely on her dowry or Brother Xie's resources."
"Because these are all hers, how amazing!"
"So, isn't my idea brilliant?"
She was smug and pleased with herself, completely unaware that something might be wrong.
A moment of deathly silence fell over the Imperial Study; even the sound of breathing seemed to disappear.
Even the absent-minded little prince suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with surprise.
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