Chapter 91 The Threat of the First Prince
Pei Yanchi smiled and said, "She's always been up to something, but now that my grandson is older, he's capable of protecting himself."
The Empress Dowager laughed and said, "That's very good. It's better to rely on yourself than on heaven or earth."
Your father is biased; it's better to rely on yourself.
If you suffer any injustice, remember to come to your grandmother; she will stand up for you.
Every time Pei Yanchi met the Empress Dowager, she would say these words to him gently and comfort him.
Every time he heard it, Pei Yanchi felt a warmth in his heart.
He then reached out and enveloped the Empress Dowager's hands, pulling them to his face.
"My grandson is doing well. If you don't believe me, feel him and see if he's gotten fatter."
The Empress Dowager then touched Pei Yanchi's face and said, "It's good that you've gained weight, it's good that you've gained weight."
When you entered the palace that winter, you were terribly thin; you look so good now.
Then he looked at Xiao Ling and said, "Little Ling'er, you should eat more too. You've lost weight recently."
Xiao Ling smiled and said, "Grandmother, don't worry, I'll gain weight back after I'm done with this busy period."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "You've always been frail since you were little, so you should take extra care of yourself."
As the three were talking, a palace attendant announced from outside: "His Majesty has arrived."
Pei Yanchi rose from the ground and bowed to the emperor.
The emperor glanced at Pei Yanchi, and seeing Xiao Ling also present, said:
“After the Crown Prince’s wedding, you stopped going to the Eastern Palace and instead stayed with your Empress Dowager.”
Xiao Ling shrugged: "Then I have nowhere to go. I can't very well go to your imperial study."
The emperor waved his hand: "No, you'd better not go and cause me any trouble."
"Let's go to the East Palace. The Crown Princess stays in the back courtyard; she doesn't go to the front unless absolutely necessary."
Xiao Ling nodded: "Okay, I understand."
The emperor then turned to Pei Yanchi and said, "Little Chi, it's rare to see you like this. Come to the palace to visit your grandmother more often when you have time."
Your great-grandmother is old and enjoys lively gatherings.
Pei Yanchi smiled and agreed.
Seeing that the three seemed to have something to say, the Empress Dowager made an excuse to leave.
After hearing Pei Yanchi's words, the emperor frowned deeply and said, "I understand."
The emperor stayed for a while and then left. Xiao Ling and Pei Yanchi had a meal with the Empress Dowager in the palace before leaving.
February is almost over, and there are only a dozen days left until the spring imperial examination in March. The Tianxinglou Library is getting more and more crowded.
The courtyard of the Challenge Building was filled with students from all over the country.
On the contrary, there were fewer people in the entertainment venues on the west side.
After thinking it over, Xie Yunyu hung up a sign outside.
In order to create a better learning environment for the new students, the library rooms on the west side of Tianxing Building will be temporarily closed for a period of time.
It will be open again after the spring imperial examinations have concluded.
Xie Yunman, who used to hang around at home, hasn't even left the yard these past few days.
Xie Yunyu was worried that his body couldn't withstand the strain, so she brought him some tonics to visit him.
Unexpectedly, they saw Xie Yunman practicing a slow, Tai Chi-like form of boxing in the courtyard, which was a way for him to improve his health.
Xie Yunyu laughed and said, "I thought you were studying hard, but I didn't expect you to be practicing boxing."
When Xie Yunman saw him come in, he stopped his boxing, took the cloth brought by the servant, and wiped his sweat.
"Hmph~ Hanging one's head from the beam and pricking one's thigh with an awl are their methods, I don't need them."
What I need most is to get my body in good shape so I can get through the three days of the exam smoothly.
Xie Yunyu listened and smiled, "That makes sense."
Then he asked, "What kind of boxing style are you practicing? The one Xiao Ling gave you?"
"Um."
Xie Yunman was not happy when Xie Yunyu mentioned Xiao Ling.
After wiping away his sweat, he sat down, opened the food box Xie Yunyu had brought, and found a bowl of nourishing soup inside.
I didn't care what it was; I was thirsty, so I tilted my head back and drank it all.
Xie Yunyu complained, "What a waste! It's like a cow chewing on a peony."
Xie Yunman found it amusing and said, "Wasn't this soup meant for me? Why are you saying I'm wasting it if I drink it?"
"I used more than a dozen precious tonics and stewed it for three hours, but you drank it all before you even tasted it," Xie Yunyu said irritably.
Xie Yunman smiled and smacked her lips: "Mmm, delicious."
Xie Yunyu laughed: "Seeing how energetic you are, I'm relieved."
Xie Yunman asked, "I heard that the Crown Prince and the Prince of Shou'an met with you together a couple of days ago?"
You spent an hour alone in a room with Prince Shou'an?
Xie Yunyu was taken aback, then remembered that Xie Fu had been entrusted by Xie Yunman to watch over her.
Sigh, I was careless.
So he nodded: "Yes, there is such a thing."
Seeing this, Xie Yunman asked with dissatisfaction, "What exactly are you thinking now?"
Xie Yunyu glanced guiltily at Xie Yunman, then lowered her head and said:
"I don't know myself, but he was actually very good to me, and he was a nice person."
Although rationally I shouldn't marry him, I can't help but feel my heart flutter every time I see him.
Xie Yunman tilted her head and looked at her: "So?"
"So as long as he can win over his parents and formally propose to me, I'll... I'll..."
"You just agreed?" Xie Yunman glanced at her sideways.
Xie Yunyu lowered her head and whispered, "Yes. After all, he's good in every way, marrying him isn't out of the question."
Xie Yunman nodded weakly and said, "Alright, I understand."
Fifteen minutes later, Xie Yunman sat in the sunlight in her courtyard, watching her younger sister, dressed in red, disappear through the doorway.
Suddenly, he remembered that on the Lantern Festival, a woman in red appeared in a moment of crisis and saved him.
Then he rejected her confession.
I've been burying myself in my studies at home these past few days, never going out, and I haven't heard any news about her since.
He suddenly understood what Xie Yunyu had just said.
Rationally, he also felt that he and Xue Weiyang were not a good match.
But whenever I think of this person, I feel that he is not a bad person.
Xie Yunman also understood this conflicted feeling.
Sigh... it's all a mess...
...
Every year, the Ministry of Rites is responsible for the arrangements and organization of the imperial examinations, with the Ministry of Personnel providing assistance.
Therefore, the closer it got to the imperial examinations, the less busy the Ministry of Personnel became.
Xiao Lingteng took action, sending gifts to Xie Yunyu while simultaneously sending people to investigate Du Zhengming, intending to find him a good marriage.
So that he could disappear completely from Xie Yunyu's life.
Xue Weiyang had been depressed at home for a long time after being rejected by Xie Yunman.
Feng Qi and Shanxi encouraged her to find a husband from among the successful candidates.
Xue Weiyang also made many preparations in secret, and even went to her third brother, Xue Zhan, for help.
Xue Zhan initially pretended to disagree, but after Xue Weiyang begged him twice, he reluctantly agreed.
They offered her advice, provided her with manpower, and even helped her plan the route for the wedding abduction and prepared the finest horses.
Xue Weiyang was extremely grateful to Xue Zhan.
With only five days left until the spring imperial examinations, Xue Weiyang, along with Shan Xi and Feng Qi, rode their horses to scout out the location.
I'm studying how to approach the imperial examination on that day.
Who knew that on the way back after scouting the location, they would actually run into the First Prince.
Xue Weiyang tried to avoid it but was blocked by the eldest prince's men and invited to the Taiyue Building next door.
The eldest prince smiled and invited Xue Weiyang to sit down.
"I don't think I have anything to say to the Crown Prince, so there's no need for me to sit."
If you have something to say, say it quickly, I have other things to do.
Xue Weiyang stood at the door and said without any politeness.
The eldest prince has a heroic appearance, but he is too bloodthirsty and does whatever he wants, with a sinister air about him.
He sat there with an air of authority, a smile on his face.
“Miss Xue Jiu, you are a straightforward person. Since that’s the case, I’ll just say it directly.”
Two days ago, I had dinner with my father, who wanted me to go to the northern border to command troops.
He asked me if there was anything I couldn't let go of, or anything I wanted, and that I could tell him.
I told him I wanted to marry you as a concubine, and guess what my father said?
Upon hearing this, alarm bells rang in Xue Weiyang's mind, and she subconsciously pressed for an answer:
"How so?"
"Father Emperor agreed, saying that he would issue the decree after the imperial examination."
The eldest prince raised a smirk and looked at Xue Weiyang with a wicked grin.
"Therefore, you can't escape; you're destined to be my concubine."
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