Liu was stunned for a moment, then she felt happy in her heart.

As long as Sheng Yan doesn't enter the Imperial College, all problems will be solved!

However, her joy barely lasted a moment before Sheng Xiyan rejected her idea and said disapprovingly, "If you don't want to enter the Imperial College, do you want to go back to Donglin Academy? Brother Yan, listen to me. Most of the students in the Imperial College are children of officials in the imperial court. For you, this is a network of connections. Donglin Academy can't compare to that. You've grown up now. You should know what's right for you. Don't be so willful, okay?"

Yes! Liu was even more distressed, because they were all connections. If Sheng Yan got there first, what would happen to her Ying?

Sheng Yan said stubbornly: "I don't want to go to the Imperial College, nor do I want to go back to Donglin Academy. I want to learn martial arts!"

"No." Sheng Xiyan refused without thinking, saying, "Father won't allow it. Don't you agree, mother?"

Liu had never wanted Sheng Yan to learn martial arts as much as she did at this moment.

She was worried that Sheng Yan would be persuaded by Sheng Xiyan, so she said quickly, "Sister Yan, your brother has a talent for riding and shooting since he was young. Since he wants to learn martial arts, let him go."

Sheng Yan's eyes lit up with joy at first, but then he sighed and said in unison with Sheng Xiyan: "But father would beat me to death if he knew. Forget it, I'll just listen to my elder sister."

He hung his head, looking a little listless.

Liu's heart was pounding, and she said quickly, "Don't worry, Yan'er, I'll go talk to your father. Since you like martial arts, you should study hard and never give up. Your elder sister is already engaged to the prince of Zhenbei. If you want to join the army in the future, it would be perfect for you to serve under your future aunt."

Sheng Yan's eyes lit up, as if he was persuaded by Liu, and he pestered Sheng Xiyan and said, "Big sister, just let me go."

"Yes." Mrs. Liu also helped to persuade, "Sister Yan, just let your brother have a try."

Sheng Xiyan thought about it for a long time, so long that Liu was almost worried that she would refuse. Her heart seemed to be about to jump out of her throat. Finally, she nodded reluctantly: "Okay, but, Yan'er, if your father doesn't agree, you must go to the Imperial College to study obediently and stop being sneaky."

Without waiting for Sheng Yan to answer, Liu said hurriedly, "I'll tell your father."

Seeing that she agreed reluctantly, Liu guessed that she must have thought that Sheng Xing'an would not agree, and wanted Sheng Xing'an to dissuade Sheng Yan from the idea.

So, she added, "Yan'er, if your father asks, just say that I called you back from the academy. Leave everything else to me."

"I will definitely make you what you want."

…

After coming out from Liu's place, the brother and sister smiled at each other.

Sheng Yan looked at Sheng Xiyan with admiration: "Sister, you are so awesome!" He had already prepared himself to have his legs broken, but now he's lucky!

Sheng Xiyan smiled and said, "Just wait and see."

Sheng Xingan prided himself on being a noble scholar, and thought that warriors were vulgar, so he could not tolerate having a child who learned martial arts. Liu would always exaggerate and fan the flames. In this case, let Liu take the lead. For her own benefit, Liu would definitely do her best. They just had to wait for good news.

Sheng Yan lived in the outer courtyard, and the two of them went their separate ways. Sheng Xiyan carried the rabbit lantern and took Xigui back to her own Cailu Courtyard.

She asked Xigui to hang the rabbit lamp in front of the main room and then went to the small study.

In the small study, everything seemed to have returned to normal, except for the strong smell of medicine which had not yet dissipated.

Looking at this quiet little study room which made her a little uncomfortable, Sheng Xiyan thought in a daze that Chu Yuanchen should leave Beijing in a day or two.

After the news that Chu Yuanchen was still "alive" came, the Jinyiwei who were searching the entire capital dispersed, and there would definitely be no problem leaving the capital now.

Sheng Xi stood there in a daze for a while, then took out some incense and lit it to disperse the medicinal smell.

When she went to pay her respects again in the evening, Liu couldn't wait to tell her that Sheng Xing'an had agreed to let Sheng Yan learn martial arts, and had also promised to find a martial arts master to teach him.

Sheng Xiyan couldn't help but sigh at how quick Liu was. It seemed as if she was afraid that she would go back on her word.

Sheng Xiyan winked at Xigui, and Xigui quietly retreated when no one was paying attention.

When they left the main courtyard, Xigui followed her and whispered, "Madam told the old man that you are marrying into the Zhenbei Palace. The prince of Zhenbei is good at fighting and has always been prestigious among the military commanders. He will most likely return to the southern border to guard the city in the future. No one in our palace practices martial arts, so the prince of Zhenbei will not be able to recruit anyone in the future. The eldest master is not very talented in studying, but at least he is still strong and young. It is not too late for him to give up literature and practice martial arts now."

Sheng Xiyan smiled but said nothing. Xigui continued, "Madam also said that if the prince of Zhenbei is willing to take the young master to the battlefield a few times in the future and win some military merits, he might even be able to win a title for our family. Then, the old man agreed."

Xigui had just gone to chat with the maids serving in the main courtyard, and then he sorted out the whole cause and effect before coming to report.

really……

Sheng Xiyan was not surprised at all.

Sheng Xingan has always been this kind of person. He will not do anything without profit. Liu knows him too well.

Sheng Xiyan said with a smile: "Tomorrow I will tell Brother Yan that he can take the martial arts test."

This kid will definitely be very happy!

"Xigui, do you think I should go out and order a sword for him tomorrow?" Sheng Xiyan thought about her own private money. The little money she borrowed from Liu last time was probably not enough to order a good sword, but she estimated that she could order a bow or a sturdy horse whip. She would go and ask for the price tomorrow.

"Miss." Seeing her energetic look, Xigui couldn't help but remind her, "Have you forgotten that the Zhenbei Palace will come to perform the betrothal ceremony tomorrow?"

Sheng Xiyan was stunned for a moment. Yes, she really forgot.

So, if I can’t go tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow will be fine.

Unlike the previous delay in proposing marriage, after Chu Yuanchen got the news, Princess Jingle of the Zhenbei Palace showed great importance and enthusiasm for this marriage. She specially invited the Princess of Li to be the matchmaker and performed the betrothal ceremony. Afterwards, she personally went to the Huangjue Temple to ask Master Kongming to match the two of them, and got a good fortune.

Princess Jingle was overjoyed. She was the only daughter of the King of Zhenbei. She was rich and pampered since childhood and had always been flamboyant in her work. She was so happy that she distributed porridge and medicine all over the capital and made lavish purchases for the wedding. Within a few days, almost all the people in the capital knew that the Prince of Zhenbei was getting married.

We just got the news that the Prince of Zhenbei had defeated Northern Yan and returned in triumph. Now, the Prince of Zhenbei is getting married. The people who received porridge and medicine were even happier, and they were as happy as if it were New Year's Day.

Everyone in the capital knew that Princess Jingle was very satisfied with the future Crown Prince's Consort! She was just waiting for the return of the Crown Prince of Zhenbei to propose marriage.

Princess Jingle was not only happy, she also went to the palace and said to the Queen Mother with a smile: "The Queen Mother has arranged a good marriage. I have personally seen the girl from the Sheng family. She is very beautiful and gentle and well-behaved. She is a perfect match for Achen. When Achen comes back and the couple gets married, let them come to pay their respects to you and thank you for your matchmaking."

Princess Jingle was born charming and bright, like a blooming peony, full of grace and beauty.

Her red lips curved, with a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth.

She was not stupid, and of course she knew that the Queen Mother had no good intentions when she arranged this marriage. However, her son was born blessed and had the protection of gods and Buddhas, so she was able to turn bad things into good things.

Therefore, when the marriage match was auspicious, Princess Jingle had to make a big fuss about it to let the Queen Mother know how happy she was!

The Queen Mother: “…” Her fingertips turned pale as she pinched the Buddhist beads.

"Your Highness, your Highness, why is my daughter-in-law so blessed? Is it because the Heaven thinks that my son Achen has made great contributions to the country and benefited the people, and that he should not die?" Princess Jingle's peach blossom eyes, which were very similar to Chu Yuanchen's, seemed to be smiling, and at the same time, seemed to carry a sharpness that could not be ignored.

The Queen Mother held her breath but could only smile, saying, "The Emperor often said that Achen is a top-notch young talent in our Great Rong Dynasty, who is both civil and military, just as brave and incomparable as his grandfather. Alas, if the King of Zhenbei had not passed away early, Achen would not have to shoulder such heavy responsibilities at such a young age, and he still has not married."

When the Queen Mother mentioned her deceased father, Princess Jing'an's face darkened for a moment, but she kept smiling as she said, "The Chu family has been in the Northern Frontier for over a hundred years. Not only my father, but also my ancestors who died in battle will protect Achen. When Achen gets married and has children, the Zhenbei Palace will have a successor."

Seeing that the Queen Mother's complexion was getting worse and worse, Princess Jing'an revealed a hint of sarcasm.

Although she is a woman and cannot fight on the battlefield like her father and ancestors, but can only stay in the capital as a hostage, with fine clothes and delicious food, like a canary in a cage, but this does not mean that she knows nothing.

There were three vassal kings in the Darong Dynasty, stationed in three places of Darong.

During the time of the previous emperor, apart from Northern Yan which was still eyeing the country covetously, Southern Huai and Western Rong had already been completely defeated, so the previous emperor had the idea of ​​reducing the power of the vassal states.

Eighteen years ago, of the three princes of the Darong Dynasty, only the Zhenbei Palace was left.

The Northern Yan was ferocious and invaded the border every year, and the Chu family was dwindling in numbers, unlike the two uncles who had many descendants. Both the late emperor and the emperor could not tolerate the Chu family, but they had to rely on them to guard the border.

After their father died, they set their sights on their son.

At a young age, Achen defended the northern border alone and commanded an army of 400,000. It took four years of fighting before Northern Yan was defeated and surrendered.

As soon as the northern border was pacified, the emperor could no longer tolerate his son.

The emperor not only wants the military power and territory of Northern Frontier, but also the lives of everyone in the Chu family to prevent future troubles, just like he did to Uncle Xue's family.

At that time, all the members of the Lingnan King Xue Chongzhi's family were killed, and even the palace was burned down in the fire.