Ye Zhen was satisfied and led Helian Qing out of the palace back to the Marquis's residence.
Xie Tingzhou followed the Empress back to Fengyi Palace. "Mother, could Ye Wantang possibly keep what she said to no one, including Prince Yun and Prince Ning?"
"You suspect them?"
The Empress's hands unconsciously clenched.
The Crown Prince had previously told her that the people chasing her included palace guards, but the Prince of Liang had not intervened.
Kang Le only directed the head of the Fengyi Palace guards, but there was also a former commander of the Wude Division.
The Emperor's order to the Wude Division was clearly to find the Crown Prince, not to hunt him down.
Who has the power to alter the imperial decree?
Today, Ye Wantang also said that someone was impersonating the Prince of Liang.
The Empress closed her eyes. What she feared most was brothers killing each other, but all signs indicated that the most likely culprits were her other two sons.
Xie Tingzhou nodded.
The fact that he could impersonate Prince Liang and mingle with Ye Wantang for five years without arousing her suspicion is partly due to Ye Wantang's stupidity, but it also shows that the other party is a year younger than Prince Liang.
The face can be disguised, but the body cannot.
Jealousy of the crown prince indicates a conflict of interest between the two; at the very least, they are acquaintances. Strangers with no connection would not feel such intense jealousy.
Those who could stay overnight in the palace and even take Ye Wantang to the East Palace in the middle of the night were even more numerous.
The Empress had also considered these points and agreed to Xie Tingzhou's request, "Alright."
After thanking him, Xie Tingzhou prepared to leave.
The Empress asked, "Zhao'er, you are not young anymore, it's time to start planning your marriage. Do you have a girl you like?"
"No, I would like to wait a little longer regarding the marriage."
Tse Ting-chou denied it outright.
He wouldn't put Ye Zhen in danger until he found the masked man.
The Empress, still somewhat skeptical, probed, "What do you think of Ye Zhen?"
“Very good. Marquis Zhongyong values her highly and is determined to find her a good husband.”
The intention was to remind the Empress not to interfere in Ye Zhen's marriage.
Seeing how quickly Xie Tingzhou denied it, the Empress was unsure whether he had feelings for Ye Zhen.
However, she took her son's reminder to heart and had no intention of interfering in Ye Zhen's marriage.
But she didn't have it, while Xiao Shi did.
On this day, Madam Xiao returned to her parents' home. Her way of dealing with Ye Zhen was to have her nephew, Xiao Zuo, marry Ye Zhen.
Once Ye Zhen becomes the daughter-in-law of the Xiao family, with her husband and mother-in-law above her, she will be completely at their mercy.
It would be easier to take Ye Zhen's life.
The matriarch of the Xiao family, Xiao's mother, originally looked down on Ye Zhen, feeling that a widow was not good enough for her grandson.
However, Ye Zhen's merit in protecting the emperor this time prompted the emperor to openly mention his promise to Yin Jiuniang to protect Ye Zhen three times.
Ye Zhen's fiefdom was further expanded, and northern Jiangsu was also given to him. Now the entire Suzhou area is Ye Zhen's fiefdom.
In addition to the half of the family fortune given by the Marquis of Zhongyong, and the fact that Ye Zhen is now the only daughter of the Marquis's family, she might be able to take the other half of the family fortune with her when she gets married in the future.
Madam Xiao was tempted.
Although the Xiao family is a ducal family, they have been poorly managed in recent years. Although they appear to be living a glamorous life, they are actually struggling financially.
She agreed to her daughter's suggestion and asked a matchmaker to propose marriage at the Marquis's residence.
Thinking to himself, he felt it was a real injustice to let his grandson marry a widow, and that he would arrange for him to have several more concubines later.
If Ye Zhen doesn't listen, then find a way to make her slowly die of illness. At that time, with her dowry, the Xiao family can find a suitable match for their grandson.
Ye Zhen was unaware that someone had designs on her. She looked at the matchmaker with a puzzled expression, but when she learned that the matchmaker was sent by the Xiao family, she immediately thought of the Xiao family.
I naturally refused, saying, "Since ancient times, marriage has been a major event, decided by the parents. My marriage will be decided by my father."
With her father still at the border and her elder brother's remains in the mortuary, Ye Zhen is not considering marriage for the time being.
She wanted to see the guest out.
The matchmaker was eloquent, saying, "What the princess says is true, but the young master of the Xiao family fell in love with the princess at first sight and is already deeply in love with her."
Old Madam Xiao dotes on her grandson, which is why she invited me to visit. I think the Marquis's mansion and the Duke's mansion are a perfect match, and Young Master Xiao and the Princess are a handsome couple, a match made in heaven..."
"Someone, show them out!"
Before the matchmaker could finish speaking, Ye Zhen asked her to leave.
Both Yinyue and Wanxing felt it was bad luck and instructed the gatekeeper never to let matchmakers in again.
Unexpectedly, the next day, Xiao Zuo stopped Ye Zhen's carriage on the street.
He was fairly good-looking, but his eyes were particularly mischievous, giving the impression that he wasn't someone to be trifled with.
“Princess Zhaoning, I, Xiao, greet you.”
He bowed to the carriage with a scholar's salute and presented a small box with both hands. "I have no way to repay your life-saving grace that day. I have specially selected some girl's trinkets as a token of my gratitude. I hope that Your Highness will not refuse them."
The life-saving grace he spoke of was from the time when the Prince of Liang of Huangzhuang rebelled.
He was also at the Imperial Estate that day, but he deliberately spoke vaguely, making people mistakenly believe that Ye Zhen had other contact with him.
He presented the box to Ye Zhen, saying, "This small gift is nothing compared to your kindness, but I hope you will accept it. If you ever need my help in the future, I will do my best."
Ye Zhen glanced at the box, which was not much bigger than the palm of his hand. It probably contained jewelry or something similar.
If she accepts, the Xiao family will likely use this as an excuse to formally propose marriage, spreading rumors that she also has feelings for Xiao Zuo and that her actions will be seen as an acceptance of the marriage.
"Young Master Xiao, you are too kind. It is my duty as a citizen of Dayuan to resist the rebels who are plotting rebellion."
Ye Zhen, without lifting the carriage curtain, raised his voice to explain.
Xiao Zuo refused to back down, saying, "Even so, I cannot help but be grateful."
Someone in the crowd said, "Young Master Xiao is sincerely thanking you, but isn't the Princess being a bit too cold-hearted, or does she think the gift is too meager?"
"Yes, Young Master Xiao has been holding it up for quite a while, it's really embarrassing for the Princess to do this."
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