Chapter 221 Collusion
Xiao Bi was rejected by Shen Qingbai, and she felt ashamed, angry and lost. Then, Princess Ha Liangzhu of the Yuan Dynasty asked her to go hunting in the mountains.
Ha Liangzhu obviously didn't like her, but she bypassed the Fourth Princess and asked her, the Tenth Princess, out on a date. It was probably the idea of Prince Mu Huali. Xiao Bi refused with an excuse, feeling very uneasy.
It was also at this time that Xu Wanqing and Shen Nian found her.
Xu Wanqing often went to the palace when she was a child. In addition to her cousin relationship, she got along well with Xiao Bi. Although the second prince warned Xiao Bi not to get too close to Xu Wanqing, they grew up together after all.
"The Tenth Princess."
Xu Wanqing held Xiao Bi's hand with a look of worry in her eyes. After a pause, she whispered, "I heard rumors that the Yuan crown prince, Mu Huali, wants to ask His Majesty to marry you. Princess Ten, you'd better make plans early."
Xiao Bi's heart suddenly tightened.
Beside him, Chen Nian bit her lip, looking worried too. "I heard that the people of the Yuan Dynasty are brutal and unruly, with no respect for propriety, righteousness, or shame. Even the royal family is in chaos. When a woman is married, her son will inherit her father's property, and her brother's property will be inherited by her younger brother..."
Xu Wanqing quickly interrupted, "Alright, stop talking nonsense and don't scare the Tenth Princess. Maybe those are just rumors. For my grandfather's sake, His Majesty shouldn't let the Tenth Princess marry."
Chen Nian pursed her lips. "But I heard from my uncle... General Xie that the Oirat Tatars are eyeing Daxuan from the north and have tried several times to form an alliance with the Yuan Dynasty to deal with us. If Prince Mu Huali really has his eyes on the Tenth Princess, then for Your Majesty, the Tenth Princess and the stability of the country... I'm afraid it won't be difficult to make a choice."
"Stop talking!"
Xiao Biteng stood up, his face pale.
"The Emperor will not allow me to marry."
She seemed to be telling the two people opposite her, or comforting herself, but her words did not sound very confident, and even trembled a little.
Xu Wanqing's eyes were filled with worry, as if she had made a great decision. "Tenth Princess, in this kind of situation, it's best to be prepared for the worst. What if His Majesty really wants you to marry into a foreign alliance? What will happen to you for the rest of your life?"
She seemed to be very worried and distressed about Xiao Bi: "Prince Mu Huali already has more than a dozen concubines. It's obvious that he is not a good man. You'd better make plans early."
Xiao Bi's barely maintained arrogance was finally gone. She covered her face with her hands, "What else can I do... If Mu Huali wants to marry me, my father will definitely agree. What else can I do?"
Although her father was easy to talk to on weekdays, when it came to matters concerning the country and the people, he was the king after all. Moreover, her father obviously preferred Xiao Yu.
Xiao Bi's eyes were red as she murmured to herself, "What can I do..."
At this moment, she heard Xu Wanqing's voice beside her lowered: "Tenth Princess, I have an idea."
Xiao Bi raised his eyes: "...What?"
Xu Wanqing and Shen Nian exchanged a glance, then whispered to Xiao Bi, "Mu Huali is a lecher. If he gets involved with another woman, it will be disastrous... Perhaps His Majesty will change the marriage proposal."
Xiao Bi's eyes lit up at first, but then dimmed again: "Xiao Yu is with Xie Lingyue all day long, and I... I don't know what to do."
Xu Wanqing shook her head: "We can't look for the Fourth Princess. It's too obvious and people will suspect you, the Tenth Princess."
Xiao Bi's face was full of suspicion: "So what do you mean, cousin?"
Xu Wanqing leaned over to Xiao Bi's ear and whispered something quickly.
The more Xiao Bi listened, the wider his eyes opened, and the more panicked he became.
"Will this end? If I anger Seventh Brother, he's not the type to talk to..."
Xu Wanqing interrupted her, "By then, the matter will have been settled, and in public, would His Royal Highness Prince Ding really stir up a dispute between the two countries just for a widowed woman?"
"At that time, Your Majesty will only need to take advantage of the situation and make Chen Ning a princess or something, and marry her off to the Yuan Dynasty... This is the only and best solution."
Xu Wanqing looked at Xiao Bi and said, "His Royal Highness Prince Ding has a long-term vision and is a man of great ambition. He would never provoke a dispute between two countries for a woman. He naturally knows how to make the decision."
Xiao Bi's mind was buzzing, and he was still a little hesitant: "But, I have no grudge against Chen Ning, she..."
Xu Wanqing whispered, "Princess, if you don't even think about yourself, then your only option is to marry into the Yuan Dynasty. That's all I have to say. You... take care of yourself."
Xu Wanqing pretended to stand up and leave, but Xiao Bi hurriedly grabbed her and said, "Cousin, don't go. Tell me, tell me what should I do?"
Xu Wanqing exchanged a glance with Shen Nian without a word, then whispered to Xiao Bi, "Tenth Princess, you only need to find Concubine Xu and ask her to grant all the noble ladies a medicinal bath in the hot springs... I will help you with the rest."
She said slowly, "We have known each other for over ten years, and we share a deep bond. I, your cousin, cannot bear to see you marry into the Yuan Dynasty. I will try to arrange something for you, but you must keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, no one will be able to help you escape this sea of suffering, understand?"
Xiao Bi was now completely panicked and at a loss. Hearing this, he just nodded subconsciously: "I know, I know..."
Not long after, Xiao Bi left in a hurry, and Xu Wanqing and Shen Nian went back to the Queen Mother together.
Not long after walking out, I saw my brothers Xu Ning and Xie Yuncheng walking towards me.
Seeing Xu Wanqing and Shen Nian together, and then looking at Xu Fei's courtyard behind Xu Wanqing, Xu Ning frowned slightly: "Wanqing."
"Brother..." Xu Wanqing's eyes flashed slightly, and then she walked over with a smile.
Chen Nian smiled and saluted, but Xu Ning ignored her. Beside her, Xie Yuncheng seemed not to see her either. Chen Nian bit her lip and almost couldn't keep the smile on her face.
Calling Xu Wanqing aside, Xu Ning frowned and said, “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from this Shen Nian.”
This concubine was scheming and shameless, and Xu Ning hated her very much.
"She's been your friend for over a decade and she even managed to sneak up on the Crown Prince behind your back. Why would you still need to be in a relationship with her?"
They haven't gotten married yet, but when they marry into the Eastern Palace together in the future, they may become enemies.
Xu Wanqing smiled and said, "It's just superficial. I know who she is. Don't worry, big brother."
Xu Ning's expression improved.
He knew his sister had been obsessed with Prince Ding, so he warned her, "Now that you and the Crown Prince are about to marry, you will be the Crown Princess. Lady Chen Xiang will be Prince Ding's Consort, your sister-in-law, and she has no conflict of interest with you. Spend more time with her at the Cining Palace... Don't just hang out with those with ulterior motives."
Xu Wanqing couldn't help but feel resentment and disgust when she heard the word "Princess Ding". Her fingernails clutching the handkerchief were almost broken. She forced a smile and said, "I understand, big brother."
Xu Ning then nodded and let her go...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
