General Xiao had two reasons for coming to the palace today. The first was to see how Xiao Yao was recovering, and the second was to get his granddaughters' opinions. He also wanted to think about what he should say and do when he returned to the palace. Speaking in front of the emperor required careful consideration.
At the palace gate, Xiao Jingkang was waiting eagerly. The time for the emperor to summon him was approaching, but his father did not show up. He wondered where the old man had gone.
The sound of horse hooves "thump, thump" was heard. Xiao Jingkang turned his head and saw his father riding a horse galloping towards him from a distance.
"You're finally here." Xiao Jingkang stepped forward to greet him.
"Let's go into the palace." General Xiao was much calmer than his son. He handed the horse to his attendant, and then followed the eunuch who led the way into the palace gate.
"Why aren't you anxious now?" General Xiao was very dissatisfied with his son's performance today. When he was not there, he was anxious like an ant on a hot pan. When he arrived, he didn't move. How could a son with such a slow reaction give birth to a smart and clever child like Ping An!
"Here I am, please slow down. I want to ask you something. Where did you go just now?"
"I went to see Ping An and Ru Yi."
"Then why don't you take me with you!" His wife has seen his daughter, and today his father has also seen her, but he, the biological father, has not seen her yet!
"I found Yun Xiaozi, and he took me in. The princess lives there. Do you think it's appropriate for you to go? I tell you that Ping An looks very good now, and he gets along well with the princess, so you can put your mind at ease."
What you hear is not as good as what you see. No matter how relaxed others sound, Xiao Jingkang cannot let go of his worried heart.
When the eunuchs outside the imperial study saw General Xiao coming, they shouted in unison, "General Xiao is here, Minister Xiao is here."
"This father and son are very punctual." They had just finished playing a game of chess. After several days of discussion, the two brothers had figured out the Han family's affairs. King Jing hoped that the matter would be dealt with as soon as possible. He had been living in the palace for several days and had been missing his wife and daughter for a long time.
"Call him." The emperor sat back down behind the desk, ready to meet the Xiao father and son.
"Your servant Xiao Hu pays homage to His Majesty and greets Prince Jing."
"Your Highness, I, Xiao Jingkang, pay my respects to the Emperor and Prince Jing."
"Get up. How is the old general's arm injury recovering? How is the injury on Lord Xiao's face?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. Our injuries are all healed."
"I heard from the imperial physician that General Xiao's right hand will be restricted in its movements. It's best not to use too much force, right?"
"I am already old. As long as my hands can hold chopsticks and raise a wine glass, everything else is not that important to me."
"Doesn't the old general want to hold his granddaughter?" Ever since he saw how General Xiao doted on his little granddaughter, King Jing has been thinking about it all the time. If it weren't for the impending storm, if he wasn't afraid that his mother would notice the Xiao family, King Jing would have accepted Xiao Yao as his goddaughter no matter what.
"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, King Jing." General Xiao knew that King Jing was teasing him, but he didn't feel ashamed. He just loved his granddaughter because she was the one closest to him. No matter if others were jealous or disliked her, this was a fact that would not change.
"I remember you said General Xiao's granddaughter was injured. Is she feeling better now?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. My little granddaughter is much better now. I also want to thank Prince Jing and the Princess. Without their care, my granddaughter would not have recovered so quickly."
"You are too polite, old general. If you and your son had not risked your lives to protect me, I don't know what my situation would be like now." King Jing believed that what he did was far worse than what the Xiao father and son did.
"Given the general's current physical condition, he should recuperate well. I will find another master for Xiaojiu, Achen and the others. According to King Jing, there is an exchange condition between you. Brother Xuan, tell me what your agreement is." The emperor seemed to have gotten used to his own brother acting first and reporting to him later from time to time.
"I promised General Xiao that after the five-year period is up, I would ask the Emperor to bestow a plaque upon the Xiao family."
"General, whatever words you want me to write, you can tell me now." The emperor meant that General Xiao could make his request, and as long as General Xiao said it, he could write it down immediately.
"I haven't taught for the full five years, so I don't dare to ask for anything."
"Everything happened for a reason. How can I blame you? You went to the northwest to assist King Jing. I have another reward. Now let's talk about the plaque first."
General Xiao pondered for a moment and then walked to the center of the hall and knelt on the ground. Xiao Jingkang hurriedly knelt behind his father.
"What's wrong with the old general? Just say what you want to say. Why kneel down?" The emperor and King Jing looked at each other. They couldn't understand what General Xiao was going to do.
"I know I shouldn't have such unreasonable thoughts, but things have to happen for a reason. After careful consideration, I have no choice but to ask the Emperor for a favor."
"Tell me." The emperor believed that General Xiao was not the kind of person who would ask for more, and wondered what request he would make today.
"Only after returning this time did I learn that my granddaughter had been injured. I don't know when she will recover or what she will look like after she recovers. So, I would like to change my request. I beg the Emperor to allow my granddaughter to marry on her own in the future."
"Your granddaughter is only a little old now, it's too early for you to worry!"
"I am just worried. The child is not in good health. What if she is disliked by her in-laws in the future because of her health? So I thought about it for several days before I came up with this idea. If there is a family that I trust in the future, it would be fine for my granddaughter to marry there. If I can't find such a family, I want to find sons-in-law for my two granddaughters. I don't ask for anything, as long as they treat my granddaughters well."
"Don't you have grandchildren at home?" I've never heard of a family with several grandchildren looking for a son-in-law for their granddaughter. You must be worried about leaving your granddaughter with someone else! Even the emperor couldn't remain calm.
Prince Jing could somewhat understand General Xiao's behavior. Xiao Yao was so beautiful that she would be famous in Kyoto in two years. If any royal relative took a fancy to her and asked the emperor for a marriage, General Xiao's family would be powerless to resist. By preparing for it early, they could stop those who came to ask for marriage. The emperor had already made a promise and would not make things difficult for the Xiao family and let her enter the palace.
Although Xiao Hu seems reckless, he is actually a man with very clear thinking. He knows what decisions to make and when. King Jing of Northwest has already felt this. Not to mention that the little girl is really similar to him in this respect.
Seeing that General Xiao was determined to change his request, the emperor pondered for a while and turned his gaze to Prince Jing. He hoped that his brother could give him some advice.
"General Xiao has such an idea because he is worried about his granddaughter. Your Majesty, why don't you fulfill his wish?" King Jing didn't think it was a big deal and decided to do him a favor.
King Jing would never have expected that his instigation today would bring so much trouble to his son in a few years. If he had the ability to foresee, he would never have let his brother agree to Xiao Hu today.
"I promised Xiao Qing that I would not issue an edict to grant marriage until you agree. The girls of your Xiao family can marry freely, and no one else is allowed to interfere. Is that okay?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your help, and thank you, King Jing." General Xiao's wish was fulfilled, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to have smoothed out. It was the first time that the Emperor and King Jing saw him so happy!
"You should go back and prepare first. The decree of the reward will arrive in the next two days." The emperor was a little uneasy because of General Xiao's smile. You are a grown man, and an old man at that. Is it really okay to smile like this? It's very dazzling, you know.
After General Xiao left, the Emperor curiously inquired about Xiao Yao. How could he not be curious? Old man Xiao Hu would rather give up the opportunity to bring glory to his family than to protect his granddaughter. What kind of child could make him do this?
"Their little granddaughter?" King Jing didn't mean to keep it a secret, for he had only met Xiao Yao a few times, and the child's temperament was hard to describe. If you called her naughty, she could be the epitome of a demure, elegant lady of noble birth when she sat quietly; but if you called her demure, that wasn't the case at all.
"Is it so difficult to say?" The emperor's curiosity has been fully aroused at this moment. Whether it is good or bad, beautiful or ugly, just say it directly. Is there any hidden secret that he is unwilling to tell others?
"Since you have promised General Xiao, you will not go back on your word, right?" I will tell you later that the child will grow up to be the most beautiful woman in Kyoto in a few years. If you go back on your word, your brother will not be able to explain to General Xiao.
"Of course I won't go back on my word. Just tell me now!" The emperor wished he could pry open his brother's mouth with his own hands. Only Prince Jing had the courage to keep him in suspense.
"That child has outstanding looks and a likable personality. Anyway, my brother and my family like her very much." King Jing thought he was being very objective and fair in expressing his views.
"Even Achen and Ruonan like her?" As the emperor's uncle, he knew very well how cold Achen was and how difficult it was to approach Ruonan. The emperor couldn't help but ask a few more questions about the person who could make them look at her differently.
"Look at what you said. Achen is a boy. Why would he like him? I mean, my husband and I, as well as Ruonan, all like her very much."
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier? It would be great if I could introduce her to Achen. Your whole family likes her and you will definitely be able to live in harmony in the future."
"Uh!" King Jing had never had this idea before. The main reason was that the girl was too young. If his son wanted to marry her, he would have to wait for many years. Then when would his and his wife's wish to have a grandchild come true? No, it was too long and he could not wait.
"That girl is too young. I don't want my son to get married when he's as old as me."
"That's right. If you're interested, you could also marry Achen two concubines first, so he can have grandchildren!" This brother is really stubborn sometimes. He's clearly a prince, second only to the emperor, but he insists on only having one princess. There are so many women in the palace, all just to please the queen mother. I really don't know what he's trying to achieve. It's okay for you to live like this, but do you want your son to live like this too?
The emperor secretly planned in his heart that once his nephew turned fifteen, he would send him a few more beautiful women and would never let him live the ascetic life like King Jing.
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