Princess Xiyue guessed all of Xiao Jingyan's reactions. She also knew that Xiao Jingyan was a man who did whatever he wanted and would not be persuaded by anything, so she did not want to put pressure on him in the name of the Northern Jin royal family unless it was absolutely necessary. If Xiao Jingyan could be dealt with without resorting to external forces, that would be the result Princess Xiyue most hoped to see.
"No! If you don't want to leave Kyoto, I can marry to Tianyu!" Why do you want to become a monk when you are good enough? It's such a waste of God's gift!
Prince Huaiyang is not worried that his sister will mess up the Xiao family now. He is beginning to worry that his sister, whose weakness is caught by someone, will be eaten alive by this weak man in the future, because his sister surrenders too quickly. As a woman, don't you even have some reserve?
It was all his and his father's fault that they hadn't found a nanny to raise her properly, causing her to develop her current unpleasant and unreserved personality. She didn't behave like a royal princess at all. At this moment, Prince Huaiyang was truly filled with regret and self-blame.
In fact, it was not that they father and son did not care about Princess Xiyue. When the nannies heard that the person to be educated was this princess, they shook their heads as quickly and firmly as rattles. In Northern Jin, no nanny had the courage to work under Princess Xiyue.
Xiao Jingyan had not expected that when they met for the first time after being separated for several months, Princess Xiyue would actually talk about marriage straight away. The only reaction he could give to Princess Xiyue was to be stunned and speechless.
"Oh! Just tell me the truth. I hate nagging."
"Well, it's getting late. Lord Xiao should go back to prepare for the palace banquet tonight. I'm sorry I can't see you off. I'm sorry I can't see you off." Prince Huaiyang grabbed his sister and walked back. It was so embarrassing.
"Lord Xiao hasn't answered me yet! Brother, why are you pulling me away?" Xiyue wanted to break free from King Huaiyang's grip, but the power disparity was too great, and she was finally dragged away.
Xiao Jingyan wiped the sweat from his forehead. Who would dare to marry such a woman? She was too tough. If he dared to look at other women for even a second in the future, he would easily be drowned.
Xiao Jingyan returned home in a messy manner. His father and brothers were waiting for him to make a report!
"They're probably getting ready for a wedding, but I've already said I won't go to Beijin, and she agreed." Xiao Jingyan spoke briefly and tiredly before wanting to go back to his room to rest, because he had to attend a banquet in the evening!
"This Princess Xiyue... must be a straightforward person." But she is too straightforward. How can she talk about marriage with the man as soon as she meets him? How much does she hate to get married? Xiao Jingkang feels a headache for his wife. How can he get along with a sister-in-law with such a personality?
"Boss, please take your wife to the banquet tonight. I'm afraid your mother will faint from fright. Once we have the exact news, we will slowly tell her." Old Marquis Xiao was not going to deal with this mess. The only solution he could think of was to turn a blind eye.
"Then if fourth brother's marriage is mentioned, how should my son respond?" Xiao Jingkang was also worried, but someone from the Xiao family had to step forward in this matter. If he, as the eldest brother, didn't step forward, who would?
"Do you think we have a say in this matter?"
Xiao Jingkang shook his head.
"I don't think the emperor will issue an order right away. He'll have to ask for both sides' opinions. We don't have any requests. As long as Xiao Si doesn't leave Tianyu and doesn't let the princess be squeezed in with us and suffer injustice, that's all that's enough."
It seemed his father was also unwilling to live with the princess and her family. Xiao Jingkang breathed a sigh of relief. As men, it didn't matter to them. He was away from home all day, but his wife and daughter had to see the princess every day. Xiao Jingkang was worried that they would be wronged. And his aging mother and childish siblings might not be able to cope. For the sake of everyone, not living together was the wisest choice.
"Go discuss what to say with your wife." After saying this, Lord Xiao left. He also made an appointment with General Yuan to go fishing! He believed that with his granddaughter's newly discovered bait, he would definitely be able to defeat his old in-laws.
"Yes." Xiao Jingkang also went downstairs to make preparations.
"Brother, wait for me." Xiao Jingtai, who had just recovered from this shocking news, felt that he needed to tell his brother, sister-in-law and wives about the heroic deeds of this princess so that everyone could be fully prepared mentally to welcome the arrival of the new family member.
In the evening, Xiao Jingkang, who had changed into official uniform, and Tong Mingyu, who was dressed according to his rank, were about to go out with Xiao Jingyan, who was obviously in a bad mood.
"Master, aren't you going to the palace today?" This morning, she'd heard the maids around her talking about a banquet being held in the palace to welcome the Northern Jin envoys. All officials and their wives of high rank could attend, and Qin had thought she'd have a chance to enter the palace! But her husband didn't look like he was going to go, so she asked.
"What's the point of entering the palace? It's meaningless. It's better to drink tea and chat at home peacefully!" The key is that I'm afraid you will faint from excitement. What will happen then?
"I heard that a princess from Northern Jin has arrived. She's beautiful and generous. I thought I'd get to meet her!"
"You will see her." Soon you will be able to meet the princess of Northern Jin, and you will see her often.
Xiao Jingyan and his wife entered the palace with a nervous mood. Xiao Jingyan looked as if he didn't care about life and death. He drank good wine and watched the excitement. Xiao Jingkang had to admire his brother. He could still eat even in this situation.
During the banquet, King Jing took the opportunity of changing clothes to have Xiao Jingkang found a secluded palace and briefly expressed the emperor's intentions.
"My Royal Brother also knows that this matter has caused trouble for the Xiao family, so you can raise any requests you have and we can discuss it together."
"The Xiao family feels extremely honored to be able to share the emperor's worries. Originally, we didn't dare to marry someone above our station, but if Princess Xiyue insists on marrying, our Xiao family will definitely obey the emperor's arrangements. As for requests, Prince Jing may not understand our family's situation. My mother can't live without me, her fourth brother, the most, so we hope he can stay in Tianyu instead of going to Beijin."
"Prince Huaiyang has already agreed to this." How could he not agree? Before Prince Huaiyang, the female representative, could even utter a single word, the princess had already expressed her willingness to marry into Tianyu. Her reasoning was that there was no man more handsome than Xiao Jingyan in Northern Jin, and that she had lived there for so many years that it was time to move on.
"The princess is of noble status. Although our Xiao family is now a marquisate, we came from a poor background. I am afraid that the princess will be wronged, so I want to set up a separate courtyard for the fourth brother and let them live alone. This way the princess will be more comfortable. What do you think?"
"I will convey Lord Xiao's wishes to my brother," King Jing thought. He wouldn't want to live with such a domineering and fierce princess either. A simple family like the Xiaos, with their inner court women, wouldn't be a match for Princess Xiyue. Furthermore, with her status, no one dared to offend her easily. Other than anger or seeking abuse, most people wouldn't dare react in any way.
"As for other matters, let the two parties discuss it themselves. After all, they are the ones who want to get married, and some things need to be discussed between them. Your Highness, don't you agree with this?"
"This prince agrees with Lord Xiao's opinion and will give the Xiao family an answer tomorrow."
"Then, I will be waiting for good news." Xiao Jingkang answered respectfully. This might be good news for Princess Xiyue, but for the Xiao family, especially for the old mother, it is still unknown whether it is good news or bad news!
As the banquet was about to end, Princess Xiyue walked up to Tong Mingyu with a wine glass in hand and greeted her gracefully and generously: "You are Mrs. Xiao. I heard Xiao Silang mention you. He praised everyone in your family highly. It's so enviable."
"No, no, our family is very ordinary. Fourth brother was just joking with you!" Tong Mingyu replied politely. No matter what the princess's purpose was, he would just listen to her.
"So I'm very curious and want to visit your home. I wonder if Mrs. Xiao is willing."
"The Xiao family is very happy to have the princess visit us, but our home is simple. Please give us a few days to clean it up before we dare to welcome the princess." Things have not been finalized yet, so you should wait a few days before making any requests!
"I believe we will meet soon." Princess Xiyue drank the wine in the glass and returned to her seat. Tong Mingyu drank a glass of wine with her and then sat down calmly.
Prince Huaiyang looked at Xiao Jingkang and his wife who did not show any sign of panic, and then looked at his future brother-in-law Xiao Jingyan who did not make any eye contact with his sister and was only concerned with watching the fun. He sighed silently and took a few bites of food for his sister out of pity. While he was in Tianyu, he let his sister enjoy the family love. Once she entered the Xiao family, it would be strange if people liked her with such a willful and unruly temper!
If it weren't for the fact that his subordinates had collected information about the Xiao family that contained no negative comments at all; if it weren't for the fact that the Xiao family had never had a man with three wives and four concubines, Prince Huaiyang would never have kept his own sister.
The next morning, someone from the inn came and took Xiao Jingyan away. As for what he had said to Princess Xiyue, Old Marquis Xiao and his two brothers did not ask, but seeing him put on a smiling face, everyone felt relieved.
In the afternoon, Prince Jing asked the old marquis and Xiao Jingkang to go out and told them the results of the discussion between the emperor and Prince Huaiyang.
Northern Jin will marry Princess Xiyue to Xiao Jingyan with the ceremonial procession and wedding specifications accorded to a princess; Emperor Tianyu will renovate the house behind the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery's Mansion and give it to Princess Xiyue as her residence, where they will live after their marriage.
The Xiao family's betrothal gift is provided by the imperial palace, which means that the Xiao family only needs to offer Xiao Jingyan, and they don't have to worry about anything else.
Because Prince Huaiyang could not stay in Tianyu for too long, the wedding needed to be prepared in a hurry. Xiao Jingmin was officially transferred to the Ministry of Rites to supervise all matters related to the wedding together with the current officials of the Ministry of Rites.
Xiao Jingkang was transferred from the Ministry of Works, and the imperial edict to confer the title of Crown Prince would be issued soon. Xiao Jingtai was promoted to Deputy Commander of the Palace Front. This was very different from what King Jing had told Yin Qianhua. Sigh! Who made the plan not change quickly enough?
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