Ci Jinzhi

 “Be free of etiquette.”

After Emperor Xingyuan spoke, he looked at the young man who stood up.

The young man wearing a red official uniform, with a face as cold as jade, and a kind of stunning look. It's just that today there is tiredness in his eyebrows and eyes, and he doesn't look like he's had a good rest.

“This trip to the south in Qingxiao was really hard.”

“I only feel honored to serve His Majesty, not hard.”

Emperor Xingyuan smiled: "I have seen your loyalty. Qingxiao, if I remember correctly, you are twenty-two this year, right?"

"yes."

“I have been crowned for two years, and it’s time to get a wife.”

He Qingxiao's expression changed slightly: "I am busy with errands and often traveling around. I have no plans to marry yet."

"That's not right. When you want to start a family, you should start a family first and then a career. If you think like this, wouldn't most of the officials in Daxia want to be single?"

 Emperor Xingyuan was never a gentle person, and his words were rough, but it was difficult for others to refute him.

He Qingxiao's heart sank, and she had a guess as to why Emperor Xingyuan summoned him to the palace today.

 Are you going to give him a marriage?

Thinking of this possibility, He Qingxiao clenched her fists, her fingertips getting cold.

"There is no elder in your family who makes the decision, so I will tell you directly. I intend to betroth Princess Xuan to you, what do you think?" Emperor Xingyuan asked in a consultative tone, but who really thought that the emperor was negotiating with others? , that would be too naive.

He Qingxiao didn’t answer for a while, and the atmosphere immediately became tense.

 Sun Yan on the side saw He Qingxiao's reaction and wanted to watch a good show.

 Hangzhou Changle was unwilling!

Emperor Xingyuan also noticed it, and his warm smile turned calm: "Qingxiao, what do you think?"

The words became much heavier at the end, and anyone could feel the pressure of the emperor's impending wrath.

He Qingxiao naturally felt it, but no matter what kind of pressure, he could not bear it.

 If he agreed, it would be unfair to Princess Xuan, and he would not be able to see Ayou again.

For a moment, he couldn't help but think that the emperor was willing to marry the princess to him, and maybe he was willing to give him a good ending. Then can he ask to marry Ayou?

 But soon, He Qingxiao gave up this ridiculous idea born out of greed.

 It is impossible for the emperor to agree to Ayou alone.

“I—” He Qingxiao spoke in an almost stagnant atmosphere, “I don’t want to marry for the time being, because I have failed to show your majesty’s love.”

"Give me a reason why you don't want to marry." Emperor Xingyuan's face darkened, "Don't use what you just said to prevaricate me."

At this point, He Qingxiao could no longer avoid it, so he had to say: "I lost my father and mother when I was young. I am an unlucky person. I have no confidence in taking good care of my wife and children. I am willing to work for your majesty wholeheartedly and will not consider anything else-"

"Nonsense!" Emperor Xingyuan looked sullen. "It is precisely because you have no parents that you should get married early and continue the He family. Otherwise, how can you be worthy of your parents? Where would you put me?"

The more Emperor Xingyuan talked, the more annoyed he became. This was not just the embarrassment of being rejected. Imagine that the sworn brothers who fought together to conquer the world later parted ways and fought each other. He was the victor. As a result, the sworn brother's son had no wife or children. What would the world think?

"You don't have any interest in Princess Shang, and I won't force you." After saying this, Emperor Xingyuan's face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.

His daughter doesn’t like him, so what does this guy want to do?

"But your marriage can't be postponed any longer. Tell me, what kind of noble girl do you like?" Emperor Xingyuan asked suppressing his anger.

 He Qingxiao was silent.

Emperor Xingyuan waited for a while, but still couldn't get a response. He was completely annoyed: "Marquis Changle, are you trying to resist the decree?"

He Qingxiao knelt down and said, "I have been unfaithful to you, please forgive me."

“You—” Emperor Xingyuan slapped the table and said coldly, “You just stay in the Marquis Mansion these days and think carefully about whether marrying a wife is a major event in your life. When will you figure it out, when will you come and tell me.”

Sun Yan raised his eyebrows secretly. Your Majesty wants Marquis Changle to shut himself up and think about his mistakes.

The Marquis of Changle is young, but he would rather anger the emperor than marry a wife. Is there something wrong?

 “I accept the decree.”

 After He Qingxiao left, Emperor Xingyuan walked towards the inner hall with his sleeves rolled up, full of anger.

Confined in the mansion, he wanted to see how long this kid could last!

Hundred officials and nobles soon discovered that Marquis Changle, who had returned from implementing the New Deal, not only did not receive awards, but also did not go to the Yamen.

what happened? Did the emperor give Marquis Changle a long vacation?

Some people pretended to visit, but were told that the Marquis of Changle had closed his door to reflect on his past mistakes and it was inconvenient to see guests.

Now everyone became more curious. After making various inquiries, the news about what happened in the Sun Palace spread.

The emperor intended to choose Marquis Changle as the consort for Princess Xuan, but Marquis Changle refused.

 Hang Lehou actually rejected Princess Shang!

 What did the Marquis of Changle think? Countless people have asked this question.

 The news spread to the harem, and many people secretly looked at the joke in Fangning Palace.

It was really difficult for Princess Xuan to get married. She almost married into a barren land such as Xiling. Not to mention, she finally chose a consort with outstanding appearance and status, and was rejected by the Marquis of Changle.

Concubines come to Fangning Palace one after another, claiming to be caring but actually having their own agendas. After Concubine Li finished dealing with it, she calmly ordered someone to call Princess Xuan to come over.

While waiting, the eldest maid was indignant: "Those people are just looking at the queen's jokes, and they are going too far!"

Libi smiled: "What's the point?"

“My dear, you are too tolerant.”

 “I am not tolerant, but happy.”

 The palace maid showed a puzzled expression, and just as she was about to say something, Princess Xuan arrived.

"Xuan'er, come and sit down." Concubine Li called Princess Xuan to come and sit down, and looked at her daughter's expression.

Princess Xuan looked calm and seemed unaffected by the gossip outside.

With only the eldest palace maid left to wait on her, Libi patted her daughter's hand and said, "Have you heard about the news outside?"

Princess Xuan nodded slightly: "I heard it. Don't worry, mother and concubine, my daughter doesn't feel sad. My daughter and Marquis Changle have never interacted. Marquis Changle's refusal to marry naturally has his own thoughts, and it is not against the daughter himself."

 If everything was difficult, I would not be able to survive in this palace.

Concubine Li showed a pleased expression: "If you think so, the concubine will be relieved. The concubine just said that she felt happy."

Princess Xuan was startled.

"Among the young people, Marquis Changle is considered the most outstanding. Your father can choose Marquis Changle as your consort, which shows that he is determined to choose a good husband for you. My mother and concubine can finally feel at ease."

 The palace maid on the side suddenly realized.

 In Xin's house, Xiaolian brought watermelons and cold drinks.

Xin You was so dazed by her: "No need to be busy, just take a rest."

Xiao Lian came over and said, "Girl, Long Live Grandpa is going to grant Master He a marriage. What do you think?"

"I was wondering if Mr. He would be punished for refusing to marry, apart from being punished to stay in seclusion and think about his mistakes."

 If you just shut yourself up and think about your mistakes, you should take a good rest.

"But Mr. He will get married sooner or later, right?" Xiaolian pointed out the key point.

 When visiting relatives during the Chinese New Year, updates may not be made on time, but they will definitely be updated. If updates cannot be made on the same day, a leave note will be issued.