After saying that, he turned around directly and strode away.
Madam He stood there in a daze. "Is this really my third son?"
Suddenly, he became so sensible that it was pleasantly surprising.
He Wanjun frowned, always feeling that this kid must be up to something.
In the palace.
Outside the Xuanzheng Hall, He Siyu stood there waiting for a moment. Then Eunuch Zhang hurried out and said with a smile, "Your Majesty invites General He to enter the hall."
He Siyu nodded slightly and strode in.
In the magnificent hall, the emperor, the supreme ruler, sat on the dragon throne, wearing a yellow robe. He was nearly fifty years old, and his imposing manner was intimidating even without showing anger.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty!" He Siyu knelt on one knee and saluted with a fist.
The emperor waved his hand with a smile. "Be excused."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." He Siyu got up.
The emperor sized him up and nodded. "I heard that you were seriously injured and unconscious for a month. Are you feeling better?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. My injury is much better."
The emperor said with satisfaction, "In the Cangzhou battle this time, you deserve the greatest credit. Leading more than a hundred men to sneak into the enemy's camp, disturbing their morale, and breaking through their defense line, you are truly brave and fearless!"
The battle of Cangzhou was of crucial importance. If the He family's army hadn't arrived in time for support, Cangzhou would have been occupied by the Xixia army long ago.
Although Cangzhou was located in a remote area, it was a vital border defense area for the Great Zhou. Losing Cangzhou would bring endless troubles!
Since the He family had made such great contributions, the emperor naturally attached great importance to it.
"It was just a stroke of luck. Your Majesty is overpraising me."
"Ah, I heard that you've just turned twenty. To have such courage and determination at such a young age, you are really a promising young man. I must reward you handsomely!"
As he said, the emperor smiled. "Do you have anything in mind for your reward?"
Hearing this, He Siyu knelt on one knee again and clasped his fist. "Your Majesty, I do have something I want."
The emperor was a bit stunned. It was the first time someone had said they had something in mind.
Normally, at such a time, people would only say that they had no other requests, and then he would naturally promote them and bestow other rewards.
The emperor was rather intrigued. "What is it that you want?"
He Siyu looked up, his dark eyes full of determination. "I beg Your Majesty to grant me a marriage."
Eunuch Zhang was also stunned for a moment. With such a great contribution, he only asked for a marriage grant?
Why didn't he just ask his parents to arrange it?
The emperor burst into laughter. "Sure enough, you're young and full of vigor. Tell me, which girl have you taken a fancy to?"
He Siyu said straightforwardly, "The eldest daughter of the Xie family, Xie Sangning."
The emperor's smile froze slightly, and his expression changed a bit.
Eunuch Zhang was shocked and quickly reminded him, "General He, Miss Xie is already engaged."
Moreover, at this critical moment, the emperor was not happy with the Xie family!
Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn't come to the emperor to cause trouble.
He Siyu said firmly, "The Duke of Ning's mansion has broken off the engagement. Now, Miss Xie is free from any betrothal."
Eunuch Zhang's face stiffened. You know the Duke of Ning's mansion has broken off the engagement, and you still come to cause trouble.
The emperor frowned. "Why do you want to marry the Xie girl?"
He Siyu met the emperor's scrutinizing gaze and said sincerely, "I've long heard of Miss Xie's reputation for talent. She is known as the most elegant young lady in Yanjing. I've admired her for a long time. Yesterday, at the banquet in the Xie mansion, I caught a glimpse of her, and I fell in love with her at first sight."
Eunuch Zhang was dumbfounded. That's it?
The emperor snorted. "Then what do you come to me for? Why don't you ask your parents to propose marriage for you?"
He Siyu said straightforwardly, "Currently, the Xie family is suspected of colluding with the Third Prince to embezzle military funds. Although no evidence has been found yet, there is still a suspicion. My parents won't allow it."
"So you come to me?!" The emperor was almost amused by his audacity.
Didn't he think about why his parents wouldn't allow it?
Wasn't it because they were afraid that the emperor would think the He family was colluding with the Xie family?
And he still dared to come to him to propose marriage!
"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and your judgment is clear. You can surely see that I truly love Miss Xie and am not colluding with the Xie family."
The emperor's eyebrows twitched. He did see that.
If they were really colluding, they wouldn't have the guts to come in front of him!
The emperor sneered. "In the case of embezzling military funds, although no evidence has been found against the Xie family so far, it doesn't mean that nothing will be found in the future. Aren't you afraid of being implicated if you marry the Xie girl?"
After investigating for so long, no evidence of collusion with the Third Prince had been found. In fact, the emperor also knew that the Xie family was not involved.
The Xie family had always been cautious and dared not get involved in such things.
But the Xie family was the maternal family of the Third Prince. How could the emperor not hold a grudge?
After all, the Xie family was a prestigious family with a long history and deep roots in the court. Convicting the Xie family without evidence would probably make most of the civil officials in the court kneel outside the Xuanzheng Hall to plead for the Xie family.
Maybe there would even be a few old officials who would hit the pillar and die.
Then he would be labeled as a tyrant and his name would be stigmatized for generations.
The emperor couldn't directly convict the Xie family without solid evidence at present, but he would surely suppress the Xie family secretly and weaken their power.
Even the Duke of Ning's mansion was avoiding the Xie family for fear of being implicated, but He Siyu still dared to come and ask for a marriage grant!
He Siyu said in a deep voice, "Miss Xie is just a young lady in the boudoir who rarely goes out, let alone get involved in political affairs. Even if the Xie family is guilty, she, a weak woman, shouldn't bear the blame."
The emperor was slightly taken aback.
He Siyu looked up at the emperor firmly. "I'm deeply in love with her and am willing to marry her. In the future, even if there are any changes, I should bear the consequences. I beg Your Majesty to grant me the marriage!"
The emperor was stunned for a moment and then burst into laughter. "What a man who is willing to bear the consequences! You are truly worthy of being He Wanjun's son."
Eunuch Zhang wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and forced a smile. "General He is young and full of passion. It's also out of his sincere love."
"Ah, it's really good to be young. I'm old. It's been a long time since I've had such a sincere heart." The emperor shook his head with a smile.
When the imperial concubine first entered the palace, he had also cherished her deeply. But when the Third Prince was convicted and imprisoned, he had not hesitated to confine the imperial concubine.
Weighing the pros and cons had become ingrained in his bones. Only such a young man could act so recklessly without hesitation.
"Fine. I promised to reward you, and as the Son of Heaven, I never go back on my word. Since that's the case, I'll grant you the marriage to the eldest daughter of the Xie family and fulfill your wish."
He Siyu's eyes lit up, and he clasped his fist. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The emperor looked at the young man in front of him, and there was more satisfaction in his old eyes. "A marriage grant as a reward might seem stingy on my part. The He family deserves more rewards. Otherwise, it would chill the hearts of the border soldiers."
The emperor glanced at Eunuch Zhang. "Pass on my order. Confer the title of Marquis of Ding'an on General He. Although He Siyu is young, he has made the greatest contribution in the Cangzhou battle. Specialize confer on him the title of General Pacifying the South."
"Yes!"
At the Xie Mansion.
The whole mansion was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere. Even the maids and servants were extremely cautious.
Sangning, accompanied by Xia Zhu, was on her way to the First Lady's courtyard, the Ting Shui Pavilion. As she walked along the pebble path through the garden and rockery and just reached the courtyard, she happened to meet someone coming out.
"Elder sister, you're here too?" A young girl in a pink spring dress walked up gracefully and greeted with a smile. "Are you also here to visit mother? Mother is sick and doesn't want to see anyone."
This was the fourth daughter of the Xie family, Xie Qingyue, born to Concubine Chen.
Apart from a younger full - blooded brother, Sangning also had five younger half - sisters and three younger half - brothers. Not to mention the cousins from the collateral branches. This large Xie Mansion was very lively.
Sangning said calmly, "Thank you for the reminder, sister."
Then she walked around her.
Xie Qingyue felt ignored. Unwilling to accept this, she blocked Xie Sangning's way again and forced a smile, saying, "Yes, Mother is ill and doesn't want to see me. But surely she'd like to see you, sister. However, Mother is still troubled by your annulment of the engagement. If you go to bother her now, won't it just make her even sadder?"
It seemed that Xie Qingyue was afraid that Xie Sangning would forget about the annulment of the engagement.
She stared hard, but she didn't see a trace of sadness on Xie Sangning's face.
Just pretending!
Xie Sangning remained calm and asked, "Are you very happy that I was jilted?"
Of course, Xie Qingyue was happy.
Since childhood, she had never seen Xie Sangning suffer a setback! Xie Sangning excelled in everything, and her brilliance overshadowed Xie Qingyue.
Finally, there came a day when she was down and out.
Xie Qingyue pretended to be innocent and said, "How could I be? I'm very sad that you were jilted by the Duke of Ning's Mansion."
"Of course, you should be sad," Xie Sangning said with a sneer in her eyes. "We both have the surname Xie. If I'm jilted, how can you be any better off? Do you think the Duke's Mansion will reject me and choose you instead?"
Xie Qingyue's smile froze.
Xie Sangning coldly walked past her, having no mood to waste words on this stupid woman.
Xie Qingyue was extremely annoyed. She stamped her foot hard, glaring at Xie Sangning's back.
"She's been jilted and still acts so arrogantly!"
Xie Sangning entered the Ting Shui Pavilion. Without asking the maid to announce her arrival, she gently lifted the beaded curtain and walked in with a food box in her hand.
"Mother."
The First Lady was reclining on the couch, looking a bit pale and rubbing her forehead. "Did Xie Qingyue cause trouble for you again?"
Although the First Lady was in the room, nothing in the Xie Mansion escaped her notice.
Xie Sangning sat on the stool, placed the food box on the table, and took out the herbal medicine inside. "It's just a small matter. Mother, don't worry."
The First Lady forced a smile. "When have you ever made me worry?"
Xie Sangning was the most sensible child. She was precocious and steady, and could handle everything on her own.
"Mother, drink the medicine," Xie Sangning said, holding the medicine bowl in front of her.
The First Lady didn't want to drink it, but seeing the medicine brought by her daughter herself, she finally took it and drank it.
"The Heir of the Duke of Ning sent a letter. Do you want to have a look?" the First Lady asked.
Xie Sangning said calmly, "I've annulled the engagement with the Heir of the Duke of Ning. It's not appropriate for us to have private contact anymore. You can handle the letter as you see fit. I've also asked Xia Zhu to sort out all the gifts the Heir of the Duke of Ning gave me before. Please send someone to return them to the Duke of Ning's Mansion together."
The First Lady felt a twinge of pain in her heart as she watched her daughter say these things calmly.
The First Lady took her hand and said, "Yangyang, don't blame me for being cruel. I'm doing this for your own good. For a woman, getting married is like being reborn. At home, you have me to protect you, but once you get married, you'll have to rely on yourself. I can't gamble with your future."
Xie Sangning held her hand and said softly, "I know."
The First Lady sighed. "A woman's path is a hundred times more difficult than a man's. It's true that the Duke of Ning's Mansion is prominent, but the family's glory always belongs to men. For women, there's only this small square backyard. In this inner courtyard, your husband, in - laws, and even the clan elders can control your fate."
The First Lady tightened her grip on her hand. "Your father has many concubines, but my status in the Xie Family has never been shaken. Why? Because I was personally chosen by the old lady and the great - grandfather as the daughter - in - law. The clan elders all praise me for my virtue. Even if your father has changed his heart, I'm still the mistress of the Xie Mansion, and no one dares to bully me."
Xie Sangning nodded gently. "I understand. The Duke of Ning and the Duchess are already dissatisfied with the Xie Family. If I enter their mansion, they won't treat me well."
Even if Pei Songhan wanted to protect her, he couldn't go against the rules of etiquette.
Not to mention that maybe one day he wouldn't want to protect her anymore.
The First Lady rubbed her forehead. "Songhan is a good boy. I've watched him grow up. He has good character, is diligent and motivated, and is also attentive to you. If it weren't for the trouble that the Xie Family got into, this would have been an excellent marriage."
"Mother, since the engagement is annulled, I won't have any lingering feelings," Xie Sangning said.
The First Lady opened her eyes and looked at her daughter in front of her. She was still as calm as an ancient well, without a ripple.
She felt a mixture of relief and heartache.
She had always hoped that her daughter would be proper, considerate of the overall situation, and not be impulsive.
But now, seeing her so calm and detached, she felt sorry for her daughter, who had her edges and corners smoothed at such a young age.
Just then, Nanny Cai rushed in in a hurry. "First Lady, First Lady!"
"What's the rush?" the First Lady frowned.
Nanny Cai said in a panic, "People from the palace are here! They said that the Emperor has issued an imperial edict! Please, miss, go to the front yard to receive it."
The First Lady's face changed. "What!"
Xie Sangning frowned slightly. An imperial edict from the Emperor?
