Chapter Seventy-Three: A Proposal at the Door

  You don't have to worry about this matter, I'll take care of everything. After a long while, Xuan Yuan Ze turned his head and said solemnly to Xu Ming Jin.

  For some reason, Xu Mingjin believed what he said, perhaps it was because he always came to rescue her when she was in trouble. She nodded.

  Xuanyuan Jingze revealed a hint of a smile.

  After this incident, several people were in no mood to stay in another courtyard and set off back to Beijing the next day.

  As soon as Xu Mingjin returned to the Emerald Garden, before he could even sit down properly, Xu Mingxia rushed in hastily. This time, Yuzhu was already on high alert and stood guard in front of Xu Mingjin without waiting for her to approach.

  Xu Mingxia knew Yu Zhu's ferocity, she had already suffered several losses at Yu Zhu's hands. Now, as soon as she saw Yu Zhu, she stopped in her tracks, standing three zhang away, pointing at Xu Mingjin and scolding: "Didn't you tell me in the Buddhist hall that you would keep a distance from him? Why did he send a matchmaker to propose to Father, specifically asking for your hand in marriage?"

  Xuanyuan Qiwei sent someone to propose? Xu Mingjin's heart immediately skipped a beat as she anxiously asked, "When did this happen?"

  "This morning, before you returned, three hours ago." Xu Mingxia's face was twisted with anger: "You still say you didn't seduce him, if it wasn't for your seduction, how could he possibly send someone to propose!"

  Xu Mingjin helplessly said: "Elder sister, I don't want to marry him."

  Xu Mingxia's eyes lit up as soon as she heard, and she grabbed Xu Mingjin's arm and pulled him outside: "Then you go tell Father clearly. You don't want to marry him."

  Xu Mingjin was helplessly dragged by her all the way to Xu Ruoyi's study.

  Xu Ruoyi was busy with official duties when he saw his two daughters coming to find him, which was quite unexpected, but he was also very happy: "Jin'er, you're back from the Zhuangzi? Your father was just about to tell you something. Today, Prince Pingxi's son sent someone to propose to you."

  "Did you promise?" Xu Mingjin asked nervously.

  "No, let's think about it again. We'll give him an answer in two days. Actually, this is all just a show of respect, I don't want him to look down on our family." Xu Ruoyi explained: "Father still thinks highly of this marriage."

  Xu Mingxia was anxious and desperately made eye contact with Xu Mingjin. Xu Mingjin cast a reassuring glance at Xu Ruoyi, saying: "Father, do you know what's on Big Sister's mind regarding Prince Pingxi?"

  Xu Mingxia glared at Xu Mingjin fiercely, telling her to tell their father that she didn't want to, why drag herself into this?

  Xu Ruoyi heard this and furrowed her brow, apologetically saying to Xu Mingxia: "Jin'er, the visitor specifically said that he wants to marry Miss Sixth Xu, not Miss Eldest Xu."

  Xu Mingxia heard this and couldn't hide her disappointment.

  "Dad, this isn't a good marriage," Xu Mingjin said.

  Xu Ruoyi looked at Xu Mingjin in confusion, thinking that Xuan Yuan Qiyue was the son of the Pingxi King's mansion and would inherit the throne in a few years. After marrying Xu Mingjin, she would become the queen consort. What a great thing! As the king's father-in-law, it was a glorious and honorable thing. As for Xia'er... she could only be sacrificed for now, and later they would find someone even better than the Pingxi King's son for her.

  "Dad, listen to me for a moment. Don't rush into this matter. What looks like a delicious pastry might actually smell terrible inside."

  Xu Ruoyi listened, the smile and joy on his face slowly dissipated, and his complexion became solemn. He asked: "Jin'er, do you know something?!"

  Xu Mingjin said: "Dad, anyway I'm still young, now only thirteen years old, let's talk about my marriage after two more years?"

  Xu Ruoyi did not express approval or disapproval.

  Xu Mingjin suddenly remembered what Xuan Yuan Jinglin had said that day in the other villa: "Your elder sister's thoughts are probably going to be washed away by the river. He is destined to become a prince, and Princess Pingxi has been busy selecting a daughter-in-law for Qiyue recently. I heard that she has chosen the eldest granddaughter of Yang Ge Lao, and it's almost settled. As for being the crown princess, you shouldn't think about it anymore. If your elder sister wants to marry him, she can only be his concubine. Given your father's position in court, this is still somewhat hopeful."

  Xu Mingjin thought of this and calmly asked Xu Ruoyi: "Father, did the matchmaker say that I would be married as the legitimate daughter-in-law or a concubine?"

  Xu Ruoyi said: "Not mentioned, but with your father's power in the imperial court, it must be the Crown Prince's consort."

  Xu Mingjin smiled and didn't expose Xu Ruoyi's exaggeration. She said, "Princess Jinglin told me that Princess Pingxi was busy selecting a daughter-in-law for Qiyue recently. It is said that she has chosen the eldest granddaughter of Yang Ge, and it will be settled soon. With Yang Ge's status, his granddaughter must be the crown princess."

  Xu Ruoyi and Xu Mingxia were both startled at the same time. Xu Ruoyi hastily asked: "Did the princess really say that?"

  Xu Mingjin said: "Absolutely true."

  Xu Ruoyi plopped down on the chair, her entire body slumping in defeat. Xu Mingxia was even more stunned, her soul lost and scattered. Xu Mingjin understood her emotions, if she were chosen herself, she would be so confident because she thought she was stronger than herself. But the chosen one was Yang Ge's old daughter. She had no chance of winning.

  Xu Mingjin said: "Father, the matchmaker from Pingxi Wangfu must have been sent by the young master himself. If you agree, I can only marry him as a concubine. I would rather die than marry."

  Xu Ruoyi looked at Xu Mingjin with approval and said, "Good! You're indeed my daughter Xu Ruoyi! You have spirit! How can my daughter be a concubine to someone?"

  Xu Mingjin saw that his goal had been achieved, so he pulled Xu Mingxia away together.

  As soon as she left the study, Xu Mingxia suddenly came to her senses. She grabbed Xu Mingjin and said, "Good sister! Help me! I want to marry him!"

  Xu Mingjin shook her head: "Do you think I, a humble daughter of the Xu family, have any right to influence the will of Princess Pingxi?" She slowly withdrew her arm and left, leaving Xu Mingxia alone on the spot.

  After a few days, it turned out that the daughter-in-law chosen by Princess Pingxi for her son was indeed the granddaughter of Yang Ge Lao. It is unknown how the emperor knew about this matter, but he actually took the initiative to issue an imperial decree to betroth the two. As soon as the imperial decree came out, the whole city was in an uproar. Many girls were heartbroken and shed tears over Xuan Yuan Xi's engagement. Among them, Xu Mingxia was the most affected. As soon as she heard about this matter, she was so shocked that she fainted. Afterwards, she refused to eat or drink for several days, worrying Ye Niangniang and Lady Xu to death.

  Xu Ruoyi was secretly relieved that she had listened to Xu Mingjin's words and refused the matchmaker from the Pingxi Wangfu three days later.

  Xu Mingjin heard about this matter and knew that the person who unintentionally let the emperor know about it must be Xuan Yuanze. She still remembered that day when he left, he whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, I'll take care of this." Indeed, he didn't disappoint her. Thinking of this, Xu Mingjin couldn't help but smile slightly. At this point, how could she not understand his intentions? However, the gap between them was too great - he was the prince's younger brother, the emperor's second son, and one of the most favored sons of the emperor, while she was just the daughter of a minister, although now with the title of legitimate daughter. But in this household, how many were truly valued? They treated her with respect, but that was all because of Princess Jinglin's face. Xu Mingjin understood this better than anyone else. The two were fundamentally not a match.

  So she buried her feelings deep in her heart. After all, she was no longer a thirteen-year-old girl and was very calm when dealing with this matter.

  But what she didn't expect was that on the second day after the imperial edict was issued, Xuan Yuan Qi Yi came alone to the gate of the Shangshu Mansion early in the morning and asked to see Xu Shangshu.

  The gatekeeper did not dare to slack off, and hastily ordered someone to report to Xu Ruoyi, while respectfully welcoming Xuan Yuan's oath into the house.

  In a moment, Xu Ruoyi hastily came out from the inner courtyard. As soon as she saw Xuan Yuan Qi Shi, she hurriedly stepped forward to pay her respects.

  Xuanyuan Qiyue had a stubble on his face, looking tired, but his eyes were bright and spirited. He impatiently stopped Xu Ruoyi's movement and said, "Let's talk in the study."

  Xu Ruoyi hastily led him to the study, but all the way there, he was secretly cursing his luck. It seemed that he had come for Xu Mingjin, but he would never marry his daughter off to him as a concubine, let alone a wife.

  The two sat down, and Xuan Yuan Qi said straightforwardly: "Lord Xu, I want to marry Miss Xu Liu, please agree."

  Xu Ruoyi's old face twitched, and the genius beside him sighed: "Young Master, yesterday the Emperor issued a decree, granting Yang Ge's granddaughter to you as your wife."

  Xuanyuan Qiyue said resolutely: "I never liked that Miss Yang, the one I want to marry has always been only Miss Xu Liu. Please rest assured, although now I can only welcome your daughter with a side concubine's ceremony, but I guarantee that within three years, I will make her the crown princess!"

  Xu Ruoyi spat out a mouthful of tea, his eyes wide with surprise: "What do you mean by that, Young Master?"

  Xuanyuan Qiyue said coldly, "Miss Yang is the daughter-in-law my mother favors, but I never liked her. If it weren't for the imperial decree, I would absolutely not marry her. But once she's married into our household, whether I divorce her or demote her to concubine, it's all up to me. Even the Emperor can't interfere."

  Xu Ruoyi's mind quickly thought, hearing him say this, it was not bad. However, people's hearts are easily changed, he agreed to be good now, but what if he didn't acknowledge it later? Jin'er would marry into his family and have no chance of escaping for the rest of her life.

  Xuanyuan Qiwei seemed to understand what Xu Ruoyi was thinking, and he said: "If the adults do not believe me, I can provide written evidence." As he spoke, he got up to write a sworn statement.

  Xu Ruoyi hastily intercepted him and said: "Young Master, this matter is a bit big, let me think about it for two days before giving you an answer, how's that?"

  Xuan Yuan Qi really feared that the night was long and his dreams were many, and he hated to wait any longer for Xu Ruo Yi to agree. But he also knew that this matter indeed needed careful consideration, so he nodded in agreement with Xu Ruo Yi's request. However, he also made another request: he wanted to see Xu Ming Jin.

  Xu Ruoyi was somewhat embarrassed, but the words he had just spoken really moved him, so he thought for a moment and ordered someone to call Sixth Miss over, saying that there was something important to discuss.

  Xuanyuan Qiyue revealed a satisfied smile, and the decadent color on his face instantly disappeared without a trace.