C189

A few days later, the empress summoned Xiao Tian Yuan into the palace.

Although he was already inside the palace, Xiao Tianyuan still felt suspicious. He didn't know why the empress had summoned him to the palace. If it was a national affair, the emperor would naturally summon them. But it was rather strange that the empress had summoned them this time!

"This lowly one greets the empress." Upon seeing Empress Chen, Xiao Tianyuan immediately knelt down and greeted her.

Empress Chen looked serene as she nodded with a smile, "General Xiao need not be overly courteous, quickly rise."

After Xiao Tianyuan got up, he immediately asked, "I do not know what matter the Empress summoned this humble servant here to discuss?"

"General Xiao, I did not invite you here for matters within the imperial court. There is no need for you to be so formal. Take a seat." That day when King Xuan came to ask for her hand in marriage, Empress Chen was already thinking of marrying Xiao Tianyi to King Xuan. She specially invited Xiao Tianyuan here today to inform him of her decision.

Xiao Tianyuan grew increasingly bewildered. Even though the empress's words sounded very polite, he had a bad feeling about it all the time. He kept having the feeling that the empress was looking for him and that something was amiss.

"General Xiao, actually, I have called you here today for your little sister's matter." Empress Chen thought for a moment and finally spoke.

"Empress, you're talking about Xu Yingying?" Xiao Tianyuan's heart sank. Could it be that King Xuan had asked the empress to step in? Let's see what the Queen says.

Empress Chen looked amiably at Xiao Tianyuan before she smiled and said, "That's right, I'm talking about Ying Ying's matter."

"What happened to Ying Ying?"

"I want to marry Ying Ying to King Xuan as a secondary wife, what do you think?" Empress Chen quickly expressed her thoughts.

Xiao Tianyuan was stunned for a moment before kneeling on the ground. "Empress, Ying Ying is just a commoner. How could she be worthy of Prince Xuan? I hope esteemed wangfei can retract her orders."

This answer was within Empress Chen's expectations. She had long since guessed that Xiao Tianyuan would say this, so she carelessly said, "But I know that King Xuan is very fond of Ying Ying …"

"Even so, Ying Ying versus King Xuan …" Xiao Tianyuan tried to stop Empress Chen from speaking further.

"General Xiao, you must understand that the reason why I proposed to you was all for Ying Ying's sake …" "When King Xuan and I asked for an order that day, I didn't promise him. But when he mentioned the incident with Prince Rong on the street, I felt that a girl who didn't leave the pavilion had caused a huge ruckus and damaged her reputation. It really wasn't a good thing, so for Yingying's sake, I decided to let her marry King Xuan."

He really didn't expect that King Xuan would say all these things to Empress Chen. Even if he didn't want to marry Ying Ying to King Xuan, he didn't have a better reason to shirk his responsibility! Xiao Tianyuan was speechless.

"General Xiao, I know that you don't want me to marry someone else as a child, but King Xuan is a noble and respected direct descendant after all. Although he is only a secondary concubine after marrying her, King Xuan once promised me that he would treat Ying Ying well." At this point, Empress Chen gave a slight smile. "I promise you, if Ying marries to King Xuan and King Xuan doesn't treat her well, I won't let him off lightly!"

But Empress, Ying Ying is a stubborn person and does not have any love for King Xuan. She would never agree to this marriage." Even though he knew that saying such a thing would offend Empress Chen, Xiao Tianyuan was unable to hold it in any longer. No matter what, he couldn't allow Yingying to marry King Xuan. Firstly, Ying Ying didn't like King Xuan at all; secondly, he was amorous and unrestrained; and thirdly, with his understanding of King Xuan, he truly felt that King Xuan wasn't suitable for Ying Ying. On the surface, it seemed that King Xuan wasn't keen on the fight for the imperial power, but in reality, his shrewdness should be the deepest among these princes. Bringing Ying Ying to his side was truly unyielding!

This caused Empress Chen to feel extremely unhappy and her face slightly changed, "General Xiao, you should know that I have done this all for the sake of Ying Ying's reputation. Now that everyone in the imperial court has heard of this matter, it is also due to my love for Ying Ying. Could it be that General Xiao still wishes to reject me? "

"Empress …" "This is not what I meant …" How could he easily offend Empress Chen?

"Since General Xiao doesn't mean that, then this matter is decided." A faint smile appeared on Empress Chen's face. Of course, she felt that doing so was a good thing and was in a very good mood. She waved her hand at Xiao Tian Yuan. "Alright, I'm tired too. General, please go back."

"This humble servant pays his respects to the Empress." Xiao Tianyuan had no choice but to get up and take his leave.

After leaving the palace, Xiao Tianyuan's heart was boiling like boiling water, causing him to feel extremely uneasy. How could he marry Ying Ying to King Xuan just like that? But just now, he truly could not find a better reason to reject the Empress. The empress didn't understand King Xuan's intentions at all. What was he supposed to do?

As he thought of this, his mind became a bit absent-minded, and he somehow returned to his residence.

Entering the manor, I happened to see Ying Ying watering the peony flowers in the courtyard. Under the sunlight, Ying Ying's hair was dyed a golden yellow, reflecting the luxuriant purple flowers. It was truly more charming than a flower. The flowers had taken away the limelight, and Ying Ying's facial features became even more picturesque.

Xiao Tian Yuan's heart ached as he looked at her. He could not help but sigh when he thought of how she was going to marry King Xuan. He was speechless for a long time.

Ying Ying saw him standing under the sun for a long time, and felt both heartache and bewilderment. She couldn't help but ask, "Big Brother, what's wrong? Why are you standing in the sun? What's on your mind? "

Xiao Tianyuan was still standing there, silent. It was only when Ying Ying approached him that he regained his senses.

"Big brother, what happened to you?" I've never seen my big brother act like this before. Ying Ying was very curious.

Xiao Tianyuan said in a hoarse voice, "Yingying, big brother's in a bad mood today …"

"He must have suffered under the wrath of others in the court." Ying Ying couldn't help but laugh. Usually, when her big brother was feeling vexed during court, he felt the same way.

Lifting his eyes to look at Ying Ying, he felt even more uncomfortable in his heart. Xiao Tianyuan pondered how he was going to tell this matter to Ying Ying. If he didn't tell her now, when the imperial edict was passed down, she might find it even more unacceptable.

After a long while, Xiao Tianyuan finally revealed a smile. He rarely smiled, but when he smiled, it felt like he was being frozen into a warm, warm spring. After laughing, he used a gentle tone that he had never used before to speak to Ying Ying. "Ying Ying, I have something to tell you. Do you want to hear it?"

"Since Big Brother has something to tell me, then of course I have to listen." Ying Ying thought that Xiao Tian Yuan was just having fun as she didn't understand his feelings at all.

"Today, I'll go to the palace. The empress said that she's going to make you marry King Xuan as a secondary concubine." Even if it was very hard to say, he still had to say it out loud.

"What …" It was like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky. Xiao Tian Ying stood there in a daze.