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Chapter 370: Exchange of Interests
Chapter 370: Exchange of Interests
Prince Qi had been contemplating how to flaunt his prowess before Prince Qing again.
He didn't want to show off, but his little obedient one was just too outstanding.
Prince Qi felt that he would be uncomfortable if he didn't show off!
But what did he just hear?
Prince Qi thought he had misheard, so he blinked and exclaimed, "What?"
Prince Qing understood that such news would be no less than an earthquake in the capital for Prince Qi, with the epicenter being the Prince Qi Manor.
However, he still wanted to inform his brother to give him a heads-up.
So, Prince Qing quickly repeated, "There are a few people from the manor who seem interested in forming a familial connection with you, Brother. They have their eyes on Sui Sui."
After all, she was the only young lady in the manor.
The word "only" could represent a lot of things.
Moreover, the young masters of the manor also doted on this little sister dearly.
Especially Feng Xuanrui, the youngest legitimate son.
Many people had their hearts set on Sui Sui after her small banquet.
Upon hearing this, Prince Qi exploded, "They must be dreaming!!!'
Prince Qi stood up abruptly, his voice filled with agitation.
Sui Sui, who was not far away, heard the commotion and curiously glanced in their direction.
Fearing that he might disturb his precious one's piano practice, Prince Qi waved his hand and said, "Your father is a bit worked up. Go on with your practice, my obedient child."
Although she found her father's behavior strange, Sui Sui didn't think much of it and flashed him a sweet smile.
After returning the smile, she averted her gaze and resumed listening to the pianist.
Seeing his treasure's sweet smile, Prince Qi's heart ached even more.
He thought, 'Who do they think they are?'
'How dare they?'
'Isn't this like tearing out his heart?'
With a grim expression, Prince Qi gritted his teeth and asked, "Which families are they from? I'll teach their masters a lesson they won't forget!"
Prince Qing: ...
There was no need to get so worked up, was there?
Prince Qing tried to soothe him with a gentle voice, but to no avail.
Instead, his attempt to calm Prince Qi down only added fuel to the fire.
Prince Qi almost stormed out with his sword right there and then!
It was only because Prince Qing stood up to stop him.
Prince Qi was fuming, "What if it were your precious daughter? Would you be willing to let her be on someone's mind at such a young age?"
Hearing this, Prince Qing fell silent.
It was then that Prince Qi realized the other party's daughter was no more.
Comprehending this, Prince Qi fell silent, feeling a sense of guilt.
Prince Qing didn't hold this against his brother. Instead, he gently stopped him and said in a soft voice, "They haven't formally approached us yet, and it's most likely just a trial balloon. Don't be angry, Brother. We can simply reject them when the time comes. Sui Sui is still young and doesn't need to worry about such matters yet."
Prince Qi nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, she's just a child. What can they possibly discern? Even if our Sui Sui grows up to be a female overlord, she deserves the best man in the capital. We'll see about their character when she's older."
Prince Qing echoed his sentiments in agreement.
Prince Qi reluctantly suppressed his anger and sat back down.
However, the thought of those people having his treasure in their sights still infuriated him.
It took Prince Qing a long time to calm him down.
The two brothers didn't continue the previous topic but instead shifted to other matters.
Prince Qing brought up the matter of the Xie family, "I heard that Madam Xie is ill. For her sake, Lord Xie sent her to the south, where she'll be taken care of by the old servants. Lord Xie mentioned that the southern climate is more suitable for recuperation."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "His Majesty has already approved of this arrangement."
The Xie family handled this matter discreetly.
It was only in the last two days that a decision was reached.
While Prince Qi was aware of this, it wasn't because he had been paying attention to the Xie family.
The Emperor had informed him of this after visiting the Empress Dowager to pay his respects.
The Empress Dowager's health had been fluctuating due to the Xie family's situation, but her spirits had improved over the last couple of days. She had expressed her desire to see Sui Sui, and Prince Qi had readily agreed to have the Princess visit the palace with her mother tomorrow.
Initially, the Empress Dowager disagreed, concerned that the scent of her medications would be unpleasant for the young child. However, Prince Qi persisted, and she eventually relented, thinking that she could remain behind a screen or curtain to spare Sui Sui from the smell of her medicines.
In fact, when the Empress Dowager first learned about Princess Jiaoyang's remains, she had intended to invite Sui Sui to live in the palace. She had always favored Sui Sui, and now that she had helped resolve one of her heart's desires, the Empress Dowager held an even more positive opinion of her.
Unfortunately, her frail health prevented her from doing so.
After prolonging the plan for so long, the Empress Dowager felt it was time to finally lay eyes on the child. She wanted to set her heart at ease.
The Empress Dowager shared the details of the Xie family's situation with Prince Qi. Initially, she had wanted Madam Xie to pass away, believing that a widow as foolish and indecisive as her would only corrupt the Xie family's values, and it would be better for her to die than to continue causing trouble for the younger generation of the Xie family.
However, out of consideration for Xie Daren's children, she ultimately chose to show mercy.
The Empress Dowager couldn't force her brother to have the woman killed, so she remained silent, indicating that she would no longer involve herself in the matter and leaving it to the Emperor to handle.
As for the specifics of the Emperor, Xie Daren, and the First Princess' negotiations, the Empress Dowager chose to remain uninvolved, and Prince Qi didn't inquire further.
While Prince Qi was unaware of the details, Prince Qing was informed. He briefly explained the situation to his brother: "With such an incident occurring, the Empress is naturally dissatisfied with how your uncle handled it. However, the Emperor mediated, and the Empress has reluctantly agreed to a compromise."
The First Princess' side couldn't afford to create too much of a rift between the two families. After all, one of Xie's daughters had married into the First Princess' family as a concubine's son's wife, creating an affinity between the two clans.
It wouldn't do to let this incident drive a permanent wedge between them. Thus, the Emperor mediated, and Xie Daren indicated his willingness to make amends. After considering the matter within his mansion, he decided to maximize the benefits of the outcome.
So, when the Emperor hinted that he should make a gesture, Xie Daren took the initiative to propose marrying off his eldest legitimate daughter, Xie Yuqiao, to a distant region—the Cangzhou province.
Located in a desolate area and having fallen into disrepair due to the Su family incident years ago, Cangzhou had been neglected by the court in recent years. The current governor, Yan, was a cousin of the First Princess' second daughter-in-law, Yan.
The Emperor intended to revive the province, so he sent capable individuals to support its development.
Governor Yan's youngest son had a slight limp from an injury during his childhood, which made finding a suitable marriage partner more challenging.
Xie Daren offered to marry his daughter to Governor Yan's son.
Although Xie Yuqiao was the daughter of the second wife, she was still a legitimate daughter, and her father's position as the Minister of Works was a more significant factor in her favor.
Xie Daren expressed his sincerity, and after some consideration, the First Princess agreed, understanding that pushing the issue further would only strain the relationship between the two families. Thus, she gave her consent.
(End of Chapter)
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