After swallowing my anger and taking the blame, I became the lucky little queen

This impassioned speech made people sigh at the lofty ambitions of the Xiao family.

The emperor did not hesitate any longer and immediately drafted an edict to appoint Xiao Jianting to lead a thousand imperial troops to Jiangnan to suppress the bandits in fifteen days.

The candidate for Jiangnan's appointment was already decided, and all the civil and military officials in the court breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, they had different speculations about the relationship between Qin Junyu and Xiao Jianting.

It is said that the prince has a good relationship with the three brothers and sisters of the Xiao family. Xiao Jianting usually interacts closely with him, but he pushes them into the fire pit. How disloyal! It makes people feel chilled!

Someone secretly observed Xiao Jianting's expression, trying to catch a hint of anger or shock.

But he didn't, not at all, and even looked relaxed. Everyone thought he couldn't stand the double blow and was in a trance.

First, the emperor personally arranged a marriage for a proud and conceited eldest daughter, and then he had to go to Jiangnan to suppress bandits and compete with the number one organization in the underworld, Tianxuan Villa, for his job. This is too much for anyone to bear.

Some people were secretly happy, some were regretful.

Only Xiao Jianting felt relieved.

After the court session, Xiao Jianting called Qin Junyu and the two walked towards Xizhimen together.

The other ministers had already left the Danchi, and they were far behind, having just walked out of the gate of Mingde Hall.

The sun rose in the east, and the red steps in front of Mingde Hall were covered with golden light, as if they were gilded.

The two walked down step by step in the morning light.

"Ayu, thank you." Xiao Jianting's tone was relaxed and his steps were brisk. He was in much better condition than he was in the past few days.

Qin Junyu chuckled, looked at the palace wall in the distance, and sighed, "The prince pushed his former friend into the fire pit. He has a beastly heart and is hard to guard against. I forced you to take this step, so why should you thank me?"

Xiao Jianting smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Ayu, you still can't learn to speak properly."

"I know you're helping me."

"Although there is no way to make the emperor take back his decision and cancel the engagement, it is always good to buy some time. No one can predict what will happen next. What if... what if something unexpected happens, maybe I won't have to marry Miss Wang."

Xiao Jianting knew in his heart that even if Qin Junyu didn't mention it, the emperor would most likely send him in the end.

He was not afraid of the people from Tianxuan Villa, nor was he afraid to take on this task. On the contrary, if he left Shengjing, the emperor would not be able to urge him to get married.

Both he and Wang Yuejiao were given some breathing space so that the marriage would not be rushed and neither side would be mentally prepared.

Qin Junyu couldn't say anything too ideal, nor could he say anything hurtful, so he nodded and said, "If it's not a foregone conclusion, there's still hope."

If he can make achievements, it would not be a bad idea to negotiate terms with the emperor based on his merits.

Hope ignited in Xiao Jianting's heart, and he instantly became full of energy.

Nian Mansion.

Xia Dingxiang's tablet was enshrined in the Nian family ancestral hall. Although it was placed in a corner, it was enough to make Nian Qiaoyue cry.

She had been looking forward to this day for too long...

From now on, she is the legitimate second daughter of the Nian family, and no one can call her a bastard anymore.

Nian Qiaoyue knelt in front of the shrine, lit three incense sticks with red eyes, kowtowed three times devoutly, and finally looked timidly at Nian Chengyun.

"Dad, won't you come and light a stick of incense?"

According to the rules, the head of the family and the mistress of the house must burn incense and kneel down, which is a respect for the deceased and a recognition of her status.

But Nian Chengyun had no intention of following this process, not to mention Yang Yuerong, who was lucky enough not to overturn the table on the spot.

Without waiting for Nian Chengyun to say anything, Yang Yuerong said in a veiled tone, "Xia Dingxiang is just a slave who washes my feet. You have already given her enough face by letting her enter the ancestral hall. You still want us to kowtow to her and burn incense to her? No way!"

"A bitch is a bitch. She can't even rest in peace after death. She has brought disaster to our family!" She spat fiercely on the ground.

When insulting Xia Dingxiang and Nian Qiaoyue, Yang Yuerong never hesitated to use those vulgar and dirty words.

Nian Chengyun had become numb to what she said over the years and did not show much emotional change, which meant he agreed with what she said.

Nian Qiaoyue's red eyes immediately became moist.

She turned her head to look at Nian Susu, "Sister is a younger generation, so you should kowtow to my mother, right?"

Once she entered the ancestral hall, she became a concubine and a stepmother. The younger generation kowtowed to the elders, and their demands were not excessive.

But Yang Yuerong grabbed Nian Susu's arm and pulled her behind her, glaring at her, "You want my daughter to kowtow to Xia Dingxiang? Who the hell are you, Nian Qiaoyue, to dare to make such a request!"

Yang Yuerong felt that this was a humiliation to Nian Susu as well as to her.

Nian Qiaoyue burst into tears, "Madam... my mother has entered the ancestral hall, and she is my sister's stepmother..."

Before she finished her words, a slap landed on her face.

Yang Yuerong's raised hand had not yet fallen, she was furious and was about to slap him again, but Nian Chengyun stopped her.

Nian Susu also took her to the back and calmed her down, "Okay, mother, no matter what, you shouldn't do this in front of our ancestors."

Yang Yuerong's chest rose and fell. She glanced at the tablet on the shrine, snorted angrily, and pushed Nian Chengyun away.

Nian Chengyun was helpless and innocent.

In the end, Nian Susu did not kowtow to Xia Dingxiang, and Nian Qiaoyue stopped insisting on this point.

A group of people came out of the ancestral hall, Nian Chengyun walked in front, Yang Yuerong followed behind him holding Nian Susu's arm, and Nian Qiaoyue followed silently at the end.

Nian Chengyun slowed down a step and turned to ask, "Lingling, in three days we will go to Ganlin Temple with Concubine Xin to pray for blessings. Is everything ready?"

Nian Susu: “Yeah, everything is packed.”

Yang Yuerong was worried again and warned, "Ganlin Temple is on the mountain, the temperature is even lower, bring more warm clothes, otherwise if you are short of something, you don't know when it will arrive if you need to send it from home, and it will be bad if you get cold."

Nian Su Su nodded like pounding garlic.

Nian Qiaoyue felt very upset. She obviously had Nian family blood flowing in her veins, so why did her father refuse to even look at her? Her mother had obviously become a member of the Nian family, so why did Yang Yuerong still want to humiliate her?

She was jealous of Nian Susu and also hated Nian Susu!

Nian Qiaoyue clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her flesh, and she secretly swore in her heart: She would take away everything that Nian Susu had!

Although her heart was in turmoil, she still maintained a calm smile on her face.

Three days later.

Nian Susu and Nian Qiaoyue were taken to the city gate by the Nian Mansion's carriage, and then changed to the palace's carriage to Ganlin Temple.

Nian Chengyun and Yang Yuerong watched their daughter get on the carriage, feeling worried and at ease.

Nian Susu lifted the curtain of the carriage, turned around to look at them when he was about to go in, and said with a smile: "Dad, Mom, don't worry, I will take good care of myself."

The carriage swayed away, and Nian Chengyun took Yang Yuerong into his arms and patted her arm, "Don't worry, she went to Gaochang last year and came back safe and sound. This time she's just staying at Ganlin Temple for half a month. She knows how to protect herself."

After hearing these words, Yang Yuerong was not comforted but felt even more sad.