My bad father married a princess, my mother divorced me, and I became the group's favorite

Emperor Jingxuan looked at Xiao Mu's conflicted expression and pondered in his heart.

He knew very well that Xiao Mu was an upright man and loyal to the court, but he was so hesitant when it came to matters of the heart, which was really unlike his usual decisive style.

"Xiao Mu, don't think too much. I just think that if you really like Madam Liu, you might as well tell her honestly. As for the war you are worried about, I believe you will return victorious. You also know that my Wei cavalry has never been defeated under your leadership."

Emperor Jingxuan tried to calm Xiao Mu down.

"If you are worried, why don't I personally summon Madam Liu? If she agrees, I will personally grant you marriage."

Xiao Mu was stunned, and bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your trust. But I know that she is strong and independent. Although she has some feelings for me, she is very cautious about marriage. I don't want to cause her trouble because of my wishful thinking."

Emperor Jingxuan tapped the armrest gently.

"Xiao Mu, please listen to me. Madam Liu cares about the people and is kind, but you are not bad either. You are a hero of our Great Wei, and many women admire you. If Madam Liu also has feelings for you, it would be a good story for you two to get married. You are so hesitant now, which is not like you."

Xiao Mu smiled bitterly.

"Your Majesty, I understand what you mean. But I feel very uneasy when I think about the possibility of disappointing Madam Liu. I hope to give her a stable future instead of letting her fall into the fear of the unknown."

Emperor Jingxuan shook his head slightly.

"You always think too much. Well, I won't persuade you any more. Just prepare to deal with the Rongdi. However, I still hope that you can solve your personal problems as soon as possible, so that I can rest assured."

Xiao Mu accepted the order, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will do my best to defend the border and live up to Your Majesty's expectations."

After Xiao Mu retreated, his mind was still full of thoughts.

He knew that his feelings for Liu Yunniang were sincere, but at this moment when war was about to break out, he really didn't dare to make a promise easily.

Emperor Jingxuan in the Yangxin Palace looked at Xiao Mu's departing back and began to think.

"Tell me, should I grant General Xiao a marriage?"

The words of Emperor Jingxuan echoed in the empty Yangxin Palace. The chief eunuch, Eunuch Li, bowed his head slightly, thought for a while, and then responded softly,

"Your Majesty, this matter requires careful consideration. General Xiao is devoted to the country, and the Rongdi are ready to make a move. His mind is all on the border war. If Your Majesty grants the marriage at this time, General Xiao may be troubled."

Emperor Jingxuan nodded slightly and tapped the armrest of the dragon throne with his hand.

"I also understand Xiao Mu's thoughts, but he has fought for the court for many years and it is time for him to get married. Madam Liu and he are in love, and I granted the marriage to him to reassure him."

Eunuch Li continued to persuade,

"Your Majesty, although General Xiao and Madam Liu have a friendship, General Xiao's worries are not without reason. On the battlefield, swords are blind, and he is afraid that if he makes a mistake, it will implicate Madam Liu. If Your Majesty forces the marriage, I am afraid that General Xiao will be distracted on the battlefield."

Emperor Jingxuan frowned slightly.

"Humph, I naturally hope that Xiao Mu can deal with Rongdi without any worries. But I also don't want to see him alone. What if something happens to him, there won't even be anyone to inherit the incense."

Upon seeing this, Eunuch Li knew that His Majesty was determined to act as a matchmaker with General Xiao.

He had served His Majesty for many years, so he knew that he could not go against His Majesty's wishes at this time. He immediately advised,

"Your Majesty, how about this? Your Majesty can first ask Madam Liu what she thinks. If Madam Liu is willing to marry General Xiao at this time, it won't be too late for Your Majesty to grant the marriage. If Madam Liu is unwilling, then forget it. After all, marriage is a matter of mutual consent."

Emperor Jingxuan felt that what Eunuch Li said made some sense.

"Well, your idea is feasible. Go and make the arrangements. In a few days, go to the Liu Mansion in person to pass on the imperial decree. Tell them that I have something to summon you for. Ask Madam Liu to bring her daughter to the palace. Prepare some rewards in advance. Also, you, as a servant, must be careful not to scare Madam. Right now, I can't take care of her..."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will do it right away."

After receiving the order, Eunuch Li quietly withdrew.

At this time, Liu Yunniang and Ye Xiaoxiao were busy

Regarding the renovation of Su Jinge, the mother and daughter had a clear division of labor.

Su Jinge's business was good before, but this time, Ye Xiaoxiao's goal was to turn Su Jinge into a comprehensive store that integrates clothes, jewelry, skin care, and cosmetics.

Liu Yunniang has been busy with new designs these days, and Ye Xiaoxiao has not been idle either.

Ye Xiaoxiao has been studying rouge, lip balm, and skin-rejuvenating lotion for a long time.

Chunxi's eyes were dazzled by the neatly arranged bottles and jars in front of her.

"My lady, when did you have time to do all this? I have been watching over you every day, but I have never seen you do so much."

Ye Xiaoxiao shook her head, feeling very proud. Hehe, she just realized that time passed very slowly in the space. She even felt that she had been busy for a long time, but when she woke up from a nap and left the space, she found that it was still dark.

In the past few days, she took advantage of the time difference and tinkered with this pile of skin care gel day and night.

"It's a secret!"

Chunxi didn't ask any further questions and just continued to help Ye Xiaoxiao tinker with it.

Ye Xiaoxiao was holding a small porcelain bowl in her hand, carefully mixing the various ingredients in proportion, muttering to herself.

"If we add a little more of the peony petal extract, the color will be brighter."

After saying this, she added little by little.

Chunxi on the side couldn't help but ask,

"Miss, you have been busy for several days. Are these things really better than those sold outside? There are many shops selling lip balm outside. Will anyone buy what we make?"

Ye Xiaoxiao smiled confidently.

"Of course, my research on these formulas is not in vain. You will know when I make the finished product. Besides, you have forgotten your young lady's ability. Touch your little face and see if you still dare to doubt me?"

After hearing what Ye Xiaoxiao said, Chunxi unconsciously touched her delicate face. It was indeed much more delicate than before.

Chunxi became more and more curious as she looked at Ye Xiaoxiao's focused expression, but Chunxi had one biggest advantage: she would never ask any more questions about something that the young lady didn't want to talk about.

This tacit understanding makes the relationship between them more solid.

Ye Xiaoxiao was immersed in her own world, continuing to carefully prepare the lip balm.

She carefully selects various materials, controls the proportions precisely, and does every step meticulously.

Her eyes revealed a kind of persistence and seriousness, as if she was creating a piece of work of art.

After some meticulous work, Ye Xiaoxiao finally completed the production of the first batch of lip balm.

She gently put down the tools in her hands and looked at the neatly arranged small porcelain bottles in front of her with satisfaction.

Each bottle is filled with bright and tempting lip balm, exuding a light fragrance.

Ye Xiaoxiao carefully picked up a small porcelain bottle, placed it in the palm of her hand, and looked at it carefully.

The bottle is exquisite and small, with beautiful patterns engraved on it, which complements the lip balm inside.

She gently unscrewed the cap, dipped a little lip balm on her fingertips, and applied it on her lips.

"Chunxi, look, the texture of this lip balm is so good."

Ye Xiaoxiao showed it to Chunxi proudly.

Chunxi took a closer look and his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Miss, this looks really good. It feels like something has been applied, but it also feels like nothing has been applied. No, Chunxi doesn't know how to put it, but it just looks a lot better."

Ye Xiaoxiao smiled secretly in her heart. Chunxi was actually right. The lipstick she was wearing now was formulated according to the lip color of modern natural makeup. The color was light and elegant, but it made her complexion look particularly good.