The cruel little princess

The military camp was a scene of peace and tranquility, but the Emperor, having received his son's letter, had a different perspective. He saw that Old Nine had said he already had someone in his heart, and that he was not allowed to matchmake with anyone else, and that he should quickly marry off the girls he had picked out for his son. Oh, he really took it to heart! Hahaha! Okay, okay! But who was this girl? Did he find her at the border? Who was there at the border? It was just General Shen and his group of roughnecks! Eh? No, there was also the Princess of Rui'an at the border!

Thinking of this, the emperor ordered his men to take out all the memorials that the Ninth Prince had written to him before, and read them carefully one by one. The first memorial was about Shen Duanfang being poisoned. Fortunately, his daughter Shen Youyou was very capable and saw through the spy's evil plan and saved Shen Duanfang.

The second memorial he wrote was about Shen Youyou donating the Black Jade Ointment free of charge and establishing a rescue team. He also listed the usefulness and benefits of the rescue team on the battlefield, so he ordered the imperial physician to learn how the rescue team operated and see if it could be rolled out at all the borders.

The third time I wrote a folding letter was...

Shen Youyou's name was clearly mentioned in every memorial. That's right! When had I ever seen Lao Jiu so attentive to a little girl before? Mentioning her maiden name so frequently? No! And thinking back, wasn't it because Lao Jiu said Shen Youyou went to the border when she was supposed to? Wasn't it because Lao Jiu said Shen Duanfang's son was missing? If anything happened to him, he wouldn't even have children to see him off. So, considering General Shen's many years of bravery, he asked Lao Jiu to let his daughter go to see him one last time, so as not to disappoint the soldiers!

In his opinion, the story about chilling the hearts of the soldiers was fake, and the real reason was that he wanted to see Shen Youyou! Humph, you little bastard, you are still a little naive to fight with me!

Thinking of this, the emperor was about to issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage, but suddenly he remembered that he had just allowed the Rui'an County Lady to marry freely. Isn't this shooting himself in the foot? ! The same goes for Old Nine. If you have a crush on someone, just tell me directly, but you have to beat around the bush. If I hadn't said that I wanted to grant him a marriage, I wouldn't have been able to force him to tell the truth! But it doesn't matter. Usually it's my son who makes me anxious, so this time I'll let my son worry! No wonder he told me to mind my own state affairs when I have nothing to do, and not to always stare at other people's little girl's marriage. It seems that he is anxious because I issued the decree to allow her to marry freely! This is really... hahaha!

But it's not the right thing to keep them at the border like this. We have to find a way to get them back to the capital. I can keep an eye on them here so I can be the first to know any progress! Well, as promised, we have to get them back. But what method is appropriate? The emperor is in a dilemma again...

This brat is easy to deal with, just issue an imperial decree to recall him, but given his current state, it is estimated that Lao Jiu will not return to Beijing unless Shen Youyou returns. In this case, Shen Youyou must be brought back as well.

But what excuse could he make? Just say, "Shen Duanfang, my son Lao Jiu has taken a liking to your daughter, so we asked them to come back to Beijing together to nurture their relationship?" That doesn't make sense, does it?

And it couldn't be so direct. Just when the emperor was scratching his head anxiously and didn't know what reason to use to summon him back to the capital, eunuch Xiao Xizi came to serve tea.

"Xiao Xizi, when you went to Shen Duanfang to announce the imperial edict, did you meet the Princess of Rui'an?" The emperor suddenly became curious.

"Your Majesty, I am honored to meet you." Xiao Xizi answered respectfully.

"Oh? What does Princess Rui'an look like? Is she bright and beautiful or petite and cute? What's her personality like? Is she gentle and virtuous or loyal and courageous? Have you seen any progress between her and the ninth prince?" The emperor wanted to be the first to eat melons, and asked Xiao Xizi with great interest, with curiosity glittering in his eyes.

Xiao Xizi was somewhat bewildered by the Emperor's sudden question, but he knew he couldn't hide the truth, so he replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Princess of Rui'an is extremely beautiful and kind. As for how she relates to our Prince Jin, I truly don't know!" Xiao Xizi didn't understand why the Emperor was so interested in the Princess of Rui'an, and even less why he'd asked about her relationship with the Prince Jin. Worried about getting in trouble for saying the wrong thing, he could only answer truthfully.

"Alas, this Old Nine, you've really got me worried sick!" The Emperor sat at his desk, holding a memorial in his hand, his eyes gazing blankly ahead, as if he were talking to himself or the eunuch Xiao Xizi beside him. "You said he fell in love with this Rui'an County Lady, but he didn't even tell me in advance. Now, I've granted her the freedom to marry, so how can I grant her this marriage? I'd like to recall them both to the capital, but Old Nine is easy to talk to, but I have no reason to summon this Rui'an County Lady! What should I do?"

Xiao Xizi stood aside, and after hearing the emperor's words, something clicked in his mind. While sorting the items on the dragon table, he secretly observed the emperor's expression and seemed to understand something. It turned out that His Royal Highness Prince Jin was interested in the Princess of Rui'an, but the emperor didn't know how to handle their marriage.

Xiao Xizi thought for a moment and thought this was an opportunity to please the emperor, so he said, "Your Majesty, I have an idea, but I don't know whether I should tell you or not."

The emperor raised his head, glanced at Xiao Xizi, nodded and signaled him to continue. After getting the emperor's permission, Xiao Xizi expressed his thoughts: "Oh, Your Majesty, you are too tired from working on state affairs! Before, General Shen was promoted to the first-rank general, didn't you also want to give him a mansion? Once this mansion is given, won't the owner have to come back to clean it up? I heard that General Shen is a loyal man. After his wife passed away, he never remarried. There are only three of them, father and son. General Shen and his son have to guard the border. Can't the Rui'an County Master return to Beijing?" Xiao Xizi said, walked behind the emperor and gently pinched his shoulders.

The emperor listened to Xiao Xizi's suggestion and frowned slightly as he thought about it. He thought to himself, that's right, I was thinking of giving Shen Duanfang a mansion, but the right location has not been chosen yet. Now I have to hurry up and choose a good place and then issue an imperial decree, then the Rui'an County Lady will be back! Once the Rui'an County Lady comes back, will Lao Jiu still be able to stay at the border alone? ! I don't believe he won't come back! Thinking of this, the emperor suddenly opened his eyes, "Xiao Xizi, it has to be you! You are so pleasing to me! Serve me with pen and ink, I will issue an imperial decree!"

So Xiao Xizi smiled and made arrangements for the emperor, "Your Majesty, you have already had an idea in your mind, and you are just waiting for me to speak for you!" His flattering words made the emperor laugh.

If he directly invited Princess Rui'an back to the capital in his own name, it might cause speculation and discussion from the outside world. However, if he invited Princess Rui'an back to the capital in the name of the imperial mansion, someone would have to return to the capital to express gratitude and stay for a while after the mansion was bestowed! Whether they liked the mansion or not, they would have to move in happily and ostentatiously. Otherwise, it would be considered a disrespect for the imperial grace and would be punished for disrespect! This way, it would seem much more natural. And there was another benefit: it would allow His Royal Highness Prince Jin and Princess Rui'an to spend more time together in the capital, deepening their understanding of each other.

Thinking of this, the emperor smiled slightly and looked at Xiao Xizi with appreciation, saying, "Xiao Xizi, after I write the imperial edict, you will go and deliver it as fast as you can. Be sure to tell Lao Jiu that I understand his intentions and ask him to accompany Rui'an County Master back to the capital!"

"I obey your order!" Xiao Xizi accepted the order.

"Wait!" The Emperor suddenly thought of something. "I will issue another imperial decree! To the Princess of Rui'an County." He quickly picked up his pen and wrote, his flamboyant handwriting reflecting his eagerness. "I will reward the Princess of Rui'an County with some more headwear, jewelry, and shops. Consider it my addition to her dowry!" The Emperor generously added more. He was thinking, since she would be one with the Ninth Brother when she married, any additions he made to her now would be equivalent to giving them to the Ninth Brother. They would all be family, no loss at all!

It can only be said that Prince Jin, who is far away at the border, must have heard what the emperor is planning in the capital!