I fulfilled the female supporting role's wish and I succeeded

The night is as dark as ink, with cold stars dotted everywhere.

The lights were on in the study of the Duke's Mansion.

When Xiao Heng stepped into the room, Duke Xiao Minghan and his wife Yu were sitting opposite each other, with a serious look on their faces.

Obviously, they had been waiting for a long time.

"Father, Mother." Xiao Heng put aside his coldness and stepped forward to salute.

Yu quickly stood up, took her son's hand, and looked him up and down.

"Heng'er, you're finally back." There was concern in her voice that was hard to conceal.

"In the palace...how's Her Royal Highness the Princess doing?"

Although Xiao Minghan sat still, his sharp eyes were fixed on his son, waiting for an answer.

Xiao Heng felt warm in her heart when she saw her parents' worried expressions.

He smiled slightly, and that smile dispelled the chill of the night and also brushed away the haze in his parents' hearts.

"Father, Mother, don't worry."

"Her Royal Highness Princess Zhaoyang has already agreed to my request."

After these words were spoken, there was silence in the study for a moment.

Yu was stunned at first, then a look of great surprise blossomed on her face.

"Really?!" She grabbed Xiao Heng's arm and asked for confirmation. "Your Highness, Princess, do you really agree?"

"It's absolutely true." Xiao Heng nodded with an affirmative tone.

"That's great! That's great!" Cui was so happy that her eyes were a little moist.

"It is a great blessing for our Xiao family to marry Her Royal Highness the Princess!"

Xiao Minghan also showed a rare smile on his face, stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, okay!"

However, after the brief joy, deeper worries appeared on the couple's faces.

The smile on Yu's face gradually faded, and she looked at her husband worriedly.

Xiao Minghan also frowned and said in a deep voice: "Heng'er, although this is a great joyous event, but..."

He paused, his tone becoming exceedingly serious.

"Now in our Xiao family, your father is the Duke of Zhenguo, and you are also the Duke of Suguo."

"One family, two states, is already at the peak of its power and attracts attention."

Yu took over the conversation, worriedly saying, "Yes, Heng'er."

"Now you are marrying Princess Zhaoyang... The Princess is your Majesty's biological sister, and her status is incomparably noble."

"Will our Xiao family become so powerful that it will overwhelm the government and threaten the emperor?"

"Since ancient times, the influence of foreign relatives has often drawn suspicion from the emperor, and they rarely have a good ending."

"Your Majesty may be magnanimous, but the human heart is unpredictable. There are countless people in the court who are watching us."

"Will this marriage bring disaster to the Xiao family and the eldest princess?"

Parents' concerns are not groundless.

This is indeed the most realistic problem facing us.

The power of the Xiao family, coupled with the status of the eldest princess, is enough to make any emperor feel uneasy.

Xiao Heng looked at the anxiety in her parents' eyes and explained patiently:

"Father, Mother, I understand your concerns."

He walked to the table and poured hot tea for his parents himself, his movements calm and unhurried.

"But please rest assured, the situation is not as critical as you think."

He handed the teacup to his mother, his eyes calm and confident.

"First of all, the current emperor is not a narrow-minded or suspicious monarch."

"He can tolerate others and use them. Otherwise, my father and brother wouldn't be in their current positions."

"Since His Majesty dares to give it, it shows that he has the magnanimity and confidence to control the overall situation."

Xiao Minghan picked up the teacup, gently stroked the wall of the cup with his fingers, and pondered in silence.

Xiao Heng continued, "Secondly, Princess Zhaoyang is your Majesty's biological sister."

"The love between brother and sister is so deep that it is far beyond the reach of ordinary rulers and ministers."

"Your Majesty loves and trusts the eldest princess far more than he suspects her."

"He will never bear any grudge against his sister because of this marriage."

"What's more..." Xiao Heng changed the subject, a sharp look flashing in his eyes.

"Hasn't our Xiao family already stood on the side of the eldest princess?"

"Over the years, it has been an open secret in the court that I have been working for the eldest princess."

"If Your Majesty was truly worried and suspicious, why would he wait until today?"

"Isn't the reward His Majesty bestowed upon my father and brother a few days ago the best proof of this?"

"That's comfort, but more importantly, trust."

As Yu listened to her son's clear analysis, the worry on her face gradually faded.

"What you said...makes sense."

Xiao Minghan pondered for a moment, finally nodded, and his brows relaxed.

"Heng'er is right."

"Your Majesty is indeed no ordinary emperor, and the Princess is deeply trusted by His Majesty."

"Perhaps, I am worrying too much."

He looked at Xiao Heng with relief and admiration in his eyes.

"I'm relieved that you can see this."

"However," he changed the subject and warned again, "even so, you must be more cautious in your future actions."

"The higher the position, the more cautious one must be. One must not become arrogant or careless, or give others an advantage."

"I understand," Xiao Heng replied solemnly. "Don't worry, father. I won't worry."

Yu also breathed a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on her face again.

"In that case, we should prepare the betrothal gifts carefully. We must not be disrespectful and neglect Her Royal Highness the Princess."

Xiao Heng smiled and said, "Mother, there's no rush."

"The Princess wants to wait until the situation in the court settles down before officially announcing the marriage."

"For now, it's better to keep a low profile."

"Alright," Xiao Zhongkun agreed. "This is a serious matter, so it's always better to be cautious."

"The affairs of the court change rapidly, so it is indeed not appropriate to publicize them too early."

The atmosphere in the study finally became completely relaxed.

Xiao Heng chatted with his parents for a while about family matters, calmed their minds, and then said goodbye and left.

The night wind blew as he walked back to his courtyard with steady steps.

Thinking of Wan Ning's clear and determined eyes, and her words "I won't let you wait too long", his heart was burning with joy.

Sister, no matter how many thorns there are on the road ahead, I will accompany you to smooth them out one by one.

At the same time, in the Princess's Mansion.

Su Luo finished processing several secret reports on hand and tapped the table lightly with his fingertips.

Jiang Yuanbai, the Seventh Prince...

These two names, like two dark clouds, hang over my heart.

We must find out their background as soon as possible.

And Xue Fangfei...

She called for woad.

"Go and tell Xue Fangfei a message." Su Luo's voice was cold and clear, with unquestionable majesty.

Song Lan bowed his head respectfully: "Your Highness, please give your orders."

"Tell her to find a way to get into Mingyi Academy."

"Become a female student at Mingyi Academy."

Song Lan was slightly stunned. Mingyi Hall?

That was the place where the children of high-ranking officials and nobles in the court went to school, and the threshold was extremely high.

Although the Jiang family is also a scholarly family, it now has a close relationship with the Seventh Prince and its status is delicate.

Given Jiang Li's identity and her previously slandered reputation, it would be extremely difficult for her to enter Mingyi Hall.

Su Luo seemed to see through her doubts and added lightly:

"Tell her that if she encounters obstacles, it will be difficult to go..."

"When necessary, you can use my name to act."

Song Lan's heart trembled, and he immediately understood the seriousness of the matter.

Something that would make Her Royal Highness the Princess willing to sacrifice her own reputation to accomplish...

It seems that allowing Xue Fangfei to enter Mingyi Academy has extraordinary significance for His Highness.

"Yes, I understand." Song Lan didn't dare to ask more questions and agreed immediately.

"This matter must be done in secret and must not be made public." Su Luo reminded again.

"The slaves obey."