You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

"Let me think about it some more."

The emperor sighed, pondering whether he had gone too far in making things difficult for a child.

The Empress and Emperor Xiao Long also knew that this was an important decision for the Emperor. Imperial power needed to be upheld, and the Emperor's word was law. However, since he was willing to reconsider, there was hope.

Meanwhile, in a teahouse outside the palace, Lou Li, the eldest son of the Lou family, was sharing a room with Xiao Yan, but the atmosphere between the two was not harmonious.

"His Highness seems distracted."

Lou Li looked at Xiao Yan with a half-smile. Lately, their people had been mysteriously disappearing, which was already a bad thing, but His Highness was preoccupied with other matters.

So what if Xie Wanru wants a divorce? The Third Prince is so obsessed with her. In the Third Prince's eyes, what exactly is his sister Lou Yao?

Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze, looking slightly displeased. "I didn't. You're overthinking it. Besides, what I'm thinking is not for you to guess. Just do your job."

Lou Li's smile froze. He knew very well that the Third Prince wanted the support of the Lou family, and the Lou family also wanted to support the Third Prince to ascend the throne and become the head of the four major families.

There was a situation of mutual exploitation between them, but his sister genuinely loved the Third Prince.

"I have spoken too much. Yao Yao has asked me several times recently, asking me to inquire when Your Highness will have time to appreciate the plum blossoms."

Lou Li became more respectful.

Over the years, the Lou family's status in Xuancheng has gradually declined. They probably don't want to become like the Shen family, forced to keep a low profile, which would be a nightmare.

"Then let's do it tomorrow."

Xiao Yan said casually.

Hearing that Xie Wanru wanted a divorce, he felt uneasy, much like when he learned that she was going to marry Shen Nian'an.

-

-

When Xie Yanting arrived in Xuancheng, it was New Year's Eve, but he still went to the palace first.

After finishing his busy work today, the Emperor set aside time during his lunch break to meet with him.

"How have you been in the North lately? Alas, it has been several years since I last saw your father."

The Emperor sighed. He had wanted Xie Yun to come back and stay for a while, but the Northern Frontier couldn't function without the father and son. He wouldn't feel at ease with anyone else.

Xie Yun followed his father in conquering this land. They fought side by side and were like brothers.

"Your Majesty, Father is well, and my elder brother is married. Everyone is doing well."

Xie Yanting was respectful.

The Emperor asked him some common questions, such as about the girl his elder brother had married. Because it was New Year's Eve, he didn't ask too many important questions, but only told him to go back to the Xie residence and spend a good New Year with Xie Wanru. He would be summoned to the palace for a detailed discussion after the New Year.

Crown Prince Xiao Long has been working tirelessly these past few days, urging officials below to transport supplies without any mistakes, thus preventing the disaster from spreading. Now, all that is needed is to wait for spring to arrive, and this disaster will be averted.

Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction, except for Xie Wanru's divorce, which the Emperor still refused to discuss.

Xie Yanting wasn't in a hurry to ask. He knew the Emperor's concerns, but he would never let Wanwan be bullied again.

Before leaving the palace, Aunt Caiyun, who served the Empress, brought him some things, saying they were a reward from Her Majesty the Empress, and asked him to take them back to the Xie residence for Xie Wanru.

He then realized that when the Emperor said he would return to the Xie residence to spend the New Year with Wanwan, it meant that Wanwan had already returned to the Xie family.

"Third brother, you may not know this, but the princess had already returned to the Xie residence before you came back. The Empress and His Majesty do not want to make things difficult for you. Once the princess's residence is renovated in a few days, the princess can move in and live there. This will not affect your future marriages."

Since Aunt Caiyun had come, she had to explain a few things to Xie Yanting, so she said this while seeing him off from the palace.

"What princess's mansion, what impact on marriage, aunt, could you tell me the whole story? I'm a bit confused."

Xie Yanting was somewhat puzzled. His sister had just returned to the manor after the divorce, and the brothers didn't care about those empty titles.

Aunt Caiyun told Xie Yanting everything about the flower festival, and he finally understood the whole story. He immediately wanted to rush to the Shen residence and give all those who bullied Wanwan a good beating.

“I was a bit impulsive at the time. I didn’t want the princess to stay in the Shen residence and suffer any more grievances, so I took her back to the Xie residence.”

Aunt Caiyun sighed. Under the circumstances that day, she was right to do what she did, but upon reflection, she realized that it was indeed a bit impulsive.

However, she sent someone to inform the Empress that day. In reality, it was the Empress who acted impulsively, unable to bear seeing the princess being wronged, but this matter could not be said openly.

"Auntie, you flatter me. If you hadn't been there that day, Wanwan would have been bullied to death by them. It was because you protected Wanwan that she wasn't left all alone."

When he set off, he only knew that Wanwan wanted a divorce. The others guessed that Wanwan might have been wronged, so he returned to Xuan ahead of time to stand up for her and give her some support.

It was unexpected that Shen Nian'an would be so shameless as to bring his mistress into Wanwan's boudoir for illicit relations. What a disgrace this was for Wanwan.

"Please tell Her Majesty, Aunt, that Wanwan is a daughter of the Xie family. After her divorce, whether she lives in the Princess's Mansion or the Xie family, the three of us brothers will protect her and will never have any other intentions. No matter what outsiders say, Wanwan is a daughter of the Xie family and our sister."

After Xie Yanting finished speaking, he bowed to Aunt Caiyun. He was grateful to the Empress and Aunt Caiyun and had no intention of blaming them for making the decision on their own.

After he finished his greetings, he quickly climbed onto his horse, his only thought now being to return to the Xie residence to see his sister. Heaven knows how heartbroken his sister, who had been pampered since childhood, must be, alone in the face of such a tragedy.

Aunt Caiyun nodded as she watched Xie Yanting's departing figure. The Xie family's son is truly excellent, calm and reasonable in the face of adversity.

"Wanwan!"

"Wanwan!"

As soon as Xie Yanting entered the mansion, he started shouting, all the way to the small courtyard where Xie Wanru lived before she got married.

Actually, Xie Wanru heard him call out "Wanwan" the first time, but she waited for Xie Yanting to come looking for her without saying a word.

In her past life, she and her three brothers rarely saw each other. In the ten years they spent together, they didn't even spend half a month together in total. She always thought that when they got older and their father and brothers returned to Xuan, they could get together more often.

Unexpectedly, her misplaced trust in evil people led to the downfall of the Xie family.

"Third brother..."

Looking at the spirited young man before her, Xie Wanru burst into tears, her heart filled with overwhelming emotion.

The reason she dared to divorce and return to the mansion was because she knew that her father and brothers would not despise her, and she had a way out, so she was fearless.