Reborn as the Regent's Beloved

Zi Hua noticed Xiao Fengyi's dependent gaze. Could it be that her mistress likes... or even if she doesn't, she should at least have some affection for her?

Zi Hua glanced at the tall, reliable man beside her. His back was straight, yet he lowered his head gently to listen to her speak, accommodating her. Whether it was out of good manners or genuine affection, at that moment, she felt that the two were a match made in heaven.

On the way back, Zi Hua heard that Prince Zhao had asked His Majesty for a marriage decree to make her young lady his wife. Wouldn't that mean her young lady was giving him her blessing in marriage? Wouldn't that be considered repaying him?

The maid didn't want to say anything, but now that the matter had come to this point, it wouldn't be appropriate not to make it clear.

She stepped forward without permission and said, "Madam, wouldn't it be a kind of repayment that Miss is going to marry Prince Zhao?"

Zi Hua's voice was soft, but everyone heard it. Xuan Hua grabbed her clothes and said sharply, "Zi Hua, don't talk nonsense!"

Xuanhua also knew about the Emperor's bestowal of a marriage upon the young lady, but she had not mentioned it because she was afraid that the young lady would not be willing and that she would have no choice in the matter.

This could have been easily brushed aside, but this Zi Hua idiot really knows how to bring up the most sensitive topics!

But to everyone's surprise, while Xuan Hua was anxious and worried, her young mistress was not afraid of being betrothed at all. She even took the initiative to tell the old lady, "Grandmother, the Emperor has bestowed a marriage upon me and Prince Zhao."

When she brought it up, not only the old lady but also Prince Zhao, who was standing beside her, were caught off guard.

Under the man's sharp gaze, Xiao Fengyi looked at the old lady, hoping she could offer some advice.

Zi Hua and Xuan Hua returned with the old lady. They knew about the arranged marriage, and the old lady knew about it too. She hadn't brought it up in front of Feng Xingye because she was afraid that Xiao Fengyi was being forced.

If she were forced to bring it up herself, it would seem like she was making fun of Fengyi, and the old lady would never treat her granddaughter that way.

The old lady reached out and grasped Xiao Fengyi's hand, raising her eyes earnestly to ask, "Fengyi, are you really willing?"

Xiao Fengyi lightly touched her collarbone a few times with her pointed chin to indicate her willingness, "Yes, granddaughter is willing to marry Prince Zhao!"

She didn't tell her grandmother the details of the Windwalker Agreement, as it would worry the old woman.

When the old lady saw that her granddaughter said she was willing, she could only nod.

"That's good."

Although she felt that Prince Zhao was a one-in-a-million grandson-in-law, the old lady dared not say much, fearing that the emperor might be wary, wondering if the bestowal of the marriage had ulterior motives, and that Fengyi might pretend to agree in order not to worry her.

Until everything settles down, she can only wait and see.

After they had been talking for a while, Feng Xingye was about to serve the dishes, but the old lady dared not eat at the Prince Zhao's residence, fearing that the emperor's spies would find out and think that the Duke Xiao's residence and Prince Zhao were forming a faction for personal gain.

She declined, saying, "I dare not trouble Your Highness. I should return to the Duke's Mansion first, so as not to worry Qishan and make him look for me everywhere. It would be bad if things got to the government office and caused trouble in the capital."

Although Feng Xingye was only twenty-three years old, he had grown up in the royal family and was very familiar with the treacherous and scheming power struggles of the emperor. He also knew the reason why the old lady left.

Since the old lady has already brought it up, he won't try to stop her.

He waved his hand and summoned Yue Qi, who was waiting for orders, "Prepare the carriage!"

"There's no need to trouble Your Highness to prepare a carriage. It's not far anyway, I'll just walk back myself." The old lady didn't want to take a carriage either.

The man did not persist, but Xiao Fengyi could not let her grandmother, who was barely breathing, walk back to the Xiao residence. Zihua and Xuanhua were also unsteady on their feet, looking listless.

She took out the blue jasmine firework she had been clutching in her hand. This firework was a token she used to communicate with Ye Liu, but she hadn't had a chance to use it until now. She could use the firework to send a message.

After much effort, Ye Liu finally brought the old lady and Xiao Fengyi back to the Xiao residence.

Before leaving Prince Zhao's residence, Feng Xingye gave Xiao Fengyi a few rounds of fireworks, saying, "If you need anything, you can set off fireworks to find me."

She looked closely at the label; the fireworks were red roses, a very bright color, and should be very eye-catching when set off in the sky at night.

Xiao Fengyi accepted the red rose and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your gift. I will use it if there is an emergency."

"Well, let's go."

Feng Xingye was really curious to see when she would use the fireworks, but he didn't say it out loud.

After returning to the Xiao residence, Xiao Fengyi escorted the old lady to Changyi Courtyard, where Xiao Qishan, along with Madam Shen, Xiao Qingyin, and Xiao Ye, respectfully welcomed her.

The old lady did not tell Xiao Qishan and the others about the Seventh Prince kidnapping her. Xiao Qishan, who was kept in the dark, thought that his mother had finished recuperating and returned home from Baoguo Temple.

He clasped his hands in a fist and smiled, "Mother, you didn't even tell me you were coming home so I could have come to pick you up!"

The old lady glanced at her good-for-nothing son, her scheming daughter-in-law, and her granddaughter, and she was furious.

Grandson Xiao Ye is also a clueless person who can't distinguish right from wrong. Apart from Xiao Fengyi, there isn't a single person in the family who is easy to deal with.

Thinking of this, the old lady couldn't help but sneer sarcastically, "Pick me up? You're actually biased towards picking up this old bone of mine?"

These words made Xiao Qishan and Shen Shi and the others tremble with fear, thinking that the old lady was going to give them another lecture. But after waiting for a long time, the old lady did not give a lecture. Instead, she told them about a happy event.

She calmly said, "His Highness Prince Zhao has already requested His Majesty to grant him the marriage."

"King Zhao is getting married?"

Upon hearing this news, Xiao Qishan and Madam Shen both felt it was unbelievable. Xiao Qingyin involuntarily looked at Xiao Fengyi, sensing that this matter was related to her.

Unlike her daughter, Madam Shen did not connect Prince Zhao's marriage with Xiao Fengyi, but she was particularly concerned about the choice of bride. "Which family's young lady will His Highness Prince Zhao marry? I remember when he returned to the capital after his victory, many noble ladies in the capital inquired about him, some even willing to become his concubines, but he didn't like any of them. How long has it been, and he has already met the one he loves?"

After hearing her mother's description, Xiao Qingyin wrung the handkerchief in her hand even tighter.

Looking at Xiao Fengyi, whose face was pale beside her grandmother, she couldn't help but feel that Xiao Fengyi was definitely the one in Prince Zhao's heart.

How could this be? What gives her the right to do this?!

While Xiao Qingyin stood by indignantly, Liu explained to her daughter-in-law, "His Highness Prince Zhao's bride is her."

Liu pulled Xiao Fengyi in front of her so that her son and daughter-in-law could take a good look at her.

This appearance startled not only Liu, but also Xiao Fengyi and Xiao Ye, causing them to take a few steps back.

Xiao Ye clasped his hands and said, "Grandmother, are you joking or...? Prince Zhao and my younger sister are getting married? How did they fall in love?"

Ignoring Xiao Qishan and Madam Shen's stunned silence, the old lady fabricated a story: "Ye'er asked how they fell in love? Well, we have you to thank. It was on the day you were chosen as the matriarch that they fell in love at first sight. Now your marriage is still undecided, but your younger sister already has a husband."