Reborn as the Regent's Beloved

Of course, Xiao Qishan wouldn't tell Eunuch Zhang that his family had just been arguing, and that the reason for the argument was His Majesty's decree.

He downplayed the issue and told Eunuch Zhang, "I was in my mother's room talking about my daughter getting married, but the late Duke couldn't see it, so he burst into tears."

Eunuch Zhang also held Duke Xiao in high esteem, saying, "The old Duke was a great hero who stood tall and upright. His Majesty has always remembered the contributions your Xiao family made to Dayun."

"Speak only three-tenths of what you know to everyone you meet, and never reveal your whole heart." This is Zhang Gonggong's speaking habit.

Xiao Qishan understood this, so he didn't take Zhang Gonggong's words seriously at all, but he still shed two tears. "His Majesty is so busy with state affairs, yet he still remembers our Duke Xiao's Mansion. That's really wonderful."

"It's good that Duke Xiao knows this, and it's not in vain that the Emperor has shown his kindness to your Xiao family."

With a smile, Eunuch Zhang raised the imperial decree to its highest point. "Duke Xiao, quickly let your daughter receive the decree. The Emperor has bestowed a marriage upon her and His Highness Prince Zhao."

Xiao Qishan really didn't want to see his daughter, but he couldn't refuse the emperor's decree of marriage. So he sent a servant to Changyi Courtyard to call her out, while he and Shen Shi Xiao Qingyin knelt on the floor to wait for the decree.

When they knelt down, Xiao Qingyin glanced at them twice and reluctantly knelt down herself.

She simply couldn't understand why she had to kneel down when Xiao Fengyi received the imperial decree.

Before long, Xiao Fengyi walked into the garden and knelt down before the imperial edict in Zhang Gonggong's hand, saying, "Long live the Emperor! Xiao Fengyi, the eldest daughter of the Xiao family, has come to receive the imperial edict."

Eunuch Zhang said with satisfaction, "The eldest daughter of the Xiao family is truly talented and beautiful, dignified and elegant, just like His Highness Prince Zhao, a dragon among men."

After spreading her sleeves, Xiao Fengyi performed a deep bow, which Xiao Qingyin saw behind her. She felt that in other people's eyes, she was a dignified and virtuous lady, beyond reproach, but in her own eyes, her sister was a person who liked to put on airs.

While she was expressing her dissatisfaction, Eunuch Zhang had already read the imperial decree to Xiao Fengyi: "By the grace of the Emperor, the eldest daughter of the Xiao family, Fengyi, is of noble character, gentle and kind, and of a heart of orchid and wisdom. She is hereby betrothed to Prince Zhao as his wife, to be together for a hundred years. This is the imperial decree."

After Xiao Fengyi raised her head, she took the rolled-up golden brocade, the imperial edict for the princess, the princess's uniform, and the phoenix crown from Eunuch Zhang and handed them to the two maids, Zihua and Xuanhua, who had accompanied her to receive the imperial edict.

The old lady, despite her illness, came to receive the imperial decree, carrying a dragon-headed cane. Eunuch Zhang told her that the emperor pity her for her old age and the fact that she was still recovering from poisoning, so she did not need to kneel.

As Liu watched Xiao Fengyi receive the imperial decree, and saw her gentle and obedient manner as she held the summons and the imperial edict, she suddenly felt like crying.

Hopefully, the Emperor genuinely intends to bestow a marriage upon Fengyi and Prince Zhao, rather than staging a performance to provoke his sons.

She instructed the nanny beside her to give some silver and silk to several eunuchs and palace maids, including Eunuch Zhang, as a running fee.

The two maids holding the phoenix crown and uniform were overjoyed, feeling that their young lady could finally escape the cold and heartless Xiao Guogong Mansion. In this family, apart from the old lady, no one cared about the young lady anymore. The master had just scolded the young lady again, which further confirmed this problem.

Xiao Qishan saw everything but didn't say anything, simply assuming that since his mother had given him the money, he didn't need to give any more.

Shen's eyes were red and swollen from crying, and she didn't pay any attention to the contents of the imperial edict. She just looked at Xiao Fengyi with resentment, feeling that she had caused her sister's death.

Of all the members of the Xiao family, the one who was most uncomfortable and jealous about Xiao Fengyi's arranged marriage was Xiao Qingyin.

Looking at Xiao Fengyi's bright red princess uniform and kingfisher feather phoenix crown, she began to imagine herself wearing that outfit and secretly vowed to become empress. On the day she wore the empress's uniform, she would walk up to her sister and show off her lavishly.

However... there is still something to be happy about that Xiao Fengyi and Feng Xingye were betrothed by the Emperor.

Feng Xingye is the Ninth Imperial Uncle. Unless he rebels, he has no right to inherit the throne. Xiao Fengyi marrying him is tantamount to the passive cancellation of the legend of "Phoenix Fate". She can no longer let this matter overwhelm her.

Moreover, after being betrothed to Feng Xingye, Xiao Fengyi could no longer compete with her for the Seventh Prince. The Seventh Prince would belong to her alone. As long as she treated the Seventh Prince well, she would eventually become the Seventh Princess, or even the Crown Princess and Empress.

Without any ceremony, Eunuch Zhang instructed his godsons to accept the money and silk given by the old lady. Then, with a flick of his whisk, he said, "Old lady, Duke Xiao, young lady, I must also depart. The Emperor still has many matters to attend to."

Madam Shen also did not notice that Eunuch Zhang did not address her or her daughter by their names.

Xiao Qishan and Liu said to Eunuch Zhang, "Please take care, sir."

As Zhang Gonggong walked towards the gate, he said to Xiao Qishan, Liu Shi, Xiao Fengyi, and the others, "No need to see me off."

Meanwhile, he had his disciples and grand-disciples carefully carry the ill-gotten gains they had plundered from the Xiao family.

As the group saw him off at the door, Xiao Qishan said to Eunuch Zhang, "Eunuch Zhang has visited our humble abode many times, but we have yet to invite him to dinner."

Eunuch Zhang narrowed his eyes and said just before stepping out the door, "Next time, I've heard that the food at your residence is especially delicious. I'll definitely come and eat there next time I see you."

After he finished speaking with a smile, he got into the carriage parked at the door and drove away.

Xiao Fengyi stood beside the stone lion, watching until Zhang Gonggong's carriage became a dot at the end of the road before turning her gaze away.

After turning around, she realized that the Xiao family members were all watching her.

Xiao Qishan's gaze was full of disdain, but he still congratulated her, saying, "After you marry into the royal family, you can't be so willful anymore, understand?"

Liu was overjoyed. After hearing his words, she smiled and said, "Don't just talk about her. You need to prepare a dowry for her. She's marrying into the royal family, so it will probably be more than the usual twenty-eight-bearer dowry."

Xiao Qishan was naturally very happy to see that his mother was not scolding or yelling at him.

“Mother is right. I’ll go ask my colleagues at the Imperial Clan Court how much it costs to marry into the Prince’s household.”

Xiao Qingyin was extremely jealous when she heard her father and grandmother discussing how much dowry they would give her older sister, but seeing her mother's distraught appearance, she didn't dare to say a word.

When discussing the dowry, Liu wanted to take Xiao Qishan to the storeroom, saying, "I want to give her my jade ruyi, red coral, and that pearl."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qishan naturally agreed, "Alright, let's go to the storeroom to find the items now."

Xiao Qingyin was driven mad with jealousy, but what made him even more jealous was yet to come.

Just as they entered, Yue Qi arrived with the betrothal gifts from the Prince Zhao's residence, a total of twenty carriages.