Chapter 351: Without expectations, there can be no disappointments.

Chapter 351: Without expectations, there can be no disappointments.

After having lunch at the Xie residence, the Tang Shuyi family returned to their mansion. Once home, they sat down in the small flower hall of Shi'an Garden to talk.

Tang Shuyi asked Xiao Huai, "Have you obtained Miss Xie's birth chart?"

Xiao Huai nodded, "Mr. Xie himself gave it to me, and I have also given him Yu Ming’s birth chart."

When discussing the marriage of the two children, it was Old Master Xie who spoke with Xiao Huai, which clearly shows how much importance the Xie family placed on this union.

Tang Shuyi nodded, "In the next few days, we'll visit Chongguang Temple and have the abbot match their birth charts."

"Alright," Xiao Huai agreed.

"Is that a gift from Miss Xie to you?" Seeing Xiao Yuming playing with a dagger, Tang Shuyi asked.

Xiao Yuming nodded, and Tang Shuyi continued to inquire, "Then what gift did you give to Miss Xie?"

Xiao Yuming’s face turned slightly red upon hearing the question, but he still answered truthfully, "Also a dagger."

Tang Shuyi turned her head to look at Xiao Huai with an expression that read, 'Is this your doing?'

"He said he didn’t know what Miss Xie liked, so he gave her a dagger first. After finding out what she likes, he will give her a present she does like," Xiao Huai quickly explained.

Tang Shuyi was speechless, "If you don’t know what the girl likes, it’s always safe to give a jade pendant, bracelet, or hairpin, but not a dagger!"

Seeing her getting a bit angry, Xiao Huai hurriedly admitted his mistake, "It's my fault, I will teach him properly later."

Tang Shuyi gave him a stern look, then turned to Xiao Yuming and asked, "Was Miss Xie upset?"

Xiao Yuming shook his head and recounted their conversation. Upon hearing it, Tang Shuyi couldn't help but laugh. Well, things weren’t too bad after all.

………

The Xie Residence

Lady Xie also inquired about how Miss Xie and Xiao Yuming were getting along. Upon hearing that Xiao Yuming had given her a dagger, she was taken aback, then listened as Xie Xihua added, "Later, he thought the gift he gave me wasn't appropriate, so he gave me the jade pendant he was wearing and asked me to make a request."

Miss Xie laughed at her own words, finding the more she thought about Xiao Yuming’s expression at the time, the sillier it seemed. Lady Xie laughed along, commenting, "He's a sincere child, which is good."

Xie Xihua remembered Xiao Yuming's promise to treat her well, and her heart skipped a few beats. She also thought highly of him.

"Your grandfather has already received the horoscopes, and someone will go tomorrow to have them matched," Lady Xie continued: "If there are no issues with the horoscopes, we can set a date for the engagement."

Xie Xihua nodded with her head on the table, and Lady Xie patted her on the head, saying, "The Crown Prince of Dingguo has chosen Princess Jianing. I've inquired about her; although she is quite capable and strategic, she is straightforward in her dealings with others and should be easy to get along with. But even if she isn’t, you shouldn't be afraid; even if she's a princess, your status isn't much less than hers."

Xie Xihua, knowing her mother's concerns, leaned against her and said, "Don’t you know me, Mother? I won't be taken advantage of."

Lady Xie laughed, "That's the spirit. We don't have to be the best, but we won't be bullied. Still, the wife of the Crown Prince of Dingguo wouldn't choose poorly."

Here she sighed, "Although the Crown Prince of Dingguo has no concubines, it doesn’t necessarily mean his son won’t take any. You shouldn't be too fixated on this matter."

Any man with a bit of wealth and power tends to have multiple wives and concubines; the Crown Prince of Dingguo is just an exception. One cannot let their daughter dwell on such exceptional cases, as it wouldn’t bode well for her future.

Although Xie Xihua felt somewhat uncomfortable hearing this, she nodded, "Mother, rest assured, I understand."

Lady Xie embraced her daughter, knowing that without expectations, there would also be no disappointments.

The next day, Xiao Huai personally visited Chongguang Temple to have the horoscopes of Xiao Yuming and Xie Xihua matched by the abbot, and the result was excellent. The match made by the Xie Residence was also excellent.

Then the two families began discussing the marriage, picking an auspicious day to formally request a betrothal at the Xie Residence. The betrothal gifts prepared by Tang Shuyi, although different from those for Princess Jianing, were of the same total value, fair and proper.

Early that day, a jubilant procession set out from the residence of the Crown Prince of Dingguo, making its way to the Xie Residence with music and fanfare, attracting many onlookers. In no time, the whole capital knew of the union between the Crown Prince of Dingguo’s family and the Xie family.

Although there had been some speculation beforehand, the confirmation of the news still shocked many. The union between the Crown Prince of Dingguo's family and the Xie family could directly affect the imperial court, or more precisely, the struggle between Xiao Huai and the Emperor, who would win and who would lose.

The Emperor in the palace learned of this news quickly. He was so furious that he smashed several teacups, then rose to visit Consort Yuan. Upon seeing her, he said, "Speed up the plan."

Consort Yuan placed a cup of tea beside the Emperor, feeling anxious as she had also heard of the union between the Crown Prince of Dingguo’s family and the Xie family. It was clear that the Crown Prince of Dingguo’s power was growing; could the Emperor really outmaneuver the Crown Prince?

If he couldn't, not only would her and her son's lives be at risk, but the Yuan family might also face destruction.

Seeing her hesitant expression, the Emperor narrowed his eyes, "What? Are you scared?"

Concubine Yuan shook her head, "Not at all. Your servant is merely considering how to ensure our plan is foolproof."

The Emperor nodded with satisfaction, "It needn't be too meticulous; I merely require a pretext for Xiao Huai to rebel and force a palace coup."

"Understood," responded Concubine Yuan.

With the plan already halfway executed, turning back was not an option for her.

"Rest assured, once our scheme succeeds, I will appoint the fourth prince as Crown Prince," the Emperor pledged. "All I have left are the third and fourth sons. You are well aware of what the third is like; he cannot compare to the fourth."

Concubine Yuan nodded, pondering within. Whether the palace coup was real or staged, should the Emperor die, her son would have a significant chance to ascend the throne. It would all depend on who would triumph in the end—the Empress or them.

After sitting for a while longer in Concubine Yuan's chambers, the Emperor departed. Once he was gone, she immediately sent a message to the Grand Tutor and the fourth prince.

In the Empress's chamber, a maid was reporting, "Upon hearing about the alliance between the Duke Dingguo's household and the Xie family, the Emperor lost his temper and then visited Concubine Yuan. He stayed a little over a quarter of an hour before returning to the Imperial Study."

The Empress, reclining on her couch, hummed in acknowledgment before inquiring, "What plans might the Emperor and Concubine Yuan have?"

The maid stood silently aside, equally baffled by the developments.

After a moment, the Empress added, "Spread the word. Inform my father and have him keep an eye on movements at the Grand Tutor's residence and the fourth prince's estate."

With an affirmative response, the maid departed, and the Empress closed her eyes, determined that the fourth prince must not become Emperor.

Meanwhile, Consort Liang also received the news and laughed heartily, "Excellent, let the chaos erupt! My revenge is nearly at hand."

………………