Since the Emperor was willing to talk to him, it meant there was still room for negotiation...
Yun Siman approached the carriage. Eunuch Zhao lifted the curtain, revealing the Emperor gnawing on a salted pickled radish and glancing at Yun Siman with smacking sounds.
"Master Huang!" Yun Siman cupped his hands.
Xiao Jinheng leaned against the carriage wall, holding a book and pretending to read it seriously. In reality, he intended to eavesdrop on what his father and Brother Siman were discussing...
The Emperor took a sip of water, placed the remaining half of the pickled radish on the table, and clapped his hands. "Siman, do you think I'm easy to talk to, that you've come to pester Xinling again? Let me tell you, just for the nonsense you spouted before, it's merciful that I haven't broken your legs. How dare you still come looking for Xinling? How can your face be so thick?"
He said he didn't like her, but as soon as Xinling left, he sent gifts and tried to curry favor. Did you think royal princesses were spinsters who wouldn't marry without you?
Yun Siman: "..."
He had guessed he would be lectured, so he sincerely apologized. "Master Huang, I was foolish before, which is why I spoke carelessly and angered you. I apologize!"
Seeing this, Xiao Jinheng nodded slightly. Brother Siman should adopt such an attitude of humble repentance and not oppose his imperial sister every day...
The Emperor snorted, "Do you think an apology will make me forgive you?"
The real test hadn't even begun.
Yun Siman was stunned for a moment and asked, "Then, what else does Master Huang want me to do?"
As long as it wasn't murder or arson, or breaking the law, he would do it...
The Emperor had already made his plan. If he rashly accepted him as a consort, it would be too hasty.
Therefore, he had to test him. Taking the matter of the neighboring country seeking a marriage alliance as an example, if Yun Siman could resolve this matter, the Emperor would marry Xiao Xinling to him.
But if he couldn't handle it, he would say that Yun Siman was incapable of marrying his daughter...
"I'll give you a task!" The Emperor spoke slowly and beckoned Yun Siman. "Come here!"
Yun Siman hesitated for two seconds before approaching the Emperor.
What did the old emperor want to tell him?
The Emperor whispered for a moment. Xiao Xinling craned her neck to listen intently but heard nothing.
After speaking, the Emperor patted Yun Siman's shoulder. "That's it. If you mess this up, then I'll forgive you!"
Yun Siman: "..."
This was difficult.
It seemed that marrying a princess was not that easy.
"What? Is it difficult?" The Emperor glanced at Yun Siman indifferently. "If you refuse now, I'll pretend I never said anything. But if you dare to approach Xinling again in the future, don't blame me for turning hostile..."
Yun Siman stood in place and looked back at the carriage behind him. He saw Xiao Xinling peeking out and staring at him. Yun Siman felt extremely conflicted.
After a long hesitation, he finally replied, "Alright, I promise you. I hope Master Huang won't go back on his word!"
For the sake of pursuing his beloved, he would go all out.
"I naturally keep my word!" The Emperor smiled faintly.
As the supreme ruler of the Great Liang Kingdom, how could he go back on his word?
Yun Siman cupped his hands and bowed again. "Then... then I'll take my leave. Master Huang, we'll meet again soon!"
After speaking, Yun Siman walked to his horse, flicked his cloak, and mounted it.
Xiao Xinling blinked her big eyes and asked, "Hey, where are you going?"
Weren't they going to the capital together?
Yun Siman smiled at her. "I have something to attend to. Young Lady, we'll meet again soon. Wait for me..."
Without waiting for Xiao Xinling to bid him farewell, Yun Siman flicked his whip. "Giddy up, giddy up!"
After a burst of hoofbeats, the young man's back quickly disappeared into the wilderness.
Xiao Jinheng put down his book and asked curiously, "Father, what did you say to Brother Siman?"
Why was it so mysterious?
The Emperor rubbed his head. "You're just a little kid, you wouldn't understand!"
Xiao Jinheng: "..."
He was asking because he didn't understand!
Seeing Eunuch Zhao climb onto the carriage, the Emperor commanded, "What about the matter you were investigating?"
During his time in Dashui Village, the Emperor had not been idle.
He knew that Jin Xiaolou's identity was not simple, so he had asked Eunuch Zhao to investigate him in secret...
"Your Majesty, your servant has sent people to investigate. Jin Xiaolou is not Han. He seems to have been born in a very distant island region. There might be a country there, but our Great Liang's maritime technology is too backward, and we don't know what the outside world is like. Therefore, Jin Xiaolou's identity cannot be verified!"
If the Great Liang had developed maritime technology a few years earlier, it wouldn't have fallen so far behind.
Except for a few neighboring countries, they knew almost nothing about the outside world...
Xiao Jinheng frowned slightly upon hearing this. "No matter where Jin Xiaolou comes from, he always stays with the Yun family. I think it's very inappropriate. What if he has some ulterior motive or ill intentions? Wouldn't the old and young of the Yun family be in danger?"
"Hoo!" The Emperor turned to his son, unable to suppress a laugh. "You brat, you get excited whenever the old Yun family is mentioned. Let me ask you, the old Yun family lives in the countryside. Even if Jin Xiaolou is a spy sent by bad people, what intelligence can he gather from the Yun family?"
You brat, you're just worried that Sweet Baby will be snatched away. The Emperor saw through him long ago...
Xiao Jinheng's expression froze, and he turned his face away. "Mainly, mainly because I live in Dashui Village. If he has ill intentions, won't I be in danger?"
"Get some rest!" The Emperor took out his pipe and took a couple of puffs. "That kid might have really gotten lost from his family and is wandering around. He doesn't pose a threat to you!"
Day after day, he seemed to lose his soul without the little daughter of the old Yun family.
If he knew how to chase wives at such a young age, who knew what he would be like when he grew up...
"Your Majesty!" Eunuch Zhao hesitated for a moment and murmured, "What about that crazy and foolish princess? After all, the King of Chen originally betrothed her to the Second Prince. We've seen her portrait, sent the betrothal gifts, and were just waiting for an auspicious day to welcome the princess!"
"But... but who could have imagined that the State of Chen would suddenly perish? Even if it perished, Princess Fang'er went mad. So, wouldn't her wedding with the Second Prince be called off?"
Whenever this topic came up, the Emperor felt a terrible headache.
Yes, why would a perfectly good girl suddenly go mad?
What kind of mental stimulation must she have endured...
"Father!" Xiao Jinheng narrowed his eyes. "I actually think Miss Fang'er doesn't seem truly mad!"
"What?" The Emperor was slightly startled and looked at his son. "Are you saying she's faking her madness?"