Wei Shuxuan was almost bored to death listening. She stole a glance at Ge Zian sitting beside her, who was sipping his tea leisurely. Suddenly, she felt a bit unbalanced. Why should she be suffering here while he was enjoying his tea comfortably over there?
"Uncle Ge, I'm starting to feel a bit hungry. Could you ask Zian to get me something to eat from the kitchen?" Wei Shuxuan said with a sweet smile.
"Of course. Zian, go to the kitchen quickly and get some pastries for Xuan'er!"
"Yes, Father."
After Ge Zian left, Ge Long'an started to talk about their old times again. Wei Shuxuan propped her chin up and looked at Ge Long'an. "Uncle Ge, I have something to tell you."
".....Xuan'er, what do you want to say? Is it about your marriage with Zian? Don't worry about this. We'll prepare all the dowry and betrothal gifts. After all, you only have me and Zian as your relatives here now."
Wei Shuxuan was a bit speechless. She hadn't even said anything yet. Why did Uncle Ge jump to conclusions?
"No.....Uncle Ge, although I do want to talk about the engagement, it's not about the dowry and betrothal gifts....." Wei Shuxuan explained helplessly.
"Then what aspect do you want to talk about?" Ge Long'an looked at her in confusion.
Wei Shuxuan hesitated for a moment but still decided to say it. "It's about the engagement between Zian and me. I'm wondering if we can call it off?"
"Why call it off? Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers. This engagement was made between your father and me when he was alive. You should obey the words of your elders."
Now Wei Shuxuan didn't know what to say. ".....Uncle Ge, I don't mean anything else. I just think that Zian and I don't have an emotional foundation yet. I don't want to marry him for now....."
Ge Long'an looked at Wei Shuxuan a bit disapprovingly, but he could understand the pain of her losing her loved ones. So he decided to give her some time and not push her too hard.
"Xuan'er, I understand your feelings, but the engagement can't be called off casually. Uncle can give you some time to adjust. We can postpone the wedding for now."
Wei Shuxuan wanted to say something else, but she knew it would be useless. Uncle Ge definitely wouldn't agree.
Ah, she really wanted to go back! Wei Shuxuan propped her chin up and thought boredly.
Although Ge Zian brought her some delicate pastries, Wei Shuxuan still felt bored. Fortunately, it was evening soon. Just as Ge Long'an was about to ask her to stay for dinner, she spoke first. "Uncle Ge, I still have some things to do in the palace. Let's save dinner for next time."
As soon as she finished speaking, Wei Shuxuan winked at Ge Zian. Ge Zian immediately understood her meaning. "Yes, Father. Xuan'er still has some unfinished business in the palace. Let her go back first. We can invite her to stay for dinner when she's less busy."
Ge Long'an hesitated for a moment and then agreed. "All right, then let's wait for next time. We're a family now, Xuan'er. If you have anything to say, you can tell me or Zian."
"I know. I'll go back first. Zian, come and see me off quickly!" Wei Shuxuan was afraid that Ge Long'an would change his mind, so she quickly asked Ge Zian to see her back to the palace.
"Then Zian, you go and see Xuan'er back."
"Yes, Father."
Ge Zian escorted Wei Shuxuan to the palace gate. "I'll stop here."
"Thanks, Zian. But I think Uncle Ge won't give up. He'll definitely ask me to go to your place for dinner. If it weren't for my fear that Prince Xin Zizhao might have some opinions, I would have stayed for dinner. The sooner I finish it, the better."
"Because of the Fifth Prince?" Ge Zian looked at Wei Shuxuan and murmured.
"I'll go back first! See you later, Zian!"
When she returned to Fenghe Hall, Chief Eunuch Li was guarding outside the main hall. There was no moon or stars tonight. Only thick clouds were spread across the sky.
Wei Shuxuan walked up to the main hall and asked Chief Eunuch Li, "Chief Eunuch Li, where is your master?"
"Miss Wei, the Fifth Prince is reading in the study. Also, the Fifth Prince said that if you come back, you'd better go to the study to find him yourself." Then, Chief Eunuch Li looked around and whispered in Wei Shuxuan's ear, "And the Fifth Prince seems to be in a bad mood today. Miss Wei, you should handle it yourself."
".....Really?" Wei Shuxuan looked at Chief Eunuch Li, who seemed to be serious and not joking. Forget it. She would just face the situation as it came.
Chief Eunuch Li followed Wei Shuxuan to the outside of Xin Zizhao's study. The oil lamp was already lit in the room. Chief Eunuch Li bent down slightly. "Your Highness, Miss Wei is here to see you."
"Let her in."
"Yes," Chief Eunuch Li got Xin Zizhao's permission and then turned to look at Wei Shuxuan. "Miss Wei, go in."
When she entered the study, Wei Shuxuan saw Xin Zizhao reading a book. It seemed to be the Huangdi Neijing. "Chief Eunuch Li said you were looking for me. What do you want to talk to me about?"
"Well, I got the two letters you asked me to get. Take them back and have a look."
Saying that, Xin Zizhao put the two letters on the table and let Wei Shuxuan come and get them herself. Wei Shuxuan was surprised that Xin Zizhao had gotten the letters from Emperor Jinzheng so quickly.
"Damn, I thought your father wouldn't be willing to give them to you!"
"He wasn't unwilling. He was quite willing to do this," Xin Zizhao shifted his gaze from the book and looked at Wei Shuxuan, who was dressed in men's clothing. "Where did you go?"
"Nothing much. Uncle Ge asked me to go out and catch up. I went out with Zian. They originally wanted me to stay for dinner, but I thought it would be better to come back first, so I didn't stay."
Although Wei Shuxuan didn't directly say the reason for not staying for dinner, Xin Zizhao still sensed something. His anger that had been there before dissipated because of her words.
"I still have some reading to do. You can go out first."
"Okay."
Wei Shuxuan took the letters and went back to her room. She sat down at the table and couldn't wait to open the letters. She skimmed through the contents roughly. The general content of the letter written by Wei Tu was the same as what Ge Long'an had said. There was no difference.
As for the informant letter, it also said that Wei Tu had colluded with people from the Qiangfeng Kingdom. However, she felt that the handwriting was very slanted and crooked, as if it wasn't written with the writer's dominant hand.