They sat under the big banyan tree for a long time and talked a lot. This was the first time that the two had a frank conversation. Xiao Tuo also pointed out that the reason he didn't want to get married was that he felt women were troublesome, and he would no longer be as free and easy as before if he had a wife.
Liu Liu promised that after getting married, he could do whatever he liked except not getting close to other women. Xiao Tuo was relieved because one woman was too many and he would be annoyed to death if there was one more.
They chatted until almost midnight, then Xiao Tuo sent Liu Liu back home. He then carried a stool and secretly climbed over the wall back to the mansion. The next morning, he went to pay his respects to the old marquis as usual.
The old marquis acted as if he had never been away. He gave him a few simple instructions as usual and then sent him away.
When Xiao Tuo went out the door, he saw Zhuangzhuang coming with Qinzhi and Qionghua.
"The princess is here?" Xiao Tuo thought she was here to see him, and snorted, "No need to apologize, it's not just you who won't take me in anyway."
Zhuangzhuang had a plain face with a faint smile on her face. Ever since she recovered from the poison, her complexion had been very pale and she was not as strong and lively as before.
"I'm not here to look for you, don't be so conceited, I'm here to look for your grandfather." Zhuangzhuang said.
"Why are you looking for that old man?" Xiao Tuo's heart was filled with alarm, "Condemn him?"
"No, I'm just very tired and want to find someone to chat with." Zhuangzhuang said.
"I'll go in with you." Xiao Tuo was afraid that she would hold a grudge against her grandfather for not wanting her eldest brother to marry her.
Zhuangzhuang did not refuse and let Xiao Tuo take her in.
When the marquis heard that the princess was coming to visit, he was a little stunned, but he immediately straightened his appearance and went out to meet her.
"Your Highness the Princess." The Marquis bowed.
"No need for formalities, sir." Zhuangzhuang looked at him, looking at this old general who had fought bloody battles for the Great Zhou.
"Please come in, Princess." The Marquis took a step back and still bowed to invite her in.
Zhuangzhuang didn't refuse and went straight in.
After the two men sat down, Xiao Tuo stood beside the Marquis and looked at Zhuangzhuang warily.
"I have not yet congratulated the princess on her recovery from her illness."
He recovered from a serious illness, rather than committing suicide, which shows that he was trying to cover up the truth.
Zhuangzhuang nodded, "Thank you, Lord."
The atmosphere was a little awkward, and neither of them seemed to be able to find words to say.
Xiao Tuo remained silent and looked at Qin Zhi and Qiong Hua. The two of them lowered their heads, standing on the left and right sides of Zhuang Zhuang, protecting her like guardians.
Finally, Lord Xiao lost his temper and asked, "Princess, why are you here today?"
Zhuangzhuang raised his head, a little dazed, "Nothing."
“Then…” The Marquis didn’t know what to say. She came to him even though she had nothing to do and didn’t say anything. He had faced and dealt with many crises, but he didn’t know how to deal with his daughter’s worries.
He felt that the princess must have hatred and resentment towards him.
But it's difficult. He understands the princess, but he is afraid that the princess will not understand him.
The silence spread. Xiao Tuo looked at Zhuang Zhuang and his grandfather in surprise. Are these two playing dumb? Why aren't they talking
"Princess, why don't you stay here for dinner today." Xiao Tuo started the conversation, mainly because he felt it was too weird.
Zhuangzhuang didn't object, nor did he agree. He just murmured, "Eat?"
"Eat. Everyone has to eat. You've lost a lot of weight." Xiao Tuo said.
Zhuangzhuang smiled and said, "Really?"
"Don't you know? Ask Qin Zhi, her face is so small."
Lord Xiao did not stop Xiao Tuo from talking to the princess. It was always better to have someone talking than silence.
However, Xiao Tuo couldn't continue his words because Zhuangzhuang didn't say anything else.
She seemed to really come here to sit down.
Lord Xiao couldn't sit still anymore, and said to Xiao Tuo, "Go out first, let Grandfather talk to the princess."
Xiao Tuo glanced at Zhuang Zhuang and was a little reluctant to leave, but he believed that the princess had no ill intentions, so he said, "Okay then, I'll be outside the door."
Qinzhi and Qionghua also went out together. Zhuangzhuang held a cup of tea in his hand, but he didn't drink it. He just looked at the tea foam in the cup quietly.
"Princess!" Lord Xiao called out, and Zhuangzhuang looked up at him.
Lord Xiao looked at the thin face, whose eyes looked particularly large because of the thinness, and said, "Princess, you blame me, don't you?"
Zhuangzhuang was stunned for a moment, "How could it be?"
"A true man never tells lies. The princess resents me, and I understand that," said Lord Xiao.
Zhuangzhuang shook his head and said in confusion: "Why should I hate you? What happened between Xiao Xiao and me has nothing to do with you, and you were the one who stopped it passively."
Lord Xiao did not expect the princess to be so righteous and could not help feeling ashamed. He just asked, "If the princess is not resentful of me and is not here to ask for punishment, then why are you here?"
Zhuangzhuang smiled and looked around. "I just wanted to come and take a look. I wanted to sit here for a while. There is his scent here. In fact, I wanted to go to his room, but I think it's a bit presumptuous."
The Marquis felt a little uncomfortable. He didn't expect that this was the purpose of her coming. He sighed and said, "Xiao Tuo, come in and take the princess to your brother's room."
Xiao Tuo immediately pushed the door open and came in, saying foolishly, "What are you doing in big brother's room? Big brother is not here."
The Marquis looked at Zhuangzhuang, and when he saw Zhuangzhuang standing up, he suddenly asked, "What do you think of the Queen Mother's arranged marriage?"
Zhuangzhuang sat down again, "I don't have any idea, is the Marquis afraid?"
The Marquis remained silent. He was indeed afraid. It would be ok if it was just him, but he was not the only one in the Xiao family.
Xiao Tuo said in confusion: "What is there to be afraid of? No matter how big the problem is, there is a way to solve it. Big brother and the princess have been through so much. If grandfather breaks up the couple again, I, Xiao Tuo, will be the first to stand up."
"Shut up! You're talking nonsense." Lord Xiao scolded him angrily.
"I'm not talking nonsense. I just don't understand why you, grandfather, are so afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind. You don't have the intention of rebelling. Even if the emperor is afraid of our Xiao family, what's wrong? If you didn't do it, you didn't do it."
Although the Marquis was angry, he also felt that Xiao Tuo's words made sense. He was old and had too many concerns. In fact, what if the emperor was afraid of the Xiao family? He would still be afraid if he sacrificed Xiao Xiao's happiness.
If it really comes to a last resort, just retreat. As long as the lives are saved, what else matters
Thinking of this, he suddenly straightened his expression, "If the princess has no other ideas, then when Xiao Xiao recovers from his injury, I will formally propose marriage to the Empress Dowager."
Zhuangzhuang stared at him blankly, tears streaming down his face, "You... agree?"
"The order cannot be disobeyed." The Marquis was a little embarrassed. He didn't want anyone to pry into his inner thoughts, nor did he dare to look at Zhuangzhuang's tears. He had to take part of the responsibility for what happened between him and Xiao Xiao.
Zhuangzhuang bowed, "Thank you, your affirmation means a lot to me."
She followed Xiao Tuo and sat in the room of the man she loved. The place was filled with his scent. She used her fingertips to stroke the books he had read, the shirts he had worn, and the cups he had used.
She couldn't stop crying, crying and laughing, and only then did she feel the reality in her heart.
In fact, she had been living in an illusion these few days since she woke up. After waking up, Zi'an told her that Xiao Xiao committed suicide in front of her bed. At that time, the only thing she was thinking in her mind was that he would not let her down after all.
In the first two days, she didn't care at all about who was trying to seize her wealth. It was not until this moment that she slowly walked out of the dream and into reality.
She is going to marry Xiao Xiao, but Xiao Xiao has not come back yet. No one can answer her whether he will be fine.
She didn't dream of marriage, she just wanted him to be safe.
Otherwise, she would not be able to keep her life.
(End of this chapter)