After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

Chapter 221 The Crown Prince's Concubine? Her?! How could this be!

But the Chu Emperor's attitude last time was unpredictable, so why would he grant a marriage now?

The Xie family and others had something on their minds.

Xie Ansheng turned to the servant and instructed, "Go and call the madam and the young lady here."

The servant hurriedly ran to the backyard to call for help.

When the news reached Xie Xing, she was still somewhat surprised. At this moment, she was just coming back to her senses from preparing things for Jun Lanjin and looked up at the servant:

"I see."

She said this as she put away what she was holding.

When the servant saw that the message had been delivered, he ran off to pass it on to others.

This imperial edict came suddenly, catching the Xie family completely off guard.

What imperial edict could the emperor possibly issue to the Xie family?

It can't be a promotion or a title, can it?

Xie Xing couldn't help but think of the garden party held by the Empress yesterday. It was called a garden party, but right after he came out of the Empress's garden party, the imperial edict arrived.

Surely it can't be an arranged marriage?

Even if it's an arranged marriage, who is it to be arranged to marry?

Before long, the women of the Xie family arrived.

Xie Mingzhu's face was somewhat pale; after all, what had happened yesterday, her expression was naturally not good.

She had just looked up when she saw Xie Tongchen, who had been released.

Her face lit up with joy. "Second Brother, you're out?"

Xie Tongchen noticed that Xie Mingzhu's complexion was not good and quickly asked with concern, "Mingzhu, you don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"

Hearing Xie Tongchen's concerned words, Xie Mingzhu's eyes reddened slightly, but she turned her head and shook her head with a smile: "Thank you for your concern, Second Brother. Mingzhu is fine now."

Seeing her like this, Xie Tongchen felt even more heartache.

Now, her father and the eldest and third sons are all misled by Xie Xing's true feelings, and they are so cold to Mingzhu, even wanting her to die. Mingzhu, who has been pampered since childhood, naturally cannot accept such a change.

It's understandable that I feel bad.

Seeing her so distant made Xie Tongchen feel even more distressed.

If Xie Xing hadn't appeared, Mingzhu would have remained their precious darling forever.

Jun Lanjin glanced at Xie Tongchen, then turned to look at Xie Ansheng and the others with a half-smile.

Xie Ansheng was simply unbearable to look at.

This inverse.

Why didn't I know back then that this rebellious son was so stubborn?

[Tsk tsk tsk, this must be love.]

[Xie Tongchen's love is truly profound. If he knew that Xie Mingzhu almost slept with Luo Hanfeng yesterday because of an aphrodisiac, I wonder what would happen.]

The heartfelt words arrived at just the right moment.

Xie Yuhe: "..."

Your second brother didn't know before, but now he does.

and many more.

Xie Yuhe's eyes narrowed. Had Luo Hanfeng also been drugged?

So, does that mean the man's footprints in Xie Mingzhu's room last night were actually Luo Hanfeng's?

Jun Lanjin's smile deepened.

"Ouch, Second Brother..." Just then, Xie Mingzhu's cry of pain came.

Xie Tongchen had just been holding her arm when he suddenly heard Xie Xing's thoughts, and without realizing it, he used a little more force.

Xie Mingzhu was in so much pain that tears were almost streaming down her face.

Xie Tongchen immediately snapped out of his daze and apologized to Xie Mingzhu: "Mingzhu, I'm sorry, I accidentally used a little too much force."

Xie Mingzhu looked at Xie Tongchen with concern: "Second brother, what are you thinking about?"

Xie Tongchen, his face dark, glared at Xie Xing, who was standing beside the old lady watching the show, and snorted coldly: "Seeing someone you don't want to see is bad luck."

Xie Xing was stared at with a bewildered expression.

Did I do anything to him?

[He's not even pretending anymore; he deserves to be love-struck. If Xie Mingzhu throws him off the cliff and Luo Hanfeng doesn't save him, his head will end up hanging on the city wall of the Southern Kingdom.]

Xie Tongchen: "..."

His expression darkened further.

"Xie Xing!" Xie Tongchen gritted his teeth, his bloodthirsty killing intent aimed directly at Xie Xing: "Say that again?!"

Xie Xing was startled.

Fearing that Xie Tongchen would go mad and try to kill her with his sword again, she quickly took several steps back, her expression utterly innocent: "What did I say?"

What's gotten into him this time?

The veins on Xie Tongchen's forehead throbbed.

Just as he was about to attack Xie Xing again, a folding fan suddenly appeared in front of Xie Tongchen, blocking his view of Xie Xing.

"What inexplicable anger is the young general venting on innocent people?"

Xie Xing was startled. He looked up and saw Jun Lanjin standing in front of him, blocking his way.

Those beautiful peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly, but the smile on her lips was devoid of warmth: "You can't just take your anger out on your own sister just because the young general prefers raising her, can you?"

The eunuch who was about to announce the imperial decree glanced at Jun Lanjin, then at Xie Xing, his shrewd eyes darting around.

His face was full of smiles as he bent down and walked up to Jun Lanjin. “Your Highness, please calm down. Let me first announce the imperial decree, and then you can make a decision for the Fifth Miss.”

There seemed to be some substance in what the eunuch was saying.

This immediately brought Jun Lanjin and Xie Xing closer together.

Jun Lanjin understood, but did not refute it.

He closed his folding fan without looking at Xie Xing.

Xie Xing looked at Jun Lanjin with starry eyes: "Your Highness! He's such a good person!"

The system remarked, "Whether it's good or bad is really obvious at a glance."

Jun Lanjin: "..."

For some reason, he sometimes had the illusion that this person knew their thoughts could be read, and that he would deliberately say these flattering things to please him.

The Xie family: "..."

Their biological daughter is theirs, but she doesn't side with them at all.

Unfortunately, they brought it all on themselves.

The eunuch cleared his throat and announced in a loud voice, "Xie Ansheng, listen to the imperial decree!"

Everyone in the room except Jun Lanjin knelt down.

"Long live my emperor."

Xie Xing also knelt down.

"By the grace of Heaven... Xie Jiaojiao, daughter of the Xie family, is of upright character, gentle and kind, and well-educated and reasonable. Therefore, she is hereby bestowed upon the Crown Prince as a secondary consort. So be it!"

what? !

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.

Xie Jiaojiao herself looked up at the eunuch in astonishment.

she?

How could it be her?

Xie Ansheng's expression changed drastically.

Last night, Xie Jiaojiao had just revealed to them that in the so-called plot, she would deliberately poison the Crown Prince's tea because she had taken a liking to him, so as to become the Crown Prince's concubine.

Now that Xie Jiaojiao knows the plot in advance, she would never do the things that are in the plot.

She thought this would sever all ties with the Crown Prince, but unexpectedly, she became his concubine!

The future Crown Prince's concubine!

Xie Jiaojiao's body went limp, and she almost fell to the ground.

Her face was pale, and her expression was full of surprise and uncertainty.

How could this be?

Xie Xing was also somewhat surprised: [The Crown Prince's concubine? Shouldn't she be the Crown Prince's consort?]

The system also seemed a bit puzzled: "[Perhaps due to some butterfly effect, the relationship between Xie Jiaojiao and the Crown Prince has changed. But it's alright, the Heavenly Dao is slowly fixing these bugs. Major events will unfold roughly as expected, and the results will be similar.]"

Xie Xing responded with an "oh".

But to others, this chilled them to the bone.