I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 26

Changji Palace, early evening.

By May, the weather had already grown somewhat stuffy. Several windows were fully opened, allowing a gentle breeze to waft in, carrying a faint floral fragrance.

Sitting upright in his chair, Xiao Junzhan was reviewing the memorials on his desk. As Ninghai finished brewing a pot of tea and quietly presented it, he softly reported, "Your Highness, the Marquis of Changmen is outside requesting an audience."

Xiao Junzhan paused briefly, his pen hovering, but he did not lift his eyes. "Let him in," he said.

Unlike the centuries-old marquis families of the capital, the Changmen Marquisate had only been passed down for two generations. The old marquis had made great contributions in helping the current Emperor ascend the throne, and thus was granted the title of Marquis. His son had also served as the Crown Prince's companion since childhood and was highly trusted by the Crown Prince, making him one of the most prominent and powerful aristocrats in the capital.

Marquis of Changmen, Xie Li, who was a few years older than the Crown Prince, had already reached his thirties. Upon entering the room, he knelt and saluted, saying, "Greetings to Your Highness."

Xiao Junzhan lifted his gaze from the memorial he was reading and looked down, responding, "No need for formalities. Why has Ziyi come?"

Xie Li stood up, slightly bent at the waist, and said, "Today, after leaving my post and returning home, I heard some news from my wife that made me uneasy, so I have come to report it to Your Highness."

Xiao Junzhan's expression became more serious. "What news?"

Xie Li bent even lower and said, "The Gu family... the eldest son of Gu Xulin's family from Xuzhou, intends to arrange a marriage with the second branch of the Zhongyong Marquis household."

Xie Li's face began to glisten with a thin layer of sweat. He had personally accompanied His Highness to Xuzhou and had witnessed firsthand the Crown Prince's unusual treatment of the Wei family's daughter. He was also heavily involved in the subsequent investigation into her identity.

He hadn't expected such a complication to arise.

To make matters worse, it was his own wife who had acted as the go-between for the marriage talks between the Gu and Wei families.

The Marchioness of Changmen and Madam Gu were close friends, and Madam Gu had entrusted her to sound out the Wei family's intentions regarding the marriage.

Xiao Junzhan's expression remained indifferent, his eyes lowering as he pondered for a moment. Then, he asked, "Which daughter from the second branch of the Wei family?"

"..." Xie Li hesitated before dropping to his knees again with a thud. "The legitimate daughter of the second branch... the ninth miss."

Xiao Junzhan asked, "The Wei family agreed?"

"Yes," Xie Li replied in an even quieter voice. "The ninth Miss Wei and the eldest son of the Gu family grew up together, and both families are satisfied with the arrangement. My wife said the Gu family plans to propose the marriage tomorrow."

The room fell silent for a few moments, broken only by the soft sound of a memorial being placed on the desk. Xie Li's back stiffened, and he controlled his breathing as carefully as possible.

"Grew up together..." Xiao Junzhan stood up, casting a cold glance at the still-kneeling Xie Li. His gaze turned icy. "Is this how you handle matters?"

Xie Li pressed his forehead to the floor, inwardly sighing with bitterness.