Chapter 153 Trading
The first meeting between the three men in the palace was not so relaxed.

Xie Chengyi always maintained an offensive posture, not because he was unwilling to listen to His Majesty, but because after so many years, Helan Cha was under physiological stress.

He always felt that all this was as unreal as a dream.

On the other hand, Helan Cha, who was sitting opposite him, seemed much calmer, and from time to time he looked at Xie Chengyi who was staring at him.

Xie Chengyi was also wondering in his mind, why did Helancha suddenly come to Northern Jin? His Majesty said that this matter was thanks to Jiyao's help, so when did Jiyao make these preparations with Helancha? Moreover, Jiyao had kept it secret from him for so long that he had not noticed it at all...

After all, Xie Chengyi was not willing to believe Helan Cha.

At this time, only Ji Yao kept her father's request in mind and discussed the peace matters with Helan Cha bit by bit.

After the process was confirmed, Helancha approached Xie Chengyi quietly, with a proud look of victory, and pretended to be familiar with him and said: "General Xie, after so many years of fighting, why are you still so impatient? You and I both put our people first, why do we have to fight and kill? If Nan Jing marries the princess of Beijin, my king will naturally be willing to recuperate and let the people on the border live a good life, right?"

"If Prince Helan sincerely seeks peace, Northern Jin will naturally welcome him!" Xie Chengyi replied coldly.

"Thank you for your understanding, General..." Helan Cha said in a low voice with a smile.

Then he walked away.

Looking at Helancha's back, Xie Chengyi was filled with doubts. Helancha would not ask for peace so easily. Otherwise, he would have asked for peace a few years ago. Why wait until now? He must have a purpose, or a hardship!

But, what is his secret?

After it was over, it was almost the hour of Xu.

Xiao Jiyao had discomfort in her feet and felt a little weak when she returned from the palace.

"What's wrong?" Xie Chengyi asked with concern.

Xiao Jiyao immediately responded in a relaxed manner: "It's okay, you should go back quickly, it would be bad if Ah Ying misunderstood."

Xie Chengyi was already upset and didn't even respond.

"Because of Helan Cha's matter, I'm afraid we will all have to go to Helan Cha's mansion outside the palace together in the near future." Xiao Jiyao's voice was a little weak.

Xie Chengyi nodded, "I understand, you can take a rest."

When Fang Gu pushed Xiao Jiyao back, he couldn't help but ask, "Princess, is it worth it?"

Xiao Jiyao changed her gentle attitude and said with a sinister look, "I can't give Cheng Yi to anyone else, especially Huo Aying! Isn't she a magnet? Then let her fly further!"

***
Hou House.

After A Ying returned, she heard the news from the servants in the mansion and learned that Xie Chengyi had accompanied the princess to the palace.

"Miss, why is the prince like this?" Su Jian couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl.

Ah Ying said with relief: "Let him be."

But despite what she said, Aying remained silent for a long time.

It was not until three quarters after the evening that Xie Chengyi rushed back, exhausted.

Without entering Songqingyuan, he went directly to Songheyuan.

When Su Jian saw that it was the prince, she hurried to report to A Ying, "Miss, the prince is here."

Ah Ying's face darkened, but she didn't say anything, and she still didn't know what to do. What else could she do if she tried to avoid it...

"Prince." Aying's expression was gentle.

"Have you eaten?" Xie Chengyi felt a little uncomfortable.

Ah Ying immediately replied: "I have eaten."

Xie Chengyi, who wanted to invite Ah Ying to have dinner together, smiled helplessly and said, "Okay."

"If the prince is okay, I will go back first." Aying said calmly.

Seeing that Aying was about to leave, Xie Chengyi grabbed her hand and called out urgently, "Aying!" Su Jian immediately dodged.

Aying was being held by Xie Chengyi, and she felt as if something had stabbed her heart.

"Listen to me, yesterday was a special situation. We had already agreed that we were just friends." Xie Chengyi said concisely.

Ah Ying, however, did not want to accept such a relationship, and said in a slightly distant tone, "As long as the prince is happy."

"What exactly do you want?" Xie Chengyi had endured too much today. He thought Aying could understand him, but he didn't expect Aying to be so indifferent. In an instant, Xie Chengyi couldn't hold it anymore.

Ah Ying was stunned for a few seconds by Xie Chengyi's yelling, "What do I want? What can I do? Should I wait for you to come back home and wait for you to favor me? The right reaction is to have no regrets, no desires, and no requests."

Xie Chengyi's face immediately turned sour, "That's not what I meant..."

Ah Ying was upset by Xie Chengyi's performance, "Prince, you don't have to worry about it, and you don't have to be embarrassed. I don't want to be caught between you and the princess. Let's just call it a day."

Let's just leave it at that...

Xie Chengyi's eyes were red, and he looked at Ah Ying in disbelief, "What did you say?"

"Just say I don't want to share a husband with anyone else, okay?" Ah Ying couldn't suppress the restlessness in her heart and replied directly.

"It's true that I, Huo Aying, am of humble status, but you, Xie Chengyi, said you wanted to marry and protect your whole life! I can't accept you frequently showing your love to other women. If you can't love only one person in your whole life, don't bother me..." Aying didn't hide her thoughts at all. She would not die anyway. It was just a man. She could live without him.

Xie Chengyi was stunned by Aying's yell.

"Also, this is your Xie family's heirloom. I can't afford it." Ah Ying said, then took off the bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Xie Chengyi.

Xie Chengyi was left alone in the cold wind...

Ah Ying in the room leaned against the door tightly, even though her heart ached so much and her tears fell, she kept biting her lips, unwilling to lower herself any further.

Xie Chengyi, who was outside the door, looked at Aying's silhouette under the candlelight, and his heart ached. He thought Aying would believe him unconditionally, but he didn't expect that the situation would become like this.

Standing outside the door, Xie Chengyi looked at the jade bracelet, feeling the remaining warmth of Aying, and felt heavy in his heart.

***
Helancha Mansion.

Xiao Jiyao was sitting in a wheelchair facing Helan Cha.

"Princess Jiyao is worthy of being the one who stirred up the royal family of Southern Chu. I really admire her courage!" Helan Cha said with a smile.

Xiao Jiyao's face was calm, "Your Highness, you are joking. I am just a weak woman. Everything depends on Nan Jing's sincerity."

“Since Nanjing has agreed to the princess, he naturally has to express his sincerity. The day after tomorrow, the Nanjing delegation will arrive. At that time, they will report to Your Majesty and formally request a marriage. By then, Beijin and Nanjing will be relatives, and they will naturally coexist peacefully.” Helan Cha said with a smile.

Xiao Jiyao nodded with satisfaction. In this way, even if she completed the task assigned by her father, she could also get her father to agree to one of her requests.

"Ji Yao has another gift for the prince." Xiao Ji Yao said mysteriously.

Helancha was surprised, "Oh?"

Afterwards, Fang Gu presented a painting.

When Helan Cha opened the painting suspiciously, he saw a woman with extremely beautiful face, slender body, wearing a white silk dress, pure and otherworldly, like a wonderful fairy who was not of this world.

Instantly, Helancha's eyes lit up, "Who is this?"

Xiao Jiyao said calmly: "Xie Chengyi's sweetheart - Huo Aying..."

"Hasn't he always had you in his heart?" Helancha said in surprise.

Xiao Jiyao's eyes moved, "Ten years of life and death, even scholars can't hold on for that long, let alone an outstanding general?"

"What does the princess mean?" Helan Cha looked at the painting and then looked at Xiao Jiyao.

Xiao Jiyao said firmly: "I want her to leave Beijin completely, so that Xie Chengyi will never have any illusions..."