The two knelt on the ground, waiting.
The emperor had not yet spoken to tell them to rise, so they remained kneeling. Xiao Jinyan stayed calm, maintaining his composure.
Hua Miaomiao also appeared calm, though the emperor was visibly startled when he saw her face.
Although he had known that General Hua’s daughter was rumored to be unattractive in the capital, he had always dismissed it as mere gossip. After all, General Hua was famous for doting on his daughter, so he had assumed she couldn’t possibly be so hideous. Yet seeing her today, the reputation proved entirely accurate.
Sighing inwardly, Xiao Mingda regretted following the Empress’s arrangement. While the marriage made sense in terms of social status, the bride’s appearance left much to be desired.
The more he looked at her, the more irritable he became. This princess was too ugly—truly a blow to the dignity of the royal family. But thinking of the military power General Hua wielded at the borders, he swallowed his complaints. Mishandling this could cost more than it was worth.
“Rise,” Xiao Mingda finally said.
Hua Miaomiao was the first to stand, taking Xiao Jinyan’s hand to help him up. Seeing this, Xiao Mingda relaxed slightly.
Although General Hua’s daughter was remarkably unattractive, her meticulous care for her husband was evident in the ease and familiarity of her movements.
“Yan’er,” Xiao Mingda said slowly, “on the day of your wedding, I had urgent matters and could not attend. You bear no ill will toward your father, do you?”
Xiao Jinyan replied calmly, “Your Majesty, of course not. I am well, thank you for your concern.”
He spoke the words with the utmost composure, and hearing this made Xiao Mingda uneasy. His own son, speaking so politely yet without apparent emotion—it was almost insulting.
Since Xiao Jinyan lost his sight, he had not entered the palace for ten years. Perhaps the bond had grown distant from that time. Xiao Mingda looked into those empty, sightless eyes and found himself at a loss for words.
Hua Miaomiao studied the emperor carefully. It was her first time seeing a real, living emperor. Previously, she had only seen such figures on television, but now, so close, she felt a surge of disdain.
A father who didn’t care for his own son—what kind of parent was that? No matter how high his position, he did not deserve respect.
Her contempt for him, combined with her intentionally hideous appearance, made her look even more repulsive.
Xiao Mingda didn’t even want to glance at her. “Very well, then. You should come to the palace more often.”
“Understood, Your Majesty!” Xiao Jinyan responded, still expressionless, betraying no emotion. This lack of reaction irritated Xiao Mingda. He hated being unable to control the situation.
For this son, now a stranger to him, something had changed—but it was not the change he wanted to see. He even began to consider that some of the Empress’s judgments might have been correct, particularly regarding Xiao Jinyan’s character. He resolved to keep a closer watch.
A prince no longer under his control could act unpredictably in the future. Though now a leisurely duke, today’s encounter left Xiao Mingda uneasy. He ran through the matter repeatedly in his mind and finally decided it required serious attention.
When he looked at them again, annoyance flickered across his face. “You may withdraw. I am fatigued.”
Kneeling in obedience, Hua Miaomiao and Xiao Jinyan rose, holding hands as they left.
Once outside the hall, Hua Miaomiao couldn’t help but glance around and mutter, “Your father is completely hopeless… so annoying.”
She couldn’t resist complaining, even if it bordered on impiety—it was a true expression of her frustration.
Xiao Jinyan looked at her fuming expression and finally laughed. “It’s fine. I truly have nothing to do with it. He’s always been cold and indifferent toward me, summoning me or dismissing me as he pleases. That’s just how he is.”
Seeing his calm, she finally relaxed. Indeed, there was no point in being angry at such a person.
She took his hand again and headed toward the side door, where Cold Feng was waiting.
Her mood improved… but not for long. Li Mama, the old lady who had given Xiao Jinyan trouble on his wedding night, suddenly appeared.
Hua Miaomiao recognized her instantly. How had this old hag ended up here? She immediately switched to “ready for battle” mode.
Xiao Jinyan noticed her stance and wanted to laugh but kept his composure, gazing forward calmly.
Li Mama bowed. “Greetings, Prince and Princess. Her Majesty requests your presence at Qingyang Palace.”
Hua Miaomiao realized with a start that this woman was part of the Empress’s entourage. No wonder she had dared to harass Xiao Jinyan that night. She briefly regretted not dealing with her then.
Looking at Xiao Jinyan, she saw him calmly say, “Lead the way.”
Li Mama’s mission accomplished, she turned to walk ahead with a smug expression.
Hua Miaomiao gritted her teeth, furious inside, but knew this wasn’t the place to act.
Xiao Jinyan sensed her thoughts and shook her hand gently, leaning close to whisper, “Don’t be angry. Dealing with her doesn’t require your hands. Filth should rot in the gutter.”
Hearing him speak this way for the first time, Hua Miaomiao felt a thrill. His slightly villainous tone was intoxicating.
Especially with his deep, resonant voice—it sent shivers of satisfaction to her ears.
Seeing her spirits lift, Xiao Jinyan smiled and continued forward.
Meanwhile, the Empress had prepared herself to meet them, her main goal to humiliate him and dampen his spirit. She had even summoned the other concubines to witness, hoping to “kill the chicken to scare the monkeys.”
As Li Mama led them in, her gleeful expression was unmistakable. Seeing this, the Empress waved her away.
From the moment Hua Miaomiao entered, the concubines all reacted as if they had seen a ghost. Upon glimpsing her face, each one screamed in shock.