As Han Xuri continued his incessant rambling, the emperor felt an urge to smash the inkstone on the table at his nephew.

But then I think, this is my sister's bloodline, and I'd feel bad if I broke it.

Besides, his little savings depend entirely on this kid's help. If he breaks it, the brat might just quit.

Then you should ask someone for the money yourself.

Soon, Zhao Qingyan was led to the gate of the Hall of State Affairs. After being announced, she was allowed to enter the Hall of State Affairs and meet the legendary Emperor.

Zhao Qingyan knelt down and kowtowed very respectfully, after all, this was the biggest boss of the feudal dynasty. She couldn't afford to offend him.

Anyway, according to the concept of past and present lives, this person should be at the ancestral level.

Kneeling down once is nothing.

My knees, which are usually hard to bend, bent again.

"This commoner, Zhao Qingyan, kowtows to Your Majesty, wishing you a long life!"

Zhao Qingyan's head kowtowed to the ground. The emperor above didn't say why, and Zhao Qingyan just kept banging her head on the ground, lying there.

After waiting for several breaths, and still not hearing the emperor say "rise," Zhao Qingyan began to ponder.

Is this some kind of misplaced anger? Is it because I refused to get married that they're taking it out on me, the little persimmon?

Just as I was wondering whether I should find an excuse to get up, I heard a male voice from above.

"Hmm, this voice is quite pleasant. People with pleasant voices are usually good people who did good deeds in their past lives. I hope you won't make things difficult for me."

Zhao Qingyan pondered for a moment, then stood up and stood in the middle of the main hall.

He glanced up at the Emperor's face at the opportune moment.

Although the rules forbid looking directly at the emperor's face, Zhao Qingyan felt she would be at a disadvantage if she entered the palace and didn't even know what the emperor looked like.

So, she glanced at the emperor as quickly as possible, then lowered her eyes and stood there gracefully, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Lady Zhao, do you know why I summoned you here?" the Emperor asked.

Zhao Qingyan shook her head.

"This humble woman dares not presume to comment on His Majesty's thoughts; there must be a reason behind His Majesty's actions."

The emperor sneered.

"Hmm, you certainly have a sharp tongue. I ask you, who gave you the audacity to disobey my imperial decree?"

Zhao Qingyan raised her eyes, meeting the Emperor's gaze directly.

"May I ask Your Majesty, is the 'disobeying imperial decree' you're referring to the one that made her the Eighth Prince's concubine?"

The Emperor nodded.

Zhao Qingyan smiled.

"Your Majesty is wise; women should be virtuous, gentle, and loyal."

I am already engaged back in my hometown. How could I possibly abandon the vows I made just because I have a son with the Eighth Prince?

How can a woman serve two husbands?

Besides, I have never even met the Eighth Prince, so how could there be any mutual affection mentioned in the imperial decree?

If I were to accept that imperial decree, wouldn't that be true defiance?

The emperor sneered.

"You say you've never seen the Eighth Prince, does that mean you've never seen him? Otherwise, how would he know of your existence?"

"If there were no connection between you two, why would he come before me requesting a royal decree for marriage?"

Zhao Qingyan's complexion wasn't too good either.

"The only person who can answer this is the Eighth Prince himself."

Since arriving in the capital, the young woman has always been accompanied by her adoptive father on every outing.

She never had contact with men outside the home. When she didn't go out, she stayed in her own workshop, working with the workers to make shoes and clothes.

I believe I have never said anything inappropriate or caused any misunderstanding.

She had never spoken a word to any other man, so how did she end up having a connection with the Eighth Prince?

There is one thing that puzzles me greatly.

The young woman usually stayed at Huicui Pavilion and never interacted with outsiders.

Yet, every day she received invitations from various government offices, all inviting women to attend various banquets.

Furthermore, Princess Yanyue also sent invitations to the Hundred Flowers Banquet to the common people.

The commoner girl knew her status and had no right to befriend the noble ladies of the capital, but she had to consider the princess's dignity.

He then attended a banquet for flowers.

Throughout the entire process, aside from discussing outfits with some unfamiliar young ladies, I kowtowed to the princess.

After that, the woman quickly left the Hundred Flowers Banquet.

She did not greet any of the men, nor did she ever make eye contact with them.

Gu Minnu shouldn't be burdened with the so-called "mutual affection," besides, her fiancé is back in her hometown, and we correspond every day.

Zhao Qingyan spoke the last sentence almost in a mumble, but the Emperor could still hear it clearly.

"What's wrong with being the Eighth Prince's concubine? Is it really an insult to you?"

The Emperor asked again.

"Your Majesty may not know this, but if I were not engaged, I might be blinded by wealth and honor because of the Eighth Prince's status."

But only after the engagement did this commoner understand what it meant to "marry no one but you."

After saying that, she gave a sweet smile.

"Aren't you afraid that I will punish you for disobeying my imperial decree?" The emperor was still unwilling to give up.

"How could that be? His Majesty is wise and mighty, the best emperor in thousands of years."

How could a woman be punished for such a misunderstanding?

If His Majesty intends to punish this woman, it will harm not only her alone.

Not counting the dozens of people in the woman's family, there are also the thousands of orphans being raised in the orphanage.

Poor children, if I don't find a way to earn money, they probably won't have anything to eat next month, and they won't have warm cotton clothes for winter.

I believe His Majesty would never be willing to do something so horrific.

If His Majesty finds me displeasing, then he might as well treat me like an empty shell and release me.

"Pfft, hahaha..." Zhao Qingyan's last words made Han Xuri, who was hiding behind the screen, laugh.

The emperor almost lost control of his facial expression, only managing to force his lips down.

I never expected this little girl to say anything to get away with it, even at the cost of self-degradation.

A girl like that is definitely not suitable for royalty; her excrement and urination would really damage the royal family's reputation.

However, it's barely acceptable for him to be paired with his own nephew.

"How vulgar! What if I insist on marrying you to the Eighth Prince?"

The topic of the Emperor has circled back to itself.

Zhao Qingyan was quite surprised; had this old man gone mad?

"Your Majesty, I know you are just joking with me, but if Your Majesty insists that I marry someone I don't like, I may have a few options."

First, she eloped and ran far away.

Second, she eloped with her whole family.

三，把那个非要跟我结婚的一天揍八遍，直到他同意退婚。 ”

Han Xuri almost laughed himself to death.

The Emperor was quite surprised to receive this answer.

"Beating a prince is a grave offense. Aren't you afraid that your actions will implicate the entire Zhao family?"

Zhao Qingyan smiled, a truly radiant smile.

"There needs to be evidence to convict someone, right? If I put a sack over their head, how would they know who did it?"

The Emperor was utterly speechless at this answer.

He glanced at Zhao Qingyan from head to toe several times, as if to say, "You little girl, you think you can even put a sack on a person?"