Liu Yu was filled with shame and remorse. On August 13th, he had indeed been intimate with a woman, initially believing her to be a maid from the Prince Hong's residence, but it turned out to be Chen Xiang. How absurd! He had been longing for Chen Yu, hoping to marry her in three years, yet he had consummated his marriage with Chen Yu's sister!

His heart was filled with despair. He knelt down with a thud and wept bitterly, saying, "Madam, please don't worry about Liu Yu anymore. Liu Yu knows his crime and is willing to accept punishment..."

Shen Yu shook her head. Although she didn't understand why Liu Yu would admit to this unjust crime, she decided to reveal that the Fourth Prince had raped Shen Xiang, so as not to betray Liu Yu's deep affection for her. She gripped the iron bars of the cage and whispered, "Young Master Liu, listen to me, actually..."

"Mu Chenyu!" A loud shout startled Chenyu, who turned around to see the Empress and Madam Jia.

The Empress's gaze was sharp and imposing, and she approached Chen Yu step by step, whispering, "I have already decreed that Chen Xiang be given to Liu Yu as his wife, and Madam Jia has also agreed. We are just waiting for your mother's reply. You should go back to the Mu family and persuade your mother to agree. As long as the marriage between the two families is successful, your sister will have someone to rely on, and Liu Yu can be spared the suffering of imprisonment."

Shen Yu was shocked. The Empress's plan not only erased the Fourth Prince's crimes but also tacitly approved of Liu Yu's rape of Shen Xiang? It seemed that the Empress wanted her to investigate the mastermind only to exonerate the Prince of Yan, without ever considering Liu Yu's innocence.

She was furious and about to question the Empress about why she hadn't cleared Liu Yu's name, but Liu Yu spoke first.

"Your Majesty, Liu Yu is willing to accept his punishment and does not wish to marry Chenxiang."

"Why? You've already taken her body!" Madam Jia's eyes widened as she rushed to the iron bars and questioned Liu Yu.

Liu Yu gave a bitter laugh. Though he had lost the beauty of Chen Yu, he was unwilling to spend the rest of his life with the woman he disliked. He could only kowtow repeatedly to Madam Jia, sobbing uncontrollably, "Liu Yu has committed a grave error and is willing to accept punishment. I beg Mother to forgive Liu Yu's unfilial behavior..."

*Slap!* Madam Jia slapped Chen Yu across the face, angrily rebuking her: "Mu Chen Yu! You've ruined my son Liu Yu! If it weren't for you, why would my son have gone to the southeast coast to fight? If it weren't for you, why would my son have gone to the Yan Prince's mansion to discuss matters? If it weren't for you, why would my son have refused to marry Chen Xiang? Are you going to compete with your sister for a husband? To make my son marry a widow like you? Are you trying to be loyal to General Bai?!"

Faced with Madam Jia's questioning, Chen Yu was speechless, her heart trembling as she silently shed tears. Indeed, Liu Yu's marriage to Chen Xiang was a wonderful thing, both ending her ill-fated relationship with Liu Yu and protecting Chen Xiang's reputation. Moreover, with the Empress's approval, Madam Jia would certainly not mistreat Chen Xiang.

In reality, Madam Jia knew that Liu Yu and Shen Yu were in love. However... Liu Yu was framed and committed an immoral act, ending up in prison. Now, the Empress has come to his door, offering Liu Yu a chance to escape punishment, but unexpectedly, Liu Yu refuses.

Seeing his mother beat Chen Yu, Liu Yu was heartbroken and kowtowed repeatedly. "Mother, please don't blame Chen Yu, it's all Liu Yu's fault, please don't blame Chen Yu..."

Shen Yu felt a tremor beneath her feet, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably. She knelt down with a thud and said loudly, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for making this decision for my second sister. I will do everything in my power to persuade my mother to agree to this marriage."

After saying this, she got up and hurriedly fled the prison, fearing to see Liu Yu's forehead bleeding profusely.

When Chen Yu returned to Mu's house, she happened to run into the plump nanny who was returning from buying roast goose.

The plump old woman said, "When the second young lady heard that Young Master Liu Yu was going to marry her, she ate two bowls of rice and then wanted to eat Xu Ji's roast goose."

Upon hearing this news, Chen Yu pursed her lips and nodded, but a feeling of endless jealousy welled up inside her.

She didn't see Chenxiang, but went straight to Madam Mu's room.

Madam Mu leaned against the couch, secretly shedding tears. When she saw Chen Yu arrive, she couldn't help but cry out, "Yu'er, the Empress is making Chen Xiang marry Liu Yu. Isn't this going too far? Your father has passed away. How can I just watch Chen Xiang marry a hypocrite?"

Chen Yu was heartbroken and stood by the bedside without saying a word.

Before she left the prison, the Empress specifically warned her: it's alright to expose the Fourth Prince's rape of Chenxiang; at worst, the Fourth Prince can marry Chenxiang. Liu Yu did indeed rape a woman; someone from the Hong Prince's residence witnessed it, and Liu Yu could not escape imprisonment.

Shen Yu was shocked. Only then did she understand why Liu Yu had repeatedly admitted that he had done wrong. It seemed that he had indeed raped the woman.

Therefore, she returned to the prison. The Empress and Lady Jia had already left. She saw Liu Yu leaning against a pillar, standing in the iron cell. Upon closer inspection, she saw that Liu Yu was tied to a wooden frame, his limbs bound. Well, that way he wouldn't harm himself and try to kill himself.

"Did Young Master Liu really do that thing with someone?"

"Yes, I was drunk that day and did something wrong. I hope you will tell Miss Chenxiang that Liu Yu is willing to die to atone for his sins."

Chen Yu was utterly despondent. Even if Liu Yu confessed himself, she refused to believe it. She suspected Liu Yu had been drugged and acted in a daze, but she wondered who the woman was.

In order to get Liu Yu out of prison and to find a place for Chen Xiang to settle down, she had to persuade her mother to agree to the marriage.

"Mother, I heard that Chenxiang ate two bowls of rice at noon. Perhaps she is willing to marry Young Master Liu."

"No!"

Madam Mu suddenly stood up, her eyes blazing with anger. She pointed at Chen Yu's nose and said sternly, "Yu'er, that Liu Yu is a womanizer. He used to pester you relentlessly, and now he has raped Chen Xiang. Such a fickle man will abandon Chen Xiang sooner or later. How can I push Chen Xiang into the fire pit?"

"Young Master Liu is not the kind of person Mother described!"

Chenxiang rushed in, knelt by the bed, and tearfully pleaded with Madam Mu:

"Mother, Young Master Liu is a virtuous gentleman. When Tingyu Pavilion caught fire, it was Young Master Liu who rushed into the flames to save Eldest Sister. Liu Yao'er and the Zuo family have repeatedly tried to harm Eldest Sister, and it was Young Master Liu who stood up to protect her. Furthermore, Eldest Brother has achieved great military exploits along the southeast coast, also with Young Master Liu's assistance. Young Master Liu said that if Eldest Brother achieves further military merits, he will surely be promoted and ennobled, thus protecting the Mu family and ensuring Father's safety..."

Upon hearing Chenxiang mention Master Mu, Madam Mu burst into tears.

Even Chen Yu was in tears. To prove that Liu Yu was a virtuous man, she recounted how Liu Yu led the old man to expose the Gao family.

Madam Mu was shocked, not expecting Liu Yu to be a loyal subject of the country, so why would he rape Chenxiang?

Madam Mu looked at Chenxiang and asked, "Did Liu Yu rape you? Are you really willing to marry him?"

Chenxiang nodded, knowing this was the best course of action. Chenxiang had seen through Liu Yu's affection for Chenyu; marrying such a man was a thousand times better than marrying the Fourth Prince.

However, Chenxiang also had doubts. Why did Liu Yu admit to raping her? Was he taking the blame for the Fourth Prince? Or was he helping the Mu family out of respect for Chenyu?

"Never mind, preserving my own and the Mu family's reputation is the most important thing right now." She quickly kowtowed to Madam Mu and pleaded, "Mother, Chenxiang is willing to marry Young Master Liu. Please grant my request."

Madam Mu was puzzled by this and said in surprise, "Since Xiang'er is in love with Young Master Liu, she can tell her mother directly. Her mother will help her. Why do you have to try to kill yourself and cause Young Master Liu to go to jail?"

Chenxiang didn't know how to explain, so he looked to Chenyu for help.

Chen Yu lowered her head and looked down, and tears welled up in her eyes. It seemed that she was still thinking about Liu Yu.

Chenxiang felt guilty and, holding Chenyu's hand, wept uncontrollably: "Elder sister... could you please grant me and Young Master Liu's blessing?"