At first, Liu Chengxi also considered explaining to everyone that it wasn't that he insisted on marrying Yun Qing, but that he was also willing to marry her.

However, no one believed this claim, just as no one believed that Yun Qing and Li Huaiyin were ever in love.

Moreover, he offended the Empress and Li Huaiyin, and his reputation plummeted to the point where everyone in Shengjing City hated him, which may well have been due to their instigation.

Even now, Liu Chengxi still clearly remembers the day that changed his fate.

After he told Yun Qing about what would happen in the future, she took him under her wing and invested a lot of gold and silver in making glass and soap for him. The two inevitably developed a lot of contact.

At that time, Li Huaiyin had completely broken ties with Yun Qing and was unwilling to compromise no matter how she explained.

All three of them attended a flower-viewing banquet hosted by the Queen.

Liu Chengxi never expected that someone would set a trap for him in such a formal setting.

The scene that day was just like the palace dramas he had glimpsed in modern times: the palace servants wet his clothes while serving tea and led him to a room to change.

To their surprise, the door was locked from the outside, and inside the room was a fat woman with big ears.

Just when his innocence was in jeopardy, Yun Qing rushed in and rescued him from the woman's clutches.

At that moment, she was like a great hero riding on a colorful cloud. Liu Chengxi secretly vowed in his heart that from then on, his life belonged only to her.

Unsurprisingly, this was witnessed by those present. Li Huaiyin, with a gloomy face, led him to another room.

“Chengxi, I have discussed this with my father. Since your reputation is tarnished, you should first go to Huangpu Temple to worship Buddha. After a year or two, when people have gradually forgotten about this matter, your father will bring you back under the pretext of your merit in praying for blessings in Dasheng and adopt you as his godson. At that time, you will be able to choose from the young talents in Shengjing. What do you think?”

Young talents? Does that include Yun Qing? Liu Chengxi really wanted to ask, but reason prevailed over him.

He didn't think much of the suggestion. He was a victim who hadn't done anything wrong, so why should he slink away like that?

To cause trouble at the flower-viewing banquet hosted by the Empress, the person behind it must be either incredibly audacious or have a close relationship with the Zhao family, thus acting with impunity. He can't let this go so easily.

"Your Highness, I implore you, for the sake of our past acquaintance, to thoroughly investigate this matter and clear my name."

Li Huaiyin's smile froze on his face. He had thought that Liu Chengxi would be sensible enough to agree.

Are you sure you want to make a big deal out of this?

In fact, the moment Li Huaiyin learned of this, he knew who had done it.

Such a foolish and arrogant person, who could command the people in the palace, could hardly be anyone else but his cousin.

However, no matter what, Zhao Shuyu is still a member of the Zhao family. He can be punished however he wants in private, but if it comes out in public, it will be a disgrace to the General's Mansion and the Empress Dowager. Li Huaiyin will not allow such a thing to happen.

"Your Highness, you..." Liu Chengxi knelt on the ground, looking at him stubbornly.

For a moment, Li Huaiyin was at a loss for words.

In the past, he would have been willing to stand on Liu Chengxi's side and sacrifice his own family for the greater good. But things are different now. He has decided to fight for that position, so he cannot afford to lose the support of his father's clan.

Besides, he had heard some of the rumors circulating in Shengjing. Even if he had severed ties with that person now, it was impossible for him to say he didn't mind. After all, he genuinely considered Liu Chengxi a friend.

But his actions seemed to take him completely out of consideration.