Everyone in the room turned around and were surprised to find several slender figures standing at the door, looking at Lü Tu with a variety of complex emotions in their eyes.

These were Lu Tu's four wives, but only Song Yuxi, the leader, had a calm and open expression in her eyes.

Zhao Qingyao and Prince Duan only glanced at each other before exclaiming in surprise, "Song Yuxi? You're not...?"

They immediately wondered why Song Yuxi was there and what her relationship with Lü Tu was. After thinking about this, Zhao Qingyao was even more speechless.

After all, the Song family, as one of the Eight Pillars of State, was undoubtedly one of the most powerful families in the entire Great Yu Dynasty, second only to the emperor.

The person who caused Song Yuxi's family to be destroyed was none other than Zhao Qingyao and Prince Duan's own brother—the current emperor.

Zhao Qingyao stepped forward and stood in front of Song Yuxi: "Yuxi, I..."

Compared to the nervous Zhao Qingyao, Song Yuxi appeared much more composed. She said solemnly, "Second Princess, please forgive me for not bowing to you as I have just given birth and am still in my postpartum confinement period."

“Yu Xi, we were childhood friends back in Beijing.”

Song Yuxi waved her hand: "Princess, let's not talk about what happened before. If we do, I'm afraid our marriage will fall through."

The people present naturally understood what Song Yuxi meant by those words, especially Zhao Qingyao and Prince Duan. They hadn't expected Song Yuxi to be so confident that Lü Tu would choose to reject Zhao Qingyao for the sake of the Song family and the emperor.

Only then did Zhao Qingyao understand why Lü Tu had rejected her.

She turned to look at Lü Tu's handsome profile: "Lü Tu, so that's how it is. I'm the one who embarrassed you." With that, Zhao Qingyao started to walk out.

But Nangong Huiyu, Wang Miaoling, and Jiang Wanyu were blocking the door. Nangong Huiyu was a quirky and mischievous person. Apart from Lü Tu and Song Yuxi, she wouldn't give face to anyone, even if Zhao Qingyao was a princess.

In her eyes, Zhao Qingyao was at most a woman of higher status. If it weren't for the fear of upsetting Lü Tu and Song Yuxi and delaying important matters, she would have killed her if she displeased her.

Seeing that her path was blocked, Zhao Qingyao, who had originally wanted to give up, turned around and looked at Song Yuxi, saying, "What do you mean by this? Do you want to avenge your father?"

Song Yuxi met her gaze confidently: "Princess, your royal family is still as arrogant as ever. Do you think my Song family's way of seeking revenge is just to bully a weak woman like you? I am not like the current emperor. My Song family is not so despicable."

"You!" Prince Duan stepped forward and slammed his hand on the table, instinctively about to reprimand Song Yuxi. After all, he was a member of the royal family, and the emperor being insulted was equivalent to insulting the entire royal family. At this time, he had to stand up and make a statement.

But the next second, Lü Tu took a step forward, staring coldly at Prince Duan. Even without saying a word, the murderous aura emanating from him frightened Prince Duan into taking a few steps back.

Even though Prince Duan was wary of Lü Tu, he couldn't back down in the current situation. If he were willing to give up his royal status, it would be no different from being dead, and Lü Tu would no longer give him any face.

"Lu Tu, what do you mean by this? Do you intend to kill me and my elder sister?"

Song Yuxi asked first, "Zhao Qingyao, let me ask you a question: what you just said to my husband, is it true?"

Zhao Qingyao hadn't expected Song Yuxi to ask her this at a time like this. After thinking for a moment, she still nodded and said, "That's right, I'm serious!"

Song Yuxi suddenly chuckled: "I don't believe it. If what you just said is true, then why did you back down after seeing me? Is your affection for my husband so shallow?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present was immediately impressed. Even Lu Tu hadn't expected Song Yuxi to be so aggressive, directly putting Zhao Qingyao on the defensive. Moreover, she was speaking from Zhao Qingyao's perspective, leaving Zhao Qingyao with no excuse to refute her.

Zhao Qingyao gave Song Yuxi a deep look: "I know you hate us, but don't forget, I am the princess of the current dynasty!"

Song Yuxi shook her head helplessly: "It seems you are still a hypocrite. You don't even have the courage to face your own heart, and you don't keep your promises. The slightest setback will make you give up on your love for your husband. With someone like you, why would your husband want to marry you?"

Hiss! Upon hearing this, everyone present gasped in shock!

That was a decisive blow; it completely sealed Zhao Qingyao's fate.

At this moment, Zhao Qingyao's face was so red that it almost reached her neck. She had only wanted to escape from here for a moment and did not want to show her vulnerable side in front of Song Yuxi, someone with whom she had a grudge.

Unexpectedly, Song Yuxi's words were so sharp, showing her no respect whatsoever.

Prince Duan advised, "Second Sister, stop making a scene!"

Zhao Qingyao took a deep breath, snapping out of her previous shame and saying firmly, "I admit that I do like Lü Tu very much. When I saw you just now, I also thought about giving up on this relationship and burying it deep in my heart. It's not because I don't love Lü Tu, but precisely because I love him enough, so I don't want to embarrass him!"

After saying this, Zhao Qingyao looked at Lü Tu with a firm and powerful gaze.

Even Nangong Huiyu, who already disliked her, was somewhat moved by these words. She looked at Lü Tu in disbelief: "Husband, do you like her?"

Before Lü Tu could speak, Song Yuxi replied immediately, "Since that's the case, Zhao Qingyao, I've already resolved my husband's inner conflict. I'm willing to accept you. Now, let's ask my husband if he likes you. If he does, you two can get married openly and honestly. If he doesn't, then we'll settle our own affairs."

Zhao Qingyao nodded and said, "Alright! Who's afraid of you?"

At this moment, Nangong Huiyu, Wang Miaoling, and the other two were already standing beside Song Yuxi, looking as if they were united against a common enemy.

Zhao Qingyao and her maid Xiao Huan confronted them without fear. Both sides were women, yet the tension was palpable.

"Lu Tu, say something! The princess has cried countless nights for you, and today she even expressed her love in front of so many of your wives. As a man, you can't do this!" Xiao Huan urged, mustering her courage.

"Shut up, Xiao Huan!" Zhao Qingyao glared at her, which stopped Xiao Huan.

These words took on a different meaning when they reached Lü Tu's ears. He didn't know if Zhao Qingyao was lying to him, but in either case, Lü Tu was more inclined to believe that this was Zhao Qingyao's scheme to use him to resolve the current crisis.