Chapter 456 Should Zhu Yiyi be married off?

The Zhu family.

The story begins the day before the Lunar New Year. When Imperial Censor Zhu returned to the Zhu residence from court, Consort Xue, with her slender waist swaying, greeted him, "Master is back..."

Imperial Censor Zhu had been away for two months, busy with preparations for welcoming the Emperor and Empress. He even returned home later than Zhu Yiyi. At this moment, his eyebrows and nose were furiously furrowed, and he asked coldly, "Has Zhu Yiyi returned home yet?"

Aunt Xue already knew about Zhu Zhenzhen from Zhu Yiyi, but Zhu Yiyi didn't dare tell Aunt Xue that she had framed Zhu Zhenzhen, nor did she dare to say it.

Immediately afterwards, a loud "slap" resounded as it landed on Aunt Xue's face. "Where is Zhu Yiyi? How did you raise your child?"

"The young lady is in her courtyard, sir..." Aunt Xue was slapped for no reason, and her tears flowed down like pearls from a broken string.

The servants had just helped Madam Zhu into the courtyard when they saw Aunt Xue being beaten. She was unaware of what had happened to her daughter because the Emperor had ordered the news to be kept secret.

Madam Zhu was also pleased to see Aunt Xue being beaten, as Aunt Xue was usually favored.

Meanwhile, Imperial Censor Zhu showed no concern for her and went directly to Zhu Yiyi's courtyard.

Zhu Yiyi was getting ready at home. She thought that after returning to the capital, the emperor would let her enter the palace, since the emperor had never directly refused her before.

Imperial Censor Zhu rushed in, and Zhu Yiyi said, "Father, you're back too." She thought her father didn't know what she had done, after all, even the Emperor couldn't find out who wanted to harm Zhu Zhenzhen.

Imperial Censor Zhu glared angrily and slapped Zhu Yiyi twice, leaving her dizzy and disoriented, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Father..."

"What have you been doing outside, you wicked woman, you fool?" Imperial Censor Zhu cursed her directly.

Zhu Yiyi guessed what was going on and cried, "Father, don't listen to Zhen's nonsense. She's crazy and talking nonsense. Her innocence has been ruined, and I'm heartbroken too, but I didn't do it."

Imperial Censor Zhu dismissed all the maids serving her and ordered his trusted confidants to guard the courtyard. He then lowered his voice and said in a deep tone, "It wasn't Zhenzhen who said it, but Qin Yunyan, who conspired with you. You wanted to plot against Zhenzhen and Xiao Yu, didn't you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yiyi immediately knelt on the ground, "Father, please let me explain. My sister Zhen has been in the palace for almost two years and still hasn't conceived. She's simply not suited for the palace. I've already won His Majesty's favor, and he will soon send someone to bring me into the palace..."

Imperial Censor Zhu sneered, "Bring you into the palace? You still want to enter the palace? You don't deserve it. You almost ruined my official position. If I hadn't made preparations in advance, our Zhu family would have been ruined by you. Didn't I tell you to only cultivate a relationship with the Emperor? Now that Zhenzhen is in trouble, how can you, as her older sister, absolve yourself of responsibility?"

Zhu Yiyi almost turned pale upon hearing this. "How could this be? His Majesty clearly said he hoped I could stay by his side." He even gently helped her apply the medicine. Although the Emperor and Empress's relationship had improved again, it didn't affect the Emperor's affection for her at all!

"Zhenzhen wasn't sent back to the Censorate, but went straight to the palace, which means the Emperor won't depose her. From today onwards, you better behave yourself, or I won't let you off the hook. You are a daughter of the Zhu family, and you understand the principle that we share both glory and loss. As long as Zhenzhen is well, you, as a daughter of the Zhu family, will also be well."

The woman who helped you harm Zhenzhen was actually working for Consort Su. The Su family wanted revenge on the Jiang family and the Emperor, and you were being used by them without realizing it…

After hearing this, Zhu Yiyi said, "What Father means is that their real purpose is to get Father to join them in dealing with the Empress. But we are going to deal with the Empress anyway, so what's wrong with joining forces with them now?"

Imperial Censor Zhu said coldly, "When did I say I wanted to deal with the Empress? The Zhu family's position is not even secure yet, why would I want to deal with the Empress? Can you guys stop being so stupid?"

"Didn't Father say he wanted the Zhu family's daughter to conceive a prince?" Isn't that just so that the Zhu family's daughter could compete for the Empress's position? The Empress was killed by them, so the Zhu family's daughter would have a chance.

Imperial Censor Zhu paused for a moment, then said, "Don't say such things again. Remember, don't admit to drugging Zhenzhen. From today onwards, don't go out."

Knowing her thoughts, Imperial Censor Zhu warned coldly, "If Zhenzhen's affair gets out and disgraces the Zhu family or the imperial family, you can forget about leaving alive. I'll pretend I don't have a daughter like you. So from now on, you'd better keep this to yourself."

Consort Su wanted to control him, but how could he let her have her way and use her to blackmail him? This time he spent a lot of money to settle things, but he only lost a few trusted confidants. Those scapegoats weren't really scapegoats; he had been kind to them, and now it was time for them to repay that kindness.

No matter what Consort Su says, the Emperor will not believe her, and he is certain that Consort Su has no evidence at all. If Su Xuan were to obtain evidence, he would not help her.

Zhu Yiyi was startled. "Even if my daughter finds out, she won't tell anyone." She only teased Zhu Zhenzhen a couple of times with her mother, and naturally didn't say that she was the one who drugged Zhu Zhenzhen. She didn't expect her father to find out, and even know that the person who helped her was named Qin Yunyan.

Zhu Yiyi came up with another idea to please Imperial Censor Zhu: "You've met Qin Yunyan's father, haven't you?"

Imperial Censor Zhu glared at her, implying that he had seen her before; otherwise, how would he know that Consort Su was plotting to drag the Zhu family into working with her against the Empress?

Zhu Yiyi said in a gloomy tone, "That girl is really beautiful, but she wants to seek revenge on Minister Xiao for killing her father and mother. Father can help her and maybe win her heart. I heard that she is the daughter of a disgraced official and has been demoted to slavery."

Imperial Censor Zhu was somewhat tempted. He had been itching to make a move when he first saw the girl in the funeral procession, but he never had the chance. Now that he knew she was Consort Su's woman, he couldn't possibly want such a dangerous person by his side.

He didn't say these words to Zhu Yiyi. He said in a deep voice, "I have already arranged a marriage for you. From today until you get married, you will stay in your room and reflect on your mistakes. You are not allowed to go anywhere."

Zhu Yiyi was stunned for a moment. He wanted her to get married?

No wonder the Emperor was cold and indifferent to her later. She thought it was because the Empress was in front of him that the Emperor avoided her. It turned out that the Emperor never intended to let her enter the palace to accompany him.

She was still unwilling to accept it. Why was it that Zhu Zhenzhen was impure, yet she was still allowed to enter the palace, while she, who was prettier than Zhu Zhenzhen, was forever inferior to her?