Chapter 140 Imperial Marriage

Prince Rui actually asked her to marry him as a concubine in public. Although Emperor Muzong did not express his opinion, this was a sword hanging over his head.

If Dou Wenyi can't drag Shen Yanzhou down with her, then she can only rely on Pei Siyan?

After everyone dispersed, Prime Minister Meng waited for more than an hour before Emperor Muzong finally invited him in. Not long after he came out, the lights in the Chaohua Hall of the East Palace were lit.

Chi Yan reported the latest developments in the palace to the person on the bed, "Your Highness, the memorial from General Zong Rui requesting to retire from the army was almost thrown in the face of Prime Minister Meng by His Majesty. This time we escaped unscathed."

"Prime Minister Meng mentioned your success in defeating the Northern Di in the detached palace, and also said that your headache has been greatly cured. He was clearly trying to sow discord between His Highness and the emperor, implying that you had deceived the emperor."

"In addition, Prime Minister Meng also proposed that His Highness Prince Rui marry Miss Dou as a concubine."

"His Majesty has granted his permission!"

On the bed, Pei Siyan's furrowed brows revealed a hint of anger. "Where are the Dou family members? What's going on?"

"Your Highness, rest assured, Dou Bochang and others have already left the palace."

Pei Siyan abruptly lifted the curtain, and the bells rang out with a series of clear sounds, which sounded quite abrupt in the silent hall.

He got off the bed and glanced coldly at Chi Yan, whose build was similar to his own. "I'm going to the Dou residence. Who will play the role of me tonight, you or Lie Huo?"

Chi Yan hesitated, then said, "Your Highness, please think it over. It's too risky! His Majesty has placed you under house arrest. If Prince Rui and Prime Minister Meng find a pretext against you, it will be difficult to explain."

Pei Siyan didn't care at all, "It's alright."

He took out a silver mask and put it on, then had Chi Yan disguise himself as him and lie on the bed. He then left the East Palace through a secret passage and easily sneaked into the Dou residence.

Yilan Courtyard.

After bathing and changing, Dou Wenyi did not go to bed immediately. She lay on the chaise longue and reviewed the events of the day in her mind.

The people from the Imperial Medical Academy were definitely under Pei Siyan's control, which is why they pretended not to notice Prince Rui's unusual behavior. On her way back, she realized that the gold hairpin with the hidden silver needle was missing from the palace.

When she was forced to assassinate Prince Rui, was she also seen by Shen Yanzhou?

That gold hairpin must have fallen into his hands. If it weren't for his help in covering it up today, she probably wouldn't have been able to escape by chance.

It seems she owes him again...

Ta Xue suddenly jumped over and rubbed against her. Dou Wenyi stroked its soft body, "You little glutton, I don't have any money to feed you Fanlou's dried fish. If you want some, go find your master!"

"Yi'er, what bad things are you saying about me?"

Her pupils dilated, and when she looked up, she saw Pei Siyan's handsome face. "You?"

Dou Wenyi rolled over and looked around. "Your Highness, you're being too reckless! What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

Pei Siyan placed the silver mask on the table and immediately grasped her hand. "Prime Minister Meng advised the Emperor to take you as a concubine, and the Emperor has already granted it!"

Dou Wenyi's heart tightened; she hadn't expected that Prince Rui had tricked her after all.

She chuckled softly, "Didn't you say he was dreaming? I'm still waiting for His Highness the Crown Prince to back me up!"

Pei Siyan met her teasing gaze and felt somewhat flustered.

He pressed his lips together, cutting straight to the point, "Dou Wenyi, become my Crown Princess. That would solve this urgent problem, wouldn't it?"

"Okay!" Dou Wenyi nodded, not refusing him as usual, but agreeing to him without hesitation.

At that moment, Pei Siyan's restless heart instantly calmed down. No, he had originally prepared a whole bunch of explanations...

He was so excited he couldn't wait.

Pei Siyan suddenly pulled the person into his arms, suppressing his surging emotions, "You really agreed?"

Dou Wenyi's shimmering eyes sparkled like stars, and her tone was calm yet firm, "It's true! But, Your Highness, our marriage is not based on mutual consent. To avoid unnecessary trouble in the future, I would like to request a divorce agreement first."

Pei Siyan's expression froze slightly, his lips stiffening for a moment. "What do you mean?"

No, he hasn't even gotten married yet, and he's already being forced into a 'divorce'?

“I am but an ant, while you are a dragon in the sky. In the future, you will have countless concubines and mistresses, and perhaps you will also meet someone who truly understands you.”

"Your Highness, you already know my aspirations. Marriage is not what I desire. Therefore, I would like to ask for a divorce agreement first!"

“Back then, His Highness granted me a favor. What I wanted was freedom. I wanted to have the right to choose, no matter when or where.”

As Pei Siyan gazed into those beautiful eyes that seemed to hold the moonlight, an indescribable feeling welled up in his heart.

Xie Guidu once said that he used his power to scheme against her, but the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to keep her by his side. However, he did not want to impose any of those schemes, tricks, or power on her.

There are countless ways to stop Prince Rui's marriage to her, but when he thinks about what he's going to do next, he can't help but worry that Shen Yanzhou might take advantage of the situation. For example, tonight, Shen Yanzhou didn't get a chance to show off.

She disliked the Eastern Palace, and even more so the imperial city. She was unwilling to share her husband with anyone, and even stingily refused to give him any of her true feelings...

Shen Yanzhou, on the other hand, seems to be more in line with her ideal husband!

Wisdom, strategy, status, and power—all of these now appear as mere pretense. What is it that he can offer her to win her over?

Pei Siyan has rarely been confused in his life, but now he doesn't know how to win her heart or keep her by his side.

But once she starts writing and leaves the book, does that mean she can abandon him at any time?

Pei Siyan was overwhelmed with complex emotions, but he tried his best to suppress his domineering attitude. "No, there is no precedent for divorce in the royal family."

Dou Wenyi felt a little guilty and hurriedly changed her words, "Your Highness, it's fine if we don't get a divorce. You can arrange for me to fake my death, but you have to write me a letter first."

Pei Siyan couldn't help but laugh at herself; she really was someone to be looked at with new respect.

There are countless women in the world, and countless women who want to marry into the Eastern Palace, but the one he desires is someone who disdains to be his Crown Princess.

Doesn't she feel sorry for him at all?

No... she clearly felt sorry for him!

Pei Siyan's face was gloomy, his sharp eyes fixed on her. "Yi'er, does it have to be this way?"

The gaze was so intense and intimidating that Dou Wenyi hurriedly turned her face away, silently refusing.

A subtle fragrance wafted through the room, and all was quiet and still.

Pei Siyan's eyes were dark and unreadable, and blue veins bulged on the back of his pale hand beneath his sleeve.

After a long silence, Dou Wenyi finally gave in and softly compromised, "Your Highness, I promise I will never betray you in this life. I will also try my best to cooperate with you on matters of marital relations. When we first met, I even signed a letter of denunciation for you. I trusted you so much, so why won't Your Highness believe me?"

"I only wanted to ask for a protective charm for myself, is Your Highness not even allowing it?"

Pei Siyan's dark eyes froze; he hadn't expected this to be the reason he was greeted.

What goes around comes around; no one escapes the wrath of Heaven.

He lowered his eyes, and after a long while, a soft laugh escaped his throat. "Alright, you are Gu Yi. Dou Wenyi, remember what you said today."

In any case, she will be his Crown Princess from now on!

As she spoke, Dou Wenyi took out a sheet of Chengxin paper from the drawer and prepared a brush, ink, and inkpad for him.

Pei Siyan looked at her serious expression and found it amusing. If he were truly tyrannical and cruel, how could a mere piece of paper protect her?

Dou Wenyi was betting that he was a gentleman, that he would keep his promise, uphold his principles, and not harm her!

Dou Wenyi held the handwritten letter he had written and smiled with satisfaction.

Pei Siyan frowned, didn't linger, and gave one last piece of advice before leaving.

"No matter what happens afterward, don't believe it. I have a foolproof plan. Just stay home and wait for the imperial decree to grant you marriage!"