"Now that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has a wife, the Ninth Prince should also have a good match. Taking advantage of today's bright moonlight, I will facilitate another marriage."

Tang Ruozhi rolled her eyes. Another marriage? Who is going to marry whom? Why is there such a random matchmaking? She wanted to take a closer look at what this woman was up to.

The Queen Mother signaled Eunuch Bai to read the imperial edict. Eunuch Bai's thin voice was particularly high-pitched: "Ninth Prince Helan Yinsheng, and Yu Qinglan of the Grand Tutor's Mansion receive the order——"

Helan Yinsheng and Yu Qinglan stood up at the same time, exchanged a glance, and knelt together in the hall. They knew the contents of the imperial edict without even having to listen. The imperial edict granting marriage was received by both of them together.

"Yu Qinglan is hereby betrothed to His Highness the Ninth Prince as his concubine. All ceremonials are to be jointly handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Director of the Imperial Observatory, and an auspicious date will be chosen for the wedding. This notice shall be made known to all, both domestically and internationally. I decree!"

Yu Qinglan's prepared smile froze at the corner of her mouth. What? Did she hear it wrong? Concubine?!

She turned her head to look at Helan Yinsheng, who had already knelt down and said, "I thank the Lord for his grace! Long live the Emperor—"

Yu Qinglan was stunned for a few seconds, then mechanically knelt down and bowed, saying "Thank you, Lord" without any emotion, but she felt bad in her heart. Didn't they agree to be husband and wife?

We must protect the couple for life.

What does "concubine" mean? In her eyes, a concubine is no different from a concubine. How could she, the eldest granddaughter of the Grand Tutor's Mansion, be a concubine to someone else? She had to be a concubine to the man she loved the most.

Yu Qinglan didn't know how he got back to his seat. He only remembered that his heart was in pain, a pain that felt like it was about to be torn apart.

This imperial decree ripped her open, tore her heart into pieces, and showed it off to others. Look, how tempting her bloody heart is.

So, was Helan Yinsheng trying to make another woman his principal wife? Who was it? Who would be more compatible with Helan Yinsheng than her? No one, body or soul, could be more compatible with Helan Yinsheng than she, no one!

She drank the wine in front of her glass after glass. The wine that usually tasted bitter and spicy now felt tasteless to her, just like plain water. She had no feeling at all and was numb.

***

After the Queen Mother announced that Jin Suting would be the Crown Princess and Yu Qinglan would be the Ninth Prince's concubine, the banquet ended.

Tang Ruozhi, who had been waiting for her own destination, was stunned. What about her?

Did the Queen Mother forget about her? She was also a candidate for the Crown Princess, so in the end she ended up being nothing but a good match for herself?

Tang Ruozhi looked incredulous, and his expression was more disgusting than if he had eaten a fly.

She is the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion and the most outstanding noble lady in Funing City. Is it necessary for her to lose so miserably?

Well, she doesn’t want it either. Since she has lost the position of Crown Princess, she will definitely not become a concubine!

But it was still very sad. After waiting for so long, her father painted a beautiful and delicious pie for her and unilaterally described many futures with Helan Ruizhe, but in the end, none of them could be realized.

***

Helan Yinsheng left with Yu Qinglan. After leaving the palace, Yu Qinglan could no longer maintain a smile on his face and his face fell.

"Jiulang, is this what you meant by concubine?" She just wanted to know if it was his intention. If the Queen Mother felt that she was not worthy of being the Prince's principal wife, then she would have no complaints. But what if it was...

"No," Helan Yinsheng said, "That's not what I meant. The Queen Mother only agreed to let you marry me, and I'm satisfied. I don't dare ask for anything else."

Helan Yinsheng took her into his arms, hugged her gently and carefully, and said, "I, Helan Yinsheng, only have you as my only woman in this life, so even if you are a concubine, you will always be my wife."

Yu Qinglan was moved. Okay, if he said so, she would believe it.

But what she didn't expect was that Helan Yinsheng had been lying to her all his life, and this was just the beginning.

Helan Yinsheng personally asked the Queen Mother to give Yu Qinglan to him as a concubine. In exchange, he wanted a military token that could mobilize one-fifth of Fuding's military strength. Helan Yinsheng said that because she was a concubine, Yu Qinglan would not be truly devoted to him.

But the fact is, Yu Qinglan has given him all her true heart, tonight, the night when the Queen Mother grants her marriage.

How could there be such a stupid woman? The other party never talked about love, but she thought he gave her the same complete and sincere heart as she did.

***

After Helan Minzhi returned safely, Nanny Ji was completely relieved. The rumors of forcing the emperor to abdicate and rebellion did not happen.

But Helan Minzhi was still unhappy. She was in a very low mood. As soon as she returned to her room, she locked herself in the quilt.

She was always extremely emotional, and this was the first time since she was eight years old that Yoo Seung-ho didn't celebrate her birthday with her.

It has been exactly eight years since she turned eight. She celebrated her birthday when she was seven years old by herself. That was her first birthday in the palace, and the Queen Mother had forgotten her birthday.

There was no delicious food, no one to accompany her, and she didn't even get to eat the simplest longevity noodles. At that time, the wind was very cold at night, so she sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the dark night outside, and sat there with an empty stomach all night.

That was the longest night in her life. She spent her birthday in a strange place without her mother or any familiar people.

When she was seven years old, she already understood the warmth and coldness of human nature. Why did she become pretentious at the age of sixteen?

She looked out the window at the dark night, as if she was back to the night when she was seven years old. She didn't cry at the age of seven, but now she was sixteen and she really wanted to cry.

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