Chapter 44 "Crown Princess, don't be shy, little..."

Pei Shang'er personally poured Yang Chengxiu a cup of poisoned wine, and with a smile, presented the golden cup to his lips.

Her eyes held a tender tenderness, while a hint of poisonous fragrance lingered in the cup.

"Drink this cup of wine, and from this day forward, we will be separated by death."

The amber liquid in the glass swayed slightly, reflecting the faint firelight and Pei Shang'er's exquisitely made-up face. Her eyebrows were drawn very finely, her lips were covered with rouge, and even her eyelashes were curled and distinct.

Pei Shang'er dressed up specially today, looking charming and beautiful, so that Yang Chengxiu would remember her at her most beautiful.

"Shang'er is truly beautiful."

Yang Chengxiu chuckled softly, tilted his head back, and downed the wine in one gulp. As his Adam's apple bobbed, a drop of wine slid down his chin. Pei Shang'er instinctively reached out to wipe it away, but he grabbed her wrist.

"Don't move, let me take another good look at you, Chang'er, my wife."

The poison took effect very quickly.

His hands began to tremble, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead, yet he stubbornly continued to stroke her cheek.

Blood trickled from the corner of his lips, meandered down his chin, and dripped onto her bright yellow dress, landing precisely where the eyes of the golden dragon embroidered on the dress were.

Pei Shang'er couldn't help but look down at the drop of blood that had fallen on her clothes.

The finishing touch.

Long Fei is gone.

She finally burst into tears, her scalding tears falling onto Yang Chengxiu's hand, while he simply sighed and wiped them away.

"Don't cry..."

Yang Chengxiu's breath grew weaker, his forehead rested on Pei Shang'er's shoulder, his blood-stained fingers running through her hair, stroking her head.

"No matter what happens from now on... you must live on strongly, live on in this world for me..."

Pei Shang'er's hairpin had probably just been knocked off by Yang Chengxiu, and her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, becoming tangled with his blood-stained robes.

"I will live well, I promise you."

The body in her arms grew heavier and heavier. She held him tighter, and heard his last murmur: "I love you..."

His body sank slowly into her arms, like the setting sun sinking into distant mountains.

She felt his hand gradually lose its strength; the hand that had been tightly holding her hair loosened, like a withered vine in late autumn, silently falling from the branch.

His breathing grew lighter and lighter, his chest rose and fell less and less, until only a faint tremor remained, like a candle struggling in the wind.

She looked down at him and found that his gaze had become unfocused, yet he still stubbornly stared at her, as if he wanted to use his last bit of strength to etch her image into eternity.

It wasn't until his pupils completely lost focus, until his body temperature slowly cooled in her arms, that she realized...

There is no longer a person named Yang Chengxiu in the world.

*

In late autumn, the palace walls and courtyards resembled a faded painting.

Withered leaves curled up on the steps, rustling and tumbling in the wind, making a sound like shredded paper. The branches of the tree pierced the gray sky, and a few stubborn yellow leaves trembled on the branches, about to fall at any moment.

The palace gates finally opened to Pei Chang'er.

Chen Liniang was with Pei Lian at this moment. When she saw her daughter arrive, she looked at Pei Lian with a worried expression, then at Pei Shang'er, not knowing what to say.

Pei Shang'er had an unyielding gloom between her brows. She did not bow to her father and mother, but simply stood blankly in front of them.

"Why are you here? Didn't you go to visit Chengxiu in prison?"

Pei Lian was very disappointed in his daughter. He did not want her to be so obsessed with Yang Chengxiu that she would abandon the Pei family's empire for Yang Chengxiu.

Pei Shang'er's eyes were churning with dark undercurrents, her gaze chillingly cold.

"He's dead."

"What?!"

Pei Lian and Chen Liniang were both shocked and could hardly believe the result.

Yang Chengxiu was dead. Chen Liniang knew her daughter must be heartbroken. She rushed over anxiously and grabbed her daughter's hand: "What happened? What's wrong? Weren't we supposed to have the Ministry of Justice interrogate him yet? How could he die so suddenly..."

Pei Chang'er said coldly, "I was the one who ordered his death. I couldn't protect him and could only watch him being tortured and humiliated by Wu Yang and the Crown Prince's men. Since that's the case, it's better to let him die quickly. He is Princess Jin'an's husband. I want him to die peacefully. I absolutely cannot tolerate him living like a dog, without dignity, barely surviving, living in fear and pain."

"You...you...what have you done?!"

Pei Lian was furious. After a long period of hesitation, and with Chen Liniang's constant persuasion, he was on the verge of wavering. He never expected that his daughter would take the initiative and kill the prince consort first.

Upon hearing this, Pei Shang'er was enraged and rebuked Pei Lian: "What have I done! Father, how dare you ask! I begged you to save Chengxiu, but you shut the palace gates and refused to see me. You even sent Wu Yang to harass me! My mother brought me to beg you, but you still refused to see me. He is the imperial son-in-law, your son-in-law. You can't even protect your own daughter and son-in-law. Do you think you're a proper emperor? What emperor in the world would act like this, so pathetic, controlled by the Crown Prince and Wu Yang? You're just their puppet!"

"I'm not! Chang'er, I am your father. Everything I've done is for the sake of the Pei family's future!"

Seeing his daughter so heartbroken, Pei Lian feared she wouldn't be able to live without Yang Chengxiu, so he let her scold him, unable to bear reprimanding her any further.

Pei Shang'er was furious and had nowhere to vent her anger. She believed that Yang Chengxiu's death was entirely due to Pei Lian, because her biological father had refused to help her.

"When I was little, Yang Mingkong tried to kill me countless times, beat me so many times, and starved me. The people in the palace also bullied me, feeding me spoiled food and swill. In the vast palace, I didn't even have a place to stand. Where were you then? Where were you, my father? You were cowering in Qingzhou, completely forgetting you had such a young daughter. When I was all alone, weren't you parents terrified of Yang Mingkong and too afraid to take me away? Only Yang Chengxiu, only him..." "Save me! Give me warmth and love, give me the will to live. But you took him away from me, all for your throne. What about me? Your throne will go to Pei Xuanlin, and I will have nothing. You even killed my only daughter, Chengxiu. Have you forgotten that it was Chengxiu who opened the palace gates for you during your coup? Otherwise, you would have been betrayed by your good sister Wuyang long ago. She would have sold your whereabouts to Yang Mingkong long ago. Who is good to you, and who is not? Are you blind? A cowardly, incompetent, and selfish person like you, does he even deserve to be emperor?!"

Pei Shang'er poured out all the grievances she had suffered over the years in one breath. Chen Liniang felt heartbroken and shed tears, but she was afraid of angering Pei Lian, so she pulled her back and told her not to get agitated.

“My dear daughter has suffered a great injustice, but your father has his reasons. Speaking to him like that will upset him.”

A doting mother often spoils her son, and it's not just Chen Liniang who is a doting mother who spoils her daughter; Pei Lian is also a doting father who spoils his daughter as well. Even if Pei Shang'er says something to him that is too much, he only thinks that his daughter is complaining to him, her father, about the grievances she has suffered over the years, and that it is not excessive.

"Shang'er, I know you've suffered a lot of injustice. Here's what we'll do: whatever you want to do, I, as your father, will agree to it."

Pei Lian didn't know how to express his fatherly love to Pei Chang'er, so he just indulged her and fulfilled her requests.

"I want to place Chengxiu's memorial tablet in the ancestral temple. I want to punish Wuyang and the Crown Prince in this way. They plotted to frame Chengxiu, so they should all go and worship him, kneel down and pay their respects to his memorial tablet!"

“No, Chang’er.” Pei Lian frowned. “How can this be? Don’t be ridiculous. He is accused of treason, which is an outrage against both gods and men. Even if I agree, the court officials will not agree.”

"Court officials?! You are the emperor! Why should you care about court officials! They are nothing but a bunch of sycophantic lackeys. Kill them or torture them as you please!"

Pei Shang'er went completely insane, utterly unaware of what she was saying, which terrified Chen Liniang, who was listening nearby.

“My dear Chang’er, how could you say such a thing? Calm down. I know you must be heartbroken. How about this, how about your father bestows upon Cong’er the title of a king, and also grants her the title of a princess with ten thousand households? Your father will draft the imperial edict right now. Don’t be sad.”

Pei Shang'er glanced at her anxious mother and her heart softened a little.

Pei Lian sighed deeply: "Yes, Chang'er, as long as you want it, your father and mother will try their best to satisfy you. We'll make Cong'er a king and you a princess with ten thousand households, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Shang'er's gaze became firm and profound.

"I want to be the Crown Princess."

"What?!"

Pei Lian and Chen Liniang were startled again.

"Shang'er, how could you..."

Chen Liniang was both shocked and frightened. Since ancient times, the struggle for the throne has always been bloody, not to mention that since the founding of the dynasty, no emperor has ever come to power without a coup.

Pei Lian's face was already showing anger: "No! There is no precedent for a princess to become emperor. Besides, Xuan Lin is perfectly fine and has not done anything wrong. He has even made many contributions. How can I depose him from his position as crown prince? On the contrary, you have no achievements. How can I change the heir apparent? This matter is not negotiable. Chang'er, I have spoiled you. You go back to your princess residence now and stay there. You are not allowed to leave the residence without my order."

Pei Shang'er snorted coldly: "If you can't even fulfill my wishes, then don't ask me what I want in the future!"

After saying that, Pei Shang'er turned and left. Chen Liniang was worried and chased after her for a few steps, but she couldn't catch up. She could only turn back and sigh with Pei Lian.

“This child is throwing a tantrum. Yang Chengxiu’s death must have been a huge blow to her. Don’t be angry with her.”

“Shang’er is sensitive and lacks love. It’s my fault for not giving her a perfect childhood.” Pei Lianchou lowered his head.

"It's our fault as parents. We should have spared Yang Chengxiu's life. It would have been good if he could have made Chang'er happy."

“But how can his life be spared… Xuan Lin wants him to die.”

"Alas, no matter how good Xuanlin is, he is ultimately not our biological child. Chang'er is the child who came from my womb..."

"Go and rest. My head is throbbing, and I can't concentrate on reading this memorial."

***

Yang Chengxiu is dead.

When the news of his death reached the Eastern Palace, Pei Xuanlin was having dinner with Ling Zhenli. Upon hearing the news, the two of them put down their chopsticks.

"Looks like tonight will be another sleepless night." Pei Xuanlin sighed and gave a weak smile.

Ling Zhenli slowly got up, her eyes glazed over, clearly still not recovered from the shock. After a long while, she spoke woodenly.

"I want to go to the Princess's residence to see Princess Jin'an."

Pei Xuanlin looked at Ling Zhenli with some worry: "Go to the princess's residence to see Jin'an? What would she do there? She probably wants to kill anyone she sees right now. You should wait until tomorrow morning. Yang Chengxiu died as a traitor whose crimes are still unclear. Even if he is buried, he cannot be buried in Princess Jin'an's tomb."

"...Sanlang, if he can't be buried in the imperial mausoleum, where will he be buried?" Ling Zhenli asked weakly.

Pei Xuanlin pondered for a moment: "I think Pei Chang'er will put him in her own tomb. If His Majesty doesn't agree, then all that awaits him is a mass grave."

"A mass grave... a mass burial ground?" Ling Zhenli's eyes widened instantly.

Pei Xuanlin smiled and said, "I was just joking. How could Pei Shang'er allow Yang Chengxiu's body to be buried in the mass grave? It's good that he's dead. He won't have to suffer anymore. It's just that Yang Chongzheng is still in Pei Shang'er's hands and will probably be buried with her. Never mind, since you want to go see Pei Shang'er, I'll go with you."

"No, never mind, I want to go home. Come home with me, Sanlang."

Ling Zhenli couldn't help but feel anxious. Yang Chengxiu might tell Pei Shang'er her secret. Pei Shang'er was unpredictable... Since Pei Shang'er could go crazy and reveal Princess Wuyang's secret to the public, she could also spread hers.

The carriage traveled extremely fast. Along the way, Ling Zhenli closed her eyes and listened to the wind, feeling that autumn was almost over.

The world is about to change.

The carriage came to a steady stop in front of the Prime Minister's residence. Since they had not been notified in advance of their arrival, Xue Wenmian and Cui Yuerong had not had time to prepare a meal for Pei Xuanlin and Ling Zhenli.

Xue Wenmian dealt with Pei Xuanlin, chatting with him casually as they walked inside. Cui Yuerong noticed that Ling Zhenli's expression was not good, so she took the initiative to go over and ask her what was wrong.

"Why did you suddenly come back? Didn't you just reconcile with the Crown Prince and move back to the East Palace from Shengguang Temple? What happened?" Cui Yuerong asked as she walked inside, holding Ling Zhenli's hand.

Ling Zhenli looked flustered and unconsciously tightened her grip on Cui Yuerong's hand: "Mother, Princess Jin'an's husband is dead. He knew me... so I'm afraid."

"Good child, what are you afraid of with your mother here? Whether you came from my womb or not is just a matter of my word. Besides, everyone else is dead, so there's nothing to be afraid of. Don't worry about anything. I'll have the servants go to the restaurant to buy some food. After you eat, you and the Crown Prince can sleep in the mansion tonight and get some rest. It's late and the dew is heavy, so don't rush."

"I understand, Mother. I want to tell you something..."

"Just tell me, and I'll make the decision for you," Cui Yuerong smiled at her.

Ling Zhenli hesitated for a long time before finally speaking: "The second son of Princess Wuyang, the Duke of Yan, he and I..."

Still feeling embarrassed, Ling Zhenli hesitated to speak. Seeing her hesitant expression, Cui Yuerong immediately understood. As someone who had been through it all, she knew that young people's love was often passionate and intense.

"You have an affair with the Duke of Yan? I have heard that he wants a divorce. He is indeed handsome, but you can't judge a man by his appearance alone. Look at the Crown Prince, he is also a handsome man with a dragon-like appearance and a phoenix-like demeanor. He treats you well. Why don't you settle down?"

“No, during my stay at Shengguang Temple, I heard some rumors that I, as the Crown Princess, have not yet produced any offspring for the royal family, and everyone wants the Crown Prince to take a few more women into the Eastern Palace… Mother, actually, I had a relationship with the Duke of Yan at Zuixianlou in the past…” Ling Zhenli hesitated, then stopped and looked at Cui Yuerong.

Cui Yuerong asked with slight doubt: "You've had one? A child? Are you going to bring him back to raise now? Does the Duke of Yan know about this child? Boy or girl? It's alright, he definitely won't let the Crown Prince know. These are minor matters. Your father and I were engaged after your brother was born."

"No, I lost my child with the Duke of Yan. I think it's because my miscarriage damaged my health that I haven't been able to have a child with the Crown Prince."

There are plenty of daughters from prestigious families, and many are already eager to put women in the Eastern Palace. Pei Xuanlin loves her now and is willing to not take any concubines for her sake, but who can say what will happen in the future? If she has no children to rely on, Ling Zhenli may one day fall out of favor and have no hope for the future, dying old in the palace.

Cui Yuerong knew that the palace intrigues were fraught with danger, and that without offspring, she would be doomed to vie for the emperor's favor in the future.

only……

"Ah Li, are you sure it's a problem with your body? Could it be something to do with the Crown Prince...?"

Ling Zhenli knew perfectly well that she had been intimate with four men during this period, but had not become pregnant, so she figured it was her own problem.

"It's my fault, Mother. Could you please find some renowned doctors to help me recover? Having a child will make my position more secure."

“Yes, then go back to the manor for a while in a few days and take good care of yourself. If all else fails, find a trustworthy maid for the Crown Prince, and after she gives birth, keep the child and remove the mother.” Cui Yuerong patted Ling Zhenli’s hand and gave her advice.

Ling Zhenli hesitated even more after hearing this.

Why would you let Pei Xuanlin get close to another woman and even get her pregnant?

No, she can't do it.

That woman doesn't exist yet, but just thinking about it makes her want to get rid of that damned woman as soon as possible. How can she really have Pei Xuanlin?

Pei Xuanlin belongs to her, and can only belong to her.

“I still want to have my own child…” Ling Zhenli replied tactfully.

Cui Yuerong, having been through similar experiences, knew Ling Zhenli's youngest daughter's thoughts and helplessly advised her: "Ali, if your husband were just an ordinary nobleman, it wouldn't matter. With the pressure from our aristocratic family, we could prevent him from taking other women. But he is the Crown Prince, and he will inevitably have many concubines in the future. You need to think it through. Empress Xue was Emperor Gaozong's first wife. She married into the prince's residence at the age of fifteen and accompanied Emperor Gaozong for so many years. They had times of deep affection, but in the end, she was still overthrown by Consort Yang and died in despair. You need to prepare for this."

Yes, that makes sense.

No matter how much Pei Xuanlin dotes on her now, and no matter what mistakes she makes, she will be forgiven, it's only because she's fresh and beautiful. A man's favor is the most unreliable thing. When she gets old and her beauty fades, and a fresh and lively young girl enters the harem, can Pei Xuanlin resist favoring her?

She needs to make plans for herself as soon as possible.

*

After having dinner at the Prime Minister's residence, Ling Zhenli brought Pei Xuanlin back to Ya Yun Xuan. Pei Xuanlin said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that he would pretend to be a madman and steal the Crown Princess's favor today.

Ling Zhenli liked him, so she let him be.

The light gauze bed curtains were half-drawn, and the candlelight was dim and warm.

The bedding was neatly laid out, and Ling Zhenli's languidly styled hair was reflected in the bronze mirror on the dressing table.

Ling Zhenli untied the belt around her waist, and the apricot-colored outer garment slid down her shoulders, revealing the lotus-colored main waist underneath. She deliberately left the belt behind her neck untied, so that with a gentle tug, the silk could flow down to her feet like water.

The incense burner exhales auspicious fragrance, and a crescent moon hangs obliquely over the sparse paulownia trees outside the window, adding to the serene atmosphere.

In the blink of an eye, a dark figure darted into the inner room, the sound of leather boots hitting the ground startling everyone.

Pei Xuanlin's shoulders were still damp with night dew, and the fragrance of tea roses and fruit lingered in his hair, which was tied up with a jade crown. He unknowingly came up behind Ling Zhenli, panting slightly heavily, and placed his hand on her from behind, his large palm caressing her soft and delicate neck.

Ling Zhenli's exclamation was silenced by his palm. She turned her head to break free of his restraints, but then placed the back of her neck under his breath.

"Your Highness the Crown Princess is truly beautiful. It is a terrible waste for His Highness to abandon you at the Holy Light Temple. Tonight, let me serve you."

Pei Xuanlin became increasingly unrestrained with his laughter and talk. He used his fingertips to lift her collar, and two overlapping figures were reflected in the bronze mirror.

"You scoundrel, aren't you afraid I'll tell His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"It would be best to have His Highness the Crown Prince come and take a look."

Pei Xuanlin laughed unrestrainedly, and Ling Zhenli was turned around and pressed against the dressing table. The next second, he kissed her lips fiercely.

After the wet kiss, Ling Zhenli looked up at him and deliberately scratched his Adam's apple with her fingernail.

"You madman, serving me to bed is already a reward for you. As for whether you can stay on my bed tonight, that depends on your performance..."

Before she could finish speaking, the last syllable was swallowed between their intertwined lips and teeth. Pei Xuanlin bit her lower lip with a bit too much force, as if it were a punishment.

Pei Xuanlin's hand slipped inside her undergarment, his fingertips brushing against her lower abdomen: "Your Highness seems to be looking forward to me here..."

Ling Zhenli, panting, grabbed his wrist: "You audacious madman, hurry up and serve me! If you displease me, I'll have the Crown Prince punish you with death."

The bed curtains had been torn in half at some point.

Pei Xuanlin groaned, but softened his grip as he loosened the ties of her undergarment.

The plain silk slipped down like a cicada's wing, and Ling Zhenli hurriedly tried to cover her exposed chest, but he grabbed her wrist and pressed her down on the pillow.

"Your Highness, don't be shy. I don't want to be sentenced to death by His Highness the Crown Prince..."

Sweat dripped from Pei Xuanlin's chin and onto Ling Zhenli's collarbone, like morning dew falling into a shallow jade cup.

She looked up at him, her eyes blurry with tears. She saw his taut jaw, sharp and cold, yet it softened inch by inch in front of her.

"If Your Highness finds me to have served you well... then His Highness should reward me handsomely, or better yet, best of all, bestow you upon me, so that I may serve you day and night..."

Her fingertips trembled slightly, and her voice was as soft as a wisp of smoke: "How dare you... you dare to slander the Crown Prince... you madman, the Crown Prince must punish you properly."

Before he could finish speaking, he interrupted her with his deep voice: "Then punish the little one and make him stay by the Crown Princess's side forever, serving her like a slave."

His voice was like ink soaked in spring water, each word spreading and making her ears burn.

Pei Xuanlin held Ling Zhenli's fingers, their ten fingers intertwined, like two vines that had finally found each other and could no longer be separated.

The brocade quilt was deeply wrinkled, like the surface of a lake disturbed by a sudden rain, with ripples spreading out in layers. She was immersed in it, and could no longer distinguish between pain and pleasure.

Pain and pleasure became like the wind whistling in her ears as she fell off the cliff, sweeping away all her clarity. In a moment, Ling Zhenli vaguely saw herself as a wasteland burned by wildfire, while Pei Xuanlin poured the entire Spring River into it.

...

Pei Xuanlin lay on her body to calm his breathing, his chest pressed against her chest, which was also heaving violently.

The two of them lay limp as mud, like two hills nestled together, finding a peaceful depression in each other's contours.

Moonlight streamed through the window, casting overlapping shadows that resembled snow-covered, rolling mountains.

"Sanlang, I love you." Ling Zhenli gasped for breath, burying her face in Pei Xuanlin's arms and giggling. "Let's talk things out from now on, and never hold grudges again, okay?"

Pei Xuanlin's heart was still pounding: "Okay, I know I was wrong. I missed you a lot while you were gone. I wanted to apologize but I didn't dare to say it. Let's not have any more arguments in the future. It's too painful."

“I miss you so much, Sanlang. You don’t know, there are so many people coming and going at Shengguang Temple. Many people say that Miss Yang is going to the capital. She was the woman you were originally going to marry. You put me at Shengguang Temple to make room for her. My heart broke when I heard that…” Ling Zhenli cried as she spoke.

Seeing her tears, Pei Xuanlin quickly patted her and comforted her: "People in the capital are always prone to making unfounded accusations and spreading rumors. That Miss Yang has already been executed along with the traitors. Ali, don't worry about it, okay? I only have you, and I only want you as my woman. Don't be sad or angry with me because of these rumors. They are all baseless."

"Mmm." Ling Zhenli sobbed and nodded in Pei Xuanlin's arms. "Young Master Xie explained to me that it was just the Yang family's wishful thinking to curry favor with the Crown Prince that led them to spread the news that Miss Yang was going to marry you as a concubine. It was all the fault of the Yang family. If I have to blame someone, it's them for making me sad for so long. How could I blame you?"

These words were insincere. Ling Zhenli had also resented Pei Xuanlin. She wished that Pei Xuanlin would stick to her and not even glance at other women.

“My Ah Li is the most sensible one. I knew I hadn’t spoiled you for nothing.” Pei Xuanlin kissed Ling Zhenli’s forehead hard. “I’m sorry for making you suffer, Ah Li. Just tell me what you want, and I will do my best to make it happen for you.”

"I just want you to spend more time with me, Sanlang. I want you to be by my side all the time. I don't want to be separated from you for even a moment." Ling Zhenli hugged Pei Xuanlin tightly, as if to prove how deep her love was.

Pei Xuanlin was taken aback for a moment, then said happily, "Okay, from now on, I'll stay with you. You'll take me to court and pick me up after court, okay?"

"Hmm... never mind then, I still prefer to stay in bed and sleep in."

"You slippery little devil."

The night was gentle, the moonlight lightly kissed the window paper, and Ling Zhenli curled up deep in the warm quilt, like a boat docking in a harbor. The two of them fell asleep in each other's arms, the sound of the tide gently surging through the night, and they slept soundly.

***

The Crown Prince's Palace and the Prime Minister's residence were in perfect harmony, but the Princess's residence was in complete chaos, with chickens and dogs running amok.

Ever since Xiao Chongheng moved back to the Princess's residence temporarily to avoid seeing Pei Chanlian, Pei Chanlian has been relentless and followed suit. Every morning, the two of them would have a big fight, without exception.

"You! You really dare to break off all ties with me, Xiao Chongheng? You're saying you'll divorce me if I don't agree to a divorce for the sake of a shameless prostitute? You really don't take me seriously at all! I'm going to tell my brother!"

Pei Chanlian's fake pregnancy was exposed, and Xiao Chongheng was determined to sever ties with her. Enraged, she overturned everything on the table. The more Xiao Chongheng looked at it, the more annoyed he became, and his brows furrowed.

"You say the woman I love is shameless? And what about you? Pei Zhuo, do you have any shame? Don't disgust me. Tell whoever you want. The Prince of Shunyi spends all day in Qionglin Pavilion, fooling around with a prostitute. Does he have time to care about you?"

"The person behind Xue Yingyue's skin is a corrupt courtesan from a family with a criminal record. The Xue family must have a death wish to let such a vile courtesan wear the skin of the Crown Princess. You wait until I raise the petition drum and make sure this matter is known throughout the whole country!"

"You dare! I'll kill you right now!"

Enraged by Pei Chanlian, Xiao Chongheng drew his sword to kill her. Just then, the door was pushed open, and Pei Shen'ai entered.

Pei Shenai coldly looked at the two who were arguing all day long and said, "You two, haven't you had enough? You're always cursing at each other, don't you get tired of it!"

The two of them shut their mouths.

Seeing that the two were finally willing to stop for a while, Pei Shenai's splitting headache lessened a bit, and she slowly walked to the chair and sat down.

"News came from the prison that your brother's tendons were severed, rendering his hand useless. Not only that, but his fingernails were also removed... He's passed out. I went there, and they said Jin'an forbids anyone from visiting him. Jin'an just lost her husband, and the Emperor grants her every request. You're still arguing here, not thinking about how to get Chongzheng out quickly. If he continues to stay in prison, he might not survive..."

Xiao Chongheng swallowed hard: "Mother, you shouldn't have acted against the prince consort so quickly. You forgot that my elder brother is still in Princess Jin'an's hands."

“…I originally wanted to intimidate Jin An, but who knew she wouldn’t do things the way I expected and actually ruthlessly ordered Yang Chengxiu’s death! Now that we’ve lost Yang Chengxiu as a hostage, Jin An has become a wild horse. If she continues to target us, we have nothing to retaliate against.” Pei Shen’ai looked worried.

The saying "those who have nothing to lose are not afraid of those who have something to lose" perfectly describes Pei Shang'er right now.

Xiao Chongheng also fell into thought, wondering how to deal with Pei Shang'er's relentless pursuit of them.

After a moment, Xiao Chongheng had an idea: "Mother, I have a plan."

"Hurry up and tell me, don't keep me in suspense."

“Minmin likes the young master Xue from the Prime Minister’s mansion, so why not grant her wish and let her marry Xue Che? In this way, the Princess’s mansion and the Prime Minister’s mansion will become in-laws, and you will no longer have to oppose the Prime Minister, thus eliminating one worry. In addition, the Crown Princess is the Prime Minister’s daughter and the young master Xue’s sister. In this way, we will also have a marriage alliance with the Crown Princess. It’s a win-win situation, with mutual assistance from all sides. Why not do it?”

“Hmm, you’re right.” Pei Shen’ai nodded, then hesitated, “But… at this critical juncture… that old fox Xue Wenmian is unlikely to agree to this marriage. If he slaps me in the face, where will I put my face in the future?”

"Mother is overthinking it. Now the struggle for the throne is only between the Crown Prince and Jin'an. The Crown Prince needs a strong ally right now, and we are that timely help. He can't be happier than that, and he will definitely help persuade the Prime Minister to agree to this marriage."

“Then I’ll give it a try.” Pei Shen’ai’s eyes darted around as she looked at Pei Chanlian. “Also, Roujia, don’t rush to spread the news about the Crown Princess. Your brother played a part in the Crown Princess’s family’s destruction. If an investigation is launched, none of us will escape the blame for this miscarriage of justice.”

"..." Pei Chanlian lowered her head, her ear tips burning red, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes, feeling utterly ashamed.

She had been afraid of this aunt since she was a child. Although the aunt was good-looking, she always felt that the aunt was scary. She would behave herself whenever she saw Pei Shen'ai, let alone when Pei Shen'ai warned her.

Seeing that Pei Chanlian had finally stopped making a fuss, Xiao Chongheng's agitated emotions subsided.

It seems that evil people need to be dealt with by other evil people.

Whenever he felt agitated, Xiao Chongheng would think of his father. Xiao Huanzheng always appeared calm and composed, as if nothing in the outside world mattered to him.

Since marrying his mother, he has stayed away from officialdom and become a leisurely prince consort.

The moonlight was like water, the insects chirped softly, and the evening breeze gently caressed the treetops.

Xiao Chongheng arrived at his father Xiao Huanzheng's bedroom, where Xiao Huanzheng was playing with his dog and had not yet gone to sleep.

"Father, I'm here."

"Can't you sleep?"

"Um."

"Because of the Crown Princess?"

"Um."

"So it's her. I've met the Crown Princess before. She's very beautiful and speaks softly. It's not surprising that you like her. But she already has a husband. You can't break up her family. That would be immoral."

Xiao shook his head and sighed, recalling some old memories.

Xiao Chongheng found a chair and sat down, keeping his father company as he played with the dog and chatted. In a calm tone, he spoke with sorrow: "Actually, I know that she and her husband have a very good relationship. Even if I'm angry, it's just because I have no reason to be angry with her."

“Since you gave up on her in the past, don’t bother her now. Wouldn’t it be better if you each lived your own lives?” Xiao Huan said gently. “Perhaps when you have children and she has children, you can become in-laws. But it’s best not to. You had that kind of relationship before, so it’s best to cut ties cleanly. Don’t you think so?”

How could he not understand the reasoning Xiao Huanzheng was talking about? He was doing it knowingly because he knew it was impossible.

“I understand the reasoning, but Father, I just… I just can’t bear to let her go. I regret it so much now. How could I have been so blinded by greed and abandoned her? Her health wasn’t good to begin with, and our daughter had just passed away around that time… How could I be so heartless!”

"Sigh." Xiao Huanzheng finally understood after hearing this.

His son not only abandoned her in a brothel, but also did so when she was in the most pain after losing her child.

It's hopeless.

"I think you've heard that I had a wife before I met your mother." Xiao Huanzheng recalled the past and smiled bitterly.

Xiao Chongheng immediately perked up his ears. He had only heard that his father had a wife before, but his mother never allowed anyone to mention it, so he didn't know anything about it.

“My wife’s surname is Fang. During the Lantern Festival that year, I got separated from her in the crowd. While searching for her, I accidentally bumped into your mother. Your mother mistook me for a guard who was looking for her. This mistake made her think she had met her true love. After returning to the palace, she inquired about me in many ways and finally learned that I was the son of the Marquis of Pingchang. However, she also learned that I already had a wife and children… Emperor Yang doted on your mother and granted her every request. He ordered my wife to be executed and commanded me to marry your mother, otherwise my children would also be in danger.”

Listening, Xiao Chongheng's eyes widened even more. So, he has a half-brother or half-sister? Surname Fang?! Could it be…

"Judging from your expression, you must have guessed it by now. Fang Binghui, the eldest son of the Fang family, is actually your older brother. He is five years older than you. He was taken away from me when he was still a child. Because of your mother, I never recognized him. This is one of my regrets. I miss him often, even though he is alive and well. Not to mention that you have lost your child... The pain of losing a child is a lifelong one."

"It's a daughter. I named her Chiying." Xiao Chongheng said sadly, lowering his head.

"A good name, conservative and successful. You are still young, with many opportunities and choices. The Crown Princess is a very good person, but you two are not suitable and have already missed your chance. You need to learn to let her go. If you really can't let go, you can make it up to her, but don't bother her. Crown Prince Pei Xuanlin is no ordinary person. If he finds out that the Crown Princess had a past relationship with you, and even lost a child because of it, her life will be difficult. After all, she will still have to live with Pei Xuanlin in the Eastern Palace in the future. You need to think about her carefully."

Xiao Huanzheng's words were all reasonable, but Xiao Chongheng did not want to give up Ling Zhenli, even if it meant maintaining a clandestine relationship.

However... I just found out that Fang Binghui is actually his half-brother.

The eldest son of the Fang family has two sons. The eldest son, Fang Binghui, currently holds a local position and is quite proper. He is married to the daughter of the governor, Lady Wei.

The second son, Fang Wenzhou, had achieved some success in the Ministry of War and was an old acquaintance of Pei Xuanlin. In the past, when Pei Xuanlin stormed into the palace to usurp the throne for the current emperor, it was Fang Wenzhou who led troops to kill all the guards who came to support the palace, thus creating an opportunity for Pei Xuanlin to enter the palace.

Thinking about it this way, Pei Xuanlin will definitely give important positions to the Fang family after he ascends the throne, and Fang Binghui's future should be considered very bright.

“The Fang family is a prestigious family, and the elder brother has married a daughter of the Wei family. His nominal younger brother, Fang Wenzhou, is also so capable. I’m sure he will have a good life after the [unclear], so Father doesn’t need to worry.”

“I’m worried about you. Look at you these past few days. Since you moved back to the manor, have you ever been happy? Roujia may not be good, but she is still your cousin, and she has an older brother. Don’t be too harsh on her. Chongzheng is still in Princess Jin’an’s hands, and your mother hasn’t slept well for two nights.”

As Xiao continued speaking, he sighed. For the sake of his children, he had endured more than a decade of quiet life, only to have it all destroyed in the end.

Xiao Chongheng recalled what had just happened that night: "I suggested to my mother that we marry Minmin to the Xue family's young master. As you know, Minmin likes the Xue family's young master."

Xiao Huan smiled wryly: "Among the noble young masters of the capital, you are the most handsome. Only the young master of the Xue family can barely rival you. With a brother like you, it's no wonder that Minmin likes the young master of the Xue family, but..."

Xiao Chongheng asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Isn't Young Master Xue good enough? Father, please rest assured. I know that Young Master Xue has no concubines or mistresses, which is why I feel at ease entrusting Minmin to him."

Xiao Huanzheng hesitated, frowning, "There's something I need to tell you, but I don't know if I should."

Seeing this, Xiao Chongheng's curiosity was piqued, and he wanted to know what it was about: "Father, please speak freely."

“That young master Xue had a woman in a brothel. That day I let it slip and told your mother. Your mother thought about it and guessed that the woman he had was most likely the Crown Princess.”

"What?!"

Xiao Chongheng felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His prospective brother-in-law, whom he had personally chosen and favored, had actually... had slept with his woman?!