"Your Highness, do you really intend to take Han Ruyi as a concubine?"
On the way back to the mansion, Wang Feng couldn't help but ask.
"Did I have the chance to say no?"
Li Mufeng was extremely frustrated. Emperor Li Hongwen had long known that he would not agree and had taken it upon himself to send betrothal gifts to the Prime Minister's residence.
Li Mufeng was furious about this, and Emperor Li Hongwen was so angry that he fell into a coma. The imperial physician warned that the emperor must not be angry anymore, or he would surely die. Li Mufeng was ultimately filial and did not argue with him further.
"Everyone knows that Han Ruyi was defiled in the fire. If Your Highness really takes her into your household, you may be implicated and become a laughing stock."
The Emperor only wanted to use the Prince of Jingnan's power to bring down the Empress Dowager, without considering the Prince's feelings.
Moreover, there's also the princess..."
Mentioning that woman made Li Mufeng even more irritable.
"Since I became involved with the Han family, how can I still have any face? I have long become a laughing stock."
"Your Highness, regarding the Princess Consort, I would like to add a few words. In my opinion, the Princess Consort is not the kind of woman who is promiscuous. What happened last night must have been a misunderstanding?"
Upon hearing Wang Feng mention "Blood Purple Rose," Li Mufeng shot him a dagger-like glare.
"Misunderstanding? I caught her and Chu Yunmo in bed together, how could there be a misunderstanding?"
"But the princess had a fever last night. Could it be that Chu Yunmo took advantage of her?"
Wang Feng sought an excuse for "Blood Purple Rose," while Li Mufeng clenched his iron fist.
“I wish it were so, but she…”
"Why is Your Highness so angry? My relationship with Chu Yunmo was nothing more than a fling. Unlike Your Highness, who already has a child and is impure, do you expect me to remain chaste for you?"
The words of "Blood Purple Rose" flashed through Li Mufeng's mind again, making him grit his teeth in hatred.
"Alright, stop mentioning that woman. Go and investigate the Taoist priest that King Lin hired. See if he truly knows 'rain-making magic.'"
"If Prince Lin cannot become the Crown Prince, then I have reason to refuse Han Ruyi's entry into my residence."
It turned out that Baojun County was suffering from drought. Empress Dowager Feng Xiuzhen instructed the officials to put pressure on Emperor Li Hongwen, saying that whichever prince could summon rain would be made crown prince. It was confirmed that Prince Lin, Li Muchen, had hired a Taoist priest who could summon wind and rain. When Emperor Li Hongwen found out, he was anxious and ordered Li Mufeng to take Han Ruyi as a concubine.
Empress Dowager Fengxiu now suspects that Prince Jingnan has abandoned the darkness and turned to the light because of his recommendation of Han Ziwei to save him.
If Li Mufeng takes Han Ruyi as a concubine, it will confirm the matter, and there will be a rift between the Feng family and the Mu family. At that time, the Feng family can be brought down by the Mu family, or the two families can be made to suffer losses.
Emperor Li Hongwen had a well-thought-out plan, but he completely ignored his son's feelings.
Despite knowing that doing so would betray the life-saving grace of "Blood Purple Rose," Li Hongwen had no other choice, given the immense power of the Empress Dowager's clan!
"Mother, it seems there's been a funeral at your Prime Minister's residence."
At this time, "Xue Ziwei" was unaware that her younger sister, Han Ruyi, was about to move into the Prince's Mansion and was on her way to the Prime Minister's Mansion with Li Jingchen.
Just moments ago, "Blood Purple Rose" was about to leave the mansion to go home when she saw Li Jingchen sneaking around following her.
Why are you following me? Are you plotting something again?
"Blood Purple Rose" grabbed the little guy's ear and pulled him out of the bushes.
"It hurts, Mother, let go, it hurts Chen'er."
The little one screamed as "Blood Rose" let go.
"Speak! Why are you following me?"
"My father has forbidden me from leaving the palace, but I want to go out and play."
The little one's soft, sweet voice held a pitiful quality, and "Blood Purple Rose" couldn't bear to look at him.
"So you want to come out of the manor with me?"
"Um!"
The little guy nodded his head. "Blood Purple Rose" thought for a moment,
"Fine, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll take you with me!"
She didn't know what medicine Li Mufeng had given her last night, but she felt refreshed and invigorated.
And so, the two boarded a carriage. Having learned from their previous experience, the guards at the gate did not dare to stop them forcefully this time. They only made a token effort to block them, and when they learned that "Blood Purple Rose" insisted on leaving the mansion, they let them go.
Seeing that "Blood Purple Rose" was in a daze, the little guy waved his chubby little hand in front of her eyes.
"Yes! There was indeed a loss at the Prime Minister's residence today. Last night, a fire broke out at the Prime Minister's residence, and the Prime Minister's eldest daughter was burned to death."
"Blood Purple Rose" gathered her thoughts and said lightly.
"Oh! So Mother came back to the manor today to attend your sister's funeral?"
The little one nodded his head, said something in a soft, sweet voice, and then widened his eyes.
"That's not right! I remember that my grandfather issued an imperial decree that my father should marry the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's family. Logically speaking, since my mother married my father, you should be the eldest daughter!"
The little guy was really cute, counting on his fingers as he analyzed his doubts. "Blood Purple Rose" was amused by his earnest little face.
"Haha... Chen'er, has anyone told you that you're cute?"
"Mother's smile is so beautiful. No wonder Father likes you and doesn't like Aunt."
"If you hadn't always bullied me and betrayed my father, I would have liked you too."
The little guy looked at the "Blood Purple Rose" with a bright smile and spoke the truth.
"Li Mufeng likes me? How is that possible?"
She wouldn't presume to be sentimental; "Blood Purple Rose" stroked the little one's soft hair.
“Chen’er’s analysis is correct. I am indeed the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s family. Today’s funeral is held for me.”
"Huh? Can living people hold funerals?"
The little guy was confused. "Blood Rose" stopped the carriage and then put her middle finger to her lips.
"Chen'er, don't make a sound. Mother will take you to see a play."
At this moment, a number of people, including servants and masters, were gathered in the courtyard, pointing and discussing a charred corpse.
"Ziwei, my Ziwei, you died so tragically, sob sob..."
At this moment, the one crying the most heartbroken in the courtyard was none other than the Second Madam, Mu Xue'er.
"Sister, your life is so tragic. You had only been married into the royal family for a few days. I thought your suffering was finally over, but I never expected you to die so young. Waaah..."
Her younger sister, Han Ruyi, followed closely behind, looking so heartbroken that anyone who didn't know them would think they came from the same mother.
...
"Wang Shuqing, you have to give me an explanation. I was only gone for one night, how could you let Ziwei burn to death in the ancestral hall?"
She was once the Princess Consort of Longxuan, and now she's dead in the Prime Minister's residence. How am I supposed to explain this to the Emperor and the Prince of Longxuan?
Prime Minister Han Bingmo pointed a trembling finger at Wang Shuqing, his eyes devoid of tears, filled only with reproach for his wife.
“Speaking of explanations, I think the one who should give Ziwei an explanation is you, Master. Why did you imprison me?”
"The ancestral hall is on fire, and I am imprisoned. Even if I wanted to put out the fire, I am too far away to help!"
Wang Shuqing retaliated without backing down, leaving Prime Minister Han Bing bewildered.
"When did I imprison you?"
"Master, have you forgotten that last night Chu Yunmo wrote a love letter to Ziwei, and you punished her by making her kneel in the ancestral hall and ordering her to reflect on her mistakes?"
I asked the master, "What if my sister can't bear it and lets the young lady out?" The master said, "Have someone keep an eye on her..."
Second Madam Mu Xue'er whispered something in Prime Minister Han Bingmo's ear.
Prime Minister Han Bingmo suddenly realized,
“If it weren’t for your poor upbringing of your daughter, why would I have confined her? It must have been that wretched girl who threw a tantrum in the ancestral hall, causing it to burn down. She deserves it.”
"What are you saying, sir! Ziwei was also your daughter. She burned to death. Aren't you even a little sad? Don't you want to help her find out the truth?"
Wang Shuqing looked at her heartless husband with disappointment in her eyes.
"Father, how can you be so biased? If it were my second sister who burned to death today, would you still be so indifferent?"
The younger brother, Han Ruobin, was equally dissatisfied and made accusations, but before he could finish speaking, Han Ruyi slapped him hard across the face.
"How dare you curse me, Father! You must avenge me! Look at my brother Ruobin, he wishes his daughter were dead, sob sob..."
After hitting her, Han Ruyi felt wronged, but Han Bingmo was easily swayed by her act and started berating Wang Shuqing.
"Look at what kind of children you've raised! It's one thing for your daughter to be promiscuous, but your son is good-for-nothing too. Take your son and get back to your room to reflect on your actions!"
Han Bingmo looked at her with disgust, and Wang Shuqing's heart turned completely cold.
"You heartless and ungrateful Han Bingmo! I was so eager to marry you back then, and even bore you a son and a daughter, yet you look down on my mother and me like this. Since that's how it is, from now on, don't even think about spending a single penny of my family's money."
"You can handle the renovation of the ancestral hall yourself!"
Wang Shuqing made a harsh statement, and Han Bingmo glared at her with a fierce expression.
"How dare you threaten me? I won't fall for your lies. I'll ignore it if I want to; I have my salary..."
"Sister, this is not right of you. What do you mean by 'yours' and 'mine'? After a woman gets married, she should put her husband first. Aren't you afraid that he will divorce you for making the master so angry?"
Mu Xue'er sowed discord.
"So be it. Do you think I care about this dilapidated Prime Minister's mansion? If it weren't for the good future of my two children, I, Wang Shuqing, would have returned to the South long ago."
...
The arguing below continued, and the little dumpling on the roof couldn't help but speak up.
"Mother, you are really pitiful, having such a father. He is not as good to me as Father King!"
"Blood Purple Rose" tried to cover his mouth, but it was too late.
The ground was covered in ice, so I drank it cold.
"Whoever is up there, get down here, or don't blame me for being impolite."
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