Xuanyuan Peng's verdict displeased everyone present.
The Prime Minister's residence was unhappy, and the Marquis of Yong'an's residence was also displeased.
Madam Zhong was the first to speak up, "Your Majesty, in terms of status, our Fei'er is no less than Zhao Zhenzhen, and our Fei'er was the first to serve in the Emperor's bedchamber. It's very possible that our Fei'er is already pregnant with the Emperor's child. How can she only be a concubine?"
Xuanyuan Peng wasn't buying it. He said coldly and disdainfully, "If you don't want to be a concubine, then be a maidservant. If you don't even want to be a maidservant, then get back to the Yong'an Marquis's residence. Yu'er is still so young. Hasn't a woman yet given him a royal heir? Besides, I have more than one son. He doesn't need to worry about the imperial bloodline!"
That last sentence was rather harsh, and even Consort Su frowned.
"Your Majesty..." Madam Zhong wanted to say something, but then she saw Su Feiling kneel down to receive the imperial decree: "This humble woman is willing to become the Third Prince's concubine! Thank you for your great grace!"
She had always wanted to be the Third Prince's principal wife, but fate had other plans. Even after what happened the night before, the Emperor was only willing to make her a concubine.
She doesn't care about a concubine!
But now that so many things have happened at the Yong'an Marquis's residence, and she has consummated her marriage with Xuan Yuan Yu, if she really doesn't want to enter the palace, then she will truly have nothing left, and will only become a laughing stock for Su Xue Ning and Zhao Zhen Zhen.
So be it, she's a concubine. It'll be good if she can keep Zhao Zhenzhen at bay since she stole her position as the principal wife!
As for Su Xuening, now that she has married into the Holy King's Mansion, even if she doesn't deal with her, Consort Su will have to!
Seeing that Su Feiling was somewhat sensible, Xuan Yuanpeng's expression finally softened: "Now that a decision has been made, you may all step down."
"Your Majesty, I (your wife) take my leave." Zhao Xiang, Zhao's wife, Su Renyi, and Zhong Shi all took their leave together.
"Your subject takes his leave." Zhao Zhenzhen and Su Feiling also curtsied and withdrew.
Soon, only Consort Su, Madam Bai, and Su Xuening remained in the main hall.
Xuanyuan Peng glanced at Su Fei with a dark expression: "For what happened yesterday, you will be confined to your quarters for a month."
Consort Su became agitated upon hearing this: "Your Majesty, what happened yesterday had absolutely nothing to do with me!"
The Zhao family has stopped pursuing this matter, so why is the Emperor still punishing her? Besides, the Emperor has no evidence at all!
Seeing that she was still trying to argue, Xuan Yuanpeng's expression darkened even more. He said coldly, "Don't think I don't know what you've done. With Yu'er's simple mind, what could he possibly think of, like a bridal sedan chair or a wedding robbery? Wasn't it all instigated by you? If you don't comply with a month of confinement, then you'll be confined for half a year!"
Su Fei knew perfectly well that Xuan Yuanpeng was just deliberately standing up for Bai Shi. Xuan Yuanpeng was biased towards Bai Shi, so there was no point in her saying anything more.
"This concubine takes her leave." Consort Su glared at Madam Bai in anger and then withdrew.
"Su Xuening." After Su Fei left, Xuan Yuanpeng looked at Su Xuening with a stern face.
"Your Majesty, I am here."
Su Xuening stood up and politely curtsied to Xuan Yuanpeng.
Xuanyuan Peng stared intently at Su Xuening: "The Holy King and the Third Prince fought each other for you. What are your thoughts on this?"
Su Xuening's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately knelt down, lifting her skirt: "This humble woman is guilty, please punish me, Your Majesty."
Before Xuanyuan Peng could speak, Bai Shi coldly asked, "What crime has she committed?"
Xuanyuan Peng frowned and looked at Bai Shi.
Bai Shi, however, seemed to have a blank look in her eyes, as if she were talking about herself: "She didn't want to marry into the Holy King's Mansion either. We forced her to marry into the Holy King's Mansion. As for Xuan Yuan Yu, I don't think it was her fault. Our Ning'er is beautiful, but some people still have covetous thoughts about her."
Seeing Bai Shi's appearance, Xuanyuan Peng felt both sorry for her and guilty, and coughed dryly, saying, "I didn't mean to blame her."
Then, he looked at Su Xuening seriously and said, "Stay away from Xuan Yuan Yu in the future."
I would never dare to be so aggressive in my tone again.
Su Xuening bowed: "Your Majesty, I will obey your command. I promise I will never provoke the Third Prince."
Xuanyuan Peng frowned, his face full of helplessness.
In fact, he understood that Su Xuening had not provoked Xuan Yuan Yu, and always seemed to avoid him at all costs, which showed that she did not want to marry Xuan Yuan Yu. Otherwise, when he asked her at the General's Mansion, she could have chosen Xuan Yuan Yu.
If she had chosen Xuanyuan Yu back then, he might not have really agreed to Ya'er's request to marry her to Xuanyuan Zhan.
Judging from how Zhan'er is protecting her now, he must also have feelings for her.
The two brothers both fell in love with the same woman. There are countless women in the world, but they were both so stubborn.
It's truly ironic that the pain his father experienced was being repeated by his two sons.
Xuanyuan Peng sighed softly and instructed Zong Jiu, "Go and call those two outsiders in."
Zong Jiu immediately understood and went out to call for help.
A short while later, Zong Jiu led Xuan Yuanzhan and Xuan Yuanyu in.
Both of them frowned when they saw Su Xuening kneeling in front of Xuan Yuanpeng.
Xuanyuan Yu knelt down beside Su Xuening and said, "Father, whatever it is, it is my fault. If you want to blame someone, blame me, not Ning'er."
Xuanyuan Yu's affectionate expression successfully darkened the faces of everyone present.
Bai glared at Xuanyuan Zhan with a look of disappointment.
This kid just doesn't have the same eye for people. Look how sweet-talking and charming they are.
Xuanyuan Zhan didn't have time to pay attention to Bai Shi at the moment. He glared at Xuanyuan Yu with a dark green face, wishing he could smash his head in.
He's such a troublemaker, that shameless scoundrel!
Xuanyuan Peng was also a bit of a headache. He pretended not to see Xuanyuan Yu and looked at Xuanyuan Zhan, saying, "You were unconscious for a while, and your mother and I were very worried. Now that I see you have woken up safely, I am relieved."
Xuanyuan Zhan didn't respond to him, but only looked down at Su Xuening kneeling on the ground, it was unclear whether he had heard Xuanyuan Peng's words.
Xuanyuan Peng looked at the two brothers as if they were possessed, and didn't bother to say anything more: "Alright, today is your first day of marriage, come and serve me tea together!"
“We have already served tea at the Holy King’s Palace.” Xuan Yuanzhan had his own stubbornness.
But this hurt Xuanyuan Peng's feelings again: "You said you were at the Holy King's Mansion. Couldn't you have served me tea again in the palace?"
Xuanyuan Zhan stubbornly turned his eyes away, refusing to lower his head.
Upon seeing this, Xuanyuan Yu quickly said, "Father, your son and Ning'er will serve you tea."
Xuan Yuanzhan was already unhappy, and Xuan Yuanyu added fuel to the fire, further enraging him: "Xuan Yuanyu, don't push your luck!"
Xuanyuan Zhan was so angry that he wanted to hit someone again, but Su Xuening grabbed his hand: "Your Highness, the Emperor is your royal uncle. We should serve tea to our royal uncle on our wedding day."
Su Xuening squeezed Xuan Yuanzhan's hand reassuringly, looking at the unwillingness in his eyes, and then suddenly turned to Xuan Yuanpeng: "But this humble woman has a question that I would like to ask the Imperial Uncle. Our Prince is clearly the last descendant of the late Crown Prince, a true member of the royal family, and was personally appointed Holy King by you. Why can the Third Prince casually insult our Prince as a bastard?"
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