Chapter 271 devising a plan to escape unscathed
Madam Chang slowly took a sip of tea and said, "Now that my eldest son is in charge of the Chang family in the capital, they dare not blame me."
Madam Chang's eldest son is about the same age as Zhou Ruiyuan and is currently a second-rank official in the capital.
Aunt Zhou sighed and said, "Back then, if I hadn't angered you, you wouldn't have married Lord Chang out of spite."
Madam Chang put down her cup and smiled, "This is not your fault. Even if I hadn't been angry with you, I would have had no choice but to marry him. My parents had already accepted the betrothal gifts."
"You already accepted their betrothal gifts?" Aunt Zhou was somewhat surprised.
Madam Chang nodded slightly and said, "Yes, before I argued with you that day, our two families had already arranged the marriage."
"Then why..." Aunt Zhou's face was full of doubt.
Madam Chang stared at the cup in silence for a long time before finally revealing the secret she had kept for so many years: "Because of the Third Prince."
Aunt Zhou was startled. "What do you mean?"
Madam Chang gave a helpless smile and slowly said, "Back then, I was in love with the Third Prince, but he was in love with you. That's why I deliberately argued with you, wanting you to feel guilty for the rest of your life. But in the end, I'm the one who wronged you."
“I knew perfectly well that you were in love with the Third Prince, but I didn’t tell him. I knew perfectly well that the Third Prince was in love with you, but I didn’t tell him either.”
As she spoke, her smile faded, her face filled with remorse.
After hearing this, Aunt Zhou raised her hand and gently patted her shoulder, "So that's what happened. It's not your fault."
Madam Chang looked up at her with a surprised expression. "You don't blame me?"
Aunt Zhou sat down next to her and replied, "The prince has already explained to me that I wrote him a letter before I entered the palace, but unfortunately he didn't receive it. It was the emperor who did it. Even if you wanted to say it back then, the emperor would definitely not have let you open your mouth."
Madam Chang suddenly remembered that every time she was about to tell Aunt Zhou, the emperor would instigate her.
Only then did she realize, "So, it was him who interfered with everything."
Madam Chang grew angrier as she spoke, "Since he went to such great lengths to bring you into the palace, why didn't he treat you well?"
Aunt Zhou looked up at the window and said, "It's like the flowers in the yard. You might see one that's pretty occasionally, but if you look at it every day, you'll get tired of it."
Madam Chang shook her head, then grabbed her hand and said, "Sister, now that the Third Prince is with you and you've left the palace, why don't you...?"
Madam Chang hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.
Aunt Zhou laughed and said, "Aren't we together now?"
Madam Chang was taken aback. "But I heard the Third Prince say..."
Aunt Zhou looked towards the doorway. "I can't very well tell him that I want to remarry and marry him. He has to be the one to say it."
Madam Chang quickly said, "What remarriage? Her Majesty the Empress is long dead. You are just Lu Zhou now."
Aunt Zhou was taken aback, then said, "But I'm afraid I'll implicate him. If the Emperor finds out he's with me, he'll probably take action against him."
Madam Chang's eyes darted around. "I have a way."
"What method?" Aunt Zhou asked.
Madam Chang said softly, "I will write a letter to my father right now and tell him that the Third Prince died of a cold in Qingzhou Prefecture."
“But that means he can never return to the capital,” Aunt Zhou said, her brows furrowed.
Madam Chang nodded and said, "That's right."
Aunt Zhou pondered, "I don't want to confine a dignified prince like him to this place and make him a farmer for the rest of his life."
Madam Chang laughed and said, "How can you call him a farmer? When Ruiyuan ascends the throne, we can just give him a marquis or a king, and that will be fine."
Aunt Zhou's face was still full of worry. Madam Chang was right. It was indeed feasible, but the risks were too great.
Madam Chang held her hand tightly and said, "The prince has never married in his life. I think he would be willing to exchange his future wealth and honor for this half-life of marriage with you."
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