Watching Su An's departing figure, they clenched their fists in anger, yet dared not make a move.
Seeing Su An bravely walk alone through the heavy snow to the palace gate, Chu Yi, who had been waiting on the city wall, chuckled and stood up from his chair.
"I knew you would come."
Su An raised his eyes with a gloomy expression, glaring at Chu Yi through gritted teeth.
"You used my family as leverage, how could I not come? Now that I'm here, will you release my family?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Yi raised his slender index finger and beckoned forward.
The next moment, Fu Hai's thin voice rang out.
"Release them!"
Immediately afterwards, the palace gates were flung open, and Li Guihua and two small figures were pushed out.
They twisted their arms to break free from the soldiers' grip and ran to Su An, asking with concern in their eyes.
"Xiao An, how are you? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Big sister, are you alright?"
...
Seeing their flustered concern, Su An felt a warmth in her heart.
She raised her hand and gently touched the faces of her two younger brothers, her gaze sweeping over each of them, and smiled soothingly.
"I'm fine, you don't need to worry. It's just that I'm afraid I won't be able to go back for a while. You all go back and help me run the shop. Once I've settled things here, I'll come back to be with you."
Li Guihua turned her head uneasily, glanced at Chu Yi, frowned, and said worriedly:
"Xiao An, have you been threatened? If you're not happy, even if he's the emperor, I'll fight them to the bitter end, even if it costs me my life!"
Upon hearing this, Su An's nose tingled, and she almost burst into tears.
Fearing that he might have given himself away, Su An waved his hand casually and urged them on.
"No, Mother, don't worry about it. This palace is so magnificent and grand, I can't even enjoy myself enough here. How could I be threatened? His Majesty asked me to do something before, and I did it well, so he wants to keep me here for a while longer."
"Don't overthink it. I've had enough of staying here. I'm going back to Fuyou County to be with you. You should go now!"
They were skeptical, but ultimately didn't say anything more.
Under Su An's repeated urging, they had no choice but to leave, looking back every few steps.
Inside the Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager and all the concubines in the harem gathered together.
Chu Yi walked ahead with a smile on his face, flicking his robes, and sat down beside the Empress Dowager.
When the Empress Dowager caught sight of Su An following behind Chu Yi, her brows furrowed slightly, her eyes revealing worry, but she remained silent.
Standing still, Su An stared at Chu Yi with an uncertain expression, and asked in confusion.
"Your Majesty imprisoned me in the palace to threaten Fu Zhun, hoping to force him to serve you in the war against the Northern Hu. Now that Your Majesty's scheme has succeeded, why are you still holding me captive?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Yi put his hands on his lap and laughed twice.
"Who said I kept you in the palace for the sake of my uncle? I've said it before, you belong to me and you can't escape my grasp. Now the mountain weighing on my heart has finally disappeared, and I can do whatever I want without any worries."
Then, without waiting for Su An's reply, he raised an eyebrow and announced to himself.
"I have gathered you all here today to announce some great news: I will take Miss Su into my harem and make her Consort An!"
The fact that he immediately appointed her as a concubine startled all the other concubines in the harem, and they all turned their gazes toward Su An.
Some were jealous of her, some looked down on her...
As the ruler of a country, instead of thinking about how to use his power to benefit the people, he spends his days plotting against and taking advantage of others, and forcibly taking other men's wives. This behavior is not just despicable and shameless, it is downright shameless.
Su An's fist clenched quietly beneath her sleeve, a surge of anger rising from the depths of her heart, almost causing her to lose control.
However, to her surprise, before she could even speak, the Empress Dowager objected first.
"This is inappropriate. I urge Your Majesty to rescind your order!"
"Everyone knows she is the fiancée of the Prince of Zhenbei. Now, His Majesty is forcibly taking his uncle's fiancée into the harem. Isn't this trampling on the dignity of the royal family? How will the world view our royal family in the future?"
Li Wanyue, who was standing to the side, gently stroked her belly, glanced at Su An, and chuckled in agreement.
"Yes, Your Majesty, although Miss Su is indeed exceptionally capable and beautiful, she is, after all, a country girl of low status. Moreover, she has been engaged before, which has damaged her reputation. She is truly unworthy of the rank of Consort."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
These words made Chu Yi's face darken.
Su An raised an eyebrow, exchanged a glance with Chu Yi as if watching a good show, and snorted coldly.
"This humble woman believes that what the Empress Dowager and Consort Wan said is true. This humble woman is of lowly status and is truly unworthy of Your Majesty. If Your Majesty insists on doing so, I am afraid that you will bear the infamy and be despised by all the people!"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding concubines lowered their heads in disapproval and began to whisper among themselves in twos and threes.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and Su An's expression grew increasingly sarcastic.
What he cares about most is the Great Chu Empire, isn't it?
Whether this country is stable depends on the hearts of the people. If he loses the hearts of the people because of this, the country of Chu will be in danger. Chu Yi is not so ignorant of such a simple principle.
But she forgot that Chu Yi detested threats the most.
Seeing that everyone wanted to oppose him, Chu Yi raised the tip of his tongue and pressed it firmly against his back teeth, his face so dark it looked like ink was about to drip from it.
Suddenly, he slammed his hand on the table.
The concubines were so frightened that their legs went weak and they all knelt on the ground.
Even Li Wanyue's expression changed, but the Empress Dowager and Su An remained unmoved.
"My mind is made up, there is no need for further words. I am here today to inform you of this matter, not to discuss it with you. In three days, I will announce this matter to the world and instruct the Ministry of Rites to make preparations according to regulations."
"For the next few days, Miss Su will stay at the Begonia Garden and await the imperial decree!"
After speaking, Chu Yi glanced at the Empress Dowager with a gloomy look, snorted coldly, and left with a flick of his sleeve.
Su An gritted her teeth and stared angrily at Chu Yi's back. She couldn't help but wonder: Chu Yi was willing to defy the world to bring her into the harem. What was he after?
She didn't believe Chu Yi truly had feelings for her; if he did, he wouldn't have used her family to threaten her.
While she was lost in thought, the concubines of the harem dispersed in a huff, passing by her one by one. A few of them even deliberately bumped into her with their shoulders as they passed by.
But Su An couldn't afford to worry about that right now.
The Empress Dowager frowned, about to say something, but was stopped by the nanny beside her.
"Your Majesty, you are prone to fatigue. Let this old servant massage your legs!"
As she spoke, the old woman squatted down and subtly shook her head at the Empress Dowager before carefully massaging her legs.
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