Because of Jian Yang's constant internal grumbling, the man in the imperial study who was reviewing memorials sneezed several times in a row.
The next day, the Imperial Household Department sent over a list of many candidates for the imperial concubine selection, which included portraits of various beauties. The emperor tossed the list aside and ignored it.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has arrived," Eunuch Zhang said cautiously.
Not only the Empress Dowager, but also Zhou Jing'an, who looked smug, came in.
The emperor gave him a cold look, then cupped his hands and bowed to the Empress Dowager, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
As soon as the Empress Dowager entered the room, she saw the portraits from afar. In her eyes, these were not just beauties, but her precious grandsons. She hurriedly pulled the Emperor to the table.
Thinking of her beloved grandson, the Empress Dowager's smile deepened: "My son, is there a woman you like among these women?" With that, she turned to a page in the booklet and pushed it in front of the Emperor.
Zhou Jingzhi sneered inwardly. The Empress Dowager had really gone to great lengths for the sake of the imperial heir. He wondered where she had found such a person.
The person in the portrait did bear a resemblance to Jian Yang in terms of features, but his dignified and taciturn appearance was nowhere near as good as his A Yang.
"No need for Your Majesty to trouble yourself, Your Majesty. I already have someone in mind," the Emperor said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jing'an, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but become interested and said jokingly, "Oh? I wonder which girl is so lucky to have caught the Emperor's eye?"
The emperor's eyes were even colder as he stared at Zhou Jing'an without saying a word.
"Fine, as long as you're willing to marry, it doesn't matter who it is." The Empress Dowager stepped in to smooth things over. What did it matter if the Emperor chose someone of low status? Her old bones couldn't withstand any more turmoil.
"I'll be leaving now. Your Majesty can choose the best one yourself."
"Respectfully seeing off the Empress Dowager," the Emperor and Zhou Jing'an said in unison.
The Empress Dowager gave Zhou Jing'an a deep look. He didn't intend to leave, and kept his head down, pretending not to see the Empress Dowager's slightly warning look.
"What are you doing here?" The emperor's face was so dark it could freeze over.
"Naturally, I've come to congratulate Your Majesty on your marriage. I'm also quite curious about who Your Majesty will choose as your empress." Zhou Jing'an feigned sincerity, but his sincerity looked more like gloating and ill intent.
The emperor sneered, "Your Majesty is far too curious. You will naturally find out when you are on your wedding night."
"I heard that my brother's fiefdom was attacked by assassins a few days ago? I wonder if any important items were lost? I will certainly seek justice for you." He paused and then said, his face full of innocence.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jing'an gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
An assassin? Zhou Jingzhi knew better than anyone who the assassin was. The thought of the account books falling into the hands of this cunning man filled Zhou Jing'an's eyes with hatred.
He wished he could tear off Zhou Jingzhi's bright yellow robe on the spot; it should have been his, and that woman would eventually submit to him.
Suppressing his anger, Zhou Jing'an smiled and said, "His Majesty's wedding is a joyous occasion for the whole country. I'm sure everyone is overjoyed to hear about it. Even the 'servants' in my manor have heard the news."
"Oh? My brother is truly loyal to me. Even the servants in the mansion care about me so much." Seemingly oblivious to Zhou Jing'an's implied meaning, the emperor said with slight surprise.
He knew exactly what Zhou Jing'an meant; he was just trying to tell him that Jian Yang already knew about it, thus testing his attitude.
"Your Majesty, you seem to care so much about my wedding. Could it be that you also wish to take a wife? I see that your harem is empty. Why not select a few from this batch of candidates to be your concubines? I will certainly hold a grand celebration for you." With that, he tossed the list of candidates to Zhou Jing'an.
It was presented as a place where one could choose whatever they wanted.
Zhou Jing'an's smiling face gradually twisted, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "No need, I'll take my leave."
Upon arriving at Prince Chen's residence, Zhou Jing'an hurriedly summoned the guards. He didn't believe that Zhou Jingzhi would abandon Jian Yang; the wedding was likely just a cover-up.
"Strengthen the defenses of the dungeon," Zhou Jing'an ordered.
He then transferred some of his personal guards to hide around the dungeon, keeping a close watch on any disturbance.
Based on his understanding of Zhou Jingzhi, the wedding day might be the day they intercept him. At this point, he only needs to make proper arrangements, and perhaps he can kill Zhou Jingzhi in one blow...
Thinking of this, Zhou Jing'an's lips slowly curled up, and a bloodthirsty glint appeared in his eyes.
"Splash—"
The dungeon door was opened, and Zhou Jing'an walked in with several guards. The guards stood at the gate, completely blocking Jian Yang's view.
"Keep an eye on her." For once, Zhou Jing'an didn't bother her and left.
Upon seeing this, Jian Yang was startled.
Since she was imprisoned in the dungeon, apart from the nanny who brought her food, only the guards outside the dungeon would check on her every hour. She had never been watched so directly before.
Through the crack, Jian Yang saw that there seemed to be more guards outside the dungeon door than usual, and she felt a little uneasy.
Waiting for her to run into a trap—Zhou Jing'an's trick was all too familiar. With such tight security, if Zhou Jingzhi and Jian Hong came to rescue her now, it was hard to say whether they could escape.
Even if she had the poison, she couldn't care less about so many people. Thinking of this, Jian Yang suddenly felt a bit annoyed; she didn't know what to do about Zhou Jingzhi.
For many days in a row, Jian Yang had little appetite. Although, as Zhou Jing'an said, he was about to establish a new empress, she had to admit that she was still worried about him.
Fortunately, things didn't go as Zhou Jing'an wished; no one came to rescue her.
Jian Yang felt a little uncomfortable, but her relief outweighed her disappointment. She heard from the nanny that the emperor had already married a new empress, but she didn't know who this new empress was.
She breathed a sigh of relief and comforted herself: It's okay, it's okay, I don't care, I'll never be exploited again!
Just as she was muttering to herself, the dungeon door opened again. Jian Yang rolled her eyes; she knew without even looking that it was that idiot Zhou Jing'an again.
Every time their evil schemes fail, they come looking for trouble with her. Did she owe these two brothers something in her past life?
"Why are you still locked up here? Where is the man you risked your life for? He must be enjoying the company of a beautiful woman right now and has long forgotten who you are," Zhou Jing'an mocked.
Jian Yang rolled her eyes again. Why was she locked up here? Did she even need to ask?
"None of your business! Are you envious of others? Can't you find a woman? If you can't, I'll introduce you to a few. I think Wang Cuihua next door is great, and so is Sun Erlan the pig butcher. They'd be a perfect match for you!"
Zhou Jing'an's face flushed red and then turned pale. This woman was really talking without thinking. He patiently said, "Nonsense! The only one who is worthy of me is you!"
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