The so-called "Feast at Hongmen" was actually Gao Feng forcibly taking Chenxiang and Zhang Xing'er to Wangshan Villa for tea. Hongyu came to the door, wanting to take Chenxiang away, but was stopped by Gao Feng, who ordered Hongyu to tell Chenyu: "If Chenxiang can become Gao Hu's wife, Gao Feng will definitely protect her; if she doesn't know what's good for her, Zhang Xing'er will suffer the same fate."
What became of Zhang Xing'er?
Chen Yu was puzzled.
At this moment, Cuiwei rushed in and reported: "Miss, people in the night market are all talking about how Zhang Xing'er was kidnapped by villains on her way home. I'm afraid her reputation is in jeopardy. When Madam Zhang heard this, she collapsed to the ground."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yu was greatly alarmed. She felt dizzy and her vision went black. She slumped into the armchair.
Gao Feng's actions were clearly intended to make an example of someone. Presumably, if she didn't agree to the marriage alliance with the Gao family, Chen Xiang would suffer the same fate as Zhang Xing'er.
You should know that if an unmarried woman is kidnapped by villains, she will be criticized regardless of whether she is still virgin, and her sisters in the family will also be implicated and unable to get married!
Chen Yu staggered to her feet, clutching Hong Yu's arm as if grasping at a lifeline, and pleaded urgently, "Hong Yu, where is Prince Yan? The Crown Prince has been deposed. Prince Yan may be able to stand against Prince Hong. Could you please ask Prince Yan to come forward and rescue Chen Xiang?"
Hongyu shook her head repeatedly, rejecting this method.
After the Crown Prince was deposed, all the ministers who had assisted him followed Prime Minister Gao to assist Prince Hong. Prince Hong was the fifth prince. The second prince had passed away, and the third and fourth princes were both not very intelligent. The Emperor might pass the throne to the fifth prince.
Moreover, Princess Consort Gao Feng was very much favored by the Emperor. It is said that although Gao Feng was beautiful, she was unable to bear children. Therefore, she raised the son of a concubine under her care and taught him with great care, and he never made a mistake.
Today, Gao Feng only invited Chen Xiang to a small gathering at the villa and did nothing to him. Why did Yan Wang bring troops to his door? If this is not handled properly, it could be considered fratricide.
At this moment, Jiu'er entered and handed a letter to Chenyu.
This was a letter from Mu Nanfeng. Shen Yu hurriedly opened it, and the words "Yu Yu" immediately caught her eye. Tears streamed down her face. It was Liu Yu's handwriting. The letter stated that he and Mu Nanfeng had submitted to Prime Minister Gao, and instructed Shen Yu not to make enemies of the Gao family. As for the marriage between Gao Hu and Mu Chenxiang, it was indeed with Mu Nanfeng's consent.
The last line of words brought Shen Yu to tears.
"The Mu family has suffered a calamity, and Yu Lang knows this. He will surely seek justice for the Mu family in the future."
Shen Yu clutched the letter to her chest, tears streaming down her face. She knew Liu Yu was upright and loyal, devoted to Prince Yan, and that his defection to Prime Minister Gao was perhaps out of necessity. To avoid any further complications, she ordered Jiu'er to burn the letter immediately.
Just as Jiu'er stepped out, Cuiwei came to report, "Miss, Zhang Xing'er was abandoned in the night market by evil people. She is barely clothed and in a daze. The Third Princess Consort requests your presence to examine her."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yu was greatly alarmed. Ignoring the Zhang family's request, she grabbed Hong Yu and headed outside, saying, "Quickly take me to find Princess Hong. My Mu family is willing to form a marriage alliance with the Gao family."
“I know that Sister Chenyu is willing to form a marriage alliance with my Gao family, so I will return the agarwood.”
Looking up, Gao Feng and Chen Xiang entered hand in hand.
Seeing that Chenxiang was smiling and completely unaware of Gao Feng's wickedness, Chenyu breathed a sigh of relief, raised her hand and tapped Chenxiang's nose, saying with a smile, "You've made your mother worry. Go and see her."
"Alright, Chenxiang will go right away."
Watching Chenxiang run off lightly, Chenyu felt a pang of sorrow. Once, she was her father's beloved legitimate daughter, but now her father was gone, and her mother and sister-in-law were both ill. As the third daughter of the Mu family, a concubine's daughter, it was her duty to protect her. Perhaps she should heed Yulang's advice and not become enemies with the Gao family.
She smiled slightly, but her eyes were filled with tears. She stepped forward and bowed to Gao Feng, saying, "Thank you, Princess Consort Xie, for sending my sister back to her residence. In the future, I, Chenyu, will definitely bring my sister to pay our respects."
"Alright, let's meet again another day. It's getting late, so farewell."
After seeing Gao Feng off, Chen Yu rushed to the Zhang family. Zhang Xing'er was Bai Yehua's concubine, bestowed by the Empress. Moreover, she was skilled in medicine and, as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Bai family, it was her duty to visit her.
Upon arriving at the Zhang family residence, only three people stood at the gate. The desolate scene was immediately apparent. Prime Minister Zhang had passed away, Madam Zhang was ill, and Zhang Yue'er had been married off to the unfavored Third Prince—Prince Li. Zhang Xing'er, who was about to be married, had suffered such a misfortune.
Shen Yu walked towards the door and, by the light, saw that the woman standing in the middle of the three was tall and voluptuous, with a face like jade beads and tears in her eyes. This was none other than Princess Li, Zhang Yue'er.
Thinking of Zhang Changle's cry for revenge for Prime Minister Zhang, Shen Yu felt a pang of anxiety, worried that Zhang Yue'er might also seek revenge without knowing the truth. So, she first bowed and said, "Shen Yu greets Princess Li."
"Shenyu, don't be so polite. Come with me inside to see Xing'er."
Zhang Yue'er personally led Chen Yu into Zhang Xing'er's bedroom.
Zhang Xing'er lay on the bed with a vacant stare, her lips swollen and cracked at the corners, trembling uncontrollably. She appeared to have been violated and was in a state of extreme shock.
Shen Yu felt guilty, but she never expected that Gao Feng would go so far as to ruin Zhang Xing'er's innocence in order to coerce her!
No, Chen Yu is mistaken. Gao Feng wouldn't choose someone randomly. This is a two-birds-with-one-stone plan.
The next day.
When Chenyu woke up, she saw Hongyu sitting by the bed, sobbing.
“Sister Yu, we can’t defeat Prince Hong. Last night, Prince Hong volunteered to go to the southeast coast to support Liu Yu, but the Emperor reprimanded Prince Yan for indulging in pleasure and issued an edict that night ordering Prince Yan to go to the northern border to support Bai Yehua. This trip is likely to be fraught with danger. Moreover, Master Mu was also killed by Bai Yehua.”
Chen Yu was startled and had not yet comforted Hong Yu when Cui Wei came to report, "Miss, Zhang Xing'er has drowned himself in the river."
Shen Yu's heart skipped a beat, recalling what Zhang Xing'er had said last night: she would wait for Bai Yehua to return and give her an answer; if he took her in, she would live on; if he abandoned her, she would commit suicide.
Zhang Yue'er even declared that she would definitely take revenge on the Gao family and seek justice for Zhang Xing'er.
Zhang Xing'er would never commit suicide.
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