Since learning that Prince Yan had a penchant for male concubines, the Empress planned to marry Chen Yu to him in order to keep him in check.
However, due to his nephew Liu Yu, the matter has been delayed.
Today, someone secretly sent a letter to the Empress, saying that Prince Yan was having a secret rendezvous with his male favorites. The Empress thought that it must be Shen Yu exposing Prince Yan again, so she thought of summoning Shen Yu and taking the opportunity to entrust her with the important task of keeping Prince Yan in check.
Now it seems that Chen Yu is more than capable of the task.
The Empress waved for the guards to leave, then reached out and pulled Yan Wang and Chen Yu's hands together.
Yan Wang's fair and slender fingers touched Shen Yu's delicate fingers. Shen Yu was disgusted and tried to pull her hand away to escape, but was caught by the Empress.
"I have decided to betroth Chenyu to Prince Yan. From this day forward, Chenyu will help me keep Prince Yan in check. If Prince Yan dares to disobey me, he may sever his mother-son relationship with me..."
"Shen Yu refuses!"
"Mother, you mustn't..."
Before the Empress could finish speaking, Chen Yu and Yan Wang broke free from her grasp and retreated.
Shen Yu knelt down, her straightforward nature only wanting to speak the truth in order to make the Empress give up on her.
"Your Majesty, things have come to this point. I am not afraid of offending you and Prince Yan. To be honest, I have disliked Prince Yan's behavior from the very beginning. Even if he does not like politics, he could have indulged in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Instead, he spends his days hanging out with his cronies. I would rather die than be with a man like that..."
"Mu Chenyu! You... I don't even like you. You're so straightforward and boring, always putting on this air of a domineering old lady. Do you know that? You look foolish, rigid, and old-fashioned, even more weathered than my mother. I really don't know why Yu Lang would fall for you?"
"Shut up!"
The Empress was furious. She had wanted to bring the two children together, but they ended up arguing instead.
The Empress, holding her forehead, paced back and forth to sit on a stone bench. Upon seeing Liu Yu, she couldn't help but feel guilty.
Rumors circulating outside suggest that Liu Yu has a penchant for male lovers, and it seems there's some truth to it. Liu Yu must have been taking the blame for Yan Wang all along!
Today is no exception.
“Yu’er, I’m not randomly arranging marriages; I’m doing this for the greater good. Yan’er is naturally mischievous and unrestrained, and has even developed such a shameful habit. Only someone as upright and honest as Chen Yu would dare to expose Yan’er again. If Chen Yu marries Yan’er, Yan’er will surely be able to change her ways…”
Liu Yu raised his head and looked directly at the Empress, asking, "Prince Yan does not like Yu Yu. Yu Lang has already sworn that he will not marry anyone but Mu Chen Yu in this life. Why doesn't Aunt grant Yu Lang's wish?"
He wouldn't marry anyone but someone as beautiful as a fish that sinks in the water?
Shen Yu felt her cheeks burning, as if she had failed Liu Yu's devoted love.
That day at the Zuo family's house, Liu Yu risked his life to protect her. Perhaps, in Liu Yu's heart, she held more weight than his male concubines.
However… the Duke's mansion was notorious, and Liu Yu was a dissolute playboy. Master Mu and Madam Mu regarded him as dirt and avoided him like the plague. She dared not disobey her parents, so she obeyed their arrangement and agreed to marry into the Gu family.
Yu Guangzhong: The Empress came over and helped Liu Yu up. "Yan'er is muddle-headed and ignorant. If she were to encounter a wicked and sycophantic woman, her life would be ruined..."
“Hongyu is willing to offer advice to the Empress.”
The group looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Hongyu had changed from her usual plain and elegant appearance. She was wearing a red dress and had applied makeup, making her look much more glamorous than before.
In the past, Hongyu always walked with a weak and feeble appearance, but now she swayed from side to side with graceful movements. Not only was Yan Wang dumbfounded, but even Chenyu stared at Hongyu without blinking.
In fact, Hongyu was the one who set the trap. She came here not to walk into a trap, but to seek wealth and fortune through dangerous means.
Having been reborn, she naturally knew that Prince Yan would be the future emperor. As long as she became Prince Yan's wife and gave birth to his eldest son, she could rise in status through her son and rule the country.
She blinked her crescent-shaped eyes, pursed her thin lips, and walked calmly to the Empress, bowing slightly. "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."
When Hongyu appeared, the Empress realized that Hongyu must have been behind all of this.
To frame Shen Yu?
To sow discord between Chen Yu and Yan Wang?
Why did they walk right into the trap?
The Empress, unable to fathom this young yet cunning woman, couldn't help but roar, "Kneel down!"
Yan Wang, Liu Yu, and Chen Yu were so frightened that they trembled and broke out in a cold sweat.
Hongyu had already made her plans, so she was neither afraid nor flustered, and calmly knelt down beside Chenyu.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Hongyu knows she has made a mistake. Please allow Hongyu to finish speaking before judging her."
"explain!"
"Hongyu can only speak to Her Majesty the Empress."
The Empress sneered, naturally not taking Hongyu seriously, but also wanting to see what tricks Hongyu could play.
"Come inside with me."
In the hall, the Empress sat facing the door. Hongyu did not kneel down, but instead sat on the side seat to the right of the Empress.
Seeing the Empress raise an eyebrow and look over, Hongyu went straight to the point and admitted what she had done.
"Your Majesty, although this small courtyard is simple, it was bought by Hongyu with all her savings. Those four male concubines were also found by Hongyu, and it was Hongyu who informed the palace..."
Before Hongyu could finish speaking, the Empress, unable to contain her anger, stood up abruptly, raised her hand high, and as her hand was about to fall, Hongyu got up to dodge and knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty, please do not be angry. Please allow Hongyu to finish speaking. If Hongyu were as straightforward as Miss Chenyu, she would surely be disliked by Prince Yan. How could she then get close to Prince Yan and change his preferences?"
After a moment's thought, the Empress nodded slightly. Indeed, Chen Yu was straightforward and never flattered anyone, which was why Prince Yan disliked her.
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