Chen Yu closed her eyes and leaned against the door, letting her tears flow freely, venting her grievances and helplessness.
Since ancient times, marriages have always been arranged by parents and matchmakers. The Mu family valued Gu Dalang's integrity, uprightness, gentleness, and humility, but... she secretly had feelings for Liu Yu and could not refuse to marry into the Gu family!
Right now, we can only place all our hopes on Hongyu.
She wiped away her tears, went over and helped Hongyu up. Thinking of how she had used Hongyu, she felt ashamed and could only lower her slightly red eyes to hide her unease.
"Miss Hongyu, please go back. Chenyu is going to Putuo Temple to offer incense tomorrow and needs to choose what to wear."
------
Hongyu rushed to the Duke's mansion to inform Liu Yu of Chenyu's trip to Putuo Temple.
She arrived at Liu Yu's Dongguan Pavilion, but Liu Yu's personal guards stopped her, saying, "Young Master is resting at this time and no one is allowed to disturb him. What is it, Miss Hongyu? I will relay it to Young Master without missing a word."
Liu Yu is resting? Hongyu naturally didn't believe it. She pricked up her ears and listened carefully. She could faintly hear familiar music. Wasn't this the music she heard at the Zuo family's house ten days ago?
Could it be that Yan Wang was secretly meeting with a lover at Dongguan Pavilion?
Just then, Lianxiang ran over and knelt down in front of Hongyu.
"Consort Yu, we don't know when Prince Yan ran away, and Lianxiang has already sent guards out to look for him."
Hongyu raised her hand, gesturing for Lianxiang to get up.
Lianxiang was born delicate and pretty, with fair and bright skin, especially her pair of large, bright eyes, which were clear, lively, and very beautiful.
This captivating appearance should have aroused jealousy and disgust in the mistress, but Hongyu felt a sense of familiarity with it and quite liked it.
In order to ascertain the Prince Yan's preferences, her first action upon entering the Prince Yan's residence was to examine all the maids in the entire residence, and they all turned out to be virgins.
Yan Wang is truly a hypocrite who is neither fish nor fowl. Just half a day ago, he was caught by the Empress, and now he is hiding in Liu Yu's courtyard to secretly meet with his lover.
If the Empress catches Prince Yan having an affair again, she, the Jade Consort, will be expelled from Prince Yan's residence!
But... how can she stop him if she can't see the King of Yan?
Just then, Lianxiang got up and whispered a plan in her ear...
She nodded repeatedly after hearing this and hurried back to the Prince Yan's mansion with Lianxiang.
Half an hour later.
Hongyu arrived at the entrance of Dongguan Pavilion again, followed by four young men dressed identically: white robes and red flowers in their hair.
However, the four young men were all handsome and well-built, with fair skin, delicate features, and striking eyebrows...
"Go and inform Prince Yan that four young masters have recently arrived at his residence, and he needs to personally arrange their arrival. If you fail to do so and jeopardize Prince Yan's plans, you'll be punished."
This trick really worked; Yan Wang, anxious and impatient, obediently got into Hongyu's sedan chair.
Inside the sedan chair, King Yan rested his chin on his hand, gazing intently at Hongyu and praising her repeatedly.
"She's so beautiful, delicate and charming, clever and quick-witted, like a little fox spirit. I really didn't choose the wrong person. At Dongsu Pavilion, Hongyu helped me send away my male favorites. At that time, I decided to take Hongyu into my possession."
Hongyu was overjoyed to be praised by Yan Wang, but inwardly she began to resent Lianxiang's nonsense.
Lianxiang said... Prince Yan has never been interested in women, and even if someone uses despicable means, he remains unmoved.
Hongyu didn't believe it; she was sure those women weren't good enough for Yan Wang.
She moved to Yan Wang's side, reached out and wrapped her arms around his, snuggling into his embrace. When she looked up, Yan Wang seemed startled, his face frozen, and he straightened up, sitting upright like an unromantic monk.
She decided to get straight to the point, resting her head on Yan Wang's shoulder and whispering coquettishly in his ear, "Hongyu is now Yan Wang's woman, and tonight she is at Yan Wang's disposal."
The scorching breath on his ears made Yan Wang feel numb all over, and he panicked. He hurriedly pushed Hong Yu away and sat on the other side, even his speech was hesitant.
“Hongyu… I knew Hongyu… clever and quick-witted. She tricked the Empress into trusting you so that you could serve me as a concubine.”
"Oh!"
Hongyu couldn't help but feel disappointed. Yan Wang kept mentioning his male concubines. Did he not understand her intentions?
Soon, the carriage arrived at Prince Yan's residence.
Yan Wang rushed out of the sedan chair and was about to return to his room with four young masters when Hong Yu stopped him.
"Your Highness, please come to Hongyu's room first. Hongyu has something important to tell you."
She quickly returned to her bedroom and changed into a dress she had never worn before: a crimson bodice against her fair skin, like a red plum blossom in the snow, radiant and dazzling. A light blue pomegranate skirt, wrapped around her waist, with a gap between it and the bodice, revealed her slender waist that could be encircled with one hand.
Hearing footsteps coming from the outer room, she slowly put on a white short-sleeved shirt.
Prince Yan walked over, leaned against the door of the bedroom, lowered his eyes and asked coldly, "What is it? If you are using the Empress Dowager to threaten me, Hongyu, you don't need to say anything."
Hongyu shook her head slightly, her eyes smiling, and deliberately swayed her waist as she approached Yan Wang.
Seeing that Yan Wang still had his eyes downcast, she reached out her hands to hook her arms around his neck, but Yan Wang stepped back.
Hongyu felt embarrassed, even a little aggrieved, but forced a smile and asked coquettishly, "Your Highness, how do I look in this outfit?"
Yan Wang nodded, and upon seeing the crimson bodice, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, and a bloody scene flashed through his mind:
Five years ago, in winter, three maids came to Prince Yan's residence to serve him. Although they were maids, they were also pawns in the power struggles among the court officials, which he loathed.
He always kept Liu Yu in his heart, so he never became involved with any women.
The three maids, however, could not resist the temptation and, in their quest for the emperor's favor, resorted to a despicable act—poisoning his wine. When the empress discovered this, she had the three thrown into the snow; one was beaten to death, and the other two froze to death.
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