"Lin Wanru, how did you teach her? Didn't I tell you to teach her etiquette? Just what she said today is enough to make our family suffer. What's with the term 'prime consort' or 'concubine'? With her current status, giving her a concubine would be a great loss to our ancestors."
Li was unconvinced and said, "Master, you said at the beginning that our Wan'er was qualified to be the prince's principal wife, or even to be an empress in the palace. Master, have you forgotten?"
"Idiot. That's because she's the most talented woman in the world, and she has an aunt who's a concubine. Otherwise, with her status, which prince would she be worthy of? Not even the sons of meritorious service are worthy of her."
Lin Guangmao became more and more angry as he spoke, and ordered his servants to bring Lin Wanru over.
Lin Wanru was also filled with rage. She bowed slightly to Lin Guangmao and said, "Father, how could I marry Prince Chen as his concubine? Did the Emperor make a mistake?"
"Then what do you think you can do, Consort? Don't even think about it!" Lin Guangmao sneered, "Back then, it was you who insisted on breaking off the engagement with the King of Qin. Once the engagement was broken off, our family's reputation was ruined. You may not want to marry, but girls from our Lin family must marry, right? Your eldest sister had to marry down because of you, and you're still feeling wronged?"
Lin Wanru curled her lips and retorted, "My eldest sister has fallen into depravity and chosen a scholar from a small family as her principal wife. Did I force her to do this? She could have married the King of Qin as a concubine instead of me, but she chose not to."
"Wan'er, how could you say such things?" Li rubbed her eyes, unable to believe such heartless words came from her well-behaved and sensible daughter. "She is your elder sister. After all, you are all family. How could you say such things about your elder sister?"
She is just a concubine's daughter, not her biological sister. Why should she cover up the scandal for Lin Qingru?
In Lin Wanru's view, as long as she is happy, other people have nothing to do with her.
Moreover, she gave Lin Qingru the opportunity to choose, and she preferred to be the wife of a scholar rather than marry a prince as a concubine. Why did she blame herself for not wanting the overwhelming wealth?
Lin Guangmao was so angry at Lin Wanru that he thought to himself that it was a good thing the emperor had granted her marriage, otherwise, with her selfish temper, who would she marry? Even if she did marry, she would be divorced and sent back to her parents' home.
"Okay, from today on, you will follow your mother to the silk shop to buy wedding clothes. Madam, you should also prepare other things for her. Don't go out unless you have something to do."
"Dad." Lin Wanru was still unwilling and said, "I want to go to Prince Chen's Mansion."
"Have you lost your mind? Do you think you can see King Chen whenever you want?" Lin Guangmao's back teeth were almost broken. He would live ten years less if he met this unlucky kid.
"Don't go out and embarrass yourself. Stay home and learn royal etiquette from Madam, and don't embarrass me."
“Dad, I…”
"Shut up, someone take her away and put her under house arrest."
Lin Guangmao was afraid that if he continued, he would beat the man to death.
Li said, "Master, please don't be angry. You might get yourself hurt."
"How can I not be angry? If it weren't for her, our Lin family would have become prosperous." Lin Guangmao's heart was bleeding, and if he hadn't cared about his face, he would have wanted to cry at this moment.
"What do you mean, Master?"
"Come closer and listen." Li leaned forward. "Your Majesty intends to make the Prince of Qin the Crown Prince."
"What?" Li's eyes widened, and she even suspected that she had misheard. "Master, are you kidding?"
"Wang Ying told me something false?" Lin Guangmao was heartbroken, beating his chest and stamping his feet. "If I hadn't mentioned breaking off the engagement that day, we would have been the Crown Princess. You and I are both royal relatives. Just having a title would bring honor to our family."
Li smiled apologetically and said, "You are trying to please my aunt. Master, you are also a royal relative."
"Then why don't you go and prepare a gift? Remember, it must be the best. Don't be careless. And don't tell anyone about this. If you do, we'll miss out on the opportunity to become your successor."
As a result, Li turned around and went home to tell her family.
Minister Li was even more opportunistic than Lin Guangmao. After hearing the news, he immediately sided with Xie Yunqi.
Whenever he went to court, he would find an opportunity to flatter the King of Qin. He flattered the King of Qin to an unprecedented level. Even Emperor Zhao couldn't stand it anymore and forced Li Shangshu to shut up.
Xu Jing, far away, received a message from Xiang Pu, saying that the emperor intended to appoint him as the crown prince. The court was in turmoil, and some sensible people had already taken sides.
Even though Xu Jing was thousands of miles away, there were always people around him who would return the favor. They gave him money and gifts, and even women.
Zhang Xin even selected twelve beauties and sent them to the Prince of Qin's palace. After being thrown out by Ling Yuan, Zhang Xin found a way to go to the Nanfeng Pavilion and found two good-looking young prostitutes to send to the palace.
That night, after Xu Jing finished dealing with the matters on his fiefdom and returned to the main hall to sleep, he saw two weak men lying on the couch.
"Your Majesty, my name is Xiaofeng."
"My name is Xiao Lian."
"Xiaofeng/Xiaolian has come to help His Majesty go to bed."
021 laughed so hard he pounded the table. "Is this what it means to enjoy the best of both worlds?"
If you don't enjoy the happiness of having two wives, you may lose your life.
Xu Jing opened the door and saw Ling Yuan standing outside. "Who allowed you to send them to my bed?"
Ling Yuan immediately knelt down and was about to speak when Changpu hurried over, knelt before him and said, "To answer your Highness, these two were sent here by Master Zhang Xin. It is my fault. I should not have sent them to your bed. I hope your Highness will not hold Guard Ling responsible."
Xu Jing ignored Chang Pu, who was kneeling on the ground, and looked at Ling Yuan with a fierce gaze. "If they were spies, I would be dead already."
"I've failed in my duty and deserve death." Ling Yuan drew his sword and was about to commit suicide. Xu Jing said, "Never mind. I'll give you one chance to live. There won't be a next time, okay?"
"Yes, I know I was wrong."
"You can escape the death penalty, but you can't escape the punishment of life. Go to the Xingtang and receive a hundred lashes." Xu Jing said expressionlessly, "Changpu has committed insubordination. Drag him down and beat him to death."
"Your Majesty, please spare my life." It wasn't Changpu who said this, but Ling Yuan. "I hope Your Majesty will give Changpu a chance. I am willing to take the blame for your crime."
"What I hate most is someone making decisions for me. If you dare to make a decision, you must bear the consequences."
Ling Yuan felt hopeless and could only watch Changpu being dragged away.
"However, since you pleaded for her, I will give you this opportunity."
Xu Jing changed the subject and said, "Forty strokes of the cane and expulsion from the mansion. Send the two people on the bed back to Master Zhang, and tell him that if he tries to curry favor with me again, I will not be polite to him."
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