The Empress did not expect Ren Nuanyun to make such a request. Although she hoped that Ren Nuanyun would do so, she felt it was a bit strange that Ren Nuanyun would suddenly take the initiative to ask.
"Why would you think that way? Even if you were the Crown Prince's concubine, the Crown Prince likes you so much, and your position would be similar to that of the Crown Prince's consort. The Crown Prince would treat you just as well." The Empress thought that Ren Nuanyun was just being stubborn, so she smiled and comforted her.
"Your Majesty, I dare not lie. I beg Your Majesty to annul my marriage to the Crown Prince." As she spoke, Ren Nuanyun knelt down.
Seeing Ren Nuanyun's resolute attitude, the Empress was somewhat at a loss. After a moment of silence, she asked again to confirm, "Do you really think so?"
"Yes, this is my true thought."
"In that case, I will grant your wish." The Empress touched her sleeve and agreed to Ren Nuanyun's request.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ren Nuanyun stood up after hearing that the Empress had agreed to her request.
"Go back now. I will make it up to you for this."
As Ren Nuanyun walked out of the palace, she turned around and glanced at the magnificent palace, a cold smile playing on her lips.
Sitting in the carriage, Ren Nuanyun had never felt so relaxed. She lifted the curtain and looked outside. Every household was still immersed in the New Year's atmosphere. Most of the shops on the street were closed, with only a few open, but there were hardly any people in front of them.
Just as Ren Nuanyun was about to lower the curtain, she suddenly noticed a figure.
In the alley, Ren Nuanyun coldly stared at the person in front of her. If she hadn't spent some time with Xu Xingzhou because of the Linghe flood, she really wouldn't have recognized him as Xu Xingzhou.
What surprised her even more was that Xu Xingzhou had not been arrested.
Upon seeing Ren Nuanyun, Xu Xingzhou's eyes flashed with a sharp light. The Crown Prince was very fond of Ren Nuanyun. If he captured Ren Nuanyun and took her hostage, wouldn't that allow the Crown Prince to secretly rescue his family?
Xu Xingzhou now has no way out. Since he's going to die anyway, he might as well try his best and take a few people down with him before he dies. Wouldn't that be a win?
Seeing Xu Xingzhou's restless thoughts, Ren Nuanyun smiled and gestured for Chunyi to step back.
"You want to take me hostage? I advise you to give up. I'm not afraid to tell you that I was poisoned by the Empress and can no longer have children. I can't become the Crown Princess. Even if you take me, it won't do you any good."
Upon hearing this, Xu Xingzhou stopped what he was about to do.
"What's the meaning?"
"The Empress was dissatisfied with my status and felt that I was not worthy of the Crown Princess, so she drugged me. Now, I am no longer the future Crown Princess."
Xu Xingzhou, if you want revenge, go directly to the Crown Prince. Look at this, the Xu family was cooperating with the Crown Prince before, and now that the Xu family has done this, the Crown Prince not only didn't save the Xu family, but he hasn't even been punished by the Emperor. Do you think the Emperor cares about the Crown Prince or not?
"You should kidnap the Crown Prince! You're already doomed anyway. If you kidnap the Crown Prince, maybe there'll be a chance for things to turn around."
Ren Nuanyun was just speaking casually, but what she didn't know was that what she said casually was the truth. The Emperor did not punish the Crown Prince because he cared about him. Therefore, he disposed of all the clues about the Crown Prince in the whole incident and completely removed him from the matter.
"Hmph, I am now a wanted criminal by the imperial court, how could I possibly see the Crown Prince?" Xu Xingzhou sneered.
"Then I'll help you lure the Crown Prince out, but just don't betray me afterwards." Ren Nuanyun's face was devoid of any smile, only displaying calmness and murderous intent.
"Are you really willing to do this? You wouldn't happen to be planning to collude with the Crown Prince to arrest me, would you?" Xu Xingzhou squinted at the person in front of him.
During the Linghe River flood, he personally witnessed how close Ren Nuanyun and the Crown Prince were. Today, Ren Nuanyun's unusual behavior is hard to believe, no, it's very difficult to believe.
"Don't believe me?" Ren Nuanyun scoffed and turned to call Chunyi over.
“Miss.” Chunyi didn’t recognize Xu Xingzhou, so she didn’t react unusually. If she knew that the person in front of her was a member of the Xu family, and someone the Emperor had ordered to be arrested, she would probably be terrified.
“Go tell the Crown Prince that I need to see him, and mention that I just came from the palace.” Ren Nuanyun glanced at Xu Xingzhou. “You decide on the location.”
Seeing that Ren Nuanyun didn't seem to be lying, Xu Xingzhou gave her a place name with some skepticism, and then Chunyi left with the carriage.
Xu Xingzhou followed Ren Nuanyun all the way to the room in the restaurant before he finally believed that Ren Nuanyun had not lied to him.
He glanced at Ren Nuanyun with a half-smile, "When a woman is determined, she's capable of anything."
"Hmph, it's not me who's heartless, it's your aunt and your cousin." Ren Nuanyun didn't care much about the child, but no one could swallow such a humiliation as they plotted against her.
She overestimated men's hearts. If it weren't for the Crown Prince, she would never have encountered such a thing. She absolutely had to avenge this.
She didn't believe in the idea that revenge is a dish best served cold; she wanted to settle scores on the spot.
The Crown Prince also learned about what had happened in the Empress's palace. He felt that Ren Nuanyun was being unreasonable. She was just a principal wife, and it was fine to give up the position to someone else. After he inherited the throne, Ren Nuanyun would at least be a Noble Consort and enjoy a life above all others. What was there to be unwilling about?
They even said that marriage is none of our business, what a joke! She's already one of our own, and she can't have children anymore, so what wealthy family would want her?
However, recalling all the moments he had spent with Ren Nuanyun, he still came out and decided to comfort her and dispel her unrealistic ideas.
However, when the Crown Prince arrived at the place Ren Nuanyun had agreed upon, he opened the door but found no trace of Ren Nuanyun. The Crown Prince assumed that Ren Nuanyun had not yet arrived, so he sat down on the chair next to him.
But before the prince could even pour himself some hot tea, a sword was already at his neck.
The crown prince froze, startled, and cried out, "Who?"
"Cousin Crown Prince, it's been a long time." Xu Xingzhou walked up to the Crown Prince with a smile.
Upon seeing Xu Xingzhou, the Crown Prince was immediately shocked. "You, what are you doing here? What do you want?"
"I don't want to do anything, I just haven't seen my cousin, the Crown Prince, for a long time, and I wanted to talk to you and have a chat." Xu Xingzhou slowly moved in front of the Crown Prince, his sword barely grazing the Crown Prince's neck.
"Xingzhou, I am powerless to help the Xu family. I didn't know Father would act so quickly." The Crown Prince shifted his body, trying to avoid the sword at his neck. He naturally understood Xu Xingzhou's purpose.
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