When Xiao Yi left the princess's residence, he felt a chill all over his body. Even on a summer night, he felt inexplicably cold.
Cheng Feng was dismissed each time, and he didn't know exactly what happened, but he roughly knew it was related to that person in the palace. "Your Highness, if something is on your mind, just say it. Seeing you like this makes me feel uneasy."
"Let's go back!" Xiao Yi said dejectedly. Even though the princess couldn't speak, when he asked if it was all because the emperor had those kinds of feelings for him, the princess's smug smile made Xiao Yi understand.
He felt that for so many years, he had been like a clown, being teased and manipulated by the Emperor, while the Eldest Princess was an informed bystander. But when the Emperor realized that the Eldest Princess had become a threat, he disregarded their sibling relationship—no, after all, the Eldest Princess was still alive.
"Yi'er, your father has not yet returned from the palace." After returning to the Prince Rui's residence, the Princess Rui said with some nervousness and anxiety.
Xiao Yi's heart sank. The fig leaf had been torn off; was he no longer going to hide it?
“Mother, I’m going to the palace to fetch Father,” Xiao Yi said immediately.
“No, wait a little longer. Your father is his uncle. He was in the wrong first. He won’t do anything to your father before he sees you.” Princess Rui was anxious, but she still didn’t lose her composure. “Go back to your courtyard first and have a good talk with Hongzhu. She asked about it when you went out.”
Yes, Hongzhu! Xiao Yi thought of Hongzhu, whom he had brought in as an ally, and feared she would also be targeted with his anger! He nodded; perhaps, their nominal marriage should end!
Hongzhu was feeling restless in the room. It was as if everyone else knew everything except her. What happened to our supposed allies?
When Xiao Yi returned, Hongzhu immediately turned to look at him.
"You can all go out now!" Xiao Yi said to the maids inside the room, and then closed the door.
"What happened?" Hongzhu stepped forward anxiously. Xiao Yi had never been so serious before.
“Hongzhu, let’s get a divorce!” Xiao Yi said directly. “We’ve found out who has been harming me all along, and it’s someone we can’t afford to offend. If you remain my Crown Princess, I’m afraid you won’t have a good end.”
Xiao Yi spoke directly, and Hongzhu was stunned for a moment, then chuckled coldly twice.
"Xiao Yi, I finally became your Crown Princess, and you want me to let go? No way!" Hongzhu said domineeringly. "I don't care who the emperor is, even if I die, I will still be your wife, Xiao Yi. Don't even think about getting rid of me!"
Xiao Yi was very familiar with Hongzhu's appearance; she looked just like this when she took a liking to him and wanted to tie him up to the mountain to be her husband. "Hongzhu, I'm not as good as you think. You know I don't like you."
"It's alright, I still like you very much." Hongzhu wasn't angry. "Let me tell you, I've already given up my position as the leader to come find you. I have nowhere else to go, so I'm sticking with you no matter what!"
“Hongzhu, the person who plotted against me is the Emperor, do you understand?” Xiao Yi said helplessly. “My father has gone into the palace and hasn’t come out yet. Perhaps I will have to go into the palace as well. Do you know what will happen if the Emperor is angry?”
“At worst, I’ll die, but I’ve said it before, I’d rather die than be Xiao Yi’s wife,” Hongzhu said frankly. “Now that I’m on your ship, I have no intention of getting off.”
“You…” Xiao Yi felt a warmth in his heart, “Hongzhu, I don’t want you to die.”
"Then you mustn't get into trouble either. Even though our relationship is all fake, it's not impossible for things to turn out real, right? I'm still young, I have the rest of my life to spend with you."
Hongzhu looked at Xiao Yi with such a determined expression that Xiao Yi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"From now on, stay home as much as possible. If something goes wrong, prioritize your life," Xiao Yi said helplessly, taking a step back.
Hongzhu felt a little smug; she was good at tormenting people! But then she cautiously asked, "Why is the Emperor plotting against you and targeting your wife? It seems like the work of a rival in love. Could it be that he..." Hongzhu then looked at Xiao Yi suspiciously.
Xiao Yi felt awkward under Hongzhu's gaze; he felt uncomfortable talking about this kind of thing.
"Is that really true?" Seeing that Xiao Yi didn't deny or explain, Hongzhu looked shocked! "My goodness, you're such a hot commodity, loved by everyone, even men!"
"Hongzhu!" Xiao Yi called out, but Hongzhu's tone was more like that of someone watching a show.
"Don't worry, you're my man, I won't give in. So what if he's the emperor? In this world, harmony between yin and yang is the right way!"
"Alright, that's enough. This isn't something we can talk about with outsiders. Now you know why I wanted you to leave!" Xiao Yi lowered his voice and said to Hongzhu, "I was really afraid something would happen to you!"
"Your Highness, an imperial edict has arrived from the palace, summoning you to the palace!" Cheng Feng called out from outside the door.
Xiao Yi's body stiffened. Was he really that impatient?
“Hongzhu, Father is in the palace, I must go. If anything goes wrong, your life is the most important thing.”
“You’re the same. If you don’t come back, I’ll go to the palace to demand your return. I want my husband back, it’s only right and proper!” Hongzhu ignored Xiao Yi and said firmly.
Cheng Feng's urging voice came from outside again. Xiao Yi had no choice but to bite the bullet and go. Before leaving, Princess Rui and Hongzhu stood side by side at the door, both with worried expressions.
"Uncle, rest assured, I will not do anything to you or Xiao Yi," Zhao Zhe said calmly, looking at the Prince Rui whose hands and feet were bound. "Although you are audacious and rebellious, attempting to harm me, you are still my uncle!"
"Pah! So what if I hit you? Do you think you're the emperor and can control everything?" Prince Rui said angrily. "Weren't Yi'er's three wives innocent? How could you be so heartless?"
"I've been holding back, keeping it all bottled up inside, but seeing him so happy with his wife... I can't bear it!" In the side hall, only Zhao Zhe and Prince Rui were there. "Uncle, I've been holding you captive because I want to have a proper talk with Xiao Yi. With you in my hands, I'm sure even if Xiao Yi gets angry, he'll hold back!"
"Your Majesty, the Prince Rui's heir has entered the palace!" came the report from outside the door.
"Imperial Uncle, I'm going to see Xiao Yi. If you don't want anything to happen to Xiao Yi, you'd better behave yourself." After Zhao Zhe finished speaking, he opened the door and left. Prince Rui barely managed to suppress his anger and refrain from cursing.
Xiao Yi was led by his father-in-law to another side hall. He had just sat down when Zhao Zhe arrived.
"Where is my father?" Xiao Yi immediately stood up and asked seriously.
"Imperial Uncle, are you well? Xiao Yi, you finally found out!" Zhao Zhe's face was half-lit and half-shadowed by the candlelight. He dismissed all the servants, leaving only him and Xiao Yi in the large side hall!
Xiao Yi felt inexplicably nervous. As Zhao Zhe approached, he couldn't help but take a few steps back. "Why has the Emperor summoned me here?"
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