funbook-pk Chapter 16 If you don't listen to the rules, she will die.
Chapter 16 If you don't listen to the rules, she will die.
"But I have already investigated and found that Wan'er did not push Su Yan'er into the water at the birthday banquet; it was she..."
"So what? She has already confessed. What difference does it make whether she pushed her or not? Her crying and shouting at the birthday banquet disturbed everyone's enjoyment. As the legitimate daughter of a marquis, she is so lacking in manners. I really don't know what you like about her." Empress Shen's tone was firm, not giving Xiao Jingyu any chance to argue.
He knew what kind of person his mother was, but he still refused to give up.
"Mother, no one is perfect. Since Wan'er already knows she was wrong, why not give her a chance to correct it?"
Empress Shen looked at Xiao Jingyu, wondering if he was truly stupid or just pretending.
Since that's the case, Empress Shen no longer intends to hide it. She frowned slightly, sighed, and said, "I never thought that I would give birth to such a foolish son as you. You are my son. Although His Majesty has not yet established a crown prince, most of the ministers support you. The position of crown prince is rightfully yours."
But to ensure everything goes smoothly, you cannot marry that Qin family daughter. I have already made arrangements for you; the person you must marry is your cousin, Shen Siyi!
The Shen family is the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, with numerous military achievements and holding half of the military power. Empress Shen is the eldest daughter of the Shen family, and the Duke of Shen is her eldest brother.
The Shen family is currently on Xiao Jingyu's side, but Empress Shen dares not gamble. If Shen Siyi marries another prince, her brother will definitely choose Shen Siyi over her daughter.
Furthermore, the Qin family is merely a marquis's mansion, far inferior to the Shen family in terms of merit and status. Therefore, in order to secure the position of crown prince, Xiao Jingyu must marry Shen Siyi.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingyu stood there stunned, his mind filled with Shen Siyi's face. But he didn't like Shen Siyi, and he didn't want to marry someone he didn't like.
"What if I refuse?"
He didn't understand why, as the fourth prince, he couldn't control his own marriage. He wanted to fight against him.
Seeing that Xiao Jingyu was so stubborn, Empress Shen raised her hand and slammed it heavily on the table next to her.
"If you don't comply, then don't blame me for being ruthless!" Empress Shen's words were not a threat. "Do you think that I couldn't investigate what happened at the birthday banquet, and that you would need to tell me? Do you know why I didn't expose all of this?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingyu got goosebumps all over and looked at Empress Shen in disbelief, asking tremblingly, "It's you?"
Empress Shen snorted coldly, "That's right, it was me. If you hadn't been so fond of the Qin family's daughter that you wouldn't marry anyone else, I wouldn't have needed to set up such a scheme. However, I really didn't expect that the Qin family would follow my plan and blame Qin Wan for Su Yan'er falling into the water. I had already arranged witnesses, but I didn't need them."
Empress Shen was also surprised that day. She arranged for guards to strike Su Yan'er when she reached the middle of the bridge, causing her to fall into the water, and then frame Qin Wan who was standing nearby for the incident.
She thought the Qin family would defend Qin Wan, but to her surprise, they insisted that Qin Wan pushed Su Yan'er into the water. This was unexpected, but also a stroke of genius.
Empress Shen continued, "I originally thought that since she refused to admit it to the death, I would send her to Leishan Temple to repent in peace on the grounds of her lack of upbringing. But I did not expect that she would admit her mistake in the end. I had no choice but to give her twenty strokes of the cane as a warning to others."
At this point, Empress Shen showed a hint of regret. If only she hadn't confessed and had continued to argue, then she could have been completely destroyed.
"However, if you still intend to marry her as your principal wife, I have plenty of ways to ruin her!" Empress Shen's tone was low and deep, exuding an unyielding authority.
Xiao Jingyu was stunned. Upon learning the truth, he staggered a couple of steps and slumped into a chair, his back chilled and his whole body covered in cold sweat, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
It turns out that everything at the birthday banquet was caused by him, and Wan'er didn't have to suffer this ordeal.
Xiao Jingyu knew Empress Shen's methods, so he dared not gamble anymore. He couldn't afford to lose, and if he continued to fight, Wan'er might lose her life.
Empress Shen looked at the terrified Xiao Jingyu, stepped down from her seat and walked to his side. She changed her previous oppressive tone and said gently, "If you listen to me, I guarantee I will not touch Qin Wan again. She will still be the legitimate daughter of the Qin family!"
This was the choice she gave him, and it was his only choice.
Xiao Jingyu's eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Empress Shen with resentment, her clenched fists bulging with veins.
Seeing this, Empress Shen felt a pang of pain in her heart, but it was quickly soothed. Right now, he was still caught up in love, but once this phase was over, he would thank himself.
"I have already spoken to His Majesty about your marriage to the Shen family. The imperial decree to grant the marriage will be issued on a chosen day. You'd better not cause any more trouble during this time!"
Although Empress Shen, being in the inner palace, could not interfere in court affairs, she could still influence her son's marriage. The reason why His Majesty was so eager to match him with Qin Wan was precisely to prevent him from marrying Shen Siyi and gaining the support of the Shen family.
Xiao Jingyu is Empress Shen's biological son. His Majesty does not want him to escape his control, so the person he marries cannot be too low in status, nor too high in status. The Qin family is the best choice.
Unfortunately, Qin Wan's lack of manners and arrogance have spread throughout Fengdu City, so the marriage has to be called off!
Xiao Jingyu didn't know how she got out of Cining Palace. She only felt dizzy and kept repeating Empress Shen's words in her mind.
"Royal brother!" The Fifth Prince Xiao Jingyan's cry pulled Xiao Jingyu out of his daze.
"What's wrong, Your Majesty?" Xiao Jingyan stepped forward quickly and asked, looking at Xiao Jingyu who looked completely lost.
Xiao Jingyu quickly recovered and shook her head at Xiao Jingyan, "It's nothing. Are you leaving the palace?"
"I heard that Fanlou has invited a new opera troupe to perform tonight. I'd like to go and take a look. Would you like to come along, Your Majesty?" Xiao Jingyan didn't ask any further questions. He couldn't get the answers out of others even if he asked.
"No, I have something to do tonight!"
"Alright then, I won't bother you any longer, Your Majesty!" Xiao Jingyan bowed and took his leave.
Watching Xiao Jingyan's departing figure, Xiao Jingyu sighed, wondering if his mother was an unfavored concubine, or if he were a carefree prince like him, would he be able to marry Wan'er?
Night falls.
Pingding Marquis's Mansion.
The events of the day made everyone unhappy, and Han Shu cried again and again, no matter how many men tried to comfort her.
When Madam Qin heard about this, she was furious and immediately ordered Qin Huai to lift Qin Wan's confinement. However, even after the confinement was lifted, Qin Wan still refused to go out.
"Miss, Granny Sun is here. She says the Old Madam has sent some tonics and wants to watch you drink them!" Wan Shuang said.
"Let her in!" Wan Shuang lay weakly on the bed, her face still swollen from the slap.
Granny Sun brought in the tonic. She dared not delay, fearing that the tonic would get cold on the way here, and now it was just right to drink it.
"Fourth Miss, the Old Madam has learned that your injuries have worsened, and she has specially ordered this old servant to bring you some tonic. Please drink it quickly!"
Wan Shuang brought the tonic to Qin Wan. Qin Wan turned to the side, and in the candlelight, the redness and swelling on her face became even more obvious.
When Granny Sun saw this, her heart ached. She had watched her young mistress grow up. Although she was a bit mischievous, she was not a bad person at heart. She had never seen her young mistress suffer such a severe punishment. The young master was really ruthless!