Xuan Yuan Chaohua was taken aback and said, "So it's Miss Li. Everyone is at the banquet right now. What brings you here, Miss Li?"
Li Rushuang was also stunned when she saw Xuan Yuanchaohua. Her mind couldn't help but think of her conversation with Ouyang Yue three days ago. Was she anxious?
Li Rushuang quickly replied, "I felt a bit stuffy and wanted to go for a walk, but I didn't expect to run into General Xuanyuan here. I'm afraid General Xuanyuan doesn't like to be disturbed, so I'll take my leave now."
Xuanyuan Chaohua said, "It's alright. If Miss Li likes it this way, this general will take his leave first."
This left Li Rushuang at a loss. Wasn't she kicking him out? Besides, Xuanyuan Chaohua was the mistress of the princess's residence. This was overstepping her bounds and was extremely impolite: "General Xuanyuan, that's not what I meant."
Xuanyuan Chaohua stopped and looked at Li Rushuang, seemingly also feeling that something was wrong, and that it seemed inappropriate for them to be apart now.
Li Rushuang's mind was in turmoil as she kept replaying her conversation with Ouyang Yue from three days ago.
Li Rushuang was a woman. Although she was straightforward and didn't like to hide her feelings, she was still a woman, and she had some girlish thoughts that she couldn't share with outsiders. Moreover, as the saying goes, everyone has a love of beauty, regardless of gender. Even if one doesn't have romantic feelings for outstanding men or women, it's always inevitable to simply admire them.
The three most talented men in the capital, having been chosen, were naturally the dream men of many young ladies. Leng Caiwen, known for his womanizing ways, might be considered by some respectable young women, but they wouldn't give him much thought. Dai Yu, unlike Leng Caiwen, lacked his charm, but he was handsome and talented, and at a young age, he had already risen to the position of Minister, enough to drive women crazy. Li Rushuang, in her youth, was no exception to this trend. However, having been one of the three ugliest men in the capital, she never imagined associating with such men, and thus never entertained any fantasies. But because of Ouyang Yue, she also had some contact with Leng Caiwen and Dai Yu.
She thought Leng Caiwen was very good, but she wouldn't fall in love with him. She hadn't actually had much contact with Dai Yu, but she had secretly observed him. He was a very meticulous and refined person, having served as an official for many years without being corrupted by the darkness of officialdom. He didn't even have a concubine in his household. He was also exceptionally talented and handsome. Most importantly, he was on good terms with Baili Chen and wasn't her enemy. Considering all these factors, Li Rushuang had secretly thought that Dai Yu was probably her ideal choice. However, she hadn't dared to take the first step; she had considered many things. Looking at Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue, she also longed for such happiness. She didn't want to miss out on a lifetime of happiness due to carelessness.
Before, a figure like Xuanyuan Chaohua was something Li Rushuang had never even considered. She admired heroes and had once regarded Xuanyuan Chaohua as her dream girl, but she knew the distance was too great, and she didn't have that kind of expectation. However, a few words from Ouyang Yue had unsettled her. When Ouyang Yue spoke about Xuanyuan Chaohua's choice of wife, Li Rushuang had admired her own unwavering resolve, but how could it have affected her so deeply so soon?
Undeniably, a woman would be truly impressed if she had such a husband.
The Xuanyuan family's ancestral rule was to marry only one wife. She and Yue'er were like sisters. She often visited the Princess's Mansion and the Prince Chen's Mansion, and Princess Shuangxia never showed any dislike for her. She didn't have much contact with Xuanyuan Chaohua, but Xuanyuan Chaohua never showed any dislike for her. Things she hadn't thought about before suddenly came to mind all at once, and Li Rushuang couldn't help but blush.
Xuan Yuan Chaohua looked at Li Rushuang and noticed that her expression kept changing. She seemed a little annoyed, and then blushed. He couldn't help but ask with concern, "Miss Li, are you feeling unwell? I'll have a servant take you down to rest for a while."
Li Rushuang quickly shook her head: "I'm fine, thank you for your concern, General Xuanyuan."
“Miss Li, what are you saying? You are Yue’er’s good sister, and you are in the Princess’s residence. It is only right for me, as the host, to do this,” Xuan Yuan Chao Hua said. Li Ru Shuang couldn’t help but purse her lips, suddenly feeling a little resentful. This person made her heart so turbulent, yet she was completely unaware of it. How could she not be angry?
Li Rushuang glared, her beautiful eyes sparkling with a captivating light, and said with some annoyance, "If I weren't Yue'er's friend, would General Xuanyuan just ignore me?"
Xuan Yuan Chaohua was stunned: "Miss Li, what are you saying? Of course not. As the master of the princess's mansion, it is only right that I care about the guests in the mansion."
Knowing her tone was somewhat inappropriate and that she had no right to question him, Li Rushuang couldn't help but say, "Oh, everyone who visits is a guest, and General Xuanyuan is so concerned, asking about our well-being?!"
"Of course not!" Given Xuan Yuan Chaohua's personality, he would never pay attention to those who wanted to flatter him. However, he didn't say this to Li Rushuang, but just looked at her with some doubt.
Li Rushuang blushed instantly, her almond-shaped eyes widening as she stared at Xuan Yuan Chaohua. Her red lips were tightly pressed together, forming a beautifully curved line, and her fair face glowed with an alluring rosy hue. Her eyes shone with captivating brightness, and Xuan Yuan Chaohua was taken aback. Previously, Li Rushuang had been close to Ouyang Yue and had a carefree personality. Because of his sister, he had treated this woman like a little sister. But this was the first time he had discovered that his sister was truly remarkable, transforming from that dark-skinned girl into a woman of captivating charm, capable of driving men mad.
Xuanyuan Chaohua remained silent. Li Rushuang stomped her foot in anger, revealing her girlish charm: "General Xuanyuan, just sit here and see if you can find anything interesting here. I'm leaving, you must be so bored!" With that, she turned and stormed off.
Xuan Yuan Chaohua frowned in confusion. As a military general, he rarely encountered women in the army. After returning home, he only had his grandmother and Ouyang Yue. He doted on one as an elder, while Ouyang Yue was pretty and lovely, gentle and considerate towards him. It could be said that Xuan Yuan Chaohua only needed to treat Ouyang Yue as an older brother, and this younger sister didn't cause him any more trouble. As for the fake Lü Yan, he did like that woman's heroic and forthright personality, as well as her loyalty and righteousness. Then there was Qi Qi, a woman as gentle as a willow. Xuan Yuan Chaohua could only protect her as a younger sister; it wouldn't be easy for him to develop feelings for her because he felt their personalities were incompatible. Therefore, Xuan Yuan Chaohua was completely puzzled by Li Rushuang's change in behavior and stood there dumbfounded.
"Sigh, what a dense head!" A long sigh suddenly came from the side. Xuan Yuan Chaohua frowned and shouted, "Who's there! Show yourself!"
At this moment, a young man dressed in a pink robe slowly walked out from the side, holding a painting of a beautiful woman in his hand. It was none other than Leng Caiwen. Leng Caiwen looked at him with dissatisfaction and said, "General Xuanyuan, don't be fooled by your fierce appearance on the battlefield. When it comes to dealing with women, you are far from good enough. However, I can give you some pointers on this point."
Xuan Yuan Chaohua's expression was indifferent. In the past, Leng Caiwen and Baili Chen were on good terms, which also affected his relationship with Leng Caiwen and Dai Yu. Although they were now cousins because of Leng Yuyan, he still didn't have a good look for Leng Caiwen when he thought about how his own mother couldn't return to the Leng family before she died: "Is that so? As for your tricks to seduce women, this general is fine with it."
Leng Caiwen wasn't angry. She simply said, "General Xuanyuan, to put it nicely, you have your own principles; to put it bluntly, you're just being stubborn. Your wife is meant to be cherished. Do you think she'll feel good talking to you like this? Don't be afraid to say sweet words to women. You've always felt unhappy that Baili Chen was able to marry your cousin, but you have to admit it's his skill. A woman like your cousin is lucky to have married him. Otherwise, I would have stolen her away and taken her to the ends of the earth to wander the world with her."
Xuanyuan Chaohua shouted angrily, "Shut up! How dare you say something so disgraceful to Yue'er's reputation!"
Leng Caiwen didn't seem to care, and even seemed to be mocking: "So what? I like my cousin, can't I say it?" Xuan Yuan Chaohua looked displeased, but Leng Caiwen said, "If you like a woman, you should do everything you can to make her happy. General Xuan Yuan cares about that fake Lü Yan, so why treat all women in the world as dangerous? Miss Li is a rare and good woman. Once this opportunity is gone, it will be gone forever. Otherwise, you will regret it later."
Xuan Yuan Chaohua was taken aback: "You mean Miss Li, she..."
Leng Caiwen glanced at Xuan Yuanchaohua speechlessly: "You, sometimes you really are so old-fashioned. What difference would it make if you called her Ru Shuang next time? I don't think she would be angry."
Xuan Yuan Chaohua looked at Leng Caiwen thoughtfully: "It seems that your lustful and amorous nature isn't entirely useless."
Leng Caiwen waved her fan and chuckled self-deprecatingly, "What's the use? A misunderstanding has been created. I acted too late and missed something very important. Sigh, I'm hungry. I'll go back now." With that, Leng Caiwen turned and left. Watching his swaying figure, Xuan Yuan Chaohua didn't know what to feel. Was he happy that his sister was so charming, making the number one young master of the city infatuated with her, or was he sighing for Leng Caiwen?
“Li Rushuang… Rushuang…” Xuan Yuan Chaohua murmured, and then left. In such a brief conversation with Li Rushuang and Leng Caiwen, he found that the troubles in his heart had disappeared. He smiled slightly.
No one dared to cause trouble at the welcoming banquet for Xuanyuan Chaohua and Ouyang Zhide, and the event proceeded smoothly. That same day, Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen returned to the General's Mansion with Ouyang Zhide and stayed there for two days. It was only after Emperor Mingxian issued an edict to hold a banquet that they returned to the Chen Prince's Mansion to be carried into the palace.
This so-called banquet was actually Emperor Mingxian's way of apologizing to Xuanyuan Chaohua and Ouyang Zhide. After all, they had been falsely accused and nearly killed to silence them. For Baili Jian, as a prince, to do such a thing was a disgrace to Emperor Mingxian, regardless of his favor with the emperor. This banquet was also meant to appease the court officials. Emperor Mingxian was beloved by the people for his fair rewards and punishments throughout his reign, making this banquet all the more crucial.
None of the court officials dared to disobey the emperor's wishes, and they all brought their families to celebrate.
In Mingxiang Palace, Consort Sun held a cute little boy who was pure white with not a single stray hair and had bright, sparkling eyes, and gently stroked him from her high seat.
Granny Qi stood guard to the side. Consort Sun's fair hands matched the white dog's fur quite well. She slowly raised her head and asked, "Are you ready?"
Granny Qi immediately replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, everything has been arranged."
Consort Sun laughed: "Yes, this is going to be a good show. I'm looking forward to it now."
Granny Qi chimed in with a laugh: "Your Highness has a brilliant idea. This time, it will surely cause chaos in the Prince Chen's mansion. That Xuan Yuan Yue thinks she is of noble status and doesn't take Your Highness seriously. But she doesn't know that if Your Highness wants to deal with her, she will be powerless to resist."
Consort Sun's eyes were cold and piercing: "Whether it was the Crown Prince or someone from Prince Chen's residence who did it this time, they are both my enemies, and I will absolutely not let them go. After the banquet, find an opportunity to have Prince Sheng come to see me."
Granny Qi was taken aback. Just moments ago, Consort Sun had met Leng Caidie and coaxed her into revealing everything about the Sheng Prince's residence. Now, the Consort wanted to see Prince Sheng—what was she planning? "Your Highness, what are you thinking?"
Qi Mama was brought by Consort Sun from her maiden home. Originally Consort Sun's wet nurse, she was brought along because of Consort Sun's clean and efficient manner and her sense of propriety. Consort Sun trusted her greatly. Instead of getting angry at Qi Mama for talking too much, Consort Sun said thoughtfully, "I need to pave the way for myself now. It will be difficult for me to get pregnant at my age, and even if I do, it will take time. If I give birth now, I will be too young to compete with the princes above me. But having a shield in front of me is different."
Granny Qi immediately understood Consort Sun's meaning and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured, I will take care of it shortly."
Consort Sun gently stroked the head of the white dog (Xiao Bai). Xiao Bai squinted its eyes, enjoying the moment, and even whimpered softly. This made Consort Sun smile slightly: "Alright, help me change my clothes. The banquet is about to begin. Such a good show would be meaningless if I didn't attend."
"Yes, Your Highness." Granny Qi immediately summoned a palace maid to help Consort Sun change her clothes.
Along the banks of a crystal-clear river, nimble fish occasionally swam by. As the saying goes, "where the water is too clear, there are no fish," meaning that even if there were fish in this river, they would probably be difficult to catch.
But sitting on the riverbank was a straight-backed man dressed in red. His hair, as black as silk, was casually draped over his shoulders, and he exuded an eerie aura. The strange vine pattern on his forehead gave his face a ghostly and unsettling look, yet it was also strangely captivating. The man held a bamboo pole with a fishing line attached to the end, which was then lowered into the water. Because the river was crystal clear, it was obvious that there was no bait or hook on the line. Such fishing was rather ridiculous.
The man was fishing quietly, and it didn't seem like he was joking; it all seemed so natural.
A moment later, a woman walked out from a grassy path. She was dressed in purple and had a pretty face. She was none other than Zi San, who had once competed with Ouyang Yue in the beauty pageant. Zi San walked over lightly and said softly, "Master."
"Hmm, speak!" The Miao Holy King's voice was calm yet surprisingly authoritative.
Zi San immediately bowed his head and said, "Master, the King of Miao Jiang requests an audience."
The Miao King's lips curled into a cold smile: "I am currently in seclusion and no one is allowed to disturb me."
Zi San went out to spread the word and returned shortly afterward. The Miao Jiang Holy King then took the initiative to ask, "Is there any news from the capital?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Xuanyuan Chaohua and Ouyang Zhide were framed by Your Highness, but the truth is now known, and Your Highness has died outside."
The Miao King sneered, "Oh, so the struggles in the Great Zhou court and palace will become even more interesting. Not bad, not bad. My senses have also improved recently. It's time to go to the capital and meet Xuan Yuan Yue."
Zi San had doubts in her heart. She didn't know why her master wanted to help Ouyang Yue in the first place, and she never dared to ask. But that didn't mean she wasn't curious. However, she didn't dare to say much and immediately said, "Yes, your subordinate will make the arrangements right away."
The Miao King remained silent and continued fishing quietly.
Great Zhou Imperial Palace
The banquet held by Emperor Mingxian this time was held in the back garden of the palace. In order to ensure that the venue was not adequate, Emperor Mingxian even dug up the flower bushes on both sides and replanted them. The back garden where the banquet was held could accommodate three to five hundred people. Emperor Mingxian was the head of the group, and the concubines and relatives of the emperor were sitting around the pavilion: "I have invited all my beloved ministers here today so that there will be more opportunities for communication between the emperor and his subjects. Today, my beloved ministers, you can all speak freely without any reservations."
"Your Majesty is wise." Although Emperor Mingxian said this, no one dared to be presumptuous, but they were obviously more relaxed than when attending banquets in the past.
"Play music, dance!" With Fu Shun's sharp command, the entire garden was instantly filled with singing and dancing, surrounded by blooming flowers. It was indeed more charming than drinking and making merry in the palace.
Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue sat facing each other. Baili Chen handed Ouyang Yue a piece of osmanthus paste: "My lady, try it. The osmanthus paste in the palace has an extra spice added. It tastes fragrant and refreshing."
Ouyang Yue picked it up with a faint smile, just about to use it, when suddenly a figure flashed in front of her. Baili Chen immediately grabbed Ouyang Yue and shouted, "Who goes there!"
A beautiful young woman, dressed in a bright red long gown and adorned with exquisite mandarin duck hairpins, stood before their table, holding a boy of about two years old. Upon seeing Baili Chen, she swayed, her lips trembling, "Husband! What are you doing here! You've been gone for over two years! Why didn't you come to see me? Nianchen has no father since he was born! You…you actually…"
The commotion immediately attracted attention. Emperor Mingxian and the others, who were seated far away, naturally understood the situation clearly. Consort Sun suddenly laughed, "Where did this crazy old woman come from? Why is she randomly recognizing people? This is the imperial palace, not an ordinary place. She has no manners at all." But she couldn't help but ask, "Woman, which family are you from? And what is your relationship with Prince Chen?"
The beautiful woman turned pale and stammered for a long time, but the boy said, "Mother, is this the man you cry about every night? He's so wicked, he started a relationship and then abandoned me. I don't recognize him as my father!"
"What's going on? This little boy is actually Prince Chen's biological son?!"
"Are you crazy? We're in the palace right now, in front of the Emperor. If we were to randomly identify someone, that would be a crime of deceiving the Emperor. Of course it's true!"
"What! Prince Chen has such a grown son? What about Princess Chen?"
"Hehe, Princess Consort Chen has been married for quite some time now, and there's still no news. Now that the eldest son of the Chen Prince's mansion has been born, her position as princess consort is quite awkward!"
The concept of the eldest legitimate son has been established in imperial dynasties. If this boy is Baili Chen's biological son, then even if Ouyang Yue gives birth to an eldest legitimate son in the future, the Chen Prince's mansion may not necessarily belong to Ouyang Yue's son. This sudden appearance of a troublemaker is enough to give Ouyang Yue a headache. There were rumors before that the Chen Prince and the Chen Princess had a very good relationship, but now it seems that it was just a facade. Even if their relationship is good, with this eldest son around, the Chen Prince's mansion will be in chaos.
Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue's expressions both darkened, but the beautiful woman rushed over and tried to grab Baili Chen's arm: "Husband, what... what is your identity? Do you really not want me anymore? Do you really want to abandon me after starting this relationship?"
"Get out of here!" Baili Chen angrily flicked his sleeve, throwing the beautiful woman to the ground. The woman rolled twice on the ground before stopping, and then lowered her head and began to sob. The boy glared angrily at Baili Chen, as if he wanted to devour him alive.
Baili Chen's shrewdness caused everyone present to change their expressions. Consort Sun even said, "Prince Chen, what are you doing? Even if you don't want to acknowledge this mother and son, there's no need to insult them like this. Besides, the Emperor is still here. Is attacking someone showing no respect for the Emperor?"
Emperor Mingxian's face was extremely ugly at this moment: "How dare you! Seventh Prince, what are you doing? Explain yourself to me!"
Baili Chen's face was cold and stern. Ouyang Yue reached out and gently grasped Baili Chen's hand, but then looked up at Consort Sun. A cold glint flashed in her eyes. She had never expected that the banquet would go smoothly. Consort Sun had indeed made her move!
Whatever she wants to do, she will accompany her to the end and repay her tenfold!
She trusts those she has chosen to trust completely. If anyone dares to use their feelings against her, she will make Consort Sun taste the bitter fruit of her actions!
☆、201, Incurring the wrath of the masses, the might of the eldest princess!
Chaos reigned in the main hall, with constant chatter. Whether in the royal family or a prominent clan, romantic entanglements were unavoidable, but in such a situation, everyone tried their best to suppress it for the sake of their reputation. And this was the Empress; who would have imagined such a thing happening here?
Let alone how much Emperor Mingxian favors Prince Chen, in front of all the officials and their families, if it were true, not only would Prince Chen and Princess Chen lose face, but Emperor Mingxian would also be embarrassed. This is a very serious matter. No matter how much Baili Chen is favored, this time it will probably make Emperor Mingxian extremely angry. It is unlikely that he can act as recklessly as before.
There were people watching the show, people gloating, people worried, people venting their anger—all sorts of people were there, but for the person involved, no one cared what their feelings were.
Because the beautiful woman had rushed over, Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue, who were sitting, had already stood up. To protect Ouyang Yue, Baili Chen had already pulled her into his arms and taken a half-step back, his dark eyes unusually gloomy. Seeing Baili Chen like this, Xuan Yuan Chaohua, who was about to get angry, sat back down. Princess Shuangxia also looked on with an ambiguous expression, but a hint of anger flashed in her eyes. She couldn't help but sneer, "There are so many people who don't like the Princess's Mansion and the Prince Chen's Mansion. If Baili Chen has already had an affair outside and has given birth to an eldest son, even if he is of lowly birth, it will affect Yue'er's status in the Prince Chen's Mansion. If anything happens to the eldest son in the future, someone will definitely pin the blame on Yue'er. No matter what, Yue'er, as the Princess Consort of the Prince Chen's Mansion, will be walking on thin ice and won't be sitting comfortably. Her scheming methods are truly remarkable."
Xuan Yuan Chaohua frowned and said, "They framed me before, and now they want to deal with Yue'er. No matter who it is, I will not let them get away with it. These people really don't take the Princess's Mansion seriously."
Princess Shuangxia's expression was cold and aloof, yet a cryptic sneer flickered within her as she surveyed the scene, seemingly unconcerned. While she said this, they still trusted Ouyang Yue's judgment. Besides, Baili Chen was weak and frail at the time, and living with Master Minghui, where would he have had the opportunity to interact with women? This man's methods, so easily exposed, couldn't be very clever, unless this was a scheme within a scheme?
Ouyang Yue, however, was looking at the beautiful woman in red. The woman's tear-streaked face made her even more delicate and her figure incredibly curvaceous. Her slight sobs and the rise and fall of her breasts were suggestive and easily evoked pity. Instead, the gazes directed at her turned mocking and schadenfreude. Ouyang Yue sneered inwardly and said calmly, "Who are you? This is a banquet specially hosted by my father. How dare you act recklessly and offend him at such a banquet? What kind of upbringing taught you this? And you're spouting nonsense! Don't you, as a woman, even understand the proper conduct and precepts for women?"
The beautiful young woman stiffened, feeling the burning gazes directed at her. Ouyang Yue's words were carefully chosen. First, this was a grand banquet in the imperial palace, ordered by Emperor Mingxian, attended by the Empress, concubines, and high-ranking officials. For someone to cause trouble at this time would damage the imperial dignity and disrespect Emperor Mingxian. Furthermore, even if Emperor Mingxian didn't care, this woman, holding a child, dared to claim kinship at such a banquet—not just any kinship, but kinship with her husband—which was utterly ignorant and shameless. The Great Zhou Dynasty had strict rules for women; they couldn't meet privately before marriage. This woman, holding a boy and claiming he was Baili Chen's, regardless of whether it was true, was enough to prove her lowly character. Not only had she secretly pledged herself to someone, but she had also had an affair. Such a woman was despised by all the major families; some with extremely strict discipline would even beat her to death and throw her into a nunnery to spend the rest of her life. The woman's previous behavior had evoked sympathy, but Ouyang Yue's words caused a slight change in their expressions. Regardless of the truth, this woman was no good either!
"Lianxiang, why did you run out? Come back quickly!" Just then, an angry shout suddenly came from inside the arena, followed by an old man wearing a second-rank official robe. The old man had a gloomy face, large dark circles under his eyes, and cold eyes. He walked over and tried to pull the woman away.
The woman named Lianxiang was crying and didn't want to leave. The two-year-old boy in her arms was also crying loudly in Lianxiang's arms. The scene was really touching.
Emperor Mingxian frowned and looked at the old man, saying, "Uncle, what exactly is going on?" This old man was actually Emperor Mingxian's father's brother. In recent years, the court had been somewhat unstable when the emperors ascended the throne, and fratricide had occurred from time to time. However, there were also those who never participated in the struggle for the throne.
Take this old man, Prince Ming, for example. It wasn't that Prince Ming didn't want to compete, but he was just born to a beautiful woman, of low status, and a spoiled brat who only knew how to eat, drink, and play all day long. He was completely ignorant and incompetent, so naturally he had no ability to compete for the throne. However, in order to preserve their reputation, each emperor would not kill off his brothers immediately. So, in each generation, there were always one or two, or even several, who would eventually live peacefully. Prince Ming was one of them.
However, precisely because Prince Ming lacked ability and only knew how to indulge in pleasure, although he didn't cause any trouble for his father, Emperor Mingxian, on the throne, he also offered no help. Furthermore, the two brothers had no real relationship, so Prince Ming merely held the title of prince; he had no real power. Although Emperor Mingxian called him "Imperial Uncle," they were a generation apart, and their relationship was distant. Therefore, Prince Ming was practically a dispensable figure in the court, and even Emperor Mingxian didn't pay much attention to them.
However, if Emperor Mingxian did not invite such a banquet, it would be disrespectful to his elders. Unexpectedly, the incident occurred at the Ming Prince's residence, and Emperor Mingxian's expression was not good: "Uncle, what exactly happened, and who is this woman?"
The Prince Ming's expression was not good. He looked at Baili Chen and said, "Your Majesty, this is my daughter, Baili Lianxiang. Because she was always in poor health when she was young, I sent her to the countryside of Yuezhou to recuperate. I only brought her back two years ago. As soon as I brought her back, I discovered that she was pregnant. But no matter how I punished or interrogated her, she wouldn't say anything. I loved my daughter dearly and couldn't do anything about it. Later, I thought I would wait until she gave birth to see if it was a boy or a girl before making any plans. But when my grandson was born, he was so beautiful and adorable. How could I possibly bring myself to harm him? I am very fond of my grandson. Today, he only insisted on coming out to play, so I brought him along. I never expected such a thing to happen. I beg Your Majesty to punish him."
Emperor Mingxian frowned, and everyone else in the garden could tell that there seemed to be a hidden meaning in what he was saying.