Father, who is both a heir and a descendant, is still biased; the bound system has gone berserk.

The second prince looked at the empress in astonishment. "Mother, what is this medicine?"

The Empress's eyes were cold. "Ze'er, it's time to teach Ying Yufu a lesson. You don't need to pity her too much."

The second prince understood the meaning behind the empress's words. His face flushed slightly, and then his heart burned with passion.

He couldn't help but imagine a scene in his mind where Ying Yufu was incredibly charming, crying sweetly, even begging him while she wept.

He also thought about how Ying Yufu would be so obedient and compliant to him afterwards.

The second prince gripped the medicine bottle tightly, his voice hoarse: "Don't worry, Mother."

The Empress nodded slightly. Just then, a palace maid came to report that Madam Duan and Miss Duan had arrived.

The Empress said, "Please invite them in."

The Second Prince couldn't help but frown when he heard Duan Linglong's name.

He then recalled Duan Linglong's "bold" actions at the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, and a chill ran down his spine.

Duan Linglong could even speak in a conversation involving all three of them.

It's absolutely unbearable to hear.

However, he seemed to be thinking of something, and his breathing became slightly rapid.

If it were just him, Zhi'er, and Fu'er together, he didn't think it would be a bad idea.

Just then, Madam Duan and Duan Linglong entered.

Both of them looked unwell. Madam Duan could be described as haggard, but Duan Linglong looked like a delicate white flower battered by wind and rain.

Her face was pale, her eyes were red and swollen, and there was even a mark on her neck from being strangled.

"Your Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Second Prince."

Madam Duan bowed.

There was a hint of resentment in her tone.

The Empress looked at her and sighed softly, "Sister-in-law, please rise."

Madam Duan stood up, and the Empress's head maid immediately brought chairs for Madam Duan and Duan Linglong.

Madam Duan sat down with Duan Linglong. Duan Linglong kept her head down, while Madam Duan wiped away her tears.

"Your Majesty, I have come to beg you to save Linglong. Her reputation is now completely ruined. Before, at home, the child had a moment of despair and hanged herself in the room."

If it weren't for her head maid, Jiao'e, discovering her, she would be dead.

Madam Duan's tears flowed in streams, she was truly heartbroken.

The Empress looked at Duan Linglong with pity and said, "Linglong, how could you be so foolish? If anything happens to you, how will your mother live?"

"You're just trying to break my heart, you little brat!"

Duan Linglong raised her eyelids, glanced at the Empress, her eyes blank.

The Empress looked at her and couldn't help but sigh again.

Lady Duan glanced at the Empress's face, wiped away her tears, and said, "Your Majesty, I beg you, please find a way for Linglong to live."

"Your Majesty, Linglong is someone you've watched grow up. How can you bear to see her like this?"

The Empress remained silent.

After the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, she tortured the palace maid who had done that thing. She admitted that she had indeed put the magic potion in Shangguan Hong's wine cup, but for some reason, it ended up in Duan Linglong's wine cup instead.

Well, in the end, this was also my own mistake.

The Empress looked at the Second Prince and saw the faint rejection he showed towards Duan Linglong on his face, and she couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat.

She spoke slowly, "Ze'er, your cousin Linglong is deeply in love with you..."

Upon hearing this, Madam Duan's eyes lit up slightly.

Duan Linglong finally reacted, a glimmer of expectation appearing in her somewhat lifeless eyes.

The Empress said, "Besides marrying you, your cousin Linglong has no other choice."

Besides, you are destined to have more than just one or two women. In the future, you will have at least two concubines in the palace. Even if it is Linglong, she will have to be someone else.

"Ze'er, you're her cousin. Linglong is already desperate. Besides, what happened at the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet was just a setup."

The second prince frowned, then relaxed.

The Empress Dowager is right. He is destined to have more than just one or two women; he is the one who will eventually ascend to that position.

The three palaces and six courtyards are inevitable, so why worry about having another Duan Linglong?

Even if he disliked Duan Linglong, as his mother said, she was his cousin, and he could treat her like a younger sister and keep her in the mansion.

Anyway, the person I love the most is Zhi'er.

Let Duan Linglong be his concubine, just like Fu'er.

Seeing that the Second Prince's expression seemed to soften, the Empress continued, "Ze'er, actually your mother originally planned to betroth Linglong to you in the future, but the time was not right, so your mother did not mention it to you before."

Perhaps you've always treated Linglong like a younger sister, but now you might as well try to see her in a different way.

Perhaps you will find that Linglong has a delicate appearance and a gentle and kind personality, and is a very good girl.

Most importantly, she is devoted to you. Ze'er, you are destined for greatness, but how many people truly love you?

The second prince's mind stirred slightly.

Yes, how many people are truly sincere to him?

Besides Zhi'er, even Fu'er, who used to obey him completely, has changed.

She caused a lot of trouble simply because he wouldn't let her be his principal wife.

Looking at Duan Linglong again, she sat quietly, her eyes darting towards him cautiously, full of shyness and timidity.

It was quite different from when we were at the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet.

He couldn't help but think of the Empress's words, and looking at her now, he did find that this exquisite cousin was indeed pretty and charming.

Seeing that he was clearly interested, the Empress said, "Ze'er, would you be willing to let your beautiful face become your concubine?"

The Second Prince nodded slightly and said, "Linglong is my cousin. How could I bear to see her like this?"

She said to Madam Duan, "Aunt, I am willing to let Linglong be my concubine."

Upon hearing this, Madam Duan's face immediately lit up with joy.

"His Highness the Second Prince is so kind! Linglong no longer has to think so hard!" Madam Duan looked at Duan Linglong with great joy.

Duan Linglong was stunned.

Her face flushed with embarrassment, but tears welled up in her eyes again.

The Empress joked, "Look at this child, he's crying with joy."

"Yes, yes..." Madam Duan said with a smile, but still wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

She cried tears of joy.

Overjoyed, Duan Linglong's body finally gave way. She hadn't eaten or drunk anything since the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, but now, overwhelmed by the happy event, her tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and she went limp.

She swayed and fell off the chair.

Her personal maid, Jiao'e, seeing this, quickly helped her up.

Duan Linglong leaned her entire body against Jiao'e's tall and strong body.

Yes, he was tall and strong.

It must be said that neither Madam Duan nor Duan Linglong had any pretty maids or nannies around them.

They were all ugly in their own unique ways.

Take this beautiful woman, for example. Not only is she tall and strong, but she also has a black birthmark the size of a baby's palm on her left cheek.

"Linglong, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Dewdrop, quickly summon the imperial physician."

The Empress said to her personal maid.

"Aunt Empress, there's no need to call the imperial physician. Linglong... Linglong is just too happy."

Duan Linglong said.

"You silly child." The Empress felt guilty when she saw that her lips were chapped, so she gave her some snacks to eat.

Just then, a palace maid came to report that Shangguan Tang and Ying Yufu had arrived.