Forcing me to become a concubine? Remarrying the Ninth Prince, she'll be pregnant all over the

Lin Qinglian, dressed in a bright red Crown Princess court dress, wearing a phoenix crown, and with exquisite makeup, sat regally in the main seat.

She was surrounded by a group of elegantly dressed ladies, each with a fawning smile on their face.

Clearly, Lin Qinglian was deliberately reminding Lin Wantang, despite the obvious difference in their social status and rank, that she should not forget to pay her respects with proper etiquette.

Lin Wantang walked slowly forward, lowering her eyes to conceal the sharpness in them, and respectfully bowed and knelt down.

"Your humble daughter, Lin Wantang, greets Your Highness the Crown Princess. May you enjoy boundless blessings and peace throughout the year."

As her soft, soothing voice faded, the already quiet hall fell even quieter.

Looking down at Lin Wantang, who was kneeling obediently before her, Lin Qinglian smiled slyly. She raised her hand to smooth the pearl and jade phoenix hairpin in her hair and picked up the teacup handed to her by a maid.

She took a leisurely sip of tea, then turned to Princess Yu and said, "Your Highness, don't you feel that this year's batch of tea is rather coarse?"

They abruptly changed the subject, without offering to tell Lin Wantang to rise.

Everyone around instantly understood that the Crown Princess wanted to give a warning and set some rules.

Princess Yu smiled and replied, "Yes, Your Highness, why don't you try some of the Biluochun tea I brought?"

As she spoke, the princess ordered her maid to make tea.

"Your Highness is so thoughtful." Lin Qinglian smiled sweetly and fiddled with the jade bracelet on her wrist. "This bracelet was given to me by His Highness yesterday. He said the carving is exquisite and the meaning is very auspicious."

"Oh my, this is excellent jade, and the carving is superb. His Highness and His Highness are truly a loving couple."

Lin Qinglian chuckled, chatting back and forth with the people around her, completely ignoring Lin Wantang, who was still kneeling on the ground, maintaining a polite demeanor.

Chunhen and Qiuying knelt on either side, exchanging a quiet glance. They were angry, but dared not show it.

"Miss, this Crown Princess is going too far..."

Chunhen was outspoken, and just as she lowered her voice to speak, she was interrupted by Lin Wantang's gaze.

Lin Qinglian, having gained power, would surely take the opportunity to make things difficult for her. Lin Wantang had long been mentally prepared and naturally did not want to give others cause for gossip and offend Wei Wujiu.

It's just kneeling for a while, what's the big deal?

Lin Wantang remained silent, but she never expected that Lin Qinglian would say during a casual conversation with the other princesses, "Look at how much you all praise me. I have no good fortune at all. It's just that His Highness said I have the appearance of being able to have a son."

"Now that I've been officially recognized as the wife, I must say there's no real difference between a wife and a concubine. As long as one loves and respects her husband wholeheartedly, what does it matter if she's a concubine? The right thing to do is to continue the family line as soon as possible."

That makes sense.

Princess Yu nodded repeatedly, glancing at Lin Wantang who was still kneeling on the ground. She had almost figured out Lin Qinglian's thoughts, so she flattered her and belittled her: "Unlike some people, who would rather be a concubine of noble birth than follow a eunuch. That's really... laughable."

Lin Qinglian smiled, sensing that Princess Yu was quite perceptive and knew to bring up the topic, so she smoothly changed the subject, saying, "Although both are entering the court to serve as officials, are eunuchs considered men? They are rootless creatures, and I have always felt that this is inappropriate."

"Yes, Your Majesty is very insightful. Since ancient times, eunuchs have not been allowed to marry and cannot have children. What use is a wife? Can they still have sex? Even palace maids despise and avoid eunuchs."

……

Those around couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle, creating a lively and harmonious atmosphere.

It seemed that everyone thought Lin Wantang's decision to give up Shen Huai'an and submit to Wei Wujiu was a ridiculous, filthy, and absurd farce.

In everyone's eyes, Wei Wujiu was not a man at all, perhaps not even human.

Everyone was talking about these words over and over again, and they all looked at Lin Wantang kneeling in the hall with mocking and ridiculing eyes, as if they were looking at a clown jumping around.

Lin Wantang silently took several deep breaths. She didn't care much about her situation, but hearing them say "eunuch," "castrated man," and "rootless thing" made the fire in her heart burn fiercely!

"You lot are really joking. Don't you know that my sister was just betrothed to Commander Wei by the Emperor?"

Lin Qinglian had been deliberately ignoring Lin Wantang for a long time, and guessed that her legs were numb and sore from kneeling, so she mercifully brought the conversation back on track, feigning surprise: "Oh dear, while I was talking to you all, I forgot about my sister!"

"Why are you still kneeling, sister? Get up! It's really silly of you to just kneel like that!"

As she spoke, Lin Qinglian hurriedly instructed her maid to go and help Lin Wantang up.

Lin Wantang gritted her teeth and helped Chunhen to her feet. Even though her legs were numb and sore, she showed no sign of it on her face and said, "It's nothing, thank you, Your Highness."

Her composure actually dampened Lin Qinglian's smugness.

She had thought Lin Wantang would be embarrassed and angry, but to her surprise, he remained so calm.

Lin Qinglian suppressed her displeasure and still wore a fake smile: "Sister, please sit down and try the pastries I made in my little kitchen today. There's osmanthus cake, which you love."

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

Lin Wantang bowed slightly in a curtsy, but instead of helping Chunhen to her seat, she gracefully looked at the princess and the crown prince's wife present, and gave a slight bow to everyone with a gentle smile.

"This humble woman is unworthy, and her willful and reckless actions regarding marriage have caused quite a few laughs. I apologize for making you ladies laugh. However, I vaguely remember that the established principles of past dynasties were that the empress and concubines should not interfere in politics or speak ill of court officials, right?"

Lin Wantang's soft, slow words instantly silenced the entire hall; you could hear a pin drop.

Lin Qinglian, who was drinking tea, also had her teacup suspended in mid-air. She stared at Lin Wantang in a daze and astonishment. If her gaze had a form, it would have turned into a thousand sharp blades, piercing straight towards the eruption!

But in an instant, Lin Qinglian suppressed the resentment in her eyes, and put down her teacup with a forced smile: "What are you saying, sister? Do you think I said something inappropriate just now, and you want to demand an explanation for my betrothed and hold everyone accountable?"

Of course.

But Lin Wantang wouldn't reveal what was on her mind, so she nodded and said, "I wouldn't dare. I just wanted to discuss the matter at hand."

"Governor Wei is a first-rank official in the imperial court and is highly trusted by His Majesty. It is no exaggeration to call him a senior minister. Although he is a eunuch, he has made outstanding contributions to the court and is bestowed the title of 'Nine Thousand Years' by the emperor."

"This is the first time the empress's interference in politics has occurred, and she has also slandered a high-ranking official. Wasn't her language inappropriate and should she be held accountable?"

Lin Wantang's cold voice was sharp and eloquent, her angry gaze fixed directly on Lin Qinglian: "Guards, report this matter to His Majesty and request His Majesty's judgment!"