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

Shen Huai'an slowed his breathing to resist the dull pain in his chest.

He narrowed his eyes and chuckled absurdly.

But his smile didn't reach his eyes; he followed the direction she had gone, his gaze darkening.

"I'm sorry to have caused such a commotion and made you all laugh. I will definitely investigate the cause of this matter thoroughly and make sure there are no mistakes." Shen Huai'an waved his wide sleeves and stood with his hands behind his back, then glanced at the old princess: "The rest, I will leave to the princess to handle."

The old princess stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Yes, Your Highness, rest assured, I understand."

The flower-viewing banquet cannot be canceled halfway through; having the old princess manage it ensures a smooth start and a successful conclusion.

Shen Huai'an nodded slightly, then hurriedly led his attendants and maids to Guanghua Hall, which was also the sleeping quarters of the East Palace.

Imperial Physician Liu had already examined Lin Qinglian's pulse by feeling her pulse. Upon seeing Shen Huai'an enter the hall, he hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, this humble subject greets Your Highness. The Empress fell into the water and caught a chill, but fortunately, she was rescued in time and is not in mortal danger. However, she was greatly frightened and still needs to rest."

Shen Huai'an gave a low "hmm" and straightened his sleeves: "Thank you for your hard work, Judge Liu. Cui Fuhai, has Judge Liu's travel expenses been prepared?"

Cui Fuhai understood immediately and presented a stack of silver notes. Judge Liu was greatly surprised, as such a heavy travel expense was unnecessary. He hurriedly declined, saying, "This humble subject dares not accept such an honor. Treating Her Majesty is merely my duty..."

Shen Huai'an said with a half-smile, "Your Excellency, there's no need to be so polite. Today's flower-viewing banquet was supposed to be a wonderful event, but unfortunately, complications have arisen. This matter concerns the Crown Princess's reputation, and it would be quite unseemly if it were to spread. Therefore, Your Excellency..."

Without needing to say anything more, Judge Liu immediately understood: "Your humble servant understands, and will certainly keep this a secret."

However, what does the Crown Princess's falling into the water have to do with her reputation? And what's so unseemly about it getting out? Unless... there's something else going on, and it involves that Lin Wan-tang?

Judge Liu dared not make wild guesses, so he bowed and made a promise before leaving with his attendants.

"Your Highness..."

A soft, delicate voice came from inside the hall.

Shen Huai'an dismissed his attendants and stepped into the room. He came to the bedside and helped Lin Qinglian, who had changed her clothes and was now only wearing an elegant white brocade undergarment, to sit up. He saw her shy and aggrieved tears falling.

"Your Highness has lost face because of me, I deserve to die..."

"It's nothing, nothing more." Shen Huai'an took a handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears. "Don't cry."

Lin Qinglian's tears, which she seemed to hold back, fell like broken beads, each warm drop landing on Shen Huai'an's hand. "This is no small matter. Your Highness, I have followed your teachings. How could I possibly make a mistake at such an important event as the flower viewing banquet?"

"Besides, I'm not that unreasonable. It was really... my sister who intentionally pushed me!"

Lin Qinglian bit her lip, then regretted what she had said. She buried her face in Shen Huai'an's neck and shoulder, her body trembling with sobs. Her soft, sobbing voice made her look like a pear blossom in the rain, a truly pitiful sight.

Shen Huai'an's brows furrowed suddenly, and after a long while, he pulled her away and asked, "Are you sure? Did Wan Tang really push you into the water on purpose?"

"This..." Lin Qinglian met his probing gaze, her tear-filled eyes filled with both shame and sorrow. Finally, suppressing her grievance, she turned her head away and said resolutely, "No!"

"Yes, it was my carelessness. I was disrespectful and behaved inappropriately. Please punish me, Your Highness."

As she spoke, Lin Qinglian struggled to get off the bed and even knelt down to beg for punishment.

Shen Huai'an stopped her, his gloomy expression deepening, and raised his voice slightly towards the outside: "Someone come here."

Several maids responded and bowed as they entered.

Shen Huai'an frowned and said, "What were you all doing in the back garden when you were with Her Highness? Who taught you to serve your mistress like this? Hmm?"

"Your Highness, please forgive me, this servant deserves to die..."

The maids knelt on the ground in fear, one of them sobbing timidly, "Your Highness, Her Majesty was worried about Miss Lin and wanted to have a private conversation with her. She didn't want us to follow, so we stayed close by to serve her. But then it happened so suddenly, and we saw..."

Lin Qinglian leaned weakly against the soft pillow, coughing softly with one hand covering her lips.

The maidservant who had spoken trembled, instinctively swallowing the words that were about to come out, and nervously changed her words to: "I saw...Miss Lin push Your Highness..."

"Shut up!"

Lin Qinglian suddenly changed her demeanor, sitting up and glaring angrily at the maid: "You audacious lowly servant, how dare you make false accusations? Wan Tang is my own sister, we are very close. Even if my sister did something foolish because she was upset about the marriage, I am perfectly fine now, aren't I?"

No matter what the maid said, it was wrong, and she could only repeatedly admit her mistake and beg for forgiveness in bewilderment.

Lin Qinglian grabbed Shen Huai'an's sleeve again and said tearfully, "Your Highness, I misspoke just now. It wasn't that my sister intentionally pushed me. It really wasn't. In terms of marriage, I took my sister's place and gained Your Highness's favor, which forced my sister to submit to that eunuch. It's understandable that my sister is dissatisfied."

Every sentence was an attempt to exonerate himself, every word a rebuttal, yet his words were nothing but a complaint.

Shen Huai'an's face darkened further. He patted Lin Qinglian's shoulder reassuringly, gave her a meaningful look, and stood up, saying, "Even so, the Crown Princess should rest well."

Without saying anything more, Shen Huai'an turned and left.

Just before stepping out of the inner hall, he didn't even glance at the maid who had just testified, and simply said, "If she doesn't serve properly, she'll be beaten to death."

The maid was stunned. She tried to plead again, but the servant who came in gagged her and dragged her out.

Lin Qinglian stared blankly, fear slowly growing in his heart. Only a few words remained in his blank mind: he saw through it all; beating the maid to death was just to make an example of her.

Guanghe Hall.

Lin Wantang did not bathe, nor did she choose from the brocade and fine clothes presented by the maids. Instead, she accepted a simple set of palace maid attire, changed into it, and then hurriedly took her leave.

Their posture, not waiting for a moment, was as if they were hiding from a snake or beast.

Because she didn't expect Shen Huai'an to have his maid lead her to this Guanghe Hall. This was not his sleeping quarters, but it was the place where Shen Huai'an usually wrote memorials and discussed state affairs, which was equivalent to his study.

The rear hall was also a place to rest, but only Shen Huai'an ever stayed there.

What this means is self-evident.

Lin Wantang couldn't stay any longer, but just as she was walking out, she bumped into someone walking in.

She was preoccupied with worries, so she walked with her head down. By the time she wanted to stop, it was too late. She almost bumped into the person who came in. As she tried to step back, the person supported her waist and she heard that familiar voice: "Wantang".

Lin Wantang was shocked. When she looked up again, her gaze met Shen Huai'an's deep eyes.

"You may all leave."

Shen Huai'an waved his hand, dismissing them all. Then, looking at Lin Wantang who was still avoiding him, his eyes darkened with disappointment. He reached out to her, but Lin Wantang still avoided him.

He frowned, and his slightly sighing voice softened: "Wantang, there are no outsiders here. Have you been well these past few days?"