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

"Don't go, it's not like that, Brother Wujiu..."

Yong'an watched Wei Wujiu turn around and was about to step forward again, but was respectfully stopped by Ye Ying with one hand.

Night Hawk didn't say anything, just reminded the princess not to lose her sense of propriety.

Yong'an stopped helplessly, watching Wei Wujiu stride away. His indifferent back in the wind and rain seemed to be telling her that her brother Wujiu was gone and belonged to someone else.

"How...how could this happen..."

Yong'an shed tears of anguish.

Inside the brocade palace, everyone was still chatting and laughing, waiting for Yong'an to return and announce the start of a banquet.

However, all the ladies and young women had also heard some of the sounds outside the hall. They exchanged glances but tacitly and cautiously refrained from discussing it.

Only Lin Qinglian sat upright in her high seat, accepting the blue-and-white gold cup handed to her by a maid, gently blowing on the tea leaves, listening to the palace servants' report, her expression slightly surprised.

She never expected that Princess Anyang would come here, and not only did she not support Yong'an, but she also made Lin Wantang feel smug.

And then there's the wedding date Wei Wujiu mentioned.

With the end of the year approaching and spring just around the corner, wouldn't we be getting married soon?

We absolutely cannot let Lin Wantang marry into the Governor's Mansion smoothly. It's fine if she has Wei Wujiu to rely on, but if Lin Wantang cannot marry into the Eastern Palace, then what should we do if she has to have a child through surrogacy?

"The second young lady is frail and her health is not stable, so I'm afraid... it will be difficult for her to conceive."

Before the marriage, in the Grand Tutor's mansion, the skilled doctor that Chen found repeatedly examined and treated Lin Qinglian, but the final result still haunted Lin Qinglian's mind like a nightmare.

She barely suppressed the resentment in her eyes, and instead smiled faintly as she instructed a maid to invite Yong'an, while also smiling at everyone, "The princess has not seen the eldest princess for a long time. The aunt and niece have been thinking of each other, please forgive her."

These words sounded like a perfunctory response, but no one dared to object.

Princess Yu put down her tea and snacks, and touched the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief: "Your Highness is right. We are usually confined to the mansion and have nothing to do. Today the weather outside is not good, so it would be nice to trouble the Princess to come here and catch up with us."

As she spoke, Princess Yu led everyone in a conversation about jewelry, rouge, and various soups. The atmosphere became harmonious and peaceful again as they chatted and laughed.

Lin Qinglian watched with satisfaction, occasionally chiming in with a few words, but her eyes were fixed on the palace gate, waiting for Yong'an to come in quickly. However, after waiting and waiting, she only saw Haitang.

Haitang bowed to everyone, then took a few steps closer to Lin Qinglian and whispered, "Your Highness, the Princess is unwell and will have to trouble Your Highness to arrange the banquet. The Princess will not be able to attend."

Lin Qinglian's smile froze for a moment upon hearing this, but she didn't show anything further. She waved for Haitang to leave, chatted with the others for a while, and then took the opportunity to prepare a banquet. After a few rounds of drinks, she left the palace to sober up.

"Where is the princess?"

Lin Qinglian, supported by her maid, immediately asked Haitang as soon as she came out.

Haitang bowed and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the Princess is in her bedchamber. Please come with me."

Haitang led the way, and they quickly passed through the corridor and arrived at the bedchamber. Just as Lin Qinglian was about to dismiss everyone, she heard sobbing coming from inside the palace, accompanied by the sound of things being smashed.

This Yong'an herself lacked the ability to win Wei Wujiu's heart and make him fall in love with her.

Lin Qinglian wanted to use her to scheme against Lin Wantang, but Yong'an ended up shooting herself in the foot!

waste!

No wonder Shen Huai'an insisted on persuading the emperor three years ago to let Yong'an marry into the northern frontier. This kind of brainless person can only be used as a tool by others.

Lin Qinglian stood outside the hall, inwardly expressing her contempt and disgust, before signaling the palace servants and maids to leave, knocking on the door, and pushing it open to enter the hall.

"Oh, Princess, what's going on here?"

Lin Qinglian, with a concerned and worried expression, hurriedly stepped forward and snatched the jewelry box that Yong'an was about to smash.

Looking at the mess on the ground, Lin Qinglian sighed and pulled Yong'an to sit down. She instructed Haitang to serve tea and then said, "To be honest, I have heard about what happened earlier, but if I may say something I shouldn't, you can't blame the Princess and Lord Wei for this."

These words struck a chord with Yong'an. Her face was still pale, but she deliberately asked, "Why?"

Before Lin Qinglian could explain, Yong'an continued, "My aunt loves me the most. She was forced to do it just now due to the circumstances, so of course I won't blame her. But Brother Wujiu... he went too far!"

"Who does Lin Wantang think he is? How long has he known her? And he's already speaking up for her like this. Does he think that a month of knowing each other is less than the eight years I've known and been with him?"

Lin Qinglian raised an eyebrow slightly, thinking to herself that Wei Wujiu had been entrusted by the Emperor to accompany the Third Prince and Yong'an, who were of similar age, as a study companion. All told, it had been about eight years.

But don't forget, Wei Wujiu wasn't only with Yong'an during this time; the Third Prince was also there.

What kind of feelings could have developed in this situation? If there were feelings involved, then at the beginning of this year, when the Third Prince was suspected of embezzlement, Wei Wujiu not only did not cover it up, but was the first to stand up and impeach him, forcing the Emperor to severely punish the Third Prince, and later placing him under house arrest in the Imperial Clan Court.

If they can treat the Third Prince this way, why can they treat Yong'an differently?

impossible.

Lin Qinglian was clear-headed. Even if the rumors about Wei Wujiu were false, one thing was true: Wei Wujiu was heartless, cold-blooded, and only cared about the country and the government. He could not tolerate anyone else.

As for Lin Wantang, if it weren't for the fact that she was using a surrogate mother, Lin Qinglian would really like to see what would happen to Lin Wantang after she married Wei Wujiu.

"Your Highness is overthinking it." Lin Qinglian avoided her thoughts and pretended to coax her, "I can't fathom Lord Wei's thoughts, but Lin Wantang is my elder sister. I know that she and His Highness have known each other since childhood and have been together for many years. Their friendship is very deep."

"Oh?" Yong'an sensed the key point: "Your Majesty means... that Lin Wantang's beloved is the Crown Prince, not Wujiu at all?"

Lin Qinglian smiled, and without needing to say anything more, Yong'an flew into a rage: "Then this is even more outrageous! She doesn't even love Brother Wujiu, so why should she marry him?"

Lin Qinglian couldn't offer any further explanation, since marriages were always arranged by parents and matchmakers. Not to mention young women, even princes and heirs didn't have the right to decide their own marriages.

Yong'an, seething with anger, slammed her hand on the table and stood up: "I don't care! She can marry someone she doesn't like or love, so why can't I? I'm going to ask the Emperor for justice!"

On the other side, outside Xuanwu Gate.

A line of horse-drawn carriages and their entourages waited patiently in the rain.

Upon seeing Wei Wujiu emerge with Night Hawk and several attendants, they all bowed in greeting.

Wei Wujiu kept his eyes straight ahead and walked directly to a carriage not far away. He lifted the curtain to let in a wave of heat, and the charcoal in the heated basket was burning brightly.

Lin Wantang sat inside, looking up at the people outside.