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

Lin Wantang was taken aback, somewhat confused: "What do you mean, Father? Didn't the Governor already leave?"

Wei Wujiu is busy with daily affairs. In addition to the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he also has to take charge of the Military Affairs Office. Because Shen Huai'an has been punished and confined to his home, he is already ten times busier, and recently his workload has been doubling.

Lin Rucong leaned back in his recliner, casually playing with a jade walnut. Looking at her, he shook his head and sighed with a smile, "Didn't Lord Wei tell you? You're still keeping it from your father. He's off duty today, and he told me last night that he's taking you hunting and riding horses today."

"Ah?" Lin Wantang was surprised, but also covered her mouth and laughed, "How could I dare to hide it from Father? The Governor really didn't tell me, but hunting and riding... may I go?"

Every word and action of hers conformed to etiquette and law; she was a legitimate daughter of a noble family, and no one could find any fault with her.

"Logically speaking, it shouldn't be possible..." Lin Rucong said, but then he saw the disappointment in Lin Wantang's eyes. He couldn't bear it after all, so he changed his mind and said, "But Lord Wei has a way to keep the news from leaking out, so you should just let him go."

Going out to relax and unwind would also prevent any trouble from happening in the palace, which could distract or disturb her peace of mind.

This was also the conclusion Wei Wujiu reached after discussing it with Lin Rucong last night.

Lin Wantang didn't delve too deeply into these matters. She had always loved riding and archery, and was overjoyed to finally get the opportunity. She smiled and agreed, then left the room at Lin Rucong's urging.

As expected, Wei Wujiu was already waiting for her outside the back gate, riding a jet-black Akhal-Teke horse. In the cool winter light, his handsome face appeared solemn, exuding an air of arrogance and authority.

Night Hawk had already brought Xuanli. When he saw Lin Wantang approaching, he bowed and clasped his hands in greeting. Lin Wantang declined his formalities. Chunhen then draped a snow fox cloak over her and covered her face with a white veil before she mounted her horse.

The two did not bring any attendants or maids. With the Imperial Guards waiting outside the city to meet them, they rode away and quickly disappeared into the bustling city.

In the Eastern Palace's sleeping quarters, Lin Qinglian was unaware of Chen's situation, but she had heard from the palace servants that the Grand Tutor's mansion had been in turmoil overnight, and many things had happened.

Lin Qinglian was uneasy but didn't want to pry too much, so she asked Granny Li to go to the Grand Tutor's mansion to sound out what was going on. If possible, she would bring Chen into the palace, since it would make sense for her to have her mother accompany her for a few days while she was "pregnant".

But to everyone's surprise, once Granny Li left the palace, she never returned.

Lin Qinglian and the others, feeling uneasy as they waited for no one to appear, paced back and forth in the hall before finally saying, "Sanxi, help me to see His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Your Highness, His Highness is in the Guanghe Hall reflecting on his actions and copying scriptures. He instructed me not to let anyone disturb him."

"Not even me?"

Sanxi didn't know what to say, so he hurriedly knelt down.

Lin Qinglian's face darkened with anger. Ever since she lied about being pregnant, Shen Huai'an had stopped getting close to her, always telling her to rest and take care of her pregnancy. He then found Cuihe to sleep with, but Cuihe's features clearly resembled Lin Wantang's!

Shen Huai'an kept saying he didn't care and that Lin Wantang was ungrateful, and he didn't want to argue with her anymore. But he was being hypocritical and had been plotting against Wei Wujiu for a long time. Who was he doing this for?

Lin Qinglian may seem to have a glamorous life, but besides the title of Crown Princess, what has Shen Huai'an given her? It's all just for show, all superficial and empty.

Lin Qinglian grew angrier the more she thought about it. The absence of Li Mama was like cutting off her left and right arms. Her cunning eyes gleamed with calculation. After a moment's thought, she asked Sanxi, "According to palace custom, what day of the twelfth lunar month is the palace banquet?"

"Your Majesty, it's the fifteenth."

Then there are only a few days left.

Having made up her mind, Lin Qinglian helped Sanxi sit back on the soft couch: "If I remember correctly, my sister's engagement is on the tenth of the month, right? After the engagement ceremony, let's summon her to the palace so she can help me manage the palace banquet."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

Sanxi outwardly agreed respectfully, but after bowing and retreating, he subtly had someone pass the message to Wei Wujiu.

Meanwhile, in the Guanghe Hall, many copied scriptures were scattered around the desk. Shen Huai'an leaned back leisurely on the chair, his long legs draped over the desk, and he held a lychee in his long, slender hands.

"Your Highness, are you tired of copying scriptures?" Li Fuhai bowed and leaned closer. "Your Highness, please don't worry. The annual palace banquet is approaching, and His Majesty has already expressed his intention to forgive Your Highness."

Shen Huai'an smiled, knowing full well what was going on. "Do you know why I didn't explain myself to Father Emperor, or why I didn't let Mother Emperor plead with him on this matter?"

Li Fuhai shook his head in confusion, but said angrily, "That's naturally because His Highness was considering the overall situation and was slightly negligent, which allowed Wei Wujiu and Lin Rucong to take advantage of the situation..."

"No." Shen Huai'an parted his thin lips slightly and offered the glistening white lychee in his hand to Li Fuhai: "I did it on purpose."

Li Fuhai held the lychees in both hands, surprised.

"If we don't let them succeed even once, what about the corruption case in Luzhou, the robbery of tribute, and the theft of the luminous pearl? These cannot withstand close investigation. Otherwise, no matter how meticulously I plan, I will surely be implicated."

Therefore, Shen Huai'an had deliberately been "negligent" beforehand, seemingly letting Wei Wujiu and Lin Rucong join forces to cause him to stumble. In reality, he knew the emperor too well, that he was incompetent, narrow-minded, stubborn, and suspicious, and that he cared too much about family ties and offspring. As long as Shen Huai'an did not commit any treason or rebellion, the emperor would not depose him or punish him severely.

However, given the two important cases involved, the emperor would not let them go so easily. Only by punishing Shen Huai'an first could the emperor be biased and not pursue the matter, even if Wei Wujiu investigated the two cases day and night.

Shen Huai'an had figured these things out in his previous life, but unfortunately, he listened to slander and acted too hastily in forcing the emperor to abdicate, which is why...

Fine, let's try again, and he'll just make sure he doesn't repeat the same mistake.

Li Fuhai, unaware of these things, bowed obsequiously and said, "Your Highness has a clear vision and profound understanding; this servant admires you."

Shen Huai'an helped him up, then slowly strolled across the scriptures scattered on the ground, his deep eyes gleaming: "Go find a few assassins and have them do something for me..."

Meanwhile, Wei Wujiu and Lin Wantang slowed their pace after leaving the capital and did not allow the Imperial Guards to follow them too closely. The two entered the hunting grounds at a leisurely pace.

In winter, the grass and trees turn yellow and sparse. A cold wind sweeps across the barren mountains, startling the mountain sparrows into flight.

"Are there any prey at this time of year?"

Lin Wantang had never hunted before, only heard her brother and father talk about it. She pulled on the reins and pondered for a moment, "Governor, have you ever heard of snakes in the snow mountains?"

Wei Wujiu rode ahead and stood atop the hill, his tall figure clad in a black robe. The jade pendant hanging at his waist fluttered gently in the breeze. Upon hearing this, he turned his head and said, "I've never heard of it, but it's worth a try."

"Oh?" Lin Wantang, who had been preoccupied with finding a cure for his old ailment, hurriedly rode up to meet him: "How about we give it a try?"