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

After saying this inexplicably, the palace maid raised her voice, bowed, and retreated before leaving.

Lin Wantang was left staring at the departing figure, her mind reeling with shock.

How could a palace maid know her mother's name? Tonight at 7 PM, who is waiting to see her in Qingxu Palace?

Lin Wantang returned to Chentingxuan with a heavy heart, having lost all interest in anything else. Her mind was filled with melancholy and doubt, and she had to think of what excuse she could come up with to appease Wei Wujiu later and then avoid his notice as she went to Qingxu Palace.

Whether it was a coincidence or not, Wei Wujiu hadn't returned by 5 PM, so Jiang Fulu had someone serve him a meal and urged Lin Wantang to eat some first.

Despite the table laden with delicacies, she found them tasteless, absentmindedly watching the incense burner emit its smoke. Counting the hours, she finally used the excuse of resting to send away all the maids. Then, she quietly changed into a night outfit and leaped out of the window.

She narrowly escaped being spotted by the patrolling guards several times, but managed to get to Qingxu Palace safely.

The palace was desolate and pitch black in the night.

This palace was bestowed upon Daoist Qingchenzi by the emperor, but the Daoist was unruly and loved to travel around. Even after many years, he never returned, so the palace was mostly in a state of desolation.

Lin Wantang walked to the palace gate, silently gathering her breath, but still couldn't suppress the fear in her heart. After much deliberation, she braced herself and pushed the door open to enter...

From afar, a figure could be seen standing at the entrance of the palace.

The moonlight obscured the clouds, making the ink seem even darker, and Lin Wantang couldn't make out anything clearly. She gripped the hidden poison needle concealed in her sleeve, and took a few more tentative steps. Just as she was about to speak, a familiar voice rang out—

"You've arrived."

Shen Huai'an slowly adjusted the black fox fur cloak he was wearing. The cold wind blew through his robes, highlighting his handsome face as he turned around. In the darkness, his features remained as striking as ever, yet they were enigmatic.

"I have been waiting for you for a long time, but I knew you would come."

Lin Wantang's heart sank into an ice cellar in an instant. It wasn't that she hadn't considered that Shen Huai'an had secretly sent a message to her through a palace maid. In the palace, only Shen Huai'an would have such courage and ability.

However, she preferred to deceive herself into believing that Lin Qinglian was the one she hoped for, rather than facing Shen Huai'an.

Because it involves her mother, because this matter is too big, because Shen Huai'an is not only the powerful Crown Prince, but also a reborn ghost who crawled out of hell just like her!

It's true what they say, what you fear most is what happens...

Lin Wantang closed her eyes in silent sorrow, and when she opened them again, a chilling light flashed in her eyes. She said directly, "Your Highness, what is it you wish to discuss? Please get straight to the point."

Shen Huai'an stood on the steps, smiling as he looked down at her. After not seeing her for many days, she was still so... stunningly beautiful.

One glance was enough to make him feel like he was drinking poison to quench his thirst, and the entanglement across two lifetimes made him unable to control his emotions.

He narrowed his eyes wistfully, his smile deepening, and slowly stepped down: "Tang'er, does it have to be this way? Do I have to use some tricks before you'll obediently submit?"

The question does not express the meaning.

Lin Wantang had no time or patience to chatter with him. As he drew closer, she took two steps back and said, "Your Highness, please have some self-respect."

"If you have something to say, then speak. If not, this humble woman will take her leave."

As she spoke, Lin Wantang was about to give a perfunctory bow without hesitation, but Shen Huai'an stopped her, his voice intriguing: "Do you dare to leave?"

Shen Huai'an watched her freeze, his lips still curved in a smile, but he didn't press her any further. He simply stood there, took off the jade pendant from his robe, and casually stroked it gently.

"I know who your mother is, and I also know why the Grand Tutor's mansion has endured so many hardships and dangers over the past sixteen years."

The words were light and gentle, almost like a gentle breeze, but when they reached Lin Wantang's ears, they struck her like a heavy blow, leaving her terrified!

Shen Huai'an smiled and said, "If this matter is revealed, it will be a disaster that will involve the extermination of nine generations of a family. No, if the Emperor is angry, it could involve ten generations."

It's not just the Lin family members who will die; everyone connected to the Lin family, even those who are just ordinary peddlers delivering water and vegetables to the Grand Tutor's mansion, as well as Lin Rucong and his mediocre and incompetent students, will be implicated and killed.

"No one can plead for him in this matter; they're too busy avoiding trouble. Besides, do you think the Emperor will spare Wei Wujiu?"

As Shen Huai'an spoke, a cold sneer spread across his face.

"On the surface, Father Emperor uses him to check and balance the court, seemingly valuing and relying on him, and using him to hinder me at every turn. But Tang'er, the political situation is never so simple and obvious."

No matter how much the emperor valued Wei Wujiu, he only used him to eliminate treacherous officials and stabilize the court. Wei Wujiu's military achievements were outstanding and he was too popular with the people. He had long been too powerful and threatened the emperor. The emperor did not kill him for a long time because he was so wise and virtuous. Rather, he wanted to slowly squeeze all of Wei Wujiu's value out of him.

When the emperor grows old and is on his deathbed, he will surely kill Wei Wujiu first, paving the way for Shen Huai'an's future stability.

Lin Wantang's face had already lost all color. Every word she heard felt like a steel nail being driven into her body, penetrating deep into her bones. Apart from the pain, she was filled with extreme fear.

"Can he protect you, can he protect the entire Lin family?" Shen Huai'an asked with a smile, his hand that had been caressing the jade pendant slowly reaching towards Lin Wantang. "Do I need to prompt you on how to choose?"

The implication is that only Shen Huai'an could completely suppress and conceal Lin Yasong's affair, protect Lin Wantang, and even Lin Rucong and his entire family of ten clans.

Lin Wantang looked at the outstretched hand, her expression slow and cold, but her heart was already in turmoil.

Shen Huai'an waited for a while, but when she didn't react, he said, "Still unwilling? I didn't expect you to be so obsessed with the position of Crown Princess."

"Then..." Shen Huai'an seemed to have considered it and made a concession, without withdrawing the hand he had extended to her: "How about I grant you the position of Empress? Once Qinglian has many children, my ascension to the throne will be secure. You and I can then join hands, ruling this vast empire, with blessings extending far and wide. Wouldn't that be better?"

Making empty promises is nothing more than trying to paint a pie in the sky and get something for nothing.

Lin Wantang gradually calmed her chaotic emotions, and was almost amused by his anger. She squinted at Shen Huai'an, looking at his gentle and handsome face, which was comparable to that of a god, as if she could see into his heart and soul, which was dirty, ugly, despicable and shameless!

"Your Highness, I don't understand what you're saying." Lin Wantang's cold voice almost spilled from her clenched teeth. "If Your Highness insists on forcing me to make a choice, then I have no choice but to... be disrespectful."

As the last few words were uttered, Shen Huai'an thought she had realized the situation and was about to smile gently when Lin Wantang slapped him hard across the face, making him turn his head to the side!