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

Snapped!

A resounding slap echoed throughout the palace.

Caught off guard, Shen Huai'an's face burned as he turned away, but he felt no pain whatsoever. He only felt the cold wind roaring in his ears, making him feel astonished and suffocated, and filled with shock, anger, and resentment.

His roar made his blood rush to his head, and when he looked at Lin Wantang again, his eyes were filled with a dark, scarlet light.

Lin Wantang withdrew her hand, her fingertips still trembling with pain, but her eyes were like blades, her words cold and sharp: "Shen Huai'an, this slap is for your inability to distinguish between good and evil, loyalty and treachery, and your wanton and reckless distortion of the truth!"

"You say my mother is Lin something? What a joke! Go out and ask anyone, who doesn't know my mother is Chen Huaiyu from Huaizhou? She was engaged to my father when she came of age, married the following year, and gave birth to my elder brother Lin Xiao. A few years later, in the year the emperor ascended the throne, she gave birth to me. You fabricated these lies, slandering and defaming my mother; your heart deserves to be punished!"

Shen Huai'an stared at her in astonishment, then couldn't help but let out a ridiculous, cold laugh. "You're saying I can't distinguish between good and evil, and that I'm turning black into white? Lin Wantang, do you want to hear what you're saying?"

In an instant, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, and he swiftly grabbed Lin Wantang's chin with one hand: "Who exactly is your mother? Do you still need to put on this act of defiance in front of me!"

Lin Wantang remained calm and composed, staring coldly at him. Suddenly, she pushed Shen Huai'an away and grabbed his arm. As she reversed her steps, the over-the-shoulder throw failed, but Shen Huai'an's attempt to wrap his arms around her waist froze.

Several golden needles, coated with potent poison and poised to be unleashed, were revealed from Lin Wantang's sleeve as concealed weapons.

If Shen Huai'an makes any further moves, Lin Wantang will be ruthless and merciless in the next second!

"Does it matter who my mother is?" Lin Wantang's cold voice sounded calm and collected. "Is it so important that it can outweigh the lives of several generations of my Lin family, hundreds of lives, for governing the country peacefully, serving the people wholeheartedly, being loyal to the emperor, loving the country, and being upright and honest?"

The Lin family ancestral hall still enshrines the iron certificate bestowed by Emperor Taizu, which is a death-exemption token. Even though the emperor was a prince who usurped the throne, he was still a descendant of Emperor Taizu, so he had no choice but to acknowledge it.

With this confidence, Lin Wantang dared to challenge Shen Huai'an to a duel, even if it meant mutual destruction!

"You want to use the lives of my loved ones and my entire clan for your so-called 'protection,' but that's nothing more than making my Lin family live in your shadow, pawns you can sacrifice at any time!"

Just like in his previous life, Shen Huai'an knew that Lin Wantang had done nothing wrong. She had only failed to give birth to healthy children twice, which did not constitute grounds for divorce or punishment. However, he listened to Lin Qinglian and the slander of others. Later, in order to balance the court and control Lin Rucong with Lin Wantang, he deliberately humiliated and tormented her in every way!

They brutally chopped off her limbs, turning her into a human pig!

It seems that Chen and Lin Qinglian were vying for the emperor's favor, but Lin Wantang saw through everything when he was dying in his previous life. It was clear that the person behind it was Shen Huai'an. He and the emperor suspected that Lin Rucong was colluding with the rebels of the previous dynasty and intended to rebel!

Just suspicion, without any evidence, yet Shen Huai'an could be so cruel to her. This is the true face of this heartless scum!

Fueled by a grudge spanning two lifetimes, Lin Wantang's blood boiled with rage, and every word she uttered seemed to be stained with her own blood: "You seemingly gave me a choice, but in reality, you merely put a noose around my and my family's necks, handing me the end of the rope and forcing me to tighten it myself, while still expecting to be grateful to you!"

"Don't even think about it! Dream on!"

"Shen Huai'an, I'd rather deal with a tiger for its skin, living in constant fear, than be a caged bird or a knife in your hand again! The path I've chosen is treacherous, but whether I live or die at the end is my own responsibility, not something you can take pity on!"

Shen Huai'an's face had already darkened with anger, and he nodded repeatedly with a mocking laugh: "Fine! Very well! We've laid everything out! You're still determined to go down this dark path, aren't you!"

Lin Wantang ignored her, only letting out a cold laugh: "As for Wei Wujiu..."

She didn't finish her sentence. Her intense eyes gradually narrowed coldly. At least Wei Wujiu had never used the name of loving her to destroy her. What he offered was an honest deal, a covenant to stand shoulder to shoulder, and respect in every way.

How could someone like him not make her fall for him?

Lin Wantang took a deep breath and said again, "He has absolutely no connection to this matter. If you dare to insist on provoking him—"

The moment her words trailed off, a hidden weapon in her sleeve shot towards Shen Huai'an's neck, the threat clear. Lin Wantang's eyes flashed with murderous intent: "Don't blame me for disregarding the relationship between ruler and subject, and for taking you down with me!"

The intimidating presence did not stir the slightest ripple in Shen Huai'an's furious state of mind. He had seen it in his previous life: Lin Wantang seemed weak, but she was tougher than anyone else at heart; she seemed gentle and humble, but she was more stubborn and rebellious than anyone else.

If pushed to the limit, she is truly willing to risk mutual destruction and even drag him down with her.

"Better to be a broken jade than a whole tile"—this spirit of the Lin family was fully displayed in her.

but……

Shen Huai'an never dreamed that the final thing she was coercing was for that guy surnamed Wei!

"You don't want me to provoke him?" Shen Huai'an laughed wickedly, no longer caring about the deadly hidden weapon, the poisoned needle. He grabbed her wrist with a sinister grip and demanded angrily, "You care about him that much? How long have you even known each other?!"

"What good do you think that guy surnamed Wei is? A worthless eunuch, does he even deserve your devotion to turning against me?"

Lin Wantang's eyes narrowed with anger, and the moment she heard "bastard eunuch," she was about to slap him, but she was no match for his strength, and both her hands were restrained by Shen Huai'an.

"Shut up!" Lin Wantang's face darkened further. "Reaching this point has nothing to do with anyone else; it's all our fate!"

"You mean...fate?" Shen Huai'an was taken aback.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lin Wantang kicked him. In the instant Shen Huai'an instinctively dodged, she also quickly escaped. "Shen Huai'an, there's no point in saying more. If you think my mother's matter is a secret, then feel free to expose it."

"Let's see if you can trip up the Grand Tutor's mansion first, or if I'll make your position as Crown Prince precarious! We've known each other since childhood, and you should know best that I, Lin Wantang, am not good at much, but I'm best at throwing eggs against rocks. If you don't want me to have an easy time, then I'm sorry, you can forget about having an easy time from now on!"

Strike first and see who can outmaneuver you.

Just you wait!

Lin Wantang revealed a cruel and sinister smile, and turned away under Shen Huai'an's gloomy and furious gaze.

"Stubborn!"

Shen Huai'an was so angry that his chest ached terribly. Every breath he took felt like his nerves and blood vessels were being torn apart. He took out the jade pendant that he used to play with and caress. It was the token of their love.

Now she doesn't even glance at it!

"Just you wait, let's see how long you can keep up this stubbornness!"