I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

Fifteen minutes ago.

The Imperial College, the Lu family!

Because Lu Heng came from a poor family and was honest and upright, his meager salary at the Imperial Academy was not enough to support him to buy a house in the capital. So for many years, his family had been living at the Imperial Academy.

"What are you trying to do? Let me tell you, my maternal grandfather is Huangfu Song, the Minister of War. If you dare to lay a hand on my family, my grandfather will absolutely not let you get away with it."

Faced with a group of people who suddenly barged in, Lu Shushu pretended to be calm and shielded her father and mother behind her with her frail body.

She's grown up and can take on responsibilities now.

Her father and mother have protected her for so many years; it's time for her to protect them.

"Mother, your children have come to escort you back to the palace."

In front of the Lu family of three stood two young men dressed in fine clothes.

Lu Shushu didn't recognize the two people, but Lu Heng did.

They were none other than the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince.

"Mother?"

Upon hearing this title, Lu Shushu looked completely puzzled, as did Lu Heng and his wife.

The fifth prince rubbed his hands together and said with a smile, "Mother, you don't know yet, do you? Father is about to make you Empress. Who else would you be but our mother? We've come here today specifically to welcome you back to the palace."

After saying that, the Fifth Prince reached out to grab Lu Shushu. This was a death order given to the two of them by Emperor Xuan. Today, no matter what means they had to use, they had to bring Lu Shushu into the palace.

Lu Shushu angrily slapped away the Fifth Prince's outstretched hand: "Who is your mother! You are all older than me. Whoever wants to enter the palace and become empress, let them be empress. I, Lu Shushu, will not be one."

At this moment, Lu Heng also pretended to be calm and stepped forward, puffing out his chest and saying:

"Yes, my daughter won't be empress!"

For others, if their daughter becomes empress, the whole family would be overjoyed and would even go to their ancestral graves to see if they are blessed with good fortune.

However, for the Lu family, especially regarding Lu Shushu's marriage, Lu Heng strongly agreed with his father-in-law Huangfu Song's idea.

Lu Shushu doesn't need to marry someone exceptionally well, as long as that man loves her.

Marrying into a big house is just a lot of messy and annoying stuff, it's really unbearable.

Therefore, Lu Shushu's entry into the palace as empress was definitely not a good thing for the Lu family; it was a bolt from the blue.

Snapped!

Without any warning.

The sixth prince stepped forward and slapped Lu Heng, almost knocking him to the ground.

Lu Shushu and her mother rushed forward to check on Lu Heng's injuries, both of them extremely angry.

Although Lu Heng was not a high-ranking official, he was still a Doctor of the Imperial Academy with countless students.

Several of the top candidates for the imperial examination this spring are students of Lu Heng.

Others were too busy respecting and honoring Lu Heng, yet the Sixth Prince dared to slap him.

Although the Sixth Prince is a prince, he absolutely cannot lay a hand on Lu Heng.

They've noted this down and will definitely settle the score when they get the chance.

The sixth prince shook his sore hand, pointed at the family of three in front of him, and said:

"You've really given your family too much face. Do you think you can just become Empress whenever you want, and then resign whenever you want?"

"To disobey is to defy the imperial edict! Don't you want your own heads?!"

Upon hearing this, the entire family of three was shocked.

This family has been law-abiding for half their lives, rarely even getting into conflicts with others, let alone disobeying imperial edicts.

Ignoring the burning pain on his face, Lu Heng stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"Your Highnesses, are you mistaken? My daughter, Shushu, is neither beautiful nor well-educated. What merit or ability does she possess to enter the palace and become Empress?"

"The late Empress was so beautiful and elegant, everyone admired her! After her passing, the position of Empress has remained vacant. What virtue or ability does my son, Shushu, possess to succeed her? Absolutely not!"

Although she didn't quite agree with her father's assessment of her, Lu Shushu knew that Lu Heng was turning down the Empress position on her behalf, so she didn't say anything.

Her father was right. What virtue or ability did Lu Shushu possess to succeed the late empress?

The Sixth Prince rubbed his wrist and said, "That's right, it's Lu Shushu from your Lu family. Father Emperor specifically named her to enter the palace as Empress, and the imperial decree will be issued soon."

Upon hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Lu looked utterly despairing, while Lu Shushu was filled with confusion.

Why did His Majesty insist on making her Empress? She had never even seen the Emperor's face, and I believe the Emperor had never seen her either.

Thinking of this, Lu Shushu flatly refused: "I won't go, I'd rather die than enter the palace."

"Hey, you're really pushing your luck!"

The sixth prince was furious and was about to hit someone again.

But the Fifth Prince stretched out his arm to stop him, and pulled the Sixth Prince away to a distance, whispering:

"Sixth brother, calm down, calm down, it's really not that bad."

Although the Fifth Prince was the Sixth Prince's nominal older brother, the Sixth Prince's maternal family was more powerful than the Fifth Prince's. Therefore, the Fifth Prince usually spoke with his head down in front of the Sixth Prince, and those who didn't know the situation might have thought that the Sixth Prince was the Fifth Prince's older brother.

"Sixth brother, this Lu Shushu is the empress whom Father Emperor specifically named. In other words, the Lu family will be related to the imperial family from now on, and Lu Heng will be the emperor's father-in-law. There is really no need for us to resort to violence."

The Sixth Prince, disregarding his image, rolled up his sleeves: "So what if he's the Emperor's father-in-law? Do you think I'd be afraid of him? He's just an old, pedantic scholar. Even if you gave him the title of Emperor's father-in-law, he wouldn't know how to use it!"

"Alright, you don't need to worry about it. I'll take full responsibility for this. If anything goes wrong, I'll take full responsibility."

After saying that, the Sixth Prince returned despite the Fifth Prince's objections.

Looking at the family of three before him, the Sixth Prince said, "Now I'll give you two choices. One, you, Lu Shushu, obediently come to the palace with us brothers, and the Lu family will rise to prominence in the future; the second choice, we brothers will forcibly bring you into the palace and then tell Father Emperor about your Lu family's disobedience to the imperial decree. Guess what Father Emperor will do then?"

Upon hearing this, the three men could not hide their fear. Even if they had no connection with Huangfu Song, their family was just a small, insignificant household in the capital. How could they dare to offend the emperor?

"Alright, come with us obediently."

The sixth prince noticed the family's fear, so he deliberately turned to the side, stretched out an arm, and invited Lu Shushu to come with them.

Despite her fear, Lu Shushu shook her head and said, "I'm not going."

Lu Heng gritted his teeth and stepped forward, saying, "Yes, my daughter isn't going."

Upon hearing this, the Sixth Prince was truly enraged. He raised his hand, ready to slap Lu Heng across the face again.

Startled, Lu Heng quickly raised his arm and backed away.

Just then, an untimely voice rang out:

"Sixth Prince, what a magnificent sight!"

The sound reached everyone in the courtyard, and they all turned to look.

Several women were standing near the entrance, I don't know when.

The imperial guards they brought with them stood behind them, tiptoeing and frantically giving the Fifth and Sixth Princes meaningful glances—they simply couldn't stop them.

Cursing under his breath, the Sixth Prince scrutinized the women, involuntarily touching his chin with a lewd smile on his face.

Having lived in the capital for so many years, he had never seen so many women of different styles and all so beautiful standing together.

They were a sight to behold simply by standing there.

However, beauty did not cloud the sixth prince's judgment.

Because he saw a familiar face among the women.

He didn't recognize the other women, but he did recognize Xiao Xue'er. She was the daughter of the prime minister and Qin Li's fiancée.

The person who just spoke must be the Crown Princess that Qin Li brought from Jiangnan, the Sixth Prince secretly guessed.

Thinking of this, he and the Fifth Prince immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, Imperial Sister-in-law!"

Pei Qingluan showed no discomfort, leading her entourage in and giving the Fifth and Sixth Princes a disdainful glance:

"You two are both Qin Li's younger brothers. What are your birth order?"

The Fifth and Sixth Princes were filled with admiration at the fact that the Prince dared to address Qin Li by his given name.

The fifth prince said, "Sister-in-law, I am the fifth prince, and he is the sixth prince."

"oh."

Pei Qingluan sighed and looked the two up and down: "So it's the fifth and sixth brother."

"What, has the Empress heard of us?" the Sixth Prince asked in surprise.

"Never heard of it."

Pei Qingluan said coldly, "We just met today, you two are truly outstanding individuals."

Even if the Fifth Prince was stupid, he could tell that Pei Qingluan was being sarcastic.

However, he did not know how they had offended Pei Qingluan.

Pei Qingluan ignored the two of them and instead looked at the Lu family of three.

Soon, her gaze settled on Lu Shushu, and the other girls also looked at Lu Shushu.

Lu Shushu felt extremely uncomfortable being stared at by so many beautiful women.

"This must be Shushu, right?"

Pei Qingluan stepped forward with a smile, took Lu Shushu's hands in a familiar manner, and asked.

Although Lu Shushu felt extremely uncomfortable, she still responded:

"Indeed, may I ask who this lady is?"

Pei Qingluan introduced herself: "My surname is Pei, my name is Pei Qingluan, and I am the Crown Princess."

The other women also introduced themselves and their names. Without exception, they were all women from the Crown Prince's residence, in other words, the Crown Prince's family members.

Lu Shushu frowned. When did she get involved with the people from the Crown Prince's residence? Why are all the Crown Prince's family members here at her house? It seems like they're here to support her.

"Sister, do we know each other?"

Lu Shushu asked.

Pei Qingluan still held her hand, not letting go: "We didn't know each other before, but we do now."

After speaking, Pei Qingluan looked at the two princes and said coldly, "I, the Crown Princess, will give you two choices. First, take your people and get out immediately. I, the Crown Princess, can pretend you were never here and let bygones be bygones. Second, I, the Crown Princess, will have you beaten up and thrown out. When Qin Li returns, I will tell him about this. Guess how Qin Li will treat you then?"

Upon hearing this, both the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince trembled.

Who is the person they fear most in their lives?

Qin Li is second to none, and no one dares to claim first place; even Emperor Xuan has to rank behind him.

That person is ruthless and capable of anything.

He killed the third brother, so it's not impossible for him to kill the other two as well.