The bad husband wanted to bring his second wife into the house, so I turned around and became his st

After saying that, Lin Wanqing helped Jiang Yu up and sent her back to her room.

After Jiang Yu lay down, she turned around and left, already having a plan in mind.

This matter needs to be handled with caution. Not only must Xiao Rong be rescued, but the reputation of Jiang Yu and the Zhenbei Marquisate must also be protected.

At this time, a storm was brewing in the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion.

After learning about this, the Marquis frowned and after thinking for a moment, he decided to go to the palace in person to meet the emperor and plead for Xiao Rong.

Although the Zhenbei Marquisate is extremely powerful, it has always remained neutral and has not participated in the struggle for imperial power.

But this time, for Xiao Rong, the Marquis decided to make an exception.

After the Marquis entered the palace, he went directly to the imperial study.

When the emperor saw the Marquis of Zhenbei coming in person, a hint of surprise appeared on his face.

"Why did the Marquis come here in person? What's the matter?"

The Marquis of Zhenbei looked at the emperor with a firm gaze.

"Your Majesty, I came here today because of Xiao Rong's matter."

The emperor raised his brows slightly when he heard this.

"Oh? Xiao Rong? What happened to him?"

The Marquis of Zhenbei took a deep breath and told the emperor what had happened.

After listening to this, the emperor was silent for a moment.

"My Lord, this is a royal matter. I will handle it."

The Marquis of Zhenbei looked at the emperor with a firm gaze.

"Your Majesty, although Xiao Rong made a mistake, he is also the son of this old minister. I dare to ask Your Majesty to show mercy and forgive Xiao Rong this time."

The emperor looked at the determined eyes of the Marquis of Zhenbei and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

He knew that the Marquis of Zhenbei was really anxious this time, so he went to the palace in person to plead for him.

The emperor was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "My Lord, I understand your concerns, but this matter involves a struggle for imperial power, and I cannot let him go easily."

Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Zhenbei felt a tightness in his heart.

"So...what does the Emperor mean?"

The emperor looked at the Marquis of Zhenbei, a gleam in his eyes.

"I can release Xiao Rong, but I have one condition."

The emperor's voice echoed in the imperial study with unquestionable majesty.

"My condition is that Xiao Rong marry my princess."

As soon as these words came out, the expression of Zhenbei Hou instantly became complicated and indecipherable.

He didn't expect that the emperor would make such a request.

Marrying the princess means that Xiao Rong will be drawn deeper into the royal vortex, which undoubtedly gives him a dilemma.

"Your Majesty, this..."

The Marquis of Zhenbei hesitated for a moment, trying to find a reason to refute, "Xiao Rong is already engaged, I'm afraid this move is inappropriate."

The emperor smiled gently, and there was a bit of calculation and cunning in that smile.

"A marriage contract? In front of the imperial power, it's just a piece of paper, especially a verbal one."

The Marquis of Zhenbei pursed his lips tightly, feeling mixed emotions.

The emperor's intention was not just for Xiao Rong's marriage, but more to test the position of the Zhenbei Marquisate and whether it could become a chess piece in the emperor's hands at a critical moment.

"Your Majesty, please allow me to consider this for a moment."

The Marquis of Zhenbei finally chose to compromise temporarily. He needed time to weigh the pros and cons and find the most appropriate solution.

The emperor nodded, as if he had anticipated the reaction of the Marquis of Zhenbei.

"Okay, I'll give you this time, but I want to remind you that time waits for no one."

After saying this, the emperor waved his hand, signaling that the Marquis of Zhenbei could leave.

Marquis Zhenbei took a deep breath, bowed respectfully, then turned and left the imperial study.

After leaving the palace, the Marquis of Zhenbei felt extremely heavy-hearted.

The emperor's words were like a heavy mountain, weighing on his heart.

He understood that this choice would directly affect the future of the Zhenbei Marquisate. If he was not careful, he would be in an irretrievable situation.

After returning to the mansion, the Marquis of Zhenbei locked himself in the study and repeatedly weighed the pros and cons.

On the other side, Jiang Yu, accompanied by Lin Wanqing, came to the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion.

Upon learning that the Marquis of Zhenbei had already entered the palace to meet the emperor, Jiang Yu's heart could not help but hang in the balance.

She waited anxiously outside the study, her hands clenched tightly, beads of sweat oozing from her palms.

Lin Wanqing felt a tightness in her heart when she saw Jiang Yu's anxious look.

She knew that this matter was of great importance to Jiang Yu.

At this moment, the door of the study suddenly opened, and Zhenbei Hou walked out with a serious expression.

Seeing this, Jiang Yu hurried forward.

"My Lord, how is it?"

Marquis Zhenbei looked at Jiang Yu with complicated eyes.

"The Emperor has proposed a condition: Xiao Rong must marry the princess."

As soon as these words were spoken, Jiang Yu felt as if he had been struck by a bolt from the blue, and he froze in place.

Lin Wanqing's expression instantly turned ugly.

They didn't expect that the emperor would make such a request.

Jiang Yu bit her lower lip tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.

She didn't know what to do, let alone how to face Xiao Rong.

Marquis Zhenbei looked at Jiang Yu and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

He knew that this decision was too cruel for Jiang Yu.

But he knew even more clearly that the struggle for imperial power did not allow for any emotionality.

"Yu'er, don't cry yet. I'll find a way."

Lin Wanqing also reacted, took Jiang Yu's hand, and comforted her softly: "Yu'er, the Marquis will find a way. Let's go back first and don't cause trouble here."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu nodded and let Lin Wanqing pull her away from the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion.

After returning home, Jiang Yu locked herself in the room and let her tears flow freely.

She never thought that things would develop to this point.

If he married a princess, what would she do?

Is her engagement with Xiao Rong canceled just like that?

Jiang Yu's heart was filled with resentment and anger, but she knew that she could not change the emperor's decision.

Just then, Lin Wanqing walked in. Seeing Jiang Yu's sad look, her heart ached.

"Yu'er, don't cry. Things haven't gotten out of control yet."

Hearing this, Jiang Yu raised her head and looked at Lin Wanqing with tearful eyes.

"Sister Wanqing, what should I do? I really like Xiao Rong and I don't want to lose him."

Lin Wanqing looked at Jiang Yu with a firm gaze.

"Yu'er, you have to trust the Marquis. He will definitely find a way."

Jiang Yu nodded after hearing this. She knew that the only thing she could do now was to trust the Marquis of Zhenbei.

At the same time, in the study of the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion, the Zhenbei Marquis was discussing countermeasures with a mysterious man.

"My Lord, this matter is quite thorny. The Emperor's intention is obvious. He wants to use this to test our position."

Marquis Zhenbei nodded, his brows furrowed.

"I know, but Xiao Rong is my son. I can't let him fall into danger."

The mysterious man pondered for a moment and then slowly said, "Perhaps, we can start with the princess."

Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Zhenbei's eyes lit up.

"You mean..."

The mysterious man nodded, a sly smile on his face.

"That's right. As long as the princess doesn't want to, the emperor can't force her."

After hearing this, the frown on Zhenbei Hou's face gradually relaxed, as if he saw the dawn of hope.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

On the other side, Jiang Yu, accompanied by Lin Wanqing, came to the princess's mansion.