The peerless and dark princess

"Mother, why don't you send the recipe to the Second Prince's residence?"

"Mother, of course, wants to. First, although the Second Prince dotes on you, the Empress Dowager is displeased with you. If she finds out, your life will be miserable. Second, although Zhao Yaxin is claiming illness and can't leave, there's no guarantee she'll be plotting something treacherous. Third, your brother has heard from others that the palace is planning to select consorts for the Second Prince and the Crown Prince. At this critical juncture, we absolutely cannot allow anyone to have any leverage over us. For my sake, it's safer to stay home. Those people are all my close associates. So... you should find a way to return home and stay for a while."

Shen Xinyue was really considering Muruohan. Although the method Mu Yucheng mentioned could be considered after repeated consideration, Shen Xinyue felt that if she went home to recuperate, Muruohan might get pregnant, so that method would be her last resort.

"Where did you hear this?"

"Regardless of whether this news is true or not, your top priority now, Han'er, is to conceive the Second Prince's child. A mother's status is determined by her son. If it's a boy, he will be the eldest son and the emperor's eldest grandson. If it's a girl, she will be the eldest daughter. We can't have a legitimate son yet, so we can settle for the second best, and having an eldest son or daughter is also good. Han'er, what do you think?"

"I'll listen to my mother on this matter. Let me think about it. In a few days, the emperor will take the princes to the hunting ground..."

"Hunting? This is probably to test the Second Prince and the Crown Prince's chemistry in advance, Han'er?"

"How can I go with them in my current status?" Mu Ruohan was a little disappointed, but the ambition in her eyes was finally released. "Forget it this time, next time I, Mu Ruohan, will go with the most honorable status, so that they will look up to me. Mother, for now, when His Highness goes hunting in Beishan, I will secretly go home and stay for a few days. Guixiang is at the Second Prince's mansion, so no one will know."

"Okay, I'll prepare the ingredients in the recipe at home.

Shen Xinyue explained to Muruhan in detail how to win the heart of the second prince Chen Yunfeng, and then left with peace of mind.

A few days later, Mu Heng felt that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Chen Yunjie was vaguely distant from him, so he went to Chen Yunjie, somewhat puzzled, to find out the reason.

"Your Highness, shouldn't it be more appropriate for me to take action in this matter?"

"You? I wouldn't dare."

"Your Highness, why? Please tell me what I have done wrong."

"Then I'd like to ask you, Lord Mu is already under my command, so why did you allow your eldest son to befriend Yunfeng? Could it be that the Minister is trying to please both sides? Hmm?"

Mu Heng was a little panicked. Since ancient times, those who inherited the throne had to have blood. He was just tying an extra leg. Of course, he couldn't say what was in his heart.

"Your Highness, this, this is because my illegitimate son is on good terms with the Second Prince. I am trying to get some information from him to share with Your Highness... I am doing this purely for Your Highness. I..."

"Really? What about this matter? I've been planning this for a while. Could it be that the Minister did this for me?"

"Your Highness, I really don't know about this. I'm afraid that the people below saw that my daughter and Ah Cheng were very close to the Second Prince, so they tried to curry favor with him. You see, it wasn't me who signed this..."

Crown Prince Chen Yunjie frowned as he looked at the signature. It was indeed not Mu Heng's. Was he instigated by someone, or was he misled by these current events?

"I'll trust you once, but this won't happen again. Go away."

"Yes."

Mu Heng respectfully exited the prince's chambers. Luckily, this was the only place they would return to when they met. After leaving, Mu Heng wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. The prince's wrath had been truly unbearable. Luckily, the previous actions had been handled by his subordinates, allowing him to escape unscathed. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to say for sure. Mu Heng wiped the sweat off his face, glanced around the room, and then left.

Mu Ruohan had returned to the Mu Mansion two days ago. However, apart from Mu Wange and Shen Xinyue, only Qiao Yan vaguely knew about it. Shen Xinyue also knew that Old Madam Mu felt it was unbecoming for Mu Ruohan to lose her virginity before she even reached the age of marriage and become a concubine to the Second Prince, Chen Yunfeng, and that was why she allowed Mu Ruohan to return to the Mu Mansion so quietly.

On the second day after Mu Ruohan returned to the Mu Mansion, Chen Yunjie, Chen Yunfeng, and other princes went hunting with Emperor Chen Yan. They were also accompanied by many noble ladies from aristocratic families. Mu Wange, however, feigned illness and did not go. She was actually worried that the emperor, seeing Chu Moxuan's absence, would try to manipulate the Chu family and target her, especially the Empress Dowager. Since he hadn't succeeded last time, he was afraid he would cause trouble again.

"Chen Yunfeng, actually..."

Muruohan was extremely furious. They were just going hunting, but the Second Prince had already favored the pretty maid he brought with him.

"Han'er, he's the Second Prince, so how could there not be women in his backyard? Don't be angry, even if there are women, what can they do? As long as you control them, those women are nothing."

"But, mother..."

"Be obedient. As long as you give birth to a child first, those women are nothing. You can't even Zhao Yaxin... The most urgent thing is to have a child."

"cough!"

"Brother, didn't you go hunting in Beishan?"

"There are other things, but as your brother, I want to remind you that I have heard that His Majesty has chosen several girls to be the Crown Prince and the Second Prince's principal wives..."

"Whose family? It's said to be General Ning's family, and also Prime Minister Xie's family... And, you... When did your stomach start to move?"

Mu Yucheng glanced at Mu Ruohan's abdomen.

"Acheng!"

Shen Xinyue called Mu Yucheng back, afraid that he would reveal that method. Mu Ruohan was her beloved daughter, whom she doted on from the bottom of her heart. How could she let her do this?

"Brother, I'm taking the recipe."

Mu Yucheng didn't say anything. He knew that Shen Xinyue definitely didn't tell him about his method. Fortunately, he had made preparations.

"Yeah. I'll go do some work first."

After Mu Yucheng left, Shen Xinyue felt relieved.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"It's okay, all you have to do is take this recipe and get pregnant. I'll take care of the rest."

What Shen Xinyue didn't expect was that Mu Yucheng took action that night, and she didn't even have time to persuade her son Mu Yucheng.

The next morning, Mu Ruohan woke up and saw the man beside her and the marks all over her body. She was a little bit unbelievable and immediately thought that Mu Wange was plotting against her. However, Mu Wange had no idea that she was in the Mu Mansion.

Before Mu Ruohan could think clearly, Shen Xinyue came in and saw what had happened. She was immediately distressed, her heart splitting in two. Shen Xinyue stepped forward and draped her clothes over Mu Ruohan, then kicked the man awake and told him to leave. Fortunately, it was still dark and no one could see clearly. This man must have been someone her son Mu Yucheng had sent. Shen Xinyue couldn't kill him for the time being. Since it had already been this way...

"Han'er, it's mother's fault..."

Shen Xinyue burst into tears when she saw Mu Ruohan like this, and then she muttered something to let Mu Ruohan know that this was all planned by her brother Mu Yucheng.

"Mom, I'm his sister. How could he treat me like this? Even if he did, he could have found another way, huh????"