I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince values ​​friendship and loyalty, and is unwilling to abandon his wife. However, the Crown Princess is the head of the Imperial Household and the future Queen Mother. Her every word and action represents a model for all women in the world."

"The Lu family's daughter has a bad reputation in the capital. She's a second-married woman, and she has an ambiguous relationship with the Xiongnu. She's truly unfit to be the Crown Princess. Since His Royal Highness is reluctant to let her go, why not make her the Crown Prince's Consort?"

"Excellent, the best of both worlds. After all, the Lu family girl has always been by the Crown Prince's side, and we can't let the world say that the Crown Prince is heartless and disloyal. Besides, the Third Brother of the Lu family is still leading the troops outside."

"Yes, considering what she did, being named the Crown Prince's Consort is a great honor."

"..."

Lu Mingyang stood in the courtyard and listened for a long time. Then he looked down and realized that he was so beautiful, how could he be called a wife? He was also called the Crown Prince's Consort and Grace. Who did these people think they were?

It is justified to interfere with other people's marriage.

Lu Mingyang pushed the door open and walked in. He glanced at everyone with a cold gaze and asked with a smile, "Have you all finished your discussion?"

The white-bearded old man at the head of the group was so angry that he blew his beard and glared: "Lu, this is the previous dynasty. How can you ignore the etiquette and come and go as you please? This is really absurd."

Lu Mingyang asked, "Your Highness allowed me to come and go freely in the former court and the harem. Should I listen to you or Your Highness?"

Another minister stood up, spouting sagely words, "Ms. Lu, as a wife, you should be dignified and sensible, assisting your husband. As a servant to His Royal Highness, you must be cautious in your words and actions, prioritizing propriety and law. His Highness dotes on you, but you must also have the virtue to refuse the throne."

Lu Mingyang looked over and asked, "Excuse me, who is this sir?"

Since Chu Mingzheng was demoted to a commoner, Lu Mingyang's position as a princess no longer existed. Now, at most, she was considered the daughter of a meritorious official. The man was unceremonious and said calmly, "I am Song An, the Duke of Huaiyang, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet."

"So it's the Earl of Huaiyang. My apologies." Lu Mingyang bowed his head and looked up, his eyes blazing. "I heard that the Earl of Huaiyang isn't the eldest son, but the second son. He inherited the title of Earl simply because the late Earl of Huaiyang favored him. Why didn't the Marquis of Huaiyang himself have the decency to turn back the chariot back then?"

"You..." Huaiyang Bo Song An's face flushed red, and he swung his sleeves and said, "I am a man, and I will not argue with an ignorant woman like you."

"If you can't argue with me, then you say women are ignorant. If all men in the world were as broad-minded as you, would they be worthy of being compared with women?"

"Lu, please stop your nonsense." The man next to her angrily chimed in, "You're just a woman, relying on a man's favor to stand here in violation of the rules. How dare you talk about your mind and knowledge with us?"

With such confidence, Lu Mingyang asked, "Are you a Jinshi from the Double Imperial Examination?"

The man held his head high and said, "I was the top scholar in the third year of Yongjia."

"Top Scholar, truly impressive!" Lu Mingyang exclaimed, "It seems like all of you, like this top scholar, have passed the imperial examination on your own and are standing here."

Everyone fell silent. Half the people here had earned their place through exams, while the other half had inherited the title through their ancestors. Those who had gotten in through family background had grim expressions on their faces.

The person who spoke realized that he had offended so many people, including his immediate superior, and panicked: "Stop talking nonsense."

"I'm not talking nonsense." Lu Mingyang complimented with a smile.

"You didn't drink your mother's milk as a baby, you didn't use your father's money as a young man, and you didn't have a teacher to teach you the teachings of sages when you were a student. You learned everything on your own. Oh, and this dress, number one scholar, was also made by you. Take it off. Don't let others say you rely on women for clothes."

Someone burst out laughing, and infected by the laughter, suppressed laughter could be heard in the hall.

"You are really unreasonable." The top scholar stomped his feet in anger.

"I don't know where you get the right to accuse me."

Lu Mingyang said loudly, "You rely on your father, your mother, your mentor, and your benefactors. You rely on them with all your might, yet you turn around and accuse me of relying on my husband."

"So what if I rely on my husband? There are tens of thousands of women in the world, and at least I relied on my own abilities to make my husband like me. What about you? What do you rely on? On being born a man, on being born into a wealthy family, on the love between your parents? Did your little sperm outrun a bunch of tadpoles?"

"How disgraceful, how disgraceful." The white-bearded old man in the lead covered his face with his sleeves in shame, "Kick her out now."

"I am the first wife of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I don't know who dares to touch me."

Hearing this, Tong Yu, who was guarding the gate, thought of the fourth lady who had just slapped him, and looked at the Crown Prince who had been standing beside him for a long time with fear.

"Your Highness, won't you go and help?"

"Wait a little longer!" Chu Mingzheng patted his chest with his backhand and said with a smile, "It wasn't easy for her to get me, so she knows how to cherish me."

They are indeed a couple.

Tong Yu widened her eyes and looked into the hall again.

"Lord, you have three illegitimate children. Why are you pretending to be innocent?"

"Zhuangyuanlang, you are a noble man. The woman His Highness met outside a few days ago, was she not your daughter?"

"Lord Huai'an, you..."

"Niece Lu!" When mentioning Earl Huaian, Earl Huaian said hurriedly, "Your eldest sister's father-in-law and I are old friends. Please be careful with your words."

It was obvious that this girl knew all of their dirty laundry. If she told him everything, he would be too embarrassed to face anyone.

The Earl of Huaian clasped his hands together and said, "We are only thinking about the country, not disrespecting Niece Lu."

It took Lu Mingyang a while to realize who her eldest sister's father-in-law was. She frowned in disdain. What kind of relationship did this even lead to? But she didn't continue to reveal it.

After all, it is better to forgive others when you can.

"Yes!" Some officials also began to speak softly.

"Madam Lu..." He didn't dare to speak too bluntly, and sighed, "You know what happened to you. It's truly inappropriate. How will the world view it? We are willing to ask for the title of Crown Prince's Consort for Madam Lu. This is already a sign of our respect for her."

So, I should thank you?

How come these people changed their expressions so quickly?

Lu Mingyang coughed lightly and said in a clear voice, "Well, since ancient times, civil officials have died admonishing His Highness, and military generals have died fighting. My brother is currently fighting on the battlefield, and who among you civil officials is willing to die admonishing His Highness? I, Lu Mingyang, voluntarily request to step down, and this is not empty talk."

Everyone looked at each other, no one daring to speak. Gradually, a rustling sound was heard. Lu Mingyang seemed to hear someone huddled in the corner saying, "Quickly ask Shen Yan to come over."

As she was carefully identifying it, Chu Mingzheng's cheerful voice rang out.

"What are you all doing here?"

"Your Highness, we are honored to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. May His Royal Highness live a thousand years, a thousand years, and a thousand thousand years." Everyone saluted.

"Everyone get up!"

Chu Mingzheng stepped into the palace and put his arm around the powerful woman's waist, his face full of admiration. Lu Mingyang pushed his hand away with disdain and sneered.

"Your Highness, when did your legs become unwell?"

It took you so long to come.

Chu Mingzheng coughed lightly and said, "My lady, although you are my first wife, you have not yet been canonized. You cannot come and go freely in the former court. Wait a few days, after you are canonized as the Crown Princess, and then you can come and go freely. Do you understand? Hurry and apologize to the gentlemen."

Even after being canonized as the Crown Princess, she could not enter and leave the former court at will. However, those ministers did not care about such details and wailed together.

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess is the head of the Imperial Household and a role model for all women. You must not treat her lightly."

Chu Mingzheng slammed his palm against the red-lacquered pillar, and everyone trembled in fear. They only wanted to persuade, not bang their hands against the pillar. Each and every one of them stared at the Crown Prince. The Lu family girl's words about a literary death-defying remonstration were just talk. If the Crown Prince spoke out, it would be a different story.

If they don't do it, where will they put their reputation?

Chu Mingzheng said with a smile, "Since she is a role model for women all over the world, naturally women have the final say. You guys, do you want to be women?"

After saying that, he took Lu Mingyang's hand and turned to leave.

"Please draft the edict to confer the title of Crown Princess quickly and use the most gorgeous writing style for me."

The Crown Prince's words were slowly passed back to the cabinet, and everyone was obviously relieved.