The story of a bullied daughter's rise to power

Upon hearing this, Liu Chen gave a bitter smile. "I know that too. But even if it's treasonous, I don't want to go against my own will. You may not be happy if you're with the Crown Prince. You, you really like the Crown Prince?"

Liu Chen didn't know where he got the courage to ask this question. Situ Yaorao was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. "If I didn't like him, why would I be engaged to him? If I didn't like him, I wouldn't still be in Xunyang City. The prince and I like each other. So, Master Liu Chen, please don't have any inappropriate thoughts." Situ Yaorao had to persuade him awkwardly.

Liu Chen was disappointed when he heard this: "Is that really the case? I just wanted to give it a try. However, since this is the case, I don't have any hope of trying it anymore."

"Young Master, you didn't come here just for this, did you?" Situ Yaorao looked at Liu Chen and asked. Liu Chen heard this and gritted his teeth: "I know what you want, and I can even help you."

Liu Chen's words made Situ Yaorao's expression change: "What do you mean?"

"I've already guessed why you're in Xunyang City."

"Guessed it? What does that mean?" Situ Yaorao was puzzled.

"You are poisoned. Eating this peony can prolong your life. However, if you want the peonies in this city, you must get past the City Lord. The City Lord keeps a close eye on these peonies. So, you must continue to fight the City Lord, right? It is precisely because of this that the Crown Prince has been reluctant to leave Xunyang City."

The man looked at Situ Yaorao and told him everything he knew in one breath. Then Situ Yaorao's face darkened: "What do you mean by saying these things?"

"I want to help you." Liu Chen's eyes were burning.

"Can I know why?" Situ Yaorao felt that she simply couldn't understand Liu Chen. Liu Chen looked at Situ Yaorao: "Because I like you, I like you very much. And I don't want to see the Liu family continue like this. The Liu family's status in Xunyang City is indeed getting higher and higher, but this Xunyang City is about to become a dead city. What's the point of coming to a city without people? My father only thinks about the status of the Liu family and the consequences of being an enemy of the city lord, but I want to think about more. I think that as long as you succeed, Xunyang City will return to normal. But... if my Liu family helps the Xunyang City lord, then the end of my Liu family will be irreparable. If we help you, then the Liu family may still have a glimmer of hope."

Liu Chen looked at Situ Yaorao and said.

Situ Yaorao didn't expect Liu Chen to have such thoughts.

"You think so, but your father agrees?"

"My father will not agree to this, so this is my personal request. I am willing to help you." Liu Chen looked at Situ Yaorao with a serious face.

Liu Chen's thoughts were simple. He didn't seek to gain anything for the Liu family; he simply hoped that everyone in the family would be safe. He felt resentment towards Situ Yaorao, but even more than that, he still loved her. He could help her, and the Liu family at the same time. Why not?

As for dignity? As for the future?

Liu Chen didn't pay much attention to it.

Situ Yaorao had no idea what Liu Chen was thinking, but she was very satisfied with his proposal. If Liu Chen helped her, it would only benefit her, with no downsides. Thinking of this, Situ Yaorao smiled and said, "Since you've said this, it would be rude of me to disagree. Besides, you and I are supposed to be friends."

"Friend?" Liu Chen was a little surprised.

"Yes, I regarded you as a friend from the very beginning. However, what you thought in your heart was different from what I wanted. In the end, I said nothing. I just hoped that you and I would never meet again. But now that you have come over, I think we can be friends." Situ Yaorao smiled brightly.

When Liu Chen heard this, his heart moved.

Then, a trace of guilt crept into his heart. It turned out that from the very beginning, he had only wanted to be friends with him. It was only because he had some inappropriate thoughts that led to the current situation between the two of them.

After realizing this, Liu Chen felt a lot more relieved.

"If you really want to help me, then use this city lord token and this bottle of stuff. I hope that on the city lord's birthday, everyone, including the city lord, will eat this bottle of stuff." Situ Yaorao looked at the man with a serious face.

Liu Chen hesitated for a moment.

"I believe in you, so... don't let me down." Situ Yaorao's words stirred the man's heart. He accepted the bottle, said something to Situ Yaorao, and left.

Yu Sheng walked in from outside: "I heard everything you just said. Do you really believe him?"

"I believe it. This is a big gamble. If he helps, we will succeed. If he doesn't help, we will probably have to find another way. If it were us, it would be useless even if we had the city lord's token. How can it be so easy to enter the city lord's mansion? Liu Chen's words are much more convenient than ours." Situ Yaorao said lightly.

Yu Sheng nodded after hearing this. She had to admit that what Situ Yaorao said was true.

At this moment, Liu Chen was in a state of confusion. He took his things and returned to the Liu family. The head of the Liu family called him. Liu Chen was a little surprised; he didn't expect his father to call him.

For a moment, my heart became even more confused.

Arriving at the Liu family patriarch's study, the patriarch took out a brocade box and said, "Chen'er, these contain treasures that have been accumulated by our Liu family for hundreds of years. I have exchanged them for banknotes. If our Liu family cannot escape this time, you can take these and go abroad to develop your career. Although you are young, I know that you have the talent to make a name for yourself. However, I have been restrained by the Liu family. Now, I give these to you. I will set you free and leave a way out for our Liu family."

"Dad...what are you talking about?" Liu Chen's face looked ugly.

"Silly son, why is your father talking nonsense? Everyone knows what Xunyang City is like now. The prince wants to take action against the city lord. This is beyond doubt. Although the city lord has the trust of the emperor, he is no match for the prince. If you are lucky enough to survive, it will be the luck of my Liu family. If something happens to the city lord, I am afraid that your father will go with him. This is the price the city lord has paid for helping our Liu family over the years." The head of the Liu family shook his head helplessly.

Liu Chen's heart was even more confused.

He looked at his old father and his hesitation deepened.

At this time, the head of the Liu family looked as if he had let it go: "Actually, my Liu family is also deeply sinful. Why have we been trying to please the head of the family all these years? Who among my Liu family hasn't been involved in human deaths? Most of the people in Xunyang City have become like this because of my Liu family. I feel ashamed." The head of the Liu family said hatefully.

Upon hearing this, Liu Chen couldn't help but ask, "Since Father knew he was wrong, why did he just watch all this happen?"

"If I hadn't watched this unfold, the City Lord would have taken action against my Liu family. Many wealthy families had tragic deaths because they refused. Some had to flee far away. I couldn't bear to leave everything in the Liu family, nor did I want the Liu family to become victims of Xunyang City. That's why I had no choice but to agree to the City Lord's request. But who could have imagined that the Crown Prince would suddenly get involved?"

The head of the Liu family shook his head helplessly.

Liu Chen gritted his teeth and said, "Dad... actually the prince's..." Before he finished speaking, Liu Chen stopped talking.

"What did the prince ask?" The Liu family's head looked at Liu Chen suspiciously. Liu Chen shook his head: "No, nothing. I just wanted to say that the prince is kind-hearted and might not attack my Liu family."

"I hope so, too. However, if he succeeds, I will have to pay for the lives of the people in this city. Okay, Chen'er, you can leave now. Remember what your father told you." The Liu family's head looked exhausted. Liu Chen could only nod and leave.

His father, and his own true feelings. Liu Chen hesitated constantly. In the end, he could only sigh helplessly. Since this was his father's fault, then let him pay for it. For the Liu family, he would stand on Situ Yaorao's side no matter what.