Shen Xue was puzzled, but she finally asked, "Brother Rui, when you went to the palace yesterday to report to the emperor, why did he punish you? Did you do something wrong?"

Shangguan Rui looked at Shen Xue and thought it would be better to tell her in person. Otherwise, she would be heartbroken if she heard the rumor of the arranged marriage from others. After thinking for a moment, he said solemnly: "Xiaoxue, yesterday I begged my father to grant us a marriage."

Shen Xue's heart was filled with joy, with a hint of shyness on her face. She said softly, "Brother Rui, is it true? What did the emperor say? Will he agree to you marrying a powerless county lady?"

Shangguan Rui looked at her lovingly, held her hand, and said weakly: "Xiaoxue, we love each other and are already at the age of marriage. I want to marry you as soon as possible."

"It's just that my father was a little hesitant, so I knelt and begged him for permission. Although he didn't agree right away, he said he would consider it."

"I believe that the Emperor will agree to our marriage."

"I'm worried that my status is not worthy of your status as a prince, and the emperor will not agree to you marrying me as his principal wife."

"You are so outstanding, believe in yourself and believe in me."

"The prince's consorts are all from prominent families in the capital, but I have no status or background. I'm worried..."

Shangguan Rui held Shen Xue's hand, his eyes firm, "You are very good. In my eyes, no other girl can compare to you."

Shen Xue leaned on Shangguan Rui's shoulder and said softly, "Brother Rui, no matter what the outcome is, as long as I can be by your side, I will be content."

"I will try my best to ask the Emperor to agree to our marriage, and I will be the principal wife."

"Hopefully!"

As night fell, Shen Xue tossed and turned in her bed, unable to fall asleep. She wondered if she could accept the situation if he married her as his principal wife.

A voice told her that it was normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines, but the thought of him marrying other women was as painful as cutting out her heart, and she could not accept such a cruel thing.

From then on, they were far away from the capital and became strangers. She was hesitant about whether she could be so decisive.

After thinking about it for a long time, she still couldn't accept the fact that he married someone else as his principal wife. She really couldn't be so magnanimous as to let herself share a husband with someone else.

For now, I can only take it one step at a time! I will make the decision myself when the time comes.

The next day, she continued to go to the Third Prince's Mansion to take care of Shangguan Rui. The two of them recovered together and did not mention the arranged marriage at all. She was in a good mood and recovered quickly.

Today, the eldest prince came to the palace to visit Concubine He. Concubine He and the eldest prince told her about the emperor's selection of a concubine for Shangguan Rui.

The eldest prince was furious upon hearing this and roared, "Father, you are too partial. If the third prince marries them, he will quickly gain a foothold in the court and be my equal. Why should he be equal to me? I will not accept this."

"Mother, this must not happen. Otherwise, the divisions in the court will be obvious. If the emperor favors the third prince, the position of crown prince will be out of reach for me."

"Mother thinks so too. Your father's favoritism towards the third son is obvious to all. If the third son marries three more girls from powerful maternal families, it will undoubtedly be even more powerful. By then, his family will be the only one in power, and the position of crown prince will be his."

"The third brother is very lucky. We couldn't get rid of him despite multiple assassination attempts. Now he is recuperating in the capital and we are even more helpless."

"Jue'er, the third son loves Shen Xue. Last time your father gave him a marriage, he flatly refused and insisted on marrying Shen Xue as his principal wife. Now mother wants to fulfill the third son's wish. He will marry Shen Xue, a powerless and insignificant county lady. This will also offend the three major families in the court, which will only benefit you."

"Mother, I cannot change Father's decision."

"You can't change it, but someone else can."

"Who!"

"Concubine Rong! The emperor dotes on her. As long as she is willing to persuade him, he will definitely consider it."

The eldest prince still remembers vividly what it was like to be with Concubine Rong.

Ever since he spent several wonderful nights with Concubine Rong in the royal temple, he could always think of Concubine Rong when he returned to the mansion to be with the prince's wife, and he could not forget her.

But after Rong Fei returned to the palace, it was difficult to find an opportunity to meet her secretly. He quickly said, "Mother, you are absolutely right. Why don't you invite Rong Fei over and let me talk to her. She knows the pros and cons of the harem best and will definitely be willing to cooperate with us."

Concubine He said worriedly, "Jue'er, you wouldn't have any other thoughts about her, would you? She's your father's woman. You can have any woman you like and possess, except your father's woman. Do you understand?"

"Mother, how dare I have other thoughts? I just want to use her to achieve our goals. Her whispering in Father's ear is more effective than our words."

Although Concubine He looked at the eldest prince with some uneasiness in her eyes, she believed that he would not dare to have any other thoughts.

"It's best if you don't. Otherwise, if your father finds out, it will be a disaster for us mother and son."

"Mother, I understand."

"Mammy, go and invite Concubine Rong to come for tea."

"Old slave, I obey."

The nanny came to Rong Fei's palace. Rong Fei learned that the eldest prince was in He Bin's palace. Even though her goal was achieved, there was no need to see him. If someone discovered her, her lofty goal would be in vain.

"Mammy, please tell Concubine He that I'm tired today and would like to come over for tea when I'm free."

"Old slave, I obey."

The eldest prince was looking forward to Concubine Rong's arrival. When the nanny came back and reported that Concubine Rong was not coming, he was extremely disappointed, but he did not dare to show it on the surface.

"Mother, what should I do if she doesn't come?"

"My mother wrote a letter to Concubine Rong, and she will definitely agree to find an opportunity to communicate with my father."

Concubine He hurriedly wrote a letter and had someone secretly deliver it to Concubine Rong.

After reading the letter, Concubine Rong snorted coldly, "I actually hope that Shangguan Rui will disobey the imperial order in order to marry Shen Xue. It would be best if the emperor killed him in a rage. He can also marry the girl of his choice as he wishes. If this happens, I will have a hard time, and no one else will either."

She gently stroked her abdomen with her hand and smiled sinisterly, "I have already achieved my goal, why should I cooperate with you? It's a daydream."

Concubine He and the eldest prince waited for a long time but did not get any answer from Concubine Rong. They were unhappy, but it was of no use.

The eldest prince left the palace unwillingly. Thinking about how they had spent several days and nights together, why didn't she come to see him, made him extremely depressed.

After returning to the palace, he sent someone to secretly deliver the letter to Concubine Rong. Concubine Rong snorted coldly after reading the contents, "Do you think I'm attracted to you? I only met with you privately to get revenge on Shangguan Mo. You're just a pawn of mine. I'm already pregnant with the heir, so you're useless as a pawn."

Yutong said worriedly, "Your Majesty, what if the eldest prince finds out about your pregnancy and keeps pestering me?"

"The prince in my belly is the emperor's heir. How dare he pester me? Unless he doesn't want the identity of a prince, he can only swallow his anger."

"Your Majesty is wise."

The emperor sat in the hall, gazing into the distance with deep thought. No one knew what he knew or was thinking.

"Chen Fu, how is Rui'er?"

"The Third Prince is now with the County Lady by his side and is gradually recovering."

The emperor said with deep regret: "What good can this child say about him?"

At this time, Leng Ying came over with a letter, "Prince, someone from Jiaozhou has sent a message."

"Who?"

"I don't know, but..."

The emperor looked at the handwriting on the letter and hurriedly opened it. The content of the letter immediately made him ecstatic. He laughed out loud, and his joyful laughter resounded throughout the hall.

The hand holding the letter trembled slightly with excitement. "Old Nine, I knew you were okay. I'm so glad you and your wife are okay. You even gave birth to twins. You're truly blessed."

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Mu and Princess Mu are all right. Did they give birth to twins?"

"Yes! They are a blessed couple. He is the only one in the entire royal family who has twins."

"Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Majesty. The Queen Mother will surely be delighted that His Royal Highness Prince Mu and Princess Mu have returned with their two young sons."

"Let's go and tell the Queen Mother about this happy news so that she can be happy too."

The emperor quickly stood up with a smile on his face, and walked quickly towards the Empress Dowager's palace.

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