You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

He didn't care what happened to him in the future, but Wanwan couldn't suffer. He had originally planned to return to Xuancheng to take up his post for a while, and if there was trouble on the border, he would tell the emperor that he still had to go to the battlefield.

But now that he has learned about Wanwan's situation, he has given up on that idea. From now on, wherever Wanwan is, he will be there too.

He would never let Wanwan go through those terrible experiences again, nor would he allow anyone to frame the Xie family. He would not let Xiao Yan, Shen Nian'an, or Shen Yanzhi go unpunished.

Without this incident, Xie Yanting might still be somewhat hesitant to support Xiao Long, but after learning about Xiao Yan's actions, he would no longer hesitate.

The country needs a wise ruler, but Xiao Yan was not one.

Shen Cong'an returned to the house he had just moved into. He had money, and although the new house he bought was not as big as the Yong'an Marquis's mansion, it was much more exquisite.

However, with only him as the master in this mansion, it was rather desolate.

"Xiao Zhuang, wait a little longer, I will save you."

Shen Cong'an sighed.

He anticipated that someone would kidnap Mo'er, which is why he had Xiao Zhuang impersonate Mo'er. Therefore, Xiao Zhuang's kidnapping was all because of him, and he had to rescue him.

Having received Shen Cong'an's money, the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion immediately sent 30,000 taels to Jinlou to settle Shen Nianqing's matter. However, this time, Shen Zhan was determined to get rid of this trouble.

Putting aside the fact that she's a troublemaker, just the thought of her wanting to become the Crown Princess makes Shen Zhan's legs go weak.

So he immediately found Shen Nianqing a minor official position in a remote, impoverished area and married her off without a grand banquet.

The Shen family has been making a fool of themselves these days. Even if they were to hold a banquet, it would be a waste of money and just invite people to laugh at them. So they simply decided not to invite anyone.

Shen Nianqing was naturally unwilling, but she was tied up, stuffed into a bridal sedan chair, and sent out of Xuancheng.

Xie Wanru didn't pay attention to these things and only found out about them later. For her, the important thing was still the affairs of the Simons.

When the Simons came to pay homage, they naturally brought many products that the Great Zhou Dynasty did not have.

There are also beauties, of course.

People generally believe that this is the most direct way to please a country's ruler.

Emperor Qinyong simply nodded and ordered the six stunning beauties to be taken away. Although he was still young, he never indulged in such things. He accepted them only out of respect for the Simons and because he did not want to offend them.

At today's banquet, several princes of the royal family were present. Xiao Lin was preoccupied with how to confess his feelings to the Liu family's daughter, so he was naturally distracted from the banquet.

But Princess Simon was particularly fond of the sky-blue clothes he was wearing today; he was gentle and refined, and her gaze never left him.

Simon is a rare breed of man, usually the rugged and dark-skinned type.

"Wanwan, does Princess Simon like the Fourth Prince?"

Even from a distance, Lin Qing could feel that the gaze from the other side was excessively intense.

Xie Wanru smiled faintly. In her previous life, this princess had caused the Fourth Prince to break up with his sweetheart and used various means to marry into the family. However, she couldn't remember what happened after that.

"You noticed it all, which shows how direct her intentions are."

Wu Xuanyi took a sip of tea, but had no appetite for the delicious food in front of her. She was three months pregnant and the most severe stage of morning sickness had passed, but she still had a poor appetite.

"Don't worry about me, Sister Wu. Just focus on taking good care of yourself."

Xie Wanru took out some snacks from her bosom and quietly put them into Wu Xuanyi's hand. Wu Xuanyi immediately beamed with joy; they were dried plums.

The three sisters sat together happily, but Lou Yao, the third imperial concubine, felt isolated and had no one to talk to.

"The Third Imperial Consort."

Shen Mengyan approached with a smile.

Perhaps because the surrounding noise was too loud, Lou Yao did not hear her greeting, so Shen Mengyan assumed that Lou Yao had heard her and sat down next to her.

"What are you doing here? Is this seat next to me yours to sit in?"

Lou Yao glanced at her, seemingly in a fairly good mood, and with just one glance, she didn't tell her to get up. "Speak, what news is there that makes this imperial concubine happy?"

Although Shen Mengyan was dissatisfied with Lou Yao's attitude, she could only endure it, since Lou Yao was the Third Imperial Consort. "It's nothing, just Xie Wanru's former sister-in-law, Shen Nianqing, do you remember her? She was married off to a country bumpkin by the Shen family."

Married?

Lou Yao scoffed. In her eyes, Shen Nianqing was just a brainless woman. So what if she got married? Shen Nianqing wasn't the only one trying to curry favor with her.

"If there is anything the Third Imperial Consort needs to do in the future, she can instruct me. Compared to Shen Nianqing, we are family."

Shen Mengyan lowered her eyes and looked meek.

Her brother-in-law is Lou Yao's brother. They are indeed relatives, but they are not related by blood at all.

"Then let's see if you're smarter than Shen Nianqing. She's like a toad trying to eat swan meat. Instead of getting married soon, she's still dreaming of becoming the Crown Princess."

Lou Yao chuckled softly.

Shen Mengyan laughed along with her. She wasn't a foolish woman like Shen Nianqing, who was self-righteous.

Because... she has already gotten the man she wanted in her heart.

Before the Emperor and Empress could be informed of Wu Xuanyi's pregnancy, Xiao Long instructed someone to prepare a light meal for her, which was discovered by Xiao Lin who happened to be passing by.

"Your Majesty is being unfair; you didn't even tell me such good news."

Xiao Lin suddenly hooked his arm around Xiao Long's neck, and the two brothers chatted and laughed together. Xiao Wu played with a small toy in his hand, completely unaware of what they were talking about.

"Shh!"

Xiao Long gestured for Xiao Lin to keep his voice down, as he hadn't told his father and mother about this yet.

Xiao Lin shut up, but happily chatted with Xiao Long while laughing.

The Emperor, who was in a high position, saw the brothers getting along very well and had a smile on his face the whole time.

Simon's envoy paid close attention to the movements of those around him, and the Crown Prince was naturally also keeping a close watch.

"Of all Emperor Qinyong's sons, this crown prince was the one he loved the most."

Jin Mingde said in a low voice.

"Nonsense! What emperor would choose a son he doesn't like as crown prince!"

Princess Simon snorted coldly.

Jin Mingde was speechless at her words. He hated this arrogant princess to the core, but he couldn't do anything about it.

"Princess, His Majesty means that you should find a way to gain the favor of the Crown Prince of Great Zhou, or at the very least, the Third Prince, not that you should set your sights on the Fourth Prince, who has no chance of ascending the throne."

Jin Mingde reminded him again.

"Then why doesn't His Majesty send our esteemed princess? He can't bear to part with his daughter, but would my father be willing to? Besides, how do you know that the Fourth Prince, Xiao Lin, is not destined for the throne? I doubt it."

Princess Simon still looked unconvinced.

Jin Mingde was so angry that his chest ached.

He had said long ago that she shouldn't come along, but the king just couldn't bear to part with the princess. Now that's settled, he should be thanking his lucky stars that the princess didn't ruin his plans.