Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

After the eldest prince was dealt with, the eldest prince's wife was naturally relieved.

Her family mustered up the courage to write a letter requesting a divorce.

Xiao Muyao naturally agreed.

Even his concubines were allowed to return home.

As for Consort Hui, she was naturally sent to keep the First Prince company.

She made the request herself, and the Empress Dowager naturally agreed.

Consort Hui's maternal family, the Wang family, were upright and scholarly families.

Although he has not made any significant achievements in the court, he has also not made any major mistakes.

Therefore, this matter naturally did not affect them.

After this incident, the funerals of the Fourth Prince and Zeng Qi were held.

The two were buried with the honors of a first-rank prince and a first-rank noblewoman.

The mourning hall was set up in the main hall of the royal ancestral temple, and the magnificent beams and rafters under the dome of the hall were covered with silver-white brocade.

The hanging silk ribbons swayed gently in the soft breeze, as if weeping.

Two coffins made of Phoebe zhennan wood lay quietly on a white marble platform.

The coffin was inlaid with rare and precious treasures, with dazzling pearls and shimmering jade.

In the square in front of the palace, musicians in plain clothes lined up, with bells and chimes ringing out and flutes and pipes playing mournful tunes.

The mournful music that played was like the Milky Way pouring down from the heavens, its sorrowful notes piercing the ears and causing those who heard it to break their hearts and weep.

At this moment, Xiao Muyao and Ling Yan, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, stood side by side on one side of the mourning hall.

Qi'er, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt before the coffin. Her small body looked particularly lonely and pitiful in the empty hall.

The princes, nobles, and civil and military officials who came to pay their respects all wore white mourning clothes and entered in single file according to their rank.

Their faces were solemn, they covered their faces and wept, and offered incense in turn.

The smoke curled upwards, like lingering, sorrowful clouds, refusing to dissipate.

Monks and Taoist priests have begun chanting sutras to pray for the deceased.

The chanting of Buddhist hymns and the chanting of Taoist names intertwined, echoing in the silent air, as if guiding the deceased on their path to rebirth.

As the first rays of sunlight struggled to pierce through the clouds, the time for the coffin to be lifted arrived.

Eight strong and sturdy guards, all wearing silver helmets with tassels hanging down.

Dressed in plain white mourning clothes, with black armbands, they solemnly lifted the coffin.

The coffin proceeded forward, followed by the ceremonial guard, which slowly began to move.

Xiao Muyao and Lingyan walked at the front of the procession, their steps slow and solemn.

Qi'er followed behind them, her eyes vacant as she moved forward with the group, as if she had lost her mind.

The procession wound its way along the wide main road of the capital, with the people of the capital already kneeling on both sides of the road.

Although they were dressed in coarse cloth, they all wore white headscarves to show their respect for the deceased.

Arriving at the royal mausoleum on the outskirts of the city, the ancient cypress trees inside the mausoleum reach for the sky, their green shadows swaying, yet they cannot conceal the pervasive sorrow.

The tomb passageway of the mausoleum had already been cleaned thoroughly.

The stone beasts and figures on both sides appear and disappear in the morning mist, seemingly silently guarding this peaceful place.

The coffin was slowly lowered into the tomb.

At this moment, the chanting, music, and the weeping of the crowd reached their climax.

Xiao Muyao stood beside the tomb, his gaze deep as he watched the coffin slowly sink, his hands clenched tightly at his sides.

Lingyan's eyes were also wet with tears, filled with sorrow.

Qi'er knelt down by the tomb with a thud and burst into tears.

Subsequently, several craftsmen, armed with tools, began filling the tomb.

Shovelfuls of yellow earth fell, gradually burying the coffin.

Once the grave was filled in, a brand new tomb rose up.

Two tall tombstones stand in front of the grave.

The stele is inscribed with the life stories and titles of the Fourth Prince and Zeng Qi.

On both sides of the tombstone, various delicacies and flowers were placed.

Finally, everyone paid their respects and burned incense in front of the grave.

Xiao Muyao stepped forward first, holding three incense sticks, and bowed deeply, silently praying for his elder brother and sister-in-law to rest in peace.

Lingyan followed closely behind, her movements gentle and devout.

Qi'er followed their example and bowed respectfully.

But her swollen eyes and tear-stained face were heartbreaking to see.

After that, the remaining people took turns stepping forward to pay their respects and offer sacrifices.

As the last wisp of smoke drifted into the air, this grand yet sorrowful funeral gradually came to a close in the afterglow of the setting sun.

...............

Everything has come to an end, and there is only one month left until the coronation ceremony.

It was time for Lingyan to leave.

So she changed her pulse in advance, creating the illusion that she was physically weak and needed to rest.

Xiao Muyao and the others naturally had no doubts about this.

Since everyone knows that the Empress has always been in poor health, they naturally don't think there's anything wrong with it now.

As for Xiao Muyao, He Jingchuan, and Lu Yanqing, although they knew that her illness was fake.

But they trusted Lingyan far too much.

They will believe whatever she says.

So when Lingyan told them that she had fallen ill because she was too tired during this period,

They believed it without a doubt.

At that time, only Chu Xiyao and Shen Qingchen had somewhat unnatural expressions.

However, none of the three noticed, because all their attention was on Lingyan.

That's right, Chu Xiyao returned to Dazhao a month and a half ago.

He also told them that he had explained to his elder brother that he wanted to stay in Da Zhao, and his elder brother had agreed.

What can we do if we disagree?

How could he not understand his younger brother whom he raised himself?

If he disagrees, he will be depressed for the rest of his life.

So even though he was very reluctant, he nodded in agreement.

Just a few days after Chu Xiyao returned, Ling Yan met with him alone.

She went straight to the point and asked him, "Do you remember what I said to you when we first met in the cave?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Xiyao immediately blurted out, "Of course I remember, I remember every single word you said! I just don't know which one you're asking about?"

Lingyan replied, "Back then, I asked you if you would be willing to fight against others, even an emperor, for my sake."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xiyao immediately smiled and replied firmly, "Of course I'm willing! I said at the time that anyone other than my royal brother, no matter who they are, even the ruler of a country, would be willing to fight against the entire world for you!"

Lingyan nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this and said, "That's right, exactly as promised. I told you to remember this promise back then, and you have indeed kept it in mind. Now, it's time for you to fulfill your promise."

Chu Xiyao wasn't stupid; he didn't think too much about it at the time.

Now, upon reflection and further thought, I immediately understood.

After figuring it out, he looked at Ling Yan with disbelief and confusion and asked, "You were already planning to leave him back then? But... why?"

Ling Yan smiled.

But her smile looked so bitter: "Naturally, it's because I don't want to share him with other women, nor do I want to watch him take one concubine after another."

Chu Xiyao then understood the reason.

Emperors have always been the most helpless.

Thinking of my elder brother, who also had deep affection for his sister-in-law.

Didn't they also take many concubines into the palace?

Being in this position, sometimes you really have no control over your own life and can't do whatever you want or act entirely according to your own ideas.

Because personal emotions and desires are bound by countless rules, interests, and the overall situation.

Therefore, he could understand why Lingling wanted to leave him.

After all, she is so intolerant of any wrongdoing.

So pure and resolute, allowing no impurities whatsoever.

Since that's the case, then he will grant her wish and take her away.