The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

In the imperial palace, in the cold palace.

Bai Jianan, whom no one could find, was sitting on the bed in the Cold Palace, his hands and feet chained with black iron chains. His ankles and wrists were raw from struggling, and the bedding on the bed was stained with blood.

Now, he was sitting on the bed, looking coldly at the person standing in front of him, a faint mockery and a touch of sadness and despair on his lips.

The person standing in front of him was none other than the current emperor, Murong Qianqiu.

Murong Qianqiu looked at Bai Jianan with eyes full of disappointment and scolded in a low voice, "Do you really want to anger me to death? Do you know what I have been arranging for you all these years for?"

Bai Jianan smiled, looking at him sarcastically, and asked, "You arranged all this for me, but is this the life I want? Who are you? Who am I? What does all this have to do with me?"

Murong Qianqiu glared at him immediately: "You say it's alright? Then who am I doing this for? I've gone to such lengths, all I'm asking you to do is marry a woman, how can you be so unreasonable? What good will it do you to argue with me?"

Bai Jianan turned his head away from that disgusting face and said coldly, "This young master already has a fiancée, why would I look for another woman? She's just a useless piece of meat."

Murong Qianqiu immediately retorted angrily, "Bullshit! That fiancée you mentioned is useless. The Shangguan family is already finished and can't help you ascend the throne at all. Now, that woman controls half of the Qilin Pavilion. If you don't marry her, the Qilin Pavilion will collapse. What will you use to fight against Murong Chuan then?"

Bai Jianan looked up arrogantly, glanced at Murong Qianqiu, and laughed, "Isn't Murong Chuan also your son? Why are you being so heartless? Since we're both your sons, it doesn't matter who becomes emperor, why must it be me? You gave me away back then, and now you want to take me back, don't you think it's too late?"

As Bai Jianan spoke, ignoring the blood-soaked bed, he lay down and stared blankly at the top of the bed curtains. At this moment, his mind was filled with thoughts of Jian Yue. He wondered how she was doing and whether she was worried about his disappearance.

He's gone. Did Yipin Hong do anything to harm her? Did Zang Feng protect her?

Murong Qianqiu was so angry that she didn't know what to say. She pointed at Bai Jianan for a long time and angrily flung her sleeves, saying, "Letting you follow my elder sister was just a temporary measure. Otherwise, how could you have survived until now?"

Besides, haven't I spoiled you all these years? I've given you whatever you want. Even as compensation, I've done so much over the years. Now, I'm only letting you marry her to use her power to help you regain the throne. It's not too late to kill her once you've regained all the power.

"You could marry that girl from the Shangguan family. You're going to be the emperor; having multiple wives and concubines is normal. That girl wouldn't dare say anything. Why are you so stubborn? Is it worth suffering like this?"

Bai Jianan didn't answer him, still staring blankly at the bed curtains. Murong Qianqiu frowned, and finally sighed, "Think it over carefully! I'm doing this for your own good. In short, you must marry that woman."

"What if I don't? Will you kill me? Like you killed my mother?"

Bai Jianan turned to look at Murong Qianqiu, his eyes flashing with a chilling light. Murong Qianqiu, upon hearing this, roared, "What nonsense are you spouting? How could I possibly kill my beloved Empress? Nan'er, how could you think such a thing?"

Bai Jianan smiled, then turned to look at the bed curtains again, and said in a hoarse voice, "Yes, your beloved empress suddenly died tragically in the palace, and gave birth to me, her posthumous child, in her critical moment."

In order to keep me alive and prevent me from being harmed by the concubines in the harem, you had the eldest princess take me out of the palace, lied that the empress and her son were dead, and then re-established an empress and appointed a crown prince.

Then, you secretly started treating me well, helping me build my power, clearing the way for me to compete with Murong Chuan for the crown prince position. You said it was because you loved my mother, so you wanted to give her the best, and give me the very best.

As Bai Jianan spoke, he suddenly chuckled and said self-deprecatingly, "You've been saying these things for over a decade, and I'm tired of hearing them. Why bother? You're hurting others and yourself."

Father, what a ridiculous title. I'm twenty years old now, but I've never called you that openly or honestly even once. I just call you that in such a wretched way every day. Do you think that's the best you've ever given me?

You said you wanted me to ascend to the throne, but you stripped me of my right to be the crown prince and made me the child of the princess. But have you ever considered that if I want to gain power now, I will inevitably have to usurp the throne and change the name of the country?

You keep saying you love me, yet you've burdened me with the infamy of usurping the throne. My dear father, is this how you love your son? Don't you find it ridiculous?

Murong Qianqiu was speechless after hearing these words. He stared blankly at Bai Jianan, and suddenly felt a sense of sorrow rising in his heart. After a long while, he took two steps back, his steps faltering.

Bai Jianan looked up and saw disappointment and resentment on Murong Qianqiu's face. He suddenly smiled and asked, "What? Are you very sad? Do you think I'm a good-for-nothing?"

That's how it is. After all, I, the heir apparent, am just an imposter. It's just a pity for my current mother. The eldest princess has been burdened with shackles for many years in order to raise your son.

She and Marquis Qingyan should have lived happily ever after, but because of me, someone who wasn't fatally injured, her life was ruined. Your Majesty, don't you feel sorry for her? Doesn't your heart ache?

As he spoke, he seemed to suddenly realize something and laughed twice, continuing, "I forgot, emperors have always been heartless; they can even kill their own wives. How could they possibly care about an older sister?"

"enough."

Murong Qianqiu roared, looking at Bai Jianan coldly and said, "I don't care what you say or who told you these things, but I'm telling you, I did nothing to your mother. Her death was an accident. Although I also bear some responsibility, I absolutely did not kill her."

As for my elder sister, she is a member of the royal family, so it is only natural for her to do things for me. Moreover, raising children for me is an immense blessing. Besides, I have bestowed countless rewards upon my elder sister over the years, and I have already compensated her enough. I have not wronged my elder sister.

And you, you are my son, so you should bear the responsibilities of being my son. This empire, I said I would leave it to you, and it is meant to be yours. Even if you don't want it, I will still give it to you.”

As Murong Qianqiu spoke, footsteps sounded behind him. He paused, turned around, and said, "You've come at the right time. Spend some more time with him and comfort him. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

Yipin Hong bowed to the Emperor, and Murong Qianqiu left. Bai Jianan continued to look at the bed curtains, not giving Yipin Hong a single glance.

Poinsettia wasn't annoyed. She walked to Bai Jianan's side, looked at his wrist, and said softly, "I brought some medicine for your wounds. Apply some to it!"

Bai Jianan ignored him and instead asked, "And her?"

Yipin Hong paused, and after a long while, she chuckled softly, "Even at a time like this, you're still thinking about her, feeling like a day apart is like three autumns? If that's the case, why don't you agree to marry me? If you just nod your head, you can walk out of here, wouldn't that be better?"

Bai Jianan turned to look at Yipin Hong. Today, Yipin Hong was dressed in a palace gown, her hair was styled up, and a cinnabar mole was placed between her eyebrows. Compared to her usual appearance, her makeup was less fierce and more gentle and graceful.

When Bai Jianan looked over, she was a little nervous, but the next moment, Bai Jianan smiled and said, "There are so many men in the world, why are you so interested in me? And you even want to force me to marry you, do you think I would agree?"

Poinsettia pursed her lips and said, "I can wait for you, as long as you give me a deadline."

Bai Jianan shook his head and continued to laugh, "Hong'er, you've been by my side for so many years, how could you think I would compromise? Hehe! Well, a witch from Miao territory should have some confidence."

Upon hearing this, Poinsettia turned pale. She explained, "I didn't mean to lie to you, it's just..."

"Just what? Just because you like me? That's why you hid it from me? And then stayed by my side for ten years, undermining everything in my Assassin's Guild? Destroying the Qilin Pavilion that I've built up over many years? Your price for liking me is a bit too high, I can't afford it."

Bai Jianan spoke to himself, his face completely nonchalant, his roguish demeanor making Yipin Hong feel a pang of pain. She suddenly leaned down, placing her hands on either side of Bai Jianan's body, and straddled him, staring at his face, and said:

"Sect Master, I truly love you. You must believe me. If I hadn't concealed my identity, I wouldn't have been able to enter the Qilin Pavilion, let alone stay by your side."

I admit that the Miao people do have ambitions towards the Yue Kingdom, which is why I was able to infiltrate your side as an inside agent. But that was ultimately the Miao people's plan, and it had nothing to do with me. I simply like you and want to follow you; I have absolutely no other intentions.”

Bai Jianan stared at her face, which still carried the shyness of her wild movements, with a faint blush and nervousness. At this moment, her expression was the same as that of an ordinary woman, but Bai Jianan knew that she was a femme fatale.

He looked at Yipin Hong expressionlessly and said, "Isn't Miao Di's plan your plan? I almost forgot if you hadn't mentioned it. Marry me, help me sit on the throne, and then sideline me. The Yue Kingdom will then belong to your Miao Di, without losing a single soldier. It's an absolutely brilliant plan."

"I do not have."

Yipin Hong tried to explain further, but Bai Jianan suddenly threw her to the ground. She turned around in a disheveled state, trying to climb back to the bedside, only to see that Bai Jianan had already gotten up. The black iron chain binding her wrist was suddenly broken by him, and bright red blood immediately flowed down from her wrist. She was stunned on the spot.