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

The guard who had been standing by had an excited glint in his eyes. When he saw Hua Xiangrong looking at him as she spoke, he immediately said, "Don't worry, Miss, I will handle it properly. I just don't know if you could remove this mask from my face. I've tried for a long time but haven't been able to find the contact."

Hua Xiangrong stood up and stepped forward, taking off the mask in one swift motion. She laughed and said, "You're hesitant to take it off because you feel sorry for the mask and can't bear to damage it. But I don't have that concern. Although it hurts a little, I can still take it off very easily."

Seeing that the mask was torn, the guard immediately disregarded the pain on his face and said regretfully, "Miss, this mask is broken, what should we do?"

Hua Xiangrong said, "What else can we do? Burn it. You don't need to pretend to be your little general anymore. This mask might be used by someone, so it's better to burn it. I always make masks that I only use once."

The guard immediately understood and nodded, saying, "What you say is true, young lady. The reputation of the general must not be tarnished."

Hua Xiangrong raised an eyebrow, glanced at Shangguan Hanque who was staring at his back in the mirror with surprise, and teased, "But your general's reputation has been ruined by me, a courtesan. I'm afraid he'll never be able to come back. What are we going to do?"

The guard was taken aback, scratched his head and said, "Miss is joking again. If the young general is willing, we subordinates are naturally happy to see it happen."

Shangguan Hanque blushed and immediately looked at him with a cold expression. Upon seeing this, he hurriedly moved towards the door and then ran away as fast as his feet touched the ground.

"Wait here, young lady, I'll go get you some chicken blood."

Shangguan Hanque coldly said, "You've got some nerve. Once I can get out of here, I'll make you carry ten sandbags."

Hua Xiangrong shook her head and sighed, "Is this what you call settling a personal score?"

Shangguan Hanque glanced at her hesitantly and said, "If you say so, then so be it."

Hua couldn't help but pinch Jun's cheek and said, "I'll have to trouble you to sleep on your stomach for the next few days, otherwise you'll damage the wound and it won't have the same effect as it does now."

Shangguan Hanque nodded, and Shangguan Ting suddenly sighed, saying, "The Shangguan family has been loyal to the country for more than a hundred years. Now my son is still guarding the border, but I and my descendants still do not receive the kindness and respect of the royal family. I am not reconciled."

Hua Xiangrong clapped her hands, tidied up the tools, and put them away, saying, "General, there's no need to be so sad. As the saying goes, 'The rabbit dies, the hound is cooked.' As long as there are emperors, there will be honest ones and there will be incompetent ones. Right now, it's just that you, General, are unlucky and have been stuck with an incompetent one. But this is also a good thing. You've gotten rid of this place of trouble as soon as possible and can enjoy your retirement sooner."

Shangguan Ting shook his head: "You don't understand. The Shangguan family was appointed by the late emperor as a great general. The plaque in this mansion was hung up back then. It has a history of hundreds of years. How can we just put it down? There are many interests involved. Even if I wanted to put it down, the emperor would not agree."

Hua Xiangrong sneered: "How could I not know? Isn't it just that you Shangguan family are afraid that once you all retire from the military, your supporters in the army will cause trouble and rebel? That's just cowardice. A truly powerful emperor would never have such worries."

He would prioritize the interests of meritorious officials and then win them over with appeasement. He would never resort to coercion. This way, even those who did not want to rebel would be driven to desperation. What is there to be loyal to in a court that does not know how to win people's hearts?

Everyone treats you like a dog, so why would you side with a dog's owner? Old General, loyalty and filial piety are good, but blind loyalty is not. It will not only harm yourself but also future generations; it's a losing proposition.

Shangguan Ting sighed, “I know that I was already disheartened sixteen years ago. Otherwise, how could I have retired from the military and returned to my hometown in the prime of my life? My daughter, if it weren’t for the fear and suspicion of the royal family towards us, how could she have ended up like this?”

Armored soldiers are the Shangguan family's nightmare. I wonder when this suspicion will end, and when my poor daughter and granddaughter will be able to return and reunite with my family.

At this point, Shangguan Ting suddenly smiled, wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, grasped Hua Xiangrong's hand, and said, "Girl, I have to thank you. Otherwise, I really don't know how much longer I could live. You gave me hope."

Hua Xiangrong shook her head and said, "General, there's no need for such formalities. We're family, so let's not stand on ceremony. Yueyue is my savior, and if we're talking about repaying her kindness, I should do everything in my power. Besides, Yueyue and I hit it off immediately and have become sworn brothers, so naturally I'll do everything I can to help her."

Shangguan Hanque asked weakly, "What about me? Do I have my reasons?"

He wasn't dressed yet, and his blushing face made him look like a shy man who had been violated. Hua Xiangrong felt a burning desire to see him, but because Shangguan Hanque was beside her, she couldn't do anything to him. She could only nod and say, "Yes, of course. When I first saw you, I was attracted by your stunning beauty."

Shangguan Hanque blushed with satisfaction, and Shangguan Ting laughed, "Hanque looks about five-tenths like his aunt, and I suppose he also has some similarities with Yueyue."

Hua Xiangrong nodded immediately and said, "It's more than just similar. I've seen Aunt's portrait here in Hanque. Yueyue looks exactly like her. If you don't understand, General, you'll understand when you see it."

Shangguan Ting nodded and sighed, "I don't know when we will meet again. I am really looking forward to it. For the past sixteen years, I have been unable to sleep at night."

Hua Xiangrong said, "General, just wait. I believe the opportunity will come soon. Yueyue's arrangements are always precise. Although I can't figure out what she's going to do, I can sense that she's about to make her move."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Hanque said, "I think it will be soon. In the past few days, news has come from the Qiu residence that Qiu Zhenzhou's wife, Madam Sun, has been going to the Empress's place all day long, and we don't know what she is talking about. On Qiu Zhenzhou's side, the Crown Prince is also frequently coming and going, seemingly to visit Qiu Lingfeng, but he rarely goes to Qiu Lingfeng's courtyard. He is usually in Qiu Zhenzhou's study. It seems that the two of them are plotting something."

Hua Xiangrong rested her chin on her hand, pondered for a moment, and said, "It seems that a good show is about to begin. I need to start by investigating Murong Yu to find out what's going on."

Shangguan Hanque paused, then suddenly stood up and said, "Don't go near him, he won't let you go."

Hua Xiangrong laughed and said, "Do you think I'm made of clay? To be kneaded and molded at will?"

"That won't do either. You're my wife, and I can't let you suffer."

Shangguan Ting stroked his beard and said, "I don't know what you're planning to do, but I still have to say, girl, your safety is the most important thing."

Hua Xiangrong nodded, and Shangguan Ting turned and left, leaving space for the two of them.

After Shangguan Ting left, Shangguan Hanque grabbed Hua Xiangrong. But before he could speak, Hua Xiangrong suddenly pushed him down with her bare hands, her lips brushing against his, and said in a breathy voice, "What? Afraid I'll be seduced by another man? You've gotten used to calling me 'wife'? When did I agree to be your wife? I say, General, aren't you overthinking this?"

Shangguan Hanque blushed and hesitated for a long time before saying, "Since you didn't refuse, it means you agree to be my wife. I'm just waiting for your nod. You must not go to Murong Yu. I'm afraid you'll get hurt. Murong Yu is not a good person."

Hua Xiangrong kissed him and said, "As expected, I love hearing you talk the most. But as you know, Murong Chuan is the most knowledgeable about things in the palace. Don't be fooled by his life of debauchery; his information network is still quite extensive. Moreover, it seems that the Qilin Pavilion in the capital city has some dealings with him."

Shangguan Hanque frowned and said, "But it doesn't warrant implicating yourself. Murong Yu is not a good person. I can help you investigate the matter of Qilin Pavilion."

"What about the Qiu family's affairs? And what about Murong Chuan's affairs? Can you find out anything about them?"

Shangguan Hanque paused, and Hua Xiangrong continued, "Qilin Pavilion may seem simple, but it is actually quite large. Do you really think it doesn't have a powerful backer? I don't believe that such a powerful place doesn't have a huge backer. You better behave yourself and don't provoke it, or you'll just cause trouble for Yueyue for no reason."

Shangguan Hanque retorted, "How is it causing trouble? I'm not a child anymore."

Hua Xiangrong smiled and said, "I know you're not a child, otherwise, why would it be so excited?"

Shangguan Hanque's face flushed red instantly, and he abruptly threw Hua Xiangrong onto the bed...

Murong Yu finally dug up Gu Yin. Gu Yin was dead, in Hua Xiangrong's room on the fourth floor of Lanyue Tower. When Hua Xiangrong returned, she saw Gu Yin lying on the ground, her face unrecognizable, while Murong Yu sat on her bed, looking at her coldly.

"Are you willing to come back?"

"Are you willing to go? I just went out for a walk to get some fresh air. How come Your Highness makes it sound like I ran away from home?"

Hua Xiangrong entered the room with a charming laugh, closed the door, and calmly sat down in a chair. Her eyes shifted from Murong Yu to Gu Yin, and she clicked her tongue, saying, "What a pity, beauty. I've lost another pillar here. I wonder how Your Highness will compensate me for this loss?"

Upon hearing this, Murong Yu's eyes were filled with sarcasm and anger. He stood up abruptly, lashing his whip onto the bed with a sharp sound, and said coldly, "Losses? You still want to claim losses from me? Don't you know what you've done? What a fine master of Lan Yue Tower, actually mocking me like this. Do you really think I wouldn't dare to touch you?"

Hua Xiangrong blew on her fingers and said lightly, "Your Highness, don't be so angry. It is said that anger will make you age and wrinkles will appear, which is not good. Although you are not a woman, you should still maintain this handsome demeanor. Otherwise, how can you pick a hundred flowers and seduce ten thousand butterflies?"

"You're still trying to fool me? Don't give me that. You'd better give me an explanation today, or I'll make sure you and your Lanyue Tower disappear from the capital."