Sludge suction system

The person knocking on the door was Leng Er. He had been waiting outside the door all night, but the prince did not come out for a long time. Not wanting to disturb the prince's good time, he urged the prince to get up and attend the court meeting at dawn.

"Understood, wait a moment." He finished speaking, then quickly got up and neatly dressed. Turning to look tenderly at Hua Xiang beside him, he gently soothed her anxious heart, "Don't worry, just wait here obediently. When I return, I will give you a satisfactory explanation." After speaking, he summoned Leng Er and solemnly instructed him to ensure Hua Xiang's safe return to the mansion.

The atmosphere in the imperial court was heavy and solemn. The emperor sat upright on his dragon throne, his gaze sharp as he surveyed the assembled officials. Suddenly, his gaze settled on Lan Feng, and he slowly asked, "Lan Feng, I have heard that you and the daughter of the Minister are discussing marriage. I wonder how this matter is progressing?"

Upon hearing this, Lan Feng stepped forward neither humbly nor arrogantly, bowed, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I have fallen in love with both young ladies of the Hua family, and therefore wish to marry them into the family and unite them in marriage."

These words caused a huge uproar. The Minister, upon hearing this, turned ashen-faced and trembled violently. His hair stood on end in fury, and he abruptly stood up, pointing at Lan Feng and rebuking him: "Fourth Prince, your words are truly kind to me, Hua, but your attempt to marry both of my beloved daughters at the same time is utterly absurd!" With that, he angrily flicked his sleeve and gave the Fourth Prince a heavy, cold snort.

Seeing this, the Crown Prince quickly stepped forward and echoed, "Fourth Brother, your actions this time were indeed somewhat inappropriate. Isn't this a blatant disgrace to the Minister?" In an instant, the court was abuzz with discussion, with some criticizing Lan Feng's behavior and others speculating about the reasons behind it, and the scene descended into chaos.

"I've long heard that the Fourth Prince is a womanizer, but I never thought the rumors were true." The courtiers below began to discuss among themselves.

Seeing the situation rapidly deteriorate and the atmosphere growing increasingly tense, the emperor, sitting on the dragon throne above, instantly darkened his expression and immediately spoke up to stop it.

He then said in a loud voice, "This matter will be put aside for now, and we will discuss it again at a later time! Fourth Prince and Crown Prince, you two come to see me immediately after court!" After saying this, the emperor waved his hand slightly and then announced the end of court.

Before long, in the Imperial Study, the Fourth Prince, Lan Feng, knelt respectfully on both knees, while the Crown Prince stood quietly to one side. The Emperor sat upright at his desk, his face solemn, his gaze fixed intently on his son, who seemed somewhat incompetent.

Gazing at the face before him that bore such a striking resemblance to the deceased Consort Ning, the Emperor couldn't help but recall the moments he had shared with his beloved consort, a wave of sorrow washing over him. However, as the ruler of a nation, he could not easily reveal his deepest affection, and could only sigh inwardly before slowly saying, "Rise and speak." As he spoke, the Emperor gently raised his right hand, gesturing for Lan Feng to rise.

After Lan Feng stood up, the emperor asked with a solemn expression, "Let me ask you, do you really want to marry those two young ladies from the Hua family?" His words revealed a hint of doubt.

Lan Feng nodded without hesitation and replied, "Your subject truly desires to marry Hua Yu and Hua Xiang, and hopes that Father will grant your wish." His words were earnest and filled with deep pleading.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then replied helplessly, "This matter concerns Minister Hua's reputation, so it must be handled with caution and thoroughness. How about this, I will send someone to personally invite the two young ladies of the Hua family to the palace to hear their own thoughts on this matter." Faced with Lan Feng's persistent request, the Emperor ultimately chose to temporarily compromise and back down.

Minister Hua has a younger sister who is the current Imperial Noble Consort, Consort Hua. The Emperor sent someone to deliver a message to Consort Hua, asking her to invite the two young ladies of the Hua family to the palace for a chat, and to test their true nature and which one is more suitable to be the wife of the Fourth Prince, Lan Feng.

The Hua family quickly received the news and sent the two young ladies to the palace. Led by palace servants, they soon arrived at the Apricot Blossom Palace, where Consort Hua resided. Hua Yu and Hua Xiang stood outside the palace, awaiting their summons. Hua Yu wore a moon-white silk dress, the hem embroidered with a few simple plum blossoms, a perfect touch that accentuated her gentle elegance. She held a round fan with a bamboo painting she had personally hand-painted on its surface. Her every gesture exuded scholarly refinement, her expression composed, though the slight clenching of the fan handle betrayed a hint of nervousness.

In contrast, Hua Xiang was far more radiant, draped in a bright red brocade cloak over a tight-fitting jacket embroidered with gold thread, which accentuated her graceful figure. Her makeup was heavy, and her eyes and brows exuded an irresistible charm. The jewels in her hair jingled and swayed with every step, radiating confidence as if this forbidden palace were nothing more than her own backyard.

As soon as the summons was given, the two entered the hall and bowed. "Your niece greets your aunt." Consort Hua leaned lazily against the phoenix couch, raised her hand to signal them to rise, and glanced at the two women: "We are sisters, no need for formalities. What brings you to the palace?"

Hua Yu spoke first, her eyes slightly lowered, her voice soft yet firm: "Aunt, the Fourth Prince, Lan Feng, is exceptionally talented and compassionate towards the common people, and I have long admired him. However, I know that the Prince's mansion is no ordinary place, and I do not aspire to become his concubine. I only wish to find an opportunity to stay by his side, to add fragrance to his sleeves, to appreciate poetry and books together, and to offer him some assistance." After speaking, a blush rose on her cheeks, like a peach blossom just beginning to bloom on a spring branch.

"Little rascal, playing the good girl is really making me uncomfortable. I can hardly stand saying such insincere things. Luckily, you prepared the lie pills for me in advance, and they really came in handy."

"Host, for the sake of your grand plan to avenge the female lead as soon as possible, please bear with it a little longer. It's time to show your acting skills."

Consort Hua raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying, and turned to look at Hua Xiang. Hua Xiang stepped forward gracefully, a charming smile playing on her lips: "Aunt, what I admire about the Fourth Prince isn't just his talent and character, but also the power behind him. In the current court, the Prince is at the height of his influence, and he might very well rise to the top. I'm confident that with my own abilities, I can secure the position of principal wife, hold my position in the Prince's residence, and share in the glory and wealth with the Prince." As she spoke, she puffed out her chest, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.

Hearing the two girls' contrasting statements, Consort Hua's lips curled into a playful smile. She thought to herself: These two nieces have completely different thoughts. I wonder what kind of storms they will stir up in the game of the Prince's Palace and the Imperial Court in the future.

Hua Xiang called to Consort Hua for a long time without getting a response, then leaned down to Consort Hua's ear and whispered, "I have already been intimate with the Fourth Prince. This position as the principal wife is rightfully mine. Moreover, the Fourth Prince listens to me completely and can provide greater support to our Hua family in the future. Aunt, what do you think?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Consort Hua's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and spoke calmly to Hua Yu: "Yu'er, I think Xiang'er is more suitable to be the Fourth Prince's principal wife. What do you think?"

Although Hua Yu really wanted to laugh out loud, she held back her laughter and put on a conflicted expression, saying, "But, the Fourth Prince and I started discussing marriage first..." As she spoke, she scratched her hands in a conflicted manner.

Looking at the reserved Hua Yu, and then at the even more determined Hua Xiang, Consort Hua waved her hand and said, "There's no need to say anything more. Let Hua Xiang marry the Fourth Prince. Hua Yu, you should find a better man."

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Hua Yu's lips. She thought to herself, "The real show is just beginning!"