After giving birth to twins, the princess became pregnant again, and the royal uncle took care of he

Chu Xinglan's body trembled even more violently. She knew it was an almost impossible task, but she had no choice.

She could only nod, her voice tinged with despair: "I will do my best, Consort Su."

A murderous glint flashed across Su Fei's face, and her voice grew even colder:

"If you fail, then too many babies will die in the womb, do you understand what I mean?"

Chu Xinglan felt a chill run from her feet to her head. She nodded, trembling. She knew Su Fei was threatening her.

If she fails to complete the mission, both she and her unborn child will face death.

Consort Su added, "You know what to say in front of the Emperor later. If you let Che'er be tainted in the slightest, I will not let you off."

Her eyes were full of warning, and Chu Xinglan felt an invisible pressure that almost crushed her. "Get out."

Su Fei said coldly, her voice devoid of any emotion, as if Chu Xinglan were merely an insignificant ant.

Chu Xinglan stumbled away from Consort Su's palace, her heart filled with fear and unease.

She knew that she was now facing not only her own fate, but also the life of her unborn child.

She had to carefully navigate the power struggles within the royal family to survive.

Before the dragon-shaped steps of the palace, Chu Huaizhong knelt heavily on the cold stone slabs, his back straight, his face filled with determination and resolve.

The Emperor's gaze was sharp as an eagle's, and his voice echoed throughout the hall: "Prince Yan, what exactly is going on?"

Jun Xuanche stood beside Chu Xinglan. He was handsome. He glanced at Chu Xinglan and then turned to the Emperor.

Just as he was about to speak, Chu Xinglan spoke first.

Chu Xinglan's voice trembled, yet remained exceptionally firm:

"Your Majesty, it is all my fault. I have long admired Prince Yan, and in a moment of confusion, I did such a thing."

The King of Yan knew nothing of this; it was all the daughter of the subject's doing.

Her words were filled with despair; she knew there was no turning back for her future.

Her fate was now inextricably linked with Jun Xuanche's; no matter what lay ahead, she had no choice but to move forward.

A hint of surprise flashed in Jun Xuanche's eyes; he clearly hadn't expected Chu Xinglan to be so candid.

He took a deep breath and then said in a low voice:

“Father, although I was the one who was tricked, I am willing to take responsibility for Chu Xinglan. After she comes of age, I will take her into my family.”

The emperor frowned, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Jun Xuanche and Chu Xinglan.

He knew that this matter involved the reputation of the royal family and the face of the Chu family, and had to be handled with caution.

He remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded helplessly:

"Since that's the case, I agree. You may leave." Chu Xinglan and Jun Xuanche bowed and then slowly withdrew from the hall.

Chu Xinglan was overjoyed. She would become the Prince of Yan's concubine, and once she gave birth to the eldest grandson of the emperor, she could become the principal wife.

Jun Xuanche, however, was indifferent, for the sake of the 200,000 silver-armored soldiers of the Zhennan General and the wealth of Chu Xingyao's maternal grandfather's family.

He'd rather suffer a little and have both Chu Xingyao and Chu Xinglan.

As he walked, he pondered, as if he could see himself ascending to the throne of the supreme ruler.

After Chu Xinglan and Jun Xuanche left, the Emperor looked up at Chu Huaizhong, who was still kneeling upright, and couldn't help but smile.

That old fellow Chu Huaizhong had been training in the army since the emperor was still a prince.

On the way to charge into battle, Chu Huaizhong saved him from danger many times.

Although they were ruler and subject, they were also good friends. They had long wanted to bestow upon him the title of Marquis of Dingyuan or Duke of Dingguo, but Chu Huaizhong refused.

The Emperor rolled his eyes at Chu Huaizhong and teased, "Minister Chu, get up. Don't put on this act in front of me. Just say what you have to say."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the General of Zhennan, who was already in his forties, burst into tears, sobbing as he said:

"Your Majesty, I am useless. I could not protect my precious baby and he was so badly injured."

"My precious baby was unconscious for three days and three nights! I almost lost my precious baby, sob sob..."

The emperor paused on the imperial edict, then put his hand to his forehead, speechless. This old man was getting more and more unbearable to look at as he got older.

Of all people to mess with, Jun Xuanche had to provoke Chu Xingyao.

Everyone in the capital knows General Chu Huaizhong, who dotes on his precious daughter and is known as "the number one daughter slave in the capital".

He still remembered the poem "To My Little Daughter" that Chu Huaizhong wrote for Chu Xingyao's sixth birthday.

With My Little Daughter

When she first saw people, she began to speak in a babbling, inarticulate voice; refusing to go to sleep, she lingered in her little cart. What caused her to cry so sweetly all night? Because she disliked that her clothes lacked the embroidered gold thread.

It once moved the entire capital city with its tenderness and affection.

It's impossible not to feel Chu Huaizhong's deep fatherly love for Chu Xingyao.

The Emperor recalled Chu Xingyao's innocent wish when she was a child: to pluck the stars from the sky.

Chu Huaizhong actually built a Star-Picking Tower for her, which was only three inches shorter than the Observatory of the Imperial Observatory. Even the Emperor thought this favor was a bit excessive.

Previously, when Chu Xingyao didn't care much for Chu Huaizhong as her father, Chu Huaizhong was the most doting father in the capital.

The Emperor still remembered that Chu Huaizhong had once come to the palace crying and pleading for the Emperor's lucky koi fish because Chu Xingyao wanted it, using the same excuse:

"Your Majesty, I am walking on the edge of a knife. I may die on the battlefield at any time. I only have one precious child."

"My darling doesn't like me as her father to begin with. If I can't bring back the lucky koi fish, she'll be unhappy, and if she's unhappy, I can't live..."

This forced the emperor to grant his request. From then on, whether it was the pastries in the imperial kitchen or the flowers in the imperial garden...

Chu Huaizhong would ask the Emperor for anything Chu Xingyao wanted.

The Emperor shook his head. He knew that Chu Xingyao and Chu Huaizhong's relationship had deepened considerably since their return to the capital.

Chu Xingyao was willing to hug Chu Huaizhong and act coquettishly, calling him "Daddy" again and again.

Chu Huaizhong's affection for Chu Xingyao had reached a level that even he, the emperor, could not match.

He even dared to say that if Chu Xingyao really wanted this palace, Chu Huaizhong would probably dare to advise her to move the capital.

As the emperor wrote the imperial edict, he pondered how to calm Chu Huaizhong's emotions.

He knew that what Chu Huaizhong needed now was a promise, a promise that would ensure Chu Xingyao received the respect and protection she deserved.

Suddenly, one of the generals burst into tears again, crying as he said:

"Your Majesty, I am utterly useless. I couldn't even protect my only daughter. You may order my execution."

The Emperor glanced at the woman wailing loudly, the number one doting father in the capital.

I couldn't stand it anymore; I really wanted to throw Chu Huaizhong out and give him fifty lashes. (The implication is that...)

Does this mean that if Chu Xingyao isn't given justice, she'll die in front of me?