First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

"Hey, you really have no manners. You already have a wife, yet you still try to take my bed, this lonely old man." Murong Yuan looked at the man who had taken over his bed, completely speechless.

He met Mu Lingye when he was young.

Back then, he was the lowest-ranking illegitimate son in the Yan State General's Mansion. His concubine was falsely accused by the General's wife of having an affair with a stable boy and was beaten to death in front of him. The General despised him and allowed his wife to drive him out of the General's Mansion, leaving him to become a beggar and be trampled on by others.

If he hadn't been so lucky, he would have died a thousand times over.

He thought he had no way to take revenge on those who had trampled on him.

He was the eldest son of the general's family. He accidentally broke his leg, and the general then thought of his abandoned son and sent someone to bring him back.

Back at the general's mansion, he was still bullied by the general's wife and eldest son. He was in a terrible state every day, and not having enough to eat was the norm.

It was at this moment that he encountered Mu Lingye, who was also being trampled on at will in the Yan Kingdom's palace.

They admired each other, yet were also extremely wary of each other and dared not get close.

It was at a banquet when the general's wife and eldest son plotted to kill him. He learned of the conspiracy beforehand and devised a plan to fight back.

But after all, he was young at the time and his abilities were limited.

When the counter-plan succeeded, it did not strike immediately and kill the general's wife and eldest son.

Instead, they were met with a joint counterattack from the general's wife and eldest son.

Just when his life was hanging by a thread, Mu Lingye appeared and saved him. Together with him, they killed the general's wife and the eldest son.

They threw the two men's bodies into the lake to create the illusion of accidental drowning.

This was his first murder.

At that moment, he decided that Mu Lingye was his brother for life.

He also became determined to make a name for himself.

He wanted the General's Mansion to pay for their blood debts, to repay his mother's life, and to trample that ungrateful general under his feet.

That's why when Mu Lingye was able to return to Sheng, he followed Mu Lingye to Da Sheng without hesitation and helped him make plans.

Previously, Mu Lingye was in poor health and had no ambition to conquer the world, but now Mu Lingye's health has improved, and even the knot in his heart has been untied.

If things continue this way, he believes his wish will soon be fulfilled.

All of these changes were because of Gu Junxi.

Gu Junxi is Mu Lingye's cure, so no matter what, we can't let the relationship between Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye have any problems.

Mu Lingye half-closed his eyes, gave a cold snort, and said very considerately, "If you don't want to be a lonely old man, I can help you marry a wife and take concubines!"

Surrounded by women with three wives and four concubines, Murong Yuan was reminded of his father.

His father married too many women, which is why he and his aunt lived such a miserable life.

Therefore, no matter what, he would never let his woman and child follow in his and his concubine's footsteps.

He had never thought about getting married before, and now, he only wants to marry one person.

Murong Yuan shook his head in refusal and lay down next to Mu Lingye: "Let's skip it. I'd rather be a lonely old man."

A series of joyous events have recently occurred in the capital. First, Ning Hanshuang got married, then Mu Qingfu got married, and soon after, Mu Lingche will hold a wedding banquet with Princess Fengwu of Qin.

Generally, it takes a year and a half to prepare for the marriage of a princess or prince, but Feng Wu and Mu Lingche are different.

Firstly, they had already consummated their marriage.

Secondly, Feng Wu was there for a marriage alliance, and the Qin delegation would be returning to Qin after attending the wedding banquet.

Therefore, their wedding banquet was arranged in a bit of a rush.

Two weeks later.

Besides the Ministry of Rites being busy with Mu Lingche and Feng Wu's wedding, other officials in the capital who had nothing else to do were also sent to assist.

Gu Yuanbai, who had been idle in the mansion for a long time, somehow managed to get a job in the Ministry of Rites and is now arranging the wedding for Mu Lingche and Feng Wu.

The following day, Mu Lingye went to the Prince Su's residence.

Gu Junxi also returned to the Ningyuan Marquis's residence.

Not long after they sat down, a letter arrived from the Gu residence, delivered by Gu Lichuan.

The letter first apologized for not stopping Gu Yuanbai on the day of Ning Hanshuang's wedding banquet, and then talked about Gu Yuanbai's work at the Ministry of Rites.

Gu Lichuan had a gut feeling that Gu Yuanbai's actions were ill-intentioned, and warned Gu Junxi and Ning Hanshuang to be extra careful.

"Apologize? How many times have Gu Lichuan and his two brothers apologized? Every time they apologize, they revert to their old ways as soon as something happens. They're like dogs that can't change their nature."

Last night, Zuo Chengfeng, who had just gotten married, brought Mu Qingfu to visit his godparents. After seeing the letter, he was the first to complain about it.

Although Gu Lichuan and his two brothers were his own sons, that familial bond had long been worn away by a series of events.

Ning Hanshuang didn't feel uncomfortable because Zuo Chengfeng criticized Gu Lichuan and the other two; on the contrary, she thought Zuo Chengfeng was right.

The best way to avoid being influenced by Gu Lichuan and his group is to stay far away.

Ning Hanshuang looked at Gu Junxi: "Xixi, we don't need to pay attention to Gu Lichuan and the others, but we have to be wary of Gu Yuanbai."

“Mother, I know.” Gu Junxi agreed, turning her gaze to Lili sitting to the side.

Lili kept her head down, eating her fruit with a blank expression, seemingly indifferent to everything happening around her.

She seemed to sense Gu Junxi's gaze, suddenly stood up, and left the hall.

Not long after, Su Li returned and took the initiative to say, "Gu Junxi, I want to attend the Sixth Prince's wedding banquet with you."

Su Li rarely went out with them. Even when there were banquets in the past, she would refuse to go with them.

This is the first time I've taken the initiative to speak up.

Gu Junxi frowned, thinking of the person Murong Yuan had mentioned who was manipulating Li Su behind the scenes.

When Su Li returned from her trip, she suddenly made a request. Could it be that the person behind the scenes had given Su Li an order?

Gu Junxi remained expressionless and glanced at Wen Gu, who followed Su Li into the hall.

"What, you're not saying anything because you don't want to take me? Didn't you say I'm your sister and you'd give me everything? Now you won't even take me to a wedding banquet? Or are you afraid I'll embarrass you?"

Su Li's lips curled into a mocking smile, and her words suddenly became harsh and sharp.

She seemed to want to vent something, or perhaps she wanted to use this to worsen their relationship.

"Su Li, what nonsense are you spouting? Have you lost your conscience? Can't you see how your aunt and Xi Xi have been treating you these days?"

Mu Qingfu has the most short temper and can't stand Su Li's inability to distinguish right from wrong and her tendency to distort the truth.

It has to be said that she and Zuo Chengfeng are a perfect match.

"If I can't see it, am I blind?" Su Li glanced at Mu Qingfu with displeasure and sneered, "Besides, they're just putting on a show for me."

It is disheartening to have all your efforts denied.

Su Li's attitude wasn't one of asking for help; it seemed more like she was deliberately creating conflict to mess things up.

Gu Junxi keenly sensed that Su Li actually did not want to attend Mu Lingche and Feng Wu's wedding banquet.

Could it be that the person behind Su Li ordered her to attend in order to cause trouble at the wedding banquet?