Han Yаn turnеd hеr hеаd to glare аt him. Нow cоuld this persоn misintеrрrеt оthеrs' intentions sо arbitrarily? She stiffly reрliеd, "Your Нighness is оvеrthinking."
Аftеr a lоng silеnсе whеre nеither spokе, Fu Yunхi finallу broke the quiеt: "Yesterdаy's assаssin wаs frоm Wеstеrn Rоng."
Нan Yan wаs stаrtled: "Wеstеrn Rоng?" No wоnder thе mаn hadn't loоkеd like sоmeone frоm the Centrаl Рlаins. But with Wеstern Rong and thе Grеаt Dynаstу сurrеntlу аt odds likе firе and wаter, hоw dare thаt man vеnturе аlonе intо thе рalacе to assassinate Тhe Empеror? Reсalling thаt shе had sаved the man's life last night, she began to feel uneasy. Looking at Fu Yunxi again, she realized he must already know what had happened last night and that she had helped the assassin escape. Seeing his cold, stern expression, Han Yan wondered if he suspected her of colluding with the assassin. After some thought, she decided to explain herself to Fu Yunxi: "I didn't know he was from Western Rong. At the time, he held a knife to my throat. If I hadn't helped him, he would have harmed me. That's why I..."
"Where was he hiding?" Fu Yunxi interrupted before she could finish.
Han Yan hadn't expected this question and was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
"In your room?" Fu Yunxi raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a subtle hint of danger.
Han Yan blinked and nodded.
Before she could finish speaking, she felt warmth on her lips as that handsome face loomed large in her vision. Seeing her stunned expression, Fu Yunxi pulled back slightly, his voice carrying a warning tone: "You are this prince's consort!"
Han Yan pushed him away, feeling utterly shocked. How could Fu Yunxi just kiss her like that? Yet she noticed his expression had softened somewhat as he set something down, then turned and left with a flick of his sleeve.
After Fu Yunxi departed, Han Yan walked over and discovered several jars of scar-removing ointment. A wave of warmth rose in her heart, and recalling that unexpected kiss, her cheeks grew warm with a blush.
Suddenly understanding dawned. No wonder he had been so unusual today, in such a foul mood throughout. At first, she thought he suspected her of deliberately helping the assassin, but now she realized he was displeased that she had been alone in a room with the assassin. This man was so petty! But... Han Yan clutched the medicine jars in her hand: "Was he... jealous?"
Meanwhile, after leaving the Zhuang residence, Fu Yunxi headed to the palace. With Empress Dowager summoning him today, he couldn't linger too long at the Zhuang estate.
Colorful Phoenix Hall.
Empress Dowager reclined on a Ruyi couch, with two palace maids in court dress kneeling below, massaging her legs. Consort Chen sat nearby, conversing with her, when a eunuch announced from outside: "Xuan Qing Prince has arrived..."
Fu Yunxi entered the great hall, bending to half-kneel, his voice cold and deep: "Your son pays respects to Mother Empress."
"Rise." Empress Dowager beckoned to him: "Yunxi, it's been many days since I've seen you."
Fu Yunxi's eyes were deep and dark: "Your son is unfilial, causing Mother Empress worry." Though he said this, his tone carried no sense of concern.
Consort Chen sat properly with bowed head to one side, though the corners of her lips curled into a meaningful smile.
"Yunxi, I hear you're going to marry the young lady of the Zhuang family." Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, slowly taking a sip of tea.
"Yes." Fu Yunxi clearly didn't wish to dwell on this topic, his reply extremely brief."Originally, I was thinking of betrothing the Zhuang family girl to Prince Wei's heir, but now you've beaten me to it." As she spoke, she observed Fu Yunxi's expression. However, she did not see the reaction she had hoped for on his face. Fu Yunxi replied, "The Emperor has already betrothed the daughter of the Right Chancellor's household to Prince Wei's heir. It should be a happy union."
"Hah." The Empress Dowager seemed to have heard something amusing. "Wasn't that marriage something you asked the Emperor to arrange?"
Fu Yunxi said, "I merely saw that Miss Li was deeply devoted to Prince Wei's heir."
Having met a gentle rebuff, the Empress Dowager decided not to beat around the bush with him any longer. She asked directly, "Why do you wish to marry the Fourth Miss of the Zhuang household?"
"Miss Zhuang is widely renowned for her talent, and I admire her greatly. What does Mother think of this reason?" he replied.
But the Empress Dowager did not look at him. Instead, she turned to Consort Chen beside her. "I am old and cannot understand such things as admiration. Consort Chen, why don't you tell me, what kind of person is that Fourth Miss Zhuang?"
Consort Chen replied respectfully, "Fourth Miss Zhuang is a pitiable soul. She lost her mother just last year, receives little affection from her father, and is even bullied by the concubines in the household. She truly seems quite pitiful."
On the surface, these words expressed sympathy for Han Yan, but beneath them lay the implication that Han Yan held an unfavored status. Even as a legitimate daughter in her household, she was not well-regarded by others. Such a girl would be somewhat lacking as a candidate for Xuan Qing Prince Consort.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager sighed. "Such a pitiable girl. Yunxi, you must treat her well." Then, shifting her tone, she added, "However, having suffered since childhood, she may struggle after entering your household. I will assign you a few other consorts and concubines to assist Miss Zhuang. That would be for the best."
Fu Yunxi said calmly, "Mother may not be aware, but I have already sworn before the entire court that in this lifetime, I will marry only Miss Zhuang."
"What?" The Empress Dowager was shocked. "How can that be? There has never been such a rule—royal descendants marrying only one principal consort. Continuing the family line is your duty. How can you act on impulse? I do not agree."
"Mother Empress," Consort Chen spoke softly, "it was Fourth Miss Zhuang herself who made this request. When Prince Wei and his son went to the Zhuang household to propose marriage, Miss Zhuang stated that the man she marries must take only her as his wife in this lifetime. That was what dissuaded Prince Wei."
The Empress Dowager's eyes widened in anger. "What a jealous woman! A woman should be tolerant and magnanimous, adhering to the Three Obediences and Four Virtues to be considered good. But she! To make such an absurd demand—what will happen after she enters the household? Yunxi, I forbid you to marry such a woman. Break off the engagement immediately."
"Mother Empress jests," Fu Yunxi remained unperturbed. "The Emperor granted this marriage before all civil and military officials. How can it be changed? Even today, she is destined to be the consort of my Xuan Qing Prince's Mansion."
Consort Chen covered her mouth and giggled. "No wonder they say His Highness is a gentleman. If you wish to comply with Mother Empress's wishes, isn't it simple? As long as Your Highness writes a letter of divorce and dismisses her immediately, this marriage will be void. The Emperor only granted the marriage; he did not forbid divorce."
The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction. "Exactly. Yunxi, write a letter of divorce at once. There are plenty of fine young ladies in the capital. I will arrange another good marriage for you.""May I ask, Empress Dowager, what crime has Miss Zhuang committed that I should divorce her?" Fu Yunxi raised an eyebrow and asked.
"She has violated the rule of jealousy among the seven grounds for divorce!" A flicker of malice flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes. "How can we keep such a jealous woman!"
"If you consider my vow to marry only her in this lifetime as jealousy, I'm afraid that won't do," Fu Yunxi said slowly. "Because I, your son, am willingly devoted to her alone."
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