Wei Rufеng's ехрrеssion shifted slightly, аs if hе had discеrned somеthing frоm thе Sеvеnth Рrince's wоrds. He hesitated befоrе loоking up: "Yоur Нighnеss..."
Тhe Sеvеnth Рrinсе taрped his wine сuр: "You аre one оf my pеoplе, sо nаturаllу, I саnnot let оthеrs bully уоu. Рrincе Wei mеntiоned that уоu havе always bеen unwilling to involvе уоurself in fаctional strugglеs аt сourt."
Тhis wаs truе. Wеi Rufеng рrided himsеlf аs a sсholаr and desрised thе bеhаvior оf fоrming сliquеs in the court. Аlthough Prince Wei hаd clearlу stated his аllegiаnсe tо the Seventh Prince, Wei Rufeng had merely turned a blind eye and never explicitly declared his stance. Now, however, things were different. Fu Yunxi had become a thorn in his side, and if he wanted to bring Fu Yunxi down, he would need the Seventh Prince's power.
Thinking of this, he knelt down: "This subordinate is willing to follow Your Highness forever and dares not harbor any thoughts of betrayal." He used the term "subordinate," lowering his own status while elevating the Seventh Prince, simultaneously expressing his loyalty. The Seventh Prince smiled with satisfaction and personally helped him up from the ground: "Rufeng, there is no need to be so cautious. Since we are on the same side, there is no need for such formalities." With a forceful grip, the wine cup shattered in his hand: "Actually, there is another way for you to marry the Fourth Miss of the Zhuang family."
Upon hearing this, Wei Rufeng felt as if he had found a lifeline in despair. He was instantly overjoyed and asked eagerly: "What way?"
The Seventh Prince spoke leisurely: "Since His Majesty has decreed the marriage, Miss Li is destined to be your consort. Therefore, you cannot marry Zhuang Hanyan as your principal wife. Why not take her as a concubine?"
A concubine? Wei Rufeng was taken aback and instinctively refused: "No..."
"She is now merely the daughter of a fifth-rank official, while you are the esteemed son of a prince." The Seventh Prince's voice grew slightly stern: "Is she not worthy?"
Wei Rufeng listened to the Seventh Prince's words and remained silent for a long while. The Seventh Prince was in no hurry, slowly pouring wine into another cup and drinking. After a long time, he finally heard Wei Rufeng's sinister reply: "Being able to enter Prince Wei's residence is her good fortune."
"Excellent!" The Seventh Prince laughed heartily: "Come, come, let us drink a few cups with me!"
Meanwhile, when Madam Zhou learned of this news, she was greatly shocked. With the Emperor's marriage decree issued, Han Yan would certainly have no chance of entering Prince Wei's residence, but did Zhuangshan also lose her opportunity? What should be done?
Thinking of this, she grew even more resentful toward Han Yan. Her own affairs had implicated her Yu Shan—what a jinx! Madam Da Zhou, however, comforted her, saying there was no need to rush. No one had anticipated the Emperor's marriage decree, so it would be better to hear what Wei Rufeng had to say about the next steps. Perhaps there were other ways.
Sure enough, the next day, Madam Da Zhou received word from Wei Rufeng: he could marry Han Yan not as his consort but as a concubine.
Not as a secondary consort, but as a concubine!
If this were to truly happen, Zhuangshan would be one step above Han Yan. A daughter of a concubine would actually hold a higher status than a legitimate daughter—what a great irony! Madam Da Zhou's heart stirred, speculating that Han Yan must have offended this young master in some way. Otherwise, with such heavy irony, once Han Yan became a concubine, Zhuangshan alone could torment her in countless ways, not to mention the Right Chancellor's daughter, who had always disliked her!The happiest of all was undoubtedly Zhuangshan. Although sharing the same man with Han Yan displeased her somewhat, Han Yan was marrying as a concubine while she herself would become a side consort. No one had anticipated today's outcome. They had thought Han Yan would become the heir's principal wife, but heaven had eyes—that wretched girl had ended up in such a predicament. She couldn't help but burst into loud laughter: "So what if she's the legitimate daughter of the Zhuang household! Still unloved! So what if her status is higher than mine—she's still marrying as a concubine!"
Madam Da Zhou stopped her: "Don't rejoice too soon. I don't think she'll agree."
Madam Zhou glared: "Since when does she have a say? As long as the master agrees, no matter how unwilling she is, she'll have to obediently marry over."
When Wei Rufeng had first made this request, Madam Zhou had hesitated, only because she didn't want Han Yan to marry as the heir's principal wife and trample her own Yu Shan underfoot. Now that Han Yan's status had been reduced to that of a concubine, how could she not be overjoyed? It felt as if the long-standing disgust had finally been thoroughly vented. She immediately resolved that, no matter what, she would ensure this marriage came to pass.
Ji Lan relayed all the news she had gathered to Han Yan, deeply worried: "Miss, they're taking advantage of their power to bully others. How can they make you a concubine... it's simply too much."
Mama Chen was also furious. She had previously thought Wei Rufeng was a decent man, never expecting he would propose making her young lady a concubine. What a tremendous humiliation for Han Yan! Even more infuriating was that Zhuangshan could become a side consort.
Shu Hong shook her head: "What should we do? The master and Prince Wei are currently discussing it—it seems likely to succeed. They're almost ready to consult the matchmakers for the eight characters."
Han Yan sneered coldly: "How swift they are. Do they really think I'm an easy target?" With that, she stood up: "Come, let's go meet those shameless scoundrels."
Zhuang Shiyang beamed as he looked at the wooden chests on the floor. This lavish betrothal gift was probably worth a considerable sum. The Wei Prince's household was indeed extravagantly wealthy. The two Zhou sisters also repeatedly praised this as an excellent match. Wei Rufeng sat to the side, his expression somewhat disdainful.
Just as Madam Zhou remarked, "What a perfect match of talent and beauty—they're sure to live in harmony in the future."
"Is Sister Yu Shan getting married? How fast." A clear voice rang from outside the room. Everyone turned to look—it was Han Yan.
Today she wore a deep purple gown of xia-ying brocade, her jet-black hair styled in a falling-horse bun that revealed her smooth forehead. Dangling from her ears were two teardrop-shaped jade pearl earrings, and on her wrist she wore the bracelet previously bestowed by the Empress Dowager, milky white with a faint glow. Though her smile was slight, her presence was imposing—even intimidating—unlike her usual innocent, adorable girlhood demeanor, now sharp and unfamiliar.
Wei Rufeng looked at her, momentarily dazed.
When no one responded, Han Yan repeated with a smile: "Is Sister Yu Shan getting married?"
Zhuang Shiyang cleared his throat: "That is the betrothal gift from the Wei Prince's household for you."
"What?" Han Yan feigned surprise: "Han Yan has no intention of marrying. Why send a betrothal gift?"
Madam Da Zhou smiled: "Master Zhuang and Prince Wei have already settled your marriage with the heir. You need only wait until next year, after your coming-of-age ceremony, to enter the Wei household and complete the wedding."
A normal girl, upon hearing of her own marriage arrangement, would likely blush and immediately retreat to her room. But Han Yan responded with a half-smile: "Oh? Then dare I ask the heir—are you taking Han Yan back as your principal wife?"Madam Zhou gloated with a smug smile, "Wrong, hehe. The heir is taking Yan'er back as a concubine." She covered her mouth with a light chuckle, "When Yu'er becomes the side consort, she can help you out. You two sisters must get along well in Prince Wei's mansion."
Han Yan smiled at the corner of her lips, looking at Wei Rufeng as she said slowly, "So that's how it is. Sister Yu Shan becomes the side consort, and Han Yan becomes a concubine. I am truly overwhelmed by the heir's intentions."
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