Even the Emperor Cannot Suppress Him!
Yun Zhen immediately chimed in, “Yes, yes, it was my oversight. I apologize to the Prince. The Prince has already personally agreed to cancel the marriage with Yun Yan. Now, what should we do about Yun Nian… It’s entirely up to the Prince to decide.”
Yun Zhen didn’t explicitly mention that Yun Nian was pregnant with Xiao Chengjun’s child, but the rumors had already spread everywhere.
This half-concealed approach made it even more convincing.
What does it mean to leave the decision entirely up to Xiao Chengjun?
Just as Yun Nian followed Princess Royal to the study room, she overheard Yun Zhen’s words.
This despicable father has abandoned her well-being after securing his own and Yun Yan’s future.
Does Xiao Chengjun have the authority to kill or punish as he pleases?
Listening to his words?!
“Yun Nian.”
At that moment, Yun Nian heard someone calling her.
She turned her head and saw a person with a mild appearance, whose looks could only be considered ordinary compared to Xiao Chengjun.
Narrowing her eyes, Yun Nian immediately deduced the person’s identity from his attire.
He was dressed as the Dragon Clothes, undoubtedly the original owner’s fiancé and the male lead of the novel, Prince Xiao Yu Huai, the son of the Empress.
In the book, he was described as refined and ethereal, the designated heir to the throne.
However, the Emperor had refrained from officially appointing him as the Crown Prince due to public opinion.
After all, the Emperor’s throne was ‘borrowed’ from Xiao Chengjun’s hands.
As long as Xiao Chengjun remained alive, there would come a time to ‘return’ what was borrowed, even though it was the supreme position ruling over the world.
How could the Emperor bear to give it back?
“Aunt.”
Xiao Yu Huai smiled gently, perfectly matching his outward demeanor.
“It has been a while since I last saw Aunt. How have you been? Mother has been mentioning you today and wanted to invite you to enjoy the flowers together.”
Princess Royal glanced at him lightly and smiled, “I happen to be going to the palace today to discuss the Flower Banquet with His Majesty. I heard that His Majesty summoned your cousin to the palace. It would be a good opportunity to see what they, as uncles and nephew, have to say. Would you like to join us, Prince Huai?”
Xiao Yu Huai replied warmly and respectfully, “Since Father and my cousin are having a conversation, I won’t disturb them. I have something to discuss with Yun Nian.”
Saying that, he looked at Yun Nian, his eyes revealing a hint of indescribable tenderness. “Yun Nian, may I have a word with you in private?”
Princess Royal furrowed her brows slightly.
Yun Nian must not embarrass her and Xiao Chengjun at this moment!
Yun Nian raised her gaze, her expression indifferent.
“Who are you? Do I know you?”
Xiao Yu Huai was taken aback.
Princess Royal’s lips curved into a slight smile.
“Are you still angry with me?”
Xiao Yu Huai controlled his expression well, maintaining a polite distance in his gentle manner.
“Last time, you invited me to go boating, but I had some matters to attend to. How about I invite you for a boat ride next time?”
Yun Nian sneered.
This ambiguous tone, as if they had some kind of relationship, as if the original owner didn’t know how to write the word ‘death’ while planning to marry Prince Cheng’en and seize his inheritance, while still being entangled with Prince Huai, trying to have the best of both worlds!
At this moment, Prince Huai deliberately spoke in front of the Princess Royal, hoping to make her and Xiao Chengjun despise Yun Nian even more.
Yun Nian ignored him completely.
“Princess, this person is quite strange. Why does he like talking to himself? I don’t even know him. Why should I agree to go boating with him? Aren’t we here to find Prince Cheng’en?”
Xiao Yuhuai furrowed his brows.
What did Yun Nian mean?
He greeted her with a smile, and she didn’t give him a fa. e?
Princess Royal smiled, “All right, it seems that Yun’er is not familiar with you. She was brought by me to the palace. The palace is a maze, so I brought her along to prevent her from getting lost. If Prince Cheng’en has nothing else, he can go back first.”
Xiao Yuhuai didn’t dare to defy Princess Royal.
Even the Emperor had to show her respect.
Yun Nian felt that Princess Royal’s remark about being a ‘maze’ was an insult, and Xiao Yuhuai maintained an awkward yet polite smile.
“Then, I won’t disturb Aunt any longer.”
After saying that, he glanced at Yun Nian before leaving.
“Since Yun Yan has already canceled the marriage with Cheng’er, and you have married Cheng’er, this time entering the palace, your marriage with Prince Huai needs to be canceled as well. Do you have anything to say about it?”
Clearly, Princess Royal was very satisfied with Yun Nian’s performance.
If it were the original owner, she might have followed Xiao Yuhuai.
Yun Nian replied calmly, “I will listen to Princess Royal.”
She wholeheartedly agreed to cancel the marriage with Xiao Yuhuai.
Princess Royal nodded and then led Yun Nian inside.
From inside, the voice of Emperor Hong Wen could be heard, “Prince Cheng’en, although you married the wrong bride, she is still from the Yun family. Your marriage with the Yun family was the arrangement of the late Emperor and your aunt. I also heard that you summoned Doctor Zhang to your mansion to treat the Fourth Lady Yun. Is this true?”
“It is true.”
Xiao Chengjun’s cold voice resounded, his aura noticeably colder when mentioning the late Emperor.
“But that woman is full of lies. Her pregnancy may not be real. The Yun family deceived the Emperor in the past and spread rumors afterward. They should be severely punished, otherwise, if everyone follows suit, what dignity will the court have?”
He stood there, his eyes deep, exuding an aura of dominance.
It was as if he was the one in control of the world, while the Emperor on the Dragon Throne seemed like a clown occupying someone else’s nest.
A single figure emitted immense pressure, truly living up to his title as the esteemed Prince Cheng’en of the noble family.
Yun Nian thought to herself, “This aura is so powerful, even the emperor cannot surpass him!”
“Your Majesty,” Princess Chang nodded slightly, without the need to kneel and pay respects.
“What did Your Majesty discuss with Cheng’er? Am I suitable for being here at this moment?”
Princess Royal deliberately asked this question, fully aware of the answer.
Yun Nian also didn’t want to kneel, but she wasn’t Princess Royal.
Even Yun Zhen knelt, so as mere cannon fodder, she had to kneel and show respect.
However, before Yun Nian could kneel and pay her respects, Emperor Hong Wen spoke first.
“Princess, there is no need for excessive formalities. Your arrival is timely. It was Princess’s plan to select a Yun family girl for marriage to Cheng’en, and now that she has entered the Crown Prince’s Mansion, she still belongs to the Yun family. Princess, how do you suggest we handle this matter?”
From the tone between the lines, one could sense Emperor Hong Wen’s respect for Princess Royal.
Emperor Hong Wen was originally an illegitimate prince, having lost his mother at a young age.
In order to survive in the palace, he was taken in by the late Empress, who treated him with kindness.
As a result, the relationship between Emperor Hong Wen and the late Emperor and Princess Royal became quite close.
The book described how the young Emperor Hong Wen would follow behind Princess Royal and the late Emperor like a tail.
Princess Royal took care of him as if he were her own brother, even surpassing the Empress in status within the palace.
“Bring a seat for Princess,” Emperor Hong Wen said politely.
A eunuch brought a chair and placed it below the dragon throne, and Princess Royal sat down as she was accustomed to.
In front of the Princess Royal, the cold aura surrounding Xiao Chengjun seemed to dissipate.
Princess Royal glanced at him and before Xiao Chengjun could speak, Emperor Hong Wen continued, “Now, the rumors from outside the palace have reached our ears. They say that Yun Nian became pregnant before marriage twice, all because of Cheng’en. They also speak of how Cheng’en neglected his responsibilities. I won’t mention the unspeakable words that follow. If we were to punish Yun Nian now, it might harm Cheng’en’s reputation.”
“I know that you care deeply for him, Princess, and I don’t want to mistreat him either. How about we first send Yun Si back to the Crown Prince’s Mansion? Once the storm has passed, you can decide how to handle Yun Si. I will defer to your judgment. What do you think?”
This last sentence was directed at Xiao Chengjun.