Degrading a wife to a concubine 1
In a dazed state, Murong Xue experienced a sharp, piercing pain in her chest. Each breath felt like needles stabbing her heart, causing her to tightly furrow her brow. Slowly, she opened her heavy eyelids, only to be stunned by the scene that unfolded before her.
The hall was adorned with white jade tables, rosewood seats, and golden pillars. Luxurious brocade and jade beds filled the space, while a precious antique, a twisted silk purple-gold censer, sat in the corner. Two rare red coral trees, standing over a meter tall, graced the window, their existence almost extinct in modern times. The walls were adorned with shimmering night pearls, captivating the eyes.
Murong Xue couldn't help but be astonished. In modern society, electric lighting was prevalent everywhere, but the arrangement here exuded an antique elegance surpassing even the grandeur of the Forbidden City's imperial halls.
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you grant Princess Yuyan as my main consort and Murong Xue as my side consort..." a cold male voice resounded, shattering the enchantment created by the scenery. Murong Xue followed the sound and saw a man standing on the red carpet at the center of the hall. He wore a purple brocade robe, his ink-like hair tied up with a golden crown. His expression was indifferent, and his youthful, handsome face emitted an irresistible charm. His sharp gaze was cold and merciless.
A surge of foreign memories suddenly flooded into Murong Xue's mind, rapidly merging with her original memories. Reluctantly, she had to accept the truth that she had transmigrated.
The current owner of her body was also named Murong Xue, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Zhengguo. From a young age, she had been betrothed to Prince Yeyi Chen of Jing. Three years ago, Yeyi Chen led troops to the border to fight against the enemy, while Murong Xue anxiously awaited his return in the capital.
However, upon Yeyi Chen's triumphant return, he brought with him Princess Qin Yuyan of Mobei. And in a banquet, in front of court officials and their families, he openly requested to marry Qin Yuyan as his main consort, demoting Murong Xue to the status of a side consort. Caught off guard, Murong Xue's old illness resurfaced, leading to her premature death.
In order to grant Qin Yuyan the status of a main consort, Yeyi Chen shamelessly used his military achievements to propose to the emperor. But what was Murong Xue's fault? She had merely followed her parents' orders and become engaged to Yeyi Chen without even exchanging a few words with her fiancé. Yet, he degraded her to a lowly concubine, mercilessly trampling upon her dignity as a noblewoman.
Murong Xue's eyes flickered with a cold, sharp glint as she faced the sympathetic, pitiful, mocking, and gloating gazes of the crowd. She slowly raised her head, fixing her gaze upon Yeyi Chen, and spoke with icy disdain, "I was engaged to the Prince before Princess Yuyan, yet he demotes me to a side consort. Don't you think he has gone too far?"
The crowd was astonished by Murong Xue's audacity. Yeyi Chen, known as the war god Prince, was highly regarded by civil and military officials. Murong Xue, on the other hand, was just a delicate young lady from a prestigious family. How could she dare to openly criticize him without reservation? It was truly audacious!
Sitting on the golden dragon throne, the middle-aged emperor raised his head and gazed faintly at Murong Xue, his sharp and majestic eyes partially concealed behind the white jade.
Undeterred, Murong Xue met the emperor's gaze with a cold determination, her voice dripping with resentment. "Yuyan is the beloved princess of the Mobei Emperor. Demoting her to a side consort would be an insult to Mobei. Moreover, the Qingyan and Mobei nations will likely wage war again!" Yeyi Chen responded coldly, without sparing her a glance, his impatience and slight disdain subtly evident.
However, Murong Xue saw things differently and retorted icily, "The Qingyan Kingdom is strong and possesses abundant troops. If Mobei dares to invade, we can send our forces to annihilate them. Why should the Prince fear them?"
Yeyi Chen replied calmly, "I'm not afraid of war, but I don't want the border soldiers to die in vain. The war can be resolved through marriage and a truce between the two nations. Why should we continue to fight and sacrifice countless soldiers?"
Mobei's army was formidable and not easily defeated. They were willing to agree to a truce and establish a marriage alliance. After three years of warfare, Mobei had suffered significant losses and needed time to recuperate. Even if Qin Yuyan became a side consort, Mobei would be furious and voice sharp criticism, but they wouldn't readily send troops to the border.
Yeyi Chen, who had been at war with Mobei for three years, understood their plight and used the pretext of peace between the nations to marry Qin Yuyan. Demoting Murong Xue to a side consort was an inevitable consequence. If she challenged Yeyi Chen on this matter, it would be seen as selfish and ignorant, disregarding the greater good of the Blue Flame Kingdom.
A faint trace of mockery curled at the corner of Murong Xue's lips as she coldly observed Yeyi Chen. "The royal family has many outstanding princes, and the capital is full of talented nobles. Princess Yuyan can choose her husband freely. She doesn't necessarily have to marry the Prince who already has a betrothal agreement."
Yeyi Chen, in a blatant act of degradation, had humiliated Murong Xue by demoting her to a side consort in the grand hall. He didn't even spare a thought for his fiancée, completely disregarding her status as a noble daughter. However, Murong Xue, hailing from a family with a century-old legacy, would not allow herself to be bullied.
"When the two nations agreed to a truce, the Emperor of Mobei requested that I personally take care of Princess Yuyan. I consented," Yeyi Chen said in a calm, emotionless tone.
"A small condition can bring peace between Qingyan and Mobei for twenty years. It is a highly cost-effective exchange. Yeyi Chen marries Qin Yuyan for the sake of the entire Blue Flame Kingdom. Demoting me to a side consort is an unfortunate consequence. If I blame him for this, I would be self-centered and ignorant."
In just a few words, Murong Xue's accusations were dismissed. Yeyi Chen's methods were swift and incomprehensible, befitting his title as the God of War. However, Murong Xue was not a weak lamb to be slaughtered. She declared, "In that case, I request the dissolution of the marriage contract with Prince Jing!"
Her words caused an uproar. Murong Xue wanted to annul the marriage and not marry the young and promising war god, Prince Yeyi Chen? Was she delusional or out of her mind? The Blue Flame Kingdom had many talented men, but finding someone better than Yeyi Chen was nearly impossible. Even if she became his side consort, it was preferable to marrying someone else as a primary wife.
Yeyi Chen's eyes betrayed a flicker of surprise. While he had anticipated various reactions when proposing the marriage to the emperor, he never expected Murong Xue to request its annulment. His eyebrows furrowed, and he responded coldly, "No!"
Murong Xue coldly questioned him, "Why not?"
Yeyi Chen lowered his gaze and replied, "If you break off the engagement, your reputation will be tarnished..."
Murong Xue cut him off with a frigid interruption, her eyes filled with derision. "In front of so many people, Prince Jing humiliated me by demoting me to a side consort. He made me a laughingstock in the capital, and my reputation has already been completely ruined."
Yeyi Chen scrutinized Murong Xue, his eyes shining with a dangerous glimmer. "Are you blaming me?" he asked.
"I dare not! I only wish to dissolve the marriage contract with Prince Jing. It's irrelevant for a man to marry a woman," Murong Xue replied nonchalantly, her tone laced with indescribable mockery and indifference.
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