Cheng Yao performed the grand salute to the Emperor with some awkwardness, appearing a bit stiff but without any mistakes.
The Emperor sat high on his throne, imposing and formidable, like a coiled dragon perched above.
“Cheng-shi, raise your head.”
This commanding tone made Cheng Yao feel extremely uncomfortable.
But under such authority, she had no choice but to comply.
The Emperor stared at her for a long moment before suddenly roaring, “How dare you! You actually switched places with your own sister and took her place in marriage!”
Cheng Yao trembled, pretending to be terrified as she prostrated herself on the ground, shaking all over. “It was a mistake—my sister and I boarded the wrong bridal sedan. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth.”
If Cheng Lan weren’t hopelessly foolish, she would say the same thing.
As for whether it was a switch or a substitution, the Emperor’s intelligence network was vast enough for him to know the truth. It all depended on whether he would pursue the matter and how he would explain it to the outside world.
“Hmph! If not for this twist of fate, I would have already sentenced your entire clan to extermination! Fortunately, the mistake turned out for the best. The War King did not mind, and my unfilial son has no intention of switching back. You may remain as the War King Consort.”
The Emperor smoothed things over himself, and Cheng Yao almost laughed inwardly. On the surface, she appeared tearfully grateful. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s mercy.”
“Rise.”
The Emperor scrutinized her once more before turning his gaze to Zhan Haoting, looking every bit the caring elder brother. “Though it was a mistaken marriage, at least her appearance is acceptable. It’s not too much of a loss for you.”
His words made it sound as though she were nothing but a useless vase, and Zhan Haoting a shallow man who only cared about a woman’s looks.
Zhan Haoting clasped his hands in a salute. “With my half-crippled body, I am fortunate that Cheng Yao did not abandon me and agreed to marry me. I feel nothing but gratitude and pity for her, with no resentment. However, Cheng-shi does not know—it was not she who boarded the wrong sedan. Rather, it was the Second Prince and Cheng Lan who schemed and deceived me. I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice on my behalf.”
Though he had been enfeoffed as a prince, he referred to himself as “humble subject,” lowering his posture and creating enough distance. Yet by laying the matter bare, he stirred deep displeasure in the Emperor’s heart.
Is he blaming me for failing to raise my son properly?
Zhan Haoting, your audacity grows by the day!
A cold, ruthless glint flashed in the Emperor’s eyes. Just then, he saw Murong Chen helping Cheng Lan into the hall. Anger surged within him, and he slammed his hand on the table. “You wretch! Kneel at once!”
Murong Chen’s heart skipped a beat. Without even bothering to adjust his robes, he knelt stiffly on the spot.
Cheng Lan was also flustered. Still in pain from her earlier fall, her tailbone ached intensely as she knelt, causing her to sway. The hairpin in her hair fell loose, and half her hair tumbled down, covering part of her face and making her appear rather disheveled.
The Emperor frowned slightly.
He had few military generals under his command. Once Zhan Haoting stepped down, he planned to promote Cheng Jiahui.
And Cheng Yao was Cheng Jiahui’s legitimate bloodline, while Cheng Lan was born of a concubine. Even if that concubine had been elevated to wife, it was improper and illegitimate. Cheng Lan was unworthy of being his daughter-in-law.
Thus, when the old general had requested a marriage between Cheng Yao and Murong Chen, the Emperor had readily agreed.
Now, it seemed Cheng Lan was indeed inferior to Cheng Yao in appearance, temperament, and character—even somewhat foolish.
Yet who could have expected this rebellious son would take a liking to Cheng Lan and switch Cheng Yao to Zhan Haoting instead!
Fool!
His mind is filled with nothing but romantic entanglements. Hopeless and utterly useless!
The Emperor’s fury reached its peak, but instead of lashing out, he grew coldly calm and ignored Murong Chen entirely.
“Second Brother, you and your sister-in-law should offer me a cup of tea.”
His tone carried the kindness of an elder and the deep affection between siblings. Cheng Yao was momentarily taken aback.
If calculated by time, this Dog Emperor was already forging evidence of Zhan Haoting’s rebellion at this point. Yet now, he deliberately acted close to Zhan Haoting—what was his purpose?
When something is abnormal, there must be a scheme!
Zhan Haoting’s eyes darkened imperceptibly as he gave a slight, almost invisible nod.
A palace maid brought the tea set before them, and Zhan Haoting took the tray.
The Emperor also descended step by step from his high position, exuding a strong sense of oppression.
Cheng Yao paused briefly before reluctantly taking the teacup and handing it to the Emperor.
The Emperor accepted it, took a symbolic sip, and placed it back on the tray.
“Excellent!” he exclaimed, as if savoring a fine aged wine, feeling thoroughly refreshed. “Rewards.”
Cheng Yao inwardly scoffed: Was she summoned from afar just to offer him a sip of tea?
Ridiculous!
Eunuchs and palace maids took turns presenting trays laden with rewards.
“For the War King Consort’s virtue and grace, reward ten thousand taels of gold and a box of Eastern pearls.”
“Reward one jade ruyi.”
“Reward ten bolts each of silks and satins.”
“…”
The list of rewards was extensive, recited for a long while.
The Emperor stood with his hands clasped behind his back, chin slightly raised, lofty as a deity, with an air of condescension.
Cheng Yao sneered inwardly. How well he pretended! Seemingly generous, yet all these rewards were nothing but flashy and impractical.
Moreover, if she wished, she could take all the treasures of the entire imperial palace for herself. Thus, she felt no desire for any of it.
But on the surface, she had to appear thrilled and tearfully grateful, kowtowing as she said, “This subject’s wife thanks the Emperor for his great grace.”
The Emperor laughed heartily.
Cheng Yao had no idea what he found so amusing—she simply assumed he had lost his mind.
Next, the Emperor ordered a banquet to be held in the palace to entertain Zhan Haoting and his wife.
Meanwhile, Murong Chen and Cheng Lan remained kneeling on the ground, their kneecaps nearly shattered, yet the Emperor did not even glance their way.
As Cheng Yao turned to leave, Cheng Lan called out to her, “Sister.”
Cheng Yao halted her steps. Cheng Lan crawled forward on her knees, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears. “Sister, please forgive me, won’t you? Your younger sister knows she was wrong.”
“Whether I forgive you or not does not change the fact that you made a mistake. Besides, my mother passed away long ago—she could never have given birth to a daughter as scheming as you. You were born to a concubine. Given your status as a daughter of a concubine, you should not call me ‘sister’ but ‘young lady.’ Remember this in the future, or outsiders will say our Cheng family fails to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate children and lacks proper upbringing.”
Cheng Yao smiled brightly. “When you make a mistake, you must accept punishment. Kneel properly now, alright?”
Cheng Yao then turned to Murong Chen. “Second Prince, I never imagined you would rather marry a daughter of a concubine than me, a legitimate daughter. Fortunately, the War King has remained steadfast by my side, or I would be facing certain death now.”
She dabbed the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. “I must thank you for refusing to marry me, as it allowed me to wed the War King. Please refrain from speaking nonsense to me in the future—the King might misunderstand.”
“Silence!”
Murong Chen’s face turned ashen.
He was already being punished, yet she added insult to injury. Had all her past kindness toward him been nothing but pretense?
But as soon as he spoke, he once again faced the Emperor’s deathly glare.
To have reduced himself to such a wretched state over a woman—what a useless fool!
The Emperor flicked his sleeve and left. Without his command, Murong Chen dared not rise, remaining on his knees, his face alternating between shades of green and white.
Cheng Lan’s tears welled up in her eyes as she pitifully pleaded in a delicate voice, “Husband, my knees hurt so much…”
Yet Murong Chen was also in pain. Having never suffered such hardship since childhood, he immediately felt resentful upon hearing this. “You’re in pain, but isn’t this prince in pain too? Who told you to provoke Cheng Yao?”
He paused before adding, “This prince had already said before that this substitute marriage plan wouldn’t work, and we needed to think of another way. You just wouldn’t listen. See, Father Emperor got angry with us, didn’t he?”
This matter had been discussed together with him in the first place, so why was he blaming her now?
Cheng Lan felt a sharp pain in her chest, her heart filled with disappointment.