“Didn’t the Emperor issue an Imperial Decree stating that the position of the future Princess of Langya can only belong to this humble girl?”
“An Imperial Decree cannot be disobeyed. For the sake of my sister’s happiness and the stability of the Marquis Mansion…”
“Wanning is willing to become the Princess of Langya.”
She had spoken so clearly; surely they couldn’t still fail to understand?
Pei Yanchuan’s hand, which had been resting on the armrest of his chair, slipped slightly. His gaze as he looked at Jiang Wanning was filled with scrutiny.
Marquis Jiang Zheng also realized what she meant. “Wanning!”
“Do not act recklessly!”
“Father, I am not speaking nonsense. How can an Imperial Decree be treated as a joke?”
“The Emperor has only been on the throne for three years, and the Prince commands three hundred thousand troops at the border. If the Prince requests a decree only to violate it later…”
Jiang Wanning stopped there.
But who present wasn’t as sharp as a needle? Although the Emperor and the Prince of Langya were life-and-death friends, the new dynasty was unstable. The Prince of Qi’s faction was watching like a hawk; if the Prince were to make even a small mistake now, it would be magnified a hundredfold. Countless officials would then submit memorials, turning a minor slip into a catastrophic crime.
If the Emperor didn’t punish him, he would be seen as a new ruler who could be led by the nose. If he did punish him, he would gain the foul reputation of “killing the donkey after the grinding is done.” Eventually, the Emperor would surely grow resentful of the Prince of Langya.
What the enemies wanted most was to see the Emperor and his greatest general grow apart.
Seeing that everyone remained silent, Jiang Wanning continued: “At that time, our Marquis Mansion would also be implicated to some extent.”
“Since the decree only states that the position of the Princess of Langya must be held by me, and does not specify which person I am to be betrothed to…”
“The current Prince is still the Prince of Langya. Therefore, I beg the Prince to marry me in exchange for the happiness of the Heir and my sister.”
“In exchange for the stability of the Prince’s Mansion and the Marquis Mansion!”
“Wanning! Stop this nonsense!” Jiang Zheng said sternly. “Your father and the Prince will find a better way.”
“Unless we do this, the only other way is for me to marry the Heir,” Jiang Wanning said. “Is that what you want, Father?”
“The Prince only needs to marry me and set me aside to avoid a series of troubles. Even I, a mere woman, can sacrifice myself for my family and the Emperor. Is the Prince truly unwilling?”
At the mention of the Emperor, even if he wanted to refuse, he couldn’t.
Pei Yanchuan felt a faint suspicion that this little girl was setting a trap for him, forcing his hand. It was simply a matter of asking the Emperor to retract a decree—how had it become so grave? She had even dragged national duty and righteousness into it.
“Wanning, listen to your uncle, stop acting out of spite.” Pei Anqing grabbed Jiang Wanning’s arm. “This was my mistake.”
“But the person most important to me is you, Wanning. As for Ru’er, I was just… just caught up in the heat of the moment.”
“You have always been understanding. I merely committed a mistake that any man in the world would make. Wanning, do not ruin your entire life because of this.”
Jiang Wanning wished she could slap Pei Anqing twice more.
“Sister, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have fallen in love with the Heir.” Jiang Wanru knelt beside her. “I was wrong.”
“I am willing to marry as a concubine and serve you and the Heir for the rest of my life.”
“There is no need for ‘serving’; you are my sister, after all.” Jiang Wanning masked the coldness in her eyes. “However, whether you are a wife or a concubine depends on the Prince’s decision.”
Hmph.
Thinking of being a wife?
Born from a singing girl’s womb, having a secret affair with her future brother-in-law, and framing her legitimate older sister—she shouldn’t even dream of being a wife in this lifetime. In the previous life, if Wanning hadn’t been foolish enough to beg for an “Equal Wife” status for her, did she really think Pei Anqing’s love alone would have been enough?
Shen Ruzhi shoved the two people crowding Jiang Wanning away with her hands and feet. “Why didn’t you mention being ‘threatened’ when you were busy with your illicit affair and your schemes?”
“Now you’re crying and begging for forgiveness? Have you no shame?”
“This Prince cannot…”
Before Pei Yanchuan could finish, Jiang Wanning pulled the hairpin from her hair. “If the Prince does not agree, Wanning has only death.”
“That way, the safety of the Marquis Mansion can still be preserved.”
“Wanning!”
“Young Lady!”
Jiang Zheng, Lady Zhou, Haitang, and Shaoyao all cried out at once.
“Father, Mother, I cannot let the entire Marquis Mansion be implicated for my sake,” Jiang Wanning said, pressing the hairpin against her skin until it began to poke into the flesh.
“Prince, Wanning doesn’t even mind that you’re old, so what could you possibly disagree with?” Shen Ruzhi shouted at Pei Yanchuan. “Besides, it was your son who did wrong. Our Wanning is the one suffering the loss. Her perfect life has been ruined just like this.”
Pei Yanchuan looked at the trace of blood on Jiang Wanning’s neck, and his heart softened. “This Prince… grants it.”
Jiang Wanning’s heart eased. As expected, he couldn’t bear to see even the slightest wound on her.
“No! No!” Pei Anqing shook his head. “Father, you cannot agree.”
Pei Anqing rarely called Pei Yanchuan “Father”; he found it humiliating.
Pei Yanchuan said coldly, “If you knew this would happen, why did you act as you did?”
His gaze then fell on Jiang Wanru. “Given her status, entering the Prince’s Mansion is already a social climb. She is truly unworthy of the position of the Heir’s Consort. I shall allow you to take her as a concubine.”
“Marquis, do you have any objections?”
Jiang Zheng’s face was dark. He could only blame his own daughter; under the circumstances, her becoming a concubine was already a mercy. What objection could he have?
“Wanning… Wanning, can you really let go of our three years of feelings?” Pei Anqing knelt before Jiang Wanning. “I truly was wrong. Can you just forgive me this once?”
Jiang Wanning sneered inwardly. “Heir, please do not be so improper in the future. Since the Prince has agreed, the next time we meet, I will be your mother. Though I am your stepmother, I will learn to be a good mother to you.”
“Wanning…”
“Did the Heir not hear what your future mother said? How can you address your mother by her name?” Shen Ruzhi stepped between the two of them.
“This Prince has urgent matters. Since this is settled, I will not stay any longer.” Pei Yanchuan stood up.
“Farewell, Prince!”
Everyone rose and bowed to see him off.
“Still not leaving? Staying here to embarrass yourself further?” Pei Yanchuan stopped at the door and glanced slightly back into the room.
Pei Anqing clenched his fists tightly and left in a silent rage. Currently, it was the mourning period for the Grand Empress Dowager; marriages could not take place within a hundred days. He still had a chance…
Once Pei Yanchuan had left, the other guests found it awkward to stay and began to take their leave.
“Father, Mother, I…”
Once everyone was gone, Jiang Wanru knelt and crawled forward a few steps, weeping. “Daughter knows she was wrong. It was the Heir who coerced me in secret. I didn’t dare to disobey, which led to…”
“Sister, you must believe me. I would never do anything to betray you. I truly was coerced by him.”
Jiang Wanning looked at the tear-streaked face before her. She had to admit, Jiang Wanru was truly a master of disguise. Even after committing a monstrous sin, she could cry in a way that gave people the illusion that she was a victim of circumstance.
“If that is the case, why didn’t you say so just now?”
Jiang Zheng slammed his hand onto the table. The teacup jumped, and scalding tea spilled out.
“I didn’t want Father to have a falling out with the Prince’s Mansion over this. That is the Langya Prince’s Mansion, Father… Daughter did it all for the sake of the Marquis Mansion.”
“Yes, Master. The Prince of Langya is now above all but one man. Our Ru’er did it for the sake of the entire Marquis Mansion. If anyone is to blame, it is the Heir for being unfaithful,” Concubine Liu added.
“Father, since things have reached this point, I think we should first investigate who invited all those guests here today,” Jiang Wanning said.