Xiao Li chuckled meaningfully, casting a significant glance at Liu Xueyin beside her. "Emperor Brother, please don't blame me. Today, my sister-in-law specifically came to find me, begging me to reconcile with the Imperial son-in-law. I thought this was also your intention, so I wanted to confirm."
Chen Wang's face finally showed a reaction. He lowered his gaze to look at his Princess Consort, his icy stare sharp as daggers.
Lu Yanzhi's expression instantly changed as well, but he restrained himself from looking at Liu Xueyin. He knew perfectly well why Liu Xueyin had sought out Xuan Yang Princess, but at this moment, he couldn't defend her.
"I didn't!" Liu Xueyin cried out in denial, but after those three words, she fell silent, adopting an expression of having unspeakable difficulties.
Chen Wang frowned. "If you didn't, then why did you go find Xuan Yang?"
"Xuan Yang Princess," Liu Xueyin said reproachfully to Xiao Li, "how can you slander me like this?"
Too lazy to listen to Liu Xueyin's meaningless denials, Xiao Li continued with great emotion. "I was originally very determined to divorce, but my sister-in-law used herself as an example to persuade me, which moved me deeply."
The other person half-lowered their eyes, Xiao Li only catching a glimpse of their upward-curving, sinister cold corner. "Replying to the Princess, this servant is Lou Yan."
The Emperor now remembered to assert his imperial authority and dignity.
"The Princess must dislike me to deliberately target you like this, Brother Yanzhi. It's all my fault…"
Xiao Li: "Major life decisions shouldn't be made impulsively. This is what's called thinking thrice before acting."
"Do you need something?"
Xiao Li took two steps forward, then suddenly stopped as if remembering something, turning back. "What's your name?"
Xiao Li: "I'll make the moves, since things can't possibly get worse anyway."
"Is this your revenge?Liu Xueyin looked both wronged and fearful, appearing frustrated with the desire to defend herself but being unable to speak.
Grand Secretary Lu's gaze was sharp as a knife, unabashedly falling on Xiao Li. "The Princess's words are as precious as gold, how can you be so frivolous?"
Lu Yanzhi's hatred was so intense that without having eaten a single bite, the wine cup in his hand was nearly crushed.
Upon closer inspection, this was the exceptionally handsome eunuch she had seen that day.
Besides, this was the imperial palace. Were they treating it like some wilderness, not afraid that Chen Wang would find out and torment her body and mind again?
"You…" She actually knew. She knew.
Xiao Li sneered and turned around, suddenly seeing a tall, slender figure standing before her. It was unclear how long he had been there, his sinister cold eyes fixed intently on her.
Hearing the sound of grievance sobbing and gentle comforting from around the corner, Xiao Li inwardly scoffed.
Though she wanted to scold her for having such nerve, she had to admit Liu Xueyin had hit upon the truth.
Leaning back in her chair, she looked down condescendingly at Lu Yanzhi, her eyes filled with malice though her words spoke of boundless affection. "For this Princess to become husband and wife with the Imperial son-in-law, and to deeply adore you—this must be fate I sincerely prayed for in a previous life.""
Xiao Li curved her lips. "What do you think, Imperial son-in-law?"
The smile froze on her face, her heart skipping two beats from fright.
Madam Lu was so angry she saw stars, and in her impulsiveness, made a foolish move. "Yanzhi is impotent and cannot perform marital duties with the Princess."
After Xiao Li said this, everyone looked at Liu Xueyin, with Chen Wang's gaze particularly cold and terrifying.
Xiao Li: "My sister-in-law told me about her relationship with Emperor Brother. Although there are conflicts and misunderstandings, becoming husband and wife is rare fate that requires mutual understanding and tolerance."
Lu Yanzhi gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with hatred: "Yanzhi long ago severed all romantic feelings and will never develop affection for the princess in this lifetime."
"Lu Yanzhi, you had a guard humiliate me, and now you think you can escape unscathed? Hah."
"Oh, which 'Yan'?" "Oh."
Not only was his nature sinister, even his name reeked of malevolence.
To get rid of her, she actually spread rumors about her own son being impotent—how desperate she must have been.
Xiao Li was momentarily stunned: "That name is quite unique indeed."
Seeing the matter settled, the Empress Dowager quickly mediated: "This dispute has gone on long enough. It's time to put an end to it and not let the common people watch this farce. Coincidentally, I have a Yuanyang Baihe Mirror among my dowry, which I shall bestow upon you."
Prince Wei: "The Empress speaks wisely."
The Emperor clapped his hands: "Xuan Yang is right!"
"Loathesome as ghosts, nine demons and one nightmare."
Even the typically low-profile Empress spoke up to offer two congratulatory gifts, sealing the matter beyond dispute.
However, Xiao Li didn't just dislike her—she disliked both of them.
The Lu family's expressions turned extremely unpleasant. They never expected the princess to cause such a scene only to reverse her decision in the end. And then there was Chen Wangfei… The Lu family sat down in bitter frustration, the banquet leaving a sour taste in their mouths.
With his already delicate features, he appeared even more sinister and cold under the night sky, especially those eyes—like a lurking beast that sent chills down one's spine.
Even the imperial physicians had declared Lu Yanzhi perfectly healthy, yet he still dared use this excuse to brush people off.
When Xiao Li began to speak, the man slowly lowered his gaze: "Princess, His Majesty requests your presence."
Lu Yanzhi snapped his head toward Xiao Li, unable to conceal his shock.
"I was too heartbroken before and spoke recklessly in a moment of impulse. After these days of reflection, I've come to understand that even if the Imperial son-in-law doesn't love me now, it doesn't matter. Where sincerity reaches, metal and stone crack open. As long as I treat him with genuine heart and persevere unwaveringly, someday I'll pry open the Imperial son-in-law's frozen heart."
Prince Wei hesitated: "Ah, this seems rather far-fetched…" Lu Yanzhi's current reputation wasn't exactly favorable.
Her goal was to take revenge on Lu Yanzhi, not to fulfill his wishes. This marriage could only be called off by her, not let him have his way!—"Brother Yanzhi, I never said those things. I'll go beg her to release you. How could I ever push you into a pit of fire?"
"Better destroy ten temples than break one marriage. The fault lies with the Imperial son-in-law for wronging Xuan Yang. Now that Xuan Yang has had a change of heart, you should live harmoniously from now on."
Xiao Li nodded in agreement: "I don't think it's related to her either, but I believe she makes a valid point."
Seeing this, Xiao Li ate with even greater enjoyment.
"Enough!" the Emperor snapped with a dark expression. Did the Lu family take him for a mere decoration?
Lu Yanzhi merely glanced over, heart aching as if pierced, his hands clenched tightly as he said angrily: "This is between us. What does it have to do with Chen Wangfei?"
Literally 'prying open'! Xiao Li's 'heartfelt confession' sounded utterly horrifying to the Lu family.
Xiao Li: "She also said Lu Yanzhi is a rare good man and that I should cherish him properly."
Prince Wei proved to be an excellent straight man: "Oh? What did she say?"
Lou Yan—such a name shouldn't belong to an obscure figure, yet he never appeared in the books Xiao Li had read.
Then again, the story Xiao Li read was primarily from Liu Xueyin's perspective, narrating her tangled web of love and hate with the male lead and supporting male characters, experiencing the original Xuan Yang Princess's life.
Both were trapped in the tangled web of love, hatred, and passion—whether in moments of joy or madness, it was all for the sake of men.
The male lead's struggle for the throne was merely glossed over in a brief passage, so why would there be any detailed account of a eunuch who might have died alongside the late emperor? Liu Xueyin and Chen Wang epitomize the classic trope of an arranged marriage blossoming into love, fraught with heart-wrenching passion. Back then, it moved readers to tears, but now, it’s utterly unbearable to read.