Although she wasn’t certain whether she could successfully consummate the marriage with him by then, she had to find a way to hold onto him now!
The eldest son!
A man’s regard for his first child always surpasses that for any subsequent children.
Especially now, with Prince Qin pressing step by step and that wretched woman saving him, he would undoubtedly treasure it even more!
“Your Highness, please give me some time—at the latest, by the end of the year!”
Xiao Chengyan’s deep eyes darkened slightly.
Zi Sangli stared at him blankly, then burst into tears: “But you promised me, you would have only me as your wife for a lifetime!”
Her wife’s immaturity displeased Xiao Chengyan: “From the day we met until now, I have always had only you by my side. Even though we couldn’t consummate the marriage, I’ve been waiting for you all along. If it weren’t for the prolonged absence of a child, my mother would never have intervened!”
“My mother and Shufei are at odds, and it has long been impossible for me and Prince Qin to coexist peacefully. If they rise to power, whether we can even survive is uncertain, let alone talk about anything else!”
“Under such circumstances, how crucial heirs and the support of influential ministers are to me—you are not unaware! If you don’t know, or if you know but deliberately disregard my difficulties, then you are failing in your duties as Wangfei!”
Zi Sangli opened her mouth.
She didn’t know how to refute his excuses.
He clearly… had changed his heart!
But she couldn’t bear children, so she couldn’t willfully and righteously demand that he send Lin Nong away and defy the Empress’s orders!
“I… know I was wrong…”
Xiao Chengyan let out a slow sigh and pulled her into his embrace.
If it weren’t for Prince Qin and his mother’s aggressive tactics, he would have been willing to give her a few more years.
But in this world, how could things always go as one wished!
Yet, the promise had been made by him in the first place, and he couldn’t help but feel guilty.
“You are my wife. You must understand my difficulties, not make me worry about heirs while I’m busy dealing with external challenges!”
Zi Sangli knew this outcome was already irreversible.
She clung tightly to the man, weeping delicately and plaintively.
If she could no longer enjoy exclusive favor, she had to evoke his guilt—this was her bargaining chip to secure her standing in the Wangfu.
Once, Zi Sangli stood in the position of exclusive favor and deep affection, looking down upon the other women in the capital who shared a husband, watching them hustle for love and status, sneering at their incompetence and foolishness for failing to capture a man’s heart.
But in the end, she had become one of those women!
How laughable!
“Li’er agrees! Your Highness, go and favor Lin Nong! Li’er won’t make a fuss. For your sake and our future, Li’er blames no one. But, Your Highness… please don’t fall in love with her, alright? Li’er only has your love left!”
Seeing her so pitiful, Xiao Chengyan naturally softened.
After all, there was marital affection between them.
He wiped away her tears: “Don’t be willful anymore. Be a proper Wangfei and satisfy both Father Emperor and Mother Empress! I will naturally take care of you.”
Zi Sangli tentatively asked: “Could Sister Lin’s first child be raised under my care? Making the child legitimate would also be for their future.”
Xiao Chengyan rejected her idea: “The Lin Family already knows you’ve been harsh to Lin Nong. If we forcibly place her child under your care, both she and the Lin Family would be displeased.”
Zi Sangli seethed with anger.
She wanted to say more but was interrupted again by Xiao Chengyan.
“The palace will undoubtedly learn of today’s events, and this prince has no choice but to impose punishment upon you…”
Just then.
The chief palace maid from the Empress’s side arrived to deliver the decree: “The Chen Wangfei, being arrogant and willful, disregarded Chen Wang’s safety and caused the Cefei to suffer severe injuries. She is hereby punished with one year’s suspension of stipend, daily kneeling to copy the Longevity Sutra, and quiet reflection on her faults.”
“The confinement shall not be lifted until one hundred copies of the sutra are completed. Should the Wangfei dare to ignore the Empress’s prohibition and leave without permission during this period, the punishment shall be doubled!”
Completing one hundred copies of the sutra would take at least three months!
Three months!
Wouldn’t that be giving that wretched woman ample time to seduce her husband?
And kneeling while copying!
How could the Empress be so cruel? Did she intend to cripple her legs?
Zi Sangli was both anxious and resentful, but she dared not show it in front of the chief palace maid, suppressing her emotions fiercely. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Xiao Chengyan: “Your Highness…Xiao Chengyan felt a pang of reluctance.
The chief palace maid smiled and reminded him: “Has Lin Niangniang awakened? The Empress, deeply distressed upon learning of Lin Niangniang’s severe injuries, has sent some nourishing gifts from the palace. May I trouble Wangye to lead the way? This servant wishes to inspect the Cefei’s injuries on behalf of the Empress.”
Xiao Chengyan thought of Lin Nong.
His plea for leniency died on his lips.
If not for Zi Sangli’s reckless outing, which diverted the guards, how could he have been placed in such danger, and how could Lin Nong have been injured?
Lin Nong was so delicate and understanding—how could he disregard her feelings entirely!
Zi Sangli watched in disbelief as the man left without uttering a single word in her defense. In a fit of rage, she smashed a room full of porcelain.
“Wretched woman!”
“Lin Nong, you shameless harlot, how dare you seduce my husband!Her confidante urgently tried to persuade: “Wangfei, you must remain calm!” The priority now is to prevent Wangye from sharing a bed with that Lin woman! The Empress’s confinement order cannot be disobeyed, but even if you cannot leave, you must not let that wretched woman gain an advantage!”
Zi Sangli fumed in frustration: “If Wangye is determined to favor that harlot, what can I do?”
The mistress and servant shared both glory and disgrace.
If the mistress fell, her confidante would suffer as well, so she naturally had to strategize for her mistress: “Have you forgotten the valuable item your elder brother obtained for you?”
Zi Sangli froze.
She retrieved a small black porcelain bottle from a hidden compartment.
If this were used on Xiao Chengyan and the matter exposed, neither he nor the Empress would ever keep that wretched Lin Nong around!
“Mix it into the incense that wretched woman commonly uses, and increase the dosage to ensure His Highness shows symptoms quickly! We must not give that harlot any chance to climb into Wangye’s bed!”
…
After the chief palace maid had seen Lin Nong, delivered the Empress’s rewards, and spoken words of praise on her behalf, she departed.
The two of them were left alone, gazing at each other.
The candlelight cast a warm, yellowish glow.
The atmosphere was just right.
Lin Nong stared at him for a moment, then tilted her head and smiled.
Xiao Chengyan had half-expected her to weep and whimper, hoping to elicit his pity and gratitude, but he hadn’t anticipated this scene.
He walked up to her and gently touched her pale yet still beautiful face: “What are you smiling about?”
Lin Nong looked up at him: “I am happy to see Wangye standing safely before me. Did Wangfei encounter any danger?”
Xiao Chengyan sighed inwardly.
How could she be so understanding and gentle? Despite her own injuries, she always cared for others!
“She is fine.”
Lin Nong nodded, “It’s good that you’re alright.” Then, with a tone steeped in feigned innocence, she sighed softly, “Has Wangfei… been angry with this humble concubine? I once promised her personally that in the Wangfu, I would be like a transparent person—never approaching Wangye or harboring any delusions.”
Xiao Chengyan stood with his hands behind his back.
His upright posture exuded nobility, naturally carrying an imposing aura that brooked no infringement.
Yet her “broken promise” had also comforted him.
After all, in this matter, he wasn’t the only one who had violated their vow.
“As the Zhengfei, she ought to consider this prince’s heirs! Since you’ve entered the Wangfu, she should coexist harmoniously with you! Enough, don’t just worry about others—does your wound hurt?”