Chapter 1

On the wedding night, the red candles burned brightly. The bridal chamber was decorated with lanterns and streamers and filled with joy.

Yan Donghuang sat on the wedding bed covered with red brocade, her face stunningly beautiful, radiant, and noble in her phoenix coronet and ceremonial robe. Having just finished the nuptial wine, her lips appeared glossy and moist.

Sheng Jing’an placed the two wine cups back on the table and turned to look at Yan Donghuang. The tenderness and affection from lifting the bridal veil a moment ago were gone. His handsome and resolute face showed no joy but rather a hint of coldness and complexity.

Sensing something, Yan Donghuang asked, “What’s wrong?”

Perhaps because the nuptial wine had been drunk, Sheng Jing’an no longer had any scruples and gently exhaled, “I have something to tell you.”

Yan Donghuang looked at him without saying a word.

Sheng Jing’an’s gaze flickered, “Today, another woman entered the house with you. I have given her the position of a secondary wife, and she is currently two months pregnant.”

Yan Donghuang’s face turned cold, “Secondary wife?”

“Yes.” Sheng Jing’an turned his head to look outside the bridal chamber, “Yun’er.”

Outside the door, a delicate woman with downcast eyes walked in. Her face was charming, her skin fair, and her figure slender and frail. She looked as if she could be blown over by the wind, exceptionally pitiful.

Yan Donghuang’s gaze fell on her face, her eyes gradually turning icy, “I didn’t see her during the wedding ceremony.”

“She has always lived in the inner courtyard of the Sheng family.” Sheng Jing’an explained, “Jun’er is simple and gentle, humble and obedient. She won’t affect your status as the main wife.”

“Today is my grand wedding day, and you want to marry both wives at the same time?” Yan Donghuang’s voice was cold, “Do you think I will agree?”

“Whether you agree or not, it won’t affect the final outcome.” Sheng Jing’an’s voice was indifferent, “It was wrong of me to hide the matter of the secondary wife, but Jun’er’s existence won’t affect your status as the main wife. Besides, you have been on the battlefield for many years; who knows if you are still pure?”

“I have never despised the Grand Princess, and I ask the Grand Princess not to hold a grudge against Shen Yun. In the future, just get along with her peacefully, and I will not mistreat you.”

“Presumptuous!” Yan Donghuang’s maid, Chang Lan, scolded angrily, “The Grand Princess is the ruler, the Prince Consort is the subject, the Prince Consort dares to let the Grand Princess suffer such humiliation? Does Sheng Jing’an know this is a crime of deceiving the emperor?”

Sheng Jing’an looked coldly at Yan Donghuang, “The Grand Princess was ordered to ‘marry’ into the Sheng family, and from now on, she is the daughter-in-law of the Sheng family, not me marrying into the Princess’s mansion. I hope the Grand Princess can understand this point and also teach her maids to be cautious in their words and deeds and not to cause trouble for the Grand Princess everywhere.”

“Sheng Jing’an, you are very bold.” Yan Donghuang’s face darkened, her voice icy, “I am the dignified Grand Princess Qingluan. Not letting you marry into the Grand Princess’s mansion is already a great favor from the emperor, and you dare to humiliate me like this?”

Sheng Jing’an pursed his lips, having to use his trump card, “The nuptial wine we just drank, your cup was poisoned.”

Yan Donghuang’s pupils shrank, and she stood up abruptly. “What did you say?”

“Seven-Day Poison.” Feeling guilty, Sheng Jing’an unconsciously avoided Yan Donghuang’s gaze. “The wine you drank was mixed with Seven-Day Intestinal Poison. You need to take an antidote every seven days. This is the emperor’s order; I can only follow it.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the temperature in the bridal chamber dropped rapidly, as if it had suddenly entered the coldest winter, making people shiver uncontrollably.

Chang Lan’s face turned pale, and she suddenly looked at Yan Donghuang.

Yan Donghuang clenched her hands at her sides, “The emperor’s order?”

“Yes.” Sheng Jing’an explained calmly, “You have been fighting in the south and north for years. Your military achievements are too prominent. Half of the military power of the Yong Dynasty is in your hands. The emperor is wary of you, so he came up with this plan. I hope you can understand.”

Yan Donghuang’s eyebrows gradually covered with a layer of frost. She was silent for a long time, so long that the air seemed to stagnate. She suddenly smiled with realization, “So our grand wedding is a conspiracy?”

“Grand Princess, don’t say that.” Shen Yun frowned, looking somewhat helpless, “The prince consort is also acting on orders. As long as the Grand Princess behaves, stays in the inner residence, and doesn’t go out, I will serve the Grand Princess well, and the antidote for the Seven-Day Intestinal Poison will be delivered to the Grand Princess on time, ensuring that the Grand Princess won’t lose her life.”

Yan Donghuang looked at her without saying a word. After a while, her eyes were cold. “You have the antidote for the Seven-Day Intestinal Poison?”

Shen Yun was slightly surprised, then smiled lightly, “The Grand Princess is so smart. I know a little about medicine, so…”

“So my life will be in your hands from now on?” Yan Donghuang’s eyes were cold and hard, “You want me to live, I live; you want me to die, I die?”

Shen Yun shook her head, “The Grand Princess misunderstood. How could I let the Grand Princess die? But I am also acting on orders, as long as the Grand Princess behaves, I promise—”

“As long as you behave, I will not treat you unfairly, and the antidote will be delivered on time.”

Sheng Jing’an’s tone became colder as if he was impatient to explain so much. He simply said everything at once, “In the future, you will still be the Head Mistress of the Sheng family, but the Seven-Day Intestinal Poison is harmful to the body. It will gradually dissipate your martial arts, making you weaker than ordinary women, so you don’t need to worry about household affairs. Just enjoy the glory and wealth.”

Yan Donghuang was silent. Her wedding dress should have been bright and dazzling, but at this moment, a murderous intent gradually appeared in her eyes when she looked at the couple in front of her.

She is the Grand Princess of the dynasty, and because her mother’s status was low and she died early, she never enjoyed a pampered life. At twelve or thirteen, she followed her father to fight in the South and North. After years of training and fighting, she became the first female general of the dynasty. She practiced martial arts desperately to protect herself and to protect the country. Her father passed away, and her brother ascended the throne. She continued to expand the territory for him, fighting in the south and north. Over the years, she has experienced countless wars, guarded the border, quelled internal strife, and several times narrowly escaped death. The country is stable and strong, so she retired and returned, marrying her childhood sweetheart.

She thought he was a good man, but on the wedding day, he married both wives and personally fed her a cup of poisoned wine.

“Grand Princess, this marriage was granted by the emperor, don’t blame Jing’an.” Shen Yun defended Sheng Jing’an considerately, “He is a man, having multiple wives and concubines is normal, you can’t stop him from having other wives and concubines just because you are a princess, besides… besides…”

“Besides, I am about to become a cripple, forced to relinquish my military power, and will have to live under your watch from now on?” Yan Donghuang sneered coldly, saying what she wanted to say, “What good is being a princess? Once I lose my martial arts, my military power, and the emperor’s protection, I will be worse than a palace maid. Is that what you want to say?”

“I didn’t mean that. Please don’t misunderstand, Grand Princess.” Shen Yun bit her lip lightly, bowing to Yan Donghuang, “As long as the Grand Princess behaves, I will respect you well in the future. I hope we can get along harmoniously and serve the prince consort together—”

Yan Donghuang looked at her indifferently as if looking at an ant, “You, a concubine, are worthy of getting along with me?”