Chapter 37

This night, many people were destined to be sleepless.

Yan Donghuang stepped out of the dungeon, looking at the flickering lights in the mansion, and said indifferently, “Chang Lan, take Miss Shen to wash up, change her clothes, have the kitchen prepare a bowl of ginger soup for her, and get her some hot food.”

Chang Lan obeyed, “Yes.”

Yan Donghuang returned to the Qingluan Hall, undressed, and took a comfortable hot bath to relieve the fatigue of a busy day. After bathing and changing clothes, she sat by the window on a brocade couch, silently gazing outside.

“Men’s words are deceitful,” Feng Yaoguang poured her a cup of tea, his voice low and gentle, “Sheng Jing’an plotted against you on your wedding night. I thought he was sincere to Shen Yun, but he betrayed her without hesitation when he fell into trouble. It shows he loves no one, just inherently selfish and hypocritical.”

Yan Donghuang held the teacup and glanced at him, “Aren’t you a man, too?”

“So you shouldn’t trust me too much, nor should you fully trust the other six generals,” Feng Yaoguang replied smoothly, “Even if you do, you should always keep a bit of caution.”

Yan Donghuang raised an eyebrow, “It seems you understand men very well.”

“Human nature is selfish, regardless of gender,” Feng Yaoguang sat opposite her, lazily resting his chin on his hand, looking at her with tender eyes, “Men are more profit-driven, while women lack autonomy. At home, they obey their fathers; after marriage, they obey their husbands. The Three Obediences and Four Virtues regulate their behavior, leaving them no chance to show their selfish nature.”

Women’s duties were in the inner chambers. To gain a reputation for being virtuous, they had to strictly follow the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, be gentle and virtuous wives, filial to their in-laws, and educate their children. Even if some were selfish and malicious, the “Seven Grounds for Divorce” restrained them, so most women didn’t dare to go too far. The phrase “men are superior” gave men an excuse for selfishness, even justifying their promiscuity as spreading their lineage for the prosperity of descendants.

Since childhood, Feng Yaoguang has seen too many unfair and disgusting things. His mother was the biggest victim of these doctrines. But the rules were made by those in power, the beneficiaries, who didn’t consider whether the doctrines were reasonable or how severely they oppressed women. They would only firmly uphold these beneficial doctrines and rules, tightly binding women within them.

“Thousands of years of rules and systems have made these concepts deeply ingrained,” Yan Donghuang sipped her tea, “One or two people can’t change this system.”

“But someone has to do it,” Feng Yaoguang said, “Why not be the first to overturn the system, Your Highness?”

Yan Donghuang looked at him calmly, her eyes flickering with a strange light.

“Grand Princess,” a weak voice sounded.

Feng Yaoguang stood up from the couch, seeing Shen Yun in a blue dress, her messy hair tidied up, her torn clothes replaced, and a simple, slightly old cloak over her dress.

After washing up, the bloodstains on Shen Jun’s face were cleaned, but the whip marks on her left cheek and chin remained, uncertain if they would leave scars.

“Chang Yue,” Yan Donghuang ordered, “Send someone to find a female doctor in the city.”

“Yes.”

Yan Donghuang gestured, and a maid brought a stool and placed it behind Shen Yun.

Shen Yun stood with her head lowered, her face pale, “Thank you for your kindness, Grand Princess. I can speak while standing.”

Yan Donghuang said indifferently, “Then you can start talking now.”

Shen Yun was silent for a moment, then began with a few key points, “The poison in the Grand Princess’s wine was the emperor’s idea. Consort De gave the poison and antidote formulas. Sheng Jing’an knew and allowed it, but the rest of the Sheng family didn’t know.”

Feng Yaoguang squinted, a look of doubt on his handsome face, “The antidote for the Seven-Day Poison isn’t ready-made but needs to be prepared separately?”

“I don’t know,” Shen Yun shook her pale face, “I don’t understand medicine. I just did what Consort De told me.”

Yan Donghuang nodded, “Continue.”

“Three months ago, Consort De summoned me to the palace, saying she wanted to catch up with me,” Shen Yun lowered her head, her face weak and pale, with a bit of long-standing inferiority, “I am a concubine’s daughter of the Shen family. Being summoned by my legitimate sister was naturally an honor, so I dressed up carefully and went to the palace with the messenger.”

“After entering the palace, Consort De’s maid gave me a bottle of poison and told me its effects. I was so scared that I almost collapsed.”

Feng Yaoguang had been watching her face. He noticed her emotional change when she finished this sentence, showing genuine fear.

Shen Yun took a deep breath, calming her trembling emotions, and continued, “Consort De dismissed all the palace servants and told me it was the emperor’s idea. She said the Grand Princess had great military achievements and power, which the emperor couldn’t tolerate.”

Shen Yun felt a chill, regretting not finding an excuse to refuse the palace summons.

She trembled and asked her legitimate sister, “I… I’m just a concubine’s daughter of the Shen family. I have no chance to get close to the Grand Princess. How can I poison her?”

Her sister smiled confidently, “Three months later, the Grand Princess and Sheng Jing’an will get married. Before that, I will arrange for you to stay in the Sheng family so you can build a good relationship with Sheng Jing’an. Put this poison in the Grand Princess’s wedding wine on the wedding day.”

“After it’s done, the emperor will grant you and Sheng Jing’an a marriage. By then, Yan Donghuang will be poisoned and unable to harm you. With the antidote formula in hand, you can control her completely. Think about it, doesn’t it feel wonderful to have a high-ranking princess under your control?”

Shen Yun was terrified.

Not to mention the risk of the plan, just living in the Sheng family without a title would ruin her reputation. She feared she would be the one sacrificed in the end. But since Consort De told her this, she couldn’t refuse.

“You have two choices: take the antidote and poison, follow the plan, and rise to become the Duchess, giving your mother the life she wants; or marry a commoner, lose all wealth, and possibly your life. Choose for yourself.”

Shen Yun knelt on the ground for a long time before coming to her senses.

Like a gentle and patient elder sister, Consort De persuaded her, “The Seven-Day Poison won’t kill. It will only gradually weaken Yan Donghuang’s martial arts, keeping her off the battlefield. I also gave you the antidote formula. As long as you mix the seven powders in the right proportions, you can make the antidote and control Yan Donghuang. Doesn’t that sound tempting?”

Tempting?

Shen Yun looked at Consort De’s smiling face. Her hair was adorned with jewels, shining with wealth and nobility.

Shen Yun seemed suddenly bewitched and nodded slowly, “I will follow your orders, Your Highness.”