Chapter 89

Chang Yue and Chang Lan were shocked and instinctively looked at Yan Donghuang.

In broad daylight, someone dared to insult the emperor as muddle-headed openly? Were they not afraid of dying fast enough?

Yan Donghuang’s expression showed little emotion. Her calm reaction was as if she were listening to someone else’s story.

“The Crown Princess comes from a humble background, and she is fortunate to have Consort De and King Jing treat her as a daughter and sister. If it weren’t for King Jing and Princess Fengyang’s help back then, would the emperor have even noticed her? Who would have thought that after Consort De’s years of hard work, she would raise an ungrateful wolf who would bite them back as soon as she gained power!”

“Yes, truly heartless and ungrateful.”

“If such a woman ascends the throne, one can only imagine the damage she would cause to the country.”

“I heard the emperor suggested the Crown Princess choose several royal consorts, not only overturning the court’s order but also reversing the roles of men and women.”

“Since ancient times, only men have had multiple wives, while women remained faithful to one husband. Who would have thought the emperor would propose such a suggestion, truly overturning the natural order and corrupting morality!”

“What man would willingly share a wife with others? Even if she holds high power, after years on the battlefield, constantly mingling with men, her purity is likely long gone. Whoever becomes her consort would be ridiculed by others!”

Chang Yue and Chang Lan frowned, their faces showing anger.

These people dared to discuss the emperor and the heir openly, even speaking such vile words, truly audacious and deserving of death.

Yan Donghuang stood up and walked out of the warm pavilion. Not far away, Princess Fengyang walked through a small gate along the corridor, accompanied by two maids.

Yan Donghuang glanced at her from a distance but did not acknowledge her, instead turning directly through the moon gate towards the west garden.

Several young men were sitting with the Marquis of Pingyang in the garden, speaking arrogantly, each filled with righteous indignation.

Suddenly, they heard a voice announce, “Crown Princess Qingluan has arrived,” and their faces changed dramatically, turning pale as they instinctively turned to look.

Seeing Yan Donghuang, almost everyone froze, their faces turning ashen, expressions blank, bodies stiff and unable to react.

How could the Crown Princess be here?

As Yan Donghuang approached step by step, they finally came to their senses, hurriedly standing up and kneeling in panic: “G-g-g-g-greetings to the Crown Princess…”

Yan Donghuang’s expression was cold and hard. She said nothing and let them kneel on the ground. Her cold, murderous eyes were slowly sweeping over the people present.

The Marquis of Pingyang, who was hosting the guests, stood up respectfully with a smile: “I was entertaining some friends at the mansion today, not expecting the Crown Princess to come. If the commotion disturbed your enjoyment of the flowers, I apologize to the Crown Princess.”

“Who told you to get up?” Chang Lan’s face turned cold, and she kicked the Marquis of Pingyang’s knee, “Did the Crown Princess speak?”

Bang!

“Ah!” The Marquis of Pingyang fell to the ground, his knee hitting the ground heavily, his face turning pale with pain, cold sweat dripping.

The air seemed to freeze in an instant.

“Donghuang.” Yan Yushu walked through the moon gate, seeing the situation, hurried over, “What’s going on? The Marquis was entertaining friends today, not knowing you were coming… Donghuang, don’t take it out on them.”

Yan Donghuang ignored her, her heavy gaze sweeping over the men present.

Five people. The oldest was about twenty-five or twenty-six, the youngest around twenty. All had their hair tied up, indicating they were adults.

Yan Donghuang’s voice was cold and ruthless: “I have been on the battlefield for many years and am unfamiliar with you. Report your names one by one so I can get to know you.”

The men exchanged glances, feeling both disdain and genuine fear. After the confiscation of Minister Chu’s family, no one dared to underestimate the Crown Princess’s methods.

After a moment of silence, the young man kneeling on the left spoke respectfully: “I am Shen Jinyan, the legitimate son of the Shen family—”

As soon as he spoke, Yan Donghuang recognized his voice as the one who had shamelessly said no man would willingly share a wife.

“Rong Ying,” Yan Donghuang’s voice was icy, “cut out his tongue.”

Before Shen Jinyan could react, a flash of cold light appeared, and a sharp pain followed. He screamed, blood pouring from his mouth, terrifying everyone present.

“Ah!” Yan Yushu screamed, her face turning pale. She stepped back three steps in shock. “Donghuang, what are you doing? What are you doing?!”

The other men were equally pale, wanting to escape, but Yan Donghuang’s cold gaze froze them in place.

“Shen Jinyan?” Yan Donghuang’s lips curled, “Your words do not match your name.”

Shen Jinyan’s face twisted in pain, blood continuously seeping from his mouth: “Ow ow…”

“Crown Princess…” the Marquis of Pingyang was terrified, his body trembling. Young Master Shen is the son of a court official…”

“Openly slandering the emperor and me, constantly speaking vile words, your audacity truly impresses me.” Yan Donghuang’s gaze shifted to the second man on the left, “What is your name?”

The second man’s face turned pale. His head lowered as he knelt: “I… I…”

“Donghuang, he… he is Sheng Jingming, the legitimate son of the third branch of the Sheng family, Sheng Jing’an’s cousin.” Yan Yushu’s face was pale, and she spoke quickly, afraid she would order another punishment. “For Sheng Jing’an’s sake, even if he said something, don’t take it to heart, okay?”

Yan Donghuang’s gaze shifted to the third person: “What is your name?”

Sheng Jingming almost collapsed, cold sweat covering his body.

The third man kept his head down, hands on the ground: “I… I am Wei Chengye, the nephew of the Duchess of Zhenguo…”

The nephew of the Duchess of Zhenguo?

Yan Donghuang’s eyes turned cold, related to Sheng Jing’an.

Very well.
It seemed like a group effort to challenge her.

Another person spoke: “I… I am Du Enyang, the son of the Deputy Minister of War…”

Yan Donghuang said coldly: “You are all dissatisfied with the emperor’s decision and have many thoughts about me.”

They trembled like leaves: “We dare not, we know our mistake…”

Yan Donghuang closed her eyes lightly: “I have just ascended to the position of heir and need to rule with virtue, so I will spare your lives today.”

They breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly thanking her: “Thank you, Crown Princess—”

“You should indeed thank me.” Yan Donghuang’s lips curled into a cold smile, “Weren’t you just discussing which man would willingly share a wife? I will give you that opportunity.”

W-what?
A sense of foreboding filled their hearts.

“Du Enyang, Sheng Jingming, Wei Chengye, and the tongueless Shen Jinyan… From today, you will enter the Crown Princess’s mansion as male concubines.” Yan Donghuang turned and ordered, “Rong Ying, take them back to the mansion.”

Rong Ying responded: “Yes.”

Like a bolt from the blue, the four men collapsed to the ground.

“D-Donghuang…” Yan Yushu forced a smile, “Isn’t this… isn’t this inappropriate?”

Yan Donghuang turned to look at her, expressionless: “What’s inappropriate? It’s their honor to serve me. It’s already good enough that I don’t despise them. How dare they refuse?”

Yan Yushu’s expression froze.

Chapter 90

The winter weather was already cold. The young men present were all wearing thick cloaks or capes, not only to keep warm but also to appear dignified. However, now they were all kneeling in the cold wind, shivering as if their warm clothes had suddenly lost their effectiveness, trembling even more than the beggars shivering on the streets.

“Crown Princess,” the Marquis of Pingyang slightly lowered his eyes, his posture humble, but his face clearly showing displeasure, “Sheng Jingming is the late Duke of Zhenguo’s nephew, your fiancé’s cousin, and Young Master Wei is the nephew of the Duchess of Zhenguo. You cannot humiliate them like this.”

“What a joke,” Yan Donghuang’s voice was icy, “They, as sons of ministers, openly slander the emperor and insult me. Why didn’t you stop them?”

The Marquis of Pingyang was speechless: “I…”

“Since when has insubordination become a noble virtue?” Yan Donghuang looked at him coldly, “Should I award them a plaque for bravery and fearlessness to praise them?”

The Marquis of Pingyang choked, his face pale: “Today’s incident is my fault. I did not stop them in time and am willing to accept the Crown Princess’s punishment, but please spare them or let them go home to be disciplined by their fathers—”

“Do you think I am a living Bodhisattva?” Yan Donghuang’s eyes turned sharp, her voice as cold as if soaked in an ice cellar, “Marquis of Pingyang, today’s incident is indeed your fault. You brought them here and deliberately said these things for me to hear, just to let me know how the subjects criticize me. You have achieved your goal and should be happy. I did hear it, but you must bear the consequences of disrespect. I am not merciful.”

With that, she coldly raised her hand: “Take them away.”

The guards who came with her stepped forward and forcibly took Sheng Jingming and the others away.

Yan Donghuang turned and left.

Yan Yushu hurriedly called after her: “Donghuang.”

Yan Donghuang turned her head, her gaze cold and distant: “Were you involved in today’s incident?”

Yan Yushu’s face turned pale: “I…”

“Considering our past sisterly relationship, I will not hold you accountable this time,” Yan Donghuang’s voice turned colder, “But this is the only time. It will not happen again.”

Yan Yushu’s face turned white: “Donghuang, I…”

“If you invited me here today just to let me hear these words and tell me that a woman as emperor would be criticized, then let me tell you, even if the whole world opposes me, no one can change my mind,” Yan Donghuang’s eyes were as sharp as knives, her words cold and cutting, “Anyone who dares to obstruct me, I will destroy.”

After saying this, she turned and left.

Yan Yushu stood frozen, her face as pale as paper, unable to react for a long time.

“Princess, what should we do?” The Marquis of Pingyang looked at Yan Yushu, his face ashen but unable to hide his panic, “You must think of a way!”

These people were all invited by him, and the words they said were also guided by him. Although they spoke carelessly, the incident happened in the Marquis of Pingyang’s mansion, and their families would not let it go.

Shen Jinyan had his tongue cut out, thoroughly offending the Shen family.
If the other families were also offended, the Marquis of Pingyang’s mansion would be ostracized in the circle of nobility.

Yan Yushu was uneasy: “I… I didn’t expect Donghuang to be so ruthless. She wasn’t like this before…”

What happened to Yan Donghuang? They were close sisters, and Donghuang had always been gentle with her.

“Does it matter what she was like before?” The Marquis of Pingyang roared, “The urgent matter is to find a solution to this problem quickly!”

Yan Yushu came to her senses, speaking uneasily: “Should we tell Mother and let her think of a way?”

“Mother knows nothing about today’s incident. Telling her will only make her furious,” the Marquis of Pingyang took a deep breath, “We must quickly send messages to each family before the news spreads and let them find a way to rescue their people.”

Yan Yushu was flustered: “I… I will go to the Crown Princess’s mansion and apologize to her. She will forgive me for the sake of our past relationship. Yes, Donghuang is the softest-hearted. She will forgive me…”
She finished speaking incoherently and turned to order: “Prepare the carriage, quickly prepare the carriage.”

The Marquis of Pingyang had no time to care about what she was doing, hurriedly turning and leaving to send a message to the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion.

Sheng Jing’an was Yan Donghuang’s fiancé. The matter of taking male concubines not only offended the families of officials but also damaged Yan Donghuang’s reputation and trampled on Sheng Jing’an’s dignity. He would not sit idly by.

As expected, when Sheng Jing’an heard the news, he was so shocked that he stood up from behind his desk: “Male concubines?”

The servant replied: “Yes, that’s what the Marquis of Pingyang’s people said.”

Sheng Jing’an’s face turned extremely ugly, and he quickly left the study, intending to go to the old lady’s courtyard. However, halfway there, he suddenly stopped and ordered: “Prepare the carriage. I am going to the Crown Princess’s mansion.”

“Yes.”

Shen, Wei, Sheng, and Du were taken to the Crown Princess’s mansion, where Yan Donghuang ordered: “Since they have foul mouths, slap each of them a hundred times to wash their mouths. Use boards, don’t dirty your hands.”

“Yes.”

Yan Donghuang turned and returned to Qingluan Courtyard. In the distance, a figure in red hurriedly arrived at Qingluan Courtyard.

Yan Donghuang had just sat down in the hall when Feng Yaoguang rushed in like a gust of wind: “Your Highness, you have taken male concubines?”

Chang Yue brewed tea, and Yan Donghuang took a sip: “After I ascend the throne, the three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines are indispensable. What is it to take a few male concubines now?”

Feng Yaoguang choked, quietly observing Yan Donghuang’s expression, guessing: “Did these people offend Your Highness?”

“Didn’t they?” Chang Lan said coldly, recounting the events at the Marquis of Pingyang’s mansion in detail, finally snorting, “No wonder the Marquis of Pingyang’s mansion has no rules. Inviting Her Highness over and then leaving her in the garden, clearly wanting her to hear how others criticize her.”

Feng Yaoguang’s face darkened, his brows frosty: “The Marquis of Pingyang is truly foolish. The Chu family was just ordered to be executed, and he pulls this stunt in his mansion. Does he think the Chu family’s downfall won’t affect the Marquis’s mansion?”

Yan Donghuang said nothing, her expression indifferent.

Mo Lin came to report: “Your Highness, Sheng Jing’an requests an audience.”

Feng Yaoguang’s face turned gloomy. What was he doing here again?