Chapter 93

One must say, this statement was a bit blunt. Even Yan Donghuang, who was always calm and strong, couldn’t help but be stunned into silence for a while. Then she took a sip of tea: “But if we really have a child, and the child doesn’t take your surname, won’t you feel aggrieved?”

Feng Yaoguang touched his nose: “Others will pass on my surname, it doesn’t have to be me.”

Yan Donghuang frowned: “That’s a different matter.”

Feng Yaoguang thought seriously for a moment and said earnestly: “Even if I have the chance to become a duke in the future, my child would still be just a duke’s son, not as noble as a prince, so I want to take a shortcut.”

Hearing this, Yan Donghuang was speechless for a moment, then shook her head: “That’s not necessarily true.”

If one could become a duke through outstanding military achievements, it would definitely be a position of real power, bringing glory to the family for a hundred years.

While a prince is indeed noble, they are most vulnerable to being harmed in childhood and may not survive to adulthood. Even if they do, they would be forced into the struggle for the throne, where the winner takes all and the loser suffers. Throughout history, countless princes and their factions have died in the battle for the throne.

“I understand what you mean, Your Highness.” Feng Yaoguang smiled indifferently, “But just as the royal family has its intrigues, so do noble families. When a minister becomes too powerful, the king will become wary. These situations are inevitable, or they may not happen at all. So, no matter what choice is made, it can never fully develop according to one’s plan. Therefore, the most important thing is to follow one’s heart.”

Yan Donghuang seemed convinced, remained silent for a moment, and finally stopped persuading.

Yes, what if one becomes a duke?

The loyal Duke of Zhen Guo had a foolish son like Sheng Jing’an, who ruined the entire dukedom in the previous life. And she, the Grand Princess, held military power, and it was precisely because of her outstanding achievements that Yan Ming was always restless, constantly thinking of ways to eliminate her.

Yan Donghuang slowly nodded: “You make sense, but once you enter the harem, it means you will have to respect a woman from then on. You may not feel it deeply now, but in the future, when you are bound by rules everywhere, you might regret it.”

“It’s not about respecting a woman, but respecting a monarch.” Feng Yaoguang’s voice was low as he gently corrected her, “It just so happens that this monarch is a woman, and she is the person I like the most. So I am willing to give up military power and abide by the rules of the harem just to assist her in becoming a wise and great emperor.”

Yan Donghuang was shocked. She looked up at Feng Yaoguang, meeting his persistent and slightly nervous eyes. Her hand holding the teacup tightened slightly. After a moment, she smiled faintly: “Alright.”

Feng Yaoguang was stunned: “Your Highness means…”

Alright?

“Exactly what you think.” Yan Donghuang said, “If you are willing to humble yourself, I am naturally willing to break the rules for you.”

What are the rules of the harem? They were just to scare him. Rules are made by people, and people are alive. Moreover, a man like Feng Yaoguang should always be dazzling.

When Feng Yaoguang realized it, he was so happy that he almost jumped up: “Your, Your Highness?”

Yan Donghuang just smiled without speaking.

Feng Yaoguang got up and paced around, feeling a bit at a loss. He didn’t expect the surprise to come so quickly, suddenly falling on his head.

When did Her Highness have such thoughts?
Or did she choose him just because of a few words?
Isn’t that too hasty?

After the initial joy, Feng Yaoguang began to feel a bit uneasy. After all, he had no experience as an emperor’s consort, and there was no precedent for a female emperor and an emperor’s consort in the Dayong Dynasty. He didn’t even know how to be a good emperor’s consort.

What if he made a mistake in front of the emperor?
What if Her Highness liked someone else?
What if… what if…

“Yaoguang.” Yan Donghuang’s voice was calm, “Don’t be so nervous, I’m not a tiger.”

Feng Yaoguang turned to look at her, his eyes filled with a hint of expectation: “Does Your Highness like me?”

Yan Donghuang was never one to act without principles. Even though she had the decree to annul the engagement in her hand, the engagement had not yet been annulled. It was somewhat unreasonable to make a promise to him at this time – unless she liked him.

Yan Donghuang didn’t answer this question because Si Ying had returned. He first reported the situation outside the Grand Princess’s residence: “Your Highness, people from the Wei family, Sheng family, and Shen family have arrived. Deputy Minister of War, Lord Du, is also outside seeking an audience with the Grand Princess. Additionally, Prime Minister Pei and Grand Tutor Qi have arrived in the front yard, saying they are here to discuss state affairs with Your Highness.”

Yan Donghuang said indifferently: “Have Prime Minister Pei and his party invited to the study. I will go there shortly.”

“Yes.”

“Rong Ying, go tell those families outside that Shen Jingyan and the others openly insulted the emperor and me, committing a crime punishable by the extermination of the family. Ask them if they want me to immediately confiscate their properties or let their sons atone for their crimes. Let them choose.”

“Yes.” Si Ying took the order and left.

Yan Donghuang stood up: “Since you want to be my emperor’s consort, come with me to the study today to listen to the discussions on state affairs. Afterward, we can exchange our thoughts.”

Feng Yaoguang gladly accepted: “Yes.”

Chapter 94

In the cold winter, the air was bitterly cold. Outside the Grand Princess’s residence, chaos reigned. Among them, the most agitated was Shen Yunshan, the Deputy Minister of Personnel. Their anger almost drowned out the voices of the other three families.

“The Grand Princess is cruel and bloodthirsty, arbitrarily punishing the sons of officials, indulging in debauchery, and defying conventions, which is simply intolerable! I demand the Grand Princess release my son, or I will complain to the Emperor!”

“The Grand Princess has just been appointed as the Crown Princess, yet she humiliates the sons of officials without any tolerance or kindness, trampling on the dignity of ministers. How can she be a good ruler in the future?”

“Now, as the heir apparent, she is already cruel and bloodthirsty. If she becomes the Emperor, won’t it be a scene of corpses everywhere and rivers of blood?!”

“Release them immediately!”
“Release them immediately!”

The four families gathered outside, bringing their guards, making quite a formidable scene.

Si Ying, dressed in a black robe with a sword at his waist, strode outside, coldly looking at the nearly irrational four families, and said sternly:
“Shen Jingyan, Sheng Jingming, Du Enyang, and Wei Chengye insulted the Emperor at the Marquis of Pingyang’s residence, calling the Emperor foolish, and insulted the Grand Princess with disrespectful words, which is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations! Her Highness, being generous and forgiving, took them in as male concubines as a favor to them.”

“If you continue to make a fuss here, the situation might escalate, and you could end up with your entire families executed.”

“Nonsense!” Shen Yunshan’s face turned pale, almost hysterically shouting, “Jingyan is the legitimate son of the Shen family, strictly educated from a young age to be loyal and patriotic, cautious in words and deeds. It is impossible for him to speak disrespectfully, let alone insult the Emperor and the Grand Princess!”

“The Grand Princess is abusing her power, doing whatever she wants, thinking she can convince us with a fabricated crime? I don’t believe it! If the Grand Princess doesn’t release them, I will go to the Emperor, even if it costs me my life, to have the Emperor depose her as the heir apparent!”

Si Ying looked at the pale-faced Shen Yunshan with indifference in his eyes.

Even though the other families were also indignant and imposing, he didn’t take them seriously at all, calmly reminding them: “Instead of shouting here, why don’t you send someone to the Marquis of Pingyang’s residence to find out if it’s true that they insulted the Emperor and the heir apparent? After all, this concerns the fate of your entire family, so it’s better to be cautious.”

Shen Yunshan obviously didn’t believe it and wanted to say more.

Si Ying had already turned around and ordered the gate to be closed.

“This is impossible.” Shen Yunshan kept denying it, turning to the others, “This must be a fabricated story by the Grand Princess’s residence to make us wary. Don’t be intimidated…”

“Shen Yunshan, what if it’s true?” Sheng Lanfeng, the head of the third branch of the Sheng family, hesitated, “Although what he said may not be true, shouldn’t we check first? What if… what if…”

Shen Yunshan angrily said: “Your son and the legitimate son of the Duke’s residence are cousins. The Grand Princess wouldn’t do anything to him for Sheng Jing’an’s sake, so of course, you speak for the Grand Princess! But my Jingyan’s tongue is gone. He’s already a cripple, and you want him to stay in the Grand Princess’s residence as a male concubine and be humiliated? Sheng Lanfeng, you—”

“That’s not what I meant.” Sheng Lanfeng frowned, “I just think it’s better to find out the truth first. After all, today’s incident happened too suddenly. If we don’t find out the truth and make a fuss here, it might get out of hand, and the Emperor might have to take action…”

Shen Yunshan’s face changed slightly, finally showing some fear.

Mentioning the Emperor reminded people of the Chu family, who had just been executed today. The blood on the execution ground hadn’t even dried yet, and so many heads had fallen. How could it not be terrifying?

Shen Yunshan’s momentum weakened involuntarily, but his face was still ugly.

Wei Chengye’s father, the Deputy Censor-in-Chief, saw Shen Yunshan being intimidated by a few words and became furious: “These are all one-sided words from the Grand Princess. They were invited to the Marquis of Pingyang’s residence as guests today. Even if they were chatting, how could it be such a coincidence that the Grand Princess heard them?”

“Yes, how could it be such a coincidence?” Deputy Minister of War, Lord Du said, looking more rational than the other three, “Could it be that they were set up?”

He remained calm because, firstly, the Minister of War had just been executed, and the position was now vacant. He was eyeing that position and didn’t want to offend Yan Donghuang. Secondly, Du Enyang was his youngest son, and if the Grand Princess really liked him, he wouldn’t mind his son serving the Grand Princess.

Shen Yunshan was so out of control because Shen Jingyan’s tongue had been cut off. No matter the outcome, this son was already ruined, and he couldn’t stay calm.

“Set up?” Shen Yunshan’s face changed, “Do you mean the Grand Princess set a trap to get them?”

“No.” Lord Du shook his head, “I mean, they were set up by someone else.”

Sheng Lanfeng and Shen Yunshan frowned together: “Who do you mean?”

“It happened at the Marquis of Pingyang’s residence.” Lord Du pondered, “Madam Chu is the Marquis of Pingyang’s aunt. The Chu family was executed, but the Marquis was still hosting guests. Do you think that’s normal?”

Of course, it wasn’t normal.

Shen Yunshan gritted his teeth and headed towards the carriage: “I’ll go to the Marquis of Pingyang’s residence to find out!”

Lord Du followed: “We’ll go with you to demand an explanation from the Marquis.”

“Yes, the Marquis must give us an explanation!”