Her previous worries seemed to have been dispelled the moment she saw He Changdi.

Once everyone from Duke Jing 'an's estate had boarded the carriage, Chu Lian sat next to He Changdi and asked, "What happened?

Did something happen to the Hall of Ten Thousand People? "

He Changdi's handsome face was still as cold as before, but when he looked down at his wife, there was a gentleness that he had never shown before.

He reached out his slender fingers to tuck Chu Lian's stray hair behind her ear. Then, his hand lingered on Chu Lian's fair and tender earlobe.

Chu Lian's ear was a sensitive place. She shrunk her neck. Seeing that she couldn't avoid He Changdi's hand, she could only follow his lead. However, her delicate earlobe quickly turned red.

Even her cheeks were flushed red.

"The Crown Prince has committed a crime."

He Changdi's tone was calm, as if he was talking about the weather today.

Chu Lian's eyes widened at these words. Her clear almond-shaped eyes were filled with shock.

"What?"

Wasn't Emperor Chengping quite satisfied with the current heir apparent, the Second Prince?

In the book she had read, the Crown Prince's position was stable. As the Crown Prince's mother, Consort Liang didn't fight for the throne. Even Emperor Chengping and the Empress Dowager were very satisfied with Consort Liang.

In addition, Consort Liang was the Fourth Prince's adoptive mother. Chu Lian had a good impression of both Consort Liang and the Crown Prince. Why did the Crown Prince suddenly commit a crime?

From the looks of it, even the Emperor's birthday had ended early. It was clear that this was a very serious matter.

The Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince were the closest. Would he be implicated?

He Changdi seemed to understand the worry in his wife's eyes. He reached out and lightly scratched Chu Lian's small nose. His voice was still very calm.

"Don't worry. This matter won't implicate the Fourth Prince."

Chu Lian quietly let out a sigh of relief. As long as Prince Jin wasn't implicated, then He Changdi wouldn't be involved. She was relieved.

As for Consort Liang and the Crown Prince, she wasn't familiar with them. She didn't want to get involved.

The couple sat in the carriage and listened to He Changdi's detailed explanation. Only then did she understand what had happened in the Hall of Ten Thousand People to make Emperor Chengping so angry.

During the Emperor's birthday, all the officials who attended the banquet had to present gifts. The princes were no exception.

After the death of the First Prince, the Second Prince had been appointed as the Crown Prince for a few years.

The Second Prince's talent was ordinary. The ministers and nobles in the court thought that the Second Prince would not be able to hold the position of Crown Prince for long. But the strange thing was that the Second Prince, who was such an idiot, managed to stay on the position of Crown Prince for five or six years because of his relationship with Concubine Liang and the Fourth Prince.

In fact, it was not strange. In the palace, there was Concubine Liang who "pretended" to stabilize Emperor Chengping. In the court, there was also the Fourth Prince, Prince Jin, who was the scapegoat for the Crown Prince. In addition, there were some court officials who stood on the side of the Crown Prince. It was not surprising that the Crown Prince could be protected.

But at the birthday banquet today, there was no good concubine, and the Fourth Prince was not involved. It was not strange that the Crown Prince would take the blame if he messed up.

The reason was because the Crown Prince had presented a "phoenix" to Emperor Chengping. It was said to be a divine bird discovered in Lingnan and had been transported back from Lingnan at great expense.

Its feathers were as beautiful as fire, and behind it was a magnificent phoenix tail like that of a peacock. Its crown was gold, its beak was light purple, and its phoenix eyes were lined with orange eyeliner. It was noble and beautiful beyond compare.

As soon as this' divine bird 'was presented, all the officials in the Hall of the People stared in amazement, praising the beauty of the' divine bird '. Emperor Chengping was clearly happy. Although the Crown Prince had expended a great deal of manpower and money to transport this' divine bird 'to the capital, the fact that he had actually found this' phoenix 'meant that the Great Wu Dynasty was blessed with an auspicious sign. Moreover, it was on the day of the emperor's birthday.

The ancients were superstitious and had great faith in this kind of divine bird. Emperor Chengping was no exception.

Originally, the Emperor and the officials should have been happy to see the divine bird as an auspicious sign. But who would have thought that they would discover an accident in public?

A palace maid carrying wine overturned the teacup on the "divine bird". Immediately, the floor was covered in a pool of peeling color.

Emperor Chengping's face darkened when he saw this. He sent for someone to examine it and found that it was no divine bird at all. It was clearly a green peacock whose feathers had been plucked and dyed.

The Crown Prince had deceived the Emperor on the birthday. Emperor Chengping was enraged and immediately had the Crown Prince taken away.

When the Second Prince was pressed down, his face was full of disbelief. In a moment of desperation, he even called out to the Fourth Prince, Prince Jin. Unfortunately, this time, Prince Jin's green eyes didn't even have a trace of emotion.

At this point in the banquet, with such a scandal of deceiving the Emperor, how could it continue?

Emperor Chengping was furious and left. The birthday banquet in the Hall of the People ended on bad terms.

Later, it was Chu Lian who had seen the news in the imperial garden.

Chu Lian's eyes widened in disbelief. "The Crown Prince is too reckless."

He dared to disguise a peacock from Lingnan as a phoenix … why didn't he ascend to the heavens?

He Changdi looked down at his wife and shook his head slightly. "Although the Crown Prince sometimes acts recklessly, this doesn't seem like something he would do."

Chu Lian instantly understood He Sanlang's meaning. "You said that the Crown Prince was instigated by someone?"

He Changdi held Chu Lian in his arms. His eyes became deeper and deeper as he nodded slightly.

He suddenly asked Chu Lian, "Can you guess who it is?"

Chu Lian's clear almond-shaped eyes turned. Although she usually didn't care about the court affairs, she had some understanding of the basic situation in the court. Plus, she didn't read the original text for nothing. After thinking for a moment, her eyes brightened. She stretched out her white and tender hand and gestured the number six in front of He Changdi's eyes.

He Changdi's eyes flashed with a trace of relief.

This matter was indeed related to the Sixth Prince.

He knew that his wife didn't like the fights in the court and was usually very lazy. He originally thought that Chu Lian didn't understand the situation at all, but now that she guessed it, he was a little surprised.

"How did you guess it? Don't you dislike these intrigues in the court?" A bright light flashed in He Sanlang's eyes.

Chu Lian rolled her eyes at He Changdi without a care for her image. "Do you think I don't want to hide and be idle?

It's so good to just eat, sleep, cook, and earn money. Why do I have to waste my brain to understand these things?

But husband and wife are one. Since you are in this quagmire, if I don't understand anything, I will drag you down one day. Even if I can't be of help to you, I can't be a burden to you. "

These days, Chu Lian didn't just bury herself in the manor and do nothing. Not only did she manage the shops and fields in her hands, but she also asked Nanny Zhong to go to the study in the front yard to get a lot of books to read. With Princess Wei, she had a general grasp of the direction of the situation in the court.

The couple would soon move out and she would have to take charge of the household. As the saying goes, the man takes care of the outside and the woman takes care of the inside. He Sanlang was busy with work, so she had to worry about the relationships in the manor. If she didn't understand the situation in the court, it might really bring trouble to He Changdi.

He Changdi froze and his heart warmed. It turned out that Chu Lian had done so much for him without him knowing.

Those painful experiences hidden in the depths of his memories seemed to be no longer difficult to forget because of Chu Lian's care and consideration.

He slightly tightened his arms and hugged Chu Lian tightly, burying her small and soft body in his chest.

Chu Lian blinked. She was still a little dazed by He Changdi's sudden action. It wasn't until she heard his low and raspy voice in her ear that she suddenly understood.

She heard him say, "Lian 'er, thank you."

It didn't matter if she was the evil woman from his past life or not. At this moment, Chu Lian completely belonged to him. She was He Changdi's only wife that he deeply loved and the only warmth in his life.

For some reason, Chu Lian suddenly felt a lump in her throat. She slipped her arms under his cloak and wrapped them around his thin waist, burying herself even more tightly into his chest. Then she said two words in a muffled voice, "Idiot."

She really was an idiot. She was only doing her duty as a wife, but He Changdi was so moved that she felt embarrassed. She wanted to treat him even better.

On the other side, in the carriage on the way back to Count Jing 'an's estate, the young couple were affectionate, but the atmosphere in the imperial palace was stagnant.

Emperor Chengping, who had ended the banquet early due to his rage, was currently in the Hall of Diligent Government. He sat behind the imperial desk, still wearing the robes he had worn for the birthday banquet. Eunuch Wei was the only person beside him.

Eunuch Wei looked at the emperor's dark expression and couldn't help but tremble as he stood to the side.

He didn't know how long he had been with Emperor Chengping, but he felt that time seemed to drag on.

At this moment, Eunuch Sun outside the hall had something to report.

Wei Chenghai glanced at Emperor Chengping beside him and carefully said, "Your Majesty, outside …"

Before he could finish, Emperor Chengping turned to look at him. Having accompanied the emperor for so many years, Wei Chenghai instantly understood what Emperor Chengping meant.

He bowed respectfully to Emperor Chengping, then retreated with small steps. Not long after, he returned.

Moving closer to Emperor Chengping, Wei Chenghai said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, outside is Consort Liang. She is kneeling outside the hall and wants you to see her."

Emperor Chengping's expression turned cold, but he didn't speak immediately. Eunuch Wei lowered his head and waited at the side. He knew that Emperor Chengping was thinking.

After a while, Emperor Chengping said a few words, and Eunuch Wei went out again.

At the end of the third month, outside the Hall of Diligent Government, the shiny tiles were still bone-chillingly cold. Consort Liang knelt on the tiles in a plain dress. Hearing footsteps coming from inside the hall, she suddenly looked up expectantly. But the person she saw was not the person she wanted to see.

Wei Chenghai walked to Consort Liang's side and looked down at the woman who was middle-aged but still as charming as ever.

Consort Liang couldn't help but ask, "Eunuch Wei, His Majesty …"

"Consort Liang, please return. His Majesty is busy and won't see you right now. It's cold outside, don't harm your body."

Hearing Eunuch Wei's words, Consort Liang's body softened and she almost fell to the cold ground.

"His … His Majesty only said this?"

Wei Chenghai didn't speak, clearly a tacit agreement.

In the end, Consort Liang was sent away by Wei Chenghai's people.

Wei Chenghai's meaning was that of Emperor Chengping. No one dared to disobey.

Wei Chenghai entered the hall to report.

He carefully stood next to Emperor Chengping. Seeing that it was late at night, he still asked in a small voice, "Your Majesty, what are your arrangements for tonight?"

Emperor Chengping raised his head to look at the empty hall. A moment later, he said in a low voice, "Consort Wei."

Eunuch Wei hurriedly left to give the order.

Consort Liang was sent back to Chengxiang Hall. Before she could rest, she learned that Emperor Chengping had gone to Consort Wei's place.

Consort Liang, who had always looked virtuous and uncompetitive, suddenly had a fierce expression on her face. In a low voice, she called for her trusted maid.

At this moment, Consort Liang's voice sounded especially cold.

"How did the Fourth Prince behave today?"

The maid didn't hide anything. "Replying Consort Liang, His Highness didn't react at all at the banquet."

"He just watched as Imperial Son was dragged away?"

The maid didn't speak. She tacitly agreed.

Suddenly, Consort Liang flipped over the small table beside her. The snacks and teacups on the small table tumbled to the ground, making a crashing sound.

Consort Liang screamed like she had gone mad, "That little bastard, how dare he, how dare he treat this consort's Ah Sheng like this!

Jiejie, how could you give birth to such an ungrateful dog! "

No maids in Chengxiang Hall dared to speak. At this moment, Consort Liang looked like a madwoman.

Consort Wei hadn't expected that Emperor Chengping would come to her place so late at night. She hurriedly had the maids prepare.

Today, Emperor Chengping had flown into such a rage at Wanmin Hall and then severely punished the Crown Prince, but he still remembered her, a Guifei. One could imagine her position in the Emperor's heart.

When Emperor Chengping arrived at Consort Wei's place, Consort Wei served him attentively.

It was too late, and Emperor Chengping's face was full of exhaustion. The two washed up and went to sleep.

On the spacious bed, Consort Wei was wearing loose pajamas and giving Emperor Chengping a massage.

Emperor Chengping would occasionally open his eyes to look at the woman in front of him, but every time he closed his eyes, the image of another smiling face from his memories flashed through his mind.

It had to be said that of all the consorts in the inner palace, the one who resembled Ye Xun the most was Consort Wei.

This was also the reason why Emperor Chengping would come to Consort Wei's place to sleep whenever he had something on his mind, and the true reason she was so favored.

Consort Wei had good massage techniques. She had learned them from an old mama in the palace who specialized in massaging.

Emperor Chengping was getting on in years and didn't pay much attention to sexual matters. Every time he came to Consort Wei's place, it was just to sleep. In order to curry favor with Emperor Chengping, Consort Wei would often massage him to loosen his muscles and bones.

As Consort Wei massaged, she was thinking of something else.

Now that the Crown Prince had lost his power, she understood that the Emperor could no longer tolerate the Second Prince. The Second Prince didn't have any self-awareness of his position as the heir apparent. Emperor Chengping wouldn't really give this kind of son the highest position.

She only had one daughter, Princess Leyao, and no son. Even though she wanted a son of her own, the older Emperor Chengping got, the more restrained he became. There hadn't been any consorts in the palace for many years.

In just a moment, thousands of thoughts flashed through Consort Wei's mind.

She thought of what her younger sister, Wei Fengzi, had said to her when she entered the palace.

Her eyes instantly became determined. It was better to sell a favor to Emperor Chengping at this crucial time. In any case, she had no hope of having a son. How could there be true love in the inner palace?

Consort Wei wasn't completely stupid. After so many years, how could she not realize that she was just a substitute for someone the Emperor couldn't have?

Emperor Chengping was wearing bright yellow pajamas as he lay on the bed, allowing Consort Wei to massage his back. Consort Wei's gentle voice suddenly rang in his ear.

"Your Holiness, do you still remember Sister Ye?"

When Consort Wei's words came out, Emperor Chengping suddenly sat up and looked dangerously at her.

In the next second, Consort Wei's fair neck fell into Emperor Chengping's large palm.

Emperor Chengping was skilled in both the pen and the sword. With just one move, Consort Wei's neck was already purple.

"What did you say?"

Consort Wei stared into Emperor Chengping's eyes. She didn't doubt that if her next words displeased Emperor Chengping, she would be carried out as a corpse.

Consort Wei's back was already covered in a layer of cold sweat. Her eyelashes trembled as she closed her eyes and steadied her emotions. Then, in a trembling voice, she said, "Your … Your Holiness, Sister Ye may have left, but she left you a child …"

Emperor Chengping's pupils suddenly shrank.

What!

Ah Xun was pregnant with his child!

They actually had a child!

His Ah Xun left him a child!

"Speak!

If you dare hide one word, you should know the consequences! "

Consort Wei's voluptuous body trembled. She didn't dare hide anything. "Sister Ye's child is … Jinyi Xiangjun …"

Jinyi?

Chu Lian?

The sixth daughter of the British Duke?

He Yanwen's third daughter-in-law!

The child who cooked for him that day at the Wei Wangfu?

Emperor Chengping's mind shook for a moment!

Chu Lian's face appeared in his mind. Even though Emperor Chengping had only seen Chu Lian once or twice, at this moment, he could clearly remember Chu Lian's face.

The messy clues in his mind were instantly linked together.

Emperor Chengping thought of the first time he saw Chu Lian. Chu Lian's small face was familiar to him. Later, they hadn't seen each other for nearly half a year. When they met again at the Wei Wangfu, he saw Chu Lian and Princess Duanjia's silhouette.

If this was the truth, then it made sense.

Chu Lian's mother, Ye Xun, was a collateral relative of the Ye family. She and Consort Wei could barely be considered cousins.

Chu Lian and Royal Princess Duanjia were also cousins, so it was easy to see that they looked alike.

With this result, Emperor Chengping unconsciously loosened the strength in his hand.

As soon as he loosened his grip, Consort Wei clutched her neck and coughed violently. Just now, she really was almost strangled to death by Emperor Chengping …

Knowing such a big secret, Emperor Chengping was in no mood to rest at Consort Wei's place.

With a shout, Eunuch Wei scrambled into the room.

Then, Eunuch Wei trembled as he helped Emperor Chengping put on his clothes and returned to the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

In the middle of the night, He Lin was summoned to the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

"Investigate for me. I want all the information on the Second Madam of the Ying family and the Sixth Miss."

He Lin received the secret order and ran out of the Hall of Heavenly Purity. He was afraid that if he walked any slower, he would be kicked out by Emperor Chengping.

Eunuch Wei, who was waiting on the side, had already guessed the truth. At this moment, he was also absent-minded and in disbelief. Jinyi Village Lady was actually of the Emperor's bloodline …

While Eunuch Wei was distracted, he suddenly heard Emperor Chengping ask, "Xiao Haizi, what do you think of Jinyi?"

Wei Chenghai was so scared that he immediately became alert. At this time, he didn't dare to say a single bad word about Chu Lian.

"Jinyi Village Lady is intelligent and dignified. She is also quick-witted. She also has a wonderful method. This servant has never seen someone as special as her."

It was clear that Eunuch Wei's words pleased Emperor Chengping.

Emperor Chengping rubbed his chin and thought back to the first time he met Chu Lian. That young lady didn't seem flustered at all in front of him.

She was neither servile nor overbearing. In such a dangerous moment, she was able to come up with such an unconventional method to save Duan Jia. She even opened a famous restaurant in Shengjing.

Oh right, there was also Lu Zhou and Shang Dao. How did that little guy's brain grow? How could he be so smart and cute? She must have inherited it from him. Although Ah Xun was smart, she didn't have this kind of creative thinking and practical ability.

She must have inherited it from him.

Emperor Chengping actually fell into a dream for a moment. Ye Xun had passed away many years ago, which made him fall into pain. He didn't expect that Ye Xun would leave him a child.

This child was the continuation of Ye Xun's life. It was the proof that he and Ye Xun were in love.

Jinyi was the same age as Duan Jia. She was 16 this year. Emperor Chengping calculated in his heart. If he and Ye Xun had a child, they would be 16.

Even though he hadn't received the results of He Lin's investigation, he was 80% sure that Chu Lian was his child.

Now that he thought about it, he actually felt that no matter where Chu Lian was, he liked her.

But in the next second, Emperor Chengping's smiling face froze …

Eunuch Wei watched from the side in fear. Too many things had happened tonight. Even someone like him, who had been through a lot, couldn't handle it. Now that he saw his master's expression change again, he was so scared that his legs almost turned to jelly.

Eunuch Wei mustered up his courage and asked, "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

Emperor Chengping remembered that Chu Lian was already married, and her husband was He Yanwen's son. He suddenly felt a bellyful of anger.

This feeling was like he had finally found a treasure that had been lost for a long time, but because it had been lost for so long, it had been engraved with someone else's name …

He snorted coldly. "That stinky brat got lucky!"

Eunuch Wei's face trembled. He immediately realized who Emperor Chengping was talking about.

It was the current Marquis Anyuan of the Martial Arts Selection Department …

Chu Lian returned to Songtao Court with He Changdi. She didn't know about the change in that big shot in the palace, nor did she know that this body of hers had another identity.

Today, the Crown Prince was in trouble, but Prince Jin calmly did not intervene. He Changdi was relieved.

In his previous life, the turning point of his best friend's fate was this night. Now that things had changed, He Changdi was in a good mood.

When the couple returned to Songtao Court, it was already late at night.

But because of the tossing and turning of the banquet, and the accident in the middle, the two of them were sweating.

It was necessary to change clothes and freshen up.

Songtao Court was very big, and there were more than one clean room. The clean room behind He Changdi's study was more spacious.

Chu Lian sat in front of the dressing table and let Xiyan take off the hairpin on her head. She also took off the layers of outer clothes that covered her. Only then did she feel light and refreshed.

When she was done, she glanced at He Changdi, who was still sitting at the table. She couldn't help but feel strange and asked, "Why are you still here? Aren't you tired? Why don't you go to the clean room to take a bath?"

He Changdi picked up the teacup and took a sip of the warm water inside. He didn't answer Chu Lian's question for a while.

Chu Lian thought that he wanted her to wash first, so she smiled and said, "You go, I told Xiyan to prepare the clean room in the study room. Everything is ready there, you don't have to worry."

When she said that, He Changdi was still silent. Chu Lian couldn't help but turn her head to look at He Changdi.

As soon as their eyes met, Chu Lian found that He Changdi's eyes were not right. There was a fiery and lingering feeling in his eyes.

But this kind of eyes really didn't match his handsome face … …

Chu Lian's face turned red in a flash. She stuttered: "Why are you looking at me? Why don't you go to the clean room?"

At this moment, He Sanlang, who was a man of few words, finally opened his mouth. His voice carried an intoxicating magnetism, and he let out a chuckle that made one's heart tremble, as if he was teasing, "What? Have you forgotten what you promised me before?"

(Why did A 'Lan become more diligent, but there are fewer messages … … My heart is stifled, I'm unhappy, I don't have the strength to write.

In addition, there was a small bug in the previous chapter. The second prince's mother was Concubine Liang, not Concubine Xian.)