At Prince Zhennan's Mansion, all the servants and guards were kneeling on the ground. Prince Zhennan, Zhou Ruyuan, the third prince, was protecting the woman in his arms, kneeling in the center of the servants. The entire mansion was surrounded by Imperial Guards, and the whole place was silent, not a single person dared to make a sound!
Shen Lanxi returned to the bridal chamber unnoticed. Nubai had been constantly reporting back to her along the way, and only stopped when she stepped inside the room.
"Chunxiao, has the Prince returned?" she called out softly.
Chunxue immediately pushed the door open and entered, "Miss, the Prince hasn't returned. Do you want to freshen up?"
There would be plenty of time to freshen up later. Shen Lanxi's eyes fell on the Wedding Wine on the table.
"Has anyone come in?"
Chunxue shook her head, "This servant has been guarding outside, and no one has entered!"
Nubai's voice rang out, "Master, Master, the Imperial Guard has all withdrawn. Zhou Ruyuan is heading this way with that woman!"
"Chunxue, I'm hungry. Tell the kitchen to send some food!"
Why is the young miss so strange? Shouldn't she be getting dressed first?
Chunxue left with a puzzled expression.
Her wounds had already been simply treated. The fake blood on her feet had been cleaned in the space. She could play the victim, but she wouldn't actually hurt herself!
She had just taken out the clothes she wanted to change into when Zhou Ruyuan violently kicked the door open.
"Shen Lanxi..." A cold and stern voice accompanied a lithe and graceful figure. A handsome face entered Shen Lanxi's sight.
Zhou Ruyuan was surrounded by rage, and his voice was filled with angry accusations.
"Shen Lanxi, did you complain to The Emperor!"
Shen Lanxi's eyes flickered, and a gorgeous smile bloomed on her face.
"My Lord, what are you saying? I don't understand."
Zhou Ruyuan's eyes were heavy, burning with anger. "Just because I brought Qingling back, you want to cruelly have the Emperor execute her?"
Shen Lanxi sat down calmly, her hands folded, her back straight. Every movement showed the marks of the strict upbringing of a distinguished family.
She glanced at Zhou Ruyuan, then at Bai Qingling.
"She is the Concubine you keep outside?"
Zhou Ruyuan was instantly provoked by her calm demeanor. "She is not a Concubine! She is the woman I love!"
Bai Qingling wasn't exceptionally beautiful, but she knew how to dress, which gave her a hint of heroism.
"Sister Shen, please don't misunderstand. The Lord and I are not the kind of relationship you think!"
Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow and sneered, "So, what kind of relationship do you two have? The kind where he spends his wedding night in your room and calls for water three times?"
Zhou Ruyuan immediately became angry, "If it weren't for the Emperor's decree, the position of Princess would have belonged to Qingling. If Qingling hadn't been constantly advising me not to defy the decree, do you think I would have married you?"
Shen Lanxi's face was full of mockery, "If I had known in advance that you were involved with such a thing, would I have married you?"
"Shen Lanxi..." Zhou Ruyuan pointed at Shen Lanxi in a rage. Bai Qingling saw that the two had already fallen out and quickly pulled Zhou Ruyuan back.
"My Lord, the Emperor's words are law. To defy the decree is to defy the Emperor!" Bai Qingling persuaded Zhou Ruyuan, and then turned to persuade Shen Lanxi.
"Princess, I am not here to compete with you for the position of Princess. You are the Princess by imperial decree, and you are Ruyuan's wife. You have the support of a powerful maternal family. I am just a commoner. You don't need to worry about me competing with you. Ruyuan is our husband. The two of us should work together to be Ruyuan's support, and assist Ruyuan together, so that Ruyuan can go higher and further. Can we live in peace with each other in the future?"
Shen Lanxi watched Bai Qingling's speech, her lips curving into a mocking smile.
"You don't dare to defy the decree, right? Then why are you still alive?"
Zhou Ruyuan's brow twitched.
Bai Qingling clenched her hands tightly under her sleeves.
"And you say you know nothing?" Zhou Ruyuan demanded, his voice sharp.
Shen Lanxi looked at Bai Qingling. "Let me guess why she's still alive. On the night of the Prince and Consort's wedding, a Concubine's seductive actions caused the Consort to spend her wedding night alone, becoming a laughingstock to the world and a scandal in the royal family. This is a grave offense, punishable by death. Why hasn't she died? It's certainly not because of her looks, nor her commoner background. There's only one possibility: Imperial Offspring!"
A flash of panic flickered in Bai Qingling's eyes.
Zhou Ruyuan grabbed her wrist, his tone icy and severe. "What have you done?"
Shen Lanxi was not intimidated by Zhou Ruyuan. Her face grew colder with each word.
"Before the official Consort enters the household, the Concubine already has a child. That is also a great disgrace to the royal family. The moment the child in her womb is born, it will be her death sentence!"
Zhou Ruyuan was stunned for a moment, easily freed from Shen Lanxi's grasp.
Shen Lanxi was grateful to Eunuch Wang Bao for not revealing the Shen family's downfall, allowing her to savor her moment of triumph over the treacherous pair.
"How dare you, with your lowly status, presume to be on equal footing with me and call me sister? Shall I have my father open the ancestral hall and add your name to the list?"
Bai Qingling turned to Zhou Ruyuan for help.
"Your Highness, that's not what I meant!"
Zhou Ruyuan, remembering his earlier defiance of the imperial decree, felt a shadow of unease, his tone becoming impatient and dismissive.
"Qingling has a kind heart; don't misunderstand her. Later, when you go to the palace to pay your respects, tell The Emperor to make Qingling a Consort." With an official title, Qingling would be safe, and it was perfect for Shen Lanxi to request this!
Shen Lanxi slapped Bai Qingling directly across the face, the force of the blow sending Bai Qingling sprawling against Zhou Ruyuan.
"What do you think you are doing?" Zhou Ruyuan reached out, intending to strike back at Shen Lanxi on Bai Qingling's behalf.
"You dare touch me!" Shen Lanxi glared at Zhou Ruyuan, her eyes blazing. "If you touch a single hair on my head, I'll have my maternal uncle, His Majesty, execute this woman by slow slicing. If you dare to touch me twice, I'll have my Great Grandmother, the Empress Dowager, exterminate her entire clan!"
Zhou Ruyuan's eyes blazed with fury, and he roared, "Your heart is black, utterly rotten! Qingling isn't competing with you for anything, so why can't you show a little tolerance?"
Shen Lanxi laughed arrogantly, "Did I ask you if I could be tolerant?"
Zhou Ruyuan choked on his response.
A trace of malice flashed in Bai Qingling's eyes, but she quickly adopted a worried expression. "No matter what, this is a matter within Prince Zhennan's Mansion. You can't tell His Majesty and have him reprimand our Prince!"
Zhou Ruyuan immediately glared at Shen Lanxi.
"Who do you think you are? A mistress, someone who can't even show her face. What right do you have to call yourself part of the Prince's household?" Shen Lanxi sneered.
"I'll go to the palace and report this to my maternal uncle and Great Grandmother. I'll have them execute you by slow slicing, and scatter your ashes!"
Bai Qingling glanced at Zhou Ruyuan, and in a flash of inspiration, she quickly knelt down.
"My Lady, I genuinely love the Prince. I am willing to risk my life for him. I beg you, my Lady, please make my wish come true!" Bai Qingling's forehead was pressed against the floor, her hands clawing at her palms.
Shen Lanxi was deeply moved!
"I've never met a woman so devoted to a man. Giving you a chance isn't impossible!" She pushed the shorter of the two wine cups towards Bai Qingling.
"It's simple enough to grant your wish. Drink this cup of wine!"