Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 928 The Rules Have Collapsed
The good news of the 48 million taels of silver spent hadn't even dissipated when the Crown Princess's drama ruined it all. Four people? The Crown Princess chose four at once? What the hell is this?!
Pei Wan stood there, feeling the gazes shooting at her from all directions—curious, mocking, and those waiting to see her make a fool of herself—like needles pricking her. She didn't know where she got the courage to say "I am willing to serve alongside the Cui family's younger sister" in front of so many people. Now, thinking about it, her face burned, and her heart felt heavy. She had always been arrogant and haughty, and now she had actually said such things.

She glanced quickly at Cui Lin beside her. The barely concealed expression on Cui Lin's face had changed, replaced by anger. Her lips were tightly pursed, and she showed no composure whatsoever.

Li Zhi was completely stunned.

He looked at the three women standing side by side in the middle of the room... Pei Wan, Cui Lin, and Xiao Wu, plus Wei Tong, the young lady from the Wei family who had been temporarily chosen by his mother. He really didn't know how to explain it to her.

At that moment, he felt his head buzzing. He looked to his father for help, but Xia Lin just glanced at him with an empty look in his eyes before lowering his head to deal with his piece of lamb leg without offering any opinion.

"Nonsense... This is utter nonsense..." Third Sister held her forehead. She had impulsively pointed at Wei Tong in a fit of anger at Tuoba Jing and Xia Lin's meddling, and now she was filled with regret.

How can this situation be resolved? All etiquette and rules have become worthless; if word gets out, what will become of the royal family's dignity?
"Good! Good!" The only one in the entire room who seemed genuinely happy was probably Tuoba Jing. He slapped his thigh vigorously, grinning from ear to ear, as if this absurd situation was his own masterpiece: "That's more like it! It's so much better when it's lively and bustling! Zhi'er, you're a lucky boy! Your uncle has high hopes for you!"

He even winked at Li Zhi, but Li Zhi gave him an expression that was worse than crying.

The master of ceremonies stood there, holding the prepared ceremonial procedure booklet, mouth agape, unable to utter a single word for a long time. This procedure… what should be the next step? He looked pleadingly at His Majesty on the throne, then at Marshal Xia, and finally at Prime Minister Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji stood there expressionless, eyes downcast, seemingly lost in thought, like an old monk in deep meditation, saying nothing and offering no comment. He knew perfectly well that this situation was no longer something a subject could address; it was a mess created by the petty squabbles of his ancestors, and anyone who got involved would be doomed.

Finally, Xia Lin wiped his hands and slowly spoke, "Alright, stop standing there. The choice has been made, so let's leave it at that. Zhi'er,"

Li Zhi was startled: "My son is here."

"Take your future wife and go downstairs to rest. Keep an eye on things, don't let them fight."

Li Zhi felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and without thinking much, he quickly whispered to Pei Wan and the other two, "Gentlemen... sisters, please come with me."

Pei Wan lowered her head and was the first to move. Cui Lin bit her lip, glared at Pei Wan and Xiao Wu, and then reluctantly followed. Xiao Wu, on the other hand, remained calm; this was one of the outcomes she had anticipated, and she had already mentally prepared herself.

Several young women of different backgrounds and with different thoughts left the center of the absurd banquet under the watchful eyes of Li Zhi.

Once they left, the tense atmosphere eased slightly, but the whispers continued like a buzzing mosquito, impossible to suppress.

The expressions on the faces of the officials and family representatives who had originally bet on the Pei or Cui family were now quite varied.

Several officials who were lingering around the Pei family gathered together, their brows furrowed in worry.

"Lord Pei... this... Miss Wan'er is certainly good, but with four of them going in at once, what will happen to the Crown Prince's Palace..."

The middle-aged man addressed as Lord Pei was Pei Wan's father, his face a mixture of paleness and embarrassment. He had painstakingly cultivated his daughter, finally securing her place in the final selection. He had believed that with her talent, beauty, and family influence, the position of Crown Princess was practically guaranteed. Who would have thought that such a formidable opponent would emerge halfway through—no, three opponents! Especially Xia Lin's apprentice and the Wei family girl personally chosen by His Majesty! The situation had instantly become incredibly complex and unpredictable. He suppressed his agitation and said in a low voice, "What's the panic! Wan'er has already been selected, which gives her an advantage. From now on, it's up to each of us to rely on our own abilities! But..." He glanced at the Cui family, his eyes turning cold, "That girl from the Cui family, I'm afraid she won't be so easy to deal with."

The atmosphere was even more somber at the Cui family's place.

Cui Situ's face was ashen, his grip on the wine cup cracking. His Cui family had poured countless resources into cultivating Cui Lin, aiming for the Empress's position, and now, she was only a quarter of the way there! And not just any Cui Lin, but that Pei family girl he'd always looked down on, along with two others with no real power or influence! This was an utter disgrace!
"Father, what do we do now?" a nephew asked in a low voice. "Sister Lin, she..."

"Shut up!" Cui Situ hissed, his eyes darkening. "Things have come to this, there's no point in saying more. Tell Lin'er to calm down once she's inside! Whatever you do, establish yourself first! That Pei Wan, and Xia Lin's apprentice, are no pushovers! As for that Wei family member..." He sneered, his tone full of disdain, "He's not worth worrying about!"

Meanwhile, families that were on good terms with or related to the Pei and Cui families by marriage were also wavering. Their previously clear allegiances had suddenly become blurred. Those who sided with the Pei family worried that Cui Lin would gain more favor with the Crown Prince; those who sided with the Cui family feared that Pei Wan would eventually rise to power. Some of the more cunning families had even begun to consider whether they should simultaneously curry favor with both the Pei and Cui families, and even with the mysterious Miss Wu.

Compared to the undercurrents among the adults, the young playboys were much more straightforward.

In the penthouse of the best restaurant in the West Market, a group of young men, who had just slipped away from that outrageous banquet, were arguing animatedly around the table.

"Holy crap! Four! The young master is really having a blast!" A fat man in a brocade robe, with dark circles under his eyes, took a big gulp of wine and chuckled, "Pei Wan's figure, Cui Lin's looks, and Xia Shuai's female apprentice, I heard she's a cold beauty too! The one from the Wei family, although a bit wild, that spirit of hers... tsk tsk!"

"Keep your voice down, you bastard!" A slightly more composed young man in blue kicked him, glancing around warily. "How dare you say such things? If you want to die, don't drag me down with you. Who here is someone you can mess with?"

"What's there to be afraid of!" the fat man said nonchalantly, lowering his voice and winking. "You guys think the Crown Prince will go to which room first tonight? I bet on Pei Wan! That girl looks aloof, but she's definitely got a lot of fire inside."

"Bullshit! It's definitely Cui Lin! Spicy enough! Flavorful enough!"

"I think it's Miss Wu; they're childhood sweethearts!"

Foul language, boisterous laughter, and the clatter of cups and plates created a chaotic scene. To them, the rules and regulations of the royal court were far less exciting than this erotic speculation.

In another quiet corner of the restaurant, by the window, Tuoba Shang was lounging lazily on a cushion, one leg propped up on the windowsill, watching the lights of the street below. Opposite him sat Cui Yan, her eyes sparkling with spring.

"How is it?" Tuoba Shang tilted his head, a roguish smile on his lips, and tapped the table with his fingers. "Your cousin is now one of the Crown Prince's four consorts. How does she feel?"

Cui Yan gave him a reproachful look, picked up the wine pot and filled his cup, her voice soft and charming: "She is her, and I am me. She's climbed to a higher social ladder, so do you expect me to kowtow to her?"

"Oh, that sounds so sour." Tuoba Shang leaned closer, his arm naturally draped over Cui Yan's shoulder, his nose almost touching Cui Yan's temple: "What? Envious? How about... I find you a good place too?"

Cui Yan blushed, but instead of pushing him away, she leaned closer: "Brother, are you willing to give me away?"

"I can't bear to part with her, of course I can't bear to part with her." Tuoba Shang laughed heartily, picking up a strand of his hair with his finger and playing with it: "Where can I find such a beauty as Cui Mei'er if I give her away? But speaking of which, now that your cousin has entered the Eastern Palace, your Cui family... will probably be even more arrogant in Chang'an City from now on."

Cui Yan's eyes flickered. She gently pushed him away, sat up straight, picked up her wine cup, took a sip, and said with a hint of barely perceptible resentment in her voice, "I am who I am. Let them be glorious. I only hope that when you leave, brother, you can take me with you and not leave me here in this man-eating Chang'an."

"Of course!" Tuoba Shang patted his chest confidently, "Don't worry, no matter how many the Crown Prince chooses, you'll be one of a kind with me!"

These words made Cui Yan feel a little better, and a smile returned to his face. He picked up another piece of food for him: "Brother, you're good at making people happy. But... speaking of which, Uncle was really... domineering today." "Him?" Tuoba Shang scoffed, completely unconcerned: "That's just how he is, always doing whatever comes to mind. But..." He paused: "His fuss saved a lot of trouble. Otherwise, if we had chosen step by step, who knows how long we would have argued. Now it's all settled! Hahahaha, my little brother is so happy right now."

"You're happy? Well, that must be tough on His Highness the Crown Prince." Cui Yan covered his mouth and chuckled. "Four of them at once, that's going to give him a real headache."

"His headache is nothing!" Tuoba Shang scoffed. "He's dreaming! I'd be happy too!" He then leaned close to Cui Yan's ear, lowering his voice and breathing hot air onto her sensitive earlobe. "But, no matter how many beauties there are, none can compare to my Cui beauty who knows how to serve people..."

Cui Yan's body went limp from his ministrations, her ears turning bright red. She scolded him, "You're so indecent! We're outside!"

"What's going on outside?" Tuoba Shang asked nonchalantly, giving his waist a light pinch. "Brother, I can go wherever I want..."

The two were flirting when footsteps and a commotion came from the stairwell, apparently from another group of drunken young men. Tuoba Shang frowned, just as he was about to feel annoyed, when he heard a familiar, loud voice:
"Damn it! Brother Shang! You really were hiding here for peace and quiet!"

Cheng Chumo, his face flushed from drinking, staggered over and plopped down next to Tuoba Shang, putting his arm around his neck: "We were just talking about you! Your dad was really something today! One sentence from him is worth half a year of arguments in court!"

Behind him followed Li Zhen, Yuchi Baolin, and a group of top playboys from Chang'an, all of whom were eager to watch the drama unfold.

"Shang-ge'er, tell me, when is your dad planning to give us another thrill?"

"Four Crown Princesses! My goodness! From now on, the Eastern Palace will have to arrange a schedule for paying respects to the Crown Prince!"

"Paying respects? I think they're lining up to be favored! Hahahaha!"

Foul language filled the private room again, and Tuoba Shang, driven to his wits' end by their antics, laughed and toasted with them. Cui Yan, watching these unruly noble sons, felt a mixture of amusement and a strange sense of melancholy. His cousin was about to enter the Eastern Palace, a place revered by all women, while he himself remained entangled with this hostage from Wei, his future uncertain.

But who could blame him but this tall and mighty Brother Shang? If anyone else had been so rude to him, he would have slapped them long ago.

Meanwhile, in a room on one side of the East Palace.

Li Zhi looked at the three women sitting or standing in front of him and felt a chill run down his spine. The room was eerily quiet, with only the occasional crackling sound of the lamp wick popping.

Pei Wan lowered her head, staring at the tips of her shoes. She felt utterly humiliated and dared not utter a word.

Cui Lin slightly raised her chin, her eyes occasionally sweeping over the other two, full of hostility.

Xiao Wu was the calmest. She stood quietly by the window with a detached look in her eyes, only glancing at her two little sisters behind her from time to time, without showing any particular attitude.

Li Zhi cleared his throat, trying to break the suffocating silence: "Um... today's events were a bit rushed. You... rest here for now. I've already ordered people to prepare lodgings. From now on... from now on..."

He hesitated for a long time, unsure of what to say next. Did he mean for them to get along peacefully from now on? He himself didn't believe it.

Finally, Xiao Wu turned around, gave Li Zhi a slight bow, and said in a gentle voice, "Your Highness, there is no need to make things difficult for you. It is already late, and I'm sure your two younger sisters are tired. Why don't you arrange for them to rest first? We can discuss everything tomorrow."

Her words seemed to offer everyone a way out, and Pei Wan and Cui Lin both secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Zhi glanced at Xiao Wu gratefully and quickly said, "Senior Sister is right. I'll have someone take you to rest right away."

Watching the three leave under the guidance of palace servants, Li Zhi stood alone in the empty warm pavilion, letting out a long, long sigh. He walked to the window, gazing at the still-brilliant lights of the city, feeling only turmoil in his heart, unable to feel any joy.

What the hell is this...?

But at this moment, Xia Lin's courtyard presents a completely different scene.

Xia Lin leisurely soaked in the hot spring pool, closing her eyes to rest. Dou Ya Zi sat on the edge of the pool, her feet soaking in the hot water, kicking the water occasionally.

"You've really screwed your son over this time," Douyazi said with a hint of schadenfreude.

Xia Lin stepped forward and pinched her toes, playing with them: "What are you trying to scam? Four wives, others would kill for that."

"Don't give me that." Bean Sprout scoffed. "Those four girls, which one is easy to deal with? Pei Wan looks gentle, but she's stubborn at heart. Cui Lin is a real troublemaker. Xiao Wu... your apprentice is very cunning. Only Wei Tong is a bit naive, but her father is Wei Dingfang. With these four together, will the Crown Prince's palace ever be peaceful?"

"Calm down?" Xia Lin finally opened his eyes: "That's exactly what I want. What's the point of a peaceful atmosphere? We have to let them fight and argue. That kid Zhi'er has been living in peace for too long; we need to give him a little push."

Bean Sprout looked at him and shook her head: "Go ahead and act like this. Let's see how you explain this to Third Sister."

"Explain what?" Xia Lin closed his eyes again, completely unconcerned. "She chose Wei Tong herself, who can she blame? Besides, I made her 48 million taels of silver, what more does she want?"

The steam from the hot spring blurred his face. Bean Sprout stopped talking and sighed, "Your mind is all on your eldest son, but you don't care about your daughter at all. Kasyapa is about the same age as Zhi'er, and it's time for her to get engaged."

"Settle my ass, she's only a few years old." Xia Lin glanced at her: "You've been oppressed for so many years, and then you turn around and can't wait to push your daughter in?"

"You're talking nonsense. Neither of us can live forever. Who knows what trouble Kasyapa will cause after we're gone? And don't underestimate Canaan just because she's young. She'll definitely be a troublemaker in the future." Bean Sprout sighed, "It's funny, I'm someone who's destined to never get married, yet I've given you two children."

"How about adding another one?" Xia Lin looked up at her. "Let's just use the surname Xia this time."

"You're talking nonsense. Don't even think about it. Not a single one of them will ever have the surname Xia. If you want the surname Xia, go find your real wife."

(End of this chapter)