My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 102 A Month of Confinement and Reflection
Emperor Huiyuan glared at Sun Xian, who was kneeling below, and said, "This is outrageous! It is understandable for an unmarried girl like you to prepare boots for her future husband, but you let these boots be displayed outside at will, and even tried to kill yourself because of it."

Then all the girls in Chang'an could follow your example and send things to the palace or various princely mansions, wouldn't they all rise to prominence? If that doesn't work, they'll threaten suicide.

At such a young age, she dared to scheme against a prince; she must never again enter the palace as a concubine. Minister Sun has failed in his duty to educate his daughter and is suspended from his post to reflect on his actions. Minister Xu will temporarily assume the position of Minister.

Upon hearing this, Minister Xu quickly kowtowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

After Emperor Huiyuan finished speaking, he said, "This concludes today's palace banquet. Everyone may leave now!"

Emperor Huiyuan got up in anger and pulled Consort Rong away from the palace banquet.

After Lu Jinshi knelt down with everyone else, he caught up with Emperor Huiyuan and said, "Father."

Emperor Huiyuan glared at Rong Yi and said, "Have I spoiled you two too much? You even dare to scheme against me?"

Lu Jinshi knelt before Emperor Huiyuan and said, "Father, I know I was wrong. I really didn't know that there was such a scheme behind these boots. These boots were a gift from Prince Jin to the Seventh Prince for his wedding. Such beautiful boots, the Seventh Prince and I thought we should present them to you first."

Emperor Huiyuan said to the eunuch beside him, "Go and summon Prince Jin and Princess Jin to the Zichen Palace."

"You two get up."

Rong Yi helped Lu Jinshi up and said, "Father, Jinshi and I really didn't know they had such a plan. If we had known beforehand, I would have returned the boots to Prince Jin, or given them to the guards, so that they would have gained nothing. I would never have dared to let Sun Xian become my stepmother."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "What a Prince Jin! I have been too indulgent with him all these years. His methods of plotting against others are so underhanded."

Consort Rong smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. This Prince Jin is really something. What benefit does he get from helping Sun Xian become Xiao Qi's concubine?"

Lu Jinshi and Rong Yi exchanged a glance, neither of them able to guess the Prince of Jin's intentions.

There's no need to try and sow discord between them. Even if she and Rong Yi really do break up, Sun Xian is still the daughter of the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. If Rong Yi gets the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat as his father-in-law, he wouldn't be at a loss...

The Prince of Jin didn't seem like such a stupid person.

Emperor Huiyuan glared at Rong Shuang and said, "Within three days, embroider a pair of boots for me, embroidered by your own hands."

Rong Shuang smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, I will definitely embroider an even more exquisite pair of boots for you."

"Make it bigger."

Rong Shuang smiled and replied, "Mm."

Emperor Huiyuan glanced at Rong Yi and Lu Jinshi and said, "You two should also come to the Zichen Palace."

Lu Jinshi stood behind Emperor Huiyuan. She tugged at Rong Yi's hand and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Father shouldn't be angry anymore, right? What a close call! We almost made Sun Xian our mother."

Rong Yi said, "Since my mother entered the palace, no new people have entered the palace. My mother must have been confident to persuade my father to let Sun Xian enter the palace for the sake of Sun Xian's life."

The group arrived at the Zichen Palace.

Upon entering, Emperor Huiyuan glared angrily at Prince Jin, who was kneeling at the door, and said, "Come in."

Prince Jin and Princess Jin entered the hall and knelt down again, saying, "Father Emperor."

The chubby boy following behind them obediently called out, "Grandfather."

Emperor Huiyuan's anger subsided considerably upon seeing Qi Li. "Good girl, go play outside." After Qi Li left, Emperor Huiyuan glared at the kneeling Prince Jin and said, "Sun Xian's boots were a wedding gift you gave to your seventh brother? How could you scheme against your seventh brother like this?"

Prince Jin looked up at Emperor Huiyuan and said, "Father, I am innocent! I would never dare to plot against my seventh brother. He is seven or eight years younger than me. I have always only cared for him. How could I dare to plot against him?"

Rong Yi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Brother, you gave me Sun Xian's boots as a wedding gift, and now you're doing this again at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet. Isn't that scheming against me?"

Prince Jin said, “Seventh brother, this is not a scheme. It is your elder brother’s way of helping you and Sun Xian get together. I know that Sun Xian is deeply in love with you, but because you have married Aunt Mingzhu’s daughter, you dare not take a concubine at will. This is my way of helping you and Sun Xian get together. How can it be a scheme?”

Lu Jinshi was speechless: "Brother, the Seventh Prince doesn't like Sun Xian, so what makes you say you're helping her? Or are you saying that you're so biased towards Sun Xian because you're interested in her and want to help her get what she wants?"

"Seventh sister-in-law, please be careful with your words." Prince Jin frowned.

Emperor Huiyuan glared at Prince Jin and said, "Seventh Consort, you don't need to help me like this, your elder brother! The Dragon Boat Festival banquet has been turned into such a laughing stock, and Seventh Consort and Miaomiao have even covered for you outside. For the sake of the entire royal family's reputation, you should stay at home for a month to reflect on your mistakes and repent!"

Princess Jin raised her eyes indignantly and said, "Your Majesty, the Prince is truly concerned for his younger brother... He is innocent. I beg Father to rescind his decree."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "Whether he is wronged or not, he knows it perfectly well. You may leave."

The Princess Consort of Jin was then helped up by the Prince of Jin.

After leaving the palace, Princess Jin burst into tears in the carriage and said, "His Majesty is really biased. Lu Jinshi has taken advantage of His Majesty. Instead of punishing the Seventh Prince and Lu Jinshi, he punishes you."

"You should have listened to me and married Sun Xian as your concubine. That would have given you a better chance in the struggle for the crown prince position. Now look what's happened; you've been punished with a month of reflection. So much can happen in the court during that month."

The Prince of Jin grasped the Princess of Jin's hand and said, "Don't cry."

Qi Li was carried onto the carriage by the nanny. Holding two pieces of pastry in his hand, he said, "Mother, these are pastries that Grandmother Rong gave me. They are so delicious."

Princess Jin snatched the pastries from Qi Li's hand and said, "Eat, eat, eat! You're already so fat, and you're still eating. You should study hard. Tomorrow you'll go to Jinming Academy to study. If you don't study well in the future, you won't be allowed to eat pastries."

Qi Li, whose pastries were taken away, started to cry. He threw himself into the arms of the Prince of Jin and said, "Waaah, Father, Mother won't let me eat pastries."

The Prince of Jin said to his wife, "The child is still young, why are you so harsh on him?"

"How can we not be strict? You didn't see how long His Majesty held Zhang'er at the palace banquet just now. This seventh prince is already favored enough. He even gave birth to a son who looks just like his mother. Even Zhang'er is favored!"

Princess Consort of Jin said, "Li'er needs to study hard and practice writing. If she becomes more intelligent, she may be able to gain the Emperor's favor."

Prince Jin sighed and patted Qi Li's chubby head. "Listen to your mother, go to Jinming Academy to study tomorrow."

Qi Li cried even louder, and her wailing could be heard from outside.

The Prince of Yan lifted the carriage curtain and said, "Brother, what business does Father have with you at the Zichen Palace? Why is Li'er crying so sadly?"

The Prince of Jin looked at the Prince of Yan and said, "My father has ordered me to be confined to my quarters for a month to reflect on my mistakes."

The Prince of Yan frowned and said, "Qi Yi is already married, and he is about to enter the court when Father Emperor makes you reflect on your mistakes for a month. Father Emperor is really biased to the extreme! You can't let all your planning over the years pave the way for Qi Yi!"

The Prince of Jin hummed in agreement.

The Prince of Yan leaned closer to the Prince of Jin and whispered, "My spies in the palace say that Father Emperor intends to appoint an Empress. Once Consort Rong is appointed Empress, it will be difficult for you to compete with Qi Yi for the position of Crown Prince."