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

Chapter 110 Paying Homage to the Princess of Qingyun County
The Prince of Yan said repeatedly, "Mother, not long after we made our move yesterday, Qi Yi and Lu Jinshi arrived with Li'er. We dared not linger and left in haste."

Consort Rong was furious and said, "How could you act so carelessly? How can you slaughter an entire family in broad daylight? You've wasted the Censorate's manpower."

The Prince of Yan listened obediently to Consort Rong's insults, not daring to utter a sound. "It was my fault."

After a long while, Consort Rong turned the Buddhist beads in her hand and looked at the Prince of Yan, who had a face full of grief and indignation, and said, “Child, don’t blame me for being so angry. Your birth mother died in childbirth, and your previous adoptive mother, Consort Shun, died when you were three years old. At that time, I was in the Emperor’s favor, so I begged His Majesty to let me raise you… You came to my side when you were three years old.”

Consort Rong said, "I want to see you two brothers rise to high positions more than anyone else, but His Majesty is too biased. However, your elder brother is very promising. Now your eldest brother is only one step away from the position of Crown Prince. We can't let Qi Yi take it away!"

The Prince of Yan replied, "Mother, it is my incompetence. I will certainly handle matters more properly and steadily in the future."

Consort Rong reached out and gently stroked Prince Yan's cheek, asking, "Does it hurt?"

The Prince of Yan looked down at Consort Rong and smiled, saying, "It doesn't hurt."

Consort Rong tiptoed and helped Prince Yan blow on his cheek, which had five red finger marks.

The Prince of Yan's breath hitched as he said, "Mother..."

Inside the Buddhist hall, the fragrance of sandalwood wafted through the air, masking some odors that shouldn't exist in the hall.
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Lu Jinshi escorted Princess Yongjia back to her residence, handed Yongjia over to Lu Xiao, and then returned to Yu Liu Palace with Rong Yi.

When Lu Jinshi arrived at the Jade Palace, he was already suffering from a severe headache.

Rong Yi helped Lu Jinshi to the small couch and rested with her, saying, "Get some rest."

Lu Jinshi said in Rong Yi's arms, "I can hardly believe it either. The Princess of Qingyun, who was arguing with me just this morning, is now dead. I wonder how heartbroken my grandmother will be when she hears this news."

Lu Jinshi looked up at Rong Yi and said, "Rong Yi, you must not take concubines or secondary wives. I don't want my Zhang'er to repeat our old mistakes."

Lu Jinshi understood perfectly well that what was preventing Yongjia from marrying into the Prince of An's family was not merely the jealousy of the Princess of Qingyun; the Rong brothers were also involved.

However, since the Princess of Qingyun confessed to her crime after her death, it became difficult to investigate further.

Rong Yi said, "You don't want me to take a concubine, and that's the only reason."

Lu Jinshi said, "No matter the reason, you must not betray me."

Rong Yi held Lu Jinshi in his arms and said, "I swore I would never betray you."

Lu Jinshi sighed inwardly in Rong Yi's arms, feeling so tired that her head ached, and she fell asleep in Rong Yi's arms.

She slept for a long time and dreamed a lot.

But when she woke up, she didn't know what she had dreamed about. She saw that she had moved from the small couch to the bed.

Looking at the dim sky outside, Lu Jinshi called the palace maid on night watch to come inside. She asked the time and found out it was already the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), and she didn't want to sleep anymore.

"Rong Yi".

"Hmm?" Rong Yi looked at Lu Jinshi and asked, "What's wrong?"

Lu Jinshi said, "Shall we go and pay our respects to the Lady of Qingyun County today?"

Rong Yi replied, "Okay."

Lu Jinshi changed into a plain-colored dress, and at daybreak, she and Rong Yi went to the Grand Princess's residence.

There were few signs of a funeral at the Grand Princess's residence. After all, the Princess of Qingyun had committed suicide out of fear of punishment, which was not honorable, and she was also a junior. The mourning hall was simply set up in a small courtyard. Lu Jinshi and Rong Yi arrived at the mourning hall under the guidance of the gatekeeper.

Upon entering the mourning hall, Lu Jinshi saw Princess Yongjia and Lu Xiao both there.

Lu Jinshi looked at Princess Yongjia and said, "Elder sister, didn't Father Emperor forbid you from coming? After all, your health is still weak..."

Princess Yongjia said, "Qingyun and I are cousins ​​after all. I know her feelings for Lu Xiao, so I brought Lu Xiao with me to see her off, hoping that she can let go of her obsession."

Lu Jinshi looked at Lu Xiao, who seemed unwilling, as if he was being forced.

Lu Jinshi and Rong Yi took the incense from the maid and offered three sticks of incense to Princess Qingyun.

"The princess of the county...the princess of the county..."

The maids' voices rang out.

Lu Jinshi saw a woman with disheveled hair and said, "Yongjia, Yongjia..."

"Aunt Qingshan," Princess Yongjia said, grasping the Princess Consort's hand, "you must accept my condolences. How could Qingyun be so foolish?"

Princess Consort said to Yongjia, "Qingyun did not commit suicide. Qingyun had no intention of harming you. She was jealous that you took Lu Xiao away, but how could she be so ruthless as to harm you?"

Someone told Qingyun that your killing of Wan Niang and marrying Lu Xiao would jeopardize Lu Xiao's future and reputation. That's why she wanted you to be brought to justice before the wedding, and that's why she went to seek justice for Wan Niang's family. She was wrong; her only mistake was not trusting you, her cousin with whom she grew up. But she would never make decisions to harm someone else's life!

"You must give Qingyun justice. Qingyun was killed by her own father and his lover."

"Yu Qingshan, you have committed a heinous crime punishable by the execution of your entire clan. One day you will be punished!"

"Qingyun, every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt has its debtor. You must become a vengeful ghost and come to claim your father's life!"

Lu Jinshi stood beside Rong Yi and saw that Princess Qingyun's mother, Princess Yu, was going crazy.

"How have you been watching over the Princess Consort? She's gone mad, and you're still letting her out? What if she offends a noble person?"

Prince Qingshan came from outside and bowed to the people in front of him, saying, "Seventh Prince, Princess Consort, Your Highness, you are all so kind. Qingyun harmed Your Highness so cruelly, yet you still came to see her off on her final journey."

The princess, who was being dragged away, broke free from the maid's hand covering her mouth and said, "Yu Qingshan, you beast! You killed your own daughter for your lover! You deserve to die a horrible death!"

"I want to see you and that bitch torn to pieces with my own eyes."

"You dare to deceive the emperor! I'll wait and see your entire Yu family executed! My poor Qingyun! My Qingyun!"

Lu Jinshi listened to the Princess Consort's words and looked up at Rong Yi.

Yu Qingshan frowned and explained to Rong Yi, "Seventh Prince, the Princess Consort has behaved improperly in front of you. After experiencing the pain of losing her daughter yesterday, she has become completely insane. Alas."

"Qingyun was also spoiled by her. If it weren't for her usual favoritism towards Qingyun, Qingyun wouldn't have made such a big mistake today. This mother of hers doesn't repent and is talking nonsense even when she's crazy."

Yu Qingshan said with a sorrowful expression, "Qingyun is really pitiful. It's all my fault for being too busy with official duties and neglecting to discipline this daughter."

Tears streamed down Yu Qingshan's face, his beard trembling with his sobs, making him look every bit the father who had just lost his daughter. "I should have disciplined Qingyun properly; I have let Qingyun down."

Rong Yi stepped forward and comforted him, saying, "Uncle, please accept my condolences."