With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

Qin Jiuchen saw her stubborn yet sorrowful little face, and the light in her eyes that never went out even when she was crying.

The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

However, before Qin Jiuchen could speak, the Marquis of Ruyang frowned and said in a deep voice, "Miss Yun, the marriage between the young master and you is His Majesty's decree. This marriage is not something you can simply cancel. Disobeying the decree is a serious crime."

As soon as he said this, the surrounding discussions, which had just leaned towards Yun Nian's sympathy, immediately shifted again.

"Yes, how can an imperial edict be treated lightly?"

"Miss Yun is pitiful, but who can bear the crime of disobeying an imperial decree?"

"Sigh, I guess I'll just have to swallow this insult."

Miss Zhao, who had just been holding onto Yun Nian, timidly tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Nian'er, why don't we just give up? Disobeying the imperial decree is a serious crime. Besides, it's common for men to have multiple wives and concubines; we don't have a choice."

Seeing this, Lady Ruyang quickly chimed in, "Yes, Miss Yun, you must never mention defying the imperial decree. The young master acted on impulse. Once you marry him, you will be his principal wife and the future mistress of the Prince's mansion."

Their words, seemingly meant to comfort, were actually using invisible shackles such as "imperial decree," "rules," and "a woman's duty" to gradually force Yun Nian into a corner of compromise.

At this moment, Qin Jiaxue, who had been kneeling on the ground, suddenly staggered to her feet and then knelt down straight in front of Yun Nian.

She looked up at her pale face, streaked with tears, her voice mournful and plaintive.

"Sister Yun Nian! It's all Xue'er's fault! Xue'er was shameless and seduced my brother! But... but Xue'er and my brother truly couldn't control our feelings!"

As she spoke, she turned her head and glanced quickly at Qin Senyao, whose expression was constantly changing, before continuing, "My brother promised me that if he were to welcome me into the family, he would treat me with the respect due to a second wife, and would never wrong me or shake my sister's position as the principal wife!"

A concubine?!

The crowd erupted in another uproar!

Although nominally subordinate to the principal wife, the secondary wife held a nearly equal status in some aspects, which was far superior to that of an ordinary concubine.

Qin Senyao actually made such a promise?

Qin Senyao's eyelids twitched when he heard the words "secondary wife".

When did he say such a thing?

He was about to deny it when he met Qin Jiaxue's desperately pleading eyes, and the words he was about to say were swallowed back down.

He closed his eyes, which was taken as tacit agreement.

With this silent "support," Qin Jiaxue became even bolder.

She kowtowed to Yun Nian, her forehead touching the ground.

"My brother always says that my sister is the most understanding and kind-hearted person. He'll definitely agree to this. Please, sister, grant my wish! I kowtow to you, sister!"

Qin Jiaxue's tactic of flattery to kill Yun Nian truly placed Yun Nian on the highest moral ground.

She was the one who was betrayed and hurt.

She is the one who should receive an apology and compensation.

But now, with Qin Jiaxue kneeling and kowtowing, coupled with Qin Senyao's tacit approval, the persuasion of the crowd, and the imperial edict hanging overhead...

This instantly put her in an extremely awkward situation.

It's as if if she didn't agree to let Qin Jiaxue enter the family as a secondary wife, and didn't generously forgive this "unfortunate couple," she would be an inhuman, narrow-minded, and vicious woman who hinders true love.

All eyes were fixed on Yun Nian, awaiting her answer.

Qin Jiaxue knelt on the ground, head bowed, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.

Yun Nian stood alone to one side, the moonlight shining on her thin shoulders, as if she could be crushed by the invisible pressure at any moment.

A moment of deathly silence.

Finally, she spoke.

"Since the princess and the prince are so deeply in love that they have even made the promise of her being a 'second wife,' I, Yun Nian, dare not presume to marry into this family..."

Before she could finish speaking, Qin Senyao abruptly raised his voice to interrupt her, "Yun Nian, don't go too far! Don't forget, you were the one who begged for this marriage in the first place. I didn't say anything; I was just taking Xue'er into the family. As the legal wife, why can't you be a little more magnanimous? Do you have to make things so embarrassing?"

Lady Ruyang quickly chimed in, earnestly advising, "Miss Yun, life is always tough for us women. What man doesn't crave novelty? At least the young master is someone you like, and you still hold a place in his heart. Why make things worse and lose face for everyone? Let it go, okay?"

Although Miss Zhao and Miss Li sympathized with Yun Nian, they were even more afraid of getting into trouble. They timidly tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Nian'er, let it go... The price of defying the imperial decree is too high. Why bother? Just bear with it, and it will pass..."

From the surrounding crowd, various words of comfort and accusation were heard again.

"Yes, since the Crown Prince has given her the position of a secondary wife, it shows that their love is stronger than gold."

"Miss Yun should be content, after all, she is the adopted daughter of Prime Minister Yun, and her status is undeniable."

"Continuing to make a scene won't do me any good..."

An overwhelming pressure surged towards Yun Nian.

She stood alone in the middle of the crowd, like a small boat that could be swallowed by a giant wave at any moment.

The moonlight shone on her thin shoulders, making her appear even more vulnerable.

She lowered her head, her shoulders trembled slightly, and tears silently streamed down her face.

She neither refuted nor defended herself.

Their desperate and helpless state made even some soft-hearted women turn their eyes away.

Qin Senyao looked impatient, feeling that Yun Nian was simply ungrateful and had caused him a huge problem.

Just when everyone thought Yun Nian would have no choice but to compromise with tears in her eyes.

"Shut up, all of you."

A cold, deep voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone was startled and looked in the direction of the sound.

Qin Jiuchen, who had been standing silently outside the crowd, slowly raised his eyes.

Wherever his cold, indifferent gaze swept, everyone fell silent, their breathing unconsciously becoming softer.

The chilling aura emanating from him, a result of his long-standing position of power and decisive ruthlessness, caused even the Marquis of Ruyang and his wife to instinctively take a half-step back, their faces showing fear.

Qin Jiuchen slowly lifted his foot and walked towards the helpless Yun Nian.

All eyes followed his every move, holding their breath, wondering what this cold-faced prince was going to do.

Qin Jiuchen walked straight up to Yun Nian and stopped.

Yun Nian was also taken aback by his sudden action. Her long eyelashes, which were covered with tears, trembled, and she stared at him blankly.

Qin Jiuchen's gaze remained fixed on her face the entire time, as if everyone else in the room was just background noise.

He saw the tears she was holding back in her eyes, her lips trembling slightly, and her fingers clenched into fists with white knuckles.

Under everyone's astonished and puzzled gaze, Qin Jiuchen suddenly leaned forward slightly and stretched out his hand.

He grasped Yun Nian's cold, trembling hand.

Yun Nian trembled all over, forgetting to shed tears. She just stared blankly at the hand he was holding, and then looked up at his cold but calm profile.

Qin Jiuchen remained calm.

He took her hand, slowly straightened up, and his cold gaze swept over everyone present.

Finally, the gaze fell upon Qin Senyao and Qin Jiaxue, whose faces had turned deathly pale.

He spoke.