With wives as numerous as clouds and soldiers as numerous as a million, you say he's a useless

Upon realizing Su Wanrou's malicious intentions, Pei Heng immediately stepped forward, "Your Highness, I believe this matter is inappropriate!"

"Even if His Highness wishes to seek out a renowned teacher to learn the strategies of governance and statecraft, abandoning the near for the far is fundamentally putting the cart before the horse. Wouldn't it be better to select a teacher from within the court to assist and guide His Highness?"

"If Your Highness does not find it objectionable, I am willing to do everything in my power..."

Before Pei Heng could finish speaking, Su Wanrou interrupted, "You? Chief Secretary Pei, don't think I don't know what you're up to. You were the eldest son's teacher and watched him grow up. You've always been resentful that Jin Yu stole the eldest son's title of heir. Before, you even openly defied the prince's decree at the execution ground, allowing the eldest son to kill Jingyuan..."

"Your heart is completely biased; how could you possibly teach Jinyu sincerely?"

"Your Highness, I don't care. All I want is for Xiao Heming, the Grand Commander of Liuzhou, to be Jinyu's teacher."

Seeing Su Wanrou actually acting coquettishly towards Ye Jinglan in front of so many court officials, Ye Cheng'an's eyes suddenly darkened, and he coldly said, "Stepmother, you seem to have forgotten that the inner palace is not allowed to interfere in politics. Even if your son is the heir apparent, or even the current crown prince, you cannot extend your reach into the court!"

"Is your itch worsening after your fast? Do you need me to help you relieve itching?"

Ye Cheng'an gave Su Wanrou's shapely buttocks a meaningful look.

This immediately reminded Su Wanrou of the humiliating experience she had at the Thousand Heroes Banquet, where she was forced to lie on the ground and severely punished with twenty strokes of the cane by Ye Cheng'an.

That boy was extremely ruthless; her injuries haven't fully healed yet, to the point that she's been afraid to get close to the prince lately...

But the prince was in his prime, and she was afraid that if she didn't fulfill her marital duties for many days, she would push the prince to another woman. These days, she suffered in other ways.

It's all that damned Ye Cheng'an's fault!

Su Wanrou trembled with anger just thinking about it, wanting to refute but unable to find a reason to do so.

After all, the rule that the empress dowager must not interfere in politics was not only a rule in the northern border region, but also a rule in every dynasty.

If she were to confront Ye Cheng'an on this issue, she would certainly face impeachment from the entire court.

Just as Su Wanrou was in a predicament, Ye Jinglan snorted coldly, "Choosing a teacher for the Crown Prince is a matter of state affairs, but it's also a family matter. There's nothing wrong with the Princess Consort participating in court discussions!"

"Everything is settled then, as the Princess Consort said. From this day forward, Xiao Heming, the Grand Commander of Liuzhou, is appointed as the Crown Prince's tutor, to assist him in governing the country!"

Sure enough, Old Deng still protected this bitch as always, even more so than a lapdog!

Since Old Deng is letting this wretched woman run rampant, she can't blame me later!

Ye Cheng'an gave Su Wanrou a cold look, then whispered in her ear, "The Grand Commander of Liuzhou, is that it? Don't worry, stepmother, the first thing I'll do after I go to Liuzhou is to take good care of him!"

Su Wanrou sneered, "Take care of him? Ha, after the eldest young master goes to Liuzhou, he probably won't even know how he died..."

"Is that so? Then stepmother, open your eyes wide and see for yourself who will emerge victorious between me and this Grand Commander you speak of!" Ye Cheng'an couldn't stand Su Wanrou's arrogant demeanor.

Damn it, she's nothing but a green tea bitch. In his time, a woman like that would have been beaten up a lot. Only Ye Jinglan was blind to treat her like a treasure.

Just wait and see. No matter how many underhanded tricks that vixen Su Wanrou has, he will make sure she fails!

Even after going to Liuzhou, he would still be the thorn in the other's heart that could never be removed!

After the promotion ceremony ended, Ye Cheng'an left the royal court with Zhu Yu, who was carrying a large amount of congratulatory gifts that completely obscured her face.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Xuefu followed.

"Why is the princess following me?" Ye Cheng'an stopped in his tracks and said, "You witnessed everything that happened at the promotion ceremony today. Whether your intention to marry me is sincere or not, Ye Jinglan and Su Wanrou will do everything in their power to stop you. The court will not allow you to waste your time on such a worthless person as me..."

"Therefore, Princess, you should give up the idea of ​​marrying me and going to Liuzhou with me as soon as possible."

Once again turned away, Zhao Xuefu was not angry at all; instead, she laughed. "Ye Cheng'an, do you think the imperial court is the northern border? Do you think all the civil and military officials in the court are incompetent fools like Su Wanrou's subordinates?"

"I can see your extraordinary nature, and so can my father. Just wait, before you set out, I will finalize your title as the future imperial consort, making you infinitely glorious. Even Ye Jinglan will have to bow down before you..."

Zhao Xuefu's persistent pestering left Ye Cheng'an feeling helpless; he simply couldn't think of any effective way to push her away.

"Princess knows I am a womanizer. If you are with me, you are destined to suffer the pain of me having women on both sides while you are left alone in an empty room. Rather than that, why not choose a man who is willing to be with you for life and grow old together in love?" Ye Cheng'an asked.

Zhao Xuefu parted her lips slightly and said, word by word, "Only treasures are worth fighting over, and I love you as a treasure."

"...A forced marriage will never be happy. If the princess is stubborn and insists on becoming a sacrifice in the conflict between the court and the northern border, then I have nothing more to say." After saying this, Ye Cheng'an turned and left.

Zhao Xuefu watched his retreating figure, her pearly teeth clenched, and she let out a soft hum, murmuring, "Whether a melon is sweet or not, you'll only know after you twist it open."

"Besides, I don't really want to be your husband right now. I just want a suitable reason to go to Liuzhou with you and see what you plan to do there..."

"As for whether we are destined to become husband and wife, that depends on your performance and abilities. I am not a woman who is so easily obtained!"

...

Meanwhile, Ye Jinglan had already written a memorial to the court criticizing Ye Cheng'an for being unworthy to be the princess's husband, and in the memorial he strongly recommended that his second son, Ye Jinyu, marry Zhao Xuefu in order to maintain harmony between the court and the northern border.

Su Wanrou was by his side, massaging his shoulders, serving him tea, and grinding ink, behaving like a virtuous wife and loving mother.

At the opportune moment, he feigned concern and asked, "Is Your Highness really abandoning the eldest son? Although the eldest son has become increasingly arrogant and disrespectful lately, and even frequently criticized and contradicted Your Highness during the promotion ceremony, he is still Your Highness's son after all..."

"There are still so many old ministers and officials in the court who are loyal to the eldest son. Won't Your Highness's actions incur their dissatisfaction? Will they become resentful towards you?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Jinglan coldly snorted, "What's there to be afraid of? I will let this rebellious son and everyone else know that this Northern Territory is my Northern Territory! I am the true master of this Northern Territory!"

"That rebellious son himself picked a fight in public and spouted nonsense, saying that he would rather die on the battlefield than ask me for help. Since that's the case, I will grant his wish. After he goes to Liuzhou, not only will I cancel all the royal court's assistance to him, but even if the barbarian troops attack, as long as he doesn't take the initiative to bow his head and ask me for help, I will not allow anyone to lend a hand!"

"Anyone who dares to help him without the king's order is defying me!"

"Furthermore, Wang Chengen, immediately issue an imperial decree to tell everyone that the eldest son has resigned from his position as heir apparent and stated at the promotion ceremony that he will no longer have any dealings with me. When he leaves, no one is allowed to see him off!!!"

Seeing that she had stirred up Ye Jinglan's emotions with just a few words, pushing Ye Cheng'an to the most dangerous and isolated position, Su Wanrou's smile widened, but she still appeared gentle and magnanimous, saying, "It's all my fault for mentioning the eldest son and angering the prince."

"Let me help Your Highness calm down. Your Highness is about to lose your temper. Seeing Your Highness angry makes me even more upset than if I were angry myself."

"My beloved consort is so considerate. If that rebellious son were even half as good as you, I wouldn't treat him like this!" Ye Jinglan pulled Su Wanrou into his arms.

He could already picture the scene in his mind when his memorial was sent to the court, and His Majesty strictly forbade the Ninth Princess from having any further contact with Ye Cheng'an, and bestowed a marriage upon the Ninth Princess and Jin Yu.

Of course, what pleased him even more was the scene when this rebellious son left the northern border for Liuzhou, and no one saw him off; it was a truly tragic and pitiful sight.

This is what happens when you go against him!

He wanted to make an example of him, to let everyone in the North know that the North should respect him!

Anyone who defies him will meet a bad end, even if that person is Ye Cheng'an, the grandson of the old Northern King!