Transmigration into a Book: My Lord, Your Wife Has Taken Another Concubine for You

In the following days, Chu Mochen went to court to perform his duties with his face covered in scratches, causing all the noble ministers of Cangming to once again become the laughingstock of the Marquis of Wenxuan's mansion and General Ma's mansion.

Chu Xiyao's reputation in Cangming has declined again, and many families are subconsciously refraining from sending her invitations to banquets.

This marked the beginning of the power struggle among the high-ranking officials against General Ma's household.

However, this phenomenon did not last long, lasting for about half a month, before the emperor received a memorial from General Ma Huaian requesting to return to Cangming.

The Emperor didn't put on any show of refusal or denial; he immediately approved General Ma's petition to return to Cangming.

The emperor selected the person to take over military power right there in court, and immediately ordered the men to be assembled and set off with the imperial edict.

To appease Ma Huai'an, the emperor praised Ma Huai'an's achievements at the morning court that day and granted him the title of Earl of Loyalty and Bravery, which was to be inherited for three generations.

As for real power, that's gone, and it never will again.

Once the Emperor made his statement, all the rumors in Cangming vanished completely. If it weren't for the lingering fear in the parties involved, it would have been as if the rumors had never existed.

Once everyone felt that the matter was over, the Empress found a reason to reward Lin Yanran.

The Emperor felt that the Marquis of Wenxuan's family had played a significant role in the matter of General Ma relinquishing his military power. Remembering their contribution, the Emperor instructed the Empress to find a pretext to reward them.

After the Empress bestowed a multitude of fine gifts upon Lin Yanran, the Emperor felt as if he hadn't given his younger sister anything in a long time. He felt that his younger sister had made a great contribution by raising a daughter who cared deeply for the royal family.

So the Emperor personally selected another batch of fine items and had them delivered to the Princess.

As for why the Emperor is convinced that Lin Yanran is now devoted to the royal family, the Emperor sent his secret guards to verify what Lin Yanran said about Ma Zhongzheng having supernatural powers, and it was indeed true.

Furthermore, the fact that Ma Huai'an was willing to relinquish military power this time was also due to the rivalry between the Marquis of Wenxuan's mansion and General Ma's wife. The Emperor felt that his niece had played a significant role in this.

A niece who remains devoted to the royal family and is of usefulness after marriage will certainly be treated differently by the emperor than a niece who is only related by blood.

As soon as Lin Yanran received the reward, Chu Mochen came to the main courtyard again that evening.

Lin Yanran had only two words for this person who was trying to take her bed: "Bad luck!"

Just as Lin Yanran was about to fall asleep, Chu Mochen suddenly said, "I always feel that the Emperor doesn't value me that much?"

Hearing Chu Mochen say this, Lin Yanran, who was almost asleep, immediately became wide awake. "Why does Your Highness say that?"

"I've done quite a few errands over the years, but apart from calling him my beloved minister and occasionally bestowing some nice things upon him, the Emperor seems to have given me no substantial rewards."

Chu Mochen didn't think much about it at the moment. He had had this question for some time, and he had no one to discuss it with.

The reason I'm telling Lin Yanran now is because I feel that husband and wife are one, and Lin Yanran is the emperor's own niece, so perhaps she knows what the emperor is thinking.

Lin Yanran's mind raced for a moment, and she began to tentatively try to deceive him, "Perhaps the Emperor considers the Marquis one of his own! Of course, one's own people don't need those empty rewards."

Chu Mochen was not easily fooled. "But the Emperor doesn't treat his own people's eldest princess like this."

"My lord, wake up! What great merit would you have to achieve to transcend blood ties? Besides, would the Emperor treat his own sister the same as he treats his own subjects?"

My lord, stop daydreaming. You should focus on accumulating merits and see if there's a chance to get your title promoted.

Besides, is it really not beneficial for the Emperor to be close to you? I don't believe that there's nothing good about being a favorite of the Emperor.

After Lin Yanran finished speaking, she pretended to yawn and then pretended to fall asleep.

Chu Mochen thought about it alone for a long time, and he finally felt that his wife was right. Perhaps the emperor wanted to save up the credit for him and see if he could be promoted to a higher rank in the end.

Marquis is above Duke, and Duke is above King. Thinking about these things, Chu Mochen didn't want to sleep.

He couldn't wait to get back to the front yard and think about how to get his job done.

Unable to sleep, Chu Mochen lay there excitedly for a while. Listening to Lin Yanran's even breathing beside him, he reached out and shook her awake with ill intent.

Enraged, Lin Yanran glared at Chu Mochen in the darkness, yelling, "Chu Mochen, are you sick in the head?"

Seeing Lin Yanran's angry face, Chu Mochen finally realized what he had done.

So Chu Mochen quickly used the excuse he had just thought of, "Madam, I think your idea is right. The Emperor definitely wants to save up all my merits so that he can move me up in rank later."

"By then, I'll have gone from Marquis Wenxuan to Duke Wenxuan, and I refuse to believe that brat Chu Yunxuan will still dare to ignore me."

In response to Chu Mochen, Lin Yanran delivered a merciless kick: "Go back to the front yard and work your way up to your title. If you dare disturb my sleep again, I'll go to the back yard and wake Chu Yunyun up for some fresh air too."

Chu Mochen, who had been kicked off the bed by his wife, originally wanted to get up and argue with Lin Yanran.

But when he heard Lin Yanran's threat, he wilted.

Chu Mochen was worried that Chu Yunyun, that sickly person, would die at any moment even if he wasn't exposed to the wind, let alone if he was exposed to the wind.

Chu Mochen could only rub his sore bottom in frustration, get up, and mutter under his breath, "Indeed, a woman's heart is the most poisonous!"

Then he didn't dare call anyone in to help him change his clothes, so he could only do it himself, carefully putting on his clothes and then taking the servant outside back to the front yard.

The whole process was very quiet, as Chu Mochen was afraid of waking Lin Yanran, who still had to endure the pain of losing her child tonight.

As for Lin Yanran, who had kicked someone, she occupied a large bed all by herself and soon fell into a deeper sleep than before.

When Chu Mochen was kicked down, Wen Lan, who had heard the commotion, was already standing outside the door.

Wenlan heard Lin Yanran's angry and furious words inside the room. Knowing that her mistress was alright, she did not open the door and go in.

After that, she stood outside the door, listening carefully to the sounds inside, ready to break in at any moment.

After Chu Mochen left, Wen Lan immediately went into the inner room to see Lin Yanran.

Seeing that her master was not injured and was just asleep, Wenlan quietly withdrew.

As Chu Mochen left the main courtyard, a cold wind blew him out. He realized that his behavior just now was childish and impulsive. Now he had been kicked out!

Chu Mochen, who was enjoying the chill of the midnight wind, didn't want to go all the way to the front yard.

He turned and led his men to the courtyards of the concubines in the backyard.

Chu Mochen chose Aunt Shui's courtyard first, for no particular reason other than that it was the closest.

But when Chu Mochen arrived at Aunt Shui's courtyard, he found the entire courtyard dark, clearly indicating that she had been asleep for a long time.

However, in Aunt He's courtyard, which is not far from Aunt Shui's courtyard, the lights were still on.