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

In Chu Xiyao's view, no matter how much they quarreled internally, they were still family. Once outside the Marquis's residence, regardless of whether Lin Yanran had any opinions about her, she had to speak up for her.

This is also why Chu Xiyao is so arrogant in front of Lin Yanran; once a woman is married, she will always side with her husband's family.

If Lin Yanran knew what Chu Xiyao was thinking, she would probably retort, "Dream on! She's not some despicable person."

When the group arrived at the palace and got off the carriage, Chu Xiyao brought Ma Mingzhen over and tried to take Lin Yanran's hand.

Lin Yanran reached out and brushed them aside, then left with Wenmei and Wenlan.

Ma Zhongzheng was furious. "Mother, look at her!"

Chu Xiyao looked around and sternly rebuked Ma Zhongzheng, "Shut up! Don't you know where you are? You better behave yourself today, or I won't forgive you if you implicate your father."

Seeing that his mother was really angry, Ma Zhongzheng immediately stopped jumping up and down and obediently followed behind his mother and sister.

Lin Yanran and Chu Xiyao, along with their son, entered the main hall where the Empress was receiving guests one after the other, and all of them solemnly performed the grand ceremony.

The Empress herself came down and reached out to help Lin Yanran and Chu Xiyao.

Upon seeing this, Lin Yanran stood up nimbly. "There's no need for your help, Your Majesty. I can get up by myself."

Chu Xiyao, who was a step slower, was steadily helped up by the Empress.

The Empress was extremely pleased with Lin Yanran's behavior. She reached out and took Lin Yanran's hand with one hand and Chu Xiyao's hand with the other, saying, "Yixian is still being polite with her aunt!"

Lin Yanran chuckled, "I just didn't stand on ceremony with my maternal aunt."

The Empress patted Lin Yanran's hand affectionately before speaking to Chu Xiyao:

"General Ma's wife must be tired from her journey back! Let's sit down and chat."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yanran and Chu Xiyao quickly bowed and expressed their gratitude. After thanking the Empress, they sat down in the seats below her, while Ma Mingzhen and his two siblings stood obediently behind Chu Xiyao.

As soon as Lin Yanran sat down, she saw that the small table next to her was covered with all the snacks that she openly liked to eat.

Lin Yanran deliberately skipped breakfast today, all for this moment.

They know you like it and deliberately serve it to you, but you can't eat it. That's being ungrateful.

So as soon as Lin Yanran sat down, she naturally picked up the snacks and started eating. While eating, she kept glancing at the snacks next to her, as if she was seriously considering which one to eat first.

Seeing Lin Yanran like this, the Empress's mood did improve somewhat. Who wouldn't want their efforts to be appreciated?

The Empress disliked the other people who came to pay their respects to her. They dared not eat this or drink that, as if she were deliberately trying to harm them; it was truly laughable.

The Empress glanced at Lin Yanran, who was eating happily, and then turned her gaze to Chu Xiyao. "His Majesty heard that Madam Ma and her children arrived in Cangming yesterday. He is very concerned about your habits. I was worried and didn't sleep well all night."

Chu Xiyao quickly stood up and bowed, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty and Your Majesty. My husband and I are honored to be able to share your burdens. We are very grateful for your high regard for us."

"The Emperor remembers General Ma's merits! The Emperor often feels guilty towards General Ma, for he is too old to enjoy the joys of family life."

"You two mustn't resent the Emperor." The Empress's expression was one of solemnity and guilt.

Chu Xiyao was not arrogant enough to dare to answer such a question. "Your Majesty and Your Highness, please understand that we would never dare to do such a thing. We are willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty and Your Highness."

The Empress reached out and helped Chu Xiyao up again. "Let's have a chat. Madam Ma, you don't need to be so polite."

Chu Xiyao could only meekly agree.

The Empress continued, "General Ma has worked hard all these years. His Majesty and I wish for General Ma to return from his post and recuperate."

The Emperor and I are worried that our good intentions might backfire, so we wanted to ask Madam Ma in advance whether General Ma would be willing to return to recuperate.

Chu Xiyao knew that her husband was unwilling, but she couldn't say it herself.

Chu Xiyao then looked at Lin Yanran, hoping that Lin Yanran would say a few words on her behalf.

Then Chu Xiyao noticed that Lin Yanran was only focused on eating and didn't even glance in her direction the whole time.

The Empress, of course, also noticed Chu Xiyao's gaze. "Why is Madam Ma looking at Princess Yixian? Does Princess Yixian think she can make decisions for General Ma?"

"I think it's good for my brother-in-law to come back and rest for a while. The border has been quiet for five or six years now, and General Ma should be able to rest assured."

Besides, our generation is getting old; we should give the younger generation a chance.

In Lin Yanran's view, this was considered as her speaking up for General Ma.

Military power is desirable, but it's a hot potato! Although relinquishing military power doesn't guarantee a good outcome, not relinquishing it will certainly lead to a terrible end.

As for the possibility of a successful rebellion, the current imperial court is strong and prosperous, and the world is at peace. Who would risk the destruction of their entire family to follow General Ma?

But in Chu Xiyao's eyes, Lin Yanran was kicking someone when they were down.

Chu Xiyao was afraid that the Empress would believe Lin Yanran's words and issue another decree to bring her husband back, so she hurriedly explained, "My husband is also worried about the border. There are still conflicts there from time to time."

"Your subject and husband are willing to go through fire and water for the court until the end of their lives."

Regardless of what the Empress thought upon hearing this, Lin Yanran sneered inwardly. This was treating the royal family like fools!

Lin Yanran recalled carefully that in the novel, General Ma was beheaded by his confidant a few years later.

Fearing for their lives, Chu Xiyao and her children agreed to the emperor's pretext to return to Cangming to see the ailing Old Madam Hou one last time.

That's why Chu Xiyao was so eager to reconnect with the Marquis's mansion, and why Ma Mingzhen kept saying how much she liked her uncle's favorite son, Chu Yunyun.

However, Lin Yanran didn't know how it ended. After all, the novel she read ended with the male and female protagonists living happily ever after.

Lin Yanran made her stance clear; she didn't want to be implicated. "My brother-in-law is so loyal to the emperor, the emperor and empress are even more reluctant to see him end up like that. Little sister, you should write a letter to persuade him."

Ma Mingzhen and her husband are getting older and it's time for them to get engaged. They can't let their child go back to the border to suffer, can they?

When Chu Xiyao heard Lin Yanran mention marriage, she felt like she had grasped a lifeline. "Speaking of marriage, I would very much like to become in-laws with my sister-in-law."

"Oh, you don't like it." Lin Yanran's words almost made the Empress laugh.

Ma Mingzhen's face turned bright red, and she felt utterly humiliated.

Chu Xiyao and Ma Mingzhen reacted similarly, but their eyes were full of disbelief. She hadn't expected Lin Yanran to dare say such a thing in front of the Empress.

Chu Xiyao immediately looked at the Empress with a wronged expression, trying to ask the Empress to make the decision.

Lin Yanran immediately came to the Empress's rescue, saying, "Little sister, why are you looking at the Empress? Just because you don't respect me as your sister-in-law, and your son and daughter are so arrogant, I would never be related to you by marriage."

But if you insist on marrying your daughter off, I can accept her, but don't come looking for me later whether things go well or not. After all, it wasn't my son or I who insisted on her marrying him.