Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

Sixteen wanted to ask more, but Xiao Lie smiled mysteriously, waved his hand, and let him leave.

Do you even want people to sleep?

At that moment, the woman he was talking about was serving the emperor on his bed.

According to palace rules, concubines generally do not stay overnight.

In recent months, a newly appointed concubine has set a precedent in this dynasty.

"Your Majesty, it's time for me to return to my own palace tonight," Consort Yuan said coquettishly, leaning against the Emperor's chest.

The emperor was getting on in years, but being able to make love with such a young and energetic concubine made him feel that he had regained a lot of his virility and that his body had become much younger.

People in high positions like him are most afraid of getting old and dying.

The appearance of Consort Yuan brought him a constant stream of vitality, and he naturally craved this feeling.

"In this harem, everyone wants to spend more time with me, but you alone want to shirk your responsibilities and think about going back quickly."

Consort Yuan rubbed against him, not intending to get up, but instead moved even closer to him.

Her hands were circling all over the emperor's body.

The emperor suddenly grabbed her hand. "Stop fooling around. You're almost bewitching me. You can't do it again."

Consort Yuan kissed the Emperor's lips, then shyly buried her head in her hands.

"Your Majesty is always good at telling jokes. Just now you even blamed me for hiding. Listen carefully to see who was hiding from whom."

Her girlish demeanor aroused the emperor's desire for a long time.

He could no longer restrain himself and pinned her down again, engaging in some roughhousing.

"I really need to sleep now, you should sleep soon too." After two cups of tea, the emperor felt as if he were floating on air.

He lay flat on his back, too exhausted to even speak.

Consort Yuan seized the opportunity and casually brought it up, "Your Majesty, when I was wandering on the border, I once witnessed Duke Xiao's valiant fight against the enemy."

"When the enemy saw him and his soldiers, they were so frightened that they fled in all directions and dared not engage in direct combat."

"My parents often said that if it weren't for Duke Xiao, we would probably be dead by now."

This wasn't the first time she'd mentioned it; the emperor was practically sick of hearing it.

Consort Yuan's name was Yuan Ajiao.

Her father was a minor official in the county.

The county where they lived was located on the border between the two countries, and enemy troops often came to plunder their property.

Many local people almost died by the enemy's sword.

At that time, the general defending the city was ambushed and seriously wounded. On the verge of death, he sent out a signal, and only Duke Xiao led his troops to come to the rescue.

"At that time, my parents' heads were almost chopped off." Consort Yuan choked up again as she spoke. "Your Majesty, Duke Xiao is truly a fine general."

"May I send some of the gold and silver jewels bestowed as a reward?"

The emperor didn't dare to be harsh with her, thinking she was just kind-hearted and always remembered the kindness of being saved.

There aren't many people in this palace as simple-minded as her.

"If you really want to repay this kindness, there are plenty of ways. Prince Xiao is in the capital, and I will arrange for you to meet him later." The emperor was exhausted and didn't even know what he said before he drifted off to sleep.

After he fell asleep, Consort Yuan disgustedly went to sleep far away.

Even as the supreme monarch, she couldn't bring herself to like an old man who still exuded the air of an old man.

If it weren't for the fact that the Crown Prince was in dire straits in the capital, she would not have been willing to enter the palace as a concubine.

The next morning, Xiao Lie went to see Lin Wan'er.

There was a hint of fear in Lin Wan'er's eyes; her posture suggested that his arrival made her feel as if she were facing a formidable enemy.

He didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Write a letter to the Third Prince and invite him to meet you at the lakeside pavilion near Princess Yuhua's residence."

Lin Wan'er stared wide-eyed in disbelief. Why would he ask her to meet Jiang Heng?

What is he up to?

Wasn't it enough that he caused the Third Prince to be punished last time?

"I will not betray the Third Prince, and I will never let you use me."

Xiao Lie grabbed her wrist with such force that her fair skin instantly turned red.

Lin Wan'er was in pain, but she refused to back down and resolutely refused to help him harm Jiang Heng.

"You still don't understand your place?" Xiao Lie's gaze was fixed on her. "You are my Crown Princess, Xiao Lie's Crown Prince Consort. You begged me not to divorce you."

"You'll have to pay a price to stay by my side."

As if he had thought of something, he lowered his voice and threatened her, "The lives of hundreds of people in your Lin family are all in my hands."

"If you don't obey, do you want your entire family to be executed?"

Lin Wan'er's face turned pale. If he hadn't brought it up, she would have completely forgotten that he had caught her family in a compromising situation.

If the matter were reported to the emperor, the Lin family would be completely ruined.

"I will write it." On one side were the lives of everyone in the Lin family, and on the other was Jiang Heng. She had already made her choice. "But I have one request: the Third Prince's life cannot be harmed, nor can he suffer any superficial injuries."

Xiao Lie found her utterly ridiculous. How could someone who was being coerced possibly dare to make demands of him?

He ignored her request and told her to write down everything she had read aloud.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Heng actually came to keep the appointment.

In a private room of a restaurant not far from the pavilion in the middle of the lake, Xiao Lie saw clearly the scene of Jiang Heng and Lin Wan'er's "secret meeting".

He thought that Jiang Heng would harbor resentment towards Lin Wan'er, suspect her infidelity, and therefore not come to see her.

"Sixteen, the show has begun, and we must go keep our appointment." Xiao Lie said with a playful expression, leading Sixteen to Princess Yuhua's residence.

Princess Yuhua had been waiting for a long time. "The young master invited me, saying he had acquired a new painting from Master Buming and wanted me to admire it. I've been waiting for so long, why are you only arriving now?"

"Is it possible that it doesn't exist at all, or that the young master was just exaggerating?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Do you think I'm that kind of person?" Xiao Lie glared at her. "My grandfather is a Duke. Someone of my status can have whatever they want."

He glanced behind him, and then Sixteen unfurled the scroll.

Princess Yuhua loved Master Buming's paintings the most, and upon seeing them, she immediately recognized them as genuine works.

Xiao Lie then ordered Sixteen to put it away, saying, "Princess, if you like it, I can give it to you."

"But I have a favor to ask."

Princess Yuhua was overjoyed at having gotten such a great deal, so why would she refuse? "Tell me," she said.

He feigned reluctance, "I'm finding it a bit difficult to speak right now. How about the princess accompany me for a walk so I can gather my thoughts?"

She was quick to leave, as Jiang Yueyao had always been straightforward and impulsive.

She followed Xiao Lie toward the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

Xiao Lie's lips curled up slightly, and he winked mischievously at Sixteen.