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

The emperor was very determined and refused to budge in the slightest.

Several elders of the imperial clan appealed to the emperor's emotions, saying, "Your Majesty, Qinglan is the only daughter of Grand Tutor Shen."

"Grand Tutor Shen only married one principal wife in his life, had no concubines in his household, and had no other children."

"He is, after all, the Grand Tutor; one should at least have some consideration for his pitiful feelings as a father."

The emperor slammed his fist on the table, furious, and said, "Shen Qinglan is the apple of his Grand Tutor Shen's eye, but isn't the Third Prince also my darling?"

"What? He's complaining about marrying Shen Qinglan to my son?"

Shen Qinglan knelt below, her back straight and her head held high.

As for those elders of the imperial clan, they were just like her; even when kneeling before the emperor, their backs never bent even an inch.

Shen Qinglan remained calm and didn't hesitate to reveal everything about her private life, "Father, ever since I married the Third Prince, I've spent even my wedding night alone."

"If it weren't for the fact that my wife's family is in the capital, which makes people somewhat wary of her, she might have suffered some humiliation at the Prince Kang's residence."

"Since our marriage, the Third Prince has never shared a room with my wife."

These words caused an uproar throughout the hall.

The emperor could hardly believe it. "How is this possible?"

Jiang Heng also forcibly took women from the common people. How could he leave a beautiful woman like Shen Qinglan, who was talented, virtuous, beautiful and with a good figure, unmoved in the Kang Prince's mansion?

"Whether my daughter-in-law's words are false or not, Your Majesty can have Granny Gui, who serves the Empress Dowager, come and verify them."

Shen Qinglan brought up the Empress Dowager because the Empress Dowager could help her.

The emperor had a splitting headache; the third prince was causing him no peace of mind.

One problem after another, and he, an emperor, still had to find ways to clean up the mess left by his good-for-nothing son.

"Then please have Granny Gui make the trip. If you utter even a single falsehood, you are forbidden from ever mentioning the word 'divorce' again," the emperor threatened Shen Qinglan.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I've got it." Shen Qinglan replied and waited for Granny Gui to come over.

"Your Majesty, Qinglan wants a divorce, why are you stopping her?" After waiting for a long time, unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager also came along.

Following behind the Empress Dowager, Granny Gui also entered the main hall.

Seeing Shen Qinglan and a group of Shen family elders kneeling in the entire hall, the Empress Dowager's eyes turned cold.

"You all stand up and speak first." The emperor was utterly foolish for the sake of the third prince.

The Empress Dowager was furious that he was so eager to do good for his son that he had lost his sense of propriety. How could she let such a powerful clan elder kneel down and beg him?

"Someone, please bring a seat."

However, it was already too late; these elders of the Shen family were seething with anger.

The head elder, with a stern face, politely declined, saying, "Empress Dowager, how dare we sit and speak with the Emperor in this main hall?"

The Empress Dowager knew that the Emperor was in the wrong, so she helped to appease him for a long time.

She even grabbed Shen Qinglan's hand and gently patted the back of it, saying, "Qinglan, good child, I'm sorry you had to suffer."

"Grandmother believes what you say."

"If we let Granny Gui examine you, wouldn't that just make you suffer again?"

Shen Qinglan was completely determined to get a divorce. "Grandmother, I don't care about the rumors and gossip."

Seeing that there was no way to change the situation, the Empress Dowager could only sigh and acquiesce.

Granny Gui led Shen Qinglan to the side hall.

When Shen Qinglan returned, Granny Gui first went to the Empress Dowager's side.

Granny Gui whispered to the Empress Dowager that Shen Qinglan was still a virgin.

Even though she knew this would be the outcome, the Empress Dowager was still shocked.

The Third Prince is outrageous!

He had many women outside the marriage, but refused to touch his wife.

Shen Qinglan is an excellent candidate, both in terms of her own character and her maternal clan.

That was the Princess Consort of Kang, whom the emperor had carefully selected and rigorously chosen for him.

"Your Majesty, Qinglan and the Third Prince are indeed not husband and wife. In that case, there is no need to force them together any further."

To prevent the Shen family from becoming estranged from the royal family, the Empress Dowager then said, "Qinglan, who do you wish to marry in the future? I will bestow a marriage upon you."

Upon hearing this, the emperor became furious.

If they really do divorce, then the Third Prince will lose the Shen family's power.

"no."

The Empress Dowager glanced at the Emperor. "Now that things have come to this, Your Majesty, how else can you possibly stop us? Do you intend to let Qinglan suffer the fate of a widow for the rest of her life?"

After much deliberation, the emperor finally relented.

"Divorce is not out of the question, but there are conditions," the emperor said. "Shen Qinglan, a large portion of the dowry you brought with you must be left to the Third Prince."

The elders of the Shen family were dumbfounded, and couldn't help but feel contempt for the emperor.

Not only did they fail to make amends or appease the Shen family, but they even went so far as to scheme against them over this small matter.

"Fine, I agree on Qinglan's behalf," the First Elder said coldly.

After this incident, news of Shen Qinglan's impending divorce quickly spread.

When Xiao Lie received the secret letter from Shen Qinglan, he was happy for her.

She can finally get rid of the Third Prince.

"Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the palace." Seventeen appeared like a ghost.

Yuan Ajiao was extremely favored in the harem and spent almost every night in the emperor's bedchamber.

The ministers had already impeached her, calling her a wicked concubine.

But the emperor simply tossed those memorials aside and ignored them.

It was precisely because the emperor favored her so much that she had the opportunity to learn a lot of information from him for Xiao Lie.

After reading the secret letter, Xiao Lie had other plans in mind. "The struggle for the throne between the two princes is about to begin."

"That person said that the Emperor has discovered the Fifth Prince's abnormality and has ordered a thorough investigation in secret."

"Furthermore, he suspects that his recent poor mental state is due to someone poisoning him."

Who would dare to poison the emperor? Do they want to lose their head even faster?

Seventeen asked doubtfully, "We've all found out that the Fifth Prince is forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices. The Emperor's men aren't pushovers either; they'll probably find out soon. Is the Fifth Prince about to be arrested?"

"Does His Majesty suspect that the Fifth Prince is plotting to kill his father and seize the throne?"

Xiao Lie sneered, "It's obvious that the Emperor is getting old and still indulges in excessive sexual activity every night. No wonder his body is depleted."

"He's just too suspicious."

As for the big moves behind the Fifth Prince's back, whether the Emperor could find out was not something Xiao Lie cared about.

"I'm worried that the Third Prince won't behave himself in the prison. In order not to lose the Shen family's power, he might poison Shen Qinglan."

"Seventeen, you personally make the arrangements and send a few Shadow Guards to protect her."

Xiao Lie then asked Sixteen to invite Shen Qingge over.

Shen Qingge kept her eyes fixed on the Fifth Prince.

Xiao Lie wanted to know how much irrefutable evidence Shen Qingge had.

"Brother Xiao, these things I have..." A ruthless glint flashed in Shen Qingge's eyes, "Once they are presented to the Emperor, they will surely plunge the Fifth Prince into an abyss of eternal damnation."