Do you know: I should be fat and you should be thin!

"Wait for me in the carriage. I'll be back shortly. Tonight is our wedding night, so get ready!" Zhou Ning tucked the letter into his pocket, kissed her, and left the carriage.

"He's going to marry me?"

Rong Feiyan froze instantly after being bitten on the tongue. Her ear tips burned visibly, the red spreading from her earlobes to her cheeks. Her eyelashes trembled frantically, like butterflies startled into flight...

Zhou Ning returned to his own carriage and showed Yu Yanran the letter from Consort Rong.

This is a huge matter; I can't hide it from my wife.

After reading it, Yu Yanran exclaimed excitedly, "No! My lord, she's trying to harm you!"

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, if a man marries another woman while already married, he will be sentenced to one year of penal servitude!

If a man deliberately conceals his marital status to defraud a woman, he will be sentenced to one and a half years in prison, while the woman will not be punished, and both of her marriages will be subject to mandatory divorce.

In Yu Yanran's eyes, this was tantamount to the sky falling down!

"I know, but this is the only condition for Consort Rong's defection. She insists that I marry Rong Feiyan in front of the Emperor, and I've already guessed her purpose. As long as Rong Feiyan becomes my wife in front of everyone, I won't escape the execution of my entire family. I can only rely on the merit of delivering the message to save the Emperor to ask for a pardon and make her a concubine. If she isn't saved, it's not just a matter of being disgraced; with my bigamy, the Emperor can't bend the law for personal gain. She's also gambling, gambling on the importance of the Sheng family father and son to me! I admit she won the gamble. I can ignore everyone else, but I must save Changbai! Even if it's a trap, as long as I can get close to Changbai, I can save him. Unfortunately, I can't keep this great merit. It's up to me whether I use it to save myself and be completely disgraced, or to exchange it for a concubine," Zhou Ning said.

Zhou Ning had figured it out while in Rong Feiyan's carriage. He had been hoping to use this merit and imperial decree to take Minglan and Rulan as concubines. Now that Sheng Hong had admitted to having a concubine, Minglan had no choice either. Why not take this opportunity to save her?

"Will the Emperor understand? You are the last male heir of the Zhou family, no way!" Yu Yanran firmly disagreed.

Zhou Ning pressed her pressure points, rubbed her face, and carried her to Wei Zhi's carriage.

Wei Zhiyong's horse quickly gave up its place and got off to keep watch.

Wei Zhi helped Yu Yanran lean against her, and after reading the letter, said, "What a ruthless trap, but also an opportunity. You'll even get a noble lady for free. If Ning Lang understands, then go. If the Emperor doesn't understand and refuses to show mercy, I'll accompany you even if it means imprisonment. Be careful. If you die in the palace, then I'll find another husband. Anyway, my employment contract is almost due, and I'll be free soon..."

Zhou Ning kissed her to stop her from saying anything more.

With my own abilities, as long as my collarbone isn't locked, even if I can't save him, how could his life be in danger?

After a long while, their lips parted!

"Come back alive!" Wei Zhi gasped.

Zhou Ning nodded and said, "Then I'll be going now. If Gu Tingye and the others arrive, tell them to wait for my message after entering the city. They are only allowed to enter the capital after hearing two fireworks, to coordinate an attack from within and without to rescue the emperor. Otherwise, he knows the consequences. As for the Crown Prince, let him figure out an explanation himself. After six or seven hours, Yanran's acupoints will naturally open without needing to be released. If I haven't returned by tonight, feed her some cakes and soup, don't let her go hungry." He kissed Yu Yanran, who could neither move nor speak, and walked towards the Sheng family carriage.

Wang Ruofu didn't care what Zhou Ning would have to pay; she only knew that her son and husband might be saved, and she thanked the Three Pure Ones.

Hai Chaoyun knelt down with Quan Ge'er in her arms, but Zhou Ning quickly stopped her with his sleeve: "Sister-in-law, get up quickly, we're all family. I'll go say goodbye to my fifth and sixth sisters and then go into the city first. You wait here for the Crown Prince's army and go back to the Sheng family first."

Hai Chaoyun nodded and told him to be careful in everything.

Seeing Zhou Ning approaching, Ru Lan asked, "Come here quickly, I want to talk to you. What are you doing, going back and forth like this?"

"I'm preparing to enter the palace to rescue people. You stay here. When I return, I'll come and take you home. Your daughter is my concubine. Your father said it to the Emperor himself. I believe he wouldn't dare go back on his word," Zhou Ning said.

Rulan cautioned, "Then you must be careful. If there's danger, save your second brother first. Father is old; even if something happens to him, it won't be considered an untimely death..."

Sheng Hong: "You're so filial, it's killing me!"

Zhou Ning smiled and nodded, thinking to herself, "You should just think about it, but you actually dare to say it out loud. How cute! I like it!"

"I understand. By the way, did Wen Yanjing write any more poems for you?" Zhou Ning asked.

Rulan said, "Yes, but I lost them all to the magpies. He even waited for me by the rockery. I didn't realize it before; I thought he had his eye on me first. Now I realize he must have been watching me for a long time. It's so annoying!"

"That's right, Fifth Sister is the eldest daughter of the Sheng family, so naturally a poor scholar like me wouldn't give up. You can just play cricket fighting with the magpie in the carriage, I'll take care of everything, you don't need to worry about anything," Zhou Ning said with a smile.

"Okay! Come back soon, I have something to tell you. I recently got a string of fine beads, I can wear it for you to see, it looks so beautiful!" Rulan said.

After comforting the little cutie, Zhou Ning went to Old Madam Sheng's carriage.

He only told the old lady and Minglan that he was going to the palace to save people, but he didn't mention that he wanted to marry Rong Feiyan.

Minglan told Zhou Ning about Old Madam Sheng's request, and Zhou Ning readily agreed. If it weren't for the lack of writing materials, he would have loved to sign a contract on the spot!

It's just going back to his parents' home every week to let them know he's safe and sound, right? It's no problem for him at all; in fact, it gives him some breathing room.

Considering her age, she should be able to have children by now. Three years it is. As long as she is considerate and attentive, and treats everyone equally, she can have two children in three years. Why would she be afraid that Minglan would abandon the children and run away?

He had long ago decided to treat these girls differently based on their individual circumstances. He wouldn't speak of Yu Yanran unless it was a major issue, to avoid making her worry and indecisive. Wei Zhi would speak of everything, and people would only offer support, making him more resolute. Sheng Rulan, on the other hand, wouldn't speak of even major issues; this girl should live like the sun, radiating warmth to him. As for Sheng Minglan, he had to be selective. She and Wei Zhi were completely different. If one was consistent inside and out, gentle and tender, then the other was a typical example of someone who was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside.

"Litou, you're the only man left. Stay here until the Crown Prince's army arrives, understand?" Zhou Ning instructed.

Pear Head nodded and said, "Young Master, please go in peace!"

Zhou Ning frowned. Why did these words sound like a compliment?

He gave him a flick on the forehead, then drove the Rong family carriage back to the city with Rong Feiyan. The rebel soldiers on the city wall, seeing that she was one of their own who had joined the coup, immediately let them pass!

Western Suburbs Camp!

This place is garrisoned year-round by 40 imperial guards, the main force protecting the capital. They are the emperor's personal troops and only recognize the emperor's edicts and military tallies.

Relying on the military tally and the late emperor's blood edict, Zhao Zongquan legitimately mobilized the imperial guards here. All the imperial guards obeyed his orders and pressed down on Bianjing City in an overwhelming manner!

The Duke of Ying, the foremost military commander of three dynasties, personally led the way and arrived at the gates of Bianjing before nightfall.

Gu Tingye hurriedly searched for Zhou Ning, but learned from Wei Zhi that Zhou Ning had entered the city an hour earlier. He was told to find a way to delay him and not to attack the imperial city rashly. He was to use the two fireworks as a signal to coordinate an attack from the inside and outside!

Knowing he could no longer hide it, he told the Duke of Yingguo, Zhao Zongquan, and others about the situation inside the capital. The women of the Sheng family confirmed that what he said was true.

"Why didn't you say so sooner?" the British Duke said angrily.

"Your Excellency, please calm your anger. The army can enter the inner city first and surround only the palace. I have already made arrangements. We only need to wait for the second fireworks display, and our inside agents will act on their own. At that time, we can coordinate from within and without, and we will surely be able to rescue His Majesty while protecting the lives of many noble families and ministers. If we rashly enter the city, not only will we fail to rescue His Majesty, but the families of all the nobles and many ministers will likely perish for their country! Please, Your Highness, reconsider! Your Excellency, reconsider!"

......