Favored concubine deposed empress? I'll seize your throne and marry you to a powerful minister.

"Who's there?!"

With a shout, the sound of footsteps around them increased.

Are they patrolling guards?

Wei Rong's heart tightened, but her palms felt warm first. Her hand was grabbed, and in an instant, she was pulled behind a huge tree trunk.

"Go search and see who's here."

It was Xiao Heng's voice!

Immediately afterwards, Shen Mingxiu's voice came: "There are Imperial Guards patrolling nearby, so there shouldn't be any danger. Your Majesty doesn't need to worry too much."

"This is outside the palace; you can't afford any accidents," Xiao Heng reassured her. "I'll only feel at ease if they search thoroughly."

The Imperial Guards have always been known for their swift and decisive actions, and with Yun Sheng's recent rise to power, their orders regarding patrols have become even stricter.

The footsteps were close by, seemingly coming from all directions.

"I clearly heard someone speaking just now. If it weren't for a ghost, there would be no need to hide. Search every inch of the forest to find them!"

"......"

Wei Rong wanted to ask why she was hiding, because she truly had nothing to hide!

Now she's stuck, unable to advance or retreat, held in front of Ling Xianru, standing on his pirate ship.

She questioned Ling Xianru with her eyes: What do we do now?

The other person glanced down at her, and his leisurely manner returned, as if he was doing it on purpose, deliberately hiding here, deliberately watching Wei Rong get impatient.

"There are footprints here!"

The woods were all muddy, and at night, the dampness would leave footprints on them.

Although it was dark and difficult to distinguish them, the Imperial Guards, carrying torches and following the footprints, were able to find them quickly.

Since it wasn't Yun Sheng who came, there was no opportunity for favoritism or corruption.

Ling Xianru remained calm and unhurried, which drove Wei Rong crazy.

The footprints went behind the tree, let's go take a look!

"Think of a way," Wei Rong squeezed out through gritted teeth.

To everyone's surprise, Ling Xian still had the leisure to do so. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Doesn't Your Highness find it exciting?"

Stimulate?

Wei Rong gave a cold laugh: "I think you've gone mad."

"He broke his promise, and his favored concubine killed the empress. Why should you remain loyal to him to the death? Is that fair?"

His hot breath sprayed onto Wei Rong's earlobe, both burning and tingling, and what made her tremble even more was his words.

This was the first time someone had said, in front of her, that Xiao Heng's favored concubine had killed the empress and that Xiao Heng was unfaithful.

fair?

She had asked herself countless times: Is there any fairness or morality in this world where men are superior to women?

After marriage, a woman must abide by the rules and regulations, take her husband as the head of the household, and adhere to the precepts for women. She must not overstep the bounds or lose her virtues as a woman.

Once she comes into contact with a man from another country, she faces numerous accusations and insults.

Yet no one ever questioned why a man should have three wives and four concubines.

Ask Xiao Heng, what kind of common sense is this—betraying his promise and committing marriage fraud?

"Your Majesty also feels this is unfair," Ling Xianru whispered clearly. "How could he possibly be worthy of you, someone you're expected to uphold traditional virtues?"

"Swish, swish..."

The leaves rustled softly under the feet of the Imperial Guards, and the closer they got, the stronger the sense of danger became, to the point that Wei Rong held her breath for a moment.

Her feelings towards Ling Xianru were too complicated.

Despite being a subject, he showed no sign of submission or humility, instead using such domineering methods to force her into a corner.

She was clearly the empress.

Yet here they are threatened by him, like prey lured into his trap.

If discovered, Ling Xian, like a man, can completely extricate himself and escape worldly condemnation.

However, as empress, she would be burdened with the accusation of seducing powerful officials and failing to uphold traditional feminine virtues, a label she could never shake off for the rest of her life.

Ling Xianru was pressuring her—

Wei Rong's eyes turned slightly cold. It wasn't that she was afraid of worldly criticism, but rather that she had been betrayed once, so she was critical of relationships between men and women and didn't think a man's sincerity was really worth much.

Ke Lingxian was unaware that she was not afraid to play games if she wanted to.

In an instant, enveloped by Ling Xianru's wide robe, she tiptoed, parted her lips, and bit the thin lips that were so close to hers.

"..."

The sweet fragrance of cosmetics wafted through the air, and eyelashes brushed against the eyelids like magpies, causing a slight itch.

But what's even more lethal is the softness from her lips; her pearly teeth brush against the cupid's bow, sending a slight tingling sensation through her.

Wei Rong's actions were clearly unrelated to love; they were merely a silent message to him: If you want to play, I will play along.

Ling Xianru's hands, hidden in her wide sleeves, clenched slightly.

"Come out!" came the shout in my ear again.

Not far away, Xiao Heng, with his arm around Shen Mingxiu, was watching this place with piercing eyes.

Finally, a soft sigh escaped from Ling Xianru's lips; she had indeed been pushed to the limit.

He grabbed Wei Rong's waist, and in a split second, he used his strength to lift her up—

Wei Rong felt herself suddenly lose her balance. In the instant she was lifted off the ground, someone pulled her upwards, and in a moment, her figure disappeared into the branches and leaves.

So fast that it's impossible to catch even a glimpse of it.

The imperial guards only saw a blur before their eyes, and the wisps of a woman's skirt disappeared from sight. The Prime Minister, who appeared before them, wiped the corner of his lips with his fingertip.

...There seemed to be bloodstains on it, and the Prime Minister even licked it.

The Imperial Guards were caught off guard; even the most ignorant among them should have guessed what had just happened.

The fact that the prime minister, who was always upright and aloof from women, was suddenly having a secret rendezvous with someone in the dense forest caught everyone completely off guard.

"Who is there?" Shen Mingxiu's voice rang out, "I ordered you to eliminate the danger, and you're dawdling like this!"

The imperial guards swallowed hard, and could only steel themselves and bow to Ling Xianru: "Your Excellency, what are you doing here?"

Wei Rong didn't hold back at all when she bit down, and her lip was cut, the taste of blood lingering in her mouth.

He must have really angered people.

Ling Xianru emerged from behind the tree, glanced at Xiao Heng and Shen Mingxiu, and bowed: "Greetings to His Majesty and to Consort Xian."

Xiao Heng was stunned to find it was Ling Xianru. Seeing his appearance, with blood still on his lips, anyone would know what he had just been doing.

But when I looked behind him, there was no one there.

"Lingqing—are you having a secret rendezvous here?" Xiao Heng teased, "Who could possibly have captured your heart? I'm quite curious."

When Shen Mingxiu saw Ling Xianru's expression, she clenched her sleeves tightly, her eyes filled with jealousy and hatred.

"Yes, why doesn't that young lady come out to meet the Emperor?" Shen Mingxiu forced a smile. "Could it be that Your Excellency is keeping a mistress hidden away, and that the young lady's identity is not suitable for public disclosure?"

Who...who is it?!

Why would Ling Xianru be having a secret rendezvous with someone here!

He clearly loved her deeply but died young. On the day of the New Year's banquet, he even wove a grass butterfly for her, saying sadly that he couldn't give the grass butterfly away!

But—his clothes were slightly disheveled, and the marks on his lips couldn't lie.

Everything suggests that he was with a woman just now!

The imperial guards knelt and begged for forgiveness: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this humble subject was incompetent and failed to see the woman's face clearly!"

"If you want to hide it, how can you see it clearly?" Xiao Heng did not blame him, but inquired, "Who is it? If you like it, I will issue an imperial decree to grant you the marriage, so as not to ruin the young lady's life."

Ling Xian bowed slightly, looking helpless: "Your Majesty, please don't tease me. Meeting Your Majesty is already like a startled rabbit. If Your Majesty pursues this further, I'm afraid you'll scare people away."

His expression showed both doting affection and a touch of reserve.

Among the family members accompanying this hunt were many young women of marriageable age, presumably noble ladies from noble families. If word got out, their reputations would surely be ruined.

Xiao Heng was a man too, so how could he not understand what Ling Xianru meant?

He then smiled knowingly: "It seems that even with your charm, my dear minister, you haven't been able to win her over. You'll need to put in some more effort?"

"The road ahead is long and arduous." This sigh is genuine.

But Shen Mingxiu suddenly asked, "Didn't you say that your beloved is already married? With this young lady here, what about your former love?"

These words were nonsensical and abrupt, causing Xiao Heng to glance at her sideways.