Chapter 2 - 21-30

Chapter 21

After the host binds to the childbearing system, one baby will be born.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Shuwan said, "Let's not enter the dream yet. It's a bit strange to be in the ancestral hall."

Bao Jie'er looked at the surrounding environment and nodded. It still had some morals. Although it was a dream, it was in front of so many tablets of ancestors from the Marquis' Mansion after all!

At night again, Qin Zhao dealt with the pile of memorials. After taking a bath, he sat on the dragon bed and raised his hand to call the secret guards sent to investigate Lin Shuwan.

Previously, the secret guards he had asked to investigate other women with the word "wan" in their names had all been withdrawn, and only Lin Shuwan went to investigate the Crown Prince's Consort of Marquis Jing'an's Mansion.

With a clear goal, the investigation was carried out quickly, and Qin Zhao obtained Lin Shuwan's specific information that night.

The secret guard knelt on the ground and presented the information he had collected.

Qin Zhao took it with mixed and uneasy thoughts, waved his hand, and the secret guards retreated. Then he turned the page.

The above is a record of everything that happened to Lin Shuwan from childhood to adulthood, no matter how big or small.

In the general's mansion, she was disliked by her stepmother and bullied by illegitimate children. She found an unreliable marriage and married into the Jing'an Marquis's mansion. She stayed alone in the empty room on the wedding night, and on the day of returning home, she was disliked by the Marquis's wife and knelt in the ancestral hall.

Then, six days after the wedding, he brought the concubine from the brothel to Chen Shizi as his first wife. Today was the wedding night of Chen Shizi and his concubine, but Lin Shuwan was punished by the Marquis's wife to kneel in the ancestral hall.

Qin Zhao flipped through the pages at a fast speed, but he remembered all the information on them.

After he finished reading, he closed the book and felt even more distressed and pity for Lin Shuwan. At the same time, he became even more determined to win Lin Shuwan!

Since Chen Siyuan doesn't cherish her, let him cherish her well!

only...

Qin Zhao frowned and thought. He had a strange fate of being a lonely man. Every woman he met would die. If Lin Shuwan entered the palace and became his woman, would it really break his fate, or... would he die like those women?

Thinking of this possibility, Qin Zhao's originally fiery heart suddenly cooled down. He sighed softly and put the paper in his hand on the bedside. He lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Forget it. He doesn't know if he can dream of Wanwan tonight. He wants to ask her about her true identity and what she looks like under the mask.

However, in his dream tonight, Qin Zhao still did not dream of Lin Shuwan.

Wake up the next day.

Liu Youxi originally wanted to wake Qin Zhao up, but as soon as he entered the inner room, he saw Qin Zhao already sitting on the bed with his brows drooping and a gloomy aura all over his body. He didn't look very well and was obviously in a bad mood.

Liu Youxi was in a bad mood early in the morning. He had seen this yesterday, but it was obviously worse today.

"Your Majesty?" Liu Youxi became more cautious in his words and actions.

Qin Zhao raised his head, his black eyes were calm and peaceful, and he said in a hoarse voice: "Undress and go to court."

"Yes." Liu Youxi waved his hand quickly and arranged for the palace servants to come forward to serve.

Qin Zhao went to court with a gloomy face.

Nowadays, the world is peaceful, the court is stable, the people are living and working in peace and happiness, and there are almost no major events, so there is usually nothing to worry about during court sessions.

In addition to urging Qin Zhao to choose an heir from among the royal family.

However, this morning in the court, three imperial censors suddenly stepped forward and jointly impeached the son of Jing'an Marquis, accusing him of doting on his wives and concubines, and even using the ritual of a legal wife when taking a concubine.

What was even more shocking was that the concubine actually came from a brothel, which undoubtedly brought great shame to the royal family. Such behavior completely disregarded the dignity and reputation of the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion and was simply a blatant contempt for the general's mansion.

If this gets out, how will General Lin and the young general, who are far away at the border and performing their duties loyally, feel? If they are not punished, it will not only disappoint the people, but also chill the hearts of the soldiers fighting on the battlefield.

Qin Zhao became more and more annoyed as he listened to the discussions of his ministers.

He slammed the armrest of the dragon throne, his face gloomy, and glanced at the crowd below with sharp eyes. The court fell silent in an instant.

Qin Zhao said in a cold tone:

"Okay, I already know about this. Pass on my oral order. The Marquis of Jing'an favors his concubine over his wife. He is immoral and unworthy of his position. I will now deprive him of his title and punish him with sixty strokes of the cane! As a warning to others! In addition, the Marquis of Jing'an failed to discipline his son properly, which led to his son's condition. He should also reflect on himself!"

He thought of all the grievances that Lin Shuwan had suffered in the Marquis' Mansion, and that Chen Siyuan did not know how to cherish her at all and still wanted to keep her in the Marquis' Mansion. He couldn't help but feel a surge of anger in his heart.

"Dismiss the court!" Qin Zhao said, then stood up and left the court.

After returning to the palace, Qin Zhao immediately summoned the leader of the secret guards.

"I order you to protect Lin Shuwan. If anyone dares to hurt her, kill them without mercy!" Qin Zhao ordered with cold eyes.

The leader of the secret guards took the order and left, but Qin Zhao's heart was still restless.

He didn't know what kind of feelings he had for Lin Shuwan, but he knew that he must not let her get hurt.

Lin Shuwan, who had been fishing in the small ancestral hall all night, was asked to come out at noon the next day.

Because a eunuch came to the marquis's mansion to announce the decree.

All the staff of the Marquis' Mansion must be present to receive the order.

The door of the ancestral hall opened, and Nanny Liu was already waiting at the door. Her expression was full of worry, and she said, "Princess, someone from the palace has come to deliver an order. The Marquis's wife asked everyone in the mansion to go to the front yard to receive the order. The eunuchs are almost at the Marquis' mansion now, so Princess, please go quickly."

"Yeah." Lin Shuwan agreed and hurried to the front yard with his men.

When she arrived, Chen Siyuan, who was lying on the bed, and Qingluan, who had just entered the mansion, had also arrived.

After two days of torture from the spell, the light in Chen Siyuan and Madam Hou's eyes had almost faded, their eyes were dark and their faces were pale and sallow, and they looked like they had not slept well.

Chen Siyuan had more injuries on his body, large and small, and there were many tiny red marks on his face that looked like mosquito bites. Many places were scratched and bleeding, which looked particularly ambiguous.

Since he couldn't kneel down, Chen Siyuan could only lie on the ground.

Chen Siyuan lay on the quilt with a dejected look on his face. His originally thick, jet-black hair now looked to be in a mess. Lin Shuwan took a closer look and saw that it was full of curls, as if it had been burned by fire.

Lin Shuwan's curious look made Chen Siyuan couldn't help but pursed his lips. He turned his face away silently, reached out and tightly held Qingluan's hand beside him.

Last night was his and Qingluan's wedding night, but because both of them were injured, especially Chen Siyuan who injured his waist, they were unable to perform the rituals of marriage, so they could only drink the wedding wine and send away the servants.

Although they could not have sex, Qingluan and Chen Siyuan did not want their wedding night to pass by in such a dull manner. In addition, Qingluan had learned many skills in serving men in the brothel, so she took off her clothes and served Chen Siyuan personally.

Just when the two were getting into the mood, the burning candlestick accidentally fell.

The candlestick rolled a few times and ignited the bed curtains. The flames shot up high and directly burned the bed.

*******

Chapter 22

After the host binds to the childbearing system, one baby will be born.

The result was that the wedding night was so lively and exciting that the two people on the bed were scared.

Fortunately, the smoke from the fire and the screams of the two people attracted the servants who were guarding outside the door, and they were able to rescue the two people.

A small fire kept everyone in the Jing'an Marquis's Mansion awake until late at night. It also alarmed the Marquis's wife. The Qinxue Pavilion was burned down, so there was no choice but to move the two to Luohua Courtyard to rest.

Chen Siyuan had a hard time when he arrived at Luohuayuan. Although it was already September, there were still a lot of mosquitoes, which stared at him so much that his head was covered with lumps. The servants hurriedly lit mosquito repellent incense and finally managed to drive away the mosquitoes.

The two were finally about to fall asleep, but in a half-asleep state, they suddenly felt something cold and slippery wrapped around their legs. The experienced Chen Siyuan woke up suddenly and immediately realized that there was another snake crawling on the bed.

He didn't dare to move and hurriedly woke up Qingluan, but he didn't expect that she was so frightened that she took the pillow and screamed and beat the snake that climbed onto the bed.

The snake was frightened and bit him several times, and the pillow also hit his legs, causing great pain.

Once again attracted the servant who was on night watch.

The group of people finally caught the snake, and it was dawn. The two men had hardly slept all night and were exhausted. When they finally got some sleep, they were notified to go to the front yard to receive orders.

Lin Shuwan didn't know that she had missed so many good shows last night. She was put in solitary confinement, and the servants of Tingfeng Garden were not spared either. They were all punished and made to kneel in the yard of Tingfeng Garden for a whole night.

Tingfeng Garden is far away from Qinxue Pavilion and Luohua Courtyard, and Liu Ma and others are not sure what happened last night.

Lin Shuwan took a quick look and saw that everyone in the Marquis' Mansion had arrived.

Even Marquis Jing'an, who had been away from home all year round, was there, and so were Marquis Jing'an's dozen or so concubines, kneeling obediently behind him.

Marquis Jing'an was wearing court robes and was particularly happy and excited. Looking at the deathly face of the marquis's wife next to him, his expression softened a lot.

I also had the leisure to show some concern to Madam Hou: "Madam, you haven't looked well lately. You still need to rest more!"

The Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion has now been gradually marginalized by the capital's aristocratic families and the imperial power. Marquis of Jing'an and Chen Siyuan are very eager to regain their voice in the court, and have been working hard to this end.

However, in recent times, Marquis Jing'an seems to have bad luck and always encounters some villains.

Not only was he betrayed by his colleagues or so-called cronies, he also spent a huge amount of money but failed to get strong support; he was even nearly caught and taken to the prefect of Jingzhao for interrogation.

Although it was eventually discovered that nothing had happened, it still made Marquis Jing'an feel humiliated.

This morning, just as Marquis Jing'an came out from the Jingzhao prefect's office, someone hurried to tell him to return to the marquis's residence as soon as possible to receive the emperor's order, because the emperor had issued an oral order.

Upon hearing the news, Marquis Jing'an was overjoyed. He secretly thought that he had recently established connections with the General's Mansion, and after some recent operations, he should be able to gain more help.

So, Marquis Jing'an hurried back to his mansion to prepare to receive the emperor's oral order.

Along the way, he was looking forward to what kind of gifts and opportunities he might get. After all, for a marginalized family, such opportunities are rare.

"The eunuch has arrived~"

As the chanting ended, a palace servant wearing dark purple eunuch clothes and holding a whisk walked in.

Liu Youxi's eyes swept across everyone in the Marquis' Mansion, and his sight fell on the woman in the apricot-yellow dress standing behind the Marquis's wife, his eyes flashed slightly.

Is this the woman that His Majesty asked him to pay attention to?

She is indeed beautiful, with a touch of charm in her purity. No wonder she catches the eye of His Majesty.

"Your Majesty has ordered... kneel down..."

All the people in the Marquis' Mansion knelt down obediently.

Liu Youxi said loudly, "Your Majesty has ordered that the son of Marquis Jing'an favors his concubine over his wife, and his moral integrity is lacking. He is unworthy of his position. He will be stripped of his title and given sixty strokes of the cane as a warning to others. In addition, Marquis Jing'an failed to discipline his son properly, and he should reflect on himself as this has led to his son's condition. I decree this!"

As Liu Youxi's voice fell, everyone except Lin Shuwan raised their heads in astonishment and looked at Liu Youxi with expressions of disbelief.

"This..." Jing'an Hou suddenly came to his senses. He quickly stood up, took out a purse from his arms and handed it to Liu Youxi, saying, "Eunuch, is there any misunderstanding?"

Liu Youxi squinted at Jing'an Marquis and said coldly, "My Lord, this is His Majesty's decree. We dare not forge an imperial decree."

Chen Siyuan's face turned pale, and he looked at Liu Youxi with bloodshot eyes, then looked at Madam Hou with a pleading look.

Madam Hou naturally knew what Chen Siyuan meant. She stood up in a hurry and said to Liu Youxi respectfully, "Eunuch, the prince was injured yesterday. His ribs were injured. The doctor said he needs to rest for three months. Currently, he can only lie in bed. I wonder if the caning can be postponed until he recovers..."

Liu Youxi sneered, "Madam Hou, you think that His Majesty's order is no longer effective, right? Since Master Chen dared to do it, then he must admit it. He can take a prostitute as a concubine and welcome her into the house as his wife. He has disregarded etiquette and law, so he must bear the consequences."

He turned to look at Marquis Jing'an, "My Lord, you have been an official for many years. I don't need to tell you the consequences of disobeying the order."

Marquis Jing'an shuddered and said, "I understand." After that, he waved his hand and asked someone to bring Chen Siyuan over.

Chen Siyuan was immediately held by the two guards Liu Youxi brought out from the palace. He was roughly pressed on a bench and his trousers were pulled down. His face was as pale as paper, and he no longer looked as handsome as usual.

"Get started!" Liu Youxi gave the order.

Marquis Jing'an closed his eyes, unable to bear to watch any longer.

"Snap!" A crisp sound of a wooden stick hitting someone rang out, echoing in the air.

"what!"

Chen Siyuan screamed, the sound was sharp and piercing, as if he was torn apart in pain. His body trembled involuntarily, his face showed a distorted expression, and his eyes were full of fear and helplessness.

With just one blow, he could feel his waist was broken.

The Marquis' wife knelt on the ground and cried, "My son~ My son~"

"Prince, wuwuwu, Prince~" Qingluan obviously did not expect that the Prince would have to pay such a huge price in order to marry her. Not only did he lose his position as Prince, he was also caned sixty times by His Majesty.

The prince was already in poor health. After these sixty strokes of the cane, would he still be alive?

Liu Youxi snorted coldly and waved his hand. Immediately, two maids came forward, clamped Qingluan's arms, and slapped Qingluan hard in the face.

Liu Youxi's slightly sarcastic voice sounded: "Now the prince of Jing'an Marquis's Mansion has been stripped by His Majesty. There is no prince in the mansion anymore, only the eldest son Chen. If you do it again, you will be severely punished!"

*******

Chapter 23

After the host binds to the childbearing system, one baby will be born.

There were slaps coming from this side and beatings coming from the other side.

Soon, Chen Siyuan fainted from the pain.

Liu Youxi took a look and said, "Wake him up, and continue!"

"Yes." Immediately, a guard brought up a basin of salt water and poured it on Chen Siyuan's bleeding buttocks.

"Ahhhh!" Chen Siyuan screamed in shock and immediately woke up from his coma.

"Go on!" Liu Youxi glanced at him indifferently.

The two maids slapped Qingluan sixty times. She felt her head buzzing and her cheeks were swollen like a pig's head. She spat out a mouthful of blood with a few white teeth in it. The remaining teeth were a little loose. Her ears were buzzing and she could only hear Chen Siyuan's screams from a distance.

Qingluan spat out blood again, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the ground.

The two maids' hands were swollen from slapping. They looked at each other, loosened their grip on Qingluan's arms, and respectfully walked up to Liu Youxi and said, "Eunuch Liu, the execution is complete."

"Well, go away." Liu Youxi waved his hand, not caring at all about Qingluan's life or death.

Looking at these two ill-fated couple, Lin Shuwan revealed a barely perceptible smile.

Chen Siyuan was beaten unconscious and then splashed with water to wake him up. In the end, he was unconscious. He was breathing in more than he was breathing out. He was almost beaten to death. No matter how much water was splashed on him, he would not wake up. Liu Youxi said, "In this case, let's end this quickly to prevent Master Chen from suffering."

Then the two guards raised the boards, swung their arms, and started beating the men, and soon they were done.

Blood flowed down the bench and gradually merged with the blood on the ground. The smell of blood became stronger and stronger, making all the onlookers turn pale and look painful.

Everyone in the Jing'an Marquis Mansion was trembling with fear. Liu Youxi looked around and finally fixed his eyes on Lin Shuwan.

Lin Shuwan's eyes were slightly red, and she looked at Chen Siyuan's face full of worry and heartache.

Liu Youxi sighed inwardly, fearing that His Majesty's enthusiasm would be wasted.

Liu Youxi retracted his gaze and said:

"Today, Your Majesty has issued a small punishment and a big warning. I hope that Marquis Jing'an will take this as a warning. It is not right to disregard etiquette, favor a concubine and neglect his wife, and disrespect his wife. Especially since this matter has become known to everyone in the capital. Today, three censors have impeached him in the court. Even if Your Majesty wants to cover up for Master Chen, there is nothing you can do, Marquis, don't you agree?"

"You are right, my Lord. I failed to educate my son and have caused trouble for Your Majesty!" Marquis Jing'an admitted his mistake smoothly. He was still imprisoned in Jingzhao Prefecture yesterday and never thought that this evil son would dare to act like this!

Although court ministers cannot control the backyards of their own subjects, this evil son still took the initiative to hand the handle to others!

I deserve to be punished by His Majesty!

After Chen Siyuan finished his punishment, Liu Youxi looked at Lin Shuwan, smiled gently and said, "Miss Lin, His Majesty said that you have been wronged, so he will grant you 100 taels of gold and 10 pieces of silk and satin."

When Lin Shuwan heard the three words "Miss Lin", a smile flashed in his eyes. After respectfully thanking him, Liu Youxi took his people away.

"Quickly call the court doctor! Bring the young master back to Luohua Courtyard!" The marquis's wife wiped the tears from her face, looked at Chen Siyuan, who was beaten like a rag doll, with a look of worry and distress, and did not dare to touch him, and said anxiously.

"Yes!" Two servants came up with a stretcher and carried Chen Siyuan to Luohuayuan.

Perhaps because Chen Siyuan had suffered too much torture this time, he did not cause any trouble along the way and was carried safely to the bed in Luohuayuan smoothly.

Before leaving, the Marquis's wife looked back at Lin Shuwan with a gloomy face. She could never have imagined that His Majesty would punish Yuan'er for Lin Shuwan.

It is against etiquette to take a concubine as the principal wife, but she intends to put the entire blame on Lin Shuwan!

Why was it her son who was punished with the cane in the end?

Jing'an Hou looked at Lin Shuwan. Her beautiful and delicate eyebrows and curvy figure made him flash with surprise and lust. Then he smiled gently and comfortingly and said:

"Daughter-in-law, you have been wronged. You have nothing to do here. Go back and rest first!"

There was a hint of coldness in Lin Shuwan's eyes. He bowed and said, "My daughter-in-law, take your leave." Then he turned around and left with his people.

Jing'an Houfu stared at Lin Shuwan's receding figure, licked his lips slightly, made a slight "tsk" sound, and murmured softly: "I didn't expect that this new daughter-in-law is more charming than the women I met before~"

Lin Shuwan returned to Tingfeng Garden with his majesty's reward.

Ma Liu had the things put into the warehouse and registered. When she saw Lin Shuwan dozing off in the armchair with a tired look on his face, her eyes were filled with heartache.

Yesterday, the young lady knelt in the small ancestral hall all night without eating or drinking a drop of food. If the eunuch had not come today with an imperial decree, the young lady would not know how long she would be imprisoned.

The lady must be hungry and tired now.

Madam Liu thought about it and quickly ordered the maid, "Chun Yu Chun Xin, go prepare food and water."

"Yes." The maids hurried to arrange it.

After taking a bath and having dinner, Lin Shuwan wanted to lie down on the bed to catch up on her sleep. She saw that Madam Liu and the four maids all looked a little unhappy and were not walking smoothly. She sighed and said:

"You have suffered too. Mammy and Chun Yu Chun Xin should go down and have a good rest first. We will replace them in the evening. You can take this down and use it yourself."

Lin Shuwan took out a blood-dispersing and pain-relieving ointment from the dressing table and handed it to Aunt Liu.

Nanny Liu did not refuse. She took the medicine bottle and said, "Thank you, young lady, for your reward." They also needed to get better quickly so that they could serve the young lady better.

Lin Shuwan lay on the bed and soon fell asleep, with Chunya and Chunliu guarding her bedside.

...

Liu Youxi returned to the palace.

Inside the Qinzheng Hall.

Qin Zhao was reviewing memorials. When he heard footsteps, he looked up but said nothing.

Liu Youxi knelt on the ground respectfully and reported: "Your Majesty, I have already gone to the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion to convey your Majesty's order, punishing Master Chen with sixty strokes of the cane and the concubine with sixty slaps."

Qin Zhao asked calmly, "How is she?"

Liu Youxi was a little embarrassed, and said truthfully: "Miss Lin...she seemed to have feelings for Master Chen. When Master Chen was caned, her face was full of worry and distress."

His Majesty is well-informed and knows everything about the world. Miss Lin is now the person his Majesty likes, and there must be many spies around her. He does not have the courage to deceive her.

"Click——"

The red brush in Qin Zhao's hand broke into two pieces. He threw the broken red brush aside, and the palace servant behind him quickly handed him a bright yellow handkerchief.

Qin Zhao took the handkerchief and wiped off the red ink on his hands. His expression was like this, but his eyes were extremely terrifying.

Qin Zhao said in a cold and mocking tone: "Ha! Feelings? Worried? Heartbroken?"

What about him?

What is he to her?

******

Chapter 24

After the host binds to the childbearing system, one baby will be born.

Liu Youxi felt the powerful pressure from the emperor. He shrank his head and wished he could disappear underground.

Suddenly, a low, cold laugh rang out from the dead silent and empty Qinzheng Hall: "Ha!"

"Your Majesty, Minister Cen is outside requesting to see you." Another eunuch's voice came from outside the palace gate.

"Pass it on." Qin Zhao's originally gloomy face suddenly changed. He sat on the chair with an unclear expression and said, "Everyone go down."

"Yes." Following Qin Zhao's order, all the palace servants waiting in the Qinzheng Hall filed out, fearing that they would be affected by the emperor's anger.

After getting permission, Cen Qi lifted his robe and walked in. At a glance, he saw Qin Zhao sitting on a chair with a bad look on his face and tightly pursed lips.

He chuckled, his gentle temperament was evident, and after bowing, he said in a gentle voice: "Your Majesty doesn't look very happy, but is there anything troubling you?"

Cen Qi and Qin Zhao grew up together and had a close relationship, like brothers. Cen Qi was not only Qin Zhao's tutor, but also his aide and brother.

In the past few years, it was thanks to Cen Qi's help and support that Qin Zhao was able to quickly take control of the court situation.

With his wisdom and talent, Cen Qi became an indispensable and capable assistant to Qin Zhao. The tacit understanding and trust between them enabled them to cooperate seamlessly on the political stage.

When Qin Zhao saw Cen Qi, the anger on his face subsided a lot, but he still said in a somewhat cold tone: "I like a woman."

Cen Qi found a chair and sat down. When he heard Qin Zhao's words, he raised his eyebrows and asked with interest, "If your majesty likes it, you can bring her into the palace to raise her."

Cen Qi knew that Qin Zhao had a strange fate. Since the death of all his relatives ten years ago, Qin Zhao's temperament became more and more strange and introverted. After that, every time he favored a woman, she died. His temperament became even more silent and withdrawn.

Occasionally when I face him, I am no longer as happy as before.

Qin Zhao hesitated: "But she is already married."

Cen Qi paused, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He smiled slightly and said earnestly: "How difficult is this? With your status, it is not difficult to get a woman."

Qin Zhao frowned and clenched his fists. "I don't want to use force. Besides, I am cursed... I don't want her to die."

Your Majesty, are you attracted to that woman?

Strange!

"Then your majesty can first win her heart, but she is a woman in the inner house, even if she is interested in your majesty, she can't easily leave her husband's house."

Cen Qi analyzed, "Why not send someone to protect her safety first, and then find a way to make her willingly follow His Majesty back to the palace."

A glimmer of hope and joy flashed across Qin Zhao's eyes. "That's great. But...what if she doesn't want to?"

"Don't worry, Your Majesty." Cen Qi soothed, "Matters of love need to be considered over time. I think the most important thing right now is to understand her feelings. If she also has feelings for Your Majesty, everything will be easy."

Qin Zhao nodded in agreement.

"However, her husband's family also needs to be dealt with. Cen Qi, the Jing'an Marquis's Mansion is still in decline. You should arrange for them to be dealt with. Remember not to affect her."

When Cen Qi heard this, he immediately knew who the woman His Majesty was talking about. After all, there have been a lot of things about Jing'an Marquis's Mansion during this period.

Cen got up and knelt down to receive the order: "I obey your order."

After Cen Qi left the hall, Qin Zhao leaned back on the dragon chair, with a myriad of thoughts in his mind.

He didn't know how deep his feelings for that woman were, but he knew that he didn't want to lose her. No matter what, he had to keep her by his side.

...

Fallen Flower Courtyard.

The Marquis' wife and the Marquis stood by the bed, watching with concern as the court physician examined Chen Siyuan who was lying on the bed.

Chen Siyuan's lower body was beaten to pieces, his face was frighteningly pale, and he looked much weaker, hanging on with only one breath.

After examining him, the court doctor sighed deeply and said to the Marquis and his wife with a serious face: "Marquis, Madam, the young master's injuries are too severe! Not only did he injure his waist, but his leg bones were also severely injured. Moreover, the skin and flesh between his thighs were beaten horribly. It is obvious that the other party was extremely cruel and wanted to take his life!"

Hearing this, the Marquis and his wife's faces became extremely gloomy and fearful.

Yuan'er has angered His Majesty, so His Majesty has taken such cruel action!

The court doctor continued, "Although the flesh wounds are easy to treat, his internal injuries and bone injuries are extremely difficult to deal with. Even if they can be cured, I'm afraid there will be serious sequelae. The worst case scenario is that he is likely to be paralyzed in bed and never be able to stand up again."

Madam Hou was horrified when she heard this: "How...how could this be possible! Why is Yuan'er's injury so serious?"

paralysis?

Yuan'er is only eighteen years old this year, how can he be paralyzed in bed from now on?

Marquis Jing'an looked unhappy. Although he had many children, he only had one legitimate son. Now his title of crown prince was stripped by His Majesty and he became a waste. This legitimate son was completely useless.

Jing'an Marquis was already very impatient. He no longer had any hope for a useless son. He said casually, "Madam, please take good care of Yuan'er. I have something else to do, so I'll leave first."

After saying this, Marquis Jing'an left.

Seeing Marquis Jing'an gone, Madam Hou burst into tears. She grabbed the doctor's clothes and begged, "Doctor Li, please save my son! He is still so young, he can't lie in bed forever!"

The court doctor was embarrassed. "Madam, I will do my best, but the young master's injuries are too serious. We can only leave it to fate. I will go and prescribe some medicine for the young master. The external injuries also need to be treated properly."

The Marquis' wife immediately thought of something, wiped her tears, and asked anxiously, "Will it affect his offspring?"

The court doctor shook his head and sighed: "This... is hard to say." After that, he picked up the medicine box and left.

Madam Hou sat decadently on the edge of the bed, staring at her son with lifeless eyes, her eyes full of pain and depression. At the same time, she felt even more resentful towards Lin Shuwan and Qingluan.

It's all because of those two bitches! She will never let them go!

At this moment, Chen Siyuan slowly opened his eyes and saw his mother's grief-stricken expression. His heart was filled with guilt and self-blame.

He raised his hand with great effort, gently held the hand of the Marquis, and said weakly: "Mother, I am unfilial and have made you worry..."

Madam Hou quickly wiped away her tears and comforted him, "Yuan'er, don't talk. Only if you have a good rest can you recover soon."

Chen Siyuan forced a smile, "Mom, you don't have to worry too much. I believe that everything will be fine..."

"Yes!" Madam Hou nodded with tears in her eyes, her eyes full of determination. No matter what, she would find the miracle doctor and cure Yuan'er!

********

Chapter 25

After the host binds to the childbearing system, one baby will be born.

Qingluan was also sent back to Luohuayuan by the servants, but was placed in a side courtyard. Qiaoqiao's eyes were red from crying. While applying medicine on Qingluan's swollen and red face, she cried and complained about her miserable life.

She originally thought that she could become half-owner of the mansion after following Qingluan into it and making secret plans. However, on the second day after entering the mansion, the prince lost his title and also caused the emperor's annoyance.

How happy they were yesterday, how sad they are today.

That night, the two people on their hands developed high fever. Chen Siyuan was fine, as he was being looked after by the court doctor and the marquis's wife, but Qingluan only had a few maids.

Qiaoqiao used a towel to wipe Qingluan with cold water to cool her down all night.

That night, the Marquis's wife fell asleep on the couch beside Chen Siyuan's bed, and had another nightmare. First, she dreamed that her son was deprived of his title of Crown Prince, and was replaced by a bastard in the mansion, and finally got the title of Marquis.

Her only son became paralyzed and had difficulty in having children, so he was confined to the backyard and abused by concubines. Later, the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion offended His Majesty, who hated him. In the end, they were plotted against by villains, and everyone in the mansion was imprisoned and executed.

The heads were chopped off by the knife and rolled on the ground for several times. The blood dyed the ground of the Meridian Gate red. Her son stared at her with a pair of terrified and ferocious eyes.

Mrs. Hou was frightened awake. Seeing Chen Siyuan lying sick in bed, she couldn't help but think of her own dream. Tormented by nightmares for many days, she was anxious and worried, and lacked sleep, and finally collapsed.

With two masters of the Marquis' Mansion falling down at once and the Marquis often not being at home, the stewards in the Mansion couldn't find anyone to make the decision, so they could only seek help from Lin Shuwan's courtyard.

After Nanny Liu served Lin Shuwan her meal, she saw the housekeeper who came to ask for help.

Lin Shuwan sat at the table, supporting his chin with one hand and wiping the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief in the other.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, looked at Butler Chen standing in front of her, and slowly said, "Butler Chen, I have just been married to the Marquis' Mansion for a short time, and I am not familiar with everything here.

My mother-in-law is now bedridden and unable to handle affairs. However, Aunt Su has been following my mother-in-law all the time. She has been here much longer than I have, so she should know the situation better.

Otherwise, you should go and consult with Aunt Su to see how to deal with these things. After all, she may have better ideas and suggestions. "

The household affairs of the Marquis's mansion were not her turn as a newly married daughter-in-law to manage. The Marquis's wife was only ill, not dead. She didn't like her in the first place. If she interfered in the affairs of the mansion, she might even be resented. It was a thankless job!

Upon hearing this, Butler Chen smiled awkwardly and finally had to leave.

After sending housekeeper Chen away, Lin Shuwan felt that staying in the mansion was boring. Now everyone who could jump around lay down. She looked at Madam Liu and asked:

"Mammy, I want to go to Fajue Temple to burn incense and pray for the Crown Prince and the Marquis' wife. Do you think the Marquis' wife will agree?" The emperor will go to Fajue Temple in a few days. She wanted to go there in advance to familiarize herself with the environment and the route so that she could make arrangements in advance.

She remembered that the Marquis' wife had invited a Taoist priest to come to her house to exorcise evil spirits yesterday, so maybe she could give it a try.

"It's not peaceful in the mansion right now, it would be good if we can avoid it." Nanny Liu also felt that the Marquis's mansion was terrible. The young lady had just been married for a few days, and the prince had lost his title and had a concubine who might become a paraplegic in the future.

What will the young lady do with her life in the future?

"Mammy, I have something for you to do." Lin Shuwan waved to Mammy Liu.

Madam Liu came over, and Lin Shuwan whispered something in her ear for a while. She nodded and said, "Don't worry, Miss. I understand."

Nanny Liu had an errand to do, so she didn't stay long. She turned around and left to do it immediately.

About an hour later, Chunyu came in from outside with Nanny Su.

Nanny Su had a stern face, bowed disrespectfully, and said, "Madam, the lady is ill. I want you to go over and take care of her."

Lin Shuwan secretly curled his lips. The old witch was already sick, yet she was still causing trouble!

Lin Shuwan smiled gently and said, "Please ask Madam Su to come and inform them. I'll go right away." His face was very gentle, without any sign of impatience.

The contempt in Su Ma's eyes became even stronger. She snorted and said, "Madam, please go quickly. Madam, an evil wind entered her body last night and she has caught a cold. She is about to get up and take medicine."

"Okay~" Lin Shuwan nodded, and followed with Chunya and Chunxin.

When Lin Shuwan arrived at Langyue Garden, the marquis's wife was wearing a white nightgown and a headband on her head. She was leaning against the head of the bed with a very bad complexion. When she saw Nanny Su bringing Lin Shuwan in, a hint of viciousness flashed in her eyes.

"Madam, the eldest young master's wife is here." Nanny Su bowed and said respectfully.

"Yeah." The Marquis's wife responded coldly. The maid next to her was holding a tray with a medicine bowl on it. The bowl was emitting a strong medicinal smell and was steaming.

Lin Shuwan raised his eyebrows, obviously there was something fishy going on!

Lin Shuwan reached out to pick up the bowl, and it was indeed hot. The moment she took the bowl, her face changed instantly and she screamed, "Oh, it's so hot!"

Then Lin Shuwan threw the medicine bowl he had just picked up away, and it fell directly on the Marquis's chest. The scalding hot medicine immediately soaked through her pajamas, adhered tightly to her skin, and flowed down.

"Ahhh! It's so hot, it's burning me to death!" The marquis's wife sat up suddenly due to the burns, and kept pulling at her nightgown at her chest with both hands, while screaming loudly.

"Ahhh, what should I do? What should I do? Mother-in-law, let me help you!" A smile flashed across Lin Shuwan's eyes. He quickly stepped forward and tore off the Marquis's nightgown along with the indigo azalea flowers, revealing her white and plump breasts.

For a moment, all the slaves serving in the inner room were shocked.

"Ah!" Madam Hou felt a chill in her chest. She had never expected this to happen. She immediately covered her chest with both hands and hurriedly covered herself with the quilt. She roared at Lin Shuwan in anger, "What are you doing! Get out of here!"

Madam Hou stretched out her hand and pushed, and Lin Shuwan fell to the ground, knocking the stool behind him with his head, then closed his eyes and pretended to faint.

Madam Hou looked at the large red mark on her chest caused by the burn, with surging anger in her eyes. Just as she was about to question Lin Shuwan, she saw Lin Shuwan lying on the ground unconscious.

"Ah! The eldest young lady's wife has fainted!" Fuqin, who was standing next to her, screamed when she saw the person lying on the ground.

Madam Hou suddenly felt a stagnation in her chest, unable to release it. Then she sneered and said, "Whether he is really unconscious or just pretending to be unconscious, go and throw him outside the yard and expose him to the sun for two hours."

"Yes." Nanny Su immediately called two maids to drag Lin Shuwan out.

*******

Chapter 26

After the host binds to the childbearing system, one baby will be born.

Chunxin and Chunya, who were waiting outside, heard the noise in the inner room and hurried in. They saw two maids trying to drag their young lady out to be exposed to the sun. They immediately became anxious.

Chun Xin and Chun Ya quickly knelt on the ground and begged for mercy for Lin Shuwan: "Madam, the eldest young lady didn't mean it! Please forgive the eldest young lady for once!"

Lin Shuwan was sweating profusely. This old witch didn't play by the rules!

But it doesn't matter, Nanny Liu should be here soon.

Lin Shuwan had just been picked up when Butler Chen came rushing over, asking to see the Marquis' wife for an urgent matter.

The Marquis's wife winked at Nanny Su.

Nanny Su agreed and turned to walk out.

After a while, Nanny Su came in with a very bad look on her face and said to Madam Hou, "Madam, Taoist Priest Ruyi said he wants to see you for something urgent."

When she heard that it was Taoist Master Ruyi who wanted to see her, she immediately thought of the unexpected disaster that Yuan'er had suffered yesterday, and immediately felt that Taoist Master Ruyi's urgent matter must be related to Yuan'er.

"Send the eldest young lady back to Tingfeng Garden. I will deal with her when she wakes up!" The Marquis's wife snorted coldly. In the Marquis's Mansion, it was too easy for her to deal with a woman, and she was her own daughter-in-law!

Lin Shuwan felt like someone was carrying her on his back. She walked unsteadily for a long time until her back rested on the soft bed. Then she slowly opened her eyes.

Nanny Liu originally wanted to ask Chunxin to call the palace doctor, but she didn't expect Lin Shuwan to open her eyes so quickly. She said happily: "Miss, are you okay?"

"I was just pretending!" Lin Shuwan grinned and continued, "It was Madam's speed that solved my problem."

"I'm glad you're okay." Nanny Liu originally thought that Lin Shuwan seemed to have really fainted, but she didn't expect that she was just pretending. Seeing her young lady so lively, a smile appeared in her eyes.

"But can Master Ruyi really convince Madam to let us go to Fajue Temple to burn incense and stay for a while?"

Lin Shuwan sat up, took the tea bowl handed over by Chunxin, drank a sip of water, and said, "Don't worry, Madam, someone will probably be here soon."

Mrs. Hou is most worried that something might happen to Chen Siyuan. Now that Chen Siyuan is seriously injured and faces paralysis, especially with the effect of the nightmare talisman, she particularly needs psychological comfort.

"Then I will go pack my things first." Upon hearing this, Nanny Liu happily went to pack her things.

...

In the reception room.

When Madam Hou entered the room, she saw a man in a yellow Taoist robe sitting there drinking tea. When he saw someone coming in, he stood up and said, "Madam Hou, how are you?"

"Master Ruyi, what do you want from me?" The Marquis's wife sat in the main seat with a tired look on her face.

Taoist Priest Rudao looked like a hermit and said, "Today, when I was setting up an altar and performing a ritual for the eldest son, I discovered that his fate had changed. If it is not dealt with as soon as possible, his life may be in danger!"

"What's the change?" asked the Marquis's wife anxiously.

"Originally, the eldest son was destined to have a smooth life with wealth and longevity. But something unexpected happened recently and he was contaminated by unclean things and bad luck, which led to a rough and difficult life for the rest of his life." The Taoist priest shook his head and sighed.

Madam Hou's face changed drastically.

"What should we do? Does the Taoist have any solution?"

Rudao narrowed his eyes and said softly, "I have calculated that since your eldest son got married, a hapless ghost has been pestering him.

The current plan is to have the eldest young lady go to Fajue Temple to fast and pray for the young master and his wife for a month. At the same time, the eldest young master must sincerely repent and do more good deeds, so that this disaster can be resolved.

I will also perform a ritual in the mansion for 49 days to dispel the bad luck in the mansion and seal the unlucky ghost."

He spoke in a solemn and unfathomable manner, which made people feel awe.

The Marquis's wife frowned slightly. Too many things had happened in the Marquis' Mansion recently, especially Lin Shuwan. It had only been less than ten days since she married into the Mansion, and accidents had happened so frequently. If she was sent to the Fajue Temple to fast and pray, and this got out, would the Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion be impeached by the Censor again?

But since Taoist Priest Rudao said so, even though she had doubts in her heart, she agreed for the sake of her son's safety.

Madam Hou nodded repeatedly, "Everything is up to the Taoist priest's arrangements."

As soon as the Taoist priest finished his work, he said goodbye to the marquis and left.

Madam Hou drank a sip of tea and said to Nanny Su beside her, "Send someone to Tingfeng Garden to ask Lin Shuwan to prepare. We will set off to Fajue Temple tomorrow to fast and pray for a month."

"Yes." Nanny Su agreed and sent someone to notify them.

Soon, Tingfengyuan got the exact news, and Nanny Liu packed up even faster.

When the secret guard hiding in the dark learned that Lin Shuwan was going to take people to Fajue Temple, his eyes flashed slightly, and he immediately found a chance to fly out of the Marquis' Mansion and go to the palace to report the news.

royal palace.

Qin Zhao sat on the dragon throne, his hands on the armrests, looking expressionlessly at Prime Minister Xiao and several cabinet ministers kneeling on the ground. His eyes were cold and stern, which made people shudder.

"I have said many times that I will not appoint a crown prince now, but why are you still forcing me?" Qin Zhao's voice was as cold as ice, with irresistible majesty.

Prime Minister Xiao raised his head and said sincerely, "Your Majesty, the foundation of a country lies in the succession of successors. Your Majesty has been hesitant to appoint a crown prince, and I am really worried!"

Another cabinet minister also echoed, "Your Majesty, I think that now that the world is stable, the candidates for the throne can be selected first and then slowly cultivated. We can also see what the temperament of the princes recommended by the clansmen is like."

Qin Zhao's face became more gloomy, he stared at these ministers coldly, and anger surged in his heart. He knew that these people were all worried about the future of the country, but they did not consider his feelings.

Qin Zhao took a deep breath. He had recently considered the issue of the crown prince carefully. Now he had no children. Although the world was stable at present, time was still short and the group of royal relatives below would definitely cause trouble.

Prime Minister Xiao and others were frightened by Qin Zhao's momentum. They lowered their heads and dared not speak again. But they knew in their hearts that this matter could not end like this.

Qin Zhao calmed down and said slowly: "Okay, let's not talk about this for now. I will consider your opinions, but not now." After that, he waved his hand and signaled everyone to leave.

Prime Minister Xiao and other cabinet ministers stood up helplessly and respectfully left the court. They knew that this persuasion was unsuccessful, but they still had to continue their efforts. After all, the establishment of the crown prince was a matter of great importance and could not be sloppy.

Prime Minister Xiao said goodbye to other ministers and got on his own carriage.

There was a middle-aged man in a purple robe sitting in the carriage. When Prime Minister Xiao saw him, his expression did not change at all. He stroked his beard and sat calmly on the other side of the carriage.

carriage

The man in the purple robe poured a cup of tea for Prime Minister Xiao and asked in a deep voice, "How is it?"

Prime Minister Xiao shook his head, his face darkening.

********

Chapter 27

After the host binds to the childbearing system, one baby will be born.

The purple-clothed man took a sip of tea and said in a cold voice: "Then let's proceed according to the original plan."

Prime Minister Xiao was silent for a long moment, then nodded and said:

"Your Highness Prince Kang is right." His Majesty is safe and sound now, without any sense of crisis, so he will definitely not give in.

A gleam of light flashed in King Kang's eyes, and a smile of unknown meaning appeared at the corner of his mouth. He said:

"I wonder what Prime Minister Xiao thinks of the King's proposal a few days ago? Now that the two children are about the same age, if the marriage is arranged earlier, they can get married sooner."

Prime Minister Xiao was shocked. He had never mentioned this matter to his daughter, and he still had doubts about this marriage, so he replied tactfully:

"Your Highness Prince Kang, my daughter is still young, so we should consider this matter carefully."

King Kang expected him to answer like this, so he was not in a hurry. He just said slowly: "The daughter of the Xiao family is gentle and virtuous, and my son is also a handsome man. They are a match made in heaven."

Prime Minister Xiao was about to refuse again, but he heard Prince Kang say:

"I will go and lobby His Majesty, so the Xiao family doesn't have to worry. Besides, the Imperial Clan Office has already shortlisted more than a dozen candidates for the crown prince, and we can just wait for His Majesty to agree before submitting the list.

"

Prince Kang said threateningly, "You also know that my son is the best and most capable among them. He will definitely become one of the candidates for the crown prince. By then, you will not be the only one who wants to be my son's daughter-in-law. Prime Minister Xiao, you must think carefully!"

As long as he is tied to the Xiao family and has the support of the Xiao family, his son's chance of inheriting the throne will be half successful!

Prime Minister Xiao's eyes flickered slightly, and he was secretly calculating in his mind.

"Your Highness is right." After a while, Prime Minister Xiao said. His voice was low and firm, as if he had made up his mind. He knew the importance of this decision, but he also understood the huge risks involved.

King Kang showed a satisfied smile and raised his teacup to Prime Minister Xiao: "Then I wish us a happy cooperation!"

The two men reached a cooperation. Prime Minister Xiao raised his teacup with a serious face and clinked glasses with King Kang. Then the two of them drank the water in the teacup.

...

Qin Zhao sent away this group of ministers, then stood by the window with his hands behind his back, looking silent and lonely.

The secret guard descended from the sky, knelt on the ground and saluted respectfully: "Your Majesty!"

Qin Zhao turned around and saw that it was the secret guard assigned to Lin Shuwan. He suppressed all the emotions on his face and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Your Majesty. Miss Lin will leave for Fajue Temple tomorrow to fast and pray for Master Chen for a month."

Qin Zhao's eyes flickered slightly, and he asked, "Why does she suddenly want to go to Fajue Temple?"

The secret guard explained: "Miss Lin said that too many things have happened in Jing'an Marquis's Mansion recently, and she wants to go out to relax. And the Marquis's wife also wants to use her status as mother-in-law to torture Miss Lin.

So Miss Lin arranged for Madam Liu to bribe the fake alchemist who lived in the Marquis of Jing'an Mansion, saying that Master Chen had provoked an unclean thing, and that Miss Lin had to go to Fajue Temple to fast and pray for a month before the situation could be resolved.

Qin Zhao frowned slightly when he heard this: "Madam Hou still dares to abuse her?" Didn't he ask Liu Youxi to give her something yesterday? How could someone dare to treat her badly?

The secret guard knew that Qin Zhao had feelings for Lin Shuwan, and he did not dare to hide anything: "Yes. Today, the Marquis's wife was sick, and she asked Miss Lin to take care of her. But she deliberately made things difficult for Miss Lin. Miss Lin accidentally knocked over the medicine bowl, and the Marquis's wife wanted to have Miss Lin dragged to the yard and exposed to the sun for two hours!"

Qin Zhao frowned even more tightly: "I understand. Since she wants to go, let her go. Protect her well." In a few days, he will also go to Fajue Temple to practice. Maybe they can meet again.

...

The next morning, Lin Shuwan went to bid farewell to the Marquis's wife and Chen Siyuan, then took the people in his courtyard, sat in a carriage, and left the capital in a grand manner, heading towards Fajue Temple.

When Qingluan learned that Lin Shuwan went to Fajue Temple, she was immediately delighted. If she could get pregnant with the eldest master's child during this period, she would be able to gain a foothold in the Jing'an Marquis' Mansion.

But the eldest son was seriously injured and I don't know if he can still be used.

Qingluan looked at her still red and swollen cheeks in the mirror and applied the ointment on her face again. She had to take care of her face as soon as possible, otherwise how could she seduce the eldest master!

Qingluan applied the medicine, put on a mask to cover her red and swollen cheeks, and walked towards the Qinxue Pavilion swayingly.

Just as she reached the door, a medicine bowl was smashed to the ground with a crisp sound. The room was filled with a strong smell of medicine and an incurable stench. Qingluan frowned slightly and walked in. She saw Chen Siyuan lying on the bed, and two maids kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear.

"Master!" Qingluan's eyes were slightly red. She ran to the edge of Chen Siyuan's bed, gently stroked Chen Siyuan's pale cheek with shaking hands, and said, "Master, you have suffered. Does your body still hurt?"

When Chen Siyuan saw Qingluan, he thought of how he had insisted on marrying her as a legal wife, which was why he was impeached by the censor, severely punished by the emperor, and stripped of his position as the crown prince!

Thinking of this, Chen Siyuan's eyes were filled with resentment and anger, and he said, "Get out of here! It's all your fault, bitch. If it weren't for you, you would be a concubine, but you made me welcome you as my wife. Now I have lost my position as the crown prince and was punished by His Majesty. From now on, I will become a bedridden useless person!"

Chen Siyuan has had a particularly bad time these past two days, especially since his half brothers and half sisters, whom he had always looked down upon, kept coming to his house to provoke and mock him for being a waste!

And that half-brother who was one year younger than him, not only came to provoke and ridicule him, but also bluntly stated that his father had planned to register him under his mother's name, making him the second legitimate son, and planned to ask His Majesty to make him the crown prince!

How could he endure this?

When Chen Siyuan saw Qingluan at this moment, no matter how much he loved and cared for her in the past, it could not compare to the position of the Crown Prince!

Qingluan looked at the man in front of her with a distorted face and eyes full of resentment. Her heart suddenly ached and she called out in a trembling voice, "Brother Siyuan, do you blame me?" The tears in her eyes immediately rolled down, irritating her red and swollen cheeks and making her tremble even more violently.

She was originally a concubine. If she displeased Chen Siyuan, how would she live in the Marquis' Mansion?

"It's all my fault... wuwuwu..." Qingluan cried and threw herself into Chen Siyuan's arms.

Chen Siyuan pushed her away with disgust on his face, "Get lost! Look at your face, it's so ugly!"

Qingluan's crying stopped abruptly. She opened her eyes wide and looked at Chen Siyuan in disbelief.

Chen Siyuan, who had once taken great care of her, actually said such hurtful words.

She covered her face, turned and ran out, her heart filled with despair and sadness.

She stumbled back to Luohua Courtyard. Qiaoqiao saw her crying and asked hurriedly, "Aunt Qing, what happened to you? Your face is injured, you can't cry!"

**********

Chapter 28

After the host binds to the childbearing system, one baby will be born.

Qingluan took a deep breath after hearing this, and stopped crying after a while, then applied the medicine on her face again.

She sat on the bed, her mind full of thoughts. She was worried about Chen Siyuan's change of heart, and even more worried about her future life.

No, she couldn't just sit there and wait to die!

She has to take care of her face first, and then serve the young master well. She will surely be able to regain his favor and gain a foothold in the Marquis' Mansion!

...

The carriage was driving on the flat official road.

Lin Shuwan leaned against the carriage, holding a storybook in her hand, reading with great interest. Chunyu and Chunxin served her at her side, one poured her tea and served her snacks, while the other gave her a leg massage.

This time, Lin Shuwan only brought two personal maids and four guards. Although the number of people was not large, because Qin Zhao had to go to Fajue Temple twice a month, not only were the roads smooth, but the public security was also good.

We left home early in the morning, and the team didn't arrive at the gate of Fajue Temple until the evening.

The carriage stopped and the guard went to hand over the invitation from the Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion to the abbot of Fajue Temple. Soon a little monk came over.

"Amitabha, donors, please follow me." The young monk chanted the Buddha's name, then turned around and led the way.

Lin Shuwan got off the carriage with Chunxin's help and followed the little monk into Fajue Temple. After a while, they arrived at a remote courtyard with several meditation rooms.

There is a small pavilion in this courtyard and a maple tree against the wall. It is now late autumn in September. The red maple leaves fall with the wind and pile up on the ground, which looks like the color of the sunset.

"Amitabha, Jingxinju will be where all of you female donors will live for the next month. Vegetarian meals will be served on time three times a day. The temple prohibits killing and eating meat, so please be sure to abide by the temple rules." After saying this, the monk left.

Lin Shuwan stepped into the largest meditation room, which was very clean and fully equipped.

Chunxin arranged for the rest of the people to check in, and the male guards were arranged to stay in the residence next door. Chunya took out the tea sets she brought from the Marquis' Mansion and placed them in the small pavilion in the courtyard, while making tea for Lin Shuwan.

Lin Shuwan sipped tea, looked at the sunset not far away, which was covered with orange and yellow, and felt the gentle breeze. She sighed in her heart, what a free wind!

The next day.

Lin Shuwan got up early. The scenery around Fajue Temple was nice. She brought her own people with her this time, so she could go out and play freely.

She discovered a maple forest one kilometer away from Fajue Temple, which was particularly beautiful. This made her think of the day when she used the Dream Talisman to have her first tryst with Qin Zhao in her dream.

Lin Shuwan thought about it, and immediately asked the maids and guards to install a swing under the maple tree, and started playing happily.

All of Lin Shuwan's actions and words were recorded in a book by the secret guards, who then rode back to the capital on horseback and handed the book to Qin Zhao.

Qin Zhao watched Lin Shuwan traveling around and completely forgot her original purpose, and even forgot about having a tryst with him in his dream.

Ever since the last time he saw Lin Shuwan on the street and discovered that she was the girl in his dream, he has never dreamed of her again!

He really wanted to ask her, but he could never find the opportunity!

night.

After taking a bath, Lin Shuwan lay on the bed, feeling drowsy. He had been playing around these past few days and his energy was quickly depleted. He fell asleep as soon as he lay down.

Bao Jieer is online: [Sister, you haven't looked for Qin Zhao for a few days. He wants to come and see you! ]

"Yes, I haven't had a dream for two or three days. Qin Zhao will go to Fajue Temple the day after tomorrow, so I can do something tonight!" Lin Shuwan heard this and opened her eyes suddenly. She had let herself go a little bit these past two days. Although she ate cabbage and tofu every day, she would occasionally go to a nearby town to eat out. Her life was really comfortable.

I almost forgot my job!

Lin Shuwan thought about it, closed his eyes again, and slowly fell asleep.

royal palace.

Qin Zhao stood in front of the desk, his posture upright, his expression focused on the scroll in front of him. He held a delicate purple brush in his hand, the tip of the brush lightly touching the white rice paper. As his wrist turned slightly, the ink spread across the paper like flowing clouds and water, and the lines were smooth and natural.

After a long while, Qin Zhao put his pen aside. He looked at the girl who appeared on the scroll. The girl was sitting on a swing. She had a fox mask on her pretty face, her feet were bare, and a bell was tied around her ankle. It was exactly how Qin Zhao saw Lin Shuwan for the first time.

Qin Zhao looked at the girl in the painting for a long time. After the ink dried, he put away the scroll, blew out the candle in the bedroom, lay on the bed, slowly closed his eyes, and inexplicably felt a little more expectant in his heart.

In the dream...

Qin Zhao opened his eyes and found himself floating in mid-air. The mansions below were hung with red silk and red lanterns. He heard ceremonial music. He turned his head and saw a sedan chair carried by eight people approaching from not far away.

Qin Zhao frowned slightly. What was he doing?

Qin Zhao wanted to float over, and as soon as he thought about it, his body floated over. However, he seemed to have turned into a wandering soul, which could pass through the human body directly without attracting the attention of others.

The sedan stopped and a young man in a bright red wedding gown kicked the door of the sedan. The bridesmaid helped the bride out of the sedan.

A breeze blew by, slightly lifting the bride's red veil. Qin Zhao knew at a glance that the bride was Lin Shuwan.

His brows furrowed even more tightly, and then he turned to look at the plaque hanging on the mansion.

Jing'an Marquis Mansion...

So, this is the Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion, and this is the scene on the day when Lin Shuwan and the Marquis of Jing'an got married?

Qin Zhao thought about it and knew that he could not interfere with anything at this time, so he could only follow the bride and groom silently and walked into the Jing'an Marquis Mansion.

He watched the newlyweds worshipping heaven and earth. The girl nervously pinched the red silk in her hands. When she bowed, Qin Zhao tilted his head, trying to see the expression on her face.

The girl's makeup today is particularly beautiful. Her skin is as delicate as white jade, with a slight pink luster. Her eyebrows are like paintings, and the slightly upward curve brings a bit of playfulness and agility.

Her eyes are big and bright, like a deep lake, sparkling with charming light.

The bridge of her nose is straight, the wings of her nose are small and delicate, and there is a faint fragrance in her breath. Her lips are painted with light lipstick, the shape of her lips is beautiful, and the slightly upturned corners of her mouth are full of warmth, which makes people want to kiss her.

Qin Zhao was fascinated.

The bow only took a moment, and soon after the ceremony, the bride was sent to the bridal chamber.

Qin Zhao felt inexplicably jealous, and half-floating, he followed the bride into the bridal chamber.

The room was filled with red, with red candles crackling and burning. A young girl sat upright on a bright red wedding quilt, clutching the corner of her clothes nervously. Several maids were waiting by her side. From inside the bridal chamber, one could vaguely hear the cheerful sounds of toasting coming from the outer courtyard.

*******

Chapter 29

After the host binds to the childbearing system, one baby will be born.

After a while, the door was pushed open and the drunk Chen Siyuan walked in.

Qin Zhao saw him stretch out his claws and lift up Lin Shuwan's red veil, revealing her delicate little face. Chen Siyuan smiled and stroked Lin Shuwan's face with his hand, saying gently, "My lady is so beautiful today!"

Qin Zhao stared at Chen Siyuan's hand with an unpleasant expression, which was particularly annoying.

However, it was not over yet. Chen Siyuan removed all the phoenix crowns on Lin Shuwan's head, and then pulled Lin Shuwan into the bed curtains. The bed curtains were pulled down, and soon the sounds of a man and a woman flirting with each other were heard from inside.

Qin Zhao's face darkened, and an indescribable pain and jealousy suddenly arose in his heart, eroding his mood.

He rushed forward and passed through the bed curtain. He saw the girl lying alone on the bright red quilt, her long black hair like a waterfall draped over the bed, forming a sharp contrast with the bright red quilt.

The red nightgown was slightly torn open, revealing the white skin underneath. Her lips were painted with bright lipstick, which made her look particularly tempting, like a ripe cherry, making people want to take a bite.

There is a hint of spring between her eyebrows, and her eyes are misty and captivating, as if they could suck people's souls into them.

The whole person looks like a fairy who specializes in sucking the blood of men, exuding deadly temptation and dangerous aura.

Qin Zhao's breathing stagnated, and his eyes looked at Lin Shuwan's body wantonly. She was well-proportioned, delicate and charming.

He looked up inadvertently and met her beautiful and seductive eyes. He saw himself in her eyes.

Qin Zhao pursed his lips and asked uncertainly, "Did you see me?"

Lin Shuwan stretched out his hand to Qin Zhao, hooked his finger, and said, "Come here."

Qin Zhao originally thought that he would see Lin Shuwan and Chen Siyuan's wedding night today, but he didn't expect that only Lin Shuwan would be there. He looked a little puzzled. It was the first time he saw Lin Shuwan without a mask, and he felt a little more nervous.

Then he remembered that he was the emperor and there was no need to be nervous.

He floated over and lay down beside Lin Shuwan. He stretched out his hand to roam her face, and then he realized that he could touch the entity.

"You are the general's daughter, Lin Shuwan. Right?"

Qin Zhao was very curious. He had met Lin Shuwan at the gate of Hexiangju a few days ago, but the strangeness in the other person's eyes showed that he obviously did not recognize him.

Lin Shuwan didn't say anything, but took the initiative to hug Qin Zhao's neck and offered her red lips. Qin Zhao was startled and instinctively responded to her enthusiasm.

After making love, Lin Shuwan leaned in Qin Zhao's arms, his hand gently stroking her smooth and tender back, feeling the afterglow.

Qin Zhao's voice was hoarse as he asked, "Wan'er, are you willing to enter the palace?"

Lin Shuwan said softly, "But Your Majesty, I am already married. As the wife of a minister, I don't want to see Your Majesty being scorned and blamed by the people of the world because of me."

Qin Zhao snorted coldly and said, "The whole world belongs to the king. If I want you, then you can only be mine! No one can point fingers at me."

Even though she might not recognize him in reality, after spending a few nights together intimately, he had already tacitly accepted that she was his woman, and he didn't want her to live under the wings of another man.

"Has that person ever touched you like this?" Qin Zhao reached out and gently stroked her sweaty forehead and asked.

Although the secret guards had investigated everything that happened after Lin Shuwan entered the mansion and knew that Chen Siyuan had not touched Lin Shuwan, he still felt a little uncomfortable.

"Of course there is. His physical strength is not as strong as your Majesty's." A hint of malice flashed in Lin Shuwan's eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

Qin Zhao's face darkened, and he reached out to hold Lin Shuwan's shoulder. His dark eyes looked into Lin Shuwan's eyes. Seeing the malice in her eyes, he smiled inexplicably and said, "Really? I can be even more powerful!"

A new round of battle has begun again.

Qin Zhao opened his eyes again, and the familiar bright yellow bed curtains appeared in front of him.

He could still hear the girl's sweet moans and gasps, and the sweet fragrance always lingered at his nose.

Qin Zhao raised his hand and put it under his nose, as if he could still smell the sweet and fragrant scent.

A determined smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. Even if he couldn't touch her, he would bring her back to the palace and keep her by his side forever!

...

Jing'an Marquis Mansion.

Ever since Lin Shuwan went to Fajue Temple, the three members of the Marquis's family had been tortured by the talismans to the point where they were almost unrecognizable.

Marquis Jing'an went in and out of Jingzhao Prefecture three times. Each time he went in was for some very small matter, and then he received a small punishment. After the investigation was thorough, he was released.

Even when Chen Siyuan was paralyzed in bed recuperating from his injuries, various small accidents would always occur, making his injuries worse, his spirit even more depressed, and he gave up on himself, and his temper became more and more irritable.

He began to torture the people who served him, Qingluan being the worst among them.

The Marquis's wife was tormented by all kinds of nightmares and suffered from neurasthenia. In the end, she was afraid to sleep and even her hair turned a lot whiter. Nanny Su felt particularly distressed when she saw this.

Two days later, the dark clouds that had been lingering in the mansion finally had some sunshine. All the torment that the family of three had suffered suddenly disappeared.

Chen Siyuan could finish a bowl of porridge smoothly without choking after taking two mouthfuls. Madam Hou could finally have a good sleep without dreams.

When the Marquis's wife woke up again, she summoned Taoist Priest Ruyi.

When Ru heard the whole story, he counted with his fingers in a fake manner, a glimmer flashed in his eyes, and he said seriously:

"Wulian Tianzun, congratulations to Madam Hou and Master Chen. Their bad luck has gradually dissipated. It seems that Madam's fasting and prayers at Fajue Temple have worked."

Madam Hou and Chen Siyuan were so overjoyed that they almost burst into tears.

After removing the villain talisman, Marquis Jing'an looked at the sunlight above his head and revealed a mysterious smile.

In Jingzhao Prefecture, he heard a lot about what happened in the court.

His Majesty is going to choose a candidate for the crown prince. If he can bet on the right person and with the support of the new emperor, the Jing'an Marquisate will surely not decline in the future.

He needs to think about this matter carefully!

Qin Zhao handed over the state affairs to Prime Minister Xiao and Cen Qi, and then, with the help of Liu Youxi, boarded the carriage to Fajue Temple.

The sun had just risen at this time, and the sunlight brought with it a slightly cool breeze of late autumn, which added some anticipation to Qin Zhao's eyes. They were finally going to meet soon!

The carriage traveled for four hours and stopped in front of the gate of Fajue Temple.

The abbot of Fajue Temple and the monks in the temple were waiting at the door. When they saw Qin Zhao coming down, they all knelt on the ground and kowtowed respectfully: "Your Majesty."

"Everyone, get up!" Qin Zhao looked around, waved his hand casually, and took the initiative to step forward and help Abbot Kongjue up.

*******

Chapter 30

After the host binds to the childbearing system, one baby will be born.

Qin Zhao comes here twice a month, and has maintained this habit for several years. He has a good relationship with the abbot and they can be considered friends.

The abbot took Qin Zhao to the courtyard where he lived before, where a young monk had already prepared tea and snacks.

Qin Zhao sat on the tea couch, took out a black piece from the chess box, and continued the unfinished game of chess. He said in a gentle voice: "Abbot, I have been dreaming of a woman recently. I think she may be able to break my fate."

The abbot observed Qin Zhao for a while, then smiled and chanted a Buddhist mantra: "Amitabha, everything is predestined, and everything is arranged. Your Majesty, don't worry."

After Qin Zhao heard this, he looked at the abbot for a long time, his mind full of thoughts, and finally he said nothing.

The two played two games of chess, and then Liu Youxi's voice came from outside the door.

Qin Zhao brushed off the wrinkles on his robe and said to the abbot, "I want to look around. If you have something to do, you can go and do it yourself."

"Yes, I'll take my leave." The abbot also stood up and took his leave.

As soon as the abbot left, Liu Youxi walked in: "Your Majesty, Miss Lin has been playing in a maple forest near Fajue Temple recently."

"Hmm." Qin Zhao picked up the teacup and took a sip. He stood up and walked out, and saw the maple tree standing in the yard next door. Its red leaves were slowly falling in the wind.

Suddenly, a clear and soft female voice came from the next door: "Harunobu, why do I feel that there are fewer pilgrims to the Hojue Temple recently? The surrounding courtyards are quiet. It's really disturbing."

Qin Zhao couldn't help but look towards the yard next door. As soon as he moved his feet, he wanted to go next door to see her, but he was afraid that he would be regarded as a lecher and disturb the beauty.

With Bao Jie'er's hint, Lin Shuwan already knew that Qin Zhao had arrived at Fajue Temple and was living next door to her.

Especially because Qin Zhao was going to Fajue Temple, the pilgrims in the temple were asked to leave one after another. Only they had not been notified. Now that they thought about it, it was probably that the emperor had already given them a heads-up.

So, Qin Zhao is still curious about her and is testing her step by step?

Thinking of this, Lin Shuwan smiled.

Qin Zhao hadn't gone anywhere recently. Liu Youxi brought a rocking chair and placed it against the courtyard wall. Qin Zhao lay on it, listening to the woman's voices and laughter coming from the next yard from time to time. The darkness in his eyes became increasingly intense.

Night fell unknowingly.

Everything was silent. Qin Zhao lightly climbed over the wall and easily entered the next yard.

Soon, he locked onto the direction of the master bedroom and walked over. There was a maid who was on night guard at the door and was dozing off. Suddenly, she felt a numbness on the back of her neck and fell to the ground, unconscious.

Qin Zhao walked to the door, his heart pounding like thunder. He raised his hand and gently pushed the door open, and a sweet fragrance wafted into the room.

On the wooden bed with gauze curtains, lay a woman in white pajamas.

The woman was lying on her side facing him, with most of the quilt on her body fallen to the ground, and only one corner of the quilt was held tightly in her arms.

Her nightgown was a little messy and slightly open, revealing her fair and beautiful collarbone and a plain bellyband embroidered with green lotus. Her eyes were closed on her palm-sized face, her mouth was slightly pouted, and her long black hair fell from the bed, floating on the edge of the bed.

It didn't look very alluring, but it caught Qin Zhao's eyes tightly. His breathing stagnated and he couldn't help but take a few steps forward and soon reached the bedside.

The sweet taste became more intense.

He leaned over and couldn't help but reach out and touch the woman's delicate and soft cheek.

It feels soft and smooth to the touch.

Qin Zhao squatted down beside the bed, his focused gaze moving across the woman's eyes and nose, finally landing on the girl's slightly pouting red lips.

The sweet scent seems to come from here.

Qin Zhao reached out and pinched Lin Shuwan's chin, lifted it slightly, and lowered his head to kiss her.

The sweet taste immediately filled his mouth and nose, and the soft and sweet lips were like a piece of fine, freshly baked sweet pastry, waiting for him to savor it carefully.

Qin Zhao couldn't help but deepen the kiss, prying open her lips and teeth, absorbing the sweetness between her lips and teeth, and stirring her little tongue.

The mature kissing technique made the girl under him couldn't help but moan.

Lin Shuwan almost pretended to be unable to sleep, and complained to Bao Jieer: "This man is worthy of being an emperor with three thousand concubines. His kissing skills really make a rookie like me surrender!"

Bao Jieer suggested: [Why don't you just wake up and then have sex with her and get it done right away! I want to see the live version! ]

Lin Shuwan was speechless. Suddenly, she felt a slight chill on her chest. Her body stiffened slightly and she couldn't help but shiver slightly.

Damn, this dog emperor is really impatient!

This made Qin Zhao, who was crawling on Lin Shuwan's chest, quickly feel something strange about the body below him. He raised his head and met a pair of eyes full of fear and terror.

Lin Shuwan's pupils shrank slightly, and he couldn't help but scream out.

Qin Zhao quickly covered Lin Shuwan's mouth and threatened in a low voice: "Don't make a sound! Otherwise, if you attract other people to come in and spread the news to Jing'an Marquis Mansion, what reputation will you have?"

Lin Shuwan's eyes turned red and tears fell. She stared at Qin Zhao helplessly and angrily, and nodded helplessly.

Qin Zhao removed the hand that was covering her mouth, reached out to wipe away the tears on Lin Shuwan's face, and coaxed her softly, "Don't cry, be good, and I won't do anything to you. Do you understand?"

Qin Zhao looked at her tearful eyes, feeling a little more apologetic and guilty, but he still used threats and inducements.

Lin Shuwan immediately sat up, huddled closer to the bed, took a deep breath, reached out to close her open pajamas, and wrapped her body tightly. Her eyes were full of determination and resoluteness, but also revealed a hint of fear.

Although there were still sparkling tears in her eyes, she still raised her head stubbornly and glared at the person in front of her fiercely, without backing down.

"Who are you? I warn you to leave here immediately!" Lin Shuwan's voice was low and firm, revealing an unquestionable determination.

Her face was filled with anger and unyielding spirit. Then, she lowered her voice with a hint of threat in her tone:

"You should know that His Majesty will come to Fajue Temple to practice in the near future. If you disturb His Majesty because of you, it will be a serious crime and you will be punished with the extermination of all nine generations of your clan!"

Qin Zhao looked at her frightened yet stubborn face, and she even knew how to use his name to threaten him. He suddenly smiled and said, "Then do you know that I am the emperor you are talking about?"

Lin Shuwan shouted, "How dare you! Your Majesty is the most respected person in the world, how could you be a lecher like you who breaks into a woman's room at night and steals flowers?"

Qin Zhao looked at her pretending to be powerful, trying to move away while talking, and did not stop her. He sighed, "You are more adorable in my dreams."

Unfortunately, the beauty in my dream is now invisible to me!