Empress Dowager Ming looked at the secret letter in her hand and immediately understood. "Make the arrangements. Remember not to let Concubine Jia find out. Do it cleanly."
"Yes!"
Today, as soon as Ling Yuchen entered the palace, he was invited to the Empress Dowager's palace. "Young Master Ling, the niece of my natal family is just fourteen years old. She's a perfect match for you," the Empress Dowager said.
Ming Lu shyly looked at Ling Yuchen. This elegant young man was not only handsome but also from a premier minister's family. He was a perfect match for her. So, she developed a crush on him and frequently cast glances his way.
However, he remained unmoved. Because Prime Minister Ling clearly intended for him to marry Princess He Yi. Why was this happening? He felt extremely anxious.
Suddenly, a charming voice from outside the door caught his attention. "Grand Empress Dowager, did you cook something delicious today?" He Yi bounced in from outside the palace.
"He Yi, come here quickly!"
The Empress Dowager had sent for her. He Yi was quite close to the Empress Dowager, so she didn't think much of it. The Empress Dowager pulled her and said with a smile, "Today, come and give Ming Lu your opinion."
Huh?
She looked around. Ming Lu was blushing shyly, while the young man opposite her was expressionless, or rather, looked helpless.
The lively young girl gave a faint smile, which made Ling Yuchen stunned for a moment. So, this was Princess He Yi.
The Empress Dowager called Ming Lu aside to ask for her opinion, leaving He Yi and Ling Yuchen alone.
He Yi felt a bit dizzy. Fortunately, her maid beside her quickly supported her. Ling Yuchen wanted to help, but He Yi pushed him away.
The head maid beside the Empress Dowager took He Yi to the side hall and also took He Yi's maid away.
Ling Yuchen strode towards the bright young girl. Compared with Ming Lu, He Yi was truly a noble princess.
"What a charming girl!" He reached out and touched He Yi's face. Just as he was about to tear off He Yi's clothes, unexpectedly, the young girl suddenly woke up, which scared him. For a moment, he didn't know what to do. He Yi still had a splitting headache. She looked at Ling Yuchen in the room and naturally knew what he wanted to do.
She used all her remaining strength to push him away. "Get out of here, now!"
She then fell to the ground and glared at Ling Yuchen fiercely. For a moment, Young Master Ling was stunned by the imposing manner of this young princess.
"Princess, I was just seeing that you were unwell and came to attend to you," he said. Then, he wanted to reach out and grab her, but he didn't expect that this young girl was not an ordinary person. She immediately pulled out her hairpin and stabbed it hard into his hand. "Ah!" Ling Yuchen was furious.
He immediately knocked He Yi down to the ground, almost making her faint.
Just as the two were in a stalemate, Prince Yu, Zhongli Mingye, came to visit the Empress Dowager. He walked leisurely on the palace path, calculating the time.
"Eunuch An, where is Father now?"
"Your Highness, the Emperor is in the imperial garden, accompanied by Concubine Jia."
"Good!"
He had already received the news that the Empress Dowager had invited Young Master Ling to the palace today. On the surface, it was to matchmake for Ming Lu, but in fact, it was for He Yi. Because He Yi was the real noble princess!
However, the show had to be played out to the full. Calculating that the time was just right, as soon as he entered the Empress Dowager's palace, he heard the unusual noise from the side hall.
Without waiting for the Empress Dowager's announcement, he immediately went in. The scene in front of him made Zhongli Mingye stunned.
He saw blood scattered on the ground. He Yi's clothes were slightly disheveled. She barely opened her eyes. One hand held a hairpin and stabbed it into her own hand to keep herself conscious.
Qing Feng kicked Ling Yuchen over with one foot.
"Fourth Brother!"
Finally, help had arrived. He Yi immediately fainted! Young Master Ling of the Ling family felt heart - broken. In fact, when he saw He Yi's unyielding spirit just now, he had already given up his idea.
Who would have thought that Prince Yu suddenly burst in! It was over. All of his father's arrangements and the Empress Dowager's scheme were ruined!
"He Yi!"
Concubine Jia rushed over in a hurry. The Emperor was confronting the Empress Dowager in the main hall.
"Mother, what you're saying is just nonsense!" The Emperor's face darkened. He had already heard about He Yi and Cheng Song. Now, Empress Dowager Ming was actually trying to frame He Yi and wanted to force her to marry Ming Lu's fiancé.
This was to confirm the marriage between He Yi and Ling Yuchen.
His phoenix - like eyes stared coldly at the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager shivered and felt a bit intimidated. "Your Majesty, what do you mean?"
"He Yi already has someone she loves. How could she have feelings for Ling Yuchen!"
The Empress Dowager slumped into the chair. Her lips trembled, not knowing what to say. The Emperor ignored her and directly ordered Ming Lu to be married to the lowest - ranked servant! At the same time, he ordered the most capable female official beside the Empress Dowager to be beaten to death with a stick.
"Mother, it's time for you to rest!"
The Emperor looked at his pale - faced daughter with heartache. In order to preserve her chastity, she had even stabbed herself with a hairpin.
"Come! Take them away!"
Ling Yuchen's face was as pale as paper. Only then did he realize that this situation might not end well.
Ling Yuchen was sentenced to a hundred heavy blows. Prime Minister Ling pleaded desperately, trying to absolve himself. However, the Emperor, being stimulated by He Yi's injury, directly wanted to sentence Ling Yuchen to death!
On a rainy night, Prime Minister Ling pleaded desperately. Zhongli Mingye looked at him coldly. He was really asking for trouble!
He Yi woke up groggily and didn't say a word. Whenever anyone approached, she would just back away fearfully. The Emperor was extremely heart - broken, while Concubine Jia shed all her tears.
Although He Yi's reputation was preserved, the fact that she and Ling Yuchen had been in the same room couldn't be denied.
Concubine Qin, trying to stir up trouble, saw the Emperor looking solemn. She tentatively said, "Why not just fulfill the princess?"
Hearing this, Concubine Jia glared at her fiercely. "Who do you think should be fulfilled?"
Concubine Jia stood up and stared coldly at Concubine Qin. "My He Yi can stay in the palace and be supported by me for the rest of her life. I will never let her marry into such a despicable family casually!"
Hearing this, Concubine Qin's face turned pale. She didn't dare to say anything more.
The Emperor strictly prohibited the spread of this matter. However, some careless people still let it out. They only said that Princess He Yi and the young master of the Ling family were in love and had privately promised to marry each other.
For a while, He Yi's reputation was almost ruined.
After Zhongli Mingye visited He Yi, he left the palace. "Is something wrong in the palace? You're coming back so late," his little pregnant wife asked.
Looking at his wife's slightly round face, he wanted to hide the truth from her. He just said that the Emperor had asked him to play chess together.
Song Jinyu poured a cup of tea for him. "It's good that nothing serious happened. Otherwise, you'd be busy again."
"Can't you sleep well without me?"
"Yes!"
Zhongli Mingye laughed. "But every time you sleep soundly, don't you?"