Li Xinyue shook her head, picked up the stack of evidence in her hand, and waved it in front of Chu Junyi's eyes.
These were all given to her by the Wei family this morning.
The evidence she wanted about the communication between the eldest princess and the King of Nanxun was not here. But there was evidence about the profit - related exchanges between the eldest princess and the two branches of the Wei family.
The eldest princess promoted the clansmen of the Wei family to official positions, and the Wei family reciprocated with gold, silver, money, handsome men, fields and mansions.
But the eldest princess had no real power in the court. How did she manage to do all these?
There was only one answer, and it was the only one: a transaction of power and sex.
That is to say, the eldest princess not only kept male concubines, but also had improper relations with those officials...
By this inference, the eldest princess was an ambitious woman. All her amorous affairs were just a cover - up.
This also explained why so many officials pleaded for the Prince of Anjun in his case, and even the local common people were incited.
"Alas! We've really stirred up a hornet's nest this time, and it's a whole swarm!"
"I can already imagine the scene of a group of tigers surrounding us."
She looked meaningfully at her own husband, the imperial son - in - law.
The son - in - law turned his head and smiled. He gently rubbed her hair, then covered those eyes that inadvertently showed grievance, pity, and were so cute that it made one's heart ache.
He looked up ahead and said solemnly, "No matter how dangerous the road ahead is, I will protect Your Highness. Even if I can't protect you, I will surely find a way out for you."
Li Xinyue felt a pang in her heart. She suddenly sat up from his embrace and followed his gaze with a worried look in her eyes. "Chu Junyi, you, you..." It was you who dragged me into this. You can't just leave me alone!
You're not allowed to die. Dying is irresponsible!
You, you, you...
Li Xinyue had a lot to say in her heart, but she thought it was too cheesy. After much thought, she only said, "Come back safely. I'll wait for you."
Chu Junyi's eyes trembled. There were stormy waves in his eyes. He closed his eyes, put his arm around her, pressed her tightly against himself, and then bent down to kiss her forehead.
"Yue'er, for you, I will fight to live. I won't leave you alone, and I definitely won't give you away to others."
His Yue'er loved him so much. He must live well so as not to let down the kindness of the beauty.
At dusk, the princess's carriage entered the capital city.
After Jing Bai showed the token to the city - guarding soldiers, he drove the carriage slowly to the Princess Mansion.
Lian'er ran out excitedly. After seeing that the princess and the son - in - law were safe, the heart that had been hanging for several days finally relaxed.
Li Xinyue asked if anyone had come to the Princess Mansion during this period. Lian'er said no and that everything was fine. Only then did Li Xinyue feel relieved.
In the following days, Li Xinyue and Chu Junyi had a few peaceful days.
Because Chu Junyi was seriously injured and needed to rest, all the affairs in the yamen were shared among his subordinates. Unless there was a particularly important case that needed his personal approval, the people in the yamen would also send the case files to the Princess Mansion.
But because of Chu Junyi's previous thunderous means, especially after the case of the Prince of Anjun, the capital city seemed to have become a holy land.
For a long time, there had been no life - threatening incidents, and some dark forces that had been itching to cause trouble had also restrained themselves.
So during this period, Chu Junyi had a lot of free time, but his reputation was well - known.
When the common people in the capital mentioned Chu Junyi, who didn't call him an upright and honest official? Especially considering his background and the fact that he had married the princess, it had become a wonderful story and had been compiled into various storybooks. It was said that the book peddlers had suddenly become rich overnight. It was said that the number of people who admired Chu Junyi, old and young, male and female, could circle the capital city three times.
Because of Chu Junyi's rising reputation, Li Xinyue, the once - so - called willful princess, had also been whitewashed. The previous rumors that smeared her, saying that she was promiscuous and had taken the top three scholars as her followers, had been self - refuted. A large group of fans secretly shipped their love and strongly protected the princess and the son - in - law, not allowing anyone to destroy their relationship.
When the news reached the Princess Mansion, Li Xinyue spat out a mouthful of tea. Thinking that a large group of people would escort her marriage in the future, the feeling was indescribably strange.
She didn't hate it, but she definitely couldn't say she liked it. It was as if she was being watched like a monkey.
That was the feeling.
If she wanted to get divorced in the future, would she still have to inform them?
Li Xinyue looked at Chu Junyi, who was enjoying himself beside her, with a complicated mood and silently rolled her eyes at him.
After Lian'er relayed what was going on outside, she consciously withdrew.
After everyone left, Li Xinyue began to tease Chu Junyi. "I've really succeeded and failed because of my son - in - law."
Chu Junyi was in a great mood. Because of the protection of a large group of people, he even began to think that he and Li Xinyue were a match made in heaven and destined to be together.
Only he was qualified to march side by side with Li Xinyue, and only he was qualified to marry the Princess Yuanyang.
This feeling was great and addictive.
Coming back to his senses, Chu Junyi lowered his head and suppressed his smile. Then he stood up from the armchair, pulled Li Xinyue to the dressing table, and pressed her down on the embroidered stool.
Li Xinyue looked back at him in confusion.
Chu Junyi gently held her head with both hands, turned her head back, stared at the person in the mirror, and raised his hand to insert a golden hairpin in the shape of a phoenix crying to the sky into her hair. He slowly let go of his hands. The long pendants on her shoulders swayed gently with the wind, emitting a colorful glow.
Chu Junyi hooked the corner of his mouth in satisfaction, then deliberately put on a calm face, stood up, and secretly glanced at Li Xinyue.
Li Xinyue was shocked.
Because the material and pattern of this hairpin clearly showed that it was extremely valuable. Chu Junyi had only been an official for how long. This must have cost him all his fortune, right?
Thinking of the room transformed from a kitchen where he used to live to save money, and then comparing it with this hairpin, her heart felt heavy. She was a little sad and touched, and she even wanted to turn around and hug him, but she was too shy. So she just turned her head and looked up at the person behind her.
Chu Junyi deliberately explained it very easily. "Didn't you always ask me where the five hundred taels of silver went? Well, this is it.
Besides, I also added a few months' salary. Does this count as me handing over all my family property to my beloved wife?"
Li Xinyue couldn't help but pout slightly and almost cried. She turned around and tried hard to suppress it so that the sad and uncomfortable feeling wouldn't spread in her heart.
Just then, the man bent down and whispered seriously in her ear, "From now on, I will hand over every tael of my salary to my beloved princess for management.
I want to marry Your Highness and grow old together. Okay?"
Li Xinyue's ears turned red. Her heart was beating fast, and her eyes were flustered. She didn't know where to look, so she just looked at the ground.
"Okay."
After nodding, she felt even hotter all over.
Her pounding heart was about to jump out of her throat, but this feeling was good, and she didn't hate it.
Chu Junyi lowered his head and covered his mouth to laugh. There was a sparkle in his eyes. The feeling of happiness made him want to pick up the princess and spin around, but he was afraid that she would be shy and ignore him later. So he had to endure it again and again.
"Your Highness has accepted my token of love, and I've also accepted the token of love from Your Highness. This matter is settled. You're not allowed to go back on your word for a lifetime."
Chu Junyi shook the token hanging on his waist. Although it didn't confer any power, it conferred another deeper meaning.