When Li Xinyue's carriage reached the palace gate, she had just finished reading the entire book.
The ending of the story was that Princess Shiliu, due to her numerous evils, had aroused public outrage. She was not only deposed but also hanged on the city wall by the common people and dried into human jerky.
As for her, Princess Furong, not only had she achieved a happy ending with her former lover but also won the hearts of the people and had countless handsome men.
Just as she closed the book, Princess Shiliu's carriage stopped beside hers in perfect synchronization.
The voices of the princess and her husband arguing came from inside the carriage.
She lifted the curtain and saw that in the violently jolting carriage opposite, behind the flapping curtain, Li Xinrong was tugging at the young marquis's ear. With one hand boldly propping on the cushion, she was confronting the young marquis and demanding to know why he had promised to study hard but failed to do so.
The young marquis retorted defiantly, saying that since she had promised to be a gentle lady but hadn't fulfilled it either, why should he study hard? At the same time, he dodged her grasp.
Li Xinyue watched the two pushing and shoving each other. They were just like a loving couple deeply in love. Even the scolding words sounded extremely cute.
She propped her chin with one hand and watched with great interest for a while. Then she spoke up to interrupt, "Sister, are you playing so wildly now?"
Li Xinrong turned her head, her eyes red. She said aggrievedly and angrily, "Are you satisfied seeing me unhappy? You must be laughing in your heart, right? Li Xinyue, I married this good - for - nothing in your place! He was originally your husband - to - be!"
"But I think you two are a perfect match!"
For once, Li Xinyue gave a very sincere evaluation of this couple.
A perfect match? Li Xinrong and the young marquis thought to themselves, feeling indignant. Then they looked down at themselves and quickly pushed each other away.
Li Xinrong was pushed to the floor of the carriage by the young marquis. She got up and angrily retorted at Li Xinyue.
"Who is a match for a good - for - nothing! If you think so, you marry him!"
"I heard that you begged Father Emperor hard to get this good - for - nothing.
If you like him so much, why were you willing to marry Chu Junyi, a man from a humble family?
Shouldn't you have begged Father Emperor to change the marriage back after you found out the mistake?
Or did you plan this from the very beginning? Your purpose of begging Father Emperor to bestow the marriage on the young marquis was just to make me marry him, right!"
The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Li Xinrong hated Li Xinyue to the core.
The young marquis was indignant, "How am I a good - for - nothing! I..."
"Shut up! Li Xinyue, answer me. Did you play some tricks!"
"No! Don't you remember that Father Emperor bestowed the marriage on you first? Do you think I could persuade Father Emperor to do such a thing?"
Li Xinrong stammered for a moment.
Li Xinyue thought that if this matter was not clarified, the Crown Prince would always be concerned. If he found out that it was related to Chu Junyi, would he still take care of Chu Junyi?
So, she decided to spend some effort to untangle the knot in Li Xinrong's heart.
"Marrying the young marquis was indeed my choice, but the accidental exchange of the marriage was unexpected. Since you asked me why I didn't change it back after the mistake, I'll also ask you. Why didn't you change it back after you found out the mistake?
What was your purpose?"
"I, I have no purpose. If I could change it back, I would..."
"Why couldn't you change it back? You have Mother Empress and the Crown Prince backing you up. Why couldn't you? Tell me!"
Seeing that she couldn't answer, Li Xinyue smiled and finished for her, "Because the Lin family doesn't associate with humble families! In other words, you said you took the blame for me, but haven't I also taken the risk for you?"
Li Xinrong was completely speechless, but she just felt unhappy.
Li Xinyue knew why she was unhappy. Because no matter whether the marriage was changed or not, it was not the person she wanted to marry.
"Li Xinyue, I hate you! I'll hate you for the rest of my life!"
It didn't matter! Li Xinyue didn't care whether Li Xinrong hated her or not. Anyway, one of them was in the capital and the other was in the northwest. They would rarely see each other in their lifetimes. Whether she was hated or not didn't matter at all!
"Rong'er!" The Crown Prince rushed over in a hurry. He happened to hear Li Xinrong angrily saying something about hating. Thinking of the request Chu Junyi had made, he was afraid of disappointing him, so he scolded Li Xinrong a few words.
Li Xinrong was so angry that she didn't even look back and rushed towards the Central Palace to find Mother Empress to reason with.
"Yuanyang, I'm late."
Out of respect for the Crown Prince, Chu Junyi didn't show his dissatisfaction with Li Xinrong. Instead, he personally carried Li Xinyue out of the carriage, showing his support for her with his actions.
Li Xinyue smiled and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Her eyes sparkled as she looked into his eyes. Her body was lifted into the air and then set down, and her hair fluttered gently in the wind.
"I'm fine. You should be more concerned about the matter between Sister Fourteen and her husband. Their matter is more important."
"Brother, you've traveled a long way back to the capital. You must be very tired from the journey." Li Xinyue restrained her gentle smile. When she looked at the Crown Prince, there was only a polite fake smile left.
The Crown Prince felt uncomfortable but couldn't tell exactly why. He nodded slightly and then rushed after Li Xinrong in a hurry.
"Mother Empress, no matter what the original situation of the marriages of the two imperial sisters was, the current situation is the final one. It's not right for Rong'er and the young marquis to quarrel all day long. Why don't you mediate a bit when you're free?
In addition, Yue'er also has to call you Mother Empress. She will serve you in the future.
Concubine Fu passed away early, and she has no maternal family to rely on. If you treat her a little better, she will surely repay you more in the future.
To put it bluntly, which one of Yue'er and Rong'er is closer to you? If something happens to you, who will visit you more often?"
Under the corridor of the Central Palace, the Crown Prince explained the reasons to the Empress with a tired look on his face.
The Empress didn't expect that her son would lecture her as soon as they met after months of separation. It made her feel quite uncomfortable.
The Empress had been looking forward to the Crown Prince's return, hoping that he could find a way to let Rong'er divorce the young marquis. Her Rong'er was of legitimate birth. Even if she had been married, so what? After divorcing the young marquis, she could still marry again.
Anyway, the Empress disliked the young marquis more and more.
But the Crown Prince felt a bit helpless and a trace of jealousy welled up in his heart. "Rong'er is not satisfied with her marriage, and Mother Empress immediately asks me to find a way to change it.
But when I'm not satisfied with my marriage, why doesn't Mother Empress help me find a way?"
"Your marriage is a marriage alliance between noble families. Without a Crown Princess and the support of the Lin family, do you think you can keep your position as the Crown Prince for long? Concubine Yin and the Second Prince are all eyeing it covetously.
You went to the north to relieve the disaster this time. I don't know how many people hoped you would fail there. I was really worried about you!"
"Chenger, you should consummate your marriage with the Crown Princess. If you keep dragging it on, people who don't know will think you're impotent. Look, your two younger sisters are already married. What if they give birth to a son before you? Where will you put your face as the elder brother?"
The Crown Prince gave a bitter smile and quietly returned to the topic of the two younger sisters' marriages. "As for Rong'er's marriage, how about this? You try to match them up first. If it's still the same after three months, then we'll petition Father Emperor for a divorce."
"What about your matter..."
"I'll solve my own matter."
The Crown Prince smiled slightly, turned around, lifted the curtain and walked in.
The Empress looked worriedly at her eldest son's back, sighed helplessly, and then followed him in.