"Hongxuan, I admit I've done wrong in this matter. But after all, I'm your cousin. Making a big fuss about family affairs won't do any good to anyone. Do you really want the people of the Tang Dynasty to know that your sister has married an unfaithful husband?"
Zhangsun Chong kept chattering in Li Jingyun's ear.
The young woman beside him, perhaps thinking Zhangsun Chong's words were not weighty enough, then spoke up, "Princess, I understand that it's not my place to speak when you're talking to the son - in - law. But what about the face of the Zhangsun family, the royal family, and your sister and brother - in - law? Do you want the newly - born young master to know that his parents are on bad terms?"
"Sure enough, you're eloquent. It must be this glib tongue that made you get involved with the son - in - law, right?"
An old woman couldn't stand it anymore and spat. These two were bullying the sister and now even daring to bully the younger sister who came to rescue!
"How dare I? I just feel these words have to be said."
The young woman lowered her head tightly, only showing a slender, fair neck that swayed in front of Zhangsun Chong, making his eyes flicker.
"This matter can't be hidden. It's just a matter of whether people will find out earlier or later." Li Jingyun kept looking outside, waiting for her father and the others to come.
She really didn't expect that her seemingly noble and upright cousin had become such a person in private.
"Also, I'm curious. What's your name? Where are you from? Where's your home? Why are you willing to be my cousin's mistress? With your looks, it would be better to marry properly and be the main wife, wouldn't it?"
"Answering the princess's question, my surname is Zeng, and my given name is Yueniang. I'm an orphan with no parents. It was the son - in - law who kindly took me in. I truly admire the son - in - law, so I'm willing to stay by his side and serve him. If I had to marry a man I don't like as the main wife, it would be worse than my current situation."
Yueniang lowered her eyebrows and smiled faintly, looking like a weak and submissive woman at the mercy of others.
But what she had done was completely different from her appearance.
She had bewitched Zhangsun Chong so much that he didn't know what to do. If Li Jingyun weren't there, he might have hugged Yueniang to express his loyalty.
Li Jingyun didn't want to look at them. She propped her chin with one hand, still staring at the rain outside. Bored, she yawned and quietly waited for her parents to arrive.
A doctor came over. "Princess Changle is in good condition. She just exhausted her strength and needs to rest. The young master is also fine. You two don't need to worry."
"We got it. You can go." Zhangsun Chong said with his hands behind his back.
He still acted like the head of the family.
In the silent rainy night, suddenly there was a commotion outside, breaking the silence. Li Jingyun quickly went out to greet. It was Li Chengqian who arrived first. He obviously had just climbed out of bed and rushed here on horseback.
He kicked Zhangsun Chong in the chest and asked aggressively, "Zhangsun Chong! Why didn't you invite the imperial doctors? Don't tell me it was Lizhi's decision! She was worried about disturbing our parents, but weren't you worried about the situation of her and the baby at all? What on earth are you up to?"
He finally understood why Hongxuan always looked so worried when she saw Lizhi's belly. At first, he thought it was because the belly was too big and she was scared. Now it seemed that Hongxuan had known something would go wrong early on, which was why she came in the rain with the pre - prepared pills to save Lizhi and the baby's lives!
His only full - blooded elder sister had encountered such a dirty thing with Zhangsun Chong. It was really absurd!
"Is it that you were waiting for something to happen to Lizhi so you could make room for this new woman?"
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please see clearly. I definitely didn't have such thoughts. I was just too panicked to know what to do." Zhangsun Chong simply didn't get up. He covered his chest and rolled on the ground, throwing a tantrum.
Yueniang was still beside him, shedding tears non - stop.
Li Jingyun didn't even want to give them a single glance. After resting for a while, she finally recovered. The wet part of her skirt had dried again.
"Brother? Sister - in - law doesn't know about this, right?"
"I didn't let her know. Her health can't take it." Li Chengqian took Li Jingyun's hand. "Hongxuan, you've worked hard. You had to come all the way here in the middle of the night."
"Fortunately, I told someone in advance to come and find me. Otherwise, if I missed this today, I would regret it for the rest of my life."
Li Jingyun held her elder brother's hand, feeling more at ease.
It was still too early for a six - year - old girl like her to handle such a thing.
"Kneel there properly and atone for your sins to your wife and son."
Li Chengqian said coldly.
Everyone present was shocked and straightened their expressions.
Li Jingyun found that this was the Crown Prince carefully cultivated by her father, not the gentle and elegant elder brother who used to play with her.
Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun were actually the second batch to arrive. Only two quarters of an hour had passed since Li Jingyun sent someone to inform them. They both rushed here in a hurry. The only thing they brought was a team of imperial doctors. Empress Zhangsun came without makeup.
As soon as they came in, they rushed to the delivery room. Seeing that their daughter and grandson were fine, they finally felt relieved.
Li Shimin had a cold face. Zhangsun Chong knelt in front of him, not daring to speak loudly, stuttering.
Yueniang was even more so. Her tears were like broken beads, falling non - stop.
"Zhangsun Chong, I never thought you would dare to do such a thing. If Hongxuan hadn't come in time today, what we might be seeing now is that my daughter and grandson have both met with misfortune. I was really blind back then, thinking you could treat Lizhi sincerely!"
Li Shimin gritted his teeth in hatred and pointed at Zhangsun Chong, scolding him, "Deprive him of his positions as the son - in - law都尉 and the deputy minister of the clan court. He shall never be employed again."
"Your Majesty!"
As soon as Li Shimin said this, it was an imperial edict for them to divorce, and there was no room for refusal.
Zhangsun Chong didn't expect that the Emperor would be so ruthless and directly let them divorce, without even considering his father's face at all.
His father was the prime minister of the current dynasty and the Emperor's elder brother - in - law!
How could this happen?
He thought at most he would be scolded a few times and be asked to break off his relationship with Yueniang and stay at home to reflect on his mistakes.
"Your Majesty, it's not possible! Lizhi and I were childhood sweethearts. Even if we've had some problems, it's okay. I'll break off with Yueniang and treat Lizhi whole - heartedly from now on. Please, Your Majesty, don't let me divorce Lizhi!"
"It's too late. Your little tricks can only deceive Hongxuan because she's young. Who among us doesn't understand?" Empress Zhangsun said, "Rather than being a pair of resentful couples who can't stand each other, it's better to just go their separate ways."
"Auntie! Auntie! You can't treat me like this!"
"Then could you and this Yueniang bully our Lizhi? This matter is settled and won't be changed." Empress Zhangsun's words completely shattered his hope, leaving him at a loss on the spot.
Li Jingyun nestled in her mother's arms, witnessing everything and not knowing what to say.
What she didn't know was that after she fell asleep, Empress Zhangsun immediately ordered Yueniang to be beaten to death with sticks.
They clearly had evil intentions.
It was not until the end that Zhangsun Wuji finally arrived. As soon as he came, he apologized, "It's my fault that I didn't discipline my son well. Please forgive me, Your Majesty and Your Highness."
"Fuji, there's no need to be like this. Since they're not compatible, it's just a matter of separating. What's so difficult about it?" Li Shimin smiled.
"Yes, yes, it should be so."