"That Princess of Tenglong actually defied the imperial decree and completely disregarded our Fengming Kingdom. I am a pingqi bestowed by imperial decree, Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for me." Yun Jiuge sobbed uncontrollably, how could she face anyone after such humiliation and failing to get married?
The Empress's face darkened upon hearing this.
How could she interfere in something the Emperor himself approved?
However, no matter what, her goal had been achieved; her son was now the Crown Prince.
As for Yun Jiuge, she was not important for the moment. But with her family background, she certainly couldn't be left to the other princes. Thus, the Empress stood up, helped Yun Jiuge, and told her to patiently wait for Li Su to change his mind.
*
On the third day after the wedding, Qiao Ci and Li Su, the newlywed couple, went to meet the Emperor of Fengming Kingdom.
Also accompanying them to the palace were Li Churan and Zhao Shimei.
Zhao Shimei no longer possessed his former aloofness; a gloominess emanated from him. Qiao Ci knew exactly what was going on.
He, with his male chauvinism, had to share a woman with others, and this woman was one of his women from his previous life.
That's right, Zhao Shimei had regained all the memories from the original host's life.
Looking at Qiao Ci, who was now married to someone else, his eyes were filled with fierce malice.
In this life, everything that had happened so far was the same as in his memories.
When did it start to change? It was probably due to the unexpected appearance of Li Su, as in the previous life, he had died long ago.
In this life, Li Su was not beaten to death by Qiao Ci, and step by step, he replaced Zhao Shimei in Qiao Ci's heart. He, Zhao Shimei, should have been Qiao Ci's only husband, regardless of whether he loved her or not, he would not allow any other man to touch her.
All the variables were on Li Su; he had to eliminate Li Su!
As for Li Churan, that promiscuous bitch, he still needed her for now. As for later, hehe.
Li Su was very displeased with Zhao Shimei's strange gaze at Qiao Ci. He slightly shifted his body, blocking Zhao Shimei's line of sight.
Because of the unusual phenomenon on the wedding day, the Emperor of Fengming Kingdom was quite satisfied with Qiao Ci, his daughter-in-law, and did not mistreat her because she was a princess from another country.
After saying some heartfelt words to Qiao Ci and Li Su, and bestowing some rare treasures upon them, he rose and left with the Empress, allowing the younger generation to entertain themselves.
Li Su, holding Qiao Ci's hand, was about to head home when Zhao Shimei walked up and congratulated them: "Congratulations to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess on your union."
He looked at Qiao Ci meaningfully. She was supposed to be his wife, until death! Yet now she was married to another man. How could she say she didn't love him anymore when she had loved him so much in the previous life?
Recalling her previous obedience and her tragic death in the last life, Zhao Shimei felt a rare pang of guilt.
As long as he eliminated Li Su, this variable, and killed Li Churan, the culprit who caused her death, they could return to how they were before. He would treat her well, and he would still be the enviable consort, while she would be the most obedient princess.
Facing Zhao Shimei's well wishes, Li Su had no choice but to reply, "Likewise. You and the Eldest Princess were also newly married not long ago."
Li Churan also walked over at this moment: "Second Brother, you have successfully married your beloved. Eldest Sister was unwell that day and couldn't come to congratulate you. You won't blame Eldest Sister, will you?"
Li Su shook his head: "No."
It was better if she didn't come; didn't the princess like this elder sister very much.
"That's good. Eldest Sister is preparing to compensate you. Tomorrow, I will host a banquet at the Eldest Princess's residence. Second Brother and Sister-in-law must come."
Even a blind person could see Li Churan's ill intentions. Li Su did not immediately agree, but instead looked at Qiao Ci.
"No way, Second Brother. Eldest Sister invites you to her place to have fun, and you still need to seek your wife's opinion? Are you afraid of your wife?" Li Churan teased, her displeasure growing within her eyes.
Li Su felt no shame; on the contrary, he said with a sense of pride, "Husband and wife are one body. It is common to listen to one's wife's opinion. As women, if Eldest Sister could not attend our wedding due to discomfort, what if Ah Ci is also inconvenient?"
"Second Brother, pampering your wife is not done this way." Li Churan felt very displeased seeing him compare himself to Qiao Ci.
"Oh? Do you mean that normally, whatever Eldest Sister's consort does, he doesn't need to inform Eldest Sister, or can directly make decisions for Eldest Sister?" Li Su retorted with a smile in his eyes.
"We are naturally different. I am the Eldest Princess, and he is the consort." Li Churan said this very matter-of-factly, her tone filled with disdain.
She was the Eldest Princess, and Zhao Shimei, a mere consort, had no right to interfere with her decisions.
Zhao Shimei's eyes flashed with humiliation and hatred upon hearing this. Qiao Ci was still a princess, and she used to be obedient to him.
"Then that's right. My Ah Ci is also a princess! We're leaving now. As for the banquet, let's forget it." After saying this, Li Su stepped forward, took Qiao Ci's hand, and walked away without looking back.
Looking at Li Su, who was angrily defending her, Qiao Ci smiled, "You lectured your elder sister, why are you still angry yourself?"
Li Su stopped and looked at Qiao Ci seriously, "You came to Fengming Kingdom with me. I will not let you be wronged. If Eldest Sister disrespects you, I will not associate with her. No one is more important than you."
"Okay." Qiao Ci's eyes instantly curved into smiles. Who wouldn't love such a good child?
Perhaps she should give him more opportunities to perform, to continuously improve himself and become stronger. This way, she could truly retire peacefully in the future.
Li Churan, whose warm greeting was met with a cold shoulder, saw a nearby vase and wanted to smash it, but Zhao Shimei stopped her, "Churan, this is the palace."
"Hmph!" Li Churan knew this was not a place for her to misbehave. She flicked her sleeves and left.
Zhao Shimei, following behind, looked at the impulsive and brainless woman with cold eyes. He didn't know how she became his main wife in the previous life. He figured that the concubines he took must have been unchaste with other men or died bizarrely. Perhaps this foolish woman was behind it all.
Li Su was enfeoffed as the Crown Prince and was to reside in the East Palace, so the couple did not leave the palace and went directly to the Crown Prince's Palace.
Three days were enough to set up the Crown Prince's Palace.
The palace servants led Li Su and Qiao Ci to their sleeping quarters. Upon seeing that he had his own separate sleeping chamber, and Qiao Ci had hers, Li Su couldn't help but furrow his brow, "Why are my and the Crown Princess's living quarters separated?"
"Replying to Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is the rule." The Emperor and Empress do not even live together, which also makes it convenient for the Emperor to favor other consorts.
The layout of the sleeping quarters in the Crown Prince's Palace was also like this.
"Hmm, move all my belongings to the Crown Princess's sleeping quarters. I and the Crown Princess are one; wherever she lives, I will naturally live." Li Su did not dwell on it further and directly ordered his personal belongings to be moved over.
"This... This servant obeys!"