Since Wanqing was injured, although Hongyan promptly treated her wounds, she eventually succumbed to the poison in her shoulder combined with the toxins already in her body, falling into a deep slumber.
Unbeknownst to her, during the time she and Lady Liu were scheming in the Marquis’s household—even plotting against Hongyan—Sun Fengyu, whom she had angered, had already returned home and informed his parents of his decision to break off the engagement with Wanqing.
It must be noted that although Empress Sun was the daughter of a Minister of Personnel, she enjoyed the Emperor’s deep favor, and the Sun family held significant influence in the court.
The patriarch of the Sun family, Sun Qingmin—the elder brother of the current Empress and father of Sun Fengyu—along with his wife, Lady Liang, doted on their son as if he were a treasure. Initially, they had hoped for an alliance with the Marquis’s household. While not as prestigious as marrying into the imperial family, Mu Zhenfeng was, after all, the Marquis of Jichang.
Though the bride-to-be was not the Marquis’s legitimate daughter, since the arrangement was personally handled by the Empress, they had not objected.
However, upon hearing their son describe the Marquis’s illegitimate daughter as not only ugly and vulgar in speech and behavior but also disdainful of him, the couple was deeply displeased. They immediately agreed to annul the engagement. Yet, since the marriage had been decreed by the Empress, they decided to have the Sun family patriarch accompany Sun Fengyu to the palace to explain the matter to Empress Sun.
To their surprise, upon hearing their plea, the Empress neither agreed nor showed anger but instead responded with a faint, knowing smile.
“Brother, you must understand—I have my reasons for this arrangement. Even if the girl is as crude and unattractive as Yu’er claims, the marriage was decreed by His Majesty and myself. The Emperor’s word is law. If we break the engagement, what will His Majesty think?”
“Your Majesty, must this marriage proceed? If an alliance with the Marquis of Jichang is necessary, surely there are other daughters of marriageable age in the Mu family. Could none be more suitable than this girl?”
Sun Qingmin’s dissatisfaction was evident as he spoke, clearly advocating for his son.
“Aunt, the eldest daughter of the Mu family is a renowned talent in the capital, and she is older than Mu Wanqing. Could she not be a better match?”
Following his father’s words, Sun Fengyu, recalling the girl’s ugliness and crude remarks, felt nauseated. He seized the opportunity to press his aunt further.
“The eldest daughter of the Mu family? So, Yu’er has taken a liking to her?”
Noting the frustration on the faces of father and son, the Empress merely smiled faintly. At Sun Fengyu’s words, however, she paused, her expression shifting to amusement.
“I…”
Caught off guard by his aunt’s question and under his father’s scrutinizing gaze, Sun Fengyu flushed, lowering his head in hesitation.
“That girl is indeed charming. Logically, as the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Jichang, she would be a fitting match as the primary wife. However, you must marry Mu Wanqing—and she must be your principal wife.”
The Empress smiled knowingly at her nephew’s reaction before turning serious, her gaze firm as she addressed both father and son regarding the marriage.
“But Aunt, Mu Wanxia has always been devoted to me. She has even said she would marry me if I ended the engagement with Wanqing. The Marquis and his wife have tacitly approved. Why must you insist that I marry that vulgar, unattractive Mu Wanqing?”
Sun Fengyu was utterly perplexed. If his aunt acknowledged the merits of the Mu family’s eldest daughter, why force him into a marriage that would ruin his life and tarnish the Sun family’s reputation?
“Indeed, Your Majesty…” Sun Qingmin, though unaware of the details between his son and the Mu family’s eldest daughter, could not hide his frustration at his sister’s obstinacy.
“Alas, you do not understand. That girl was chosen by the Emperor. How can we defy His Majesty’s will?”
Faced with their questioning, the Empress rubbed her temples wearily before meeting their gazes.
“Must our family truly welcome such a woman? Would this not destroy Yu’er’s future and our family’s standing?”
Though resigned to the Emperor’s decree, Sun Qingmin could not suppress his indignation at the thought of such a marriage.
“Aunt, would you allow a single word from the Emperor to ruin your nephew’s entire life?”
Sun Fengyu echoed his father’s grievances, his expression pleading.
“And if I refuse your request—what then?”
The Empress sighed softly at their discontent. Seeing their silent, resentful stares, she posed the question abruptly.
“This…”
Father and son exchanged bewildered glances, uncertain of her meaning.
“Your Majesty, this servant fails to comprehend. If it is the Emperor’s command, could we not discreetly eliminate the girl? With her death, the engagement would naturally dissolve.”
The Empress’s maid, Huangying, interjected with a suggestion, easing the tension in the room.
“Huangying speaks wisely, Aunt!”
Sun Fengyu brightened at the idea, his hope rekindled.
“You think I haven’t considered such methods in the palace? But defying the Emperor’s decree is no trivial matter. Very well—I shall speak plainly. Everyone, leave us.”
With a resigned sigh, the Empress dismissed her attendants before addressing the two men.
“In truth, the girl’s background matters little to the Emperor or me. But she possesses something—something that compels Yu’er to marry her.”
“What could be so valuable that the Emperor and Empress would sacrifice Yu’er’s happiness?”
Sun Qingmin cast a sympathetic glance at his despondent son before pressing his sister.
“I do not know the full details. The Emperor mentioned only a token—a token of immense significance to the throne and to our empire. It holds the power to command armies. Thus…”
Under their questioning gazes, the Empress exhaled, her eyes lingering on Sun Fengyu with expectation.
“But my heart belongs to the Mu family’s eldest daughter. She has vowed to marry me if I annul this engagement. I…”
Sun Fengyu’s voice was heavy with despair, torn between duty and desire.
“Foolish boy. Marry the girl first, then take the Mu family’s eldest daughter as a concubine. The title is but a formality. Once the token is secured, you may discard or keep her as you wish. Moreover, this will test whether the eldest daughter’s affections are genuine. What say you?”
The Empress laid out the plan with a smile, outlining its advantages. Watching their thoughtful expressions, she awaited their response.
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