125. Love and Desire Easily Lead One Astray

Chapter 125

At present, no matter how dissatisfied Yu Guhan was, he dared not offend Zhan Lianjing recklessly.

This matter must not be leaked...

He pressed his lips tightly, then turned and approached Eunuch Chen’s side. “Eunuch Chen, please do me the favor of delivering a message.”

Eunuch Chen hesitated. “But the Emperor is in a bad temper right now. It would be better if His Highness the Crown Prince waits a while.”

Yu Guhan shook his head gently. “That won’t be a problem. Please do go.”

Having no choice, Eunuch Chen promptly went inside to deliver the message.

Soon after, he returned to usher someone out.

Yu Guhan entered the imperial study to find the old emperor’s face full of anger, while Zhan Lianjing remained calm and composed.

Yu Guhan steadied himself. The moment Zhan Lianjing glanced at him, the look in his eyes carried a peculiar brilliance. Yu Guhan already knew how to proceed.

The old emperor, seeing Yu Guhan arrive, did not hide anything and spoke directly, “You are aware of today’s incident at the Qianjin Pavilion, aren’t you?”

Such a scandalous matter—how could Yu Guhan not know? The entire capital was abuzz with rumors that Le Qianxue and Zhan Lianjing were already an established couple. He felt utterly humiliated.

If he could, he would have killed Le Qianxue himself.

But precisely because of her status, she was untouchable.

“I am already aware,” Yu Guhan replied. “That is why I came to the palace to seek Your Majesty.”

The emperor wanted to hear what Yu Guhan had to say, after all, it was Yu Guhan who married Le Qianxue.

“So, what do you think?” the emperor asked.

Yu Guhan responded, “Since Lord Zhan favors Qianxue, let her be with him. As for a new crown princess, I already have someone else in mind.”

The emperor expected Yu Guhan to be angry and demand punishment for Le Qianxue, but he did not expect him to consent so readily.

He felt something was amiss. Zhan Lianjing also wore a confident expression.

At that moment, Zhan Lianjing spoke, “His Highness the Crown Prince is truly magnanimous.”

The old emperor glared at Zhan Lianjing. Over the years, he had been restrained by him and had grown weary of it.

“Lord Zhan, you are stealing what belongs to others, and you dare to speak so boldly?” the emperor said. “Your actions are immoral and disgraceful.”

But Zhan Lianjing was completely indifferent to others’ opinions.

Although he had better methods, only this one could let the world know that Le Qianxue was his woman.

The emperor had tried to drive a wedge between them but it was not so easy.

He retorted, “How can mutual affection be immoral? Crown Prince, you knew from the start that I and she like each other, yet you interfered. You are the unreasonable one.”

A fire burned in Yu Guhan’s chest, but he could not show anger now.

He said, “It is my fault. I will concede to Lord Zhan. Father, please annul the engagement.”

The old emperor narrowed his eyes. His anger subsided.

Yu Guhan’s words were clearly a ruse.

He knew his son’s nature—there was no way he would so easily let go of Le Qianxue.

The emperor refused and said, “Lord Zhan, you may step aside for now.”

Zhan Lianjing bowed slightly to the emperor. “Then I shall take my leave.”

Zhan Lianjing left with Zhui Xing, still full of confidence.

After they left, the emperor’s face darkened. “What are you doing? Didn’t you say you had confirmed Le Qianxue’s identity and insisted on marrying her?”

Yu Guhan’s expression was grim. “Father, now that rumors spread about her and Lord Zhan, how can she become the crown princess? It is a slap to my face.”

The emperor snorted. “There is no need to consent. Zhan Lianjing thinks I dare not act against him, so he’s so reckless. This is the perfect opportunity to punish him.”

Yu Guhan knew that Zhan Lianjing and Le Qianxue were united. If Zhan Lianjing were punished, his own secret might be exposed.

He hurriedly said, “Father, don’t be angry. It’s just Le Qianxue. Even if Lord Zhan has her, what of it?”

“She...” The emperor faltered and sighed, unwilling to say more.

Le Qianxue was far from ordinary, and the emperor had other plans.

He had always favored Le Qianxue in a way no one else could understand.

Otherwise, when he discovered she was a ghost doctor, he would have executed her immediately instead of going to the trouble of severing her ties with Zhan Lianjing.

Now it seemed all was lost. He didn’t expect Zhan Lianjing to forgive her.

Seeing the emperor waver, Yu Guhan continued, “It remains uncertain whether Le Qianxue still possesses that item. And Your Majesty knows, Tong Qianqian was merely highly skilled in martial arts, nothing extraordinary. That item was likely lost long ago. Upon reflection, if Le Qianxue lacks it, then the title of crown princess is truly too generous for her.”

The emperor nodded in agreement. Indeed, Yu Guhan's words carried weight.

Yu Guhan pressed on, “Our Yu royal family cannot lose face. Since Le Qianxue does not cherish this opportunity, it wouldn’t matter if we pursue her later. As for Lord Zhan, he is more troublesome. Father, you must not act rashly out of anger.”

The emperor said, “You are right. Lord Zhan is shrewd and always finds ways to evade blame. If we push him too hard this time, the throne may be lost.”

He hesitated, when Eunuch Chen called out from outside, “Your Majesty, the scouts have news from eight hundred miles away.”

The emperor frowned and said, “Bring them in.”

The scout, weary from travel, entered the imperial study and knelt. “Your Majesty, the eighth prince of Liangjin Kingdom has killed his father and seized the throne. He ascended as emperor a few days ago.”

The emperor’s expression changed drastically. He had long feared the eighth prince, Ziye. Now Ziye was emperor.

His hands trembled slightly.

Yu Guhan was also surprised. “Father, the wild tyrant Ziye is a formidable foe. His forces often invade, and it is Lord Zhan’s army that repels them. I don’t wish to overpraise Lord Zhan, but it seems only he can hold back Ziye.”

The emperor waved his hand, indicating he knew well.

He had previously sent trusted men to fight, but each time Ziye’s forces annihilated them, causing heavy losses.

Only Zhan Lianjing could suppress Ziye.

The emperor bit his teeth in frustration, regretting not having found another war god like Zhan Lianjing.

He dismissed the scout and sank into gloom. With Ziye now emperor, an invasion was imminent.

If he broke with Zhan Lianjing now, the entire Tianlong Kingdom would be at risk.

The emperor had no choice but to swallow his anger. “Very well. This time, Lord Zhan shall be spared.”

Yu Guhan breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, news of Ziye’s ascension emerged suddenly, or Zhan Lianjing would have faced disaster.

The emperor then looked at Yu Guhan. “Who is the new crown princess you have chosen?”

The crown princess must be appointed. Mu Qingyu was too humiliating; they needed someone respectable.

Yu Guhan already had a plan. “I have my eyes on Yang Ning’er. What does Father think?”

The emperor frowned. “Yang Ning’er is the daughter of the Right Chancellor... I do not dislike her, but the Right Chancellor has always supported your second brother.”

“Precisely because of that, I want to win over the Right Chancellor. I believe he can see the greater picture. He will be the royal uncle in the future.”

The emperor nodded. “That is sensible...”

For the sake of the bigger picture, the court must be consolidated. Let Zhan Lianjing be arrogant for a few days. Once Liangjin Kingdom is defeated, then remove Zhan Lianjing.

But the emperor’s intentions were no secret to Zhan Lianjing.

After leaving the palace, Zhui Xing reported, “My lord, what shall we do about the Crown Prince’s faction?”

“No need to rush. Wait for the emperor’s orders,” Zhan Lianjing said. “For now, suppress the rumors. Don’t let them spread too wildly.”

Zhui Xing agreed but felt frustrated. It was Zhan Lianjing himself who had spread those rumors, only to now clamp down on them. He wondered what was truly on Zhan Lianjing’s mind.

Zhan Lianjing then went to the general’s mansion but was stopped by Le Yongcheng.

Le Yongcheng was furious. The cabbage he had nurtured for years had been trampled by a pig—before the wedding! How could he not be angry?

“General Le,” Zhan Lianjing greeted.

Le Yongcheng, however, turned his head away, unwilling to talk. “Lord Zhan, please leave for now.”

Zhan Lianjing frowned. “I want to explain today’s matter to General Le.”

Le Yongcheng only sneered coldly, unconcerned. “There’s nothing to explain, Lord Zhan. Please leave.”

It was the first time Zhan Lianjing had been so dismissed. Only someone as fearless as Le Yongcheng dared treat him this way.

Le Yongcheng then went to find Le Qianxue. He waited outside the alchemy room until she finished.

Surprised to see him, Le Qianxue said, “Father, why didn’t you call me?”

“What good would it do? You’ve already thrown yourself headlong into this. It’s impossible to pull you back now.”

“Father, what are you saying? Speak properly.”

Le Qianxue couldn’t help but smile. After today’s incident, Le Yongcheng had rushed back from the Western Mountain camp. She knew his thoughts well.

Le Yongcheng turned away with a snort. “If I haven’t made myself clear, now that it’s come to this, why do you still get close to Zhan Lianjing? This time he has ruined you. Don’t just think about your damaged reputation. The emperor will surely punish you.”

As a father, he was naturally worried about Le Qianxue.

He now deeply hated Zhan Lianjing. Even if Le Qianxue truly loved him, he would never agree.

Le Qianxue could only say, “I don’t think the emperor will punish me. He will handle this well.”