Chapter 29: The Torn Emperor

The two were seated in the Emperor’s discussion hall. It was clear that they refused to leave unless the Emperor settled the matter on the spot!

They were challenging to deal with, as both were dominant in handling matters; the Emperor did not know what to do with them. He could never upset Su Yaozheng as she was his biological sister who played an important role when he was competing for the throne. She even saved his life by blocking a sword from striking him. On the other hand, Su Yu was his youngest brother, and he watched him grow up, although they had different mothers. Su Yu had also protected him from poisonous wine and arrows when he had an intense conflict with his other brothers while also competing for the throne.

To put it bluntly, he would not be seated on the throne had it not been for the two in front of him. He appreciated that none of these two had the intention to take over his throne. Therefore, he could never upset them, no matter what.

The only choice he had left was to sacrifice his own son’s happiness.

The Emperor felt torn, but he had to ask his servants to invite Su Xingyan over to the palace.

Su Xingyan already expected something to happen that day when he heard that the princess returned to the capital the previous night. Still, he could not believe that Han Jing had the audacity to complain. She was the one who cheated on him before their wedding!

Su Xingyan made up his mind to tell everyone that Han Jing had a relationship with someone else in the Peony Pavilion. He had to break off the engagement at all costs!

“Father, aunt, uncle.” Su Xingyan greeted the Emperor, Su Yaozheng, and Su Yu without worrying because he had something on Han Jing. The news that Han Jing was impure had probably spread throughout the whole capital. He wondered whether she still had the ego to insist on marrying him!

“Prince Ling, since you are here, tell me—how did I ever offend you as your aunt? You already hit Jing’er and wanted to kill her, although she hasn’t married you. Are you going to kill her after you are married? Prince Ling, you can just tell the Emperor if you’re unhappy about the engagement. You didn’t have to mistreat my daughter!” Su Yaozheng verbally attacked Prince Ling. The Emperor, who was seated on the throne, felt tense for his son. He wondered why his son offended Han Jing of all people.

Even the Emperor knew that Han Jing was Su Yaozheng’s lifeblood. Su Yaozheng indeed doted her a lot, although she had flaws on her face!

Su Xingyan did not expect Su Yaozheng to hold on to the fact that he hit Han Jing. She knew that Han Jing lost her right to be his princess consort because she lost her innocence the day before!

“Your Highness, you are making things difficult for me here. Indeed, I shouldn’t have hit Han Jing yesterday, but do you know what she did in Peony Pavilion the night before? I can’t say anything if you want to blame me, but you have to forgive my mistakes. Father, I am not going to marry Han Jing. Please retract your marriage order.” Su Xingyan did not think that his aunt would mention Han Jing’s lost virtue in front of the Emperor and Su Yu.

A hint of confusion flashed past Su Yu’s eyes when he heard Su Xingyan’s words. He had been investigating the Peony Pavilion after returning that day. He found that the beggar brought in by Han Yuxiao did not manage to enter the Peony Pavilion that night after she left!