Chapter 33

  Yali was taken aback, muttering to herself, "But I just don't like the Second Prince, he's too gloomy. On the whole journey, he didn't say more than ten sentences, it's suffocating me! If they give me to him, it's no different from locking me up in a room!"

  She rummaged through the whole house, her big eyes rolling around non-stop. Suddenly, she caught sight of Sima Rui and seemed to have discovered a new continent. She rushed to Sima Rui's side, grabbed his hand, and said with joy, "I like this son of yours, he's so handsome, his pair of eyes can hook my soul away! Your Majesty, why don't you give me to your son as a gift?"

  Murong Feng was taken aback at first, then couldn't help but burst out laughing. Her laughter was soft and sweet, with a clarity like spring water, and joyful. She looked at Sima Rui, but didn't say a word.

  Simarui was not prepared, and was actually caught off guard by Princess Yalai, who grasped him firmly. Before he could react, Princess Yalai had already leaned happily against his chest, leaving Simarui's face bright red with embarrassment despite his extensive experience in romantic affairs.

  Simazhuan also smiled and said: "So much the better!"

  The queen, although annoyed, was startled by Princess Yalixue's actions and couldn't help but laugh lightly. She put aside the brave and warlike Second Prince and instead wanted this useless Fourth Son of hers. Does being handsome also have its advantages for men?

  "Princess Yalai, this kind of joke is not funny." Sima Rui came back to his senses, slowly said, and withdrew his hand from Princess Yalai's hand, gently pushing away her body that was leaning on his chest. "I'm already married, one is enough, I don't want three people eating at the same table in my house, you'd better find someone else. Besides, I have no interest in my brother's woman!"

  "I don't care, anyway I won't marry a wooden second prince." Yalai was relentless, her eyes fixed on Murong Feng who was standing beside Sima Rui, smiling beautifully and charmingly. She slowly walked up to him, with a sweet smile on her face, and asked carelessly, "Who are you?"

  Simarui swiftly moved in between Yalai and Murong Feng, smiling slyly as he said: "She is my wife, Sima Rui's wife, how about that?"

  Simultaneously, Sima Qiang pulled Ya Li to the side, his face as calm as water, and said in a low but severe tone: "Princess Ya Li, if you dare to cause any trouble in the palace or harm even a single hair of Murong's, I will immediately end your life with one palm. Since I can defeat your Wumeng country in this battle, even if you were to return, I would still be able to defeat your Wumeng country!"

  Princess Yalit pouted, "I don't like her standing next to the person I like!"

  Murong Feng was taken aback, she really didn't know what kind of thing Yalai Gong mainly gave birth to, and it could make Sima Rui and Sima Qiang so nervous. She suddenly began to worry about Murong Xue, these people, probably not one that Murong Xue can handle, it seems that diamond-level men are better off being respected from afar.

  The emperor frowned and said, "Yali, you are so young, yet you have such a vicious heart. You cannot stay in this palace. Qiang'er, deal with her as you see fit."

  Simarong lowered his head and said, "I understand, son."

  Dragging Princess Yalai out of Zhengyang Palace, once they were outside the palace gates, Sima Qiang coldly stared at Princess Yalai and raised his hand to slap her face fiercely. "Are you looking for death? Who told you to bring medicine into the palace? You actually dared to use medicine on Murong Feng! Just this one thing, our Great Xing Dynasty can crush your Wumeng Country. This time I'll let you off, but if next time you dare do such a thing again, I'll immediately cripple your hands! Guards, take her back to the manor and have someone keep a close eye on her!"

  Princess Yalier was stunned on the spot, all the way here, Sima Qiang never wasted words, but also never lost his temper with her, why did he get so angry for the sake of the fourth prince's consort? She just wanted to sprinkle some anesthetic in Murong Feng's breathing air, that anesthetic is actually harmless, it will only make people sleep for a few days, and a cup of clear water can remove the drug effect.

  She liked the fourth prince's pair of eyes that could kill people, but those eyes always stayed on the plain-clothed woman beside him. The plain-clothed woman had a beauty and smile that made one forget their worries.

  What was it that Yalai couldn't get in the Wumeng country since she was a child? Who dared to oppose Yalai? Who could escape her charm?

  Now, the pair of eyes she likes doesn't even look at her!

  Murong Feng felt very strange, why did Yalai just get close to her, Sima Rui and Sima Qiang became so tense?! With her ability, she really couldn't see how Yalai was dangerous.

  "Simarui, what's wrong? Why are you and Yalixi princess so tense whenever she gets close to me?"

  Simarui rushed towards Murong Feng with a faint smile, his eyes hiding too many things.

  Simarui didn't want Murong Feng to know about the danger that Yalai brought, as U-Mong country where Princess Yalai was from was rich in medicinal herbs and using medicine was a normal thing there. It was normal for Princess Yalai to have poison on her body, but Simarui didn't expect her to use it in Zhengyang Palace, and even target Murong Feng. Simarui cursed inwardly, "Despicable!"

  "There's nothing, this Princess Yalai is from a barbarian country, I'm worried she'll do something you can't accept, so... don't think too much about it, just, it's best not to pay attention to her, if by chance I'm not around and you happen to run into her, try to keep your distance." Sima Rui said calmly.

  Thinking of Sima Qiang's tension, Sima Rui's heart tightened and his eyebrows furrowed involuntarily. He wasn't a fool or blind, Sima Qiang's tense expression when Murong Feng was safe had already been taken in by him, the scene of two people entering together still made him uncomfortable.

  Murong Feng was too lazy to think more, and raised his head to look forward.

  The emperor's face was stern, looking at the several sons below and the empress sitting beside him. "How do you consider what I just said? I promised Xue Er that I would give her a title, and today I will issue an edict to make her a concubine. You must not think of making trouble in this matter!"

  The queen smiled slightly and said slowly: "You are the emperor, you have already decided on things, why bother to ask for our opinions. What the emperor should worry about is not us, but the civil and military officials of the court and the people of the world, this is who the emperor needs to explain to."

  "Why must I explain my private affairs to the whole world?!" The Emperor said unhappily, "I'm just marrying a beloved concubine, why is it such a bother."

  The queen remained silent, lowering her head and pretending she hadn't heard.

  The emperor looked at Sima Zhe, and Sima Zhe's face was expressionless, unable to tell whether he agreed or disagreed.

  The emperor turned his head to look at the fourth son, Sima Rui. Sima Rui had a smile on his face and said half-truthfully: "Your Majesty, we can only obey your decision, right, Feng'er?"

  Murong Feng glared at Sima Rui, wondering if he was doing it on purpose.

  She looked up to see the Emperor staring at her, hesitated for a moment, and slowly said: "Feng'er is just the father's daughter-in-law, logically she shouldn't speak out of turn, but Feng'er has something that puzzles her and doesn't know how to deal with it."

  The emperor looked at Murong Feng with interest, "Tell me."

  Murong Feng smiled slightly, her expression calm and unruffled. She spoke slowly and steadily: "Xiaoxue is my younger sister, and I am the wife of Father's fourth son. Logically speaking, we should be considered Father's juniors. However, my father and Father were originally close relatives, and my older sisters are married to Father's sons and daughters-in-law. Therefore, Xiaoxue should also address Father and the other consorts as seniors. But now that Father has taken Xiaoxue as his concubine - which is her destiny - let us not discuss right or wrong for the moment. Now that Xiaoxue has become Father's concubine, my parents have naturally become Father's in-laws, and Xiaoxue should address Mother as her sister-in-law. If everyone were to appear together, how would we coordinate our forms of address?"