eurekapd Chapter 331 Equal Wife
Chapter 331 Equal Wife
Yu Wan's hand tightened slightly on the teacup, but she still maintained a gentle smile on her face.
He replied softly, "Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."
“Yun Shang happened to be at the Plum Garden at that time.”
She responded verbally, but her mind was racing, trying to figure out the purpose behind Consort De's words.
But then Consort De's lips curled into a meaningful smile, her gaze sweeping over Yu Wan's face with a profound look: "So it seems that Minister Yun and Miss Xiao are quite destined to be together."
Upon hearing this, Yu Wan's heart skipped a beat.
Wait, could it be what she's thinking?
The next second, Consort De smiled and said, "Actually, I have been worried about my niece's marriage for a long time. She has been well-behaved and sensible since she was a child, and she is also very pretty. She is a well-known good girl in the capital."
"It's just that even though I'm spoiled, I haven't found many men who are worthy of her."
Yu Wan almost wanted to ask Consort De directly if she was mentally ill.
By placing her niece in the household of a married man, she intended for Xiao Huanyan to become his concubine.
Given Xiao Huanyan's status, that's absolutely out of the question.
Yu Wan's heart was filled with alarm bells, but she did not show it on her face. She simply said polite words in a humble and respectful manner: "Miss Xiao is indeed a rare good girl. She is well-educated, reasonable, gentle and quiet. Although I have only known her for a short time, I have deeply admired her."
Consort De nodded slightly, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, as if she were carefully choosing her words.
"Alas, yesterday's chaos was overwhelming. Although my niece was rescued in time, she is, after all, an unmarried young lady. After falling into the water, her clothes were disheveled, and Minister Yun saw her. Her reputation is likely to be ruined..."
Consort De frowned slightly, a look of worry on her face.
Upon hearing this, Yu Wan finally understood Consort De's intentions.
She just wanted to put people around Yun Shang.
Yu Wan was perfectly aware of Consort De's intentions, but she pretended not to know and continued along with her words: "Your Majesty need not worry. The innocent will remain innocent. Miss Xiao is of noble character, and I believe everyone will have their own judgment and will not make wild guesses because of this unexpected event."
Consort De changed the subject, looking directly at Yu Wan: "That may be true, but public opinion is hard to appease. After much thought, I believe that only by finding a good match can this matter be completely resolved, and it can also be considered as giving my niece an explanation."
"Madam Yun, what do you think?"
Yu Wan cursed inwardly.
She didn't think it was very good.
"Your Majesty, rest assured. My mother instructed those noble ladies yesterday not to speak of it and not to harm Miss Xiao's reputation."
Consort De stared at Yu Wan, her smile fading slightly. "Are you rejecting my proposal?"
Yu Wan gave a forced smile, "This humble woman dares not."
Consort De smiled and said, "That's good. I will ask His Majesty to issue an edict to bestow a marriage upon Yunshang and Yan'er."
“Mrs. Yu, Yan’er is of high status and is my niece. She just can’t possibly become Yun Shang’s concubine, so I’m sorry to trouble you.”
Yu Wan maintained a gentle smile and calmly said, "Your Majesty means..."
"Let Yan'er be Yun Shang's concubine."
Yu Wan: "..."
She couldn't help but secretly grumble to herself.
Xiao Huanyan was truly cursed to have an aunt like Consort De.
Yu Wan subconsciously felt that this matter had nothing to do with Xiao Huanyan.
Earlier in the plum garden, after Xiao Huanyan learned that it was her who had saved her, she made a special trip over to thank her despite feeling unwell.
Yu Wan then took the opportunity to have her clarify Su Qingchan's misunderstanding.
Xiao Huanyan agreed without any hesitation.
She had a pretty good impression of Xiao Huanyan.
Admitting one's mistakes and correcting them shows a reasonable attitude.
"Your Highness, has Miss Xiao agreed to this matter?"
Consort De's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure, her tone leaving no room for doubt: "Yan'er has always been obedient to me since she was a child. This matter concerns her reputation and her life's happiness. I will make the decision for her. How could she not agree?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Wan knew that her guess was correct.
Xiao Huanyan certainly didn't know that Consort De wanted her to be Yun Shang's secondary wife.
Yu Wan smiled slightly, seemingly respectful but actually sharp: "Your Majesty loves Miss Xiao so much and takes care of everything for her. I can understand Your Majesty's good intentions."
"But this is a matter of lifelong importance, and ultimately we must respect Miss Xiao's own wishes."
“If she has someone else in her heart, or if she has no romantic feelings for Yunshang, even if the marriage is forced upon her, it will inevitably lead to resentment in the future, and it would be a waste of the Empress’s good intentions.”
Yu Wan bowed slightly, her gaze remaining humble, yet her words were sharp and incisive.
Consort De's eyes instantly turned cold.
She stared intently at Yu Wan, as if trying to see right through her: "Yu, are you perhaps questioning my decision?"
"How dare you defy me?!"
Yu Wan, however, calmly bowed and said, "This humble woman dares not."
"You don't dare? I think you dare quite a bit!" Consort De showed a pained expression. "I used to admire and like you very much, but now it seems that you are also unreasonable."
Her eyes were filled with anger and disappointment. "How can you be worthy of Yun Shang? I might as well have the Emperor demote you from wife to concubine, let Yan'er be Yun Shang's wife, and you be his concubine."
Yu Wan was completely speechless.
She finally understood.
Does Consort De think she's a fool?
Even if the emperor had plenty of free time, he couldn't possibly be concerned with the family affairs of his ministers.
Yu Wan didn't even want to talk to Consort De anymore.
She forced a smile but didn't say anything.
Consort De was surprised that Yu Wan was neither angry nor sad, but instead looked at her with an extremely indifferent gaze.
She inexplicably felt that her actions not only failed to upset Yu Wan, but instead seemed like a monkey show she had put on for her.
And she is that monkey...
As the thought flashed through her mind, Consort De's face turned pale and then red, her anger burning fiercely, but she was speechless because of Yu Wan's dignified and unyielding attitude.
She slammed her hand on the armrest and said sharply, "Yu Shi, do you think I'm joking?"
Yu Wan lowered her eyes slightly and said calmly, "Your Majesty's words are law, how could they be a joke?"
So, are you going to agree or not?
Yu Wan raised her eyes, a half-smile on her face, "Does it make a difference whether this subject agrees or not?"
She tilted her head slightly, a hint of mockery in her eyes, as if watching a farce.
"You—" Consort De was furious, her voice becoming sharper as she pointed at Yu Wan, her body trembling slightly with anger.
At the palace gate, Empress Su stood quietly with several palace servants, listening to Consort De being forced to break down by Yu Wan's few words, and a smile couldn't help but appear between her brows.
Changning was begging her to come and save Miss Yu, but unexpectedly, without her intervention, Consort De was already half-dead from anger caused by Miss Yu.