Prologue

The force made her head tilt to the side, her face burning with pain, and her ears began to ring. She raised her head in shock and saw that Huo Chen's hand was still suspended in mid-air, his tightly pressed lips trembling continuously

Suddenly, a person rushed into the inner hall and knelt down, saying: "Your Highness, a brocade pouch has been found in front of the royal residence!"

Mu Qizhi felt deeply saddened; his most beloved daughter had brought such disgrace upon herself. How could he maintain his standing in the court after this? He shook off Mu Wanqing's hand and said, "I do not have a daughter like you"

Her face turned pale as snow in an instant, a ninth-rank concubine? That is merely like a maidservant, just a tool for warming the bed

The Empress looked at Huo Chen with difficulty, then glanced at Mu Wanqing, finding it hard to make a decision. She had always cherished Mu Wanqing, so how could she bear to demote her to a concubine.

Mu Wanqing trembled all over, unable to believe that he would slap himself twice in the face. Her heart felt empty, a sensation more unbearable than sadness. Looking at her father again, he did not spare her a glance, nor did he show any expression of pity. Mu Wanqing gasped in pain, as if there were a mirror inside her heart that had been struck heavily. After the deafening crash, there followed the incessant sound of countless fragments shattering, echoing endlessly.

A day of great joy

The surrounding murmurs began, all gazing at Mu Wanqing with contemptuous eyes

At this moment, in the inner hall, Mu Wanqing's mother, Lu Xinmei, could no longer withstand the blow and fainted. Her son, Mu Yixu, supported Lu Xinmei, feeling anxious and distressed.

Mu Wanqing glanced around, unwilling to look at her father, her fainted mother, or the sinister expression of Mu Yirou. She laughed wildly, her body trembling violently: "Then I only wish not to encounter you again in my next life!"

The guard carried in a brocade bag, which was about half a person's height, and it seemed to contain a person inside

Quickly bring it in!" Huo Chen waved his hand.

Mu Qizhi immediately said: "Quickly open it, it is very likely to be Qing'er!"

Mu Wanqing could only shake her head: "Qing'er does not know, that person is masked, and Qing'er is being held down tightly by him, unable to see anything."

How could this happen... The Empress Dowager no longer wished to continue speaking, sitting back in her chair, her head pounding painfully.

"Your Majesty, Lady Mu Wanqing has violated the seven offenses and has been demoted to the ninth rank of concubine. However, the side consort, Lady Mu Yirou, possesses excellent character and virtues, making her suitable to be the head matriarch of the Wang residence. I kindly request Your Majesty to issue a decree." Huo Chen spoke again in a clear voice

The guard received the order, and after opening the brocade bag at hetushu.com, he was stunned by the scene before him

Before the words had left his lips, a loud bang echoed, and warm blood suddenly splattered onto Huo Chen's face

Huo Chen, with a blank expression, struck Mu Wanqing again and said, "It is you who should be quiet."

Huo Chen's face was ashen, and his dark eyes were brewing a storm, struggling to suppress their trembling

Today, the most talked-about topic in the capital is undoubtedly the marriage of the current emperor's second son, Prince Zhuang, to the two daughters of the Prime Minister, sharing in the blessings of a harmonious union. It is said that although these two daughters are not born of the same mother, they are both beauties, leaving all the men in the capital with nothing but envy.

The guests have all arrived, and the auspicious time for the ceremony has come, yet one person is still missing

It seems to sense the breath of death

"Shut up! I don't need you to plead for me!" Mu Wanqing glared at Mu Yirou

Mu Wanqing stood there in a daze, tightly clutching the red wedding robe in her hands, which had become dark red from being soaked with tears. The tears on her cheeks had already dried, and she spoke slowly, word by word: "Huo Chen, I was originally betrothed to Brother Huan. You went to great lengths to have the Emperor grant our marriage, and now you treat me like this!"

Huo Chen was dressed in a bright red wedding attire, his appearance exceptionally handsome. However, at this moment, his lips were tightly pressed together, and there was a hint of sorrow between his brows. He glanced at the red carpet extending into the inner hall, feeling a persistent unease in his heart.

The guests were astonished, and soon began to whisper among themselves. Even the Empress Dowager could not help but stand up, looking at the brocade pouch in shock

The Empress hesitated for a moment, then spoke in a deep voice: "Very well!"

Father! Mu Yixu was taken aback, not expecting his father to treat his sister this way

"Your Majesty, this concerns the dignity of the royal family. Moreover, Mu Wanqing has violated the seven offenses, and such punishment is not excessive." Huo Chen calmed down, his voice indifferent; since it had already happened, they must strive to turn the tide.

Mu Wanqing felt as if her world had collapsed in an instant, leaving her in utter despair

The person who is missing is the legitimate wife, Mu Wanqing. When it was time to fetch the bride, there was no one in the boudoir.

"Chen'er, what did you say?" The Empress Dowager was momentarily taken aback; their marriage had been personally arranged by the Emperor.

Mu Yirou had already lifted the veil, and upon seeing the scene before her, she surprisingly felt a hint of pleasure in her heart

Mu Wanqing noticed that Mu Qizhi was ignoring her. Just as she was about to speak again, someone slapped her hard.

"You are not perfect; how else should I treat you?" Huo Chen's voice was as cold as ice and snow.

The Prime Minister's second daughter, Mu Yirou, was dressed in a complete set of pink wedding attire, even the veil was pink, all of which indicated that she was not the primary wife, and she stood quietly by the side waiting.

Your Majesty, Qing'er does not wish to become a concubine, Qing'er does not want to!" Mu Wanqing caught a glimpse of the cold smile at the corner of Mu Yirou's mouth, and she quickly moved in front of Mu Qizhi, grasping his clothing, "Father, please plead for your daughter, your daughter does not want to become a concubine..."

"Your Majesty, Qing'er knows nothing at all. At that time, Qing'er had just finished her makeup when she was abducted. Qing'er truly knows nothing..." Mu Wanqing wept softly, her appearance resembling a pear blossom drenched in rain, evoking a sense of pity in those who beheld her

Only then did Mu Wanqing appear disheveled, with traces of tears at the corners of her eyes, trembling all over as she desperately clutched a red garment to shield herself from the spring light in front of her. There were still dried bloodstains between her legs, clearly indicating that she had just engaged in a shameful act. She looked around in panic, immediately feeling an overwhelming sense of shame and anger, and upon seeing Mu Qizhi, she hoarsely called out: "Father..."

The Prime Minister, Mu Qizhi, furrowed his brows deeply, feeling very anxious in his heart. He had already sent someone to search, but there had been no news for a long time

"You shameless woman!" Huo Chen shouted, waving his sleeve, "Unrelated individuals, step back!"

The guests looked at Huo Chen's furious expression and did not dare to linger any longer, quickly exiting the inner hall. However, soon everyone in the capital knew that the Princess of the Zhuang Wang had been abducted and violated before her marriage, and that the Zhuang Wang had been cuckolded

Huo Chen only felt a flash of red before his eyes, and when he opened them again, he saw Mu Wanqing softly collapsed against the wall, the pure white wall stained with streaks of bright red, dotted with splatters of blood

"So who exactly abducted you?" The Empress frowned, for the Princess was not without flaws; if this were to spread, she would surely become a laughingstock across the realm

Huo Chen stood there, unable to move for a long time

However, a solemn atmosphere was spreading in the main hall of the Duke Zhuang's residence

The Duke Zhuang's residence is adorned with lanterns and festive decorations, with large red characters of joy everywhere.

"Your Majesty, my sister is also innocent; she has been humiliated by the masked individual. Surely, she is very distressed. Although this matter concerns the dignity of the royal family, I implore you to show mercy." Mu Yirou knelt down, her expression sincere

Everyone present panicked and could not help but scream

"Your Majesty." Huo Chen turned around, no longer looking at Mu Wanqing, "I now request your decree to demote Mu Wanqing to the rank of ninth-class concubine."

Mu Wanqing cried even more intensely, her tears falling to the ground like a string of broken pearls

That is her husband, yet she lost her virtue before marriage

Suddenly, it fell silent