A group of people, ready to liven up the wedding chamber, happily headed towards the bridal room, many already joking and discussing how they would tease the newlyweds.
Just then, a woman dressed in brocade robes, elaborately adorned, suddenly stumbled and ran from the side.
Before the crowd could get a clear look at the situation, the woman lunged directly at the Crown Prince.
Qin Yexiu, having practiced martial arts since childhood, was not a master but reacted extremely quickly. He directly kicked out at the figure that suddenly appeared.
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, the figure flew out like a kite with a broken string, landing on the ground without moving.
The woman lay on her back. Her face was not clearly visible in the dim candlelight, but she appeared to be reasonably pretty.
An awkward silence fell for a moment.
The first to react was a noblewoman from the back of the crowd, who seemed to be the wife of a minister.
"Yun'er?" the noblewoman exclaimed in surprise. Upon seeing the woman's face, her complexion instantly turned pale.
"Yun'er, wake up quickly, don't scare mother!"
Ignoring the presence of so many distinguished individuals, the noblewoman rushed forward and helped the woman up.
Seeing this scene, everyone's expressions changed, especially Qin Yexiu, who had just delivered the kick. His face was so grim it was beyond description!
Li Yueshu curiously leaned closer to Qin Moyuan. "Who is this?"
Qin Moyuan bent down, his thin lips almost touching Li Yueshu's ear. "This is the wife and daughter of Imperial Censor Li. The woman kicked unconscious by Qin Yexiu is Li Yun'er."
Li Yueshu's ear felt a little itchy and hot.
She shifted away slightly, looking at the woman lying not far away with some surprise.
This was Li Yun'er?
Qin Moyuan noticed her expression and asked softly, "Does Ah Shu know her?"
Li Yueshu nodded. Though she didn't say much, Qin Moyuan immediately guessed that this was another character from the original novel.
Li Yun'er was indeed a character from the original novel, and she had quite a significant role.
Wei Zimiao, who used his own life as bait to help Li Xiangru compete for favor, eventually died at the hands of this Li Yun'er.
Thinking of this, Li Yueshu couldn't help but turn and scan the crowd. Her gaze happened to meet Wei Zimiao's.
As the Crown Prince's advisor, Wei Zimiao had already moved into the Eastern Palace and naturally made an appearance at the wedding banquet today.
Seeing her look over, Wei Zimiao smiled gently, appearing no different from when they were in Tongmu County.
Just as Li Yueshu was about to return his smile, her face was suddenly turned by someone.
Then, Qin Moyuan's slightly jealous voice sounded, "Is my face not enough for Ah Shu to look at?"
Li Yueshu: "..."
This man is so petty!
But she liked it so much!
Their interaction was unnoticed by anyone except Wei Zimiao. Everyone's attention was focused on Li Yun'er and her mother.
Madam Li swayed, managing to actually wake the unconscious Li Yun'er.
But the first thing she said after opening her eyes shocked everyone, "Mother, quickly... quickly call a doctor. My child, hurry and save my child!"
Everyone was stunned.
Li Yun'er was still unmarried and not even betrothed. How could she have a child!
Madam Li's face also changed. She quickly tried to salvage the situation, "Yun'er, you hit your head and are talking nonsense! What are you saying!"
Li Yun'er was in a disheveled state and paid no mind to her mother's words. What she said next made everyone gasp.
She turned to look at Qin Yexiu, her eyes teary. "Your Highness, Yun'er begs you, please save our child!"
"Hiss—"
Everyone looked at Qin Yexiu in disbelief.
Qin Yexiu's face darkened. "Nonsense! Today is my joyous occasion. How dare you cause such a scene? Are you not afraid I will hold the entire Li family accountable!"
"Yun'er is not talking nonsense!" Li Yun'er showed no fear of his threat. "Your Highness, have you forgotten that you got drunk before going to Guanzhou? Yun'er didn't leave then. Yun'er accompanied Your Highness for a night, and Yun'er is already Your Highness's woman!"
Everyone looked at Qin Yexiu with curiosity, wanting to know if Li Yun'er's words were true or false.
Qin Yexiu's expression was somber, his fists clenched, but he did not refute.
Could this... be true?
For a moment, no one spoke.
The Emperor's complexion was also not good. He said in a deep voice, "Summon the imperial physician!"
It was the Eastern Palace's celebratory banquet today, and the head of the Imperial Hospital was present.
Hearing the Emperor's command, the elderly head physician hurried out and, under everyone's watchful gaze, took Li Yun'er's pulse.
Upon feeling the pulse at his fingertips, the head physician's expression changed slightly. He quickly performed other examinations.
Finally, he looked up tremblingly at the Emperor. "Reporting to Your Majesty, Miss Li's pulse... is indeed a fetal pulse."
At this moment, the head physician deeply regretted not feigning illness and staying home today instead of attending this wedding banquet.
For a moment, everyone turned their gaze towards Qin Yexiu, some with condemnation, others with amusement. No one spoke.
The Emperor's face darkened slightly. His imperial majesty made him look unapproachable at this moment.
"Xiu'er, how do you explain this matter?"
Qin Yexiu's face was also very unpleasant. The mask of kindness and amiability he usually wore had fallen off.
Today was his and Ru'er's joyous occasion. Ru'er was the woman he loved, and the Zhenbei General's Mansion was a family he had to win over.
He had already accepted several women into the Eastern Palace today. If he were to accept Li Yun'er as well, he would have no way to explain it to the Zhenbei General's Mansion and Ru'er!
"Father, this humble son..."
"Your Majesty, please uphold justice for your subject's daughter!" Li Yun'er, as if knowing what Qin Yexiu was about to say, quickly crawled up from her mother's embrace and knelt before the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, this subject deeply understands that premarital pregnancy is a disgrace to the family. However, this subject has admired the Crown Prince since childhood. This is not a secret in the entire Chongzhou."
"The Crown Prince was drunk that night, and this subject was no match for him..." Li Yun'er cried piteously. "This subject gave herself to His Highness purely. I implore Your Majesty to uphold justice for this subject!"
The Emperor did not speak, his gaze towards Li Yun'er clearly showing displeasure.
Madam Li's heart skipped a beat, feeling that her daughter was being exceptionally bold today.
Her words, though asking the Emperor for justice, were clearly forcing the Emperor to give her an explanation!
Madam Li slapped her audacious daughter, but thinking of the child in her belly, who was the Crown Prince's, she had to consider her daughter's future, no matter how angry she was!
Madam Li gritted her teeth and also knelt before the Emperor. "Your Majesty, this humble subject has only this one daughter, and now... please uphold justice for the Li family!"
She was clever to mention the entire Li family.
Li Yueshu had been watching the show from the side.
With the situation having developed to this point, she could already anticipate the ending.
Since Madam Li dared to mention the Li family directly to the Emperor, the Li family's status in Chennan Kingdom must be quite high.
Since this was Qin Yexiu's fault, he was the one who had to compromise.
Looking at Qin Yexiu's ashen face, Li Yueshu felt a sense of schadenfreude.