Chapter 262: Chapter 261: Making Trouble"Emperor—" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sang Yan thought for a moment and still advised, "Three days is too soon."


    He Ying dismissed the concern, "Why is it too soon? Your father is already prepared."


    Sang Yan explained, "We have just returned, and it’s important to prioritize state affairs. You should take care of the matters at hand first before considering the royal wedding."


    Fearing he wouldn’t agree, she asked Sang Kun, "How many auspicious dates have you selected, and when are they?"


    She believed Sang Kun would not dare to arrange a date only three days away.


    It wasn’t that Sang Kun did not dare, but rather that he had not expected the Emperor to be so impatient, which completely caught him by surprise.


    When he discussed the dates with the Ministry of Rites, even half a month seemed too hasty for fear of displeasing the Emperor.


    Now that the Emperor himself was anxious, there was no issue at all.


    He immediately proposed three auspicious dates; one half a month later, another a month later, and the last one three months later.


    "All chosen by the Observatory as auspicious dates. Please, Empress, make your personal selection."


    "Let’s choose the one on the twenty-seventh of next month."


    She gave her answer, settling on a date a month away.


    He Ying frowned, slightly dissatisfied, "I think the ninth of next month is good."


    He feared the longer it took, the more things could go wrong.


    He always felt that, once they were married, everything would be official and settled.


    "Ah Yan, let’s settle on the ninth of next month."


    He looked at her with a hint of pleading in his eyes.


    Sang Yan understood his thoughts and, with a soft heart, nodded, "Alright then."


    He Ying was pleased and immediately ordered with a smile, "Did you hear that, Sang Aiqing? The wedding arrangements are entirely in your hands now. If there is any mishap—"


    "Rest assured, Emperor!"


    Sang Kun was brimming with confidence, laughing, "Your humble servant will handle it properly."


    He Ying nodded, "Very good. Everyone, please sit and enjoy the meal."


    The long dining table was laden with delicious food.


    Sang Yan and He Ying were seated at the head of the table.


    To the left were Sang Kun and his wife Ms. Lin, and to the right were Sang Jue and his wife Suxi.


    Sang Ruoshui sat opposite Sang Yan and He Ying.


    Hearing the date of the Emperor’s wedding, her pretty face was wan and pale as a lotus flower.


    During the meal, she kept casting pitiful, loving glances at He Ying.


    She truly felt sorry for herself.


    The Emperor was in such a hurry to marry Sang Yan.


    When the time came for their grand royal wedding, all the citizens of Da He would know Sang Yan’s name.


    Empress!


    Such glory that was!


    And what about her?


    No one knew the name Sang Ruoshui.


    She refused to accept this!


    How could she be inferior to a widow cursed with a husband-killing fate?


    Sang Yan had not missed Sang Ruoshui’s subtle expressions; she was just waiting to see her cause a scene.


    Sure enough.


    Sang Ruoshui was drinking water when she suddenly pretended to choke, coughing conspicuously.


    She covered her mouth with her handkerchief, tears brimming in her eyes, pathetically coughing.


    She successfully drew everyone’s attention.


    Including He Ying.


    "Emperor—"


    Seeing He Ying looking her way, Sang Ruoshui weakly said, "Forgive me, Emperor, for my impropriety."


    He Ying glanced at her and without a word, turned his gaze away.


    Unsatisfied, Sang Ruoshui stood up, holding her tea, "This concubine congratulates the Emperor and my sister on becoming a blessed couple."


    These were words of good fortune.


    He Ying responded reluctantly, "Mm. Please sit down."


    After sitting back down, Sang Ruoshui spoke with implication, "In the past, on occasion of the Emperor and Empress’s wedding, the concubines would be rewarded. The sisters in the harem must be thrilled to hear this news."


    She said this while coyly covering her lips with her handkerchief, using her cough as a pretext to give her father Sang Kun a meaningful look.


    While she seemed to be speaking for the concubines, she was actually seeking benefits for herself, feeling that it was time for her own position to be elevated.


    Sang Kun received his younger daughter’s hint, raised his eyelids, and looked at her, but said nothing.


    The royal wedding between the Emperor and the Empress was a joyous event celebrated by all under heaven.


    Sang Ruoshui and Sang Yan were blood sisters, and there was no shortage of instances where sisters were promoted together, but everyone with clear sight could see He Ying’s attitude toward Sang Ruoshui—why would he bother to try and please her to no avail?


    He had previously had high hopes for his younger daughter, hoping she would rise in rank and was willing to lend a helping hand, but now that his elder daughter had ascended to heaven in one step, whether her rank rose or not would not make any difference.


    Thus, he pretended to be blind and mute, concentrating only on eating his meal.


    Sang Ruoshui didn’t give up, even glancing at her second brother, Sang Jue.


    Sang Jue had always been disinterested in the affairs of the former imperial harem and naturally ignored it.


    Sang Ruoshui became so angry that she started to cough violently, even close to convulsing.


    But the father and son duo were tacit, and just would not look at her.


    Seated in the seat of honor, Sang Yan: "..."


    She wanted to force herself to act as if she hadn’t seen anything, but she really couldn’t ignore it!


    Seeing that Sang Yan was running out of patience, Sang Jue spoke up before she opened her mouth, directly addressing He Ying, "Emperor, my mother is advanced in age and requires care. Now that the Empress is accompanying Your Majesty in the palace, may Princess Consort Sang return to her family home?"


    "Second brother?"


    Sang Ruoshui exclaimed in disbelief, a face full of incredulity: He actually said such a thing! Where does that leave her?


    Sang Yan was also surprised that Sang Jue would do this.


    She believed he was protecting her.


    To be fair, she also wanted Sang Ruoshui to leave the palace.


    Firstly, she wasn’t magnanimous enough to accept sharing her husband with other women.


    Secondly, He Ying’s heart wasn’t with Sang Ruoshui.


    Sang Ruoshui was young and beautiful, still virtuous and untouched, staying in this lonely deep palace and wasting her life was utterly unnecessary.


    While she was thinking, she heard the man beside her say, "This proposal is not bad."


    He Ying was not fond of female companionship, and after encountering Sang Yan, he only wanted to live a life in pairs with her forever.


    Although Sang Yan didn’t say anything, having Sang Ruoshui remain in the palace, who was also her sister, was also a thorn for them.


    "Ah Yan, what do you think?"


    He looked at her tenderly, seeking her opinion.


    Sang Yan stated truthfully, "Ruishui is still young. Letting her leave the palace to find a good match in the future is naturally for the best—"


    "I will not leave the palace!"


    Sang Ruoshui interrupted Sang Yan with an urgent voice and abruptly stood up from her seat.


    She looked at He Ying with tearful eyes and cried, "Ruishui was born a member of the imperial family and will be a ghost of the imperial family in death. Emperor, Ruishui is already your concubine, even if you only have my sister in your heart, Ruishui is willing to stay in the palace and serve by your side."


    She was full of enthusiasm, hoping to see a hint of emotion and pity in He Ying’s eyes.


    But there was nothing.


    He frowned, looking at her displeasedly.


    It seemed as if he was very dissatisfied with her rhetoric and even looked at Sang Yan with a worrying glance.


    Was he that afraid of her getting angry?


    Sang Ruoshui was filled with both jealousy and unwillingness.


    Yet the woman sitting above them, with a calm face, looked at her with an expression full of pity.


    "Ruishui, leaving the palace is not a bad thing for you."


    Sang Yan advised kindly.


    Staying by the side of a man who doesn’t love oneself, wasting one’s life—she simply couldn’t understand it.


    When she hadn’t fallen in love with He Ying, she thought day and night about how to leave.


    But here she was, stubbornly refusing to leave.


    With the Sang Family’s current power and status, even if she were just a Miss, what could she want that she couldn’t have?


    "Sister—"


    Sang Ruoshui was not receptive to Sang Yan’s words, her tone aggrieved with a sharp edge: "Night and day I pray fervently to the heavens for your and the Emperor’s safe return. But Sister, the first thing you do upon returning is to not tolerate your sister?"


    This statement had an accusatory tone.


    Immediately, the atmosphere at the dining table froze.


    Seeing the situation turning sour, Sang Kun immediately knelt down to seek forgiveness: "Emperor, I beg for clemency. The Lady’s improper words are the result of my lack of guidance."


    Ms. Lin, seeing him kneel, also followed suit in fear.


    The couple’s actions made the atmosphere at the dining table even chillier.


    No one spoke.


    Sang Yan looked at Sang Ruoshui with an expressionless face, her visage revealing no sign of joy or anger.


    Initially, she had some pity for Sang Ruoshui.


    Now it seemed she was being too much of a "saint."


    She sympathized with others, yet they wanted to morally bind her!