Chapter 141

Chapter 141

What did she mean by "fulfilling Chang Gongjun's wish" and "no harm to him," and that his future children would benefit from their father's position?

Those words sounded so pleasant!

Chang Gongjun was a member of the imperial family. If he actually married into the household, even Han's parents, who are his in-laws and elders, would have to bow to him. How could he possibly stand on equal footing with him?

Given Chang Gongjun's domineering nature, by then, if he didn't arrange for Shen Qinglan to "die of illness," Shen Qinglan would have to thank his lucky stars. How could he possibly tolerate Shen Qinglan continuing to be intimate with his husband and have children? Did they really take him for a fool?

Shen Qinglan's face went pale. The more "diplomatically" Empress Zhang spoke, the colder he felt inside.

—This wasn't a discussion at all—it was plainly using imperial power to bully him.

He couldn't agree, and he wouldn't agree.

Shen Qinglan wiped away his tears, his voice trembling yet defiant:

"No, that's not good! Empress... Though Qinglan is not well-read or knowledgeable, I have read in the *Book of Rites* that husband and wife are one, in harmony like a well-tuned zither."

"My husband once said that in this life, he would have only me. I too have given him my whole heart, vowing to share life and death with him. How can I now betray that vow out of greed for power and advancement?"

"Qinglan would not dare defy the imperial family's kindness, but if His Highness truly insists on marrying into the Han family, Qinglan... is willing to voluntarily step aside and return to my family home, rather than block His Highness Chang Gongjun's path to marriage."

At these words, Empress Zhang's face immediately went cold.

She hadn't expected Shen Geer to be this obstinate.

Step aside voluntarily? If word of this got out, what would become of imperial dignity? Wouldn't people say the royal family had forcibly taken a minister's husband and torn a couple apart?

"Absurd." Empress Zhang's tone grew heavy. "I came to discuss this with you kindly, and you dare to talk back to me like that?"

"You and Master Han were married through proper matchmaking, and Master Han once publicly vowed to love you. How can you just break up like that? What I want is a tale of 'Ehuang and Nüying'—two sisters sharing one husband—as a beautiful story, not a joke for people to point fingers at!"

She set down her teacup, the porcelain base hitting the table with a sharp clink.

"Shen Qinglan, you're a smart person. You should know what it means to go along with the tide, to follow the three obediences and four virtues (of a virtuous woman), and to know a wife's proper role."

"Master Han is a pillar of the state. The Crown Prince depends on him, and His Majesty has high hopes for him. His future is far more than just a lowly compiler at the Hanlin Academy. If you insist on monopolizing him, you'll be blocking his path to success and disappointing the imperial family."

"Go home and think carefully about what I've said. In three days, I expect an answer."

After a pause, Empress Zhang added a warning: "I don't want Master Han to find out about today's matter. You... understand?"

With that, she no longer looked at Shen Qinglan's pale face, and raised her hand to signal the matron beside her:

"Escort Han's husband out."

"Empress, Empress..."

Shen Qinglan wanted to argue further, but was already forcefully "escorted" out of the teahouse by the matron. The warm sun shone on him, yet he felt a chill that pierced to the bone, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

Why should he have to step aside just because Chang Gongjun had taken a fancy to his husband?

No matter how noble Chang Gongjun was, there was no principle that allowed forcibly taking another man's husband.

How could the mighty imperial family be so shameless!

Empress Zhang forbade Shen Qinglan from telling Han Zhang what had happened, but Shen Qinglan was hardly the type to endure humiliation and bear burdens. Upon returning home, he rushed into his room, hugging the brocade quilt and crying his heart out.

By the time Han Zhang came home that evening, his eyes were swollen like walnuts.

Alarmed, Han Zhang immediately pulled him into his arms, comforting him and asking with concern: "Husband, what happened? Who bullied you? Tell me, and I'll make it right for you. If you keep crying, you'll ruin your eyes!"

"Wuwu, husband, it was Chang Gongjun Jiayou, it was the Empress who bullied me... The Empress forced me to give you up to Chang Gongjun, and she threatened that I mustn't tell you about today's matter, wuwu..."

Shen Qinglan didn't care about any of that. He quickly recounted the whole affair to Han Zhang, sobbing so hard he could barely breathe, utterly heartbroken.

Because in his heart, his husband was the most formidable.

He had always held complete adoration and trust in Han Zhang. He believed Han Zhang would never abandon their feelings and vows for the sake of power and wealth, and believed in the words Han Zhang had spoken about protecting him.

Such complete trust and dependence was, frankly, foolish—because if a man's words could be relied upon, pigs could climb trees.

But for a man like Han Zhang, this was precisely what could move him most.

After hearing the truth, he didn't blame Shen Qinglan for being tactless and offending the Empress. He only felt grateful that his husband trusted him so completely, and hadn't kept things bottled up inside, making regrettable decisions on his own under the guise of "for his own good."

"You're crying over this?" Han Zhang gently wiped away his tears with a smile. "I thought the sky was falling."

Shen Qinglan sniffled in confusion: "Isn't it? That's Chang Gongjun, the Empress, the imperial family... Defying the imperial decree—at best, my husband and I would be thrown in prison; at worst, it could implicate the nine clans..."

"Wuwu, but husband, I really don't want to give you up to Chang Gongjun. I can't bear it..."

Han Zhang pulled him close, patting his back gently: "If you can't bear it, then refuse. Remember what I told you before? My heart holds only you."

"Never mind the Empress—even if His Majesty himself pressured me, I would rather die with you than betray you and bow to power."

Shen Qinglan nodded through his sobs: "I'd die with you too, but... what if His Majesty and the Empress take it out on my parents? I, I don't want to implicate my parents and second brother. They've doted on me since I was little."

This, Han Zhang couldn't guarantee. After all, barring any unexpected turn, it was almost certain that the Han and Shen families would suffer repercussions.

But he couldn't bow his head out of such concerns.

Not to mention whether Chang Gongjun Jiayou could even tolerate his husband—if he yielded on this matter, he would never again gain the trust and favor of the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

After all, he had shown a stubborn temperament. If he submitted under such duress, he would surely harbor resentment. Who would keep a tiger as a threat?

Whether he bowed or not, the outcome wouldn't be good.

Of course, these discouraging thoughts couldn't be shared with his husband right now.

Han Zhang only asked: "Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do, but—"

"Trusting me is enough." Han Zhang cut him off, his voice steady: "Neither the Empress nor His Majesty can force me to do what I don't want to do."

"Leave this to me. Don't think about anything—eat well, sleep well. No matter how great the trouble, I'll bear it. Tomorrow, I'll go to the Crown Prince and refuse this matter."

Shen Qinglan looked at him with hope: "Really?"

"Really. Have I ever broken a promise to you?"

Han Zhang kissed his husband's forehead with affection.

Shen Qinglan looked at his gentle, assured eyes, and the restless fear in his heart immediately settled.

He nodded firmly, buried his face in Han Zhang's chest, and said in a muffled voice:

“My lord, if you truly intend to marry Princess Changgong as your primary consort… then I—I’ll hang myself right before your eyes!”

Han Zhang let out a low chuckle. “Who was it that once declared, ‘If you ever betray me, I’ll kill you in my rage’? And now you’re acting like a coward—threatening to take your own life?”

“I… I’m not being a coward. I’m doing this so my parents won’t be dragged into trouble.”

Shen Qinglan retorted, flustered and defiant.

He simply couldn’t bring himself to admit that even if Han Zhang betrayed him, he still wouldn’t be able to bring himself to kill him—that would be utterly pathetic.

Yet Han Zhang understood, even without a word spoken.

Han Zhang drew him close and murmured with a gentle smile, “Don’t worry, my husband. You alone hold my heart; I’ll never let you down.”

Finding someone who loved him wasn’t difficult—but finding someone who loved him with such unwavering, wholehearted devotion? That was rare indeed in this world.

How could he possibly cast away such a treasure?

…

The next day, Han Zhang wasted no time and went straight to the Eastern Palace to see the Crown Prince.

At that moment, the Crown Prince happened to be discussing the matter with Empress Zhang, with Jiayou present and listening.

Upon hearing of Han Zhang’s arrival, Empress Zhang immediately surmised that Shen Qinglan had rushed home to complain—and her expression darkened.

“This Shen Qinglan truly has no sense of what’s good for him—dismissing my words as if they were worthless!”

Who, in such a situation, wouldn’t try to conceal the matter and fret in silence? Yet Shen Qinglan, having already been warned, dared not only to complain—but did so with astonishing speed.

Jiayou was both furious and anxious, unable to contain himself: “Mother, Brother Crown Prince—what do we do now? Brother Han must know we pressured Shen Qinglan behind his back; he’s surely blaming me!”

“Mother, Jiayou—retreat behind the screen for now. Let me first hear what Master Han has to say.”

The Crown Prince sighed and waved his hand.

Empress Zhang and Jiayou had no choice but to withdraw behind the screen temporarily, watching closely to gauge Han Zhang’s stance.

When Han Zhang entered, he wasted no time on pleasantries. After paying his formal respects, he spoke plainly:

“Your Highness, I have come today to request a favor. Yesterday, Her Majesty the Empress summoned my husband and raised the matter of Princess Changgong Jiayou marrying into our family. My husband was devastated—and upon hearing this, I, too, felt deeply unsettled. After much deliberation, I lay awake the entire night.”

“Therefore, I dare to petition Your Highness today for a final judgment. The honor bestowed by Princess Changgong is far beyond what I dare accept. Humbly, I beg Your Highness to persuade her to abandon this idea entirely.”

Hearing this, the Crown Prince felt a twinge of displeasure—after all, his younger brother was as precious as gold and jade—so why did Han Zhang recoil from him as though he were venomous?

Yet he concealed his feelings perfectly. Leisurely stirring the lid of his teacup, he assumed an expression of mild bewilderment and sighed: “Han Xiuzhuan, Jiayou is my own younger brother. Though his temperament may be somewhat spoiled, his status is noble, and his affection for you is sincere. For your sake, he’s even willing to lower his own standing and enter your household on equal footing with the Shen family—asking only for a measure of your compassion and a place beside you. He has no intention whatsoever of disrupting your union with the Shen family…”

“Moreover, Jiayou’s constitution is frail, and he cannot sire children. Should he marry you, it would prove an immense blessing—for your career, and for the future offspring you may have with the Shen family. Why must you remain so obstinate?”

“If Master Han fears idle gossip from outsiders, I shall handle that personally. It is commonplace for a man of stature to maintain multiple wives and concubines. As a man of exceptional talent, you truly ought not to squander your energy on matters confined to the inner chambers.”

The Crown Prince spoke with earnest sincerity, as though every word came from the heart.

Unfortunately, such rhetoric could only deceive green youths newly emerged into the world.

Han Zhang, however, was a seasoned soul who had lived two lifetimes. When he himself had been spinning grand promises, this man was likely still nestled in his mother’s womb.

Who better than he—a man who had once stood at the very pinnacle of power—to fathom the true faces and hidden thoughts of those who ruled?