Prince Min Nan flicked his sleeve and said coldly, "Consort Wan, let the past be the past! You are now the Emperor's consort, so you must not have any further dealings with this prince. Otherwise, you know the Emperor's temper."
Consort Wan trembled and took a few steps back. "Yu Min, you know, when I married..."
"Enough, what's the use of saying this now? Remember, you are now Consort Wan, the Emperor's consort. Do not think about the past anymore."
"I..."
Suddenly, Prince Min Nan moved closer to Consort Wan and spoke in a voice only they could hear, "Unless you forget what happened five years ago."
Consort Wan trembled, covered her mouth, and shook her head. "No, no."
"Whether you do or not is not for you to decide," Prince Min Nan said coldly.
Xue Xingyue watched Prince Min Nan flick his sleeve and leave, leaving Consort Wan standing alone, trembling slightly.
"Master, it seems this Consort Wan and Prince Min Nan have an illicit affair!" Wu Hen whispered.
Xue Xingyue was also quite shocked. She suddenly recalled that the first time she entered the palace, she seemed to have seen Prince Min Nan entwined with a palace consort in the imperial garden. Could it be this Consort Wan? If so, the Emperor was truly wearing a cuckold's hat, with his own brother involved with his own consort. It was quite the thrill, she imagined.
"It seems the Prime Minister's wife is very interested in this King's private affairs?" The sudden voice startled Xue Xingyue.
Wu Hen had already stepped in front of her, looking coldly at Prince Min Nan.
She turned back to see Prince Min Nan's handsome face, a hint of coldness etched upon it.
"Isn't this Your Highness? This humble subject pays her respects..."
"Didn't you see a good show here? Why pretend you haven't? Miss Xue, you truly make this King look at you with new eyes," Prince Min Nan said with a cold snort.
"Your Highness overestimates this humble subject. I have only just arrived and have seen nothing."
Prince Min Nan heard this and smiled, though his smile was somewhat sinister. "Miss Xue, do you know I detest liars the most?"
"This humble subject is not lying."
"What do you think happened to the last person who lied?" Prince Min Nan suddenly asked.
"He died," Xue Xingyue said, looking at him.
Prince Min Nan laughed heartily. "No. How could this King be so indiscriminate with his killing? He simply doesn't know if he is alive or dead."
Xue Xingyue felt a chilling aura surrounding her. She knew this Prince Min Nan was no simple man.
"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness. This humble subject will be more careful. If there is nothing else, this humble subject will take her leave..."
"Did this King say you could leave?" Prince Min Nan interrupted her.
Xue Xingyue frowned. It seemed this Prince Min Nan was not someone easy to deal with. "Then what does Your Highness want?"
Prince Min Nan placed his slender fingers on his chin, pondered for a moment, and then said with a smile, "Why don't you kiss this King?"
Hearing Prince Min Nan's words, Wu Hen became enraged. "Your Highness, please have some self-respect!"
Prince Min Nan's eyes turned cold. Xue Xingyue instinctively sensed danger. Just as she was about to remind him, Wu Hen was already being choked by Prince Min Nan. Instantly, a kingly aura erupted, vast and oppressive. "This King detests people pointing fingers at him the most."
"Your Highness, if my maid has offended you, this humble subject apologizes on her behalf. Please do not be angry and let her go."
"And if not?" Prince Min Nan's eyes gazed at her with a wicked glint.
She raised her head and looked at Prince Min Nan. "Then what does Your Highness want?"
"Miss, no..." But before Wu Hen could finish, Prince Min Nan tightened his grip, and she could even hear the sounds emanating from Wu Hen's body.
"Your Highness, please do not make things difficult for my maid." Xue Xingyue's eyes turned cold, and she looked at Prince Min Nan coldly.
Her clear eyes carried a chill. At this moment, Prince Min Nan saw a cold, icy aura gathering around her, as if she were a goddess on a frigid, snow-capped mountain, aloof, noble, and not to be desecrated.
Where did such an aura come from in an ordinary woman? It was more befitting of someone noble than Xiao Jiu.
His interest was piqued. Such a woman was precisely the one that he, Yu Min, should possess.
"As long as you agree to reject the engagement and marry this King, this King will release her. How about it?" Prince Min Nan looked at her with amusement.
Xue Xingyue's eyes turned cold, and she sneered, "Then may this humble subject ask Your Highness, if I reject the Prime Minister's proposal, what position would Your Highness grant me?"
Prince Min Nan was stunned. He probably hadn't expected her to ask that. After a moment, he said, "Although this King is very interested in you, your status is still a bit too low. This King will make you his side consort!"
Xue Xingyue heard this and let out a cold laugh. "Side consort? And what if I wanted the position of principal consort?"
Prince Min Nan's gaze tightened. He looked at her and said, "The Empress Mother has already chosen a principal consort for this King. Moreover, your status is a bit too low, and you cannot assume the position of principal consort. However, as long as you become this King's side consort, this King guarantees you the same treatment as the principal consort."
"Is that so? So, the woman who becomes Your Highness's principal consort must be quite unfortunate, to be subjected to the King doting on his concubines and discarding his wife."
Prince Min Nan smiled, released Wu Hen, and approached her. "As long as you are willing, what's wrong with this King being the one who dotes on concubines and discards his wife?"
Xue Xingyue took a few steps back, putting distance between herself and Prince Min Nan. She sneered, "Unfortunately, I am not willing."
"Why are you unwilling? This King is quite accomplished. With your status, at best, you would only be a plaything. This King offers you the position of side consort, and you're still not satisfied?" Prince Min Nan was somewhat surprised. He felt that Xue Xingyue was too self-important.
Xue Xingyue's eyes turned cold. She said coldly, "Why should I be willing? The Prime Minister has promised me the position of principal wife. I would have to be out of my mind to give up the position of principal wife to become your side consort. Fortunately, my mind is not ill, and I am perfectly lucid. So, I apologize, Your Highness. Please reserve your side consort position for someone who is out of their mind!"
"You are ungrateful." Prince Min Nan was furious upon hearing this, looking at Xue Xingyue coldly.
Xue Xingyue sneered. "What? If this humble subject is unwilling, then I am ungrateful? Your Highness, I think you need to see a doctor. You might believe that countless people are vying for your side consort position, but unfortunately, this humble subject is not willing. So, a forced melon is not sweet; you should find someone who is willing. Goodbye!" Xue Xingyue waved her hand, leaped up, and left with Wu Hen.
Damn it, she fell into that ugly woman's trap.
Prince Min Nan's gaze was cold, but he quickly returned to normal. Unwilling? Then he liked to force things.
With that thought, Prince Min Nan left.
Xue Xingyue led Wu Hen to a rather secluded palace chamber. She helped Wu Hen inside. "Mast... Master, Wu Hen is fine," Wu Hen said, looking at her.