The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 440: The First Prince to Be Divorced from the Royal Family

Chapter 440: The First Prince to Be Divorced from the Royal Family

Having slapped himself in frustration, Emperor Muwu still felt it wasn’t enough and slapped himself a second time.

The chief eunuch, considering the situation, suggested, "Your Majesty, if this is indeed the Ninth Prince’s child, it might solve your urgent problem."

They wouldn’t need to find another candidate for the throne.

Emperor Mu Wu glared at him, then kicked him in frustration. "Listen to yourself! Does that even sound like something a person would say?! I wouldn’t even consider Concubine Chen’s child, so why would I consider the one born of County Princess Yu? If my Ninth Brother and the Sixth Miss had a child--even if it were a daughter--I’d be willing to pass the throne to her."

What a pity--they don’t even have an egg between them!

And now, someone else has gotten ahead and claimed to be pregnant. Ninth Brother, how foolish you’ve been!

You may very well become the first prince in our royal family to be divorced!

The chief eunuch, rubbing his sore backside from the kick, hurriedly begged for forgiveness.

"My mind was muddled--please, Your Majesty, forgive me," he said. "As for County Princess Yu..."

"Summon them in," Emperor Muwu said, resuming his imperial demeanor, his face set in a stern expression.

The chief eunuch gestured, and a young eunuch went out to bring everyone in.

Fan Yunxi, being Xie Beihan’s wife and Emperor Muwu’s niece, was treated with the usual respect. Yu Chunhua, however, despite her status as a county princess, had no significant standing and was expected to perform the formal rites.

But Yu Chunhua was aware that Chu Nanli didn’t need to bow to the Emperor or Empress. Given that she carried the Ninth Prince’s child, she felt she should be given special treatment.

She pretended to kneel slowly, but Emperor Muwu did not immediately grant her exemption.

Yu Chunhua grew anxious. Why hadn’t the Emperor allowed her to skip the formalities yet?

Emperor Muwu glanced at her with growing disdain. "How many months have you been pregnant?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, just over a month," Yu Chunhua said, her voice taut but betraying her delight and pride. It was clear that the Emperor cared about the Ninth Prince’s offspring.

Emperor Muwu, uninterested in further exchanges, instructed the nearby Imperial Guard, "Go fetch the Imperial Physician."

The Imperial Guard bowed and swiftly departed.

"Beihan," Emperor Muwu addressed Xie Beihan, "You haven’t sent anyone to the Prince Yu Mansion, have you?"

Xie Beihan understood the underlying concern immediately and responded, "Your Majesty, I have not sent anyone to the Prince Yu Mansion. But County Princess Yu made quite a scene at the palace gate, and many Imperial Guards heard her."

Emperor Muwu’s expression darkened as he cast a cold look at Yu Chunhua. She felt a chill and nearly collapsed to her knees.

She quickly defended herself, "I intended to come to the palace to inform Your Majesty of this good news. But they blocked me, and in my desperation, I accidentally revealed the truth."

Emperor Muwu forced a smile, "The Ninth Prince is over twenty years old. If this child truly belongs to him, it’s indeed good news."

"Seize those Imperial Guards who were at the palace gate for now," he ordered.

The chief eunuch responded, "I will do so immediately."

Yu Chunhua smirked as she watched the chief eunuch leave, feeling a sense of superiority. Her status had changed with the claim of carrying the Ninth Prince’s child!

She would remember how Xie Beihan had wronged her today and seek revenge when the opportunity arose.

"Foolish woman," Xie Beihan muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes.

Clearly, Emperor Muwu’s intention was to prevent the news from spreading rather than to vent his anger on Yu Chunhua.

In less than a tea’s time, the Imperial Physician arrived, visibly worn out from the hurried journey.

The physician, despite his fatigue, hurriedly examined Yu Chunhua. "This miss... I mean, this madam, is indeed over a month pregnant. However, due to recent travel and lack of rest, the pregnancy is somewhat unstable."

Emperor Muwu and Xie Beihan looked troubled upon hearing this.

Yu Chunhua beamed with satisfaction, touching her flat belly. She had confirmed her pregnancy through multiple doctors in the city before daring to come to the capital.

Xie Beihan, frustrated, said, "Yu Chunhua, you’re already married. Could this be your husband’s child?"

Emperor Muwu’s eyes widened in shock. "What?! You’re married?!"

The Ninth Prince has such preference?!

No, this must be slander!

Xie Beihan knew that Emperor Muwu, preoccupied with state affairs, wouldn’t concern himself with a county princess’s marital status, and said, "Your Majesty, she was betrothed to her cousin over a month ago and married outside the capital. Now, she dares to come and tarnish the Ninth Prince’s reputation. We cannot let her off lightly!"

Yu Chunhua, unfazed, explained calmly, "Your Majesty, while I was married to my mother’s maternal family, I happened to encounter the Ninth Prince at an inn on the way. That night... the Prince, feeling feverish, barged into my room. Given his status and desires, how could I refuse..."

She almost detailed everything from that night.

Fan Yunxi’s face reddened, but she had to maintain composure in the Emperor’s presence.

Xie Beihan was increasingly alarmed by the specifics of Yu Chunhua’s account. It seemed too detailed to be fabricated.

Yu Chunhua concluded with a sob, "Your Majesty, having given my body to the Prince, I felt guilty and couldn’t consummate the marriage with my cousin. When I found out I was pregnant, I was at a loss and had to return to the capital to inform you. Whatever you decide, I will accept without complaint."

Emperor Muwu’s face darkened further. "You say you met the Ninth Prince at the inn. Is there any proof?"

Yu Chunhua wiped her tears, "The Prince’s guard, Qing Feng, can attest to this. He introduced me to the Prince."

She had been the object of the Ninth Prince’s attention since then.

She, as a woman, understood what the Ninth Prince was after. The Ninth Prince, eager to have some fun while away, must have seized the opportunity, and as night fell, things progressed naturally.

"That scoundrel!" Emperor Muwu ground his teeth.

The timeline matched, and Yu Chunhua’s description of the Ninth Prince’s restlessness likely indicated he had taken a Man-Up Pill.

It was as if the Ninth Prince was deliberately provoking him. He had only wanted the Ninth Prince to adjust his health and produce children with the sixth miss, not to dally with other women!

Yu Chunhua trembled slightly but added, "Please do not blame the Prince. He must have been enduring for a long time, and with no concubines or side chambers in the residence besides the Ninth Princess, he couldn’t help himself..."