"Did you hear that Liu Tiancheng and Chen Wenjin's marriage contract has been broken?" a woman told her friend as a procession of betrothal gifts passed by.
"Really?" her friend asked in surprise.
"With the way that girl pursued him around Longcheng relentlessly I thought she wouldn't be able to find the self respect to leave him." her friend said, referring to Chen Jinyu.
"Good riddance." the woman's friend said as she spit on the ground.
"Now Liu Tiancheng and Chen Jinyu can continue their beautiful romance." her friend said with a sigh.
"That is what I wanted to talk to you about." the woman said as she tapped her friend on the shoulder with glee.
"Rumors say," the woman said and her friend leaned closer.
"That the reason why Liu Tiancheng and Chen Wenjin engagement broke off was because Liu Tiancheng got Chen Jinyu pregnant outside of marriage!" the woman said in glee.
"What?" her friend asked in disbelief.
The palace.
"Greetings your majesty." said Chen Wenjin, Chen Zixuan, the Marquis, Liu Tiancheng and Chen Jinyu with a semi formal bow.
"You may rise." said the Emperor of Huanglong.
"I gathered you here today to talk about the rumors that surround you three" the Emperor said, referring to Chen Wenjin, Chen Jinyu and Liu Tiancheng.
"Because I was the one that gave my blessings for the Chens to marry into the Liu family." the Emperor said as his eyes swept across the room.
"Liu Tiancheng!," The emperor called and Liu Tiancheng stiffened in fear.
"What exactly happened?!" The Emperor asked in anger and Liu Tiancheng knelt in fear.
"Your Majesty, I don't know what came over me-" Liu Tiancheng tried to say and the Emperor slammed his palm on the table.
"Fool." Shen Xiatang said with a shake of her head.
"You mean to tell me you don't know what overcame you when you impregnated Chen Jinyu when your prospective bride was Chen Wenjin?!" The Emperor yelled and everyone kneeled.
"Is this the good son you raised, Liu Dao?!" the Emperor yelled and the Marquis bowed with his head on the floor.
"Have mercy, your Majesty." said Liu Dao, the Marquis as he trembled in fear.
"Fine." The Emperor said, as he nodded.
"Since you want me to have mercy," the Emperor said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"When has the wedding date been set for Chen Jinyu and Liu Tiancheng?" the emperor asked the Marquis.
"The first of next month." The Marquis said quickly as he trembled in fear.
"From now on your salary will be cut for four months," the Emperor said and the Marquis began to protest.
"And you will be barred from court until the marriage between Liu Tiancheng and Chen Jinyu is completed." the Emperor said and the Marquis yelled "Your Majesty, forgive me, Your Majesty forgive me."
"Drag them out." The Emperor commanded and guards grabbed Liu Tiancheng, Chen Jinyu and the Marquis and dragged them out from the presence of the emperor.
"Chen Wenjin," the Emperor said and Chen Wenjin bowed.
"I am sorry that you had to go through this injustice." the Emperor said but Chen Wenjin shook her head.
"Liu Tiancheng was my choice and it was my fault for not seeing him as he was." Chen Wenjin said with a bow.
"Taking the blame for her choices." The Emperor said with a nod as he smiled.
"You have raised a good daughter." The Emperor said and both Chen Wenjin and her father bowed in gratitude.
Seeing dark shadows under the Emperor's eyes, Chen Wenjin asked "Is the disaster in the south that serious?"
"Chen Wenjin!" her father admonished but the Emperor chuckled.
"It's okay, it's okay." The Emperor told Chen Zixuan.
'Her heart is in the right place." The Emperor said with a smile as he turned to Chen Wenjin.
"The disaster in the South is a matter that keeps getting worse each day." The Emperor said with a sigh.
"The flood swept away houses, crops and livestocks and there has been a great cry in the southern region of Huanglong." said the Emperor.
"I have sent an order to open the granaries and in addition to the disaster relief funds, the people of the South should be able to get on their feet." said the Emperor.
"It won't work." said Shen Xiatang.
"What?" Chen Wenjin asked discreetly.
"The food from the granaries would be pocketed by high ranking officials and disaster relief funds would barely make it to the common folk." Shen Xiatang said with a sigh.
"His Majesty is wise." Chen Wenjin's father said unaware of the conversation that just occurred between Chen Wenjin and Shen Xiatang.
"I was wondering why the protagonist star above Chen Jinyu shrunk instead of breaking." Shen Xiatang thought as she laid on her back.
"It seems that there is more to come" Shen Xiatang said with a sigh.
The Marquis Estate
Liu Dao threw everything on the high table in the family hall.
"My pay has been cut for four months!" Liu Dao yelled in the family hall.
"Four months!" Liu Tiancheng yelled again.
"And I have been barred from court till Liu Tiancheng and Chen Jinyu get married so everyone would know what this disgrace did!" Liu Dao yelled, as he slapped Liu Tiancheng across the face.
"Husband, it's not Liu Tiancheng's fault." Madam Liu said as she hurriedly protected her son.
"Blame that witch that has managed to bring disgrace to the family before she even married in!" Madam Liu said redirecting the blame to Chen Jinyu who immediately knelt down in fear.
"Mother, Chen Jinyu didn't mean to-" Chen Jinyu said and Madam Liu immediately cut her off.
"You didn't mean to what?" Madam Liu asked with a sneer and Chen Jinyu trembled in fear.
"You didn't mean to beguile my son and bring disgrace to this family?!" Madam Liu yelled and Chen Jinyu shook her head in fear.
"Until the day of your marriage I don't want to hear a thing out of you." Madam Liu said, stepping closer to Chen Jinyu.
"Stay out of sight and don't cause anymore trouble except you want to spend your days in despair in this household." Madam Liu said in anger and Chen Jinyu trembled in fear.