Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Xue Yu-Yan arrived at the market and her eyes gleamed to see it. The evening market is more popular than the morning market. "Your highness, I will follow you from here," Commander Sun pronounced. Xue Yu-Yan could not refuse it and nodded her head. 

She looked around and then glanced at Zhiyi. "Do you know where that popular dumpling stall is? I heard from the Sixth Prince that he usually visits the famous dumpling stall in the market." She always wanted to taste the roadside market food, but because she was from an Aristocratic Family, she could not! 

"I do not know, Lady Xue. It is my first time coming here," Zhiyi replied. 

Xue Yu-Yan started walking, while Zhiyi and Commander Sun, who was a few meters away from them, followed them. Xue Yu-Yan went to a vendor stall, who was selling some sweets which she had never seen in the Palace. "What's this?" She curiously asked, looking at the buns, which were of red color. 

"These are called Red Bean Buns. Do you want some, My Lady?" the vendor asked. 

"Hmm. I need three," Xue Yu-Yan replied. 

The vendor happily forwarded the buns, wrapped in the papers. "3 cents," he forwarded his palm. Xue Yu-Yan took out the pouch, full of coins, and handed him the money. Taking the buns from the vendor, she gave one to Zhiyi and went towards Commander Sun to give him the other. 

"Thank you, but I do not eat sweets, your highness," Commander Sun bowed. 

"Ahh," Xue Yu-Yan pulled her hand back. She came to Zhiyi and told her to eat. As Xue Yu-Yan took the first bite, she found the deliciousness in that. She should have purchased more! She ate the second one too and went back to the vendor. "Brother, give me 5 more!" Xue Yu-Yan excitedly said. The vendor happily packed the buns in a paper envelope and handed it to her. Xue Yu-Yan paid him and walked ahead with Zhiyi. 

"I never knew such a sweet existed!" she mumbled. Zhiyi took the envelope from Princess Consort and followed her. Xue Yu-Yan was confused thinking why were people looking at her. She moved closer to Zhiyi and asked, "Why are people looking at me? Is my face visible?" 

Zhiyi refused. "Maybe seeing a lady in rare silk clothes is grabbing their attention," Zhiyi opined. Xue Yu-Yan stopped in front of a stall where the seller was selling women's adornments. She found that many women were flocked around the stall, especially women of high-class families. 

She too went there and saw the ribbons, tassels, bangles, and other items. "Will you remove this hat? It's uncomfortable for us," complained one young woman. 

"Remove the hat?! Oh, I cannot," Xue Yu-Yan said. She clutched her skirt as she was scared if people would see her face. 

"Then, go there. You can check the items later," the other said with a stern expression. If she would be the earlier Xue Yu-Yan then, she would have chopped off their heads, but because she left that side of hers which developed mainly because of her arrogance and pride, she quietly stepped back. 

"Have you heard about the Wei Family?" The woman in the blue Hanfu dress asked the other one, who was in a peach-colored dress. This grabbed Xue Yu-Yan's attention, so she stopped and keenly heard them. 

"No. What happened this time?" She asked. 

"The Empress killed the former Empress, who was the beloved of the Emperor. She plotted to kill the Crown Prince several times and this time she harmed the Crown Princess. My father was telling us that the Crown Prince raised his sword at the Empress to kill her, but then the First Prince intervened. He is the one who requested the Emperor to dethrone the Empress. Tomorrow, the Empress will be dethroned." It also grabbed the attention of other women who had surrounded that stall. 

"Really?" 

"Hmm." 

"The Crown Prince is a dangerous person to deal with! What if the Crown Prince had chopped off her head?" The other said. Hearing it everyone trembled. 

"Then, it is the end for the Wei Family. Didn't you see how the Empress chose a second wife for the First Prince? I just hope she does not follow the path of the Empress. I have heard that she was jealous of the Crown Princess. What if she harmed the Crown Princess?" 

Xue Yu-Yan lowered her eyes upon hearing the remarks against her.

"The Palace is not a safe place. That's the main reason I told my father not to send the proposal of marriage to the Second Prince. Although power is there, but who wants such power which makes you blind. The Wei Family will be soon thrown out of the capital. I even heard this," the woman in blue dress continued. 

Xue Yu-Yan was shocked to hear that. 

"The First Prince is associated with all this, I think. Who knows the Prince did all this to get on the good side of the Emperor? The position of the Crown Prince was snatched from him so, he might have planned this way to get the throne back," the same woman deduced. 

"Entire Wei Family is corrupted. First the ex-prime minister, then her daughter, and now the Empress. The ministers should give them severe death punishment so that no one will dare to do such things in the future." 

Xue Yu-Yan furrowed her brows. Those whispers were terrifying her. She kept stepping back as she brought her hands closer to her ears. "No, no...this cannot happen," she murmured. 

Zhiyi and Commander Sun walked forward but they stopped as they saw the First Prince there.

Xue Yu-Yan stumbled and her back hit the chest of Jian Guozhi, who had halted behind her. Immediately she turned back and found Jian Guozhi's gaze at her. 

Seeing the First Prince there, the women stopped speaking and lowered their eyes, thinking the Prince did not have heard anything. 

"What's your father's name?" Jian Guozhi asked, looking at the woman who was in a blue dress. She was terrified and asked for forgiveness. Commander Sun had come near the First Prince. 

"I do not want your fake apologies. Tell me the name of your father," Jian Guozhi said with a stern expression. 

When the woman did not reply, Jian Guozhi glanced at Commander Sun, who walked forward and pulled his sword out. The sword was hanging on her neck which sent shivers in the bodies of the women, who were curiously hearing her. 

"My father is Ma Lujin," the woman finally replied. 

"Tell him to leave the Capital by tomorrow morning else I will throw him out," Jian Guozhi affirmed. Xue Yu-Yan tilted her head and with a befuddled expression peered at him. 

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Thank you so much for giving the story Golden Tickets. I was overwhelmed to see so many tickets on the story and also the good rank. As per my promise, there will be 5 chapters Mass Release after this Sunday.