Chapter 265

"Good." Yan Hongtian nodded with satisfaction; he was very reassured to leave the celebration matters to Lou Xiyan. Looking at the silent Dan Yulan to the side, Yan Hongtian frowned slightly: "Criminal Justice Official Dan, what is Northern Qi's response to the Seventh Princess's death?" During the morning court today, Dan Yulan had also been in this preoccupied state. Could it be that Northern Qi was using this as an excuse to stir up trouble?

Dan Yulan seemed to have just come back to his senses and replied loudly: "This subordinate sent an envoy to escort the Third Prince back to his country. The Northern Qi King learned the full story and did not vent his anger on our dynasty. He even specially sent thousand-year-old jade to show his apology, hoping to reconcile with our dynasty and form an alliance." Hu Xi'ang poisoning the Seventh Princess was intended to provoke the relationship between Qiongyue and Northern Qi to take revenge on the Northern Qi royal family. This matter was originally an internal problem of Northern Qi. The Northern Qi ruler offering the Seventh Princess to the Emperor was also to curry favor with Qiongyue, so naturally, he would not attack Qiongyue because of the Seventh Princess's death. However, a small border country wanting to form an alliance with Qiongyue? Northern Qi's plan was quite clever.

Hearing Dan Yulan's words, Yan Hongtian's black eyes narrowed, and he replied coldly: "Accept the jade, but do not mention the alliance for now."

"Yes." After Dan Yulan finished speaking, he took a step back. After a moment of silence, he seemed to have something to say, but only frowned in thought. Seeing him looking hesitant, Yan Hongtian smiled: "Criminal Justice Official Dan, is there anything else to report?"

Dan Yulan glanced at Lou Xiyan beside him and pondered for a long time before replying in a low voice: "Recently, a bounty hunter murder case occurred in the capital. During the trial process, this subordinate discovered that this case also involves the gold stolen from the national treasury three years ago. It is currently being verified. There might have been a miscarriage of justice back then, and the one million taels of gold did not just fly away." This case currently had many suspicious points, and many clues in the case were discovered by the Qing sisters. Given the Prime Minister's care for Miss Qing Ling, if they were involved in this case, he was afraid the Prime Minister would not agree.

"Oh?" A strange look flashed in Yan Hongtian's black eyes. Why did Dan Yulan look at Lou Xiyan when reporting on the gold case? When did his two favorite generals become so cooperative? Yan Hongtian glanced sideways at Lou Xiyan, who was still standing there calmly. After scrutinizing the two of them back and forth, Yan Hongtian replied loudly: "Investigate this case with all your strength. You must find the whereabouts of the one million taels of gold."

"As you command, this subordinate withdraws." Yan Hongtian did not pursue the matter further. Dan Yulan breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and quickly exited the Imperial Study.

The gold case had caused a huge stir back then, involving many high-ranking officials, and eventually ended up with nothing. Lou Xiyan understood the reasons for this much better than Dan Yulan. Yan Hongtian was not failing to investigate the details of this case, but was waiting for Lou Xiyan to explain it to him in detail.

Under the pressure of Yan Hongtian's deep black eyes, Lou Xiyan coughed lightly and said: "Your Majesty, this subordinate has a matter to report."

"Speak." Yan Hongtian picked up the brewed spring tea, waiting for Lou Xiyan's explanation.

"This subordinate and Qing Ling are in love and plan to marry after the celebration. I ask for the Emperor's permission."

The clear voice spoke at length, but it was not the explanation of the case Yan Hongtian wanted to hear. His hand holding the teacup stiffened. Yan Hongtian suddenly looked up and asked in a deep voice: "Are you really going to marry her as your legal wife?" Last time, Xiyan had said he wanted to marry Qing Ling, and he had only thought he had some good feelings for her and was saying it on purpose to save her from the palace. Now that they were going to marry immediately after the celebration and had even specially come to ask for an imperial decree, it seemed Lou Xiyan was serious this time.

"Yes." Sure enough, Lou Xiyan replied frankly, but Yan Hongtian's expression became increasingly dark: "Then how do you intend to deal with Xuan'er?"

Lou Xiyan frowned slightly, but quickly returned to normal. His gentle voice carried a cold chill: "There is no romantic love between the Princess and this subordinate. Moreover, this subordinate's health has always been poor, so matching with the Princess would truly be a grievance to her."

"Lou Xiyan!" With a bang, Yan Hongtian was so annoyed that he slammed the hot tea in his hand heavily onto the desk. With too much force, the tea spilled all over the table and dripped down along the edge. The large Imperial Study was so quiet that one could only hear the sound of water droplets falling on the jade floor. The little eunuch's forehead was covered in sweat. Xiao Yu glared at him, and only then did the little eunuch come to his senses, trembling as he wiped the tea stains on the floor, hardly daring to breathe. Xiao Yu took the hot tea handed over by a palace maid and placed it back by Yan Hongtian's side. The little eunuch cleaned up and quietly retreated, as if the tea spilling had never happened.

Lou Xiyan stood silently in the hall. The atmosphere was still very stiff and cold. Clearly, Lou Xiyan did not intend to break the deadlock. After a long while, Yan Hongtian scolded in a low voice: "I have never forced you to marry Xuan'er as your wife. If it is because of this reason, you don't need to be in such a hurry to marry."

Lou Xiyan sighed lightly and replied helplessly but firmly: "This subordinate is not young anymore, and Ling'er is the woman I admire. Marrying at this time is just right." He chose to marry at this time not entirely to avoid Yan Ruxuan. Qing Ling indeed gave him the urge to marry. There was such a unique woman in the world; she made him puzzled, moved, and even infatuated.

"Do you know who you are?" Yan Hongtian reminded him coldly: "You are Lou, Xi, Yan." There was no need to say more. Yan Hongtian believed Lou Xiyan knew what these three words represented. Not to mention that Xuan'er and the Empress Dowager could not possibly agree, the elders of the Lou clan would absolutely not sit idly by and let him marry a foreign woman with no power or influence as his legal wife. His own aunt, the current Empress Dowager, would absolutely not agree.

The corners of Lou Xiyan's mouth rose slightly, smiling lightly and appearing indifferent. He smiled: "And so what?"

And so what? How dashing! Yan Hongtian suddenly laughed and teased: "Is Qing Ling that charming?" When he first saw Qing Ling, he was indeed amazed by her beautiful face, her gentle and peaceful temperament, and her delicate, weak posture. Such a stunning beauty—every man would want to take her into his arms. But now Qing Ling's face was ruined, and her personality was not as pure and kind as when they first met. Why was Lou Xiyan so obsessed?

Lou Xiyan smiled and did not answer. Ling'er's goodness only needed to be known by him.

The two had grown up together; he was very familiar with this expression of Lou Xiyan's. He was determined to marry Qing Ling. Yan Hongtian waved his hand and replied somewhat perfunctorily: "This matter needs long-term consideration. You may withdraw first."

"This subordinate withdraws." Lou Xiyan did not say more, bowed slightly, and left the Imperial Study.

It was rare for Xiyan to be so persistent. He was happy to watch the show, but at the thought of the Empress Dowager's nagging and Xuan'er's tears, Yan Hongtian's head began to ache.

It was still that light green paper umbrella and those two slender figures, but their steps were no longer light. It was nearly the Shen hour, and there were more and more palace servants coming and going on the palace path. Although they all lowered their heads, they still couldn't help but secretly glance at this Haoyue woman who had jumped to become a concubine in just one month. After seeing the scar on Qingfeng's face, they all gasped.

Fuling saw the palace servants' reactions. Without needing keen observation, she could glimpse contempt and mockery in their shocked eyes. Fuling turned her head slightly to look at Qingfeng, who was staring straight ahead, her tightly pursed lips not relaxing. She seemed not to feel the gazes of the crowd, but her steps became faster and faster.

Withdrawing her gaze, Fuling said nothing and silently followed Qingfeng back to Qingfeng Palace. As soon as the two entered the room, Lan'er greeted them happily and smiled: "Congratulations, Your Ladyship. Just now, Eunuch Wu from the Jingshi Hall came to pass on a message that tonight the Emperor..."

"Get out."

A cold sentence interrupted Lan'er's chatter. Qingfeng's expression was cold and dark. Lan'er froze there, not knowing what she had done wrong. Among the many beauties in the harem, hearing that the Emperor was going to grant favor, everyone was full of joy. The master she served was too moody.

Lan'er looked at Fuling behind Qingfeng for help. Fuling just shook her head slightly. Lan'er was still in a daze when Qingfeng suddenly shouted sternly: "Get out!"

Lan'er was so startled by Qingfeng's cold, sharp eyes that she trembled all over. She muttered a "Yes" and hurried out. Qingfeng pulled open the layers of curtains and walked into the inner chamber. Watching that thin but proud back, Fuling hesitated for a moment, did not follow, gently closed the door, and went out of the hall.

The bright sun shone into the inner chamber through the half-open carved wooden window, casting a floor of bright silhouettes. A faint peony fragrance permeated the room, and from time to time, a breeze gently brushed the curtains. It should have been a pleasant summer afternoon, but unfortunately, standing by the window, the figure shrouded in sunlight did not feel the warmth of summer at all, her body trembling slightly.

Qingfeng crossed her arms and hugged her body tightly, but even so, she could not suppress the chill rising from the bottom of her heart, accompanied by fear and disgust, gnawing at her bit by bit. Serving in bed! When she first heard this term, she was excited and thrilled because it meant she could get close to Yan Hongtian and could kill her enemy with her own hands. But now... she could not do this. Her eldest sister and younger sister were still alive, and they were both still in Qiongyue. If she assassinated Yan Hongtian, they would only have a dead end. In the ruined temple, she had already almost caused their deaths once; she could not harm them a second time. At this moment, the two words "serving in bed" were like a poisonous snake, wrapping around her neck and suffocating her.

Qingfeng's narrowed eyes stared at the bright blue sky outside the window. The extremely dazzling white light stung her eyes. A tear slid silently from the corner of her eye, and her long fingertips sank deeply into her flesh.

Father, Mother, what should your daughter do? Should she swallow her pride and let herself be trampled upon? She was not reconciled... not reconciled at all!

The sun gradually set in the west. Lan'er held scissors, trimming the peony branches with a look of depression. Perhaps because she had been frightened by Qingfeng at noon, Lan'er had not approached Qingfeng's room again. Xia Yin walked to Fuling's side and whispered: "Fuling, it's getting late. If Her Ladyship doesn't prepare, it will be too late. When the time comes, if the Emperor blames us, it's a small matter if we are punished, but I'm afraid Her Ladyship will also be convicted." The Emperor granting favor was a big event in the harem. Her Ladyship still needed to wash, dress, and bathe with incense... If she were negligent and displeased the Emperor, everyone would suffer.

(End of chapter)