Chapter 43: Wrongly Married to Xiyan (2)

Finally, Yan Hongtian let go of his hand. Zhuo Qing fell to the ground, exhausted, trying hard to breathe.

No longer looking at Zhuo Qing, Yan Hongtian turned around, sat down behind the long table in front of the palace, and said loudly: "Enter."

Lou Xiyan walked in steadily. Seeing Zhuo Qing sitting on the ground with her clothes torn and the obvious five-finger marks on her neck, he didn't say much, just walked in front of Yan Hongtian and bowed: "See the Emperor."

Zhuo Qing finally recovered some strength and struggled to stand up. Looking up, Lou Xiyan, whether intentionally or unintentionally, happened to block in front of her, isolating Yan Hongtian's compelling gaze.

Looking at Lou Xiyan, Yan Hongtian's face was a bit complex. Without the violent aura he had toward Zhuo Qing, Yan Hongtian asked calmly: "Xiyan, have you seen the words tattooed on her body?"

It's over!

Zhuo Qing cried out secretly!

Yan Hongtian's move was so insidious. If Lou Xiyan said he hadn't seen it, then he would guess that she might be lying, and she hadn't lost her virginity to Lou Xiyan at all. If Lou Xiyan was smart enough to hear the subtext and wanted to help her, saying he had seen the tattooed words, then Lou Xiyan would be knowing she was Qing Ling and still wanting her—wasn't that deceiving the Emperor?!

Zhuo Qing was anxious in her heart, but she couldn't have any expression on her face, because Yan Hongtian's pair of black eyes were staring coldly at them. The two had no eye contact, and Zhuo Qing's heart went half cold.

Lou Xiyan pondered for a while, raised his head slowly, and replied with a bit of embarrassment: "The sky was too dark, this subject didn't see clearly, only vaguely saw that there seemed to be words on her chest."

Zhuo Qing was startled. He actually answered like this? Paired with his awkward voice and expression, Zhuo Qing almost thought that she and he had really happened something.

Although Yan Hongtian's hands were behind his back, Zhuo Qing still clearly heard the sound of him clenching his fists, his knuckles crunching. His face was as stinky as if he had been punched by someone. Zhuo Qing really wanted to laugh three times. Lou Xiyan was truly a genius!

Praising Lou Xiyan well in her heart, Zhuo Qing suddenly thought of a doubt. She didn't even know there were words on her body, so how did Lou Xiyan know there were words on her body, and even know they were on her chest?

Just as Zhuo Qing was struggling with this question, Yan Hongtian's impatient voice shouted: "Someone, throw the other woman surnamed Qing into the palace for me."

Feng was pushed into the palace by the guards rudely. After a few stumbles, she finally stood firm. Raising her eyes, she saw Zhuo Qing's disheveled and embarrassed appearance, and anger immediately rose in Feng's eyes.

Yan Hongtian stared at Feng with sharp eyes like a hawk and asked: "Who exactly are you?"

Without hesitation, Feng spat out two words coldly: "Qing Ling." She wouldn't let her weak sister stay in this man-eating place in the palace!

She actually dared to lie again, a woman who wasn't afraid of death! Yan Hongtian's gloomy voice made even Zhuo Qing tremble. "I will give you one last chance. Do you want to tell the truth, or do you want to lose your head."

Her face was still pale, but there was no retreat in her eyes. Feng insisted stubbornly: "I am Qing..."

Her neck was still burning with pain. Zhuo Qing absolutely believed that this violent man was not joking. If the stubborn woman insisted she was Qing Ling, the next thing waiting for her would be death! Zhuo Qing stepped forward and interrupted her words, saying to Yan Hongtian: "You clearly already know I am Qing Ling, why do you have to make things difficult for her."

She was Qing Ling! After carefully thinking about everything that happened tonight outside the palace, he had already guessed this answer. Lou Xiyan's eyes darkened, and he remained silent, watching the change without saying a word.

"You admit now that swapping identities to enter the palace was your plan?" She had better not tell him any amnesia nonsense!

Unfortunately, Zhuo Qing couldn't sense his inner thoughts and still replied: "I have already explained it. On the way here, the officials who escorted us were afraid that the three of us sisters wouldn't be honest, so they fed us medicine every day, and we were unconscious and delirious for more than half a month. After waking up, I forgot many things. Everyone said I was Feng, and there were words on my shoulder. I didn't know anything about it myself. I have no impression of what you just said." These words were for Feng and Lou Xiyan to hear. She wasn't Qing Ling, and there were many things she couldn't explain at all. Amnesia was the best excuse she could use.

Sure enough, Yan Hongtian exploded in rage again, roaring: "Don't use amnesia to fool me again!"

Amnesia didn't mean being an idiot! Zhuo Qing really wanted to roll her eyes, but now wasn't the time. Sighing innocently, Zhuo Qing replied: "I just lost my memory and forgot many past events, but those autopsy methods are as normal as eating and writing to me. I just can't remember who taught me these things." In short, everything that couldn't be explained was pushed to amnesia!

"A good amnesia!" Laughing out of anger, Yan Hongtian looked at Feng and hummed coldly: "Are you also going to say you have amnesia?"

"I don't have amnesia, I clearly remember who I am." And even more clearly remember who caused their family to be broken and who caused their sisters to be separated!

One of them had amnesia, and the other just happened to impersonate. They really cooperated well! Yan Hongtian sneered coldly: "Continue, I want to see what else you can make up!"

Thinking back on the past, she was the one who said she wanted to ruin her appearance, and she was the one who insisted on committing suicide. Her stubbornness and selfishness not only failed to achieve her so-called integrity but also harmed her sister and sister. This time, she wanted to take revenge on Yan Hongtian, that was her business. She absolutely wouldn't let her sister with amnesia be harmed again.

Putting away the hostility in her words, Feng explained: "We didn't want to deceive anyone. At the time of committing suicide in the ruined temple, in order to grab my and my sister's hands, my sister stood in the middle. When I was saved by the escorting officials, I heard them say I was Qing Ling and still alive. Later, just like my sister said, I was fed medicine every day. By the time I woke up, I was already in the palace. Later, they all died, and I didn't want to live either. Yesterday, I smashed you with a vase."

That Prime Minister Lou seemed to treat her sister quite well. With her sister, she could also be at ease.

"Bastard!"

She actually used suicide to escape him! Was all this really just a coincidence?!

The cold light shot from Yan Hongtian's eagle eyes almost stared a hole in Zhuo Qing, and it was also enough to prove that he was in a rage at this moment. In the hall, there was dead silence again.

After a long time, the silent Lou Xiyan suddenly stepped forward and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. May this subject say a few words?"

"Speak." Toward Lou Xiyan, Yan Hongtian had always been polite.

"The reason this happened was because the Haoyue officials mixed up the sisters and sent them to the wrong places. The matter has already happened. No matter who they are, it is too late to change them back. The matter this subject wants to report today is to ask the Emperor to grant a marriage and bestow the woman sent to this subject's mansion as this subject's wife."

Bang!

Yan Hongtian's hand slapped the long table fiercely, making a loud noise. Not only did everyone in the palace hear it with fear, but even Gao Jin, who was guarding outside the palace, heard it with trembling.

He wanted to marry her!

Once this was said, Yan Hongtian was furious, Zhuo Qing was dumbfounded, and Feng was lost in thought for a moment...

"You just said, you want to marry her as your wife?" In the dead palace, Yan Hongtian's not-so-loud voice sounded unusually cold. Zhuo Qing and Feng looked at each other and couldn't help but swallow their saliva. Only Lou Xiyan still had that respectful and calm attitude, as if he didn't see Yan Hongtian's rage. He replied calmly: "Yes."

Staring at Lou Xiyan, Yan Hongtian no longer had the good face he had just now, and said angrily: "Prime Minister Lou, you are the Prime Minister of our Qiongyue. She is a woman sent by a small country as tribute, and she is simply not worthy of being your wife. If you are really in a hurry to marry, I will immediately grant a marriage between you and Princess Zhaoyun. It is a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman."

"This subject has always adhered to the etiquette of monarch and subject with the Princess and does not dare to have any extravagant thoughts." He would ask for a marriage, first because of Qing Ling, and second because of Yan Ruxuan. He would marry early so that she could give up her thoughts early.

Yan Hongtian sneered: "I will only grant a marriage between you and Xuan'er. As for the two of them, swapping identities, deceiving the monarch, and making up nonsense, they should be taken into custody and investigated!"

"Your Majesty, please see clearly. What they said may not necessarily be lies. As long as you send someone to Haoyue to verify with the officials who escorted them, you will naturally know whether what they said is true. This subject has been with Qing Ling day and night for half a month, and I believe she is not that kind of person. I hope the Emperor will investigate clearly."

"Wait until what they said is verified before making a conclusion. Take them to the Heavenly Prison first and wait for verification." He would definitely investigate. He, Yan Hongtian, could not tolerate any deception or teasing. What they said had better all be true, otherwise, he would let them know the consequences of deceiving him! But before that, they could only stay in the prison.

Zhuo Qing didn't show much fear, and Feng also had a stubborn face. On the contrary, a flash of worry crossed Lou Xiyan's eyes.

"This subject begs the Emperor to allow Qing Ling to follow this subject back to the mansion and be guarded in the Prime Minister's mansion. Before the truth is verified, this subject will not let her take half a step out of the mansion." The Heavenly Prison was a place that people who had been there would never forget. Even if they came out later, they wouldn't be the same person.

Lou Xiyan always responded calmly, and there were few waves on his face, but his repeated advice made Yan Hongtian's eyes look colder and colder.

What was wrong with Lou Xiyan today? Although his extreme protection made Zhuo Qing very moved, she couldn't help but worry for him. After all, that was the Emperor. Feng was extremely satisfied with this future brother-in-law. She didn't expect that the man who looked gentle and soft actually had such courage. He could let her sister rely on him! But... looking at the terrifying man on the high seat, would Lou Xiyan survive today?

Fortunately, the scene of blood splashing on the spot they expected didn't happen. Yan Hongtian withdrew his gaze coldly and shouted: "Gao Jin."

Having been guarding outside the palace, Gao Jin was already covered in sweat and replied: "This servant is here."

"Take them to wait outside the palace. I have something to discuss with the Prime Minister."

"Yes." Gao Jin opened the door hurriedly, drove the two of them out, and covered the palace door hurriedly.

Yan Hongtian walked toward Lou Xiyan. The two men stood opposite each other in the Great Hall. One was like the scorching sun in the sky, domineering and imposing; the other was like the blue sea and bright moon, quiet and deep blue.

After a long time, Yan Hongtian hummed: "Speak, I want to hear the truth."

Although he grew up with Xiyan and had a good private friendship, ever since he ascended the throne, Xiyan had always adhered to the etiquette of monarch and subject. He rarely saw him so persistent about matters of love, and Xiyan's various abnormalities made him calm down instead.

Yan Hongtian didn't use "Zhen" (I) to refer to himself, and Lou Xiyan also changed his address. This was the tacit understanding they had had for these years. Shaking his head somewhat helplessly, Lou Xiyan smiled and sighed: "I want to take her back to the mansion because she can cure my illness." Based on his understanding of him, this reason was easier to achieve than saying he liked Qing Ling.

"What?!" Yan Hongtian was shocked. Xiyan's illness had been long-standing, and how many imperial physicians couldn't cure it? Qing Ling could cure it? He was still somewhat disbelieving in his heart: "Is what you said true?!"

Lou Xiyan nodded and replied: "When I had an attack last time, she was by my side. If it weren't for her, I might not have been able to talk to you that night." Actually, she didn't do anything that night, just kept telling him to breathe hard, but to make Yan Hongtian believe, he could only say so.

"The palace maid in your room that day was her?" Recalling the situation when he brushed past her that day, Yan Hongtian's face turned cold.

"Hmm."

Looking at Lou Xiyan's calm face, Yan Hongtian narrowed his eagle eyes and asked coldly: "You want to marry her because she can cure your illness?"

After pondering for a while,

Yan Hongtian lightly raised his sword-like eyebrows and said in a low voice: "Does that mean you like her very much?"

(End of chapter)