Chapter 141: Strangers on the Path

The next day, an Imperial edict (Empress) arrived at the palace.

It was drafted in Gu Huanghou's name, specifying the name, and ordering Ye Qingran to receive the edict.

In Donglin Country, an Imperial edict (Empress) differs from an Imperial decree; it need not be announced, and a palace eunuch sent it directly to Ye Qingran's hands.

"Yo, Ye Qingran, Gu Huanghou's Imperial edict—what does it say on it?"

When the eunuch delivering the decree left, Ye Sisi asked with ill intent, her eyes clear, evidently already knowing the edict's contents.

"I heard the Crown Prince brother say that this Imperial edict (Empress) is Gu Huanghou arranging an arranged marriage for you, sister—congratulations, you're finally to become someone else's wife."

Ye Huanhuan put on a pretentious smile, displaying a complex expression of both happiness for Ye Qingran and reluctance at her marriage.

Zhao Shi was overjoyed, eyebrows dancing, thinking that finally Ye Qingran, the worthless brat, was driven out, the Ye Residence would be clean, and their family would have good days ahead!

Ye Yu didn't care at all who Ye Qingran would marry; he only cared that it was Gu Huanghou's Imperial edict (Empress), so he said to Ye Qingran, "Since Gu Huanghou is arranging your marriage, that's a great favor; you should prepare well. You don't need to handle the wedding arrangements—I will have people take care of them." With that, he turned to leave.

"Lord Ye!"

Ye Qingran suddenly called out to Ye Yu like that.

Ye Yu's steps halted, he turned to look at Ye Qingran, brows furrowed. Since Ye Qingran returned, she had never called him 'father', directly addressing him as 'Lord Ye'.

"Is that how you address your father?" he said, his face showing deep anger, eyes full of disgust.

Ye Qingran did not answer his question, but retorted, "You don't even know who Gu Huanghou wants me to marry, yet you tell me to prepare? What if I don't want to marry? Or if the other party is not my suitable match?"

These words had been hidden in Ye Qingran's heart for a long time.

She wanted an attitude from Ye Yu. Even though she already knew his stance in her heart, after all he was Ye Qingran's biological father; if he were utterly cold, unless he said it himself, she, as his daughter, would still cling to a faint hope.

Ye Yu, without hesitation, thundered, "Since it's Gu Huanghou's arrangement, you should feel honored and dare not refuse. Moreover, with your condition, anyone willing to take you is already good enough! Whether he's your suitable match doesn't matter! Gu Huanghou arranged this marriage partly to save Huanhuan's face. I heard the other party knows you're indiscreet and refuses outright; Gu Huanghou exhausted many words to persuade them!"

"Listen, is this what a father should say to his daughter?"

As the saying goes, a tiger's poison does not eat its cubs; in Ye Yu's eyes, Ye Qingran is probably just a tool to pave his way to wealth and glory!

"I understand!"

Ye Qingran closed her eyes.

The sole obsession in her heart was gone.

From today onward, she and Ye Yu are as if strangers!

"Sister, you don't need to thank me; we're sisters! I'm about to marry the Crown Prince, and thinking of you as the older sister, I should marry first, so I asked Gu Huanghou to pick a husband for you. Rest assured, the man you'll marry is very outstanding, and you'll be happy after the marriage!"

"Exactly, exactly, Ye Qingran, truly congratulations!" Ye Sisi sneered, her words sounding sweet but her heart full of mockery.

Ye Qingran guessed that by now she still didn't know what awaited her.

Ye Qingran, holding the Imperial edict (Empress), prepared to leave the front hall, but heard Ye Huanhuan call out, "Sister, don't forget, the day after tomorrow night Gu Huanghou is hosting a banquet at the Crown Prince Residence; your fiancé will attend, so don't forget to come!"

Ye Qingran smiled and left the front hall.

Ting Yu Xuan

Han Xing Leng Yue, upon seeing that Imperial edict (Empress), almost couldn't restrain herself from brandishing a sword and charging into the Imperial Palace to slash the reigning Empress.

"Such a vicious woman, does she even deserve to be a nation's Empress?"

"I want to bind her now, send her up the mountain of knives, down into a cauldron of oil! Let her taste all the world's tortures!"

Ye Qingran looked at the two gritting their teeth and couldn't help finding it funny, "I'm the one involved and I'm not angry; why are you angry? Getting so angry that you ruin your own body is not worth it!"

Han Xing Leng Yue glared at Ye Qingran in irritation.

"Can you not be angry? This Gu Huanghou actually wants you to marry Ministerial Attendant of the Ministry of Rites Zhou Hai! Who doesn't know Zhou Hai is lecherous, his concubines in the rear courtyard are younger and younger, his principal wives are replaced one after another, all meeting untimely deaths. Moreover, he's extremely ugly! Most importantly, he fawns over Ye Huanhuan, acting as her lapdog—appearing at a call, disappearing at a sip, awaiting her orders!"

Ye Qingran tapped the table with her fingertips, smiling, "You actually know a lot."

Leng Yue twisted her brows, "Miss, shall I go and …"

"No need," Ye Qingran sat up a bit straighter.

"Didn't Ye Huanhuan just say? The day after tomorrow at the Crown Prince Residence there will be a banquet; let's go see how Zhao Shi mother and daughter and Gu Huanghou will play!"

……

Whether intentional or not, Gu Huanghou's Imperial edict (Empress) spread throughout Xiliang within a single night.

The next day, the townsfolk of Xiliang almost all knew Ye Qingran was to be married, and the match was Ministerial Attendant of the Ministry of Rites Zhou Hai.

"One is a waste, the other a lecher—what a perfect match!"

"In just one night, Ye Qingran actually got married? So unexpected! Zhou Hai is so ugly, it's a pity for Ye Qingran's beautiful looks!"

"Only a good face, that's all; such an indiscreet waste, if someone can marry her, they should burn incense in gratitude!"

"But even if Ye Qingran isn't great, she's still better than that scumbag Zhou Hai, right?"

……

The townsfolk debated; after yesterday's Zhao Shi drama, many thought Ye Qingran marrying Zhou Hai wasn't so bad—after all, even powerless people like Xiao Ji looked down on her, and though Zhou Hai's conditions are terrible, at least he's an official appointed by the court.

Zhao Family

Zhao Yan walked into Zhao Hao's courtyard, where a woman's anguished scream came from.

"No! Please!"

"Let me go!"

"Ah!!!"

……

Zhao Yan squinted with enjoyment, showing a satisfied expression.

Soon, the desperate screams faded and vanished.

"Hao'er."

Zhao Yan shouted loudly. Zhao Hao, dressed, staggered out of the room, his plump body trembling wildly. Behind him, two servants hurriedly carried a female corpse wrapped in sheets out of the courtyard.

"Dead?"

"Dead!" Zhao Hao laughed triumphantly.

"Sister, you said that before Ye Qingran gets married, you would let me have fun once!"

After taking the pill refined from Huanfeng Herb and recuperating over this period, Zhao Hao's vitality has basically returned to its original state. This let Zhao Tian and Wang Yan, as a couple, breathe a sigh of relief, and they also felt greatly comforted.

Now Zhao Hao can again play with women just as before.

Zhao Yan looked at Zhao Hao, a gentle color appeared in her eyes, she stroked Zhao Hao's pig-like face, "Hao'er, don't worry, although Ye Qingran is about to marry Zhou Hai soon, isn't there still time? Don't worry, before she gets married, I will definitely let you have a good time! Besides, even if she gets married, whenever you want to play, just tell me!"

Many of the women Zhao Hao played to death were selected by Zhao Yan.

Selecting women for her younger brother is Zhao Yan's favorite thing to do. What she likes even more is listening to those women's miserable screams until they breathe their last.

"If only Ye Qingran could die like that, how wonderful would that be?" Zhao Yan licked the corner of her mouth.