Chapter 43: Break the Crown Prince, Dongfang Qingxuan!

Her question was sincere, without any trace of calculation.

It could also be considered the final question on behalf of the Ye Qingran whose soul has long since returned to the heavens.

Dongfang Qingxuan lowered his eyes to look at the woman before him; after five years apart, she was even more breathtakingly beautiful than before. It must be said that in looks, Ye Qingran has never been outdone by anyone.

However, Dongfang Qingxuan's ambitions are lofty, destined to reach the pinnacle. His Crown Princess must be a peerless wonder of the world, whose beauty and innate talent are both extraordinarily stunning and unrivaled.

Moreover, even Ye Huanhuan, who possesses a Spiritual Root, barely catches his eye; let alone the merely beautiful Ye Qingran.

Nevertheless, the Crown Prince, long immersed in Imperial Clan power struggles and thus deeply scheming, could never voice his true thoughts.

A helpless smile flickered on his handsome face, and three parts guilt lingered in his deep eyes; his voice low and magnetic: "Qingran, although we have a marriage contract, you know it was the elders' wish. All these years I've treated you as a sister. The Crown Princess position is reserved for the one I love. If you truly love me, could you help me? Then I will be your Crown Prince brother."

Ye Qingran looked into Dongfang Qingxuan's eyes and did not miss the contempt and disdain hidden within them.

He has always been like this, never showing any genuine feeling before Ye Qingran, always wearing that hypocritical mask, speaking the most ruthless words in the softest tone.

Dongfang Qingxuan has never liked Ye Qingran!

"Ye Qingran, do you see? This is the man you've liked for years. So selfish. He asks you to accommodate him, but who will accommodate you?"

Ye Qingran, her feelings remain unsettled!

She can feel the original owner's deep affection for Dongfang Qingxuan.

Alas, the bright moon shines on the ditch!

In front of countless Xiliang City citizens, Dongfang Qingxuan made his stance clear, a act more hurtful than the humiliation just now from Ye Sisi and her ilk.

"Ye Qingran, did you hear? My imperial brother said he doesn't like you! Yet you cling to him shamelessly, truly without a hint of shame!"

"Ye Qingran, accept reality. Between you and the Crown Prince lies an uncrossable chasm; just give up that feeling!"

Ye Sisi and her group wore endless sarcasm on their faces.

After today, Ye Qingran will once again be despised by the world!

"Crown Prince, you don't like me because of Ye Huanhuan?"

Ye Huanhuan, whose name was called, felt a tremor in her heart; the barely visible smug smile on her face instantly froze.

Before Ye Huanhuan or Dongfang Qingxuan could respond, Dongfang Xuan impatiently spoke: "Ye Qingran, does it even need to be asked? Ye Huanhuan possesses a Spiritual Root and is a disciple of the Qingyun Sword Immortal of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect. And you? You're a useless person without any Spiritual Root; anyone with eyes knows who should be chosen, right?"

Upon hearing that, Dongfang Qingxuan furrowed his brows and explained: "Qingran, I do indeed favor Huanhuan, but my affection for her has nothing to do with her Spiritual Root or being a Xuan Yuan disciple; I like her as a person."

He certainly does not want the Xiliang City citizens to think that his lofty Crown Prince is a self‑serving person.

Ye Huanhuan, hearing this, blushed faintly on her cheeks and shyly lowered her head.

Ye Qingran's exquisite face showed a faint sorrow: "But Crown Prince, don't we have a marriage contract? Why are you with my sister behind my back?"

Since ancient times, delicate women have often aroused men's protective instincts, especially delicate, stunning beauties.

Ye Qingran stood in the middle of Xuanwu Street, facing a procession of richly dressed aristocrats whose imposing aura signaled ill intent, making her appear even more frail, like a wilted willow in the wind, pitifully delicate.

In that instant, the sympathy and protective urges of most onlookers were stirred; some bold individuals even began whispering.

"The Crown Prince is truly overstepping! He clearly has a marriage contract with Ye Qingran yet is involved with her sister. How utterly unprincipled!"

"This Ye Huanhuan is probably no good either. Flirting with her own brother‑in‑law, her heart is condemnable!"

"What exactly did Ye Qingran do wrong? She's so pitiful!"

Public opinion's spear instantly pointed at Dongfang Qingxuan and Ye Huanhuan.

Ye Qingran, who should have borne all the mockery, became the object of protection, while the two of them were condemned by the masses.

Fu Qianchen was left staring dumbfounded.

This woman's change of face is like turning a page.

"Woman, you're so cunning!" However, I, the Young Master, like you.

Ye Qingran, as if sensing something, raised an eyebrow toward Fu Qianchen a short distance away.

Walking the green‑tea road leaves no road for green tea.

Being human sometimes means learning to be flexible and adaptable.

Dongfang Qingxuan and Ye Huanhuan both wore grim expressions. Though the surrounding murmurs were deliberately hushed, they are cultivators with keen hearing; how could they not hear clearly?

That damned Ye Qingran, it's intentional, right?

Ye Huanhuan bit her lower lip and finally spoke: "Sister, I've always been pure with the Crown Prince. Back then, you were pregnant with someone else's child, so I thought you no longer liked the Crown Prince. Later you disappeared; I searched for you for a long time but couldn't find you.... Sister, if you still love the Crown Prince, then I wish you both happiness."

The White Lotus truly remains a White Lotus.

Dongfang Qingxuan furrowed his brows and, following Ye Huanhuan's words, said: "Qingran, if not for what happened back then, perhaps there could still be a possibility between us."

The implication was that Ye Qingran herself caused it.

"Crown Prince, this statement is absurdly reversed! You think I'm not suitable for you; why didn't you raise the dissolution of the marriage contract earlier?

The Crown Prince should cut the knot like a man, not adopt an ambiguous stance to hedge both sides!"

Originally, the late emperor and Yun Sui Feng set the marriage contract between her and Dongfang Qingxuan, emphasizing that either party could invoke a Break Marriage if they later regretted.

Dongfang Qingxuan has never liked Ye Qingran, yet never proposed to dissolve the contract, simultaneously despising her as a waste while coveting her beauty; his scumbag behavior is outrageous!

The citizens of Xiliang City, hearing Ye Qingran's words, rallied in her defense.

Dongfang Qingxuan furrowed his brows, pondered briefly, sighed, and said: "I was at fault back then. Since you say so, today I return your freedom; the dissolution letter will be sent to Ye Residence shortly."

Ye Qingran couldn't help but laugh out loud.

In Dongfang Qingxuan's heart, Ye Qingran may have always been that lowly, summoned when needed and discarded when not.

"Crown Prince, are you sure you've thought this through?"

Dongfang Qingxuan nodded.

"If so, there's no need to trouble the Crown Prince. This dissolution letter, I give you!"

Amid the crowd's astonished gazes, Ye Qingran, neither humble nor arrogant, said: "Twenty years ago we made a marriage contract; today we should finally settle it."

"Sun, moon and stars above, mountains and rivers below, the people of Xiliang as witness, I, Ye Qingran, today, cease, Crown Prince Dongfang Qingxuan! From now on, he and I, bridge returns bridge, road returns road, from this moment a clean cut, no longer any ties!"