Chapter 44

Clear and resonant, bright and ringing, carried on the wind it soared straight up, falling into everyone's ears.

Like a bomb, it exploded in their ears!

"With the sun, moon, and stars above, the mountains and rivers below, the people of Xiliang as witness, I, Ye Qingran, today divorce the Crown Prince Dongfang Qingxuan! From now on, we go our separate ways, bridge to bridge, road to road, cleanly cut, never to be entangled again!"

These words echoed endlessly in their ears.

Countless citizens of Xiliang were utterly shocked!

Ye Qingran, on Xuanwu Street, stood before countless Donglin citizens and divorced the reigning crown prince!

What grandeur!

Although women divorcing husbands has precedent, to divorce a crown prince in the street—throughout history, there has never been such a case!

Ye Qingran is the first!

She saw a tall, jade-like woman, slender posture, exquisite beauty, surpassing frost and snow.

Her bearing and spirit, pure and unmatched, whose eyes did it scorch?

Soon after, Ye Qingran's leisurely voice was heard again.

"Ye Qingran, I wish the Crown Prince, for the rest of his life, only to wear a green hat!"

Ye Qingran spoke and smiled serenely; that gorgeous smile, for a moment, dazzled everyone's eyes.

Although those present didn't know what "only wear a green hat" meant, they supposed it was a blessing.

They couldn't help admiring Ye Qingran, who, after enduring so much hardship, bravely chose to give up—without saying so—and still sincerely blessed the other party; one must say, Ye Qingran's magnanimity is truly great!

Amidst countless complex gazes, Ye Qingran turned and left; that pure silhouette was henceforth deeply etched in everyone's heart.

Dongfang Qingxuan opened his mouth, wanting to speak but stopped.

At that moment, he felt something important slipping away from him...

In the near future, when Ye Qingran steps onto the pinnacle and receives homage from all realms, Dongfang Qingxuan will regret his earlier actions.

The matter of Ye Qingran divorcing the crown prince in the street spread like a gust of wind; in less than half a day, everyone in Xiliang knew.

Guoshi Fu

Fu San earnestly and in detail described to Fu Hanxiu the scene that occurred on Xuanwu Street.

Fu Hanxiu held a water pot utterly mismatched with his status and demeanor, watering that Five-colored Emperor Flower.

His posture was leisurely, his attitude earnest.

Fu San stared, unable to hold back his remark: "Your Majesty has really become more down-to-earth lately, even doing servants' work."

But, Your Majesty, why do you only water this Five-colored Emperor Flower?

Are the other flowers unworthy?

"You mean, Ye Qingran publicly divorced the crown prince?"

Fu Hanxiu's watering motion paused, his sword-brows slightly raised, the corner of his lips curling with interest.

"Yes. Miss Ye's original words were: 'With the sun, moon, and stars above, the mountains and rivers below, the people of Xiliang as witness, I, Ye Qingran, today divorce the Crown Prince Dongfang Qingxuan! From now on, bridge to bridge, road to road, cleanly cut, never to be entangled again!'"

Fu San spoke with rising and falling intonation, trying his best to imitate Ye Qingran's tone at that time.

Finally, he added: "Miss Ye is truly imposing! Though husbands divorcing wives is common throughout history, to divorce a crown prince in the street—throughout all ages, only Ye Qingran has done so."

Fu Hanxiu glanced at him: "You seem quite interested in her."

Fu San replied without thinking: "Miss Ye is an interesting person…"

Hardly had he finished when he felt the gaze from above turn unsettling, like a prick on his back.

Had he said something wrong?

Your Majesty is really becoming harder to serve!

"What else did she say?"

"She also wished the Crown Prince, for the rest of his life, only to wear a green hat!"

Fu San looked puzzled: "Your Majesty, do you know what 'green hat' means?"

"Only wear a green hat?" Fu Hanxiu rolled the words on his tongue, yet still didn't grasp their meaning.

However, given that woman's vengeful nature, it is certainly not a blessing but a curse.

"Fu San, how do you think this flower is blooming?" Fu Hanxiu set down the water pot and asked lightly.

Fu San blinked: "It's blooming quite vividly."

"What do you think about inviting Ye Qingran to our residence to admire the flowers?"

Fu San: "?"

That's quite sudden.

"Perfect, you can also ask her what 'green hat' means."

Fu San then felt that Your Majesty was acting strangely.

He couldn't pinpoint what was off.

"Could Your Majesty be thinking of that female lecherous thief again?"

Fu San thought more and more that it was very possible. Initially, that female lecherous thief's aim was to steal the Imperial Flower. But they discovered her; she didn't get the Imperial Flower, instead she plucked Your Majesty's High Ridge Flower!

It's practically a bargain for her!

Your Majesty's current odd state must be thanks to that female lecherous thief!

Still, as he said, once he catches that female lecherous thief, he will make her suffer endless torment and tear her corpse into myriad pieces!

Ye Huanhuan returned to the Ye Residence.

Ye Yu and Zhao Shi were both very pleased. Especially seeing Ye Huanhuan in the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect uniform, carrying a three-foot green blade, spirited and vigorous, her demeanor surpassed before, their relief and satisfaction nearly overflowing.

"My good daughter, you've finally come back." Zhao Shi gripped Ye Huanhuan's hand tightly, hot tears welling up.

Ye Huanhuan's eyes flashed with impatience, yet her face wore a full smile: "Daughter has not disappointed expectations; now she is an honored disciple of the Xuan Yuan Sect."

"Good, good!" Ye Yu clapped his hands, his excitement evident.

In the Ye residence, many servants stood nearby, their faces filled with envy.

Although they were merely ordinary people, who hasn't heard of the renowned Xuan Yuan Sword Sect?

It is said that it is one of the Seven Great Sects of the Central Region, recruiting geniuses from the entire Central Region, with competition described as brutal. Inside, every disciple is a heaven‑chosen prodigy, with a bright and limitless future.

"The Second Miss is not only peerless in appearance but also extraordinary in talent; she truly is a model for our Xiliang City!"

"Exactly, the Second Miss is so outstanding, I don't know how many times better she is than Ye Qingran!"

"Don't compare the Second Miss with Ye Qingran, or you'll insult our Second Miss!"

Many servants hurriedly patted their chests in fear.

It was obvious that Ye Huanhuan loved such flattery, which greatly satisfied her vanity.

She, Ye Huanhuan, will one day become the queen of Donglin Country, ruling the world as mother of the nation!

But whenever Ye Qingran was mentioned, Ye Huanhuan's face darkened; just thinking of Ye Qingran publicly divorcing the Crown Prince and stealing the limelight made her furious.

Her fuss made it seem as if the Crown Prince were trash that Ye Qingran had discarded.

"Elder sister, you must stand up for me and Mother; while you were away, Ye Qingran kept bullying us."

Ye Sisi wore a mournful face.

Zhao Shi echoed, "Exactly. Huanhuan, since you've returned, you should give Ye Qingran a good lesson!"

Ye Huanhuan furrowed her delicate brows slightly.

With many servants still watching, she could not reveal her ruthless side.

"We're all family; there's no need to talk about punishing or not punishing. Mother, sister, after I rest I'll go find elder sister to talk; she must have some misunderstanding about us."

Ye Huanhuan spoke gently, displaying her kind nature to the fullest.

Many servants were deceived by her, nodding and thinking Ye Huanhuan was truly kind and sensible—far more so than Miss Ye Sisi.

"Mother, I'm tired; have someone take me to Ting Yu Xuan to rest."

"Um..."

The entire front hall suddenly became unusually quiet.