Chapter 127: Returning to the capital

Dongfang Qi threw the evidence just submitted by the Jin Wang to Xie Shouzheng and ordered, "Return to the capital!"

With the Jin Wang present, Luo Qing dared not relax at all and personally led the horse to Dongfang Qi, "Your Highness, please mount!"

Xie Shouzheng also guarded closely by Dongfang Qi's side, watching the Jin Wang vigilantly.

Dongfang Qi raised his eyes to look at Lin Qingyue, "Deputy Envoy Lin, let's go."

Before Lin Qingyue could speak, Dongfang Yan preempted, "No need to trouble the Crown Prince, Qingyue is my Princess Consort, she should naturally travel with my carriage."

Zhao An didn't know where he had led the carriage from, and said to Lin Qingyue, "Princess Consort, the Prince was afraid you would be tired, so he had the servants prepare the carriage in advance. Please board."

Dongfang Qi glanced at the carriage and said, "Deputy Envoy Lin is my guard. Before returning to the capital, her duties have not been discharged, so she must naturally guard by my side, not leaving an inch!"

He emphasized the tone of the last four words.

"Xiao Hui, where is our carriage?"

Xie Shouzheng hurriedly said, "Here, here, someone bring the carriage over!"

Dongfang Yan was not to be outdone, "Qingyue is the Jin Princess Consort, and there is a distinction between uncle and sister-in-law with the Crown Prince, so she should avoid suspicion."

Dongfang Qi retorted unceremoniously, "State affairs are more important than family affairs, Deputy Envoy Lin!"

"Crown Prince!" Dongfang Yan walked a few steps closer and warned, "Crown Prince, do not forget your identity!"

Dongfang Qi chuckled, "Jin Wang, do not forget your identity either."

Just a moment ago, they could maintain surface peace, but at this moment, the atmosphere between the two was already surging with waves and hidden murderous intent.

As a man, Dongfang Yan immediately saw that the Crown Prince had unusual feelings for his Princess Consort. A man's self-esteem would not allow anyone to trample on it, not even the Crown Prince.

And Dongfang Qi had known for a long time that Lin Qingyue and Dongfang Yan's relationship was not good, and they were even frequently hostile.

When he was a cat before, he had no way to protect her, but now that he had recovered his identity as the Crown Prince, he would not allow anyone to hurt her.

While the two were secretly competing, they suddenly heard a long neigh of a horse, and Xie Shouzheng shouted, "Deputy Envoy Lin, why did you leave first by yourself?"

Lin Qingyue, with one person and one horse, had already disappeared into the vast night.

Dongfang Yan shouted from behind, "Qingyue, wait for me, I still have things to say to you!"

After that, he also mounted his horse.

Dongfang Qi's gaze was heavy: Judging from the various signs tonight, Dongfang Yan clearly had not given up on Deputy Envoy Lin.

His heart felt a bit irritable: Is that person a masochist? He didn't know how to cherish her before, and now he's acting out some tragic love story?

The capital was already close at hand, and there were still many forces secretly watching along the way.

However, the news of the disastrous defeat of the ambushers at Yixian Canyon spread, coupled with the Jin Wang's personal welcome and the army led by Luo Qing guarding Dongfang Qi airtight, the various forces finally dared not act rashly again.

Two days later, the Crown Prince's imperial carriage arrived smoothly at the capital.

Dongfang Qi had always enjoyed prestige among the people, and when he returned, the whole city's people lined the streets to welcome him, their cheers shaking the streets.

After returning, Dongfang Qi had to enter the palace to see the Emperor.

Dongfang Yan, as well as Lin Qingyue, Xie Shouzheng, and others, were all to return to their respective homes and wait until tomorrow to be summoned into the palace.

When they reached Zhuque Dajie, the Imperial Palace was already in sight, and Lin Qingyue's escort mission would end here.

Under the eyes of everyone, even if Dongfang Qi had ten thousand thoughts, he could only hide them in his eyes.

He pulled the reins and looked deeply at Lin Qingyue, saying one word, "Hard work."

As his voice fell, he turned his horse's head and rode into the palace.

With this matter finished, Lin Qingyue was next to deal with the divorce from Dongfang Yan, so she did not intend to return to the Jin Wangfu.

But if she didn't return to the Jin Wangfu, where should she go?

The Changning Hou Mansion was only her nominal maternal home, and if not necessary, she didn't want to have any involvement with them.

Or, find an inn to make do for now?

While she was pondering, Xie Shouzheng quietly approached and lowered his voice, "'Lan Yuan' in the Eastern Market of Zhuque Dajie is the Crown Prince's private estate. He has already ordered people to transfer all the house deeds to you in advance. The Crown Prince also said: 'A woman should also have her own home.' So Deputy Envoy Lin, if you don't want to return to the Jin Wangfu, then go back to your own home."

When Xie Shouzheng said this, his heart felt sour.

He had followed Dongfang Qi for many years and knew well that Lan Yuan on Zhuque Dajie was the most outstanding of the Crown Prince's private properties.

Lan Yuan was located in a prime location, occupied a vast area, and was beautifully decorated. It was originally the dowry of the late Empress, and after she passed away, it was left to the Crown Prince. It was not only worth a fortune but also had extraordinary significance.

Just gave it to Deputy Envoy Lin so easily? He had served for more than ten years and had never received such generous treatment.

Sigh, truly envious!

Lin Qingyue was worrying about having nowhere to stay, never expecting that Dongfang Qi had already arranged everything for her.

Sure enough, Xiao Hua is thoughtful.

Lin Qingyue didn't act coy and nodded to indicate she accepted it.

Dongfang Yan had been waiting at the other end of the team for a long time, and not seeing Lin Qingyue come over, he turned his head only to see her chatting and laughing with Xie Shouzheng.

A nameless fire surged into his heart. She was amiable to everyone, but cold as frost to him.

During these two days of travel, he was shunned as soon as he got close, and didn't even have a chance to speak, ending up full of embarrassment. Later, he simply stopped trying to face her cold face, lest he be laughed at.

But at this moment, waiting for a long time without seeing her, he finally couldn't hold back. Forget it, who made her his Princess Consort, who made him owe her.

The noble Jin Wang lowered his status and rode his horse to her side, "Qingyue, let's go home."

Lin Qingyue glanced at him, her tone as cold as before, "Dongfang Yan, let's divorce. I will not return to the Jin Wangfu again."

A heart full of enthusiasm was shattered by this sentence "divorce."

Dongfang Yan suddenly became angry, "Lin Qingyue, even if I have faults, you should at least give me a chance to make amends. This whole journey of cold war and sulking, I have been yielding to you and tolerating you, what else do you want? Don't tell me you want me to kneel down in front of so many people and beg for your forgiveness?"

Lin Qingyue curled her lips, her smile poisonous, "Alright, then kneel."

"You!" Dongfang Yan was indeed provoked, his face full of anger.

Lin Qingyue laughed even more arrogantly, and just as she wanted to stab him with a few more words, he suddenly restrained his anger, his voice dropping a few degrees, "Can I kneel when we get back? Zhao An and the others are all here, and there are people on the street watching, leave me some face."

Lin Qingyue was stunned, not expecting him to agree.

If it were the original owner, she might have softened, she might have forgiven.

Unfortunately, she was not.

"If you have no sincerity, then get lost."

Lin Qingyue said this and was about to ride away, but Dongfang Yan grabbed her reins with quick eyes and hands: "Can you stop making a scene! If you don't return to the Jin Wangfu, where can you go? In the Jin Wangfu, you are the mistress who has the final say, I yield to you in everything, you can do whatever you want."

"But if you return to the Changning Hou Mansion, if your father and mother know that you are making a scene about divorcing me, how will they treat you? Your father, who is so snobbish, if you lose your value, will he still recognize you as his daughter? Will there still be a place for you in the Changning Hou Mansion?"

"You keep saying you want to divorce me, but throughout history, which divorced woman hasn't been despised by her maternal family? With your temperament, how can you endure a life of living under someone else's roof?"

He spoke with earnest advice, as if every word was for her sake, but in reality, every word was saying: If you leave the Jin Wangfu, you will have nowhere to stay!

Lin Qingyue sneered, "So this is your way of manipulating me? You think I have nowhere to stay, so I must return to the Jin Wangfu and rely on you to survive?"

Dongfang Yan said, "I am not trying to manipulate you, I am just analyzing the pros and cons with you. No matter how capable you are, you are still a woman!"

"Even if you have a place in the Xuanjing Division, even if you have meritorious service in guarding the Crown Prince, you are still a woman after all! A woman must always rely on her husband to be decent. Don't look at how the Crown Prince favors you now, if you really become a divorced woman, gossip will drown you. Can the Crown Prince stop the mouths of the public?"

Lin Qingyue sneered dismissively, "So many nonsense words, do you think I care? Dongfang Yan, you overestimate yourself! I, Lin Qingyue, have never relied on anyone to stand in this world."

Before her words fell, she flicked a wisp of spiritual power from her fingertips, hitting Dongfang Yan's wrist. He felt his hand go numb and subconsciously let go of the reins.

"Giddyup!" Lin Qingyue shouted lightly and rode away.

Zhao An hurriedly stepped forward and asked cautiously, "Prince, should we send people to chase?"

Chasing is natural, but one cannot pester her anymore; one must use some clever methods to make her return on her own. ===== CHAPTER 128 =====