Chapter 138: Entering the palace to ask for an edict to divorce

Lin Qingyue nodded in approval: "I think so too. Hong Yao is now missing, and with her demon arts, unless the other party is powerful, ordinary people can't hurt her. In short, whether dead or alive, we must find Hong Yao as soon as possible. Xiao Hua, you say, if the Li family caught Hong Yao, where would they lock her up?"

Dongfang Qi said: "I just checked the recent whereabouts of Duke Li and his family this morning. After the Miao Donggui case came out, their family's actions became much lower-key, Duke Li closed his doors, and others rarely went out, and there were no records of entering or leaving the city. So, if Hong Yao is still alive, she should be locked in the Duke's mansion."

Lin Qingyue decided decisively: "Then let's go to the Duke's mansion, save Hong Yao!"

Dongfang Qi said: "Duke Li has many schemes, and his mansion is full of mechanisms. Going rashly is not safe. After the Donglin Fu case, the Li family lost an important source of income and must be holding a grudge. If our whereabouts are exposed and they find a fault, it will put us at a disadvantage."

Lin Qingyue asked: "Then do you have any way?"

Dongfang Qi said: "Since secret visits are not appropriate, let's go openly. Isn't Duke Li claiming illness? I'll accompany you?"

"You accompany me?" Lin Qingyue shook her head, "If you were still in the identity of Xiao Hua, it would naturally be fine. But you are now the Crown Prince, visiting casually, not to mention that it's not a legitimate reason. What kind of combination are we? Uncle and sister-in-law together? I don't fear public opinion, but what about you, Crown Prince?"

Dongfang Qi wanted to say: I don't fear public opinion either.

But after thinking about it, he felt it was a bit inappropriate to say that.

Lin Qingyue proposed: "How about we be one in the light and one in the dark. You attract the attention of the Li family in the light, and I will disguise myself as your attendant to explore in the dark. If we can find Hong Yao, then we will directly turn our faces and question them. After all, Hong Yao is also a witness in the Donglin case, and detaining witnesses privately is also a crime."

Dongfang Qi thought for a while and said: "Okay, after lunch, I will enter the palace to ask Father for an order to prevent the Li family from pushing back and closing the door."

Lin Qingyue said: "Okay. I will enter the palace with you to ask your father for an imperial edict of divorce. You can help me speak in the side."

Dongfang Qi was suddenly very happy and agreed fully: "Okay, I will definitely help you."

After lunch, the two entered the palace to see Qi Zhaodi.

Qi Zhaodi was a bit surprised to see them both coming together: "Why did you two come to see me together?"

Dongfang Qi told him about Hong Yao's disappearance, suspecting that it was a kidnapping by Duke Li, and preparing to go to his mansion under the pretext of visiting the sick, but actually to save people.

However, he hid the fact that Hong Yao was a fox demon, because he knew that Qi Zhaodi was very repulsed by demons, so he had hidden Xie Shouzheng's identity at the beginning.

"Father, Duke Li is now closing his doors to guests. If the subject goes directly, he will probably refuse with the excuse of being sick. So, the subject wants to ask Father for an imperial edict, which can be considered as visiting on behalf of Father, so he will have no reason to refuse."

Qi Zhaodi nodded: "Father will have someone draft an imperial edict. It's late today, not suitable for visiting the sick. According to the customs of Qi, visiting the sick is best in the morning. You should go tomorrow, so as not to appear hasty and arouse suspicion."

Lin Qingyue said: "But Hong Yao has been missing for several days, delaying one more day, I'm afraid..."

Qi Zhaodi said: "The Li family is a great family, and Duke Li has a huge foundation in the court. Regardless of what happens in the dark, at least the surface work must be done, and we cannot be caught by the handle. Our royal family also relies on the support of the noble families. How can we cause a rift between the royal family and the noble families because of a commoner girl?"

As an emperor, he needs to consider the overall situation, and as for the life and death of individuals, that is secondary.

Being able to support Dongfang Qi unconditionally is already the biggest concession he has made.

"Thank you, Father." Dongfang Qi could only settle for the next best thing and go tomorrow.

Lin Qingyue turned to propose the second thing for her entering the palace: "Please allow the subject to divorce Dongfang Yan!"

As she said, she presented the memorial she had written in advance to show solemnity.

As long as Qi Zhaodi approved it, or directly issued an imperial edict, she could write a letter of divorce when she went back and kick Dongfang Yan away.

Qi Zhaodi's smile faded: "Why do you want to divorce? If I remember correctly, you were the one who took the initiative to approach the Jin Wang, and used some means to create the impression that you had an affair with the Jin Wang. I bestowed the marriage, and the Jin Wang was a bit dissatisfied. How come you don't cherish it now that you have it?"

He was wary of Dongfang Yan at the time and didn't want his marriage partner's family background to be too wealthy.

And the Changning Hou Fu was declining day by day, and Lin Qingyue's reputation at the time was not good, so it was most appropriate to match her with Dongfang Yan.

Now that the Crown Prince has returned, he wants to vigorously support his son to suppress the vassal kings. Therefore, he does not want the marriage between Dongfang Yan and Lin Qingyue to break.

Dongfang Qi immediately helped speak: "Father, the subject knows a little about the previous things. Dongfang Yan favored the second daughter of the Lin family, and because the Changning Hou Fu's status was too low, the marriage could not be implemented. That Miss Lin was also a scheming woman, so she gave Dongfang Yan a sleeping pill, wanting to cook the raw rice into cooked rice. Chaolan Female Prince was an accidental victim. This is a wrong marriage, please allow them to divorce, and set things right."

Qi Zhaodi glared at his son: "What does this have to do with you, you are the dignified Crown Prince, how can you even manage other people's family affairs?"

Dongfang Qi said: "Since Father said this is someone else's family affair, can't we let Chaolan Female Prince handle it herself?"

Qi Zhaodi said: "The Jin Wang is ambitious, once they divorce, if he turns around and marries another great family, won't your position as Crown Prince be threatened? Or... shall I solve your marriage first? How about the youngest daughter of Duke Cui's family?"

Dongfang Qi didn't expect to suddenly burn himself: "Father, we are discussing the matter of Chaolan Female Prince, why did you suddenly pull it to the subject's head? You promised before that you would allow the subject to choose the Crown Princess himself."

Qi Zhaodi said: "Yes, then who do you choose?"

Dongfang Qi said: "The matter of choosing the Crown Princess should be delayed, let's solve the matter of the Jin Wang and Chaolan Female

Emperor Qi Zhaodi, however, gave him no chance to evade: "Only once you have decided on a Crown Princess and confirmed that the family you are marrying into is powerful enough, can I agree to let Prince Jin divorce."

Dongfang Qi: "..."

He felt he had fallen into a dilemma.

Lin Qingyue had not expected things to evolve to the point where Dongfang Qi was being forced into marriage.

Although he was no longer young and bore the heavy burden of carrying on the royal lineage, looking at him, it was clear he did not want to start a family. That must mean he had not found someone he loved.

As the saying goes, do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.

Dongfang Qi was helping her, so she couldn't sabotage him, could she?