With a thud, Chu Huaiyu’s head struck the stone pillar.
Qin Liuyan was terrified, and everyone else grew anxious.
“Huaiyu! Huaiyu, are you alright?”
Chu Hongtao rushed over and, along with Qin Liuyan, helped Chu Huaiyu up.
Fortunately, she had only hit her head and hadn’t bled, so her face was not disfigured.
Chu Huaiyu looked at Qin Liuyan, her voice hoarse and fragile, “Even if… you are not… my mother, you… raised me… for many years. I… cannot watch you… die.”
After saying this, Chu Huaiyu’s eyes closed, and she fainted.
Chu Hongtao knelt on the ground, looking at the Emperor and said anxiously, “Your Majesty, Huaiyu is injured. May I…”
“Quickly, save her!” Before the Emperor could speak, the Empress Dowager stood up and said urgently, “Quickly, send Huaiyu to my sleeping chambers. Linglong, go and examine her quickly!”
“Alright!” This time, Yu Linglong glanced at Chu Qianli, her mood improving.
A group of people escorted Chu Huaiyu to the Empress Dowager’s sleeping chambers.
Chu Hongtao and Qin Liuyan also followed.
Before leaving, the Empress Dowager looked at Chu Qianli, who had remained expressionless, and was so angry she almost stomped her foot.
“Although Huaiyu is not Qin Shi’s daughter, she knows gratitude for the nurturing she received. And you?”
“Seeing your own mother try to take her own life, you remained unmoved. You… you are simply… simply…”
She had always been kind-hearted and unaccustomed to scolding people, and could not even muster many abusive words.
But Chu Qianli tonight was truly too disappointing.
She deeply regretted allowing Xuan’er to marry this woman back then.
“Your Majesty, Xuan’er’s decision to marry this woman back then was solely out of gratitude for Long Qianyue’s past kindness to him.”
“Now that we know Huaiyu is Long Qianyue’s daughter, this Chu Qianli should no longer remain in the Xuan King’s manor.”
She looked at the Emperor, still feeling stifled, “Your Majesty, why don’t you grant them a divorce?”
Afterward, the Empress Dowager, supported by Nanny Jin and Nanny Yao, left in anger.
She also returned to her own sleeping chambers to attend to the injured Chu Huaiyu.
Yu Linglong’s mood was somewhat complicated.
On one hand, she was happy that the Empress Dowager had intervened and asked the Emperor to grant Chu Qianli and the Xuan King a divorce.
But, on the other hand, the Empress Dowager seemed to like Chu Huaiyu very much?
Wouldn’t that mean another competitor?
With a complicated mood, she also left.
Long Ye and Long Feifan remained in the hall.
Long Ye suddenly stood up and knelt on the ground.
“My loyal subject…” The Emperor hesitated to speak.
Long Ye lowered his head and said in a deep voice, “The events back then were all caused by Qin Shi. Li’er was merely an infant then, she knew nothing.”
“I implore Your Majesty to see clearly.”
Long Feifan immediately knelt and said, “Your Majesty, please see clearly.”
Only Chu Qianli remained standing not far from them.
Her expression was always indifferent.
Long Ye did not look at her, his heart filled with an unspeakable complexity.
Long Feifan could not help but glance at her, his heart also heavy.
The Emperor waved his hand and said, “My loyal subject, please rise. This matter, I shall not hold Chu Qianli accountable.”
Long Ye was then relieved and, with Long Feifan’s support, stood up.
“My loyal subject, it is late today. You should return and rest early.”
The Emperor was clearly asking them to leave. Long Ye, of course, understood.
“Then this old official shall take his leave.”
As he was leaving, he looked at Chu Qianli with a profound tone, “No matter what, your maternal grandfather watched you grow up. You were and always will be my cherished granddaughter.”
Long Feifan also gave her a deep look, said “take care,” and then helped Long Ye leave.
After they departed, only the Emperor, Eunuch Qing, and Chu Qianli remained in the hall.
Eunuch Qing’s expression suddenly turned stern, and he angrily said, “Chu Qianli, you privately left the city and infiltrated the Xuanwu Army, causing the Xuan King to be seriously injured. Do you know your crime!”
“Is Your Majesty trying to find a crime for this humble subject to force me to agree to a divorce from the Xuan King?”
Chu Qianli’s expression was calm. She looked up at the Emperor, her lips curved in that ever-present, enigmatic smile.
Eunuch Qing was stunned.
The Emperor’s face flushed, and for a moment, he couldn’t utter a single word in response.
This damned girl was so clever!
But, as the ruler of a nation, how could he admit to such a despicable act?
Eunuch Qing immediately’s expression darkened, and he angrily said, “Chu Qianli, if you continue to be stubborn, then do not blame me…”
“The divorce agreement, I will sign.”
She… what did she say? She… was willing to sign the divorce agreement?
This time, even the Emperor was taken aback.
How could it be so smooth?
This damned girl had gone to great lengths to scheme and trap, all for the sake of marrying the Xuan King.
Her journey to Duanhun Valley this time, risking life and death, was also for the Xuan King.
How could she agree to a divorce so easily?
Could there be some conspiracy behind this?
Seeing their expressions, Chu Qianli could not help but smile faintly.
Her smile held a hint of sarcasm.
“Your Majesty, I am merely a weak woman without power or influence. What schemes could I possibly have?”
She had written the divorce agreement long ago and thrown it at Feng Yexuan, but he had refused to accept it.
Although she felt very disheartened today being forced to divorce Feng Yexuan,
Despite her reluctance, they had actually done her a great favor.
“Eunuch Qing, has the divorce agreement been prepared? If so, please present it for this humble subject to sign.”
“This humble subject knows she is without virtue or ability and is not worthy of the Xuan King. I now only wish to return to the Duke’s manor to care for my gravely ill grandfather.”
“Henceforth, whether the Prince marries or not will have nothing to do with this humble subject. Does Your Majesty agree?”
The Emperor’s face was stern. Although Chu Qianli’s gaze and tone seemed to hold a hint of disdain,
To avoid any further complications, it was best to sign the divorce agreement first.
Eunuch Qing immediately presented the divorce agreement.
As expected, it had been prepared in advance. How much did this so-called royal eunuch dislike her?
Chu Qianli picked up the pen. After a cursory glance, she signed her name.
Eunuch Qing let out a heavy sigh of relief.
He had thought this girl would cause some trouble, but unexpectedly, she had signed so smoothly.
He immediately collected the divorce agreement and returned to the Emperor’s side.
Chu Qianli said, “Your Majesty, please permit this humble subject to return to the Duke’s manor.”
The Emperor looked at her.
At this moment, although the smile on Chu Qianli’s lips continued to cause an inexplicable unease,
Still, forcing someone to divorce today was a significant event.
She was merely a young girl, barely ten years old.
He did not wish to make things difficult for her.
As long as the objective was achieved, it was fine.
The Emperor waved his hand. Chu Qianli left without even a word of farewell, turning and walking away.
Outside, a fine drizzle began to fall.
Stepping out of the grand hall, she looked up at the overcast night sky, which truly matched the mood.
She had never expected that after constantly wishing for a divorce, she would feel no anticipated excitement or elation upon signing the divorce agreement.
Why, instead, was there a faint sense of melancholy?
Was it because, in the poisonous mist formation, that person was injured by an illusion, and the person in his eyes within the illusion was her?
But what did that matter?
Everything was over.
His marrying her was originally out of gratitude.
And divorce was something she herself had wanted.
Everything was truly over.
Chu Qianli took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, and then quickened her pace, stepping onto a new path in her life.
She returned to the Duke’s manor.
However, before she could enter Chu Buqu’s chambers, someone blocked her path: “You really signed the divorce agreement?”