Chapter 411: Chapter 281: Helpless—Deep Feelings, Shallow Fate?
Due to what Nie Fengxing said, Ye Huangyu had long lost interest in the royal banquet. She numbly drank and ate, answering the Emperor and Empress’s inquiries absentmindedly.
"Your Majesty, it has been a long time since you and Fengxing have caught up. Your servant sees you both have endless topics to discuss, why don’t I take Vice General Ye for a walk in the palace so you and Fengxing can have a good chat?"
After three rounds of drinks, Empress Liu, citing her inability to hold her liquor, stood up.
She kindly invited Ye Huangyu to join her on a tour of the imperial garden.
It was summer in Xia Capital, and the lotus in the ponds of the imperial garden was blooming splendidly.
Emperor Xia granted permission for the two of them, leaving Nie Fengxing to continue drinking.
Once Empress Liu had walked some distance away, Nie Fengxing suddenly put down his wine cup.
"Uncle, Fengxing has important matters to report."
Seeing Nie Fengxing turn grave suddenly, Emperor Xia understood and waved his hand, signalling all the palace maids and eunuchs to leave.
Only then did Nie Fengxing reveal that Xia Houhong was not of the Royal Bloodline and had colluded with the Beiqing Strange People, informing Emperor Xia in detail.
Emperor Xia’s expression changed upon hearing this.
"Is this true?"
"Absolutely true. If cousin Your Majesty is still uncertain, Luo Noble Princess Consort can be immediately summoned for confrontation. I have already found the old eunuch who initially selected Luo Noble Princess Consort for the palace, who can testify that she was not chaste upon entering the palace — she was already one month pregnant at the time."
Although deeply trusting what Ye Lingyue said, defaming a Princess Consort was a capital offense, especially when it involved the Royal Bloodline.
Thus, Nie Fengxing conducted a thorough investigation, arresting the trafficked eunuch and palace maid from that year, and after extensive interrogation, confirmed that what Ye Lingyue said was true.
Emperor Xia immediately summoned several witnesses to verify that what Nie Fengxing said was true.
"Bring that vile woman Luo Wan to see me," ordered Emperor Xia in rage upon hearing the news.
He was furious to realize he had unnecessarily worn the green hat for over a decade, and even nearly allowed this illegitimate child to ascend to the throne.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Noble Princess Consort Luo is no longer in the palace. Even her attending palace maids and eunuchs have all been killed," reported the Imperial Army after heading to the residence of Noble Princess Consort Luo and finding it deserted.
Days earlier, shortly after the news of the Fourth Prince’s death arrived, Noble Princess Consort Luo was heartbroken. No one dared to disturb her, but unexpectedly, she had already secretly escaped.
Unbelievable that the companion of many years was indeed a treacherous wolf, Emperor Xia felt desolate, his emotions a mix of feelings.
"Your Majesty, regarding Vice General Ye..." Nie Fengxing hesitated, unsure if he should disclose Ye Huangyu’s true gender to the Emperor.
"I have already ordered the Military Department to prepare the case. If the investigation proves his background is clear, I intend to appoint him General soon. I am tired today, you may retreat."
Emperor Xia waved his hand, unwilling to hear more, thus Nie Fengxing had no choice but to leave.
After Nie Fengxing left the imperial garden, he searched around but could not find Ye Huangyu and Empress Liu. He became anxious and started looking for them around Xia Palace.
Having just taken a few steps, he encountered an old nanny coming towards him — it was the Empress Dowager’s leading old nanny.
"Heir Nie, this old servant was just looking for you. Empress Dowager heard you entered the palace and requests you visit Bai Feng Palace to see her."
Nie Fengxing, having no other option, followed the old nanny towards the Empress Dowager Palace.
In a secluded section of the imperial garden.
Amid the teal waters of the pond, red, white, pink, yellow, and purple lotuses bloomed in abundance.
The lotuses, either fully bloomed or half-concealed, gently swayed in the summer breeze, with dewdrops glittering transparently on their leaves, rolling softly, painting a picture of a summer lotus pond.
Ye Huangyu, following Empress Liu, one after another, with Empress Liu occasionally asking about interesting events from the borderlands without any trace of pretense.
Ye Huangyu responded casually, her mind still occupied with Nie Fengxing’s origins.
"Vice General Ye, are you aware of your crimes?" The previously amiable Empress Liu, having reached a secluded part of the imperial garden, suddenly dismissed her attendants and rebuked loudly.
Ye Huangyu, still in a daze, was jolted and lifted her head abruptly.
"Empress, I beg for forgiveness, your servant deserves death, for having offended Your Highness," Ye Huangyu exclaimed in alarm, thinking she had angered Empress Liu with her distraction.
"Ye Huangyu, until when do you plan to conceal your identity?" Empress Liu sighed and helped Ye Huangyu to stand.
Ye Huangyu was startled.
"Ling Yue has already written to the palace about this. There is no one else here, you don’t need to be nervous, stand up and talk," Empress Liu had already received an urgent letter from Ling Yue a few days ago.
The letter, besides mentioning Xia Houhong’s origins, also revealed how her mother Ye Huangyu, disguised as a man, had joined the Tiger Wolf Army.
In her letter, Ling Yue hoped Empress Liu would do her best to aid her mother.
Initially somewhat angry at Ye Huangyu’s reckless behavior, Empress Liu, considering Ye Huangyu’s tragic past, felt she had not had an easy life.
Now that she had accomplished a great feat for Daxia, and thinking of the mother and daughter of the Ye Family, both were indeed extraordinary women.
Moreover, having eliminated Xia Houhong, thus warding off the potential threat of Noble Princess Consort Luo for her, Empress Liu owed Ling Yue a great favor.
Empress Liu had already made up her mind to protect Ye Huangyu no matter what.
"We were nearly in-laws. Unfortunately, Qiqi’s fortune is lacking, unable to marry a good girl like Ling Yue," Empress Liu sighed. It had been almost three months since Ling Yue left Xia Capital, and Xiahou Qi had been depressed.
Despite the persuasions of the Empress Dowager and Empress Liu, Xiahou Qi still refused to take a wife.
There was nothing Empress Liu, as a mother, could do but worry.
Knowing her daughter had been behind pulling the strings made Ye Huangyu, as a mother, even more embarrassed.
Though she was the one who gave birth to her daughter, Ye Huangyu felt that ever since her daughter became clever, it had always been her daughter looking after her in secret.
"The Emperor has already ordered the Military Department to make a record; you have made a great accomplishment this time and will surely be appointed as a general. However, until when do you plan to conceal your identity? And what about you and Nie Fengxing?"
Empress Liu, having lived through much, saw the protective manner Nie Fengxing had towards Ye Huangyu and knew he was sincerely in love this time.
However, the identity of Ye Huangyu as a married woman might be something especially difficult for the obstinate Old Marquis Guanwu of Guanwu Marquis Mansion to accept.
Empress Liu’s implied meaning was also understood by Ye Huangyu.
She spoke with a hint of bitterness.
"I am aware that this time, I have committed a grave sin of deceiving the monarch. I will personally apologize to His Majesty. As for General Nie, I... never thought of reaching beyond my position," Ye Huangyu said, her voice tinged with emotion, as if a bug had crawled into her nose.
Ye Huangyu’s fingers twisted together, her knuckles turning deathly pale, revealing the deep sorrow within her heart.