Chapter 423: Chapter 293: Hong Fang, You’re Not Even a Man
Upon exiting the imperial study, Ye Huangyu looked worriedly at her daughter, Ye Lingyue.
She did not know what exactly her daughter intended to negotiate with Emperor Xia.
The people from the Hong Residence glared fiercely at Ye Lingyue before departing.
After leaving the imperial study, Ye Huangyu, escorted and on her way back to the Heavenly Prison,
"Shameless! What kind of person, what kind of daughter, dares to set terms with the Emperor. Ye Huangyu, you’ve really raised a good daughter indeed." Seeing that there were no others around, Zhuge Rou rushed in front of Ye Huangyu, raising her hand to teach her a lesson.
Ye Huangyu’s hands were still shackled, and Zhuge Rou moved extremely fast. It looked like the slap was about to land.
Several people from the Hong Residence watched from a distance, all taking pleasure in her misfortune.
Hong Fang, with a deep gaze, did not step forward to stop it.
But then, the situation took a sudden turn, a figure suddenly sprang from the shadows, and with a smack, Zhuge Rou was thrown into a nearby flowerbed.
Looking ahead again, Nie Fengxing stood like a guardian deity in front of Ye Huangyu.
"Mother!" Hong Mingyue and Hong Yuying quickly helped Zhuge Rou up.
The flowerbed where Zhuge Rou fell was full of rose vines. The thorny vines tore at her clothes and disheveled her hair, even leaving several cuts on her face.
"Nie Fengxing, you hit a woman!" Hong Fang saw Nie Fengxing and was furious.
"So what if I hit a woman? It’s fine for her to hit my woman? Hong Fang, I advise you to take this bitch back and tie her down, lest she goes around biting others, losing face for the Hong Residence," Nie Fengxing rebuffed.
Nie Fengxing was not Lan Yingwu, who would spare consideration for the weak.
When he decided to hit someone, be it a man, a woman, a eunuch, or a palace maid, Nie Fengxing, having grown up in the palace, was used to acting with impunity, relying on his maternal grandmother being the Empress Dowager and his uncle being Emperor Xia, he really dared to hit anyone.
Today’s events were also a coincidence since Ye Huangyu was imprisoned.
Nie Fengxing had bribed a young eunuch in the palace, who would immediately inform him of any commotion.
Thus, as soon as Ye Lingyue, her mother, and the people from the Hong Residence reached the imperial study, Nie Fengxing was already waiting outside. He had been back in the capital for quite some time and had yet to see Ye Huangyu again, feeling both longing and worry.
These days, because of that Old Bastard at home being strict, and his own mother threatening him with tears, tantrums, and threats of suicide, forbidding him to see Ye Huangyu, Nie Fengxing finally managed to slip out while the Old Bastard was out at a banquet.
Nie Fengxing had finally seen the person he had been thinking about, only to witness Zhuge Rou, the shameless, about to hit his woman.
Ye Huangyu’s heart warmed as she looked at the man standing tall like a wall before her, feeling an unprecedented sense of security.
This look caught Hong Fang’s eye, and it was particularly irritating, especially since Ye Huangyu had just rejected his proposal to reunite.
"Your woman? Nie Fengxing, don’t speak too soon. Do you know that in the imperial study just now, Emperor Xia has the thought of bestowing marriage to let me and Ye Huangyu reconcile," Hong Fang felt a tightness in his chest; he couldn’t stand the thought of Nie Fengxing being with Ye Huangyu.
Upon hearing this, Nie Fengxing’s heart tensed. Glancing over at Ye Huangyu, he was relieved to see her shake her head.
"Hong Fang, keep dreaming your delusional dreams. Huangyu made a poor judgment back then to fall for a scumbag like you. No, calling you a man would be an overstatement; you’re nothing but trash. Forget about her remarrying you; that’s never going to happen."
"Whether it’s a dream or not, it’s not for you to decide. Ye Huangyu, perhaps you have forgotten about this." Saying so, Hong Fang took out a piece of paper.
The paper, yellowed due to the passage of time.
However, the two words "Divorce Document" on it stung Ye Huangyu’s eyes.
Divorce Document—it suddenly pulled her memories back to that night fourteen years ago.
"This Divorce Document was what I gave to Ye Huangyu back then. Unfortunately, she was holding our child and left the document behind. According to the laws of Dazhou, a Divorce Document only takes effect once it is in the hands of the divorced party. In other words, for these fourteen years, the marital bond between Ye Huangyu and me still exists, which means she is still a married woman, and you, Nie Fengxing, are merely a home wrecker who goes against social norms," sneered Hong Fang, his venomous words turning Ye Huangyu’s complexion increasingly wretched.
Back then, she was too heartbroken to even accept the Divorce Document, and instead, clutching her daughter, she sought help within the city.
"Hong Fang, your shamelessness truly knows no bounds." Nie Fengxing made a move as if he intended to snatch the Divorce Document.
"General Nie, I believe you also wouldn’t want this Divorce Document to disgrace Guanwu Marquis Mansion. There are plenty of other options in the world, it would be wise for you to consider this carefully," suddenly interjected Marquis Hong, intercepting Nie Fengxing with the speed of lightning.
"Fengxing, I’m tired, let’s return. You... better not come to see me for now," said Ye Huangyu dejectedly, as she was escorted to the Heavenly Prison by the guards.
Nie Fengxing stood frozen in place until he could no longer see Ye Huangyu’s figure, letting out a dispirited sigh.
"Master, didn’t you already tear up this Divorce Document long ago?" Zhuge Rou was livid as well.
"Woman’s thoughts. I have my reasons for acting as I do," replied Hong Fang as he put away the Divorce Document.
"Mother, that Divorce Document is a fake. Although I am reluctant to have Ye Lingyue become my sister, it has to be said that the current Ye Lingyue can be very useful to Daxia and the Hong Residence," Hong Mingyue spoke, earning approving looks from Marquis Hong and Hong Fang.
Knowing that the Empress Dowager intended to reconcile Ye Huangyu and Hong Fang, they were well aware that Ye Huangyu would not agree, so Hong Fang had already forged this Divorce Document in advance.
As for Marquis Hong, as long as Ye Huangyu and her daughter were still of use, there was no harm in acknowledging and reclaiming them as family.
Although the Hong Residence already had a Hong Mingyue, having one more Ye Lingyue, who had made it onto the Qing Province List, would be the icing on the cake. Hence, he also agreed with Hong Fang’s actions.
"But doesn’t this cheapen that wench Ye Huangyu? Or is it that Master, you actually have ulterior motives and wish to rekindle old flames with that wench?" Zhuge Rou was still brimming with jealousy.
"Lady, you worry too much, for I have already chosen you. I want Ye Huangyu to return to the family merely to use her to coerce Ye Lingyue into working for us. Moreover, even if she returns to the residence, she will merely be a concubine. How she shall be dealt with in the future will still be at your command," coaxed Hong Fang, quickly turning Zhuge Rou’s worries into joy.
Inside the imperial study, Emperor Xia spoke disgruntledly.
"What conditions do you require to agree to go to the Xixia Plain?"
There weren’t many who dared to negotiate terms with Emperor Xia.
One could imagine Emperor Xia’s mood. If it weren’t for Ye Lingyue being the only person capable of breaking the siege of Xixia right now, he would have executed her immediately. However, he couldn’t lay a hand on Ye Lingyue at the present moment.
"I haven’t yet decided on my conditions. When I have thought about it by tomorrow, I will inform Your Majesty," replied Ye Lingyue, not rushing her demands. She knew that, at a time like this, a little delay could make Emperor Xia more inclined to agree to her terms, especially since the situation on Xixia Plain was urgent.