Chapter 425: Chapter 295: A Little Bit of Abuse Is Healthier, The Hong Family Couple (Part 1)
"Guard Cong, please return to Beiqing and convey to Emperor Qing that Daxia will definitely cure the strange disease and resolve the crisis of the Xixia Plain within three months," Emperor Xia said while wiping his sweat and making assurances.
"Three months, that’s what you said yourself, Your Majesty. If the crisis in the Xixia Plain isn’t resolved in three months, don’t blame us Beiqing people for sending troops immediately," Guard Cong spoke leisurely.
"Rest assured, definitely, a ruler does not speak in jest," Emperor Xia’s heart was in his throat.
"I’ve heard that Princess Ye in Xia Capital has superb medical skills. When Prince Feng was here, he was taken care of by her multiple times. Perhaps you might consider letting Princess Ye take charge of this epidemic; maybe she’s the cure we need," Guard Cong said meaningfully, giving Emperor Xia a deep look before leaving.
As soon as Guard Cong left, Emperor Xia started pacing anxiously in the imperial study.
Just then, Empress Liu came in carrying freshly brewed ginseng tea.
"Your Majesty, what’s the matter? You seem so gloomy," she asked.
"Ah, Empress, people from Beiqing have come demanding that within three months, we must cure the strange disease in the Xixia Plain, otherwise, Beiqing will send troops to take control of Xixia Plain. Xixia Plain is a crucial location for Daxia; if it falls into the hands of Beiqing people, Daxia’s downfall isn’t far off. They also want Princess Ye to be in charge of this matter," Emperor Xia felt like his hair was turning white from the stress.
"Then let Princess Ye take care of it. Not to boast within our palace, but her medical skills are indeed very proficient," Empress Liu reassured him.
"But... Ah, Ye Lingyue is also a tough one; to get her to act, unless, unless I agree to her conditions. Do you know what her conditions are? She wants me to grant her a divorce decree, to let Ye Huangyu divorce Hong Fang - this is absolutely unreasonable!" Emperor Xia was indeed burning the candle at both ends, anxiously fretting.
Ye Lingyue truly made Emperor Xia extremely headache-ridden, and he wished he could banish her as far away as possible, never to see her again in his lifetime.
"Ha." Little did he know that upon hearing this, rather than worrying, Empress Liu chuckled lightly, confusing Emperor Xia with her laughter.
"Your Majesty, may I make a suggestion? As women, we can only rely on men in our lifetime. Men being fickle are called romantic; women being fickle are termed wanton. In my view, this divorce decree should be granted," Empress Liu’s words carried a bit of defiance.
She even envied Ye Huangyu for having such a capable daughter.
As a woman, Empress Liu understood all too well the pain of sharing her man with other women.
Though she was the master of the harem, she always had to suffer in silence.
When Noble Princess Consort Luo was once favored, didn’t she also wish she could leave Emperor Xia?
Sadly, the cage of the royal family never afforded her the chance to soar again.
But Ye Huangyu was different. Her resilience over the years made even Empress Liu admire her immensely.
Her unhappy love with Nie Fengxing, even Empress Liu wanted to help them, but had to stop due to the Empress Dowager’s obstinance at the time.
Empress Liu’s words also made Emperor Xia feel ashamed; over the years, he had indeed been deeply in debt to the Sixth Prince and Empress Liu.
"For personal reasons, Princess Ye has saved both mine and Qiqi’s lives multiple times; she is our benefactor. For public reasons, the lives of tens of thousands on the Xixia Plain are waiting to be saved. If Your Majesty feels it’s unjust towards the Hong Residence, you can always compensate them later. Now is not the time to worry about feelings," Empress Liu earnestly persuaded.
After the Empress’s persuasion, Emperor Xia finally relented and agreed to Ye Lingyue’s demands.
Having ruled for over twenty years, granting countless marriages, but he had never written a divorce decree before; left with no choice, he had to grit his teeth and ask Empress Liu for help.
Empress Liu, daughter of the former Imperial Tutor, wrote a letter of divorce in just half an hour, filled with vehement words, tears and accusations, denouncing Hong Fang as a despicable scoundrel, vividly captured on paper.
Ye Huangyu had been waiting agonizingly in Heavenly Prison for over an hour and had not seen her daughter, Ye Lingyue, return yet. Just as she was worrying, she heard the lock drop to the ground.
"Ye Huangyu, you may come out now."
Ye Lingyue was momentarily stunned by this address. At that moment, Lord Liu, who was beside Emperor Xia, walked in holding a bright yellow Imperial Decree.
"Ye Family, by the order of Heaven, Emperor Xia decrees: Although Ye Huangyu impersonated her daughter committing the crime of deceiving the sovereign and defying authority, considering her great merits outweigh her faults, and possessing talent, her crimes are pardoned, and she is conferred the title of Third-rank Western General of Daxia. Let Ye Huangyu step forward to express gratitude."
Ye Huangyu did not expect such a sudden turn of events.
Not only was she released from prison, she was also reinstated as a general.
"Here is another Imperially-granted letter of divorce, bestowed by His Majesty to the Western General. Please, General, have a look." Lord Liu handed a letter to Ye Huangyu.
Opening it, Ye Huangyu saw her and Hong Fang’s names written starkly.
Upon seeing this letter of divorce, a shadow lifted from Ye Huangyu’s expression.
She strode out of Heavenly Prison; outside, her daughter, Ye Lingyue, and Nie Fengxing were waiting for her.
"Yue’er, His Majesty has granted me an Imperially-bestowed letter of divorce." Only at this moment did Ye Huangyu find it hard to believe.
"Mother, what are we waiting for? Let’s go." Ye Lingyue had already prepared horses outside the palace gates.
"Go where?" Ye Huangyu was still somewhat confused.
"First, we’ll return to Lan Residence. My adoptive parents have already prepared a celebration banquet for us and boiled some grapefruit water to wash away our misfortune. After tonight, tomorrow, of course, we need to settle accounts with the Hong Family!" Ye Lingyue laughed heartily, leading her mother onto the carriage as they headed for the Lan Residence.
The next morning, Hong Fang and the Marquis Hong went to court.
"Mother, the Empress summoned you to the palace early in the morning. What’s the matter?"
Hong Mingyue and her sister Hong Yuying saw Zhuge Rou out.
"It must be her Majesty the Empress wanting to say a few heartfelt words to me," Zhuge Rou replied with a smiling face.
During the years when Empress Liu fell out of favor, Zhuge Rou was very close with Noble Princess Consort Luo, sidelining the Empress.
Unexpectedly, Empress Liu’s fortunes had changed, and with the Sixth Prince designated as the Crown Prince, Zhuge Rou naturally wanted to please the Empress even more.
"Should I accompany you?" Hong Mingyue was a bit worried; she remembered that the Empress did not like her mother.
"No need, you should spend more time with Young Master Luo when you’re free. It’s rare for him to come to Xia Capital, take him around more." Zhuge Rou mentioned Luo Song with a sycophantic smile.
Everyone could see that Luo Song fancied Hong Mingyue, as he had previously hinted several times to Hong Fang and Zhuge Rou that he wanted to marry Hong Mingyue.
Forming a connection with Three-Life Valley was naturally very pleasing for Hong Fang and his wife, but whenever Hong Mingyue heard about this matter, she felt unhappy.