Chapter 427: Chapter 297: A Little Bit of Abuse Is Healthier, The Hong Family Couple (Part 3)
The one ardently addressed as Lord Qu by the young eunuch was an old eunuch who supervised the cold palace, having stayed in the palace for over forty years.
He had always wanted to find a palace maid to pair with for meals, but alas, he was advanced in years and had a very volatile temper due to overseeing the cold palace, which made the young palace maids unwilling to pair with him.
Today, this young eunuch suddenly approached him, claiming that for a mere hundred silver notes, he could find him a beauty.
Lord Qu was skeptical at first and insisted on seeing the person with his own eyes.
Upon looking at the one in the side palace, although she seemed not young either, likely over thirty,
She still possessed charm and grace. Her figure was still delightful, and dressed in a palace maid’s attire, it was unclear which Goddess’s elderly maid she was, to still not have been dismissed from the palace at such an age.
The most difficult part was that at the moment, her beautiful eyes were half-open, her red lips slightly parted, and her face flushed with color, enough to quicken even Lord Qu’s heart, a bisexual.
Lord Qu was more than satisfied upon seeing her; he couldn’t be any more pleased.
Being someone who was practically one foot in the coffin, it would be a windfall for him to have not just a charming lady, but even an elder lady past her prime.
Lord Qu hurriedly gave a silver note to the young eunuch, only wishing to quickly send the young eunuch away so as not to interfere with his good fortune.
"Lord Qu, please keep it down," the young eunuch considerately closed the door, and the moment the door shut, his eyes were full of malicious glee.
As soon as the door was closed, Lord Qu quickly stripped off Zhuge Rou’s clothing, and she did not refuse, allowing that old and ugly body to press down on her.
The civil and military officials were arrayed on both sides of the early court session.
What surprised Hong Fang was that Lan Yingwu and Nie Fengxing, who had previously been absent due to illness, all turned up for court today.
What was even more strange was that Hong Fang always felt that Lan Yingwu’s gaze towards him was a bit peculiar, as if it contained a hint of pity.
Hmph, when did Hong Fang ever need the sympathy of someone like Lan Yingwu?
Not long after the session began, Emperor Xia issued an Imperial Decree, appointing Hong Fang as the Grand Protector.
"Congratulations Lord Grand Protector, on being reinstated," those officials who were friendly with Hong Fang quietly congratulated him, and his face was beaming with joy.
The demotion of Hong Fang by Emperor Xia was just a minor punishment as a warning, and reinstating his former role was only a matter of time. However, Hong Fang did not expect that after the accidental death of the Fourth Prince on the Xixia Plain, he would be able to resume his position as the Grand Protector so smoothly.
"My loyal subjects, after several days of careful deliberation, considering the severe illness and lurking dangers on the Xixia Plain, I have decided to pardon Ye Huangyu’s deception in disguising as a man to deceive the Emperor. Summon Ye Huangyu to the court."
Before Hong Fang’s joy could last a quarter of an hour, Emperor Xia summoned Ye Huangyu to the court.
Ye Huangyu walked forward dressed in women’s clothing, amid the murmuring of the officials.
"This criminal, Ye Huangyu, knocks in thanks for the Emperor’s mercy."
Emperor Xia commanded someone to bestow Ye Huangyu with an official addiction, and after expressing her gratitude, she stood up and positioned herself next to Lan Yingwu and Nie Fengxing.
Hong Fang watched, clenching his fists tightly, suspecting in his heart that it was because of Ye Lingyue that Emperor Xia pardoned Ye Huangyu.
Indeed, just a young maiden, and yet such a good opportunity was used merely to secure a General’s position for her mother.
Hong Fang sneered to himself.
"There is court held early when matters arise, and retreat from court when there are none."
After the morning court session, officials frequently approached Hong Fang with congratulations as he walked out of the palace gate. Hong Fang courteously returned each greeting with thanks.
When he reached the palace gate, Hong Fang saw the Hong Residence’s carriage. His own coachman was dozing off on it.
"Uncle Fu, why are you here?"
"Master, I came to bring the lady to see Her Majesty the Empress," replied the coachman, quickly regaining his spirit. The lady had been in the palace for several hours and hadn’t come out yet.
"Her Majesty the Empress?" Hong Fang was puzzled; he remembered clearly hearing at the morning court that his wife, while visiting the royal temple in the north of the city to offer incense yesterday, encountered Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and the Empress, and they said that due to the epidemic on the Xixia Plain, both would be fasting and bathing in the temple for the next few days.
Hong Fang felt something was amiss. He decided to turn back and enter the palace to see what was going on.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of rapid horse hooves, and saw a chestnut horse galloping towards the palace gate.
Atop the horse sat a Female General clad in Light Armor, her red lips and dark eyes exuding a valiant spirit, carrying a treasure bow on her back.
"Hong Fang!"
The woman’s voice was powerful, imbued with a profound Primordial Power, booming like thunder in springtime and exploding beside Hong Fang’s ears.
The coachman from the Hong Family, scared witless, legs gave out beneath him and he tumbled down from the carriage onto the ground, prompting Hong Fang to frown.
"Ye Huangyu, how dare you cause a disturbance at the palace gate! Don’t think that just because you’ve been appointed General, you can disregard everything."
Presently, Ye Huangyu was a Martial Artist of the Reincarnation Second Realm, and in terms of strength, she was not much different from Hong Fang.
"I’ve come to deliver you a grand gift." As Ye Huangyu spoke, she pulled the bow and nocked the arrow. With the Sea Suppressing Eight Lang Bow’s second technique, the Cloud-breaking Arrow,
the air was instantly torn apart, and a flash of golden light shot towards Hong Fang’s face with a loud bang.
"Impudence, you dare attempt to assassinate an Imperial Mandate official!" Hong Fang had never expected Ye Huangyu to be so audacious.
The morning court had just ended, and a large number of officials were waiting at the palace gate for their carriages, and Ye Huangyu had made this shot in front of countless witnesses.
But at that moment, Ye Huangyu’s fingers suddenly stilled on the bowstring. In mid-air, just inches from Hong Fang, the golden arrow sharply reversed its course with a loud clang and struck the Hong Family’s carriage.
The carriage, torn apart by the powerful Power of Reincarnation Gold, split in two, the horses panicked and neighing incessantly.
"Hong Fang, you heartless scoundrel, you abandoned your wife and daughter. This arrow today is Ye Huangyu’s repayment to you. From this moment on, our kindness and duties are severed, with no further ties."
Having said that, Ye Huangyu spurred her horse and, with a loud neigh, she and her steed shot away like an arrow released from its string, disappearing outside the palace gate.
Coming and going like the wind, her commanding presence left the civil and military officials speechless.
"Hong Lang, I wish to be with you for a lifetime." That young woman from years ago, with a face of tender beauty, looking at him with longing, had vanished without a trace.
A sense of profound loss welled up inside Hong Fang.
At this time, someone exclaimed in shock, which snapped Hong Fang back to his senses.
Only then did Hong Fang notice that on the half-torn carriage, there was an envelope left behind.
When he saw the writing on the envelope, Hong Fang’s eyes narrowed slightly, fixating on the letter.
With darkened eyes, Hong Fang stepped forward, unfolded the letter and began to read. He hadn’t expected much before reading it, but once he did, a surge of hot blood rushed up from the soles of his feet, a sweetness in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood with a "puff."