Although Huangfu Shenglin’s tone was indifferent, his face was full of dejected melancholy.
Such a lovely woman did not belong to him because he was not perfect and powerful enough.
“I believe she will make the most sensible decision.” Yun Shimo did not wish to say more. He sipped the tea and his inky eyes brightened. A bright moon was in the night sky, making one feel relaxed and carefree.
Huangfu Shenglin raised his teacup at the bright moon and said in a melancholic, gentle voice, “I hope Prince Nan will treat her well. It is my good fortune for her to divorce me.”
Yun Shimo was instantly left speechless. How could Huangfu Shenglin be so shamelessly gentle? Good fortune for her to divorce him?
Yun Shimo thought again from another angle. If he were Huangfu Shenglin, perhaps he might feel the same. He could not win his beloved—this feeling would be painful to any man.
The two sampled tea and started to chat. They seemed to have disregarded what they had just said before.
Huangfu Shenglin only left Prince Nan’s Mansion at noon. Countless speculations arose, fueled by the commoners. What exactly was the Emperor doing in Prince Nan’s Mansion for so long?
The next day.
The Emperor had actually gone to Hua’s Mansion to pay Princess Jinghua a visit. Everyone knew that she was his Empress, conferred in an imperial edict. But the decision was entirely Huangfu Shenglin’s. Hua Qiyue was not around to accept the conferment.
The conferment ceremony was opposed by numerous officials. But in the end, they had to accept it quietly.
Hua Qiyue was in the courtyard, taking breakfast with Tianci. Old Madame Hua had long hurried here. She openly admitted that she had missed her granddaughter too much. So she was taking this opportunity to keep Hua Qiyue company.
Otherwise, after Hua Qiyue’s grand wedding, she would miss her granddaughter again.
Huangfu Shenglin arrived and the Old Madame was shocked and flattered. In the past few years, Huangfu Shenglin had regarded Hua’s Mansion with special favor.
“Your Majesty has come to our humble abode so early in the morning… I am truly ashamed that I cannot welcome you from afar…” The Old Madame chuckled. Huangfu Shenglin immediately helped up the Old Madame who was about to make her obeisance.
Hua Qiyue stood up and nodded slightly. “Your Majesty, we’re old friends. So I won’t stand on ceremony.”
Huangfu Shenglin gave a hearty laugh. “Right, right! Don’t bother!”
The Emperor took his seat and Old Madame Hua glanced at Hua Qiyue. She knew that the Emperor had something to speak to her in private. So she made an excuse, dismissing all the maidservants and herself.
Lv Xin and Youshui also covered their mouths in a titter. “Miss, we will see if your 10 chickens have been roasted.”
Hua Qiyue nodded and allowed them to leave. Tianci was on one side, playing with the Man-Hunting Insect. Although he was getting older, his relationship with his spiritual pets had deepened.
“Tianci, come and pay your respects to the Emperor now!”
Tianci raised his handsome little face. His features resembled Rong Qiyue’s so much.
But in the view of Huangfu Shenglin, Tianci had the exact same temperament and bearing as the present Hua Qiyue.
“My respects to Your Majesty! Your Majesty, I heard that you have many concubines and a large palace. Is it true?” Tianci curiously advanced to Huangfu Shenglin’s side, asking with a grin.
“Yes. If Tianci wishes to see them, you can come anytime.” Huangfu Shenglin loved the boy because of his mother. He smiled, caressing Tianci’s little head.
Tianci nodded complacently. “Look, Mom, His Majesty treats me so well. Am I not adorable?”
Hua Qiyue and Huangfu Shenglin could not help but laugh. It was good that this boy was so innocent.
“Tianci, go out and look for Brother Caiqing and the rest to play. Mom and His Majesty have some things to discuss,” Hua Qiyue said with a smile. Tianci nodded obediently and then glanced at Huangfu Shenglin slyly.
“Your Majesty, I heard that Emperors all have great abilities. But if you dare to bully Mom, humph, I will bully you back!” Tianci’s still childish voice made Huangfu Shenglin chuckle.
“Very well. You can set your heart at ease and go. More likely your mom will bully me!”
Tianci finally left satisfactorily. Hua Qiyue watched the boy’s departing back and felt emotions well up in her heart. Quite unconsciously, a great many years had passed. Years ago, she would never have expected herself to turn out this way!
“Qiyue, let me toast you. You’ve made a great contribution to our state. The officials of Yuewu Kingdom have hurried here immediately after your return and offered us countless pearls and gems, begging for peace. It’s largely thanks to you.”
Huangfu Shenglin smiled, consolation flashing across his eyes. “You truly deserve your title of Empress!”
Hua Qiyue curled up the corners of her lips and poured Huangfu Shenglin a goblet of wine. “Your Majesty, I am only the ordinary Princess Jinghua. You, on the other hand, are the son of Heaven who lords over all. I don’t have the good fortune to be your Empress.”
Huangfu Shenglin sipped a mouthful of the fragrant wine and shook his head. “It’s not you who haven’t the good fortune. It’s me. I don’t deserve you as my Empress. Qiyue, I have discussed it with Brother Yun. Just write me a divorce letter!”
Hua Qiyue heard his words and was greatly astonished.
Naturally, she knew that Huangfu Shenglin had gone to Prince Nan’s Mansion. Although she could guess a little, she would never dream that he would come to such a decision.
The Emperor, given a divorce letter by his Empress? It must be the first of such cases in the Tianyuan Continent!
Just like when Hua Qiyue adopted Tianci. But the impact of an Emperor given a divorce letter by his Empress far exceeded that of her adopting Tianci.
“Qiyue, don’t feel any guilt toward me. I am only making use of you… I made you Empress to settle our covetous neighboring states down. After all, our Changjing Kingdom has rich resources. Many of these smaller states have colluded in an alliance to invade our country. But your eminence is well known throughout the world.” Huangfu Shenglin smiled. Hua Qiyue raised her brows, somewhat amused.
“Is my face so freakish that I am renowned everywhere?”
“No, it’s because your abilities are too outstanding. You exterminated the Gnawing Devils Sect and have reached the first level of Holy God when you’re still so young. You must be the only woman in this world with such cultivation. Besides, you know runes. So why won’t everyone fear you, you female devil?” Huangfu Shenglin said, wreathed in smiles.
A rare pride flashed in his eyes.
He pondered for a while and took out a piece of premium goat-skin parchment from his pocket. “I have prepared the parchment for you. Just write, Qiyue!”
Hua Qiyue stared at Huangfu Shenglin in a daze. The man was still smiling gently at her. She had not expected Huangfu Shenglin to be so magnanimous.
“Your Majesty, have some wine and some breakfast snacks first. What’s the hurry?” Hua Qiyue smiled a little, speaking nonchalantly.
Huangfu Shenglin was no longer in a hurry. He started to drink and chat with Hua Qiyue. Hua Qiyue roughly narrated all the ordeals she had gone through in the past three years to Huangfu Shenglin, like a tumbler dispensing water.
Huangfu Shenglin heard her and emotions overwhelmed him. “I am nearly six years your senior. Yet it seems I am a century behind in my knowledge.”
Hua Qiyue smiled. One’s knowledge would improve as one’s experiences accumulated.
After becoming the sovereign of Changjing Kingdom, Huangfu Shenglin could no longer travel about as freely outside. But he could read reports and memorials from his officials and his knowledge would improve too.
The two chatted merrily. At last, Huangfu Shenglin pointed at that goat-skin parchment. “Write it, Qiyue. I will treat it as a treasure. I won’t blame you, of course.”
Hua Qiyue was silent for a few seconds and finally nodded. “Your Majesty, I am a citizen of Changjing Kingdom. If you need my help in the future, I will do everything in my power to assist you.”
She regarded him as a friend. Hua Qiyue would not hesitate to lend him a hand, even if it meant getting herself injured.
Huangfu Shenglin gave a consoling smile. “I am already very satisfied that you have returned to the Changjing Kingdom. If a day comes when I need your help, I will surely be thick-skinned enough to beg for it.”
The two looked at each other and smiled. Hua Qiyue got Lv Xin to bring her an ink slab and a writing brush. Then she solemnly wrote the word “Divorced” on the goat-skin parchment.
“Your Majesty, sorry for the offense!” After writing the word, Hua Qiyue handed the parchment respectfully to Huangfu Shenglin.
Huangfu Shenglin took it over smilingly. “Qiyue, you are the most famous person in the world again. Thanks to your renown, I am now the first Emperor to have received a divorce letter from his wife. Haha!”
The two maidservants heard him and glanced somewhat worriedly at Hua Qiyue. They were afraid Hua Qiyue would get implicated.
Hua Qiyue wore a slight smile. No matter what, she would never marry Huangfu Shenglin. Writing a divorce letter was a necessity. In the eyes of Huangfu Shenglin and her, it did not matter who wrote it.
Huangfu Shenglin only made her write it because he was apologetic for conferring her the title of Empress without her consent.
After seeing Huangfu Shenglin off, Hua Qiyue felt somewhat tired. After returning to the capital, she had become more relaxed. Those bloodshed days of the past were over. She did not need to be so vigilant.
The moment a person relaxed, she would become lazy and think more about rest.
But after Huangfu Shenglin left, Yun Shimo arrived again. He brought with him his parents to meet Old Madame Hua.
Hua Qiyue’s presence was requested. They were sampling tea joyously in the hall. When they saw Hua Qiyue, Madame Yun immediately stood up ardently and pulled her hand.
“Qiyue, how have you been this couple of days?”
“Thank you for your concern, Madame Yun. I’m fine,” Hua Qiyue replied with a winsome smile. She helped her to her seat and they sat down together.
The company looked at Hua Qiyue and Yun Shimo. They all felt a relieved joy, especially Hua Liting. He had three daughters but Hua Qiyue was the most outstanding.
Right now, Hua Mengshi’s fate was undetermined and Hua Qianming was no talent. It seemed to him that only Hua Qiyue could inherit the mansion’s legacy.
They started to discuss Hua Qiyue and Yun Shimo’s wedding. Old Madame Hua left it entirely in the hands of Yu Shimo and his parents. Hua’s Mansion was easy on the details. They were not fussy about the fortune-teller selecting the auspicious date or the bride price.
They also knew who Hua Qiyue and Yun Shimo were. They would never treat Hua Qiyue shabbily.
The two elders of the Yun Family indicated that they would send them the bride price and the most lavish ceremonies. They would not treat Hua Qiyue shabbily.
After the discussion, the two families had lunch together. Then, the Yun Family went home to start their preparations.
Madame Yun found the most renowned fortune-teller in the capital to pick for them an auspicious date. But when the fortune-teller saw Hua Qiyue and Yun Shimo’s birth dates, he kept shaking his head.
