Chapter 572: Chapter 442: The First Lady Marquis
The rebellion at Hong Residence was sudden, and losses within the Xia Capital were severe.
Three days later, Xiahou Qi officially ascended the throne as Emperor. Shortly after the New Xia Emperor’s enthronement, Beiqing and Daxia formed the Qin Jin Alliance, and the marriage between Xiahou Qi and Princess Qing Bi was settled for half a year later.
Having experienced the pain of losing his father, Xiahou Qi matured a lot.
He acted with thunderous swiftness, swiftly exterminating the remnants of the Sha Sect. Those nobles who had colluded with Hong Residence, some had their homes confiscated, while others were stripped of their official positions.
The final results of the Daxia Imperial Competition were also announced.
Ye Lingyue was the undisputed first place. Due to Hong Mingyue and the Sha Sect’s betrayal, Ye Liuyun as the next in line, filled the vacancy and, along with another Martial Artist, became the new top three awardees of the Daxia Imperial Competition.
On the day of receiving awards, considering the merits of Ye Lingyue and others during the battle at Hong Residence, the New Xia Emperor specifically conferred the title of Yue Marquis to Ye Lingyue.
What surprised the entire Daxia, however, was that on the day she was conferred, Ye Lingyue requested to resign from her official position.
In the court hall, the young girl knelt on the ground, her voice clear and sonorous.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your deep favor. This minister grew up in the countryside and is unfamiliar with court etiquette, truly unsuited for serving as an official in court. I earnestly request the Emperor’s understanding, to allow me to resign from the position overseeing Moon City and return to country life."
With Hong Residence destroyed, and Hong Fang and the rest awaiting trial and execution, the Ye Family was also preparing to relocate to the Xia Capital, following the momentum of the Daxia Imperial Competition.
Ye Lingyue’s long-standing wishes were gradually being fulfilled, and she proactively submitted her resignation following her heart’s desires.
After Xiahou Qi’s ascension, the marriage between Nie Fengxing and Ye Huangyu was also decreed by the Emperor. She only awaited the conclusion of her mother’s marriage before leaving the Xia Capital to meet with Aguduo and others in the Ancient Forest.
In the court hall, a hushed silence.
Ye Lingyue, not receiving an answer for a long time, quietly lifted her head to study the New Xia Emperor’s expression.
The young Emperor’s face was grim, his handsome features tightly drawn, his eyes fixated on Ye Lingyue’s pretty face. His heart ached as if it were stabbed, throbbing with each beat.
If she were not Ye Lingyue, he would have her executed without question.
But she was Ye Lingyue, the damned Ye Lingyue who had ensnared his heart.
After a long while, the young Emperor spoke in a deep voice.
"Yue Marquis, I am not accepting your resignation for now. After the court is dismissed, come to the imperial study to see me."
Ye Lingyue inwardly sighed, knowing that what was meant to happen would come to pass; she had been avoiding encountering Xiahou Qi these past few days.
Under the worried gaze of her mother and Lan Yingwu, Ye Lingyue entered the imperial study after the court was dismissed.
Inside the study, Xiahou Qi sat in front of the imperial desk, with mountains of memorials piled up before him.
"Your Majesty, the Yue Marquis requests an audience."
Xiahou Qi did not look up, merely waving his hand. The eunuch led several other eunuchs to close the door, leaving only Ye Lingyue and Xiahou Qi in the study.
In the study, a heavy silence weighed down.
Ye Lingyue only heard the sound of Xiahou Qi flipping through memorials. After a full cup of tea’s time had passed, with her feet numb, she tentatively took a step and asked.
"Your Majesty?"
Xiahou Qi did not respond.
"Junior Brother?"
Still, there was no response.
Ye Lingyue grew somewhat annoyed, stepping forward swiftly to grab the memorial in front of Xiahou Qi.
"Xiahou Qi, can we not have a proper conversation?"
Suddenly, Xiahou Qi raised his face, his handsome features contorted with intense rage. He grabbed Ye Lingyue’s hand that was holding the memorial and yanked it forcefully.
Ye Lingyue, caught off guard by his abrupt action, was pulled into his embrace.
Her nose collided with Xiahou Qi’s rigid chest, a throbbing pain ensued.
"Ye Lingyue, it is I who should be asking this question. What more do you want? I do not blame you for hating my father, the Emperor, for the injustices he has done to you in the past, nor for watching him being assassinated without intervening. You wish for your mother and Nie Fengxing to marry, and I agreed. You don’t want to marry me, and to that I can also agree. All I wanted was to see you, so why are you so cruel, cruel enough to strip away even the last bit of my yearning?" Xiahou Qi roared like an enraged lion, two clusters of flames leaping in his eyes, as if ready to spew fire.
Heaven knows, when he heard that Ye Lingyue was leaving, he could not make out anything else.
He used the word "I" instead of "We".
Ever since he ascended the throne, he executed several nobles. In the court, anyone who had colluded with the Hong Residence was almost completely wiped out by him.
Now, all the ministers looked at this young emperor with awe.
The only exception is the woman before him; she does not fear nor dread him.
She comes and goes as she pleases, leaving Xiahou Qi’s heart in disarray.
"You, you know everything." Facing Xiahou Qi’s sudden fury, Ye Lingyue was astonished.
Even more unexpectedly, Xiahou Qi was also aware of the things she had deliberately orchestrated before.
She knew full well that the Hong Residence was plotting a rebellion, yet she didn’t expose them openly. She watched Hong Mingyue attempt to assassinate the Emperor without intervening.
Ye Lingyue has never been some saintly figure. She would not spare those who had schemed against her.
She was more aware that only with Xiahou Qi ascending the throne as emperor could she smoothly leave the court.
He knew all her calculated steps, even to the extent of ...
"You wanted revenge, and I allowed you to have it. I am engaged to Princess Qing Bi and cannot promise you a shared life forever, nor do I dare to hope for you to marry me. Why can’t you stay and assist me? Lingyue..." Xiahou Qi sobbed, holding onto Ye Lingyue, refusing to let go no matter what.
His greatest fear was that if he loosened his grip, Ye Lingyue would decisively walk away.
Xiahou Qi’s tears fell on Ye Lingyue’s neck, scalding hot. He cried like a grown boy, devoid of his usual imperial dignity on the court—merely pleading for Ye Lingyue not to resign.
He’d only just ascended to the position of Emperor Xia, internal strife had just settled, and external threats were ongoing.
It was Ye Lingyue who had saved him from his confinement.
He needed her for more than just love; their connection was beyond that.
Ye Lingyue tried to struggle within his embrace but couldn’t break free.
"Your Majesty, Prince Beiqing from the north is outside, claiming he has urgent matters to discuss."
Right at that moment, the eunuch reported from outside.
Xiahou Qi’s expression turned stern as he lifted his face, his arms that held Ye Lingyue tightening even more.
Feng Xun, what is he here for this time?
Ling Yue had just submitted her resignation, and that man couldn’t wait to come knocking on the door.
"Tell Prince Feng that Yue Marquis and I are discussing important matters, and to visit another day," Xiahou Qi said indifferently.
"Your Majesty... Prince Feng, Prince Feng you cannot barge in like this!"
Outside, the eunuch’s voice carried a sense of panic. The originally closed door to the imperial study was suddenly pushed open.
Feng Xun walked in with Sword Slave following, and the moment he saw Xiahou Qi and Ye Lingyue tightly embraced in his arms, a flash of harshness crossed Feng Xun’s brows.