Free Web NovelChapter 378: An Imperial Edict Bestowed
"I did not, Your Majesty."
"I saw it with my own eyes. Are you going to claim there’s something wrong with my vision?" She was spouting a stream of lies, and the Beili Emperor found even the sight of her vexing.
A flicker of panic showed in Yuan Xinyou’s eyes; she had no idea when the Emperor had arrived at the Imperial Garden.
"Your Majesty, she stole my White Spirit! That’s why I was so angry."
"You’re lying! White Spirit was mine to begin with," Ye Qianning said, wiping away her tears.
"My aunt found White Spirit for me to use as a medicinal catalyst. Since when was it yours?" Yuan Xinyou looked up coldly.
"So, it was Consort Yuan who stole my White Spirit! And you even want to carve out its heart? You’re so cruel." Ye Qianning held out her hand, calling to White Spirit.
Trembling, White Spirit shot into her arms, baring its teeth at Yuan Xinyou with a fierce HISS.
"Your Majesty, please see the truth. White Spirit was..." ƒreewebɳovel.com
"Enough! Guards! Escort this woman from the palace. I do not wish to see her again." If she weren’t Consort Yuan’s niece, the Beili Emperor would have had her head.
"Your Majesty?" Yuan Xinyou was stunned.
Guards swooped down, restrained her, and led her away.
Even as she was being dragged away, Yuan Xinyou still didn’t understand. ’Why wouldn’t the Emperor listen to a word I said? Why is he so biased toward Ye Qianning?’
"Your Majesty, you saw everything. Even though you issued the decree, no one dares to question you. Instead, this girl is the one who bears all the pressure, slander, and insults. If she hadn’t fought back, I’m afraid she would have died in the palace today." Dean Chen sighed mournfully. "If Your Majesty truly pities General Xiang, then please, rescind the imperial decree for this marriage."
"They’re all just a bunch of hypocrites who talk about etiquette but don’t act like decent people! I want to go back to the countryside. Dad said he was going to resign, so why is he off chasing bandits again? What’s the use of catching them? I was almost choked to death... *cough, cough*..." Ye Qianning said, sniffling.
After being reprimanded the day before, Sang Qi didn’t dare say any more about his dissatisfaction with the marriage. Still, he couldn’t for the life of him understand what his Royal Father saw in that fatty that made him so insistent on shoving her at him.
"From now on, if anyone questions this again, they will be severely punished without mercy." Having heard all this with his own ears, the Beili Emperor could not let it go.
The affairs of the Imperial Family were not for outsiders to gossip about.
Dean Chen was inwardly displeased that even at this point, the Emperor was unwilling to annul the marriage.
"But they won’t say it to your face, Your Majesty! Consort Yuan’s niece even insulted my father, and no one listens to me," Ye Qianning said, rubbing her eyes.
"Rest assured. I will make them hold their tongues."
"Your Majesty, why don’t you give me an imperial decree? Then, if anyone dares to use this marriage to insult or mock me, they’ll be defying a direct order. And defying an order must be punished severely so they’ll learn their lesson."
The Beili Emperor thought for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. I will grant you this decree."
"Thank you, Your Majesty! But my father..."
"A little child like you shouldn’t worry about adult matters. Guards, take her to the Imperial Physician to have her neck and face examined." The Beili Emperor had no intention of letting Xiang Minghou resign.
"Master..." Ye Qianning looked over silently.
"Go on."
Dean Chen thought that getting an imperial decree out of the situation was a good outcome.
"I will show you the way, Miss Xiang," Mr. Li said, stepping forward.
Ye Qianning obediently followed Mr. Li.
The Beili Emperor rarely concerned himself with the affairs of the inner palace. However, the events of yesterday and today had forced him to pay attention to the discipline of the Imperial Family.
For the princesses of the Imperial Family to be so willful and reckless, so ignorant of the people’s suffering and so insolent in their speech... this would surely invite disaster in the future. If word of this spread, it would also damage the prestige of the Imperial Family.
"Dean, you should add another course to the academy’s curriculum."
