News of the Crown Prince's first concubine's pregnancy quickly spread throughout the empire. Of course, for some people this was a source of joy, especially the Emperor and Empress.
However, this was not the case for Concubine Qinmei. This news was a heavy blow that ignited a fire of anger in her heart.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince, who was now with her, did not seem to react at all. And that made her happy.
"My husband, congratulations,"
She said softly, but her eyes were teary.
"Nonsense!" Yan Ling's face grew colder. He had never loved Yunxi. On the contrary, he believed that Yunxi and her father had deliberately misused Yibo's heroic deeds as an excuse to marry her to Yunxi.
He also suspected that the family was gathering strength to overthrow the current empire.
Hearing Yan Ling's words, Qinmei's heart secretly felt satisfied. She also hated Yunxi very much.
Yan Ling was her lover, and they had loved each other since childhood. Although her family's status was that of commoners, Yan Ling always assured her that the Emperor and Empress would approve if she continued to show her sincere attitude.
After all, Yan Ling was the only suitable successor. His younger brother, Yan Xiao, had no interest in becoming the heir to the throne. He was an art lover. He was the most famous woodcarver in the country, even outside the empire. With such a weak spirit, how could he possibly be fit to be a leader?
Only Yan Ling, her Yan Ling, was worthy.
"My husband, don't worry too much. Even though he is the son of the first concubine, he is still your direct descendant. Mei'er will love him like my own child, so..."
"Qinmei... You are too kind-hearted. She and her family are not good people. They want something from this empire."
Qinmei just bowed her head as if she didn't know what to say, but she secretly smiled.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, please excuse me, His Majesty the Emperor requests your presence immediately."
Yan Ling frowned. He knew this must be about Consort Yunxi.
"Hm, I'll be right there."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The servant withdrew and returned to his place.
"Qinmei, if I don't return by midnight tonight, you should go to bed first."
"My husband, you will..."
"Yes, the Emperor summoned me, it must be about the news of Consort Wang Yunxi. After all, she is my wife. Refusing to see her would be like defying the king's command. So, I must obey."
"All right."
Liu Qinmei smiled sweetly, but her eyes looked sad. Seeing this, Yan Ling's heart ached. Qinmei was too kind and gentle. Yan Ling actually felt bad about acting this way. However, this was the risk of being the heir to the throne. He had to choose a wife from the aristocracy, while Qinmei...
"I'm leaving now. Go to bed early, don't forget to eat well."
"Yes, my husband."
Yan Ling left Qinmei to meet with the Emperor.
'Damn woman!' Qinmei squeezed her fingers tightly until her knuckles turned red.
***
"Madam, do you need anything?"
"No, Auntie, I have already eaten and taken the medicine from the doctor. I just need some rest. You can leave me alone."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Auntie, don't forget, I don't want to see anyone."
"I understand, ma'am."
Sumi immediately left the room, but then she turned back and asked,
"What if His Highness the Crown Prince comes, ma'am?"
"Reject him. I don't want to see him either."
Yunxi replied firmly. That was the one person she really did not want to see. Her heart would ache every time she saw his face. His cruelty in her past life was still clearly etched in her memory.
"Madam..."
"Leave me alone, Auntie."
Sumi gave up. She knew her madam very well. If she had said that, it meant that persuasion would be useless.
Sumi left the room and closed the door tightly. She stood upright in front of Yunxi's room.
After all, Yunxi already knew that Yunxi would not come, just like in her past life. She was so enthusiastic and waited every day, even secretly going to the palace just to make sure whether he would come to the Peach Pavilion or not. And as usual, the man never came. He only came to scold her when Qin Mei started acting up and looking for trouble with her.
Even when she gave birth, she was only accompanied by Sumi and the servants.
So how could he possibly come? It would be better if he didn't come at all.
Meanwhile, Yunxi, who had just pretended to be asleep, woke up immediately as soon as Sumi left her room. She then walked towards the wardrobe. She looked for the book she usually used to record important matters.
"I'm starting to forget many events from my previous life, I have to write them down. Perhaps this is a long-term effect that will eventually make me completely forget all the events of my past life,"
Said Yunxi to herself.
After finding her notes, Yunxi began to record all the events she had experienced in her previous life. She wrote them down according to the time and date. She hoped that this way, she could devise a strategy to leave this country as far away as possible with her father without being pursued.
In the midst of her busyness, suddenly...
"Our respects, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Thump!
Yunxi's heart beat fast. Suddenly, her whole body felt cold. She trembled, fear creeping into every vein. Fragments of memories from her past life flashed through her mind.
"Why did he come? What for?"
Yunxi stared at the door, then accidentally caught sight of the writing in her notebook. She immediately closed it and hide it under her pillow. She lay back down.
As she had expected, Sumi entered the room and announced that the Crown Prince had come to visit.
"Auntie, didn't I already say that I don't want to see anyone? Why don't you understand?"
Yunxi deliberately spoke loudly so that Yan Ling could hear her and finally leave.
However, unexpectedly, the man had already entered the room.
"Don't make trouble. Scolding the servants just to vent your anger at me. How immoral."
Yunxi immediately got up from her sleeping position, sat facing Yan Ling, and stared at him coldly.
"Yes, I am immoral, so let's get a divorce after this child is born."
Yunxi said loudly, making Sumi and Yan Ling very surprised and look at each other.
Outside, the servants on guard began to whisper.
"What a nonsense!" Yan Ling's voice boomed. The air in the room suddenly felt frozen. Yan Ling stared at Yunxi with rage, until Yunxi unconsciously felt a little afraid. But what she said was the truth and her sincere desire. Slowly, she calmed herself down, then calmly she said,
"No, Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is not nonsense. Let's talk privately."
Sumi nearly had a heart attack upon hearing her madam's words. Who knows what had actually happened to Yunxi. After regaining consciousness from her fainting spell this morning, Yunxi's behaviour had become strange. She was colder and quieter, often daydreaming and seeming to be thinking about something serious. Suddenly, she didn't ask about the Crown Prince at all, unlike usual. Yunxi just stayed in her room all day.
Now, all of a sudden, she was asking for a divorce? A divorce from the notorious, fierce and cruel Yan Ling?
"Madam..."
"Leave, Auntie. Let His Highness and I talk privately"
Sumi certainly did not dare to leave. What if the Crown Prince suddenly threw Yunxi out? Yunxi would not survive.
"Get out!" hissed Yan Ling with a cynical and cold stare.
Sumi immediately left the two of them and waited outside Yunxi's room with a feeling of anxiety.
In the room...
Yunxi got up and sat on the guest chair right next to her bed.
Then, calmly and indifferently, Yunxi invited Yan Ling to sit down.
"Please sit down, Your Highness. Let's discuss what I just said."
Yan Ling was even more confused, but in his mind, he certainly did not believe Yunxi's attitude. Could this just be a tactic? It was impossible for this cunning woman to suddenly change in just one day.
Yunxi could see the disbelief in Yan Ling's eyes, and she understood. That was why she had to explain. Her past mistakes would never be repeated.
Although she had to admit, she had truly fallen in love with Yan Ling, the man who was known to be cold but so amazing. His face was as handsome as a perfectly carved statue, his body tall and sturdy. His eyes were dark and sharp. Even to this day, Yunxi's heart still fluttered every time she saw him, but the memory of his cruelty towards Qin Mei, who had mercilessly wiped out her father's clan, brought her back to her senses. She quickly regained her composure.
"I know Your Majesty suspects me and my father of working together on something dangerous to the empire. That is why I want to discuss our divorce with you. I guarantee Your Majesty will not suffer any losses. Of course, I also have a request."
"Haahh, I knew it. You must want something."
Yan Ling, who was still standing, glanced at Yunxi cynically.
"Please sit down first, Your Majesty. You will not know my request if we do not discuss it. This time, believe me, my request is not difficult."
Hearing that, Yan Ling decided to sit down, facing Yunxi, who looked very calm. Yan Ling looked closely at the woman's eyes. Something had changed. Her gaze, which was usually so shy and flirtatious, now looked gloomy. Yunci did not smile at all. Yan Ling felt that at this moment, he was talking to someone else to make a deal, not to Yunxi, who always flirted with him openly to the point of making him sick.
"Thank you. So, what I said about divorce was not a joke, Your Highness, I meant it."
"Keep going Consort Yunxi"
Yan Ling said as he examined every word Yunxi said.
"I know this marriage was my wish from the beginning. But before that, it was the imperial court that sent the decree for our match. You surely know the reason. Not only because my father was an Imperial Hero who served during the wars in the era of the previous king, My family's Golden Star Clan is the strongest clan because it is the direct descendant of the only immortal who came from ordinary humans but was able to reach the Ascendant realm with his own power, leading 27 clans and 12 territories, sealing the Qinmin clan who practised demon cultivation. Although our ancestors have ascended to the heavens and are no longer part of mortal humanity, their descendants, who are none other than our family, both male and female, possess Qi energy and life roots that are different from ordinary humans. Of course, the empire wants its descendants to have that inheritance for the future glory of the Empire."
Yan Ling did not react, only focusing on listening. Yunxi smiled and then continued.
"Even though you have inherited that power and have already reached the late Nascent soul Stage, of course the Emperor wants more, which is why he matched us together even though he knew you already had the girl of your dreams to be your wife."
"You!"
"Calm down, Your Highness, I'm not finished yet. That is why I want to offer this to you, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Let us divorce after this child is born. I will hand this child over entirely to the care of the palace, and I will not demand anything. I only have one request, which is a guarantee of safety for me and my family until we can leave this region alive."
"What nonsense are you talking about!! Under Imperial law, divorce is never permitted. Marriage is a bond until death! Divorce is only granted if one of us commits a crime that cannot be forgiven by the state!"
"That's right! We may not be able to divorce because of the existing rules. But that doesn't mean I won't be divorced in the future for reasons that have been planned."
"What do you mean? I would do such a thing? To you?"
"I'm not accusing you. But, no one knows, right? Besides, you can even change the rules about the appointment of concubines easily. I should have been the Crown Princess, but until now I am still a concubine because of the new rules you made. Why can't you make rules about divorce?"
Brakkkk!!!!
"How dare you! How dare you talk to me like that!"
"Alright, it seems pointless for me to talk to you nicely. In that case, I will do it my own way. If you don't want to cooperate, I will work alone."
"You!"
"There's nothing more we need to talk about. You can leave!"
"Wang Yunxi!!!"
Yunxi did not respond. She walked to the bed and immediately lay down. She then raised her hand and quickly pulled the curtains closed. Yan Ling was dismissed.
Yan Ling left the room in a rage, no one dared to speak or greet him. All the servants and guards were silent in tension.
Especially Sumi, all She could think about right now was Yunxi. How was she? If his master left the room in such a rage, how was her mistress?
Only after Yan Ling was out of sight did Sumi immediately move to see Yunxi. However, she saw that her bed curtains were tightly closed. Sumi
wanted to see her, but it seemed that Yunxi did not want to be disturbed. So, despite her hesitation, Sumi left the room and closed the door.
What exactly happened between the two of them? Sumi said to herself.