Chapter 46 Unexpected Changes
In the solemn hall, Su Haotian and Bai Yuyan, dressed in formal court attire, sat upright. The empty hall felt like another shackle to Su Zhengyang; he knew that once he arrived here, everything was out of his control. Even something as small as divorcing his wife was beyond his control.
Leng Yiqing knelt down with Su Zhengyang without batting an eye and then stood quietly to the side waiting.
After standing there for an unknown amount of time, Su Haotian finally spoke, but his words were devoid of any emotion, his calmness almost excessive: "I heard that you intend to kill the Crown Princess."
"Who? Who said that?" Su Zhengyang was very agitated. Killing her was just a momentary impulse on his part. Who could be so fast?
"Speak! Is that right?" The Empress was getting angry.
Su Zhengyang had always resented seeing his mother protect Leng Yiqing so much, as if she were her own daughter, a situation that had persisted since childhood. This time, he had finally caught her red-handed: "She killed Consort Lin's unborn child! I will take revenge!"
"Nonsense! You believe this based on just one person's word? You want to kill someone without even asking questions? How are you any different from the person who killed that child? You keep making things difficult for your Crown Princess like this. What exactly do you want?" Su Haotian was so angry with his son that he was almost going crazy.
He couldn't handle state affairs well, yet he often consumed all his energy on trivial matters in the inner court. How could such a person be the crown prince, and how would he govern the country in the future? Recalling the past and his current throne, he felt like a mere puppet. He could handle important matters of state quite well, but he had no say in things like choosing a crown prince. What kind of life was this!
Leng Yiqing suddenly stood up, head held high, and loudly confessed everything: "I killed his child. I put something called aloe vera in the tea, causing Jiang Yuelin to miscarry."
"Why?" Su Haotian asked, puzzled. He had called them here today to help clear her name, but now she had confessed herself.
But the Empress remained remarkably calm. She sneered and said, "You did very well! The Crown Prince's eldest son should have been born to you. When did it become the turn of a mere concubine?"
"Empress..."
"Empress Dowager..." All three were shocked. No one expected the Empress to say such a thing in public.
"It's just a child, it's gone now. Zhengyang, there's no need to make a big fuss over a child. Qing'er is your childhood sweetheart, your good wife, your good woman! You should cherish her!" Bai Yuyan said earnestly.
But neither of them would listen to reason. After this incident, they were like oil and water, and it was impossible for them to live under the same roof again.
"Yes! General Leng will be returning to court in a few days. Don't let him see you making such a fuss, or he'll be worried!" Su Haotian earnestly advised. Bai Yuyan didn't understand why she cared so much about General Leng's attitude. Although she harbored suspicions, she couldn't find any fault with them, and instead, they held her firmly in their grasp.
"Why does he have to come back again?" Su Zhengyang was most annoyed by his father-in-law's return. Whenever he came back, his father and mother would force him to act like a loving couple with Leng Yiqing.
Su Haotian and Bai Yuyan couldn't explain it either, but they heard from the border that General Leng had rushed back to the capital a day earlier.
Leng Yiqing became even more smug. Only she knew that Su Yunmo must have sent a message. Haha, she became even more confident. With her father's support, she became even more reckless.
She knelt calmly before the palace, as if seeking advice, but her words left no room for refusal: "I am still his child because I am going crazy. I've had enough. I don't want to keep putting on an act for my father. I don't want to be the Crown Princess anymore. I don't like Su Zhengyang anymore. I beg the Emperor and Empress to grant Su Zhengyang's request to divorce me. This is also the result he wanted."
"Also because she had an affair with the Imperial Uncle!" Su Zhengyang was afraid she had overlooked the most important point.
Su Haotian and Bai Yuyan stared at Leng Yiqing in disbelief, waiting for her explanation.
But Leng Yiqing firmly told them, "Yes! I want to be with Su Yunmo. I will wait for my father to come back and ask him to make the decision for us."
"This...this...this is outrageous!" Bai Yuyan had never been so nervous. If General Leng really returned, things might be even worse than they were now. Right now, all she could do was try to appease Leng Yiqing, but she didn't know how.
Su Haotian was also at a loss; he never imagined his daughter-in-law would have any connection with his own younger brother. When exactly did they get involved? He had no idea.
Bai Yuyan was unyielding; she wouldn't give up hope until the very end: "Qing'er! Calm down! How could you and your royal uncle be together? Is it because your father isn't around and he's been taking good care of you, and you've just relied on him like an elder? You can't just say things like that. Don't ruin your reputation because of a little tiff with Zheng Yang; that's not worth it."
Leng Yiqing resolutely rejected all persuasion: "The fact is that I am already Su Yunmo's woman. I did not do this out of spite towards Su Zhengyang, nor did I joke about my innocence. Everything is serious. I only hope that the Emperor and Empress can grant my wish."
"Your Majesty? Empress? Did you hear that? She doesn't even consider you her father and mother anymore. What's the point of you still insisting on this? Months ago, I begged you, but I don't know why you insist on keeping this woman who has no feelings for me at all?" Su Zhengyang fanned the flames from the side.
"You..." It was rare for two important figures to react so similarly.
Chapter 47: Inevitably, Vulgarity Is Inevitable
Leng Yiqing knelt quietly before the hall, not uttering a single word. Su Zhengyang was also unusually quiet, kneeling beside her. The two shared a rare moment of tacit understanding, each focused on their own happiness.
For some reason, Leng Yiqing felt a pang of sympathy for Su Zhengyang. They should have been a happy couple. In her dream, Su Zhengyang was quite caring towards her cousin. It turned out that Leng Yiqing herself must have loved Su Zhengyang very much. Even she herself had no reason to dislike him; she had initially usurped his space. What went wrong that led them to this point? What made them so persistently kneeling here, begging for their freedom? Perhaps even they themselves couldn't say!
In just over half a year, everything had changed. Was it her own mistake that caused this? Leng Yiqing felt a pang of self-reproach, and she almost wanted to back down.
"Stop kneeling! Go back and think it over carefully. If it's okay, then let it go! Feelings need to be nurtured slowly! Alright, step down!" The Empress shook her head helplessly. She decided to tell Su Zhengyang everything. Perhaps he wouldn't be so naive after knowing everything. She hoped he could truly mature and help her.
Clutching her wide sleeves, Bai Yuyan waved them forcefully, signaling them to leave quickly. She then slowly stood up, walked to Su Zhengyang's side, and dragged him away by the hem of her clothes. Su Haotian was quite dissatisfied with Bai Yuyan's repeated interference in this matter. Taking advantage of General Leng's return, he had to find out the truth: what was Bai Yuyan's relationship with the Leng family, and why was she so protective of the Crown Princess?
"Your Majesty!" Seeing that everything here seemed to be decided by the Empress, Leng Yiqing still decided to go all out, "Please grant me your permission!"
As Leng Yiqing crawled on her knees to Bai Yuyan's side, her heart was in turmoil. Was it really worth it? Having come this far, she inexplicably felt that there was always a hand pushing them from behind the scenes.
"Qing'er! Get up quickly..." The Empress felt sorry for her and wanted to help her up.
"Kneel if you want, kneel until I'm in a good mood, then I'll grant your request!" Bai Yuyan's absolute control finally pushed Su Haotian to his breaking point. He decided to retaliate at all costs. He believed that with his current strength, dealing with a woman would be a piece of cake.
Faced with Su Haotian's sudden change and Leng Yiqing's firmness, Bai Yuyan felt an unprecedented crisis: "You..." But she couldn't lose her temper in front of Leng Yiqing, so she stormed off from Ganfeng Palace.
After the three people left, only Leng Yiqing remained kneeling alone in the cold hall. Seeing this, Eunuch Guo quickly stepped forward to advise, "Forget it! Go! Kneeling here won't do any good! When has the Emperor and Empress ever gone back on their word? They are so resolute; kneeling here for as long as you want is futile. They won't see it!"
Everyone has this thought to some extent: the more unattainable something is, the more they want it. Leng Yiqing was no exception. Although she felt inexplicably uneasy, she had already come this far and had to move forward without hesitation.
"It's time to clean the main hall. Your Highness, please leave!" Seeing that she remained unmoved, Eunuch Guo had no choice but to urge her to leave. No one was ever allowed to stay overnight in the main hall.
Leng Yiqing was finally kicked out, but the more she thought about it, the more indignant she became. Why was this ancient world so complicated? She just wanted a divorce, and both parties had no objections, yet she couldn't get one? No, she couldn't just go back like this. But now, what should she do?
Suddenly remembering that clichéd plot that had been overused in TV dramas, she resolutely turned around, faced the main hall, and knelt down heavily. She not only wanted to kneel for Su Haotian, but also for the hundreds of ministers who would be attending the morning court session the next day. She wanted to find someone who could stand up for her.
Winter nights come exceptionally early. In the blink of an eye, it was already quite dark. On the covered walkways and in the corridors, one could vaguely see palace maids and eunuchs busily carrying lanterns. Leng Yiqing suddenly thought of the supernatural legends about the Forbidden City circulating in modern times, and couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine.
Just as she was about to back down, a pair of warm, large hands supported her small shoulders.
"Duan Feng said you haven't gone back since you entered the palace. I was worried, so I came!" Su Yunmo squatted down beside her, his gentle whisper warming her heart.
"ink……"
Su Yunmo was unsure, so he was eager to find out: "Is it because of the child, or because of what happened between us?"
A warm, concerned gaze swept over Leng Yiqing. Looking at the man who gave her so much security, her wavering heart gradually hardened. In Leng Yiqing's eyes, Su Yunmo was a man she could rely on even more. Her eyes welled up with tears, and Leng Yiqing suddenly threw herself into the embrace she had longed for, crying out, "I want to be with you!"
"Silly woman!" Su Yunmo hugged her tightly, wanting to give her all his warmth and confidence, to give her the courage to persevere. "I'll stay with you!"
"That's enough. Mo, you go back! I'm fine!" Hearing that he wanted to stay with her, Leng Yiqing was so moved she almost agreed, but thinking of the strange looks from the ministers at the morning court session, she couldn't help but worry about him. She could bear being talked about herself, but she didn't want him to be gossiped about because of it. Let everyone think she was the shameless one who seduced Prince Yun!
"Do you think I'd feel at ease leaving you kneeling here alone?" Su Yunmo refused to let go, holding her tightly in his arms.
"Let's go! If I really collapse, you can take care of me. But if we both get sick here, who will come to pick us up and take us back?" Leng Yiqing pleaded with Su Yunmo to leave as soon as possible.
Su Yunmo, however, knelt down beside Leng Yiqing without hesitation, determined to stand shoulder to shoulder with her and greet the dawn together. No matter what Leng Yiqing said, he would not waver.
Turning her head, Leng Yiqing saw the seriousness written all over his face and stopped insisting. She gently leaned on his shoulder, her smile reaching her eyes, as if she would be content to lean on him like this for a lifetime.
Chapter 48: Finally, the ordeal is over.
In a daze, Leng Yiqing seemed to hear messy footsteps and clear conversation. She opened her eyes in a daze and found it was already the next morning. Su Yunmo was still by her side, letting her lean on him. Seeing that he was still in the same position as last night, she guessed that she had slept soundly all night and he hadn't moved at all!
Three or four ministers were already walking into the Ganfeng Hall. As they passed by, they couldn't help but look at them. Their usually cold-hearted Prince Yun was now with a Crown Princess who was rumored to be promiscuous. Could the rumors be true?
Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Su Yunmo remained calm and composed, while Leng Yiqing felt guilty and urged Su Yunmo to leave quickly.
“Now that I’ve made up my mind, I will always stay by your side.” Su Yunmo’s tone was unusually firm. He straightened his back and knelt there motionless.
Since he was so resolute, Leng Yiqing had no reason to insist. She looked at him with satisfaction, resting her head on his shoulder. Amidst the surprised and disdainful gazes of others, they enjoyed their unique happiness.
A howling north wind swept in, and all the ministers turned up their collars and hurried into the hall. Only the two of them remained kneeling outside the door. Gusts of wind, mixed with freezing rain, swept in, falling to the ground beside them and melting into ice and snow, freezing every nerve in their bodies.
Today, they became the focus of attention in the court. Su Haotian remained unmoved, and Su Zhengyang even changed his attitude from yesterday, no longer insisting on deposing the Crown Princess. Seeing this, none of the ministers raised any further questions; it seemed as if the two of them were simply putting on a one-man show.
Kneeling outside the cold palace day after day, Su Haotian remained unmoved. They too had become numb, their weakened bodies enduring nearly three days of wind, rain, and snow, when finally, things took a turn for the better.
As usual, the palace maids and eunuchs sweeping the snow completely ignored their presence. Even when they swept right up to them, they quietly walked around them. Despite being so close, no one offered to help the two people who were originally of the highest status.
A burly figure suddenly appeared in the distance, his armor still on, gleaming coldly in the winter sun, sending chills down anyone's spine. That was General Leng. When he heard that Su Zhengyang wanted to divorce his daughter, he sensed something was amiss, especially considering the treatment his daughter had received—being confined to his own courtyard. Without a moment's hesitation, he rushed back, still in his armor.
Upon arriving in the capital, he heard various rumors circulating in the city that were detrimental to his daughter, which enraged him even more. Duan Feng told him that Su Zhengyang was going to kill his daughter, and that Prince Yun was kneeling with her in front of the Qianfeng Palace. His only thought was to rush into the palace and kill the untrustworthy Bai Yuyan.
"Qing'er!" From afar, he saw his beloved daughter and Su Yunmo kneeling there. At this moment, Su Yunmo's strong protection deeply moved General Leng. Looking at his daughter nestled beside him, he suddenly felt deep regret for his choice at the time.
Leng Yiqing slowly turned around and saw her father standing behind her, forming a wall around her, shielding her from the cold wind. Beyond the warmth, he offered her hope and a future. The sudden sense of relief was too much for Leng Yiqing to bear, and she collapsed onto the snow with a thud.
"Qing'er!" the two men shouted. Su Yunmo immediately picked up Leng Yiqing, mounted General Leng's warhorse, and headed straight for the Prince Yun's residence. General Leng didn't even have time to catch his breath before he seized a horse from a patrolling guard at the palace gate and followed closely behind.
Leng Yiqing lay there weakly, having knelt in the freezing snow for three days and three nights. If it weren't for her considerable skill, Su Yunmo would probably be lying here by now.
To try and warm her up, the small Qingyu Garden was already packed with heaters, and all sorts of ginger soup and hot tea were poured into Leng Yiqing's hands, but it was all in vain. An hour passed, and Leng Yiqing still had no feeling. She lay there coldly, her body gradually growing colder, and she could almost feel her consciousness fading away.
"Silly woman, are you risking your life?" Su Yunmo held her hand tightly, refusing to let go.
"Prince Yun, can you tell me what exactly happened?" Sensing the same feelings Su Yunmo had for his daughter, General Leng finally couldn't help but ask.
"Let's wait until Qing'er wakes up and let her speak for herself!" He respected her decision; all decisions rested with her. He wanted her to express her own thoughts and feelings, in front of her father and in front of him. He just wanted to be absolutely certain about everything.
General Leng didn't say anything, just watched as Su Yunmo kept rubbing Leng Yiqing's hands to warm them up. He didn't know how long it took or how much hot soup she drank, but Leng Yiqing's complexion slowly regained some color.
Su Yunmo was overjoyed. He quickly called General Leng over and gently called her name a few times. Leng Yiqing vaguely heard some of it and struggled to open her eyes. The warmth around her finally melted her heart. Seeing Su Yunmo and her father from another world smiling and guarding her bedside, the heavy weight in her heart was finally lifted.
“Mo…” She reached out with difficulty and touched his furrowed brows. She smiled and said, “I’m so useless! Look, you’ve been kneeling with me for so many days and you’re still fine, but I’ve collapsed.”
"Silly girl, you're a woman!" He gently took her fidgeting little hand and gestured towards General Leng beside him with his lip. "Your father's watching!"
"Dad!" she called out with a smile. With this father, she believed nothing was difficult anymore. "I want to be with him!"
"Isn't Su Zhengyang good to you?" General Leng asked, puzzled. In his memory, Su Zhengyang had always been very good to her, even a little spoiled. Why had things turned out this way? Had he overlooked something?
"Before, his heart only belonged to Shen Jiaxue. Now, his heart only belongs to Jiang Yuelin. When has I ever existed? On the contrary, Mo has taken care of me in every way, cherished me, and accompanied me all the way to this day. I am already his woman." Leng Yiqing told her father everything in detail.
"You..." General Leng was startled by Leng Yiqing's actions.