Когда мы вернёмся

Глава 158

Qingyun looked at the stars outside through the open window. After a long while, she said softly, "A medicinal herb that he was reluctant to give away."

The woman in green paused for a moment, then smiled and replied, "Yes, Princess."

Qingyun stood quietly by the window, looking up at the stars in the sky.

In the night sky, the stars twinkled and shone brightly.

For some reason, Qingyun felt a chill tonight.

The main hall.

The imperial court was quiet, like the calm before a storm.

Li Ge knelt on the ground, his expression calm and serene. His brown eyes were as clear as water, showing no fear in the face of the impending storm.

At that moment, every minister in the court felt the innate, ethereal quality emanating from Prince Ande, which deeply impressed them.

“Prince Ande—” Situ Xingyun raised his eyes and called out in a low voice.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats.

"I'll ask you one more time, will you accept the decree or not?"

“Your Majesty, my heart belongs to another. Princess Ande can only be reserved for the one I love. As for the daughter of the Prime Minister, I cannot accept her. Therefore, I will absolutely not accept the imperial decree.” Li Ge stared steadily at Situ Xingyun and said calmly.

His calm tone contained an undeniable determination, just like Qingyun's.

Everyone gasped in shock.

Volume 3: Truth and Falsehood, Palace Turmoil, Emperor's Marriage (Part 2)

Contrary to expectations, there was no storm brewing in the court. Situ Xingyun raised a thick eyebrow and said, "Considering that Prince Ande has only recently entered the palace, I will give you another chance. I will bestow upon you the daughter of the Prime Minister's family as a concubine, and you may choose your own principal wife."

Everyone was overjoyed, knowing that the Emperor had softened his heart. Their eyes all turned to Li Ge, wishing he would quickly accept the decree.

However, Li Ge was no ordinary person; he naturally knew what Situ Xingyun was planning. He smiled slightly, a smile as bright as a ray of white light from the heavens, so radiant it was almost blinding. Or perhaps it was like the gentle ripples on a mountain lake, so soothing and pleasing to the eye.

"Your Majesty, I only wish to have her by my side in this life, and I wish to have no one else."

The crowd gasped in astonishment, all curious about the woman Prince Ande had mentioned. A few among them had heard something about her, but were reluctant to speak of it in front of the Emperor.

Everyone knows that the Emperor dotes on Princess Xiangxue. However, only a few people know that she was formerly Princess Fengxue. The Emperor's delay in bestowing a title upon Princess Xiangxue is puzzling, and many even speculate that the Emperor intends to marry Princess Xiangxue to Prince Ande. But given the current situation, it is clear that this is not the case.

Situ Xingyun's face darkened, and the surrounding temperature immediately dropped, making everyone feel the bone-chilling cold.

"I'll ask you one last time: to marry or not to marry?"

"I will not marry." The answer was firm and resolute.

"Very good. Excellent." Situ Xingyun sneered, flicked his sleeve, and shouted, "Guards, throw Prince Ande into the Heavenly Prison and await his fate."

"Wait a minute."

Just then, a voice came from outside the court. It was ethereal and clear, like pearls falling onto a jade plate. Judging from its tone, it sounded like a female general sweeping away thousands of troops.

All eyes turned to the outside of the hall.

A woman in pure white gracefully arrived. She wore light makeup, her hair was styled in a misty, flowing style, and she was as graceful as a swaying willow branch, as elegant and ethereal as a lotus flower floating on water, and as otherworldly as a celestial being.

The woman in pure white stepped forward gracefully, as if walking on water, smiled sweetly at the kneeling man, and then knelt down side by side with the man in moon-white brocade.

At this moment, the two white-clad figures kneeling on the ground seemed to have created a white world, and their extraordinary aura served as a barrier to that white world, as if no one in the world could break into that mysterious realm.

Everyone was astonished. Just who was that woman? But then, seeing the two so well-matched, they all guessed that the woman was the one Prince Ander had mentioned.

“Princess Xiangxue, the imperial court is not a place for child's play. How can a mere woman barge in?” Situ Xingyun’s face showed great displeasure.

The crowd erupted in astonishment. So this was Princess Xiangxue, the one showered with love and affection!

“Your Majesty, Prince Ande should not be imprisoned in the Imperial Prison.”

Situ Xingyun raised an eyebrow slightly. "What makes you say that?"

"The reason why Prince Ande defied the imperial decree and refused the marriage was entirely because of Xiangxue. Prince Ande and Xiangxue had already pledged their lives to each other. They swore to heaven that they could only have each other in this life, or else they would die a terrible death. Prince Ande was forced to defy the imperial decree in order to keep his vow to Xiangxue."

Situ Xingyun's face darkened, his eyes flashed slightly, and dark clouds loomed overhead.

Li Ge frowned and looked at Qing Yun.

Qingyun's eyes shimmered gently, overflowing with tenderness.

Li Ge sighed helplessly and said to Situ Xingyun, "Although Princess Xiangxue and my brother have pledged their lives to each other and made vows, the matter of disobeying the imperial decree was solely my brother's doing and had nothing to do with Princess Xiangxue. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth."

Situ Xingyun seemed to have been waiting for these words for a long time. His eyes flashed, and he immediately said, "Guards, throw Prince Ande into the Heavenly Prison to await his punishment. Take Princess Xiangxue back to the Snow Palace and confine her to reflect on her mistakes."

"No, Your Majesty. Xiangxue should also be imprisoned in the Imperial Prison," Qingyun declared loudly, her imposing aura causing the surrounding guards to hesitate to act.

Situ Xingyun shouted, "Princess Xiangxue, don't be ridiculous. Disobeying the imperial decree was done by Prince Ande, and has nothing to do with you."

Anyone present could see that Situ Xingyun favored Qingyun.

However, Qingyun looked straight at Situ Xingyun and said loudly, "Xiangxue is pregnant with the child of Prince Ande. Xiangxue is unfaithful to her husband and is pregnant out of wedlock. This is immoral and she should be thrown into prison."

Situ Xingyun's pupils suddenly contracted. He looked at Qingyun in disbelief.