To disband the harem for you

Li Xingyi said this without blushing at all, as if it were just a normal thing. Qi Dou blushed slightly, turned his face away from Li Xingyi, and said, "This kind of thing shouldn't be because of that."

Li Xingyi calmly said, "Then let nature take its course."

As dusk approached, Xiao Dezi spoke up, "Your Majesty, would you like to choose a concubine tonight?"

Qingyi and Zhao Hongxing looked at him in shock upon hearing this, with Zhao Hongxing feeling both nervous and surprised.

No? You're so clueless? His Majesty needs to choose a concubine in this situation?

Asahi also quietly watched Xiao Dezi.

Li Xingyi remained calm, picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said, "His Majesty did indeed say that the favor should be distributed evenly, and that the main thing is to ensure the continuation of the royal family."

Li Xingyi addressed A Dou as "Your Majesty" instead, clearly indicating his displeasure, yet he remained calm and showed no sign of it.

Qi Dou immediately got up and went to her side, hugging her and saying, "We can only rely on Xingyi to have more offspring."

Li Xingyi put down his teacup, lowered his eyes, and said, "Your Majesty's touch is so fleeting, it makes one linger and forget to leave, thus wasting one's life."

If Qi Dou truly favored everyone equally, it would only be a fleeting touch, leaving the concubines in the harem only able to yearn for him and waste their lives.

Qi Dou understood what she meant, but he couldn't help feeling a little jealous.

Does Xingyi really think I'll treat everyone equally?

Then he lowered his head and kissed Li Xingyi's lips, a light touch like a dragonfly skimming the water.

Li Xingyi was slightly taken aback. At this moment, Qi Dou straightened up and said, "Tonight, I will share a bed with Xingyi."

Seeing this, Xiao Dezi seemed to understand something and quickly replied with a smile, "This servant obeys."

Li Xingyi looked at Qi Dou with delight, but did not show it. He calmly brought up another matter, "There are two vacancies in the elder positions of the Frostfrost Sect. I would like to have Qianwu take one of them. I wonder if Qianwu is willing?"

Qi Dou understood that she was shy and looked at her with a slight smile.

Upon hearing this, Qianwu immediately bowed and said, "This servant thanks Your Highness for your appreciation. This servant is naturally willing."

Li Xingyi said, "If you're willing, then our original rankings will each rise by one place, and you will become the third elder."

Qianwu said, "This servant obeys."

At this moment, Qingyi spoke up: "Your Majesty, there is still one person missing. Who would you like to choose?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xingyi calmly glanced towards the door and said, "Come in, Suifeng."

As soon as he finished speaking, a man appeared at the door. He walked into the room, knelt on one knee, and said, "This subordinate greets the sect leader."

Upon seeing the newcomer, Qianwu immediately recognized him as the man who had been looking for Li Xingyi that night, and as one of Qi Hui's men.

She said, "Your Majesty, aren't these Prince Pingshou's men? How could they be..."

Li Xingyi looked at Sui Feng and said, "When I was investigating the followers of Prince Pingshou, I thought he was not bad, so I took him under my command."

Qianwu didn't know what to say, so she could only say, "I'm glad Your Majesty is satisfied."

Li Xingyi said slowly, "Suifeng, then you shall serve as the fourth elder."

Sui Feng replied, "Yes, Sect Leader."

Li Xingyi glanced at the two of them and said, "Get up."

The two then stood up and said, "Thank you, Sect Leader."

At night, the rain fell drop by drop, "drip-drip," and later it became a fine drizzle, "pitter-patter."

Li Xingyi and Qi Dou slept together, the sounds of wind and rain outside the window adding a deeper dimension to their dreams.

Li Xingyi dreamt of a young dragon circling around her. She asked in confusion, "Who are you?"

The young dragon didn't speak, stopped what it was doing, and gently rubbed against Li Xingyi's cheek.

In the early morning, Li Xingyi woke up and touched the cheek that the baby dragon had rubbed against in his dream.

What is this...? Why...why would I dream about this?

Li Xingyi felt an emptiness around him. He turned his head and saw that Qi Dou had already gone to court. He felt a sense of emptiness in his heart.

Looking out the window again, the rain had stopped, only a few drops of water were still dripping from the window frame, "drip, drip."

The flowers and plants are covered with raindrops, clear and transparent, of all sizes, creating a unique kind of beauty.

The air still carries the smell of damp earth, the scent of nature.

At this moment, Qingyi was already standing to the side, waiting to serve Li Xingyi.

Seeing this, Li Xingyi slowly got out of bed and was dressed by Qingyi.

Before long, Qingyi had dressed Li Xingyi up.

Li Xingyi sat in front of the dressing table, looking at herself in the bronze mirror, and felt that she looked no different from usual.

After having breakfast, Li Xingyi checked on the palace's expenditures and other affairs before heading to the entrance of the Hall of Supreme Harmony to wait for Qi Dou.

A few hours ago, Qi Dou had just entered the court and said first: "My beloved ministers, I have thought about this for a long time and have finally decided to dismiss the harem, not to hold another selection of concubines, and to keep only the Empress."

In fact, Qi Dou had wanted to do this for a long time. If Li Xingyi hadn't wanted to hold a talent show back then, he would never have allowed other women to enter the harem.

The officials were immediately shocked upon hearing this. One of the older officials quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this is unacceptable! Although you love the Empress, you cannot dismiss the harem for her sake!"

Even if Li Fengtan wanted to speak, he couldn't. After all, she was his daughter, and speaking would only add fuel to the fire. He could only listen quietly.

After hearing this, Qi Dou propped his head up with one hand and slowly said, "My dear minister, I said I made this decision after thinking about it for a long time. Are you dissatisfied with me this time?"

Since taking complete control, Qi Dou no longer needs to be mindful of others' opinions; he holds absolute power, and his life hangs in the balance.

The official hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty! This old minister did not mean that. This old minister only wishes that Your Majesty will not repeat the old mistakes of the past, that beautiful women bring disaster!"

Qi Dou narrowed his eyes and said, "My dear minister, what if I insist on doing it this way?"

The official's heart skipped a beat. He straightened up and said, "If Your Majesty insists, this old minister will have no choice but to go see the late Emperor first and tell him that this old minister was incompetent and that Your Majesty had committed such a treasonous act."

Looking into his resolute eyes, Qi Dou asked, "What about the other ministers?"

"We are the same." These words came from one person after another, creating a truly grand scene.

Upon seeing this, Qi Dou stood up, picked up the imperial seal, raised it high, and proclaimed loudly: "I am the Emperor of Great Qi! All the surrounding states submit to me! All civil and military officials are my subjects! The people's hearts are with me! The Crown Prince personally appointed by the late Emperor is me!"

"From the royal family and the court officials to the people of the surrounding countries, who dares to disobey my orders!"

Upon hearing this, all the officials immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, we respectfully obey your decree. Long live Your Majesty!"

Regardless of anything else, Qi Dou is still the emperor. Based on his performance since ascending the throne, apart from favoring Li Xingyi, he really has no other flaws. In addition, he has already used the imperial seal to suppress everyone, so he has no choice but to back down.

Qi Dou put down the imperial seal with satisfaction after hearing this, and said, "Since all my ministers have agreed, let's begin to implement it. From today onwards, except for the Empress, all other concubines may leave the palace to remarry."

After saying that, Qi Dou seemed to remember something and said, "By the way, I have never touched any other concubines, so you gentlemen can rest assured to ask for my hand in marriage."

After court, Qi Dou went outside and immediately saw Li Xingyi. He was overjoyed and ran towards her. Xiao Dezi immediately chased after him.

Qi Dou stopped in front of Li Xingyi and said, "Xingyi, what brings you here?"

Xiao Dezi was panting heavily, wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve. Although it wasn't far, he felt exhausted and was clearly weak.

Li Xingyi glanced at the many officials leaving after court, then looked at Qi Dou and said, "Your Majesty, I am waiting for you."

Upon hearing this, Qi Dou took Li Xingyi's hand and walked towards Fengyi Palace, saying, "Now that you've waited, let's go back to Fengyi Palace to rest. You should rest more while you're pregnant."

Li Xingyi obediently followed him, and Xiao Dezi immediately followed suit upon seeing this.

After walking for a short while, Li Xingyi couldn't help but ask, "Why did Your Majesty dismiss the harem?"

It wasn't that Li Xingyi was unwilling; it was just that all emperors throughout history had three thousand concubines in their harems. Only Qi Dou made this decision, ignoring the advice of his officials, and even presented the imperial seal and his deeds to dismiss the harem, all for his own sake.

Qi Dou stopped and looked at Li Xingyi, then smiled and said, "My heart is small, and so is my harem; it can only hold you alone."

Li Xingyi ultimately underestimated her importance in Qi Dou's heart. She met Qi Dou's gaze and slowly said, "Even if I can only look at you for the rest of my life, even if my beauty fades, would Your Majesty still be willing?"

Qi Dou answered without hesitation, "I'm willing."

Upon hearing this, Li Xingyi's eyes widened in surprise. After a moment of stunned silence, he asked, "Why does Your Majesty favor me so much?"

Is it because of appearance?

Qi Dou laughed and said, "Because I've made up my mind about you. No matter where I am, Qi Dou, I will only recognize you, Li Xingyi."

Qi Dou did not use the word "朕" (zhen, meaning "I" or "the emperor"), but instead used "我" (wo, meaning "I" or "I"), indicating that he was making a promise not in the name of the emperor, but in his own name.

This shocked not only Li Xingyi, but also Xiao Dezi and the others.

Qingyi stood next to Zhao Hongxing, happily covering her mouth, as if she was excited because of Qi Dou's love for Li Xingyi. Seeing this, Zhao Hongxing whispered in her ear, "Me too."

Qingyi was slightly taken aback and turned to look at Zhao Hongxing, her eyes meeting his. Zhao Hongxing was smiling at her.

Liu Linye was pondering what delicious treats to bring back for Qi Ru when they went back. "What should I bring?"

Li Xingyi regained his composure and continued walking forward, saying, "Then, Your Majesty, you must keep your word."

Adou, I only recognize you as my true love.

"Tap tap tap!" Li Yanzhang hurriedly ran towards Yonghe Palace. Upon arrival, he rushed inside without stopping and shouted, "Shi Yan!"

Shi Yan was packing her luggage with Fu Rong when she heard the voice. She looked in the direction of the voice and saw Li Yanzhang. She was stunned for a moment, then stepped forward and said, "Young Master Li, is there something you need?"

Li Yanzhang asked breathlessly, "Shi Yan, where are you going after you leave the palace?"

Shi Yan confessed, "Let's go back to Jiangnan. I grew up there, and I'm more familiar with it."

Li Yanzhang looked at her nervously and asked, "Can we not leave?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Yan couldn't believe her ears and exclaimed, "...What?"

Li Yanzhang bit his lip, as if making a decision, and said with his eyes tightly closed, "Shi Yan! Can you stay for me?! I don't want you to leave!"

After he finished speaking, he didn't dare to open his eyes, his whole face turned red, and he waited for a reply.

Shi Yan looked at him in disbelief and blurted out, "In...in what capacity did you stay for me?"

Li Yanzhang, not wanting to have any regrets, opened his eyes and said, "With my wife!"

Shi Yan stared at him blankly. Li Yanzhang continued, "I will marry you. I will marry you in a grand and glorious ceremony with eight sedan chairs and all the proper betrothal gifts. And I will never take a concubine in this lifetime!"

Shi Yan said, "Even if I was a concubine? Even if I might not be a virgin?"

Shi Yan was the only concubine who ostensibly served the emperor, besides Li Xingyi. Although Qi Dou had made it clear, some people still might not believe it.

Li Yanzhang said firmly, "Yes, no matter what, I'm willing to marry you!"

Shi Yan looked at him and then smiled, then cried.

So it turns out... it wasn't just wishful thinking on my part.

Seeing this, Li Yanzhang was at a loss and could only wave his hand at her, awkwardly comforting her, "Are you unwilling? It's okay, it's okay, don't cry."

Shi Yan choked back tears and said, "I...I don't want you...so you won't marry me?"

After hearing this, Li Yanzhang stammered, "Actually... if you're unwilling... I still want to marry you... it's just... it's not the behavior of a gentleman..."

Shi Yan hugged his neck tightly, tears streaming down her face. She smiled and said, "I'm willing, I'm willing, as long as you don't regret it."

Although Shi Yan wasn't beautiful at that moment, she was genuinely happy.

Li Yanzhang was stunned for a moment, then hugged Shi Yan back and breathed a sigh of relief, laughing, "You scared me to death, I thought you didn't want to."

Shi Yan wiped away her tears and said, "You're so good, how could you not want to?"

Without even thinking, Li Yanzhang replied, "Not as good as you."