"No, I won't give it to you." Qiao Zhen gave a reproachful snort. "If you don't want to reward me, then don't. Whatever makes you happy."

Ye Shangzhou squeezed Qiao Zhen's soft hand, "What does Madam think of the Empress?"

"What..." Qiao Zhen's voice stopped abruptly. Ye Shangzhou was asking her about the Empress's position. For a moment, she didn't know how to answer.

The position of Empress is certainly desirable, and everyone wants it, including Qiao Zhen, but she cannot accept it. Her status is too low; she cannot afford that lofty position.

"It's nothing." Qiao Zhen held Ye Shangzhou's hand and rubbed her face against the back of his hand. "I am already very satisfied with the position of Lady Zhuohua."

Ye Shangzhou lifted Qiao Zhen's chin and teased, "Does Madam not want it, or is she afraid to want it?"

“I can’t accept it,” Qiao Zhen said bluntly. “That position is so good, second only to the emperor, who wouldn’t want it? But I can’t accept it. You’ve worked so hard to gain some reputation, and I can’t ruin it again because of you.”

Ye Shangzhou was somewhat angry, "Is the position of Empress less important than those illusory titles?"

Qiao Zhen bit her lip, her face full of difficulty, "I can, but it's not worth it for me."

Ye Shangzhou coldly pushed Qiao Zhen away and pushed his wheelchair back, leaving Qiao Zhen alone on the spot.

In the following days, as everyone knew, Lady Zhuohua had fallen out of favor, and Ye Shangzhou stayed alone in the main hall of Heque Palace for several days in a row, even sending back all the pastries that Qiao Zhen had sent over to Yishui Pavilion. Even when Qiao Zhen accompanied Ye Shangzhou to study with the Grand Tutor, Ye Shangzhou still ignored Qiao Zhen completely.

All three Grand Tutors met with Qiao Zhen one after another, asking her to resolve the awkwardness between her and Ye Shangzhou as soon as possible. However, Qiao Zhen was not willing to say directly, "Your emperor wants to make me empress, but I disagree, so he is angry."

That day, Ye Shangzhou was reviewing memorials in the imperial study as usual, ignoring Qiao Zhen.

"Your Majesty, are you angry?" Qiao Zhen asked knowingly, adopting a gradual approach.

Nightfall Boat did not respond.

Qiao Zhen continued, "Since you don't speak, I will take it as your consent. Please don't be angry, okay? I was blind to have given up such a good position."

Ye Shangzhou sneered, "Speak to me when you've seen the light of day."

Qiao Zhen remained silent, not uttering a single word to Ye Shangzhou for half an hour.

Ye Shangzhou grew increasingly frustrated. He placed his brush on the brush holder and asked, "Why does my lady refuse the position of Empress? Is it really because she feels it is unacceptable? I have been cruel and tyrannical for years, and my reputation is of little value. Let alone the position of Empress, even if I were to give you the dragon throne right now, what would they dare to say?"

Qiao Zhen chimed in, "Then why don't you give me the dragon throne? Talking without doing is useless."

Ye Shangzhou almost laughed out of anger at her. He pushed his wheelchair around the desk to Qiao Zhen's side, his eyes filled with unyielding authority. He commanded, "Squat down."

Qiao Zhen obediently squatted down in front of Ye Shangzhou, not daring to utter a sound, for fear of provoking Ye Shangzhou's anger again. Although Ye Shangzhou was already very angry, at least he hadn't hit her yet.

Ye Shangzhou's tone held a hint of anger, "Is this wheelchair something you want for my own good? Or something to get rid of me?! I'm afraid it's just a pretense so you can see Ye Huaijin more often, and then when I get tired of you, you'll pack your bags and run off with Ye Huaijin?!"

He went further and further than he could speak, but Qiao Zhen didn't get angry; instead, she laughed and said, "Yes, I've had enough of being by your side. All you do is beat people and behead them. What woman would like that?"

She stood up, still chattering, "What do you have that makes you superior to Young Master Jin, that allows you to sit in this position?" Qiao Zhen walked to the bright yellow chair and reached out to touch the back of it. "What a waste."

Ye Shangzhou glared at Qiao Zhen, then pushed his wheelchair to grab her hand. "Take back everything you just said! I order you to take it back!"

Qiao Zhen bent slightly, looking down at Ye Shangzhou with a cold gaze. "Words spoken are like water spilled; there's no way to take them back."

Ye Shangzhou felt a sharp pain in his heart, but more of a dull ache. He held Qiao Zhen tightly around the waist and refused to look into her eyes. "I am the law! Do you hear me? I order you to take back what you just said!"

Qiao Zhen's temper flared up immediately. "If you're not reasonable, do you expect others to reason with you? Let me tell you," she said, word by word, "I won't accept it."

Enraged, Ye Shangzhou dragged Qiao Zhen to the bedroom behind the imperial study and pushed her onto the bed, saying, "Take back what you just said! Take it back!"

Qiao Zhen, seemingly unfazed, said, "My mouth is on my body, and I won't shut it." She then deliberately provoked Ye Shangzhou, saying, "Young Master is so kind today, gentle and refined, learned and talented, reasonable, and doesn't resort to violence at the drop of a hat."

Ye Shangzhou braced himself on the edge of the bed with both hands, leaned over and pressed down on Qiao Zhen, his large hand clamping down on Qiao Zhen's chin, his eyes filled with violence, "What's the use of liking him? You'll still be pinned down by me."

He roughly tore at Qiao Zhen's clothes, finally ripping off her bodice as well, lingering on her neck and leaving red marks.

Qiao Zhen felt no emotional fluctuation and even felt a little sorry for the dress she had just put on.

That's precious.

Enough for an average family to live on for a lifetime.

Ye Shangzhou noticed that Qiao Zhen was not paying attention, so he bit Qiao Zhen's shoulder, leaving two teeth marks.

"Hiss—" Qiao Zhen gasped in pain, "Are you a dog? You bit my neck and then my shoulder."

Ye Shangzhou did not respond to her; he was solely focused on leaving his mark on Qiao Zhen.

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