Chapter 316 Asking for permission to leave
Liu Yuetang took a deep breath, suppressed the sob in her throat, lifted her skirt and bent her knees.
"Your Majesty, I am grateful and delighted to receive such deep affection from you. I feel so lucky."
She lowered her eyes, her voice gentle and measured, "But you are the emperor, and in the prime of your life. If you really dismiss the six concubines and permanently end the selection of concubines, it will undoubtedly cause a shock to the previous dynasty. It will inevitably be recorded in the annals of history as 'favoring beauty over the country'. This would be inappropriate for your Majesty's reputation and for the country and the people."
"I don't care!"
He took a half step forward, his hot breath caressing her forehead. "I don't care what others think, what the censors say, or what the history books write! As long as you are willing, I can remove all obstacles for you. I will protect you."
"But I care!" Liu Yuetang raised her eyes and met his scarlet pupils.
"If you favor me alone, how will the other concubines in the six palaces cope? They either fulfill their family's destiny or bear the responsibility of reproduction. Are they to spend their entire lives alone in the empty palace because of me? And let alone the Empress, your first wife and the head of the imperial harem. Do you think it's reasonable for her to watch her husband favor someone else and treat her like a mere ornament in the palace? What will the officials and the people think of the Emperor?"
Since entering the palace, the queen has treated her well.
She is a good queen and the most suitable candidate to be the mother of the country.
She even treated her daughter as her own.
She couldn't do anything to hurt the queen again.
Seeing the scarlet in Xiao Heng's eyes fade away little by little, replaced by powerlessness and heartbreak, Liu Yuetang's heart suddenly tightened.
She knew that Xiao Heng had heard some of what she said.
At that time, Emperor Gaozu dismissed the six palaces and never held a selection of concubines again because he was poisoned and injured, which made the court officials reluctantly convinced.
However, Xiao Heng was in good health, and it was the time for him to expand his family and consolidate the foundation of the country. If his path to the imperial examination was cut off for one person at this time, the court officials would only think that he was indulging in love and disregarding the country.
What's more, the queen has done nothing wrong and has a good reputation. His behavior not only slaps the queen in the face and chills the hearts of the imperial relatives and the aristocratic families, but also makes people all over the world think that the emperor is stupid - he can even neglect his wife and ignore the continuation of his offspring. How can he be entrusted with the country?
Out of selfish motives, she wanted to leave the palace.
For the sake of public opinion, she should leave the palace.
The more Xiao Heng treated her like this, the more she didn't want him to become a tyrant who "valued beauty over the country" in the eyes of court officials.
He should be the wise ruler who worked hard to govern the country as recorded in history books!
She must give up her inappropriate thoughts and completely give up Xiao Heng's thoughts.
Liu Yuetang leaned forward, tears streaming from her eyes as she spoke: "I fear that your majesty's favor will fade away, and I fear being accused of bringing disaster upon the nation and its people. I do not wish to be trapped within these palace walls any longer. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and let me go."
Xiao Heng stood there in a daze, and the blood in his body seemed to freeze in an instant.
He stared at Liu Yuetang with tears in his eyes: "Liu Yuetang, even after all this, you still don't believe me? You still want to leave?"
"Yes!" Liu Yuetang closed her eyes solemnly.
Her clear voice was like a blunt knife, scratching Xiao Heng's internal organs again and again, causing him to tremble all over with pain. "What if I don't agree?"
"Without my order, you will never be able to leave!"
Liu Yuetang raised her eyes and saw through the brokenness in Xiao Heng's eyes.
She raised her voice and called Xue Ji in.
Afterwards, Xue Ji presented an imperial edict to Liu Yuetang with both hands.
The edges of the imperial edict's brocade were charred and curled, showing signs of being burned by fire. Xiao Heng's heart trembled violently.
Is that - the imperial edict he gave to Liu Yuetang before?
As expected, just as she imagined, the next moment, Liu Yuetang held up the imperial edict with both hands: "Your Majesty, do you still remember this imperial edict you gave me? You said that from now on, whenever I have a wish, I can take it out and it will be granted."
Xiao Heng stared at the bright yellow light, his heart beating like a drum. He vaguely guessed something, and his fingertips were already cold.
"I now take this imperial edict and ask the emperor for permission to take Yue'er out of the palace."
Xiao Heng clenched his palms, "This imperial edict has been burned, how can it be counted?"
"How can it not count?" Liu Yuetang hurriedly unfolded the imperial edict, and the bright yellow brocade fluttered in the air.
"Your Majesty, look, even though there's a burnt hole in this imperial edict, the imperial seal you stamped on the signature is still there."
"Your Majesty, your words are true, and the Imperial Seal is your witness. Does this little burn mark mean that the Emperor will repudiate his promise?"
Looking at the bright red jade seal, Xiao Heng felt his eyes go dark. At this moment, he hoped that the burned area was the jade seal.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
The palms of his hands were already covered with deep red marks from being pinched by his fingernails, and the pain was excruciating, but it was far less than the sudden chill that spread across his heart.
He never expected that the life-saving talisman he gave her would eventually become the sharp weapon she used to leave him.
Liu Yuetang looked at the imperial edict. Perhaps, all this was just God's will.
Wanqiu said that the fire in the main hall was raging at the time. Seeing that the fire in the side hall was not big, the palace servants risked their lives to move out the boxes that she treasured most.
At that time, the imperial edict was placed under a Hetian jade pendant, and on top of it was a jade pillow. When the fire came over, it only burned a small hole because of the two pieces of jade blocking it.
The palace maids immediately put out the fire with their wet sleeves and took out the imperial edict and jade pillow.
Just when Wanqiu was about to present the imperial edict, Liu Yuetang came back.
Xiao Heng looked away and stared into Liu Yuetang's eyes, "It's true that I gave you the imperial decree, but I won't allow you to leave the palace!"
"I can agree to anything you want, but you can't leave me!"
"emperor--"
Liu Yuetang was about to say something, but was interrupted by Xiao Heng's stern voice, "Zhou Defu, ask Concubine Jing to leave!"
Zhou Defu at the door hurried forward, bowed and made a gesture of farewell.
Liu Yuetang looked at the sorrowful Xiao Heng and said slowly, "Your Majesty, things in this world are often like this. If you force someone to stay, they won't get the result. Most of the time, you won't get what you want, and you'll be left with disappointment."
"I will give Your Majesty some time and then present the imperial edict."
After saying that, Liu Yuetang turned and left.
Just as she turned around, the tears hidden in Xiao Heng's eyes suddenly fell.
He slowly raised his eyelids, his gaze fixed empty on the palace gate where she had disappeared. Every word he uttered was choked with broken sobs: "Liu Yuetang...you are so cruel."
Liu Yuetang walked out of the Zichen Palace. Her feet felt as if they had taken root, yet she kept moving forward uncontrollably.
The wind from the corridor blew the remaining snow onto her face, but she was completely unaware. The words Xiao Heng had just said kept echoing in her mind.
"Your Majesty..." Xue Ji's voice was a little cautious, and he gently tugged at her sleeve, "This is not the direction of Changle Palace."
Liu Yuetang suddenly came back to her senses and looked up. She saw the direction leading to Yaoyue Palace.
She smiled faintly, "I want to go see Yaoyue Palace."
"Okay, I will accompany the princess."
As he spoke, Xue Ji opened his umbrella to block the falling snow.
The word "Princess" made Liu Yuetang sober up a little.
When she arrived in front of Yaoyue Palace and looked at the empty ruins, she felt mixed emotions.
She stayed in Yaoyue Palace for three full years, but it felt like thirteen years.
Yaoyue Palace is gone, and the former Liu Yuetang is also dead.
She is now the princess of Lanyue Kingdom - Zong Zheng Qianyin.
She must leave Jingyuan.
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival.
That was the day when she and Xiao Heng met for the first time.
So... let's end where it started.
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