Perhaps Yan Beimo found the carriage too slow, so he changed course to waterway that very night and returned to Jiankang early the next morning.
Jiankang was the capital of the Great Qi Dynasty, and its prosperity was even greater. In the middle of spring, the air was still chilly.
Chu Changning was taken by Shuangyue to a magnificent palace. She stayed there for several days without seeing Yan Beimo, let alone hearing about the letter of divorce.
She really missed Ayu, so she took the initiative to go find him.
The imperial palace in Jiankang was not as magnificent as the Xin Palace in Chaoge, but it was still adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, and purple pillars and golden beams.
Yan Beimo always lived in Xuanming Palace, the emperor's bedroom, which was extremely luxurious. It was decorated with shells and vermilion, and bright pearls shone brightly. The ground was paved with white jade inlaid with gold pearls. When you dug the ground barefoot, you felt that it was warm and smooth.
Frosty Moon led her into the inner hall to wait.
Chu Changning asked, "Where is His Majesty?"
"His Majesty is in the Council Hall. Please wait a moment, Madam."
Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has not yet named his wives Empress, so they can only address them as such for now.
Thinking of this, Shuangyue glanced at the lady sitting on the small couch, resting her chin on her hand and lost in thought, and couldn't help but offer a suggestion.
“Madam, you were His Majesty’s first wife when he was still a prince. Now that you have returned to the palace, you should be made Empress. We cannot let another woman take advantage of this opportunity.”
Chu Changning, "---"
"After His Majesty ascended the throne, the harem was empty. The Empress Dowager was thinking of selecting concubines a couple of days ago, but His Majesty didn't mention it, so she kept quiet."
The Empress Dowager is not His Majesty's biological mother, so she cannot speak too much. However, there has been controversy in the previous dynasty because His Majesty has no heir, and it is estimated that a selection of consorts will be held in a couple of days.
"Now that His Majesty has returned to the palace, he'll probably be expanding his harem soon. Your Highness should urge him to appoint an empress, lest some ungrateful person try to climb over your shoulders—"
Chu Changning was overwhelmed by what she was saying and quickly interrupted, "It is up to the Yan clan to decide who Your Majesty will make as empress. I had already planned to divorce Your Majesty when we were still in the Prince's residence."
Seeing that she didn't understand, Shuangyue reminded her, "You are His Majesty's principal wife, who is listed in the Yan family genealogy. Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, you are naturally the Empress. However, the investiture ceremony has not yet been held. How can a letter of divorce be enough to depose an Empress?"
"Hmm?" Chu Changning was slightly startled and looked up at her. "Is that so?"
Shuangyue nodded, "Yes, but His Majesty has not yet established an empress. If he announces to the public that his first wife is dead and establishes a new empress, that is also possible. Therefore, Madam should bring up this matter with His Majesty as soon as possible."
Chu Changning frowned; he had lied to her again.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Just then, the voice of a palace maid suddenly came from outside.
Shuangyue quickly stopped talking, bowed respectfully, and withdrew.
Yan Beimo glanced at Chu Changning sitting on the soft couch and said calmly.
What are you doing here?
Chu Changning stood up. "It's been so many days, hasn't His Majesty finished writing the letter of divorce yet?"
Yan Beimo's calm expression remained unchanged. He took off his cloak, walked to the soft couch, leaned back, picked up a cup of hot tea, and slowly drank it, completely ignoring her.
Chu Changning, "---"
Just as she was about to speak, the eunuch's voice came from outside again.
"Come in."
"Your Majesty, this humble servant greets you."
Eunuch Qian was carrying a tray with many booklets on it. After bowing, he stood up and presented the booklets to him.
"Your Majesty, this is the list of candidates for the imperial concubine selection sent by the Empress Dowager."
Upon hearing this, Yan Beimo gently put down his teacup, picked up the talent show booklet, and casually glanced at it.
Chu Changning was left standing to the side, her lips slightly pursed.
"The daughter of the Xun family of Yingchuan is quite beautiful, and this young lady from the Gu family of Wujun is dignified and elegant, and seems gentle and virtuous—she's also quite nice."
Eunuch Li listened to his words and stood aside, taking notes in a small booklet.
Seeing that he wouldn't be able to finish choosing in a while, Chu Changning planned to leave first. But as soon as she stepped over the threshold, she heard a sinister voice behind her.
Did I say you could leave?
She paused, then turned around.
"Your Majesty seems very busy, so I won't disturb you any longer."
Yan Beimo tossed the booklet in his hand onto the tray and stared at her with an unfriendly gaze.
An unspoken sense of unease permeated the air.
Eunuch Li glanced at the two of them, then bowed even lower.
Chu Changning, "---"
She forcefully suppressed her temper and said in a low voice, "Then I will wait for Your Majesty."
They waited until it got dark.
After Eunuch Li left, several more ministers came to discuss matters. Chu Changning, tired of standing, sat down on a small couch to wait. Before he knew it, he almost fell asleep.
When Yan Beimo entered, he saw her lying on the couch, her plain face without makeup, her skin delicate and radiant. The palace lanterns illuminated her face, casting a hazy glow.
He walked over and looked down at her, bending down.
A warm and familiar scent wafted over her, and Chu Changning suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze meeting his neck. By sheer coincidence, her lips landed on his Adam's apple.
Her actions sent a tingling sensation through Yan Beimo's spine, sending a rush of pleasure straight to his heart. His throat bobbed as he looked down at her.
Chu Changning had just woken up, her eyes sparkling with a seductive spring-like light. Realizing what she had done, she immediately opened her mouth and backed away.
She looks absolutely captivating.
Yan Beimo straightened up, his voice slightly hoarse, "Who told you to sleep?"
Chu Changning subconsciously glanced around, recalled what had happened during the day, and realized what was going on.
She quickly got off the bed and stood up.
"Is Your Majesty finished with your work?"
Seeing her avoidance, Yan Beimo's eyes darkened slightly, and he walked to the desk next to him and sat down.
Seeing that he was ignoring her, Chu Changning simply used the same excuse she had given him before.
The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Yan Beimo casually took a letter of divorce from the table and tossed it to her.
Chu Changning took it, then, remembering Shuangyue's words, glanced at him hesitantly.
"I will declare you dead."
Upon hearing this, Chu Changning didn't think much of it, put away the letter of divorce, and turned to leave.
Yan Beimo watched her retreating figure and said coldly, "You're in such a hurry?"
Chu Changning paused and turned around.
She glanced at him sitting at the desk, recalled the past, and smiled faintly.
May Your Majesty find a good match in the future.
After saying this, she bowed and turned to leave.
It was already late at night. After Chu Changning came out, she breathed a sigh of relief. She thought of Ayu at home and was extremely anxious. She immediately returned to the palace, packed her bags, and left the palace that very night.
Shuangyue found her a horse and sent her away.
"Take care, Madam."
Chu Changning mounted his horse and said with a smile, "Just call me by my name from now on."
At this point, she shook her head, guessing that they would probably never see each other again.
With Shuangyue escorting him, Chu Changning left the palace without any hindrance.
Under the pitch-black night, Yan Beimo, dressed in a white robe, stood high on the city wall, watching her.
A beautiful woman, dressed in red, rides a fine horse, her long, flowing black hair tied back with a red ribbon, her beauty unrestrained and flamboyant.
He watched the departing figure quietly, then suddenly smiled and said gently.
"She's very happy without me."
Night Hawk followed behind, looking at that smile, and felt a chill run down his spine. It was clearly a smile, but it inexplicably made him feel a cruel and violent intent.
He stood silently behind him, not daring to say a word.
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