Xu Qingyun didn't want to hear any of this, so he rushed up and hugged Yun Qing tightly.
"My wife, please stop talking. I beg you, please don't treat me like this."
Yun Qing did not resist, letting him hold her, her expression remaining indifferent.
When Xu Qingyun calmed down and slowly released her, he saw her calm and unwavering gaze.
At this moment, Xu Qingyun clearly realized that Yun Qing had never truly loved him.
"Why? I thought you were willing to marry me because you had feelings for me."
"Does it matter?" Yun Qing looked up and met his gaze. "My mother never even met my father before she married him."
Xu Qingyun gave a bitter smile: "So, you treat the Crown Prince the same way? Because he saved you, you don't refuse to associate with him?"
"More or less." Yun Qing was a little tired and didn't want to beat around the bush with him anymore: "It's because he was the one who found me first."
Mentioning this matter brought another pang of pain to Xu Qingyun's heart.
If he hadn't let Yun Qing out of his sight back then, would things have turned out differently?
Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs" in the world, and his question was destined to remain unanswered.
Yun Qing packed only a few sets of headdresses and jewelry into a small wooden box, and then prepared to leave.
Seeing her about to cross the threshold, Xu Qingyun felt an overwhelming pang of heartache and rushed over to hug her from behind.
"What are you doing?" Yun Qing asked coldly.
"Qingqing, don't go, don't leave me alone."
"Stop talking nonsense." Yun Qing tried to shake off his hand: "Whether I leave or not is not up to me."
"I know I was wrong, it's all my fault. I should have stayed by your side every step of the way, I shouldn't have let you leave alone. Please forgive me, please give me another chance?"
"Enough." Yun Qing forcefully broke free from Xu Qingyun's embrace. "Husband, this is the last time I'll call you that. There's no point in saying anything more now. From now on, let's go our separate ways and wish each other happiness."
Yun Qing's words caused Xu Qingyun so much heartache that he felt like he was suffocating, and hot tears uncontrollably slid down his cheeks.
Watching his lover's departing figure, he weakly reached out his hand, but dared not go forward again, for fear of seeing the conflicted and painful look in her eyes.
In front of the Xu family mansion gate.
Yun Qing saw a carriage parked in the distance. Upon closer inspection, she recognized it as the same carriage Ling Ye had used to bring her back from the palace banquet.
Before I could even walk over, a person got out of the car, wearing a snow-white mink cloak.
Yun Qing handed him the box and helped him into the carriage with his large hands.
After she sat down, Ling Ye covered her with a thick blanket, put two hot water bottles in her mouth, and took out some sour jujube cakes he had just bought.
After doing all this, he opened the box and saw that it contained jewelry and headwear, and he breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
"Why did you take these things? They all look old. I'll send them to the Treasure Pavilion and have them make you an exact replica based on the design, how about that?"
Yun Qing nodded indifferently, not exposing his little scheme.
These were all newly made gold and jade jewelry pieces before the wedding, less than half a year ago. How could you tell if they were new or old?
The carriage traveled smoothly along the road and soon entered the palace gate.
The Emperor and Empress had been waiting in front of the East Palace for a long time. When they saw Ling Ye carrying Yun Qing down, their eyes lit up.
"Oh my, this must be Miss Yun. She is truly a woman of exceptional beauty and talent."
"Yes, I really can't imagine how cute the children will be in the future."
The most noble couple in the mortal world were all smiles at this moment, completely different from their previous solemn and dignified demeanor. Their endless praise made Yun Qing's ears turn red.
The two men looked at Yun Qing with increasingly kind eyes, staring intently at her as if she were some highly coveted treasure.
Yun Qing understood after a moment's thought: with the royal line dying out, the baby in her belly was most likely the only heir of this generation.
Therefore, their exaggerated reaction is understandable. Not to mention, the Emperor and Empress both dote on their children, and Ling Ye must have given them prior notice, asking them to be more enthusiastic.
...
As soon as Yun Qing moved into the palace, Emperor Wen acted swiftly, issuing two imperial edicts in quick succession.
First, he ordered Xu Qingyun and Yun Qing to divorce. Second, he appointed Yun Qing as the Crown Princess, and she married the Crown Prince half a month later.
The issuance of the two imperial edicts naturally shocked everyone.
Leaving aside the discussions among the common people, officials from the court flocked to the palace, kneeling at the entrance of the imperial study to plead with Emperor Wen to rescind the decree.
"Your Majesty is foolish! How can you allow the Crown Prince to commit the act of taking a subject's wife?"
"If Your Majesty does not rescind your order, I will remain kneeling here forever."
"The Crown Prince is muddle-headed; it truly breaks the heart of this old minister!"
Ling Ye was called over by his father and listened to the scathing criticism directed at him from outside the door, but he let it go in one ear and out the other.
After a while, Ling Ye's ears were getting sleepy from listening so much; they were practically calloused.
Suddenly, an indignant voice rang out: "Yun has violated the virtues of a woman and bewitched the Crown Prince. I beg Your Majesty to punish her."
"You old bastard, who are you calling a jerk?" Ling Ye's dazed eyes cleared instantly. He grabbed the stool he was sitting on and stormed out the door.
"Who said that just now? Step forward and say it again in front of me!"
Seeing that Ling Ye looked like he was about to kill someone, the group wisely shut their mouths and shook their heads tremblingly.
"You won't talk, huh? Then you'll all kneel here. I'd like to see how long your integrity can last."
After saying that, Ling Ye flicked his sleeves and strode away.
Emperor Wen listened to the commotion outside, but his expression remained unchanged as he continued to review the memorials.
As darkness fell, the officials knelt on the cold ground, shivering with cold.
They were puzzled: He had offered advice so many times before, and each time he had been asked to rise as soon as they knelt down. Why was he unmoved this time? Wasn't His Majesty afraid of being criticized by the people?
If Emperor Wen knew what they were thinking, he would definitely say: "Afraid? Of course we're afraid!" But since it was all for his grandson, he could only be tough this once.
After a long while, the memorials were almost finished being reviewed, and two of the people kneeling outside fainted.
Emperor Wen slowly walked out of the imperial study and was shocked by the scene on the ground.
"What's wrong, my dear minister? Damn servant, why didn't you come in to report?"
The head eunuch beside him slapped himself: "Oh dear, it's all my fault. It was too dark to see clearly, and then there was no sound, so I assumed you gentlemen had left."
Officials: In this freezing weather, we're all too cold to speak. Who can possibly utter a sound?
"Ahem." Emperor Wen chuckled inwardly, but his face remained serious: "These muddle-headed servants, why don't you quickly help your beloved ministers inside and call the imperial physician to take a look?"
"yes."
The officials sat in their studies, holding their newly acquired hot water bottles, and only then did they feel alive again. They were all in tears, looking quite pitiful.
Taking this opportunity, Emperor Wen carefully spoke: "My dear ministers, I know about your suggestions, but I have no choice in the matter!"
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