Qi Yunting clutched his face, utterly baffled as to what he’d done wrong this time.
Was it because of Qingsong burning the ancestral hall?
But that couldn’t be right—if the ancestral hall was burned, shouldn’t Father and the others hate Qi Yuan even more, and immediately drive her out as the lowly wench she is?
Then what was it for?!
After Qi Zhen left, Qi Yunting sat there holding his face, dazed for a long time. Eventually, he snapped, barking at the nearby nursemaid, “Go! Bring Miss Han here, quickly!”
He was going to get to the bottom of this!
The maids and servant women all exchanged strange looks.
Finally, Qi Yunting’s old wet nurse stepped forward and sighed. “Young Master, let it go. You won’t be seeing Miss Han again.”
Won’t see her again?
Qi Yunting froze. Han Yue’e’s parents were long dead, and her clan was full of useless people—she had been entrusted to the Qi family to be raised like one of their own. Naturally, she would be married off from the Qi household.
How could it be that he’d never see her again?
And this phrase—why did it sound so familiar?
He suddenly remembered: Madam Wang had once solemnly told him that Ah Jin would never come back again!
Qi Jin would never return. And now Han Yue’e wouldn’t either.
Why not? Who made that rule?!
“Where is she?!” Qi Yunting gritted his teeth and asked with fury.
She was now at Qi Wang’s residence.
Lian’er, pale-faced, supported Han Yue’e nervously. “Miss… can we really do this?”
Han Yue’e’s own face wasn’t much better—she looked completely bloodless. But at that moment, her eyes glowed with frightening brightness.
“Life or death, honor or disgrace—it all hinges on this!” she said firmly. “Lian’er, you’ve been with me since childhood. If I rise, you rise. Don’t worry.”
Hearing this, Lian’er nodded resolutely.
Yes—her mistress was her everything. Only if the young lady carved out a path forward could she survive too.
With that thought, she stopped hesitating and helped Han Yue’e to the second gate.
Since the Prince’s manor had no formal mistress, the back courtyard wasn’t heavily guarded.
Han Yue’e had already given Lian’er all her valuables in advance to smooth things over.
The gatekeeper woman took the silver, glanced at them, and muttered, “Make sure you’re back early. If you’re late, we won’t leave the door open for you.”
Lian’er nodded and bowed hurriedly.
Han Yue’e wrapped herself tightly in a large cloak and, with Lian’er’s help, slipped out through the side gate.
The Prince’s residence was vast and deep. Managing to escape was a rare stroke of luck.
Han Yue’e exhaled in relief, and Lian’er asked, “Miss, what do we do now?”
“To the Censorate!” Han Yue’e pursed her lips, expression firm.
Lian’er responded immediately and supported her on the road to the Censorate, seeking out Censor Zhou.
Zhou Yushi had been a close friend of Han Yue’e’s late father—they had shared deep ties in the capital years ago.
When Han Yue’e reached the gates of the Censorate, it was already a bustling hour, with many officials coming and going from the Six Ministries nearby.
Wearing a large cloak and accompanied by a maid, she stood out starkly.
Especially as she knelt at the gates of the Censorate and cried out, “I am Han Yue’e, daughter of an old acquaintance. I beseech to see Uncle Zhou!”
When the news reached inside, Censor Zhou was frowning over a memorial written by one of his subordinates.
Today, all the censors were oddly unanimous—their reports were all about Qi Wang.
Qi Wang had gone too far, having an affair with another’s adopted daughter, and trying to pry into the family’s affairs?
What did he think he was doing?
With a snap, Zhou Yushi closed the memorial, shaking his head. “Outrageous—absolutely outrageous!”
As he was thinking this, the clerk came to report the situation outside.
Zhou Yushi gave a hum of acknowledgment—he remembered Han Yue’e, the daughter of an old friend.
But…
He rose, hesitated a moment, then went out himself.
Han Yue’e was still kneeling on the stone pavement, attracting stares from the constant flow of people passing by.
Zhou Yushi descended the steps and stood before her. “Get up! What brings you here?”
Han Yue’e burst into sobs. “Uncle Zhou! This has nothing to do with Wangye! He never instructed me to spy on the Qi family—everything was done on my own accord! As for Wangye and I…”
Her voice hitched, her cheeks turning red. “Wangyee and I are mutually fond of each other—we have long shared feelings! So of course, like any young lovers, we shared everything.”
In other words, the only reason she spoke so thoroughly about the Qi family was due to lovesick pillow talk.
Zhou Yushi’s brow furrowed deeply. “How utterly improper!”
“Yes!” Han Yue’e sobbed pitifully. “It’s true, all my fault—it had nothing to do with Wangye! Uncle Zhou, you’re the only one I can turn to in the capital now. Please show some mercy and help me return to the Qi household!”
Seeking mercy?
No!
Why would the Qi family ever take her back?
What could he even do?
If she wanted mercy, she should go beg the Qi family.
And yet, here she was, crying at the entrance of one of the most crowded of the Six Ministries.
She was clearly trying to make a scene—make the entire court know about her and Qi Wang!
This girl…
Thinking of how the Qi family had taken her in, only to be betrayed, Zhou Yushi gave a cold snort and flicked his sleeve, leaving without a word.
Han Yue’e collapsed to the ground, sobbing loudly.
Lian’er, seeing her mistress weeping so pitifully, couldn’t help crying too.
Between sobs, she panicked. “Miss… are we doomed?”
Are we finished?
Zhou Yushi hadn’t even bothered to speak with them.
There was no way they could ever return to the Qi family.
But Han Yue’e gripped Lian’er’s hand tightly, suppressing her shivers and whispering low: “No, we’re not done. On the contrary—we’ve won! We’ve succeeded! We’ve won!’
Yes—won!
She never intended to return to the Qi family.
What good would that do? After what she’d done, they’d never treat her kindly again.
What she wanted was more. Bigger things.
Making a public spectacle today meant the already rampant rumors would explode even further.
And what was the best way to silence all those rumors and the chaos?
Of course—legitimize it.
One wedding bed, and all gossip would be erased.
She had won! Even the heavens were helping her!
Just then, Qi Wang stepped hurriedly out of his residence—only for Jinbao to announce, “Xia Gongong from the palace is here.”
Xia Gongong—one of Emperor Yongchang’s closest and most powerful red-clad eunuchs. Qi Wang dared not delay and rushed forward with a bow. “What brings you here, Xia Gongong?”
“Please, Your Highness, no need to humble this servant,” Xia Gongong said with a wide smile. “It’s good news—great news. His Majesty has decreed a marriage for you. Please receive the edict.”
BOOM!
It was as if thunder rolled across the sky.
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