Chapter 270: Hand Over My Bride Immediately

Kneeling there, Wang Changwen’s mind was clearer than ever.

‘There’s no doubt the Empress values Wang Wanqing. Could she have found out Wanqing was tricked into coming back for a wedding and came specifically to save her?’

Aside from that possibility, Wang Changwen could think of no other explanation. The Empress had only just awoken—why else would she suddenly appear in Songzhou?

‘She must be here to seek justice for Wang Wanqing.’

Ordinarily, a marriage was decided by one’s parents and arranged by a matchmaker. Without a prior imperial edict, even an Emperor could not interfere or assign blame without cause.

Unfortunately, if the marriage had been consummated, the matter would have been settled. But it hadn’t, and Wanqing had likely been rescued by Your Majesty.

If this wasn’t handled properly, both the Wang family and the Governor Mansion’s Kong Family would be finished.

“Your Majesty…”

The old fox prepared to make his case.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Wanqing is over eighteen this year, nineteen by traditional counting. At her age, it is the proper time for marriage. Wanqing herself was not in a hurry, but what parents do not think of their child’s future? Her parents carefully selected and thoroughly vetted many candidates before finally settling on this match with the Kong Family.”

“The young master of the Kong Family is promising, considerate, and attentive—an excellent choice for a husband.”

“It is only that Wanqing is young and cannot yet appreciate her parents’ good intentions. She went so far as to run away from her own wedding, causing Your Majesty to worry. It was truly improper of her.”

Spoken like a true veteran official of several decades; his words were nothing if not grand and righteous.

“So you’re saying that I was being nosy.”

Wang Changwen replied, “This humble subject would not dare. It is the Wang family’s great fortune that Your Majesty thinks so highly of Wanqing.”

Xiao Li slowly set down her wine cup. “Wang Changwen, a new sovereign brings new courtiers. I am not like the emperors of the past, so the political landscape will naturally be different.”

“I took a liking to Wang Yizhu and Wang Wanqing, so I was willing to support them. I even spared your Wang family because of them. But it’s obvious that you still don’t understand. The price for your survival was me buying their entire lives.”

“They are two phoenixes meant to soar with wings outstretched, yet you insist on dragging them down into the mortal world.”

Xiao Li looked down at him with contempt. “I have many options when I need female officials. But if these two girls from the Wang family become useless to me, how many of your nine generations do you think will be left alive?”

Her words were a sudden, chilling enlightenment. The moment Wang Changwen understood the implications, a cold sweat drenched his entire body.

Once the old fox understood, he slowly kowtowed. “Your Majesty, from this moment on, the Wang family will act as if we have no such daughter as Wanqing. Her life is entirely for Your Majesty to decide. This humble subject will strictly restrain my family and never again interfere in her affairs.”

At this point, disowning her was the only way to save both sides.

The Wang family could not withstand any more turmoil. As for trying to leverage Her Majesty’s favor, Imperial Tutor Feng was a cautionary tale.

Wang Changwen staggered out of the inn, his figure stooped. In an instant, he seemed to have aged a great deal.

Xiao Li slowly poured herself some wine. “What else are you hiding and listening to?”

A shadow in the corner shifted a few times before slowly emerging. It walked before Xiao Li and knelt with a THUD.

“Your Majesty, I heard everything. My life belongs to you.”

She straightened her posture, her gaze burning as she looked at Xiao Li. Her tone was as solemn as a sacred oath. “I, Wang Wanqing, wish to follow Your Majesty for my entire life, to purge the dissenters and revitalize the court. I will use all I have learned and devote all my time. I will face death ten thousand times without regret to repay your grace!”

Xiao Li toyed with her wine cup, looking at the resolute Wang Wanqing. Was she moved? A little.

There were plenty of people now willing to die for her, their Emperor.

When it came down to it, a vow was just words. Whether it could truly be fulfilled was something only time could prove.

Still, Wang Wanqing’s attitude was gratifying.

“I’ll remember those words. Just don’t come crying to me after you join the court.”

If Wang Wanqing really became an official, Xiao Li would absolutely treat her the same as everyone else. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be worked to tears later on.

Wang Wanqing immediately promised, “Rest assured, Your Majesty. I absolutely will not cry.”

‘I’m not a crybaby. It’s just that on the rare occasions I do cry, Your Majesty happens to be there to see it.’

Seeing her stubborn, defiant, yet adorably foolish expression, Xiao Li couldn’t help but let the corner of her lip twitch.

‘This silly husky.’

She raised her hand, curled a finger, and flicked her sharply on the forehead.

“Go back to sleep.”

—–

Wang Changwen went to the Governor Mansion that very night to annul the marriage contract and to tell the Kong Family to stop looking for Wang Wanqing.

The old fox wasn’t foolish enough to say the Empress herself had arrived. Instead, he claimed that Wang Wanqing had found one of the Empress’s Hidden Guards and was being escorted back to the capital.

No matter how angry the Kong Family was, this involved the Empress, so they could only let the matter drop.

When he returned to the Wang family estate, he said nothing. Some things couldn’t be explained with reason; they could only be suppressed by authority.

Thanks to Wang Changwen’s intervention, the Governor Mansion’s soldiers, who had been searching all night, were withdrawn. The next morning, Xiao Li’s entourage left with ease.

Xiao Li wanted to send Wang Wanqing away. Wanqing knew no martial arts at all, even less than Hong Yue.

But Wang Wanqing adamantly insisted on staying with Xiao Li, and she even had a well-reasoned argument.

“Your Majesty, it is said that traveling ten thousand miles is better than reading ten thousand scrolls. Someone who wishes to be an official should go out and broaden their horizons. Besides, Your Majesty is traveling with military officers; there will surely be a time when you need me.”

“You’re worried about my safety, Your Majesty, but rest assured. If a fight breaks out, I’ll be the first to hide far away. I absolutely will not hold anyone back.”

Xiao Li had to admit, that was some pretty good awareness.

Seeing as her argument made some sense, Xiao Li let her stay. At the same time, she assigned Ziyue to be her master. Hiding required skill, after all. If nothing else, learning some Qinggong was never a bad idea.

“Your Majesty, someone is pursuing us.”

Ziyue landed lightly on the carriage shaft. “They’ve been following us ever since Songzhou, and now they’re getting closer. Something doesn’t feel right.”

Wang Wanqing had a gut feeling that she was the cause of this trouble for Her Majesty.

“Your Majesty, the Kong Family has a good relationship with the Wang family, but they also have marriage ties to a branch of the Lu family and have always maintained contact.”

“The patriarch of the Kong Family gave up the brush for the sword to enter the political world. Although the Kong Family is now a family of civil servants, their traditions are still martial in nature.”

Wang Wanqing spilled everything she knew to Xiao Li like beans from a jar, afraid that Her Majesty might be missing some crucial information.

Xiao Li had, of course, already investigated the Kong Family, and what Wanqing said matched her findings. But more than the Kong Family itself, Xiao Li was thinking about how Wang Wanqing had chosen to leap from the bridal sedan and flee, even knowing she was facing a family with martial traditions.

The girl might be delicate, but she certainly had some nerve.

Seeing her obvious anxiety, Xiao Li raised a hand and gently tapped her on the forehead. “I know.”

As the road ahead widened, the group behind them suddenly spurred their horses, which whistled past them before abruptly wheeling around to block the path.

“WHOA!”

A dozen or so men blocked the front of their entourage, while several dozen more remained behind, completely trapping them.

A young man from the center of their group rode forward, his gaze like a torch and his presence imposing. “I am Kong Yunfei, son of the Governor of Songzhou! Hand over my bride at once!”