Chapter 514 - Really, What a Troublesome Woman

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The little empress’s mood had improved, so she was not bothered by the fact that Qi Qingyao did not bid her farewell as she left.

Jiang Yeqian knew his previous behavior would have made her feel slighted, hence he planned to catch up with her and properly explain himself whilst the two of them were in the carriage. He was unexpectedly stopped by the little empress.

“Head Grand Secretariat, please stay behind.”

Jiang Yeqian, “...”

Qi Qingyao was still trembling after Li Ruoxuan helped her out of the imperial study. After all, it would be impossible for anyone to remain calm after almost losing their life!

Li Ruoxuan stopped her before she left the imperial garden. He grabbed her shoulder and caressed her face, which appeared particularly pale under the sun. “Are you okay?”

The red marks left on her neck by the strangulation were also particularly prominent in the sun. It made Li Ruoxuan frown in silence.

Through her fear, Qi Qingyao gritted her teeth and shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Li Ruoxuan noted her still-shaken demeanor. “You’re obviously not.”

“I’m really alright,” Qi Qingyao insisted. She had almost been killed by the ingrate she had saved. She just needed some time to calm herself down.

Li Ruoxuan loosened his grip on her shoulder. He pointed to the road ahead and said, “Then let’s see you take two steps by yourself.”

Unexpectedly, Qi Qingyao’s body fell forward the moment he let go. She was unable to stand up properly on her own. Li Ruoxuan just barely reached his hand out in the nick of time to catch the little woman, who had almost face-planted on the ground.

Qi Qingyao gritted her teeth, but her body would not listen to her. She touched the marks on her neck with resentment and immediately cursed.

“My legs, they’re like jelly...”

Li Ruoxuan was silent for a moment, then he scolded in a hushed tone, “What a troublesome woman!”

After that, he immediately picked her up in a bridal carry.

Qi Qingyao initially resisted until Li Ruoxuan spat, “Walk out of the palace by yourself if you can, then!”

Qi Qingyao, who was not usually a coward, cowered at that second.

She had suffered a serious shock today and really was unable to walk out of this deep and cold hell of a palace.

Thus, she stopped resisting and let Li Ruoxuan carry her… and so they left.

As Li Ruoxuan walked past people, half of the palace, including maids, eunuchs, and bodyguards saw him…

Everyone was shocked.

The State Preceptor was actually ‘personally’ carrying a little lady out, whoo!

It was truly a shocking scene!

Li Ruoxuan eventually reached the stables of the imperial palace.

Zhu Shen was also surprised to see his Excellency carrying the little lady. He only then noticed the strangulation marks on Qi Qingyao’s neck as Li Ruoxuan silently carried her into the carriage. Zhu Shen’s heart fell.

Who had dared to try to assassinate Lady Qi in the palace?!

Did they have a death wish?

Zhu Shen did not know what had happened, but he did not dare ask.

Upon leaving the palace, Zhu Shen and several guards accompanied the carriage as usual.

The coachman was driving the carriage, in which only two people were sitting inside quietly.

Qi Qingyao’s mind was filled with only one thought, which was of the fable of ‘The Farmer and the Snake’!!

Li Ruoxuan was thinking about how although Jiang Yeqian’s decision today was the right one, he would be completely out of Qi Qingyao’s hair from now on. That was a good thing!

There was also another matter at hand. Li Ruoxuan had always known that the little empress fancied the Head Grand Secretariat, but he did not expect her power to be so overwhelming once this ‘love’ was finally let out! It was enough for her to go crazy like this?

Could it be that…

That was the reason why the little empress had remained single her entire reign and had never had any men beside her? Should he… slip in some ‘helpful’ medicine and send over some well-put-together men so the little empress could have a taste?

Would that subdue her passion?

Would they be able to suppress her extraordinary love for Jiang Yeqian?

Li Ruoxuan was lost in thought.

…

…

Taking in the situation, Little Lizi also sensibly left the imperial study. He had also locked the door out of consideration. There were only two people left in the imperial study now.

Jiang Yeqian’s blade-like eyes were locked onto the woman seated on the dragon throne.

The little empress stood up and rubbed her hands nervously. “Have you thought about what we told you yesterday?”

Jiang Yeqian firmly replied, “Your Majesty, this humble servant would like to resign and leave the capital.”

“You are indirectly refusing us!!” The little empress’s voice suddenly rose by an octave.

Jiang Yeqian did not spare her any respect. “Precisely.”

The little empress was so angry she questioned him right then and there. “Do you already have a woman you fancy? Is that it?!”

“I don’t.”

Jiang Yeqian wondered somewhat agitatedly if the reason why the little empress had never had a boy toy after all these years was because she turned into somewhat of a creep after obsessively crushing on someone…

The little empress’s eyes had started to redden. “Then, why do you insist on resigning? We want to know the reason.”

Jiang Yeqian’s eyes narrowed, and his expression was restrained. “You also now know that Li Ruoxuan has ascended to grand mastership. I found out when I was still in Qingzhou City. That’s why I resigned.”

The little empress relaxed again. “Do you want to be a grand master?”

Jiang Yeqian said, “Yes.”

The little empress lowered her gaze and pondered for a moment. Immediately after, she said in a cautious tone, “Once you marry me, you will become the prince consort. Stay in the harem, and you can meditate and cultivate properly—we will not allow anyone to disturb you.”

Jiang Yeqian’s thin lips were pressed tightly against each other, and his eyes were dark and cold. “Your Majesty, what else can I say to help you understand?”

All of a sudden, the little empress went ballistic. She got up from her dragon throne and walked down toward Jiang Yeqian. She acted like an ordinary girl going through a petulant meltdown. “So you are thinking about refusing us! You’re using the reasoning of wanting to become a grand master to refuse us!”

Jiang Yeqian, “...”

How could the high and mighty empress, who was usually so calm and collected, have turned into this now…

In the little empress’s eyes, whatever he said was just another excuse for him to refuse her.

He was speechless.

At this, the little empress began trembling and stomping her feet anxiously. Like a woman who was worried about the uncertainties of love, she broke down in a frenzy. “Jiang Yeqian, say something!”

Jiang Yeqian, “...”

The longer he remained silent, the more frustrated the little empress became. “Say something! We are asking you to say something. You are not allowed to remain silent.”

Jiang Yeqian stood there like a cold statue. “What is there to say?”

The little empress was like a child who had lost their favorite toy. She grabbed the collar of his robes and shook him hard.

Perhaps she had maintained her dignity as an empress for far too long now, with no rest—never allowing herself to act even a little bit coquettishly with others. As she did now, she did so quite unnaturally—seeming quite awkward and comical.

“I am the empress of Northern Liang. I can give you everything you want! Hasn’t Li Ruoxuan always rubbed you the wrong way? You can crush him beneath your feet as long as you become the prince consort! You can treat him however you please!”

Jiang Yeqian rubbed his eyebrows and shouted, “Chen Xiyue!”

The little empress’s body instantly stiffened all over as she suddenly heard the man call out her name.

Her mind was only filled with the thought that he—this man—had finally called her by her name.

He had called her by her actual name!

Did this mean that they were starting to get closer?