"Since Deputy General Wu agrees, I have nothing more to say," Xue Wenjie said coldly.
Wu Dakang smiled smugly, rubbing his hands. "You really agree?"
The young girl nodded. "Why wouldn't I agree? However, everyone in your household must be sent away."
Wu Dakang was taken aback. "Why?" Why did everyone in his household have to be sent away?
The young girl's lips parted slightly, her voice light, yet heavy. "Because I do not permit it."
Wu Dakang scratched his head. "This... this is probably not possible."
"Not possible? Then you are deceiving the emperor," the young girl uttered these two words lightly.
Wu Dakang trembled all over. Deceiving the emperor? What was she talking about?
Before he could react, there seemed to be someone behind him. His instinct was to turn and strike, but the person behind him was faster, kicking him in the calf.
With a thud, he knelt on the ground.
He instinctively looked up and saw that in front of him, the young girl's beautiful face held eyes that were exceptionally cold, as if they could freeze into ice.
An endless majesty emanated from her entire being.
She was like a king descending upon the city.
Wu Dakang's body stiffened. Recalling the words "deceiving the emperor" that the young girl had just spoken, he was reckless and crude, but he wasn't stupid. He knew that this young girl in front of him was definitely no ordinary person.
But who was this young girl of noble status?
A thought suddenly flashed in his mind, and he froze completely.
The young girl's lips parted slightly, and she slowly said, "It seems Deputy General Wu has guessed who I am?"
Wu Dakang closed his eyes and kowtowed. "Your subordinate Wu Dakang pays respects to His Majesty."
He had actually molested the Empress. He truly wished his life were longer.
Everyone was shocked. This was the Empress? This still somewhat youthful girl?
Xue Yunlan was the first to curtsy, a slight smile on her lips. "Imperial Sister."
It was indeed satisfying.
Yunlan County Princess, with her noble status, bowed to the young girl. Everyone knew that this aloof young girl was the rumored young Empress.
"Your subject, this subject's daughter, greets His Majesty!"
"You may all rise. Such formalities are unnecessary when we are outside," the young girl said lightly, showing no airs.
Everyone's mind held only one thought: the Empress was truly amiable.
"Your subject greets His Majesty!" Li Shengming bowed.
"Lord Li, there is no need for such ceremony."
The young girl walked to Xue Wenjie and asked, "Imperial Uncle, how should this matter be handled?"
Xue Wenjie narrowed his eyes, looking at the young girl, and said coldly, "Your Majesty should make the decision!"
Wu Dakang inexplicably felt a chill down his spine. Had the Regent abandoned him?
"Since Imperial Uncle says so, then I shall respectfully accept," the young girl's lips curved into a faint smile, a bright and pure smile.
"Imperial Sister, you just saw Deputy General Wu embrace Li Fanghua, didn't you?" Xue Yunlan did not continue, but everyone understood her meaning.
The young girl looked up at the woman who, despite being abandoned by her father, still stood tall and straight.
"Miss Li, what are your thoughts?"
Li Fanghui had never imagined that the Empress would actually come here.
She looked up at the young girl, who was clearly two or three years younger than her, yet possessed a calmer and more composed demeanor.
This was the Empress, the Empress her younger brother spoke of.
She slowly knelt on the ground. Just as she was about to speak, the young girl suddenly interrupted her. "I can make decisions for you, no matter what."
Li Fanghui trembled all over. She looked up, tears welling in her eyes, and said word by word, "Your Majesty, this subject's daughter does not wish to be a concubine, nor a concubine to Deputy General Wu."
"Fanghui," Li Shengming said coldly.
"Lord Li, when His Majesty is speaking, you have no right to interrupt." A figure appeared behind Li Shengming, their voice as cold as water.
Li Shengming trembled all over and instinctively looked behind him. That person was looking at him coldly.
Li Shengming would never forget this person, because not long ago, this person had come to his residence and taken away his eldest son.
Feng Yin.
Feng Yin, loyal to the imperial power.
"Continue speaking," the young girl ignored Li Shengming.
Li Fanghui tightly clenched her ten fingers, her nails digging into her palms. It hurt, it hurt a lot, but she endured it. "This subject's daughter hopes that her future marriage will be decided by herself."
Upon hearing this, everyone was astonished. How shocking and unconventional!
"Nonsense..." Li Sheng could only utter these two words, the rest were forcefully held back.
Who told him that such a formidable figure stood behind him?
"Li Fanghui, you little slut, you actually framed my Hua'er?" a voice descended, and a figure rushed forward, fiercely slapping Li Fanghui, who was kneeling on the ground.
Li Fanghui's face was slapped to the side, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Concubine Qiao felt it was still not enough. She grabbed Li Fanghui's hair and spat, "You unfilial slut with a mother and no upbringing, framing my Hua'er, I'll beat you to death."
Saying this, she was about to strike again.
Suddenly, Concubine Qiao's back was fiercely kicked. She rolled to the side. She looked up and angrily shouted, "Who dares to kick me? I am the wife of the Censorate Minister."
"It is I."
Concubine Qiao saw a young girl looking down at her, her gaze so cold it could freeze her into ice.
Very cold, chilling to the bone.
Concubine Qiao couldn't help but shiver. She turned to look at Li Shengming, seeing him as a savior, and pitifully said, "My lord, I am in such a state, and you still won't stand up for me?"
"Concubine Qiao, is it?" the young girl asked coldly, walking up to Concubine Qiao.
Concubine Qiao sneered, "Do you know my lord is the Censorate Minister, a distinguished third-rank official? If you bully me, I will have my lord deal with you."
"Heh, Lord Li, what do you think?"
Li Shengming closed his eyes and knelt, saying, "Your Majesty, this subject has failed to discipline his concubine. I implore Your Majesty for forgiveness!"
"Very well, since Lord Li has said so, drag her away and give her thirty strokes!" the young girl said lightly.
Thirty strokes? Li Shengming glanced at Concubine Qiao's frail physique. He suspected that these thirty strokes would cost Concubine Qiao half her life.
Concubine Qiao now understood that the young girl before her was the Empress, who held the power of her life and death.
She quickly begged for mercy. "Your Majesty, spare me. This concubine meant no harm."
"Meant no harm? If I were not here today, what would happen to Miss Li? I imagine she would be at your mercy." The young girl's gaze fell upon someone not far away, and she smiled, radiantly.
"It seems that not having enough status is the root of the problem. Today, I will set a precedent. Feng Wu..."
"Your subordinate is here," Feng Wu landed on the ground.
"Bring ink, brush, paper, and inkstone!" the young girl turned and walked behind her.
There was a stone table behind them.
Soon, Feng Wu brought the ink, brush, paper, and inkstone. On the paper, as white as jade, four large characters appeared: "Hui Min County Princess."
At the end, the young girl pressed her imperial seal.
"Li Fanghui, receive this imperial decree!" the young girl walked up to Li Fanghui.
Li Fanghui kowtowed. "This subject's daughter receives the decree!"
"Today, I confer upon you the title of Hui Min County Princess. From this day forth, you are free to marry as you wish, and no one shall dare to interfere with you."