So what if I have a few billion concubines while I'm cultivating immortality?

After Qin Xiao finished speaking, he strode forward and continued walking towards the inner hall.

Soon, they disappeared behind the beaded curtain.

Yu Qingyi stood still, motionless.

Faint sounds of clothing rubbing together could be heard coming from the inner chamber.

Then came the slight creaking sound of the bed as Qin Xiao lay down.

After a long while, Qin Xiao's voice came from the inner hall, tinged with a hint of languor: "What are you still standing there for?"

Yu Qingyi's body stiffened.

I don't know where to go or what to do.

Return to the inner palace?

Sharing a room with that man, even sharing a bed?

She can't.

But if we don't go back, where can we go?

Sleeping on the soft couch outside?

What's the difference between that and admitting defeat?

Just as she was struggling with her inner turmoil, Qin Xiao's voice rang out again: "The soft couch outside is nice, made of sandalwood. It should be more comfortable to sleep on than the floor."

Yu Qingyi's fingernails dug into her flesh.

humiliation.

This is an undisguised humiliation.

She bit her lower lip tightly, remained silent, turned around and walked to the soft couch, where she lay down fully clothed.

The couch was large and soft.

But lying on it is even more uncomfortable than lying on pins and needles.

She turned her back to the inner sanctum and curled herself up.

Suddenly, the sound of steady, long breathing came from the inner hall.

Qin Xiao actually fell asleep so peacefully?

But she, the Empress of Yu, could only be like an abandoned dog driven out of its home.

Humiliation, anger, resentment, helplessness...

A surge of emotions welled up inside her, threatening to engulf her.

But she couldn't cry, much less break down.

She is Yu Qingyi, the Empress of Yu Kingdom, and the ruler of Yu Kingdom.

The sky must not collapse.

She stared out the window with her eyes open, motionless.

From midday to sunset, then to the rising moon, until the sky begins to lighten again.

……

As dawn broke, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the capital city.

Yu Qingyi didn't sleep all night, her eyes were bloodshot, but she was unusually clear-headed.

She sat up from the soft couch and straightened her wrinkled robes.

Inside the inner hall, Qin Xiao's breathing remained steady.

She didn't look or make a sound; she simply walked quietly to the dressing table, faced the bronze mirror, and began to comb her disheveled long hair.

Just then, a slight creak came from the bed in the inner sanctuary.

Qin Xiao woke up.

Yu Qingyi tightened her grip on the comb.

But the action did not stop.

Soon, Qin Xiao, dressed in an undergarment, emerged from behind the beaded curtain.

He walked up behind Yu Qingyi, looked at her pale and haggard face in the bronze mirror, and asked, "What's wrong? Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Yu Qingyi did not answer, but simply quickened her combing motions.

Qin Xiao didn't mind and said to himself, "From today onwards, I will temporarily reside in your Fengming Palace. Also, convey my decree that my wedding ceremony with the Empress of Yu will be held in this capital city three days from now. It should be a grand affair, announced to the world."

Yu Qingyi stopped combing her hair, looked at Qin Xiao behind her in the bronze mirror, and said in a hoarse voice, "Are you giving me orders?"

"Otherwise what?"

Qin Xiao retorted, "Do I need to discuss this with you?"

Yu Qingyi stopped talking, put down the comb, stood up, and prepared to change her clothes for court.

An hour later, in the Golden Palace of the Yu Kingdom.

The atmosphere at the morning court session was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

A shocking piece of news had already spread throughout the palace through certain special channels before the court session.

And it quickly spread to the ministers in the court.

Did Emperor Qin Xiao of the Dayong Dynasty visit Fengming Palace last night?

Furthermore, the Emperor of Dayong and Her Majesty the Empress are deeply in love and will hold their grand wedding in Shangjing in three days!

The news caused an uproar among the court officials.

At this moment, civil and military officials stood on both sides, their faces solemn, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.

"Is this true? Why would the Emperor of Dayong suddenly appear in the capital?"

"His Majesty wishes to marry him? This is utterly unheard of! How could my Yu Kingdom possibly form a marriage alliance with Dayong?"

"Yes, how is this any different from letting a wolf into the house? The Great Yong has wolfish ambitions; we must be wary!"

"But... if this is truly His Majesty's own will, what should we, as his subjects, do?"

Just as everyone was discussing this, a high-pitched voice of an eunuch came from outside the hall.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

All sounds ceased abruptly.

The officials immediately straightened their clothes and stood at attention, bowing respectfully.

Yu Qingyi, dressed in a black dragon-patterned court robe and wearing an imperial crown, walked up the steps with a blank expression and sat down on the dragon throne.

"My ministers, if you have something to say, speak now; otherwise, the court may adjourn."

She spoke, her voice cold and devoid of any emotion.

The hall was deathly silent.

After a moment, an elderly minister with white hair and beard walked out of the queue, trembling, and knelt down.

"His Majesty!"

This man is Lin Wenzheng, the Grand Tutor of the Yu Kingdom. "Your Majesty, I have a matter to report!"

"Your Majesty, rumors have it that the Emperor of Dayong is personally visiting our court, and that he will be marrying Your Majesty in three days. Is this true?"

As soon as Grand Tutor Lin said this, everyone's attention turned to Yu Qingyi.

Yu Qingyi looked at the kneeling old minister below and slowly said, "This is indeed the case."

boom!

These words caused an uproar throughout the entire Golden Palace.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

"Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable! This would be tantamount to handing over the foundation of our Yu Kingdom to another!"

"Your Majesty, I second that suggestion! I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree!"

In an instant, the crowd was filled with indignation, and a large number of people knelt down.

Yu Qingyi remained expressionless. After the commotion in the hall subsided slightly, she spoke again, "I know what you ministers are worried about."

"However, this is not a move that will lead to the downfall of a nation, but rather a strategy to strengthen it."

"Emperor Qin Xiao of Dayong is not as incompetent and foolish as rumored. He is a man of great talent and strategy, and his strength is unfathomable. If we are enemies with him, our Yu Kingdom has little chance of winning. If we form a marriage alliance with him, we can gain a strong ally, avoid the calamity of war, and ensure a hundred years of peace for our Yu Kingdom."

"My mind is made up. There is no need to discuss this matter further."

The court officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

Although he still harbored a great deal of reluctance and doubt, he dared not openly refute it any longer.

They could all see that Her Majesty the Empress was different today than before.

Beneath that resolute expression, there seemed to be a heavy burden.

The morning court session ended in such an eerie and oppressive atmosphere.

Yu Qingyi dragged her weary body back to Fengming Palace.

……

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

For the next three days, the streets and alleys of the capital were decorated with lanterns and colorful ribbons, creating a festive and peaceful atmosphere.

The official announcement from the State of Yu described the marriage as a match made in heaven, a grand event that would unite the two countries in eternal friendship and bring lasting peace to the people.

However, beneath this grand facade, turbulent undercurrents are brewing.

In the imperial court, the officials remained silent, and no one dared to openly oppose them anymore.

However, they all had solemn expressions and were filled with worry.

Inside Fengming Palace, a low-pressure atmosphere prevailed.

The palace servants walked on tiptoe, afraid of disturbing the empress who never showed her emotions.

And that Emperor Dayong, who usurped the throne yet no one dared to offend.

Qin Xiao has been behaving himself for the past three days.

He did not do anything out of line to Yu Qingyi.

He simply took it for granted that he would live in the inner palace of Fengming Palace and use the Empress's dragon bed as his own.

Yu Qingyi, on the other hand, slept fully clothed on the soft couch in the outer room for three consecutive nights.

The two were in the same room, yet their personalities were clearly distinct.

On the day of the wedding, before dawn, Fengming Palace was already brightly lit.

Yu Qingyi was awakened from the soft couch by the palace maids. She remained expressionless as they bathed, dressed, and groomed her.

She wore an elaborate and gorgeous phoenix coronet and wedding gown.

A stunningly beautiful yet cold face was reflected in the bronze mirror.

Her makeup was exquisite, and her phoenix eyes were dignified, but there was not a trace of the joy of a new bride.

Only a deathly stillness, like a deep pool.

"Your Majesty the Empress..."

A weak voice sounded from behind.

Through the bronze mirror, Yu Qingyi saw Yu Fengling, whose face was haggard and whose eyes were red and swollen.

Yu Fengling has lost a lot of weight, and her former radiant beauty is nowhere to be found.

All that remained was a face full of guilt and self-blame.

"What are you doing here?"

Yu Qingyi's voice was very calm, revealing no emotion.

Yu Fengling knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face: "It is I who have harmed His Majesty, it is I who have harmed the Yu Kingdom..."