Warm medicine emits fragrance

Yan Qi looked at Fan Liuer and nodded after a moment.

Fan Liuer first told Yan Qi about her background, her cold illness, and how she was bullied by her brother and sister-in-law after her parents died, almost dying in the cold winter in the north.

Upon hearing this, Yan Qi's eyes flashed with anger.

He himself did not realize that, setting aside his fear of Li Chenbi, he had long regarded Li Chenbi and Fan Liuer as his juniors.

Fan Liuer then recounted how, in order to leave home, she had agreed to marry a man her sister-in-law had chosen for her, a man she had never met before and who lived thousands of miles away. She also recounted how she encountered difficulties on her way to the wedding, her ex-husband disappeared, and she entered the Li family to work in order to make a living.

Yan Qi's eyes filled with pity again; he hadn't expected Fan Liuer's background to be so tragic.

At this point, Fan Liuer looked at Yan Qi, "Weren't you always curious about why Qi Weiming and Li Chenbi didn't get along? It's because my ex-husband who drowned and went missing was Qi Weiming."

Yan Qi opened his eyes slightly, and after a moment he remembered that he had indeed rescued Qi Weiming from the water.

In this way, everything makes sense. Qi Weiming has such a good personality; he can talk and laugh with everyone, but he just doesn't get along with Li Chenbi.

"I wasn't unfaithful to him. I genuinely thought he was dead at the time," Fan Liuer quickly explained. "When I met him again, Li Chenbi and I had already developed feelings for each other. It wouldn't be fair to him if I stayed with him."

Yan Qi nodded. The relationship between the three was indeed complicated, and Fan Liuer's choice was actually the best.

Fan Liuer then went on to talk about the huge difference in their backgrounds, the inequality between them, her initial distrust of Li Chenbi, and Li Chenbi's initial disdain for her as an object.

"Your Majesty, I grew up in the city and have seen too much of how difficult it is for women whose family backgrounds are not compatible and who do not have a family to support them to live in their husbands' families. Because I have seen too much, I have always felt that Li Chenbi and I will not have a good ending. When his feelings for me fade or he falls in love with another woman, my life will be very difficult."

"That's why I chose to leave him. I thought that as long as I didn't get involved, I wouldn't get hurt."

"You know what happened later. He went to so much to find me. How could I not be moved by what he did?"

"But the gap between us hasn't disappeared because of this, and I still feel uneasy and worried."

"When I first obtained this imperial seal and realized its importance, I thought I would use it to ask you for a reward and a noble status. That way, I could close the gap between myself and Li Chenbi, and I wouldn't have to worry about what would happen if he stopped liking me in the future."

"The reason I have refused your reward time and time again is because I want a greater reward, and therefore dare not accept your reward."

As Fan Liuer spoke, she looked at Yan Qi, her eyes slightly reddening. "Your Majesty, I have always felt inferior to Li Chenbi when we are together. Whenever anyone asks me how we met, I have never told the truth. I am afraid that others will look down on me and think that I am not good enough for him."

After saying this, Fan Liuer lowered her head and secretly wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Yan Qi looked at Fan Liuer, and her appearance perfectly portrayed a fragile woman who had gone through many hardships, which moved Yan Qi deeply.

He was told all the things that Fan Liuer refused to tell others, which made him feel trusted.

This sense of being trusted reduced his defensiveness and apprehension.

"If that's the case, why didn't you ask for a reward? If it weren't for this incident, the two of you would have left Kyoto."

Fan Liuer did not look up again, but lowered her head and said softly, "The idea of ​​asking you for a reward with the imperial seal was before I came to the military camp. After coming to the military camp and seeing the intrigue and treachery in the army, I no longer wanted it."

"I'm just an ordinary citizen. That kind of life isn't for me. Li Chenbi and I both just want to go back to Xingzhou, do some business, and live our own little lives. We don't want to get involved in any struggles."

"As for that jade seal," Fan Liuer looked up at Yan Qi again, "I originally planned to give it to you before I left."

After saying this, Fan Liuer bowed down and kowtowed to the ground. "Your Majesty, I have told you everything. Li Chenbi and I only wanted to return to Xingzhou from beginning to end. We had no other intentions. We were wrong to deceive you this time. I beg you to spare him in consideration of the fact that Li Chenbi risked his life for you."

Yan Qi looked at Fan Liuer lying on the ground. His anger at Fan Liuer for colluding with Li Chenbi to deceive him had subsided, and he felt more pity and tenderness for the young woman in front of him.

He had no daughter, and Fan Liuer caught his eye. He couldn't help but put himself in the shoes of a father. If his daughter had lived such a miserable life, he would probably have to get up from the ground to support her even after he died.

But the fact that his anger towards Fan Liuer had subsided did not mean that his anger towards Li Chenbi had subsided.

Looking at Fan Liuer, he pondered for a moment and then came up with an idea.

An idea that could keep Li Chenbi in Kyoto, eliminate his threat, and also annoy him.

"Your background is indeed tragic, which makes me reluctant to punish you any further. Get up."

Fan Liuer looked up cautiously at Yan Qi, "So...do you agree to release Li Chenbi?"

Yan Qi smiled at her, "You've already traded the imperial seal for it, if I were to still argue with him, it would make me seem petty."

However, Yan Qi's next words made her relaxed heart tighten again.

"After hearing what you said, I feel that Li Chenbi is really not good enough for you. With his temper, being with him would be a disservice to you."

"You are gentle, brave, and resourceful. It's a real pity that you married Li Chenbi. You deserve someone better."

Fan Liuer blinked, not quite understanding what Yan Qi wanted to say.

Yan Qi continued, "You were the one who discovered the Imperial Seal. You have performed a great service. I have decided to recognize you as my goddaughter and bestow upon you the title of princess at the investiture ceremony, giving you an incomparably noble status."

"Back then, you were good enough for any man in the world, let alone Li Chenbi. Anyway, you two are not married yet, so I will find you another good husband, someone with a gentle temperament and good temper."

"As for Li Chenbi, let him go back to Xingzhou on his own."

Fan Liuer: "Huh???"

She was dumbfounded. This was an ending she never expected. How did things turn out like this?

"Your Majesty, there is no need for that. Just release Li Chenbi. I dare not ask for anything else."

Yan Qi looked at her and smiled, a gentle smile, "This is not asking for too much, this is what you deserve."

"Alright, it's decided then. You may leave."