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Chapter 317: 43: The Empress of Xia Country, My Wife! _2

However, all he wanted was to protect those around him. Was that so wrong?

With that thought, Zhao Huai returned to his room in the manor and imbued his magic in his fingertip. He took out a jade slip from the black ring and prepared to send a letter.

Xia Country’s Imperial Palace, Yangxin Palace.

With pearl curtains and glazed screens shielding the room, a kylin copper furnace was placed in the center, emitting curling wisps of smoke.

Yu Qinghan, dressed in a dark blue long skirt, sat at a white jade desk and received a jade slip with a message. Such a message was generally used among cultivators only due to its hefty price worth a hundred spiritual stones and its disposable nature.

Her delicate jade hand crushed the jade slip, and the spiritual power consciousness within surged into her mind. Upon reading the message, her crystal-clear eyebrows showed a mix of complexity and hesitation.

“Your Majesty, you seem troubled.”

The beautiful maid-servant who had been by her side for ten years couldn’t help but carefully ask when she noticed her expression.

Yu Qinghan gripped the wolf hair brush on the table and stared blankly at the white paper while propping up her head. She sighed, saying, “My husband wants me to help, but the situation in Xia Country now is not optimistic. I’m wondering what to do.”

The atmosphere in the room became slightly heavy. She then turned her head to the maid-servant and asked:

“Lu Zhu, what do you think about the relationship between Yan Country and Xia Country now?”

Lu Zhu contemplated for a moment before answering, “I think it’s bad, Your Majesty. The Imperial Court and the remnants of Yan Country consider each other as mortal enemies, and this conflict is not easily resolved.”

Yu Qinghan fell silent for a while, considering various methods in her mind, but eventually discarded all of them.

She straightened up, her chest slightly raised, and looked outside of the hall, saying, “In the struggle to dominate the Great Epoch, the common people are the ones who suffer the most, not just those within the Xia’s territory.”

Lu Zhu didn’t quite understand but held her hands respectfully, saying, “This servant knows so little. What I do know is that if war can be avoided, we should. In the end, it’s still up to Your Majesty, and those ministers will have to listen as well.”

“If Your Majesty has any difficulties, perhaps it’s better to clarify them in the letter to avoid misunderstandings.”

Those who are involved in a situation often find it hard to see things objectively, while outsiders see more clearly.

Undoubtedly, these words reminded Yu Qinghan of how to write the contents of the reply.

“In that case, I understand.”

Yu Qinghan pondered for a moment, then took out a jade slip from the pendant hanging around her snow-white neck. She slowly wrote about the current situation of Xia Country, including the movements of Changning King and the Devil Sect, as well as the problems with salt prices in the capital city, all recorded in the jade slip.

She then imbued her magic power, and the next second, the jade slip disappeared from her hand.

At that moment, a sudden commotion erupted outside the Yangxin Palace.

“This is Her Majesty’s sleeping quarters! You cannot enter!”

“Why can’t I enter? What face does she have to sit in this position?”

The noisy voices drew Yu Qinghan’s attention, and she asked with a frown:

“Who’s making a fuss outside?”

Lu Zhu immediately went out to check the situation and returned with an update:

“Your Majesty, it is an Imperial Censor.”

“Imperial Censor?”

Yu Qinghan murmured, standing up from the jade couch. She strode toward the door with her silk scarf trailing behind her, her voice coldly asking:

“Who dares to cause such a ruckus in the Yangxin Palace? This is unacceptable!”

Outside the door, a middle-aged official wearing a green robe was being held back by the Imperial Guards. Although his rank was not high, his authority was considerable, as he was an Imperial Censor specializing in impeachment.

“Your Majesty, I heard that in the First Year of Longxing Period, you have been recuperating in the palace and gave birth to a son and a daughter. May I ask, Your Majesty, if this is true?”

The middle-aged Imperial Censor symbolically bowed to Yu Qinghan and coldly questioned her.

A deep chill flashed in Yu Qinghan’s eyes, and she coldly asked, “Where did you get this information?”

“Since Your Majesty has not denied it, it seems to be true.”

The middle-aged Imperial Censor responded indifferently.

He then waved his sleeves, his face quite unpleasant, saying:

“Now that Your Majesty’s private affairs are known to everyone in the court, shouldn’t you give the ministers an explanation? This matter concerns the dignity and face of the royal family.”

For a moment, the guards’ faces were filled with shock.

The Empress was pregnant and even had two children.

Their hearts could hardly accept it.

In an instant, their eyes all turned to Yu Qinghan.

Normally, they would not have dared to do so.

Yu Qinghan’s jade hand clenched tightly, unsure where the leak had come from, but she knew that this was undoubtedly a huge blow to her authority.

“Do I need to explain myself to you for what I’ve done?”

She could only respond with a cold snort.

Someone must have maliciously spread the news of her pregnancy and childbirth within the palace.

Their intentions were too sinister and vicious.

Immediately, she thought of her uncle, Changning King.

Not only did he want to crush her on civilian matters, but he also planned to completely discredit her in terms of reputation and prestige.

To shatter her perfect image in the eyes of the common people.

“Your Majesty! I must see Your Majesty!”

“I request an audience!”

“We hope Your Majesty will give us an explanation!”

Soon, more requests to meet with the Empress came from the other ministers outside the hall. It was clear that more people were becoming aware of the matter and wanted to see the Empress.

Yu Qinghan deeply felt the seriousness of the situation and ordered the guards:

“What are you waiting for? Drive them all out of the palace!”

“Yes.”