Phoniex Requiem
Chapter 84: Taking Responsibility

Chapter 84: Taking Responsibility

Li Xiu and the empress were very familiar with that purple-gold gem.

It was part of the tribute from the Chen kingdom in the east sea. There were only four such gems in the Li kingdom, the two largest ones were kept in the palace's treasure vault.

Of the two smaller ones, one was pinned on Li Xiu's belt. The empress had given another to the crown prince as a birthday present, to be pinned as the center of her crown, and the crown was currently on Li Qianxiao's head.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, don't..." When the empress saw her face darken, she immediately tried to plead with him.

“Dad, Dad, I don't.. it wasn't me..” Li Qianxiao stumbled over his words as he tried to deny unspoken accusations, but he couldn't find anything coherent.

"you motherfucker!" Li Xiu shouted, raised his legs and kicked Li Qianxiao's stomach.

Although Li Xiu was somewhat skinny, he was still a seventh rank swordsman.

One punch was enough to knock Li Qianxiao to the ground. When Li Xiu lifted his leg, about to kick her a second time, the empress quickly protected her dear son.

“Your Majesty, even though the gem belongs to Xiao'er, shouldn't you give her a chance to defend herself? Otherwise, you will kick him to death!”

Li Xiu's face was green. His eyes widened, then contracted once more. After thinking for a moment, he finally lowered his legs. “Too late to the banquet, claiming that he fell asleep in the garden outside, and this pearl.?” Li Xiu's tone was filled with anger and disappointment. "It's not clear what happened?"

Li Qianxiao became the center of attention as everyone waited for him to speak.

“Xiao'er,” the empress patted Li Qianxiao and muttered softly, “Tell your father what happened. How did you end up in this greenhouse?”

Although what happened was obvious, the empress did not want to admit that her son was the bastard she promised to skin.

“Mother.. I...” Li Qianxiao stuttered and stammered, wanting to refute his father's accusations but not daring to do so.

Pei Ziao stood to the side and looked at Li Qianxiao coldly. She obviously did not expect that Li Qianxiao was the one who had stabbed her from behind.

She and her father had always spoiled her, giving her whatever she wanted, alcohol, women, a big party, he had even intended to make Pei Ziao to blame for this whole showdown.

"Crown Prince, didn't you say that a real man would confess his deeds?" Pei Ziao interrogated. “As the crown prince of the Li kingdom, you must resolve this matter. Otherwise, how could you call yourself an example for ordinary people ?!"

If word got out, it would be a serious scandal for the royal family.

Given the customs of the Li kingdom and its strong emphasis on morality, rape and sexual abuse carried the death penalty for commoners. If the crown prince were to commit such a crime, he might have to give up his position and status.

The Empress turned to Pei Ziao. “Young Master Pei, that's a strong accusation. Didn't you say that Miss Yi had consumed an aphrodisiac? Doesn't that mean the crown prince didn't actually attack—”

"Right, right, I didn't attack him!" Only then did Li Qianxiao react. “No, I didn't attack him. He's the one who seduced me!”

“Xiao'er, don't worry. Tell us everything slowly. ”

“In the evening, as I was walking in the park, suddenly I heard a couple kissing in the nearby bushes.” Li Qianxiao glanced at his mother's face, found it exhilarating, and continued, “I thought it was the palace guard and the palace maid who had the forbidden encounter, so I stepped forward and dropped the man. Only then did I realize that the couple was actually Pei Ziao and Miss Yi. I was about to shout out to the guards when Miss Yi suddenly pounced on me. In my confusion, I made a big mistake."

Li Qianxiao knelt down in front of his father, a look of repentance on his face. “Dad, I've made a mistake. Considering this is my first offense, please forgive me this once.”

Yi Qianying sat glued to the floor of the greenhouse, her eyes empty. She could not believe that the person who had taken her virginity was actually not her Brother Ziao!

He glanced at Pei Ziao's cold back and began to tremble, as if he had fallen into the abyss of despair.

“Your Highness, Xiao'er is at the peak of her youth, and Miss Yi is willing. Surely this incident could not be entirely blamed on Xiao'er alone?” The empress continued to beg her companion, her gaze fixed on Yi Qianying's wood.

His gaze took on some insulting motives. How was Yi Qianying drugged? Based on his attitude towards Pei Ziao, it seemed like he was deliberately trying to target Pei Ziao. By ensuring that he could be found in a compromised position, the emperor would be forced to betroth him! This kind of scheme was unheard of in the palace. It's a pity that her son was involved in this affair!

The Empress decided on her actions. Turning towards Yun Ruoyao, she began, “Nona Yun, please help Miss Yi, the floor is too cold. Since the crown prince is in charge of this affair, the royal family will be in charge. In the next few days, I will send people to the Yun and Yi families to arrange an engagement between Miss Yi and the crown prince"

Li Qianxiao suddenly stood up and looked towards his mother, his gaze filled with unwillingness.

Every time he recalled Yi Qianying's intimacy with Pei Ziao in the bushes, Li Qianxiao was inevitably disgusted. When he played with Yi Qianying, he thought it was no different from playing with a woman in a brothel, but his mother actually forced him to marry her, and as his wife, no less?!

She was not engaged yet, and the position of crown princess was always free. Does it have to be filled now just because of this little incident? Yi is nothing! His wife will become the future empress, admired by everyone, who is this girl who thought she could become empress?!

“Mother, I can't—”

"Shut up!" The empress turned around and glared at him.

"Mother!"

"What, you don't want to?" Li Xiu finally spoke up. "If you can't take responsibility for your own actions, then I really have to consider if there's someone more suitable to be the crown prince."

This declaration tightened the rope around Li Qianxiao's neck. Despite her anger, all she could say was, "Yes, Dad, I'm willing to accept this marriage."

The development of this affair completely surpassed Yun Ruoyao's expectations. Clearly, marrying into the royal family was much more profitable than marrying Pei.

The status of the Yun family, amazingly, will be lifted by this affair!

“Your Majesty, I thank you from the bottom of my heart the most for this resolution. Qianying is blessed to be able to marry the crown prince.”

But Yi Qianying, who was completely bewildered by the many surprises and setbacks she had suffered that day, suddenly flinched. As if he had just woken up from a nightmare, he broke free from the clutches of Yun Ruoyao and pounced on Pei Ziao. “Sister Ziao, I just want to stay by your side! Even if I am only one of your concubines, one of your servants.!”.

Pei Ziao immediately dodged to one side. “Miss Yi, why so humble yourself? The crown prince is a dragon among men, and following him will be the wisest decision.”

"Sister Ziao, do you really not care about me at all?" Yi Qianying was not willing to give up.

Pei Ziao hesitated, then raised his head. However, when she saw the bruises on her neck, she could not help but feel irritated. “Miss Yi, I was only ever your friend. If I had done something that made you misunderstand, I would have apologized by now."

Pei Ziao bowed politely to Yi Qianying. "From now on, please take care of yourself, Miss Yi."

Yi Qianying stood still. After a while, his sharp laughter broke the awkward silence that had occurred. She was no longer a virgin, did Pei Ziao want her? No, of course not.

In fact, she was well aware that, even though she was still a virgin, Pei Ziao was not necessarily married to her. After all, he was the sole heir to the Pei family, and which family wanted the daughter of a minor noble to be banished and humiliated?

His feelings for her always clapped one hand, didn't they? When did Pei Ziao promise her anything certain?

"Ha ha ha." Yi Qianying laughed, but her face shriveled as if she was about to cry.

The empress sighed as she monitored Yi Qianying's behavior. When he thought about the fact that this shameful child would be his first son-in-law, he felt irritated.

However, in order for Li Qianxiao to remain the crown prince, he did not say a word. So what if she's the crown princess? The empress would be able to overthrow him in a hundred different ways. After all, he had drowned in the palace's cruel ways, and he would do anything to guarantee the happiness of his son.

A while later, just as Yi Qianying looked almost desperate, her expression returned to normal. With a gentle smile, Yi Qianying walked over to Li Xiu and the empress, slowly kneeling down, and began, “Your Majesty, I humbly thank you for the grace I have received today. I knew my birth was low, and I was no match for the crown prince, neither in appearance nor talent. Please, allow me to be a mere concubine, rather than the crown princess herself.”

The emperor and empress were both surprised by his request. The crown prince is guilty. Although Yi Qianying's birth was not noble enough, the fact that the crown prince had attacked her was beyond doubt.

Furthermore, the Yun Family supported him. The head of the Yun family, Yun Lan, was famous for being polite, humble, and considerate. Under his rule, the entire Yun family had maintained an excellent reputation in the capital.

But Yun Lan was prickly when it came to matters of descent, and her displeasure could cause a reaction to the royal family. It was for this reason that the empress had promised Yi Qianying the position of crown princess directly. She did not expect that Yi Qianying would ask to become a concubine only.

It seemed that the girl, at the very least, could discern what was appropriate for her. The fake smile plastered on the empress' face slowly became something sincere.