His Rui

"Then divorce him."

The words rang in Yi Huiqing's ears and she looked at her brother with blank eyes as if she was trying to confirm whether what she heard was really what he said.

When Yi Junjie looked at her silently with his hardened face, somehow Yi Huiqing found the answer to her confusion but she still didn't say anything.

Somehow she was unable to believe that Yi Junjie just asked her to divorce Zhao Zhang Wei.

It was after a very long silence that Yi Huiqing finally whispered

"How can I …?"

The answer to her question came almost immediately as if Yi Junjie had expected her to ask this question.

"Why can't you? I don't want my sister to live in such a toxic relationship."

Four years ago, when Yi Junjie had come to know of Li Rui's living conditions in Xi Manor, he had wanted to say almost similar words to Li Rui.

He didn't want her to live in Xi Manor.

But Yi Huiqing and Li Rui …both of them were different.

Somehow Yi Junjie felt he had more right on his sister than on the woman he loved. That's why perhaps he said these words to Yi Huiqing more easily…thought Yi Junjie.

Yi Huiqing was touched by these words.

She could feel her brother's care which was unconditional but...

"The marriage was granted by the Emperor. How can I break it?"

She whispered again hoping to put a full stop at her brother's thoughts.

Yi Junjie, however, seemed to be adamant and ready with everything as his answer to this question also came very soon.

"Who said that a marriage granted by the Emperor cannot be annulled? As long as he and you agree to get separated, His Majesty will have to nullify his decree and grant you either divorce or separation."

Yi Huiqing licked her lips as she breathed through her mouth nervously.

Divorce...separation…she had actually never even thought of these words.

She was hurt very much ... but why didn't she ever think of separating?

Yi Huiqing found questioning herself.

"Huiqing, have you decided what do you want to do?"

Yi Junjie question interrupted her thoughts and she looked at her brother in a daze.

She didn't know what she should say so she said honestly.

"Elder Brother, I have never thought about getting separation or divorce."

She continued when she saw Yi Junjie's face going cold.

"I know that Elder Brother is thinking for my good only…but I need some time."

She finished and sighed in relief when she saw that Yi Junjie's face looked a little alright now.

Yi Junjie nodded his head and said

"It's alright. You can have all the time you want."

Raising his hand he patted Yi Huiqing's head lightly and whispered

"Elder Brother is very sorry that he didn't do anything when you were suffering here."

Yi Huiqing's eyes were filled with tears when she saw the guilt in her brother's eyes.

She didn't blame him but she knew that her assurance will not lighten her brother's heart so she tried to change the topic.

"Brother, didn't everyone leave yesterday … then how did you suddenly come here? Is everything alright?"

Hearing her question, Yi Junjie suddenly remembered what he had seen last evening while he was on his way to leave the Imperial Palace.

"Something is not right in the Imperial Palace."

He whispered and Yi Huiqing got worried as she remembered the last events.

"Is it something related to Yi and Li Clan?"

Yi Junjie shook his head and said with a sigh.

"I don't know the whole thing. I was on my to find out when someone suddenly started to chase me so I had to hide in …"

Yi Junjie didn't need to say anything more because Yi Huiqing understood everything after that.

She lowered her head and tried to remember if anything embarrassing happened last night.

Fortunately, she couldn't find any such memory.

"I think I should leave now."

Yi Junjie said and Yi Huiqing also nodded her head slowly.

She was already worried that any maid or servant would see Yi Junjie here.

Although Yi Junjie was her brother, she would still not be able to do anything if he was seen inside her room.

After all, any man other than the Prince was not allowed to enter the backyard of Xinhe Palace because this was where all the concubines and the main wife lived.

"Be careful Elder Brother."

Yi Junjie hummed and patted his sister's head one last time. The next moment, Yi Huiqing couldn't see her brother anymore.

The room returned to its silence and Yi Huiqing walked towards her bed as she pondered over the words Yi Junjie told her just now.

---------

On the other hand, in some other part of the Imperial Palace, there was something else going on.

Hiding behind the wall, An Si looked at the two figures under the bright sky, trying to figure out what exactly they were doing.

His eyes held confusion as he looked at the nanny and another figure. Both of them had been standing at the same place for quite a lot of time now.

"Who were they waiting for?"

An Si sighed as he looked around the place he was standing.

He had never thought that behind a beautiful painting there was a secret way to get out of the Imperial Palace.

But his concentration should not be on this matter.

What he should focus on was how did the nanny know about this secret way?

And why was she freeing this young Eunuch from the prison? Yes, the young Eunuch whom he had thrown inside a room with Li Na on the second day of the banquet …the same Eunuch for whom His Majesty had ordered to be locked inside the prison…the nanny freed that Eunuch.

Was not she afraid to be found out by the Emperor?

Suddenly An Si saw another figure appearing out of somewhere. The figure covered itself with a cloak. It was only when the figure uncovered itself, An Si found out who was under the cloak …and his eyes went wide.

Yi Junjie was right.

'Something was really not right in the Imperial Palace.'

---------

Hello Lovelies, the author had made an Instagram account. If you are on Instagram you can follow me. My username is ada52_53. A few pics that I find suitable for some scenes in the , I will post there. Those who were rewarded with 100 coin coupon code but still didn't get it can also contact me through Instagram also. Also, I am thinking of making a server on discord where spoilers for further chapters will be shared every few days. Do tell me if you readers are interested because all of this is new for me and I need your support. You can leave a comment if you want such a server or not. It will mean a lot to me.

Thanks for reading

Ada:)