Sheng Yunqi turned around and saw Huo Wei looking as if he wanted to devour someone.
At this moment, he didn't dare to offend Huo Wei as he did before. Now, in Northern Yan, Huo Wei was no different from an emperor.
If Huo Wei really got angry, even Dugu Luanyue might not be able to protect him.
Sheng Yunqi stared blankly at Huo Wei and stood behind Dugu Luanyue.
Huo Wei's sharp brow bone twitched slightly.
"You're so eager to go back and marry this coward hiding behind you, have children, and then give birth to a few more little cowards?"
His long legs slowly approached the two of them. The imposing and intimidating aura was more intense than before.
Dugu Luanyue stood still and turned her head back. "Yunqi, go down first."
Sheng Yunqi felt a surge of anger in his chest and didn't move his feet.
"Luanyue, I'm afraid you'll be in danger. I'll stay here with you. Now, Huo Wei is even more terrifying than before."
Now that Murong Min was seriously ill and Huo Wei was the regent prince, he clearly knew Huo Wei's feelings for Dugu Luanyue. He was afraid that he wouldn't even have the strength to stop them in the future.
Huo Wei glanced sideways and gave an order. "Old maid, go prepare dinner. I'll dine in the queen's palace today."
Then he sat down at the round table calmly, raising his eyebrows slightly. "Come and sit beside me."
Dugu Luanyue had some lingering feelings for him in her heart. Now seeing Huo Wei like this, she was willing but also unwilling.
But her body was very honest. She lifted her feet and sat on the chair beside Huo Wei. "Don't be angry. You knew my plan to go back from the beginning."
Huo Wei reached out his arm and pulled Dugu Luanyue's wide chair towards him. The two chairs were tightly side by side.
Because of Huo Wei's rough action of pulling the chair, her head tilted onto his chest. Huo Wei casually put his arm around her shoulder leisurely, and his eyes fell on Sheng Yunqi.
"You kneel in front of us and watch us dine."
Dugu Luanyue got up from his arms. "Huo Wei, don't do this."
Huo Wei leaned back on the wide chair and sneered.
"If you plead for him, don't blame me for being ruthless." After saying that, he pulled her into his arms again and looked at her threateningly with a smile.
Sheng Yunqi saw his future wife in another man's arms. As a man, his anger flared up instinctively.
He angrily scolded Huo Wei. "Huo Wei, you traitor! Not only did you usurp the country, but you also disregarded ethics. Luanyue is your stepmother. How can you covet your elder?"
Huo Wei's jaw tightened, and his dark eyes turned gloomy and fierce. "Meng Tan, what are you still standing there for?"
Meng Tan walked in, kicked Sheng Yunqi in the bend of his knee, and pressed him to the ground, making him unable to move.
Dugu Luanyue frowned and looked at him. She had no choice but to say. "Yunqi, I'll send someone to take you back to Southern Chu first. You can go with Master Yanxu."
Sheng Yunqi fought desperately. "No, I want to protect you and go back. I can't let you fall into the tiger's den."
Dugu Luanyue sighed. "Why do you have to do this? A real man should know when to yield and when to be tough. Being stubborn at this time will only make you suffer."
She looked at Huo Wei. "Let Yunqi leave the palace."
Huo Wei waved his arm, and Meng Tan took him away.
No matter how noble a young master of the first aristocratic family in Southern Chu Sheng Yunqi was, when he came to Northern Yan, he was actually the same as Dugu Luanyue. He had no foundation or strength and could only be at the mercy of others.
The meals prepared by the imperial kitchen were quickly served and filled the whole table.
But Huo Wei leaned back silently on the backrest and said softly. "Eat."
Dugu Luanyue didn't pick up her chopsticks for a long time. She turned her head and looked at his cold and somewhat lonely side face. Her voice was a bit low.
"I know you're very sad. From childhood to adulthood, you've lived in an environment woven by lies.
Your father was loyal and righteous, but Murong Min exterminated his nine clans. Your mother was noble and endured humiliation, but she also died in the mountain temple after being imprisoned.
The master who raised you is your real enemy, and the man you called father is also your enemy. Such a life experience is full of pain."
Huo Wei fiddled with the spoon in front of him, and his smile became a bit sarcastic. "You haven't finished yet.
The person who said they were in love with me at first and treated me sincerely also used and schemed against me from the beginning. After they finally gave me their so - called true heart, they schemed against me again.
In my life, except for A Jue who never schemed against me or used me at all, the rest of the people all regarded me as a pawn."
Dugu Luanyue lowered her head. "Yes, I admit that I schemed against you."
Huo Wei's eyes were cold and showed a sense of brokenness.
"Even though you know about my broken life, you still want to leave heartlessly without the slightest hesitation."
She looked at Huo Wei, who had lost weight, and clenched her hands into her sleeves.
She also wanted to pick up the broken pieces of him and give him some time to slowly heal and piece him back together.
But fate was like this. One in the south and the other in the north. She was ultimately powerless.
Dugu Luanyue reached out and touched his handsome and thin face.
"Huo Wei, let me stay until after Murong Min's passing.
As the late Emperor Wenhui's step - queen, the court needs me, as the queen, to hand the imperial edict of succession to you in front of all the court officials. Only then can your identity as the new emperor be recognized."
Huo Wei half - lowered his ink - black eyes. His long black eyelashes cast a fan - shaped shadow under his eyelids. "Is this your pitiful concession and charity to me?"
He was afraid of Dugu Luanyue's answer and then self - deprecatingly smiled.
"Fine. After I ascend the throne, I'll let you leave.
Indeed, the queen should put on an act during this period and go to the Zichen Palace to attend to the sick emperor. The court officials will see it."
In early spring, Murong Min's condition didn't improve, but it didn't get worse either.
As the regent prince, Huo Wei didn't care when Murong Min would die.
He even hoped that Murong Min would live for another three or five years so that Dugu Luanyue would stay in Northern Yan for another three or five years.
One day, Murong Min was relatively clear - minded. When he saw Dugu Luanyue, he threw a pillow at her.
When the pillow flew out, Huo Wei caught it with one hand. "Father, if you hurt your step - queen, what will your son do in the future?"
Murong Min's eyes bulged, and it became difficult for him to even speak.
The red blood vessels in his eyes were all filled with pain and anger.
It took him a long time to squeeze out a few words. "Adulterer... Whore..."
Huo Wei walked to the dragon bed, smiling gracefully. "I learned it from you."
He took the porcelain bowl from Dugu Luanyue's hand and threw it away. Then he put his arm around her slender waist and pressed her against the railing of the dragon bed, kissing her passionately.
Dugu Luanyue frowned and pushed him away. "Huo Wei, don't do this."
Huo Wei was tall. His bright yellow figure completely covered her bright red long dress.
His voice was low and alluring. "Don't do what? Do you believe that I'll drag Murong Min off the bed in a while and we'll sleep on it?"
She didn't dare to confront Huo Wei. A man in power would not listen to any words.
Murong Min watched as Huo Wei was so presumptuous in front of him. It was not difficult to imagine that in the future, Huo Wei would definitely have an immoral relationship with his queen.
Seeing his woman being held in the arms of the man who had stolen his country and being kissed constantly, he was so angry that his face turned red.
Murong Min grabbed the curtain of the bed canopy with his hand and kicked his legs continuously. His breathing became rapid.
Huo Wei sneered. "Compared to what you did to my Xie family, I've been quite kind."
Murong Min. "I... I'll kill you! Lu Wanyin... You've ruined me for a lifetime!"
After he blurted out these words, he couldn't catch his breath. His eyes stared wide open, and he died.
When he died, Eunuch Yingxi entered the palace to close Murong Min's eyes. But after trying several times, his eyes still wouldn't close.
In the spring of the 14th year of the Yongjia era of Emperor Wenhui of Northern Yan, the emperor passed away in the Zichen Palace. The regent prince, Murong Yao, ascended the throne, historically known as Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Yan.
The emperor conferred the title of Noble Consort Xian of the late emperor as the Noble Dowager and conferred the title of Concubine Wei as the Beautiful Concubine.
Shen Guilan was busy with the late emperor's funeral ceremony and a series of promotions and identity changes.
He noticed something was wrong and found Huo Wei to ask. "Why is Queen Dugu still the queen? Your Majesty, you've just ascended the throne. You can't act recklessly!"
(Guys, I was a bit delayed in writing today. I'll just update one chapter for now.)