Being labelled as the official wife caught Ye Lingyue off guard.

It seemed like instead of blossoming into a peach flower, all sorts of peach flowers, both ripe and rotten, had come her way.

Crown Prince Hong wanted to take her as a concubine, and now even the Sixth Prince had joined in the excitement, causing Ye Lingyue to break out in a sweat on her forehead.

Objectively speaking, the Sixth Prince's character, appearance, as well as his status, more than qualified him for this counterfeit second daughter of the Lan Residence.

However, she had no more than sibling-like feelings for Xiahou Qi.

Seeing the sincere look on Empress Liu's face, Ye Lingyue was at a loss for how to respond.

"Empress, does the Sixth Prince know about this?" Ye Lingyue tentatively inquired.

"Of course, he knows. How could he not? It was Qiqi himself who asked me for this marriage. The child has finally seen sense," Empress Liu said with a light laugh, covering her mouth.

What parent wouldn't worry about their own child's happiness?

Born into the Imperial family, the Sixth Prince had been preyed upon from a young age, hardened by all the ugly incidents within the palace walls, leading to his detachment from romantic affairs.

Empress Liu even worried that he would never take an interest in women his entire life. Now that he was willing to marry Ye Lingyue, Empress Liu would have agreed to the marriage even if Ye Lingyue were a commoner, let alone a Commandery Princess.

"But, Empress, I do not harbor affection for the Sixth Prince Li. I only see him as a junior brother," Ye Lingyue said, placing Xiahou Qi in the same category of friendship as Princely Heir Qinghai and Liu Hao.

Well aware of the differences between men and women, she had always been cautious in her interactions, puzzled as to how Prince Liu could have misinterpreted her.

Hearing Ye Lingyue's reluctance to marry the Sixth Prince, Empress Liu's expression changed slightly.

"Ling Yue, then do you have someone you fancy?"

Someone she fancied? Ye Lingyue was taken aback by the question.

She had never considered this matter.

As long as the deep vengeance involving her mother remained unaddressed, she would not entertain romantic sentiments.

"That's good, Ling Yue. You are still young and do not understand the gravity of matrimony. My girl, it is far better to find someone who loves you than to seek one you love. I can see that Qiqi truly adores you. He is different from his imperial father; when he gives his heart, it is for a lifetime. If you are not yet willing to marry, I can ask His Majesty to decree an engagement now and establish your betrothal, and then have Qiqi welcome you into the palace when you turn sixteen," Empress Liu earnestly suggested.

"Empress, you misunderstand me. I cannot be with my junior brother. It's impossible," Ye Lingyue hurriedly clarified.

Empress Liu was about to persuade further when she suddenly turned pale and felt weak, nearly collapsing if it were not for Ye Lingyue's quick reflexes to support her.

Alchemist Mei had also said that Empress Liu had not been feeling well recently.

Ye Lingyue quickly took Empress Liu's pulse for her, and after the diagnosis, a look of joy appeared on Ye Lingyue's face.

"Quickly, inform Emperor Xia and the Empress Dowager, the Empress is with child!"

The Empress is with child!

This news rapidly spread throughout the entire Xia Palace.

This was truly a remarkable event.

In the past, the Empress had been greatly favored by Emperor Xia, but due to the incident with the Sixth Prince and Noble Princess Consort Luo's continual interference, the Empress and Emperor Xia had once had a serious falling out.

After the Sixth Prince recovered, the relationship between the Emperor and the Empress warmed up again, and with Yao Concubine blind, Emperor Xia had been staying in the Empress's palace for several months already. Unexpectedly, this led to the Empress becoming happily pregnant.

"Thank the heavens, the Xiahou family has not had a new offspring for many years." The Empress Dowager and Emperor Xia were overjoyed upon hearing this news.

After the Sixth Prince heard the news, he also hurried into the palace.

Inside Chaohua Palace, Emperor Xia was cheerfully talking and laughing with Empress Liu.

The Empress Dowager was so happy she couldn't stop grinning and even took the occasion to generously reward Ye Lingyue again.

"Ling Yue, mother... she..." Prince Liu escorted Ye Lingyue out of the palace, and halfway through, he started stammering with a flushed face.

"Sixth Prince, from now on, let us just refer to each other as fellow disciples," Ye Lingyue said with a composed expression.

"Ling Yue, what do you mean... Mother told you everything. I am different from Crown Prince Hong; my feelings for you are genuine," Xiahou Qi urgently spoke, and in his panic, he grabbed Ye Lingyue's hand.

"Sixth Prince, I thought you were always very clear about our relationship. That night, in the side hall, I already told you that our relationship is one of cooperation. I help you deal with Noble Princess Consort Luo and Crown Prince Hong to recover your rightful place as Crown Prince. As for you, you need to help me eliminate Hong Fang and the Hong Residence whenever I require it."

The Sixth Prince remembered all of these words.

He had originally thought his relationship with Ye Lingyue was purely a cooperative one.

But unwittingly, her figure, her voice and smile, every move she made started to appear in his dreams.

When he learned that Crown Prince Hong intended to take her as a concubine, Xiahou Qi could no longer hide his feelings.

"Ling Yue, all I want is to protect you."

"Xiahou Qi, do all the men in your Xiahou family have the same problem? Your so-called protection, how is it any different from Crown Prince Hong? To confine a woman in the deep palace to compete for favor with other women, with tears streaming down her face as she ages, I do not wish to become such a woman," Ye Lingyue became heated.

Whether it was due to her mother Ye Huangyu's experiences, or having witnessed Emperor Xia's indifference, Ye Lingyue had no illusions about romantic love.

In her eyes, the ideal model for a couple was more like General Lan and Lady Lan, who stood by each other through thick and thin, never forsaking one another even in the most difficult times.

"Ling Yue, I am not that kind of person. I promise you, once I marry you, I will devote everything to you," the Sixth Prince was eager to explain.

"Fine, Xiahou Qi, you say you are willing to give everything for me, so if I ask you to give up your power, to stop competing with Crown Prince Hong, would you be willing?" Ye Lingyue's pressing question made the Sixth Prince involuntarily step back.

The Sixth Prince hesitated.

These words of surrender, when they reached his lips, were very difficult to voice.

Xiahou Qi knew that if he truly gave up, it would mean abandoning the many years of cultivation by his mother, the Empress Dowager, renouncing Crown Prince Hong's past schemes against him, and forsaking the numerous ministers who supported him.

This moment of hesitation, in Ye Lingyue's eyes, was undoubtedly the most ironic.

"Sorry, Ling Yue, I can't do it," Xiahou Qi said with a bitter smile. In the end, he could not deceive Ye Lingyue.

He could deceive everyone in the world, but not her.

This woman with bright eyes was the one who had rescued him from endless pain and darkness.

Hearing this answer, there was no disappointment as expected, but instead, a sense of relief.

Ye Lingyue found it hard to imagine what she would do if the Sixth Prince had agreed.

~ The ten thousand-word update is complete, everyone remember to cast your monthly votes, this affects whether Da Fu will transform from a summer worm to a super word-coding Fu ~