My Liege And I

New Mistress

Chapter 32

Wei Li Lian
Princess Elora
Her Highness Wei
The Dragon Court

"Your Majesty, that is why this servant has come here to ask for your permission to be separated." Dao kowtowed on the floor after summarising the state her marriage with Luo Meng had come to.

Luo Meng knelt beside her, his face void of any emotion. He had not said a word since they arrived.

"You begged for my marriage edict and now you want to break it?" Yuwen Hong was not having it. He sat on his dragon throne in his formal robes as he had permitted the married couple to see him after his morning meeting.

Women of the Inner Court were not allowed in the Dragon court but since this matter involved her previous maid, Yuwen Hong had asked Li Lian to come, alongside the Grand Dowager Empress who was the head of the Inner Court.

Li Lian sat next to him on the Dragon throne as he was emphasising that she was his equal in and out of their bed. It was something she always complained about and he wanted her appeased concerning it.

The Dowager Empress had her simple chair to their left. She had been quiet too, just as Luo Meng.

"Luo Meng, you want to be separated?" Yuwen Hong's hand subconsciously ran up and down Li Lian's back. That action already told her he was not taking the conflict seriously. He was not going to allow them to part that easily.

"Anything that my wife would like, I will agree to it."

"Which is what?" Yuwen Hong was being obnoxiously difficult, or he was irritated by Luo Meng's coolness to it all. Who knew?

"Parting," Luo Meng replied simply.

Yuwen Hong sat up straight and took the edict he had released for their marriage. He read through it and went silent for a while, deciding on the verdict.

"Write this," he finally said.

The scribe by the stairs took his ink and brush, ready to write a decree.

Yuwen Hong stared at Li Lian as he ushered his decree. Such intensity, it gave her chills and had her heart beating. "Husband and wife are meant to be together as long as they live. Through the difficult times, through misunderstandings, through the tough seasons. Zhen rejects the request of Lady Han. No separation shall take place. Lady Han should go back to her household and be with her husband as soon as possible."

A sound escaped Dao's throat in protest, but she hurriedly remedied herself by joining Luo Meng in declaring. "His Majesty is wise. Thanks to His Majesty."

"Hao," Yuwen Hong was ready to leave as he reached for Li Lian's hand.

"If Your Majesty be so kind as to consider another matter," Luo Meng bowed.

Yuwen Hong stopped his departure and reclined back on the throne.

"What is it?"

Although Luo Meng spoke so calmly, you could tell he was bothered. "This subject wishes to live with his family in harmony, therefore he requests the Grand Dowager to give up his daughter, Luo Lu Yun."

Yuwen Hong turned to his grandmother for answers on what was happening.

"Lu Yun is the child of the servant I raised. I can choose to raise her if I want." The Grand Dowager protested.

"Luo Meng is no longer a servant of yours. He is a shadowguard who serves me now. Therefore, you have no right to that child."

"Children are given up to be raised by royalty all the time. It will be for her benefit."