Flames of Ambition

22: Cancelling the Engagement

Chapter 22: Cancelling the Engagement

Zexel already received her reward. Most of them were accessories and clothes. It did not even catch Zexel's attention since she was the creator of most of the unique designs of jewelry and clothing.

The banquet was almost finished, and Zexel saw the Empress's expression that something was wrong. It seemed like she had done something, but it failed.

The Empress asked permission from the Emperor to return to her chamber.

Zexel decided to follow her and saw that she was talking to one of the palace maids.

"Why did that bastard seem like he didn’t eat the poison? You told Bengong[1] that you put the poison in the meals of that Feng Zhengying bastard?!" The Empress was fuming mad at the palace maid who was kowtowing to her while trembling.

"Nubi did what you told Nubi to do. Nubi doesn't know what happened," Zexel did not have any interest in continuing the conversation since she already knew that the Empress had evil intentions toward her man.

She would not let her succeed.

She went back to the main hall and saw the Crown Prince kowtowing in front of the Emperor.

"Imperial Father, your son requests to cancel this son’s engagement to the trash daughter of the Prime Minister. This son wants to marry his fifth daughter and make her my first wife. Your son asks for your blessing," the fury in Zexel’s heart began to rise.

Although she already knew that the engagement would be canceled, it was still not appropriate to humiliate her sister in front of everyone.

"Why does Zhen need to grant you your wish?" The Emperor used his serious tone, making everyone quiet. Zexel stared at Fan Yaoli and saw her crying while staring at the Crown Prince with pain in her eyes.

"Your son is the Crown Prince of this country. Your son is also the number one genius in the whole Pingjing Country, so naturally, this son is not fit to be with the number one trash of Pingjing Country. This son belongs to the number one female genius in our country," Feng Guan Xi said.

"Your Highness, is that a good reason to humiliate my sister in front of everyone? Just because she was unable to cultivate?" The cold voice of Zexel lingered in everyone’s ears, sending chills down their spines. When the Crown Prince met Zexel’s eyes, he couldn’t help but fear her, as if she could kill him in a second.

"Your Highness, Crown Prince, you could have discussed this matter privately with His Majesty the Emperor if you truly wanted to cancel it. But why did Your Highness choose to let everyone know about it? What is your reason? Perhaps to humiliate my sister? Does Your Highness not even think that my sister is a Di daughter of the Prime Minister and represents our manor and my father? Humiliating her is equal to humiliating my father," nothing seemed wrong with Zexel’s words because everyone knew that a Di child represented the manor. Losing face as a Di child was equivalent to the entire family's loss of dignity.

Because of the sharpness of Zexel’s words, the Crown Prince couldn’t even refute them, making Fan Qinyou hate Zexel even more.

The title was almost within her grasp, but Zexel managed to take it away from her.

"Your Highness, you’re not fit to become my sister’s husband. This lowly one hopes you will not regret your decision now and shamelessly follow her again soon," everyone was stunned by what Zexel said. Even her father rose in fury, but Zexel did not mind it.

"Your Majesty, this lowly one personally requests to cancel my sister’s engagement to the Crown Prince and grant my fifth sister and him an engagement that cannot be broken, no matter what circumstances may arise in the future. For my father's pride, this lowly one asks for your approval," although Feng Guan Xi had completed his goal and succeeded, he was humiliated by Zexel.

He thought his plan was already perfect.

"If that’s what you want, prepare the Imperial Edict," after a while, the eunuch stood up and opened the scroll.

"By the absolute power of the Emperor, the engagement between the Di daughter of the Prime Minister, Fan Yaoli, and the Crown Prince, Feng Guan Xi, will now be canceled. The engagement between the fifth daughter of the Prime Minister, Fan Qinyou, and the Crown Prince will be granted. From today onwards, this arrangement will not be changed, even under the power of the Emperor in the future, or under any special circumstances. Approved by the highest power of the Monarch," the eunuch read the Imperial Edict, then the Emperor sealed it with his Dragon Seal.

Feng Guan Xi, Fan Qinyou, Zexel, and Fan Yaoli kowtowed to the Imperial Edict.

That was also the signal that the banquet had ended, and everyone in the main hall began to go home. Zexel tried to talk to Fan Yaoli, but Fan Yaoli refused to see her because she didn’t want her sister to see her in her state of pain.

She knew that her sister had just lessened the humiliation she suffered by the way she spoke up for her. Ever since her sister started to stay by her side, she always took risks to protect her.

Zexel had let Fan Yaoli escape many punishments using schemes and always avenged her whenever Fan Qinyou tried to frame or beat her.

She knew that her sister was just worried for her. That’s why she let the Emperor cancel her engagement to the Crown Prince—the only thing she held onto about him.

"Li Jie-jie, he’s not worthy of you. Please talk to me. You will meet a much better guy than him," Fan Yaoli heard her sister, but still, she continued to walk.

Fan Yaoli also heard her father calling out to her in fury. But still, Fan Yaoli walked faster and faster—until an unexpected event happened.

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