Chapter 881: The Young Empress (18)

 After leaving the imperial palace, Tang Nuoyue grabbed Xiao Jin's arm, her face glowing with happiness. "Xiao Jin, I'm so happy. Before this, I was worried that the Empress might try to stop us because of your identity. I kept wondering what we would do if that happened."

"But now everything's fine. With the Empress personally issuing the decree, I don't have to worry anymore. I can finally be with you openly and happily."

Xiao Jin was so irritated he felt like he might explode, yet he couldn't show a trace of it.

After all, considering the persona he was currently maintaining, this was supposed to be something worth celebrating.

"Xiao Jin, I'll go back immediately and consult the calendar. I'll choose an auspicious date and get everything arranged as quickly as possible."

Xiao Jin forced a smile that never reached his eyes. There wasn't the slightest bit of happiness in his heart. He had no idea how many times he had already cursed Tang Guo in his mind.

That Empress really had too much time on her hands.

Because of this unexpected interruption, he hadn't even managed to make contact with those two people. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

"Xiao Jin, you don't seem happy. Is it because you don't want to marry me, or..." Tang Nuoyue's smile faded, replaced by a look of disappointment. "Do you think becoming my secondary husband is beneath you? If you're unwilling, I'll go back right now and explain everything to the Empress."

Xiao Jin hurriedly stopped her. "No, Yue'er, you've misunderstood. I'm just overwhelmed by the surprise."

"Really?"

What else could Xiao Jin possibly say?

He pulled Tang Nuoyue into his embrace, putting on an expression of deep affection. Gazing at her tenderly, his voice dripped with love as he said, "Of course. Being able to be with you, Yue'er, makes me happier than anything."

"That's good."

Tang Nuoyue rested against his chest, the corners of her lips curving upward. Hidden beneath her lowered lashes was a calculating look Xiao Jin could never see.

These men had deceived her feelings, sacrificing their appearances and putting on endless performances of devotion in front of her every single day. She wondered whether they secretly felt sick to their stomachs while acting so deeply in love.

After returning to the Moon Prince's residence, Tang Nuoyue immediately threw herself into preparations.

The people the late Emperor had assigned to her were absolutely loyal.

Back when she had still been acting foolish, they would have hesitated over every decision she made, carefully considering whether it might bring trouble upon her.

Now that the Moon Prince had regained her senses, however, it meant limitless possibilities for the future. Of course, none of them had ever entertained thoughts of harming the Empress.

But there was an enormous difference between a Moon Prince with a functioning mind and a Moon Prince who was a fool.

To demonstrate how much she valued Xiao Jin, Tang Nuoyue deliberately made a grand spectacle out of taking a secondary husband. The news spread like wildfire until the entire imperial capital knew about it.

With her intentional efforts to circulate the story, the news quickly reached the State of Qi as well.

The people of Qi were stunned.

Their Sixth Prince had actually agreed to become a woman's secondary husband.

It was utterly humiliating.

Xiao Jin had not completely lost his channels of information within Qi. When he heard the rumors, he was furious enough to nearly die from anger.

As for the other two men residing in Tang Nuoyue's estate, one was her principal husband, Shan Ge, and the other was her male consort, Yin Qiu.

Ever since Tang Nuoyue had regained her sanity, she had not met either of them.

Both men had been shocked by her sudden recovery. At the same time, they had been quietly observing the situation, considering how they should interact with this now-normal prince in the future.

Neither of them had expected that before they even had the chance to meet her, the Moon Prince would already be taking a secondary husband.

This time, they had no choice but to seek an audience with Tang Nuoyue.

As Tang Nuoyue watched the two men approach, one still wearing a veil while the other limped with every step, she was laughing hysterically inside.

On the surface, however, she wore an innocent, sweet expression and asked her trusted attendant, "Who are they?"

Shan Ge: "..."

Yin Qiu: "..."

"Reporting to Your Highness," the attendant replied, "the one wearing the veil is your principal husband. The other is your male consort, Yin Qiu."