His Rui

Zhao Zhang Wei's coronation was done with a great enthusiasm and excitement. Usually, all the members from noble families are invited in a coronation ceremony and a big banquet is held.

However, since the Emperor was murdered by none other than an Imperial Prince just two days ago, a simple coronation was held without any banquet. But since it was a coronation ceremony, it could not be without any grandeur.

The ministers tried their best to make it as grand as they could in the given circumstances.

Zhao Zhang Wei had already expressed his wish yesterday that he didn't wish for a rand ceremony which made everyone appreciate his filialness to the former Emperor.

Under so many eyes and ears as his witness, Zhao Zhang Wei took the oath to make all the efforts so that his Empire could progress.

When he took the oath, he was very sincere. Becoming an Emperor had never been in his plans since his childhood. He had just wanted to avenge his mother's death.

His eyes went to the woman standing below. It was because of her he had taken this huge responsibility. He wanted to be so powerful that she would not suffer even a little.

However, since he had taken this responsibility, he would honestly complete it.

As if the ministers who were crowning Zhao Zhang Wei could feel its sincerity, they all suddenly felt that making Zhao Zhang Wei the next Emperor was the right decision.

After they got an Emperor, they needed to crown Yi Huiqing.

Yi Huiqing was standing below the throne with other concubines behind her.

When all the ministers and Zhao Zhang Wei looked at her, she knew that it was now her turn. However, she suddenly couldn't move her feet to go forward.

With surprised eyes, she saw Zhao Zhang Wei standing up from the throne. Not only she but all the ministers were surprised by the Emperor's move.

Under so many eyes, Zhao Zhang Wei descended the stairs of the throne and walked toward Yi Huiqing until he was in front of her.

Without saying anything, he forwarded his hand in front of her.

His action moved the hearts of the concubine who were standing behind Yi Huiqing obviously except for Shaolin who was burning with envy.

Yi Huiqing looked silly for a moment before she composed herself and placed her hand in Zhao Zhang Wei's hand with a calm expression on her face.

Zhao Zhang Wei himself led her towards the throne he had been sitting on a few moments ago.

Xi Ying who saw this scene looked at Zhao Zhang Wei with deep eyes. He seemed to confirm again that Zhao Zhang Wei indeed had deep feelings for Yi Huiqing, however, looking at Yi Huiqing, it seemed that the Emperor needed to make a lot of effort. 𝘧𝓇𝗲𝑒we𝙗noѵ𝑒l.𝐜o𝘮

He remembered his own days when he had been doing everything he could do in order to make his wife forgive him and suddenly felt that it would be interesting to see Zhao Zhang Wei doing all this.

On the other hand, the ministers looked at each other with thoughtful smiles.

It was good that the relationship between Emperor and Empress was harmonious. They just wished that because of this, the Emperor would not refuse to accept maidens in the Imperial Palace.

However, when they looked at the other concubines, they felt slightly settled and calmly put this issue aside for now.

Still, it was a matter to be discussed later.

After all, the Emperor was already above twenty but he didn't have a single heir. It was a worrisome issue for the whole Empire.

Unaware of what was going on inside the ministers' minds, Zhao Zhang Wei was busy in enjoying the moment.

Those moments have been rare where he would be able to hold his wife's hand and she would not struggle at all.

He had never thought that one day he would even cherish a small thing like holding a woman's hand.

Yi Huiqing was crowned as an Empress.

She also took the oath as the mother of the nation.

"Please Guide me in the future, Empress."

She heard Zhao Zhang Wei's gentle voice and looked at him calmly. However, her heart and mind were a mess. However, it was not because of Zhao Zhang Wei's words.

Feeling the weight of the crown on her head, Yi Huiqing felt as if her shoulders were also heavy.

"Long Live the Emperor! Long Live the Empress!"

The Imperial Court sounded with such words loudly.

Looking at so many people who were bowing their heads and kneeling on the floor, Zhao Zhang Wei was calm and collected but Yi Huiqing looked dazed.

It was completely different from being the main wife.

Now she had to watch her every action and decision because it was related to not only Imperial Clan's reputation but even her own clan could be implicated for her wrong actions.

Her eyes suddenly found her own father who had entered the Imperial Palace to attend her coronation ceremony in the crowd of the ministers.

Immense dissatisfaction filled her heart when she saw how he was kneeling on the floor. However, she knew that he had to do it according to the norms.

She comforted herself that he was bowing to the Emperor of the nation which she herself will do.

She was aware of the change that would come in her life as she comforted herself.

Still, her hands couldn't help but go cold. Zhao Zhang Wei felt this as he was holding her hand. Feeling the change, he couldn't help but look at her with distress-filled eyes.

"Are you alright, Qingqing?"

Zhao Zhang Wei asked gently as he caressed her hand with his thumb.

Yi Huiqing came out of her trance and stiffly nodded her head. In front of so many people, she couldn't ignore him.

And now since he was an Emperor, she needed to be polite and respectful to him as an Empress.

Yi Huiqing sighed as these thoughts filled her mind.

Zhao Zhang Wei was concerned again when he heard her sigh. He remembered how she had come to ask for divorce last night.

He knew that she was unwilling to become his Empress. He knew that she had to do this because she didn't want her clan to be humiliated by others.

He knew that he had just manipulated her to stay by his side. However, he didn't seem to regret his actions.

He regretted the past where he had made her suffer thinking that that was best for her and everyone else.

However, he would not let her suffer again.

He wanted to make amends but he couldn't do that if she left him. If she left then there would be no meaning in him becoming an Emperor.

After all, all this was to protect her and to make her stay by his side.

He wanted to be a responsible husband who would love her and spoil her to no ends. She should feel that she was the most fortunate woman in this world.

But to do all that, she must stay by his side.

He knew he was selfish.

But Zhao Zhang Wei promised himself that this would be the last time he would be selfish. 𝗳𝓇ℯe𝓌𝚎𝚋𝓃𝚘𝚟𝘦𝑙.𝑐𝚘𝙢

One last time.

.

.

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After the coronation ceremony ended, Xi Ying went back to Xi Manor. He had promised his wife that he would take her to visit the Imperial City today.

He was amused when he reached Xi Manor and saw that his wife and the small bun were already ready and waiting for him in the living room.

"Father…"

The small bun immediately ran towards his father and stuck to his leg like a kola. Xi Ying's lips twitched when he heard his son say

"Let's go, Father. Let's go to visit the City."

"Xiao Ling, Father just returned. You should let your father rest and eat something first."

Xi Ying sighed and looked at his wife with loving eyes. In the end, it was only she who cared for him.

Xi Ling bit his tongue and smiled sheepishly under his father's gaze.

"Heheh….Xi Ling had not been filial."

Xi Ying raised his eyebrows when he heard such a heavy word from his son's mouth. However, he agreed with what he said.

"Father should eat something"

As Xi Ling finished, he looked at Li Hua who was standing in the living room, and said politely

"Sister Li Hua, please make arrangements for Father's lunch."

Xi Ying looked confused and asked his son

"Did you already have your lunch?"

The small bun shook his head and told his father excitedly.

"No, Father. Mother also didn't have her lunch. She said that she will eat outside food. Xi Ling also wants to eat outside food so Xi Ling left some space."

The small bun patted his empty stomach with satisfaction. Actually, he had eaten some fruits because Li Rui couldn't let him go hungry but he felt that as long as the food was good like last time he could always eat more.

Xi Ying heard his son's words and looked at his wife. Li Rui was embarrassed under his gaze. She knew that Xi Ying didn't like whenever she would eat outside food.

However, she was really craving to eat something that was available at only one shop in the Imperial City.

"That…there is a shop in the city. I wanted to eat something from that shop…"

Xi Ying controlled his laughter when he saw his wife's red ears and said gently

"Alright, then all of us will eat outside. Come now. We need to leave so that we can eat as soon as possible."

And as soon as he finished, the small bun ran outside the courtyard like the wind while Xi Ying held his wife's hand and led her outside.