I Can Hear Your Voice 013

But they didn't look at her; they just kneeled there, their faces ashen.

Fang Zhiyi listened to their overlapping voices. Suddenly, the Crown Prince cried out, "Imperial Father, Imperial Father, I was also bewitched by her inner voice, which is why I caused all those disasters! It wasn't me..."

"You coward! What a waste of a handsome face!"

Fang Zhiyi was taken aback. Are you insulting him or praising him?

"Stop! What inner voice? Why can't I hear it? Why couldn't the Empress Dowager hear it?" Fang Zhiyi frowned. "However, since you all say so..." He put on a thoughtful expression.

"In that case... execute her..." Fang Zhiyi mused.

Many courtiers felt a surge of energy.

Xu Yuanzhi's face turned deathly pale.

"That's not appropriate."

The courtiers' hearts felt like they were on a roller coaster. Now, they were all secretly criticizing Fang Zhiyi in their minds, just like Xu Jiao: Can't you finish your sentence in one breath? You made us happy for nothing.

"Xu Jiao has already been expelled from her family, but considering how much the Empress Dowager used to like you... I can choose not to pursue your faults. As for this inner voice nonsense, since I can't hear it, we'll leave it at that," Fang Zhiyi said.

Xu Jiao breathed a sigh of relief, but the thought of her innermost thoughts being exposed every day made her feel terrible.

"And you, Fang Jingqi. Born as the Crown Prince, you have made mistakes time and time again. Now, you remain unrepentant and even shirk your responsibilities. How can someone like you rule this world?"

Fang Jingqi looked at Fang Zhiyi in terror.

"Very well. From now on, you shall leave the palace, along with... Xu Jiao. Sparing your lives is my grace to you. Furthermore, the Empress Dowager previously mentioned the matter of Fang Jingqi's marriage to me... I hereby decree that the two of you shall be wed."

With that, Fang Zhiyi waved his hand.

The courtiers were somewhat disappointed, and they couldn't fathom Fang Zhiyi's intentions at all. If you want to kill or torture them, just say so; why grant them a marriage? But on second thought, it seemed to make sense. This demoness spent all day obsessing over the Crown Prince in her mind. Perhaps this was the Emperor's final act of mercy to them. They were spared from beheading. Alas, the Emperor was still too benevolent.

Although they couldn't figure it out, Fang Zhiyi's attitude was resolute. They also understood his consideration for the Empress Dowager's feelings and had no choice but to accept it. At least that demoness was now a commoner; she would have plenty of suffering ahead of her! Thinking of this, they couldn't help but feel delighted.

"Since this matter has been resolved, and it looks like it's about time, shall we commence the morning court session?"

The joy on the faces of the officials froze.

Are you addicted to holding court, Emperor?

Meanwhile, Fang Jingqi and Xu Jiao were dragged outside by four imperial guards.

"It's fine. As long as we can get out, we can go find Consort Ning. We ended up like this because of her; I don't believe she'll just abandon us!" Xu Jiao stopped overthinking and whispered directly to Fang Jingqi.

Fang Jingqi was still wallowing in shock. It wasn't supposed to be like this, right? How did he end up getting banished from the palace?

But hearing Xu Jiao's words, a glimmer of hope ignited in his heart. You won't give me the throne? I'll seize it myself! If what Xu Jiao said was true, the male and female leads must be very powerful.

"Today's agenda is... Consort Ning's escape, during which she also wounded my soldiers. Although they are just soldiers, it is tantamount to a slap in my face. Therefore, relay my orders immediately: Old General Xu will lead the army to march on the Great Desert!" Fang Zhiyi's voice was full of majesty, and the ministers chimed in their agreement. Xu Yuanzhi stepped forward to accept the order. He was now eager to salvage the Xu family's reputation. Between his daughter and the entire Xu family, he knew clearly which was more important. Besides, Xu Jiao had brought this upon herself by offending so many people and instigating the Crown Prince to do such shameful things!

Two words flashed through Fang Jingqi's mind.

We're doomed.

How could this happen!

"Male and female leads? The male and female leads of the original novel, aren't they just weaklings..." Fang Zhiyi muttered.

Little Hei laughed, "No wonder you intentionally let that Consort Ning escape; you were just looking for an excuse to deploy troops, right? That Crown Prince is truly stupid. They eagerly sent a consort over as a gesture of goodwill, and he still drove her away... Looking at it this way, compared to you, the original owner of this body was quite a good father."

"Are you insulting me?"

"No."

"As an emperor, one naturally prioritizes the state and society. If you only focus on being a good father, your final outcome will be a tragic death in the palace." Fang Zhiyi crushed the prayer bead in his hand. He turned his head and looked at the Third Prince, who was only slightly taller than the table. "Remember, never let anyone figure out what you are thinking, and never let anyone know what you possess. Once you sit in this position, you will understand exactly what I mean."

The Third Prince nodded with a look of naive confusion.

Fang Zhiyi tapped him on the head. This prince of the original owner was good in every way, except he liked to play the pig to eat the tiger too much. But that was fine; the Wu Kingdom still had many tough battles to fight in the future.

In the thirty-fifth year of Wuyuan, the Great Desert was unified. Xu Yuanzhi returned in triumph. Consort Ning and her husband were captured but received a special pardon from Fang Zhiyi.

In the thirty-sixth year of Wuyuan, Fang Zhiyi approved Xu Yuanzhi's request to retire and return to his hometown.

In the same year, the Wu Dynasty opened civil examination channels to the public, and countless talented individuals flooded into the royal court.

The Xu brothers were appointed by Fang Zhiyi as "Martial Instructors," a rank-three official position, but they no longer had any involvement in military affairs.

Guo Hongru, the Palace Attendant, remained in his position and had already become the Emperor's trusted confidant. Because of this, his behavior became much more restrained. At the same time, he cracked several cases involving smuggling, the selling of official posts, and corruption.

The Historical Records of the Wu Dynasty stated:

"Emperor Xuan of Wu, Fang Zhiyi, was extremely skilled in employing people. Guo Hongru, who originally had poor character, was used by him to deal with corrupt officials and wicked clerks, often achieving twice the result with half the effort."

On a small hill in the countryside, Fang Jingqi, wearing shabby short clothes, leaned against a wooden chair to enjoy the cool breeze.

A moment later, he suddenly stood up. "What are you cursing me about in your heart again, you stinking bitch?" He charged straight into the thatched cottage.

This was followed by Xu Jiao's struggles and cries: "I didn't!"

"You still deny it! I heard it all! You called me a useless piece of trash!"

"You are a piece of trash! You can't do anything right! If you had just done one thing well back then, would we have ended up like this?"

"Bullshit! If you hadn't pushed me out to the front every time, would I have fallen to this state today? You jinx!"

Initially, they thought that being banished from the palace was no big deal, but they soon realized their predicament. When Fang Jingqi saw the leader in charge of guarding them, his face turned green. Wasn't this the centurion of the border army whom he had once lashed with a whip?

"Your Highness the Crown Prince... no, Fang Jingqi, His Majesty specifically instructed me to ensure the safety of you and your wife." The centurion revealed a meaningful smile.

Fang Jingqi's heart plunged into an ice cave.

With soldiers constantly watching them, they were not allowed to leave this desolate manor in the wilderness. Moreover, the officials whom Xu Jiao had previously offended always found various ways to cause trouble for them.

In addition, there was the issue of survival. Both of them had lived a life of luxury and had never endured any hardships. The Emperor had not assigned them any servants at all. At first, they almost starved to death. Fortunately, someone specifically came to teach them how to farm and harvest.

Madam Xu came crying once but was turned away. After being rejected multiple times, she gradually stopped coming altogether.

Fang Jingqi and Xu Jiao continued to torment and resent each other just like this. Unlike ordinary couples, he could hear Xu Jiao's inner thoughts. However, his mindset was no longer the same as when he had believed himself to be special. Everyone except his imperial father could hear Xu Jiao's inner voice!

As a result, the two of them would often get into a massive argument every three days and a physical fight every five days, with both experiencing their fair share of victories and defeats. Xu Jiao grew even more miserable. She had completely deviated from the plotline and the imperial court. It was as if luck had entirely abandoned her.

But one still had to keep living.

Soon, the news of the new emperor's ascension to the throne arrived, and the light in Fang Jingqi's eyes completely died out.

Not long after, this man who could hear Xu Jiao's inner voice collapsed. After he died, Fang Zhiyi never came, and neither did the new emperor. Xu Jiao could only painstakingly bury him all by herself. Afterward, she sat by his grave and rambled on about a bunch of nonsense. She would often talk until she laughed out loud, but her laughter would always turn into tears.

Wasn't she supposed to be the universally beloved darling?

Why did they all treat her like that?

On the day Xu Jiao died, her soul rapidly flew away from this world. Just as she was about to enter the portal, she was grabbed by a black tentacle.

"Don't be in such a hurry... Since you are here, you should properly enjoy yourself." Little Hei grinned, revealing a mouth full of fangs that it had deliberately conjured up.