The Birth of a Villainess

When they first heard what their wives said about the duke being engaged to someone and was going to marry a young lady soon, they all laughed till their stomachs hurt and almost fell from their chair.

They simply couldn't believe that the ruthless and cold-hearted young duke would ever get himself married. It was true that most women in the Zheng empire and even ladies from other empires fancied him with ardour that they would fantasize of marrying him. 

There were even some women who tried to capture the duke and scheme to entrap him to wed them yet, no one was successful to see the light of day. The duke executed them on the spot and punished some cruelly.

Hence, their disbelief was understandable. Emperor Yun even ȧssumed that the duke was not interested in women and that is the reason behind why he would usually let eunuchs and male attendants to serve the duke whenever he walks in the palace.

Of course, the emperor wasn't the only one who thought of this as several ministers who wished to push their daughters to be one of the concubines of the duke also believed that Qu Xing Xu was gay.

If Qu Xing Xu heard their thoughts, he might have already torn the entire empire to pieces and burn the palace into ashes.

"That man hid it really well…" Emperor Yun grumbled under his breath and was annoyed that Qu Xing Xu tricked him again.

Previously, the emperor planned to get one of his daughters to marry him so that he could include the duke in his plans. Once married to the royal family, Qu Xing Xu wouldn't be able to scare them anymore. But unfortunately, the duke wasn't interested in any of his daughters and even outrightly rejected him in front of everyone.

Thus, the emperor had no choice but to not push through his plans and wait for time. 

Then, the matters with the Chu empire arrived before him and rendered him speechless. The Zheng empire might be a prosperous empire but without Qu Xing Xu's might and the Qu family backing them, the three kingdoms might supress the Zheng empire to bow down to the other kingdoms. 

That was why, Emperor Yun wanted to use the duke's marriage as part of the payment that he will give to the Chu empire for hiding the truth behind the Tian Li cave. Usually, princesses and other high noble born young ladies were used to a marriage alliance between two kingdoms but this time, Emperor Yun wanted to use the Duke of Xin to strike two birds with one stone.

Not only would he appease the Chu empire's anger but also get a huge benefit out of them all.

Qu Xing Xu might get angry at him and point his sword at him, but once the deal was already signed, even the duke of Xin wouldn't be able to do anything. Thus, Emperor Yun was really looking forward to this alliance. 

But who knew that Qu Xing Xu tricked him and even got himself engaged without telling him first.

When thinking about it again, Qu Xing Xu really hid it well. The capital was already talking about his engagement but the people from the palace couldn't even get a wind of it, hence they failed to deliver this rotten news to the emperor. They only got to know about when the wedding invitation arrived right in front of their noses.

And yet, even as the emperor, Emperor Yun couldn't do anything to him.

"Call the Duke of Xin and tell him to me as soon as possible." Emperor Yun looked at one of the attendants standing in the corner.

The attendant bowed his head and made his ȧssent that he will do as he was ordered when one of the ministers suddenly spoke.

"Forgive me for interrupting your majesty. But I just went to the Qu residence last night but was blocked instead." This man in red robes was one of the youngest in the group. It was Young Marquis Liu.

"You were blocked? And why is that?" 

"I only heard that the duke will not receive anyone and won't go out of his residence. It might because of his marriage." Young Marquis Liu told them what he had heard from the people from the Qu residence when he tried to visit. 

He first tried to invite the duke to his home but no reply arrived from the Duke's side. Thus, Young Marquis Liu was forced to come out and go to the Qu residence. However, he was blocked and told to return as the duke will not receive any guests.

Hearing that, Emperor Yun was once again enraged. "Good! That man's arrogance has really pierced the sky that even I, the heavenly son, can't invite him to the palace. Should I personally go there to meet him?!"

Emperor Yun shook in anger. The veins in his temples were bulging and twitching as he couldn't wait for Qu Xing Xu to have a taste of defeat!

"So, who is this young lady that he will marry? Will he marry her as his lowest concubine or his noble concubine?" Emperor Yun asked, keeping his anger down.

Suddenly, a conflicted expression flashed on Young Marquis Liu's face as he stuttered, "We-well… Your Majesty, the duke seemed to be taking in a young lady as his main wife."

Emperor Yun frowned at that. "A main wife? What kind of girl could possibly have the honor to become the new duchess of Xin and marry Qu Xing Xu as his main wife? Is it the eldest daughter of the Yan family? Or the third young lady from the Fang family?"

Young Marquis Liu shook his head and finally said, "No, your majesty. The Duke wishes to marry a young lady from the General Lin family. The girl's name is Lin Xiaofei."

As if a lightning struck him, Emperor Yun stood up from his chair. A dark cloud was forming around him as soon as he heard that the young lady came from the declining general's family.