"I would never dare," Hu Xiaotian said. "According to the rules handed down by Great Kang's ancestors, how could a woman be king? Previously, Your Majesty made the princess a king only because circumstances forced your hand. Now that Great Kang's situation has improved and the third imperial brother has been found, naturally there is no further need for Her Highness. Removing her royal title is only reasonable, and it will spare outsiders any cause for gossip."
Hearing him speak so boldly, Qiqi could not help feeling secretly shocked. Hu Xiaotian was truly outrageous, daring to utter such biting sarcasm right before the emperor.
"How dare you!" Long Xuan'en thundered.
Qiqi hastily knelt. "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. He has always talked nonsense. Please do not stoop to arguing with him."
Long Xuan'en glared at Hu Xiaotian. "Rules are made by people. In Great Kang, my word still carries weight. Since I dared to break with tradition and make Qiqi a king, I will not fear gossip from outsiders. Qiqi! You will remain King Yongyang. I forbid you to relinquish your royal title."
Qiqi sighed softly. "But if I do not relinquish it, after I marry Brother Tian, will he be the Imperial Son-in-Law or my royal consort?"
Hu Xiaotian's mouth fell wide open. Then he looked at Qiqi with a beaming smile. "As long as you're happy, I don't care what you call me!"
When a man has no shame, he is invincible. The same thought rose in both Qiqi's and Long Xuan'en's minds.
"What Xiaotian said was not entirely unreasonable," Long Xuan'en said. "Since this is a happy occasion, we should seek an auspicious outcome. King Yongyang's Residence was originally my gift to you. There is no reason to make you surrender it now."
"But..." Qiqi began.