8.8

The queen soon found out that Tang Ao's wedding partner was Jovin. According to the wedding guests, Jovin looked nothing like poisoned stated that he was abandoned in. From what everyone had said, it seemed like Jovin was in very good health.

The queen suddenly felt like she was shouded in some sort of conspiracy. She wasn't able to figure it out. 'When did Jovin and Tang Ao even collude with each other?' 'How was his poison cured?' 'Furthermore, why did they get married on the capital planet?' These thoughts and conspiracies plagued the queen and she couldn't help but begin to panic. It wasn't good be in the dark when you were so high up the ladder.

Tang Ao claimed that Jovin was actually in a severely poisoned state when they met. However, he brought a near cure all type of medicine from the South that was able to cure an individual from all poisons. Tang Ao saved Jovin's life, so Jovin promised to devote his life to Tang Ao. 

The southern border had been long renowned as the galaxy with all sorts of magical treasures. It was hard to believed Tang Ao when he said that they had such a heaven defying cure all to any poison in existence. Even if no one wanted to believe it, the healthy Jovin was proof of it.

Jovin was the sole person so far who had both the 'Emperor's Yang Energy' gene as well as the fertility capability of 5. Tang Ao was a member of the royal family. It was very likely that their future child would be the child who inherited the gene and the royal lineage. Furthermore, Farley's infertility was confirmed. He was unable to provide the seeds to create life. Tang Ao's intentions were abundantly clear to all once he threw his wedding on the capital planet.

Unfortunately, the current emperor had not passed yet. As long as he still had the breath of life in him, no one, not even went Farley was deemed unfit for the throne, would be able to claim the throne.

It was tradition that the newlyweds would visit important elders and in-laws after their marriage took place. This was the final step in their marriage customs.

Therefore, Tang Ao brought Jovin to the Imperial Palace. Then he requested an audience with the King and told the Queen that they'd return to the South after their audience with the King.

However, the King was on basically on his last breath. He was completely reliant on the life-sustaining medicines and medical machines to keep him alive. He very rarely woke up during throughout this entire time. Even if he did happen to wake up and stay awake for a period of time, he was in a constant state of confusion. The Queen might not grant Tang Ao and his people an audience with the King.

"It's good enough for you to think of His Majesty so deeply in your heart. However, His Majesty is very weak right now. He doesn't that much energy to spare with such matters, so you don't need to visit him." The Queen rejected. She was furious when she saw with her own eyes just how healthy Jovin was. She was angry because Tang Ao had this medicine that was capable of curing all sorts of poisons all this time, but didn't offer it earlier. What made her even angrier was that her own son was barren now, but Jovin had gotten healthier and healthier. He even immediately married Tang Ao the moment he recovered his health.

"If His Royal Majesty is so ill that he can't even see people, then who handles the daily affairs and major decisions?" Tang Ao asked in reply.

It didn't matter if the emperor was seriously ill as long as he was able to nod and agree with the Queens decision making, then it was still the emperor's decision. However, if the emperor was so ill that he was completely muddle headed and the Queen was the one who made the decisions on her own, then that was a completely different situation. The significance between these two situations was huge.

The Queen replied steadily, "Of course His Majesty is the one who decides and deals with the important governmental affairs."

"Really? Then that means that if His Royal Majesty is able to stay conscious enough for governmental affairs, then there shouldn't be a problem with seeing people who wish to pay their respects. Please rest assured, Your Majesty. We just want to have an audience with His Royal Majesty. It shouldn't affect his rest too much. We only want to see how His Royal Majesty's well being is, so we can return to the South with peace of mind."

"For the sake of His Majesty's health, I will not grant you an audience with him. Prince of the South, you've seemed to overstay your welcome on the capital star. It is time to return back to the South. It's not good for others to suspect that you hold other motives by staying here for so long."

"Does Your Majesty the Queen insist on not allowing us an audience with His Royal Majesty because he is so weak that he is nearly unconscious the entire time?" Tang Ao's face suddenly changed and said, "Unless… His Royal Majesty has already passed and Your Majesty the Queen is concealing the matter."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" The Queen angrily replied. "Don't you know how treasonous it is for you to accuse me of such things, Tang Ao?"

"If His Royal Majesty is able to decide on government affairs, as Your Majesty the Queen has said, then why don't you dare to grant us an audience? I think that the other princes and the military forces of the empire should also be very concerned about His Royal Majesty's current situation. However, Your Majesty the Queen is the only one who can see His Royal Majesty. Your Majesty the Queen has claimed that His Royal Majesty is able to handle government affairs, but none of us are able to witness this."

The Queen gritted her teeth angrily. She wanted to continue to refuse Tang Ao, but was worried that Tang Ao would instigate unrest throughout the kingdom. "Will you swear to leave once you've confirmed His Majesty the King's health?"

"Of course. As long as His Royal Majesty is fine, then I will be able to return to the south with a peace of mind."

The Queen had no choice but to agree, "His Royal Majesty will summon you for an audience in two days."

Tang Ao and Qiao Chen looked at each other. Their purpose for visiting had been achieved. They stood up, saluted the Queen, and then left.

Qiao Chen talked to Tang Ao while in the car, "The Queen has been forced to this point because of you. She is definitely going to put her all into fighting you."

Tang Ao held Qiao Chen's hand before pulling it into his lap and then replied, "She has no other choice."

As a matter of fact, the person that Tang Ao planted in the palace had already reported the current King's situation. The emperor would have been able to continue hanging by a thread for quite some time if he continued using those medicines and machines without interruption. This would have given the queen ample time to make the arrangements she needed. The two went to the palace to force the Queen's hand. They needed to waste what little energy and life left of that dying King before playing their winning hand.

The queen really had no other choice. She had to allow Tang Ao and his people see that the emperor was in good enough health, physically as well as mentally, to lead the empire. This was the only method she had to make everyone who should leave the capital planet leave or those who were eager to settle down, settle in temporarily. Only then would she have enough time to arrange for the rest of things that needed to be done.

Based on the King's current condition, the Queen needed to use much more harmful, stronger drugs to keep him sober enough for an audience. However, this will affect the King's health nearly immediately after. He will suffer serious after effects and wouldn't be able to last as long as she would have liked him to if she did this.

The Queen was confident that as long as they were able to make it through this meeting, then she'd be able to continue with her charade for as long as she needed. Another plus to this would be that she could insist on not allowing any other audience with the King by claiming that the King didn't want to see anyone anymore with no qualms. They had already seen the King's sober appearance before, so she would be able to push the claim that the King was the one who was making the decisions behind closed doors.

As a result, the King summoned Tang Ao and his people two days later. Not only did he invite Tang Ao and his people, but he also invited the royal family and other important officials on the capital planet as well as the princes from the other galaxies of the empire.

Tang Ao and Qiao Chen were summoned by the emperor. They met Farley face to face when they entered the imperial palace. Farley's face was dripping with sarcasm when he saw them enter. He looked at Qiao Chen and mocked, "You've been married two times now- and in such a short amount of time too. You must be thirstier than how you usually look."

Farley took a long time to finally accept the fact that he was infertile. He was able to walk out of his palace and communicate with others normally now. However, he felt betrayed when he saw that Jovin immediately married Tang Ao after divorcing with him.

It didn't matter that he didn't love Jovin. He even disliked Jovin because he ended up in between his and Mandy's relationship. However, he always believed that because Jovin married him, that mean that Jovin belonged to him. Even after they divorced, he shouldn't have been able to marry anyone else.*

"If a person who was able to finally meet the right person after experiencing a mistake, then they would of course latch on to the right one they found immediately. Furthermore, I wasn't even the one who made this mistake. I was forced into it by others." Qiao Chen replied.

"Hmph." Farley snorted with disdain. Then he set his sights on Tang Ao and continued, "I really didn't expect that the Prince of the South had the habit of picking up used goods."

"You might think that used goods have no worth. However, people value things differently…" Tang Ao looked at Farley's lower body and continued, "Unfortunately, I'm afraid that you should worry more about your own goods being obsolete, shouldn't you?"

Farley was stabbed in a sore spot. His face turned ugly, and he began to tremble with anger.

Tang Ao ignored him and walked into the side hall with his arm wrapped around Qiao Chen's waist. Even though there were a lot of people who were already in the hall, it wasn't a place for people to talk or mingle. It was a very quiet room.

A servant wheeled out the King. The Queen stood beside him. The King's face lacked color and looked a bit pale. His eyes looked hazy, but one could tell that he was clearly conscious and looked mentally well.

The King's eyes looked over the faces of the people below. He stopped on Tang Ao's face and asked in an old, horse voice, "I heard that you've married?"

"Yes Your Royal Majesty." Tang Ao looked at Qiao Chen beside him and introduced, "This is my partner."

"Good…" The emperor nodded. "When will you be returning to the South?"

"I'll be ready to return in about two days." Tang Ao replied.

"I heard that you've stayed on the Capital for quite some time now. You are the current ruler of the southern galaxy. You shouldn't leave your matters unattended for such a long period of time as the Prince."

"Yes. Just like how the country cannot be without the monarch for even a day. I hope that Your Royal Majesty can get well soon."

It seemed as though the Queen had already coached the King about what to say. The first thing he did after appearing was to encourage Tang Ao to return to the southern galaxy. Once this was done, the queen would probably find an excuse and say that the King shouldn't spend too much time on such matters. Then she could quickly send him back to his bed.

"Your Royal Majesty." The King's younger brother, Prince Victors stepped forward and said. "You must get better soon. Farley is infertile now. The entire royal family is very concerned about this matter. Your…."

"Prince Victors!" The Queen called out loudly, but it was too late. She never expected them to mention this so quickly.

"You.. What did you say?" The King stared at Prince Victor with wide eyes and asked. He thought that he had heard incorrectly just now.

"Your Royal Majesty, it's time for you to return and rest." The Queen immediately motion to her servant to push the King away.

"Wait a minute." The King raised his hand to stop him. He was still looking at Victors and asked once more, "What did you say just now?"

"I…" Victors deliberately hesitated. He looked at the Queen and then back at the King before finally replying, "Didn't Her Royal Majesty tell you that Farley's been found to be infertile?"

The King heard it clearly this time. His face paled. Then he looked at his Queen in disbelief. He hoped that the Queen would deny it in front of those present. The Queen's face turned quite ugly at this. However, she couldn't deceive the King in front of all these people who knew the truth. If she did, then they'd use this as an excuse to make trouble for her again.

The Queen's silence answered the King's question. His heart sank. He slowly turned to look at Farley. Farley's head was down. The King raised his trembling fingers at him and wanted to say something. However, he couldn't gather the air to do so. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he fainted.

"Your Majesty!" The Queen cried out.

"Your Majesty….."

"Your Majesty….."

The audience below also cried out.

The servants immediately wheeled the King back for first aid. All the officials and royal family members on the scene followed behind in a hurry.

Tang Ao and Qiao Chen looked at each other before following along.