The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Chapter 68 Try Again
In the main hall of the East Nuan Pavilion of Shou’an Palace in the Imperial City.
Empress Dowager Xiao closed her eyes with one hand supporting her head and gently caressed the lazy cat on her lap with the other hand, while Xia Ying beside her massaged her shoulders and arms.
In the room, on the ground facing Empress Dowager Xiao, kneeled a young man wearing a brown brocade robe. The man had his hands on the ground with his head lowered and this position had been maintained in the palace hall for some time now.
The kneeling Wang Yizhou was ready to be attacked by Empress Dowager Xiao on his way to the capital, and kneeling was not a big deal.
In recent years, Yizhou was able to be semi-independent of Great Xia and not subject to the control of the imperial family. This was due to the agreement between Empress Dowager Xiao and the late emperor. Now, she also relied on Empress Dowager Xiao’s remaining power in the court.
But Wang Yizhou’s face, which was looking down to the ground, frowned tightly. In addition to the incense burning in the furnace inside the palace hall, there was also the scent of the cat next to the Empress Dowager that rushed into the nose of Wang Yizhou.
Fine sweats had already seeped out from the forehead of Wang Yizhou. His palms touched the ground and his fingertips pressed hard against the ground, suppressing the itching in his nose.
Finally, unable to hold it back any longer, Wang Yizhou covered his nose with his hand and sneezed several times.
“Empress Dowager, forgive me.”Wang Yizhou bowed to the ground again.
Empress Dowager Xiao slowly opened her eyes and looked at the young man on the ground who looked very similar to her old friend.
“You said, Xie Changyuan’s soon-to-be concubine is your imperial sister?”
Wang Yizhou was still kneeling and did not raise his head.
“I really didn’t know that my sister, Qingli, would come to the capital quietly and also had a relationship with the Marquis of Yongding Mansion. Please punish, Empress Dowager.”
Wang Yizhou knocked his head to the ground. At this time, his nose began to itch again. He had thought that this trip to the palace would be the most difficult with Empress Dowager Xiao, but he didn’t realize that the one who tormented him was Empress Dowager Xiao’s pet, her beloved white cat.
“Marquis of Yongding…” Empress Dowager Xiao paused slightly in stroking the cat as if she was thinking about something.
Empress Dowager Xiao lifted her hand on the cat and waved it lightly. Xia Ying, the eunuch in charge of Shou’an Palace, immediately took the cat from the Empress Dowager’s lap and placed it in a chair specially made for the cat on the side.
Empress Dowager Xiao sat upright, took the prayer beads from the table, folded her hands slowly, looked at Wang Yizhou, and said to Xia Ying, “Xia Ying, I have proposed a decree to marry the sister of Wang Yizhou.” Empress Dowager Xiao paused.
“Qinghe, her name?”
Wang Yizhou already understood that Empress Dowager Xiao had made a decision, but this would bring Yizhou into the court situation.
“My imperial sister’s full name is Ye Qingli.”
“Hmm.” Empress Dowager Xiao was silent for a moment, then continued to speak slowly, “I have granted the marriage to the sister of Wang Yizhou, Ye Qingli, to be the legitimate wife of Xie Changyuan, the eldest son of the Marquis of Yongding Mansion. I also have to order the Imperial Heavenly Supervisor to select an auspicious date and arrange for their marriage as soon as possible.”
Wang Yizhou and Xia Ying in the palace hall were both a little surprised as the Empress Dowager’s decision would cause quite a stir in the imperial court.
“Qinghe, you and your wife will return to Yizhou after the wedding.” Empress Dowager Xiao looked at the Wang Yizhou.
“I obey your orders.” Wang Yizhou’s heart sank at this moment. From today on, Yizhou, as Empress Dowager Xiao’s pawn, was officially involved in the power struggle of the Great Xia imperial family, and the peace of Yizhou would no longer exist.
“Xia Ying, leave the palace immediately to announce the decree.”
“Yes, Empress Dowager.”
There was a sharp look in Empress Dowager Xiao’s half-closed eyes. She never expected that Taizi she had supported with her hands would be so disobedient to her, and even aroused her desire to return to the court.
Feng Zhan, very good.
——
“Does the Empress Dowager agree to let Ye Qingli enter the Marquis of Yongding Mansion?” Wangfei of Yizhou, Song Yin, had already made some guesses about this result, but she was still shocked when she got the news.
“I will immediately send a message to Yizhou to prepare Ye Qingli’s dowry.” Song Yin quickly sorted out her thoughts and began to calculate the next impact on Yizhou at this time.
Wang Yizhou sat aside, drinking tea non-stop and sneezing incessantly. The doctor from the Imperial Hospital had just dropped by and Ye Qinghe did not expect that he would suffer this today.
Ye Qinghe put down his tea cup and looked at Song Yin, “The dowry should not be too extravagant. No matter what purpose Empress Dowager Xiao wants to achieve through this marriage bestowment, we can only do our best to prevent Yizhou from becoming a victim of the power struggle in Great Xia’s political arena.”
“Song Yin, thank you for your hard work.”
Wang Yizhou was sincerely satisfied with his wangfei. Song Yin came from a noble family and had a good sense of propriety in her actions and sophistry, but never deviated from her principles. She could be regarded as his virtuous wife.
Song Yin smiled lightly, “This is my duty.”
Song Yin looked steadily at Wang Yizhou who was holding the tea cup next to her, took a deep breath, and said the words that had been lingering in her mouth for a long time, “Your Majesty, should we consider having a child again?”
Wang Yizhou paused his hand as he picked up the teacup, but only for a moment, he continued to drink tea without speaking.
“Your Highness…” Song Yin continued.
“Clang…” The sound was not too light as the tea cup collided with the small table.
Song Yin’s heart froze, and her eyes were filled with sadness.
“I have said that I will adopt Qingyu’s son in the future, so there is no need to mention it again at this time.” The last bit of appreciation that Wang Yizhou had for Song Yin was overshadowed by his sudden restlessness.
“Qingli’s dowry list will be prepared and handed over to me for review.” Wang Yizhou left these words and strode out of the main hall.
Song Yin sat in the chair with a normal expression, but the bulging veins on the back of her hands that were resting on the armrest revealed her suppressed anger.
Everyone said that Wang Yizhou and the Empress were on equal footing and had a strong emotional connection. Some people say that Wangfei was jealous and didn’t allow Wang Yizhou to continue the incense if she had no children.
Oh, but who knew that their monarch was indeed infatuated, but was not with her, Song Yin. She was just a facade used by their monarch to hide from the public.
Song Yin once thought that Ye Qinghe would let go of his sinful feelings sooner or later, but she didn’t know that he was so persistent that he still wanted to remain chaste for that person.
Not only was that person already married, but she was also Ye Qinghe’s half-sister.
Ye Qingyu, do you think you are fortunate or unfortunate?
——
In the imperial study at the northern end of the imperial city.
Emperor Hui and Taizi Feng Zhan were sitting facing each other, and the chess game was coming to an end.
Feng Zhan raised his hand, finished the game, then stood up and sat on the other side of the sandalwood chair, holding a blue and white tea cup and sipping it lightly.
Emperor Hui glanced at the chess game again, sighed, and stood up to leave his seat.
“Taizi is going to patrol the south. Do you want me to re-administer the court?” Emperor Hui asked Taizi Feng Zhan.
Feng Zhan looked at Emperor Hui, “Isn’t it true that my imperial father was unwilling to delegate power at the beginning?”
Emperor Hui’s forehead jumped slightly, and heavily placed the teacup in his hand, “How can it be the same if I take the initiative to delegate my power and if it is snatched away by you?”
Emperor Hui’s voice was not too low, although now that Taizi and Empress Dowager Xiao were currently at odds, which slightly calmed his anger. But whenever Emperor Hui recalled how powerless he was when Taizi and Empress Dowager Xiao forced him to hand over power, he would be filled with anger and ready to explode.
“I will take Qin Yan with me. Father needs to prepare the imperial edict to confer the title of Taizifei as I will need it when I come back.” After Feng Zhan said this, he stood up and walked towards the door.
Emperor Hui was just about to have a seizure when he was choked by Feng Zhan’s words.
After Feng Zhan took two steps, Emperor Hui picked up a memorial at hand and threw it towards Feng Zhan’s back.
“Feng Zhan, am I your father or are you, my father?” Emperor Hui said angrily to Feng Zhan.
Feng Zhan’s words and actions were like a busy Taizi’s schedule. He wanted Emperor Hui, Feng Zhan’s imperial father, to come out and supervise the country for Taizi? The more Emperor Hui thought about it, the angrier he became.
Feng Zhan stopped and turned around, catching the book flying behind him.
“Imperial Father, you really should read more of the Heart Sutra.” Feng Zhan glanced at the furious Emperor Hui calmly, then lowered his eyes, and said calmly after scanning the cover of the memorial in his hand.
“You…” Emperor Hui’s chest heaved violently. His son was truly arrogant and endless.
“All the princes and marquis have stayed for a long time now, it’s time to let them go back. Forcibly proposing marriage may have the opposite effect.” Feng Zhan said something casually and held up the memorial to Li Fuquan who was standing aside.
Li Fuquan bowed and took two steps forward to receive it with both hands before retreating to the side.
After Feng Zhan left, Emperor Hui sighed deeply.
If Feng Zhan could do what he couldn’t do at the beginning, would it be considered as completing his wishes?
Li Fuquan changed a cup of tea and put it on the table next to Emperor Hui. As soon as he put down the tray, Li Fuquan heard Emperor Hui’s tired voice.
“Call Imperial Concubine Ning over.”
——
In the western suburbs, He Xiao rode his horse to a sudden stop outside a large mansion, jumped off his horse, and walked quickly towards the entrance of the mansion.
“I have something urgent to see Shizi Xie, please send the message as fast as possible.”
Xie Changyuan was standing in front of a desk in the study room of his new residence, looking at a drawing on the desk.
“Take all these lands and expand them as far west as possible.” Xie Changyuan pointed to a piece of land on the drawing and instructed Li Zhong beside him.
“Shizi, I’m afraid you can’t go west. Beyond that, it’s all the farmland belonging to the Taizi Mansion.” Li Zhong replied with a frown.
Xie Changyuan’s face turned cold, that Taizi again.
“Shizi, Young Master He is here to visit.” Following the sound of the guards outside the study, He Xiao walked in in two steps.
He Xiao glanced at the study and caught the tea set on a round table. He went over on his own, filled himself a cup of tea, and drank it in one gulp.
“Uncle Li, you can leave first.” Xie Changyuan put away the drawing.
He Xiao had poured three cups of tea in a row, then slumped down on a chair, panting heavily.
“Shizi Xie, the palace has bestowed you a marriage, an official wife. I just went to the Marquis Mansion to find you, and I happened to meet the eunuch who announced the decree. He is from the Empress Dowager’s Shou’an Palace.”
He Xiao finished these words in one breath, then filled himself with a cup of tea and drank it with his head up.
When Xie Changyuan heard this, his eyes shrank.
He instantly thought of Qin Yan, but it should be impossible.
“I heard that the one arranged for you is the sister of Wang Yizhou.” He Xiao gasped and added.
Xie Changyuan’s face was cold and he strode out.
“Where are you going?” He Xiao stood up suddenly.
“Enter the palace.” Xie Changyuan quickly left the mansion, mounted his horse, and rushed into the city. A few horses behind him were He Xiao, who had just left the city to report to him.
He Xiao waited outside the Shenwu Gate of the Imperial City for a short time before returning to Xie Changyuan who had left the palace.
“Drink.” Xie Changyuan’s face was gloomy and terrifying. After saying this, he jumped on the horse.
He Xiao… It was rare for Shizi Xie to take the initiative to go drink, and he would sacrifice his life to accompany this gentleman.
——
At the Shuyu Lane by the Qianshui Lake.
Xie Changyuan restrained himself and sipped slowly at the wine in his hand. He brought up the drink himself, but he suddenly sobered up as he couldn’t drink too much due to his official duties tomorrow.
Xie Changyuan felt bitter in his heart. Despite his privileged background, he was not as free as the wild man in the mountains. The constraints brought by his family background weighed heavily on him, making it difficult for him to breathe, and couldn’t even make the final decision over a drink to relieve his worries, let alone the important matter of marriage.
When the cup of wine was bottomed, Xie Changyuan raised his hand to stop He Xiao from refilling his cup.
He Xiao withdrew his hand holding the wine jug, but still asked the doubts he had from outside the palace gate.
“What did the people in the palace say?”
Xie Changyuan looked at the empty wine cup in front of him with bleary eyes, with a bitter voice, “Empress Dowager doesn’t want to meet guests, and His Majesty said that he cannot interfere with the Empress Dowager’s decision.” After Xie Changyuan finished speaking, he chuckled, whether he was mocking himself or fate.
He Xiao suddenly thought of something,
“If you go look for Taizi…” He Xiao suddenly stopped talking again. He shouldn’t be saying something that he shouldn’t.
Xie Changyuan raised his eyes to look at the lake outside the window and let out another sarcastic laugh again.
Looking for Taizi?
Taizi indeed has great power. Perhaps Taizi could deal with the imperial edict issued by Shou’an Palace.
But, let him, Xie Changyuan, beg Taizi to forfeit the marriage for him? To expose his powerlessness and incompetence nakedly in front of his love rival?
Impossible.
——
At the Cangtai Waterside Pavilion of Taizi Mansion in Xishan.
On their way to Dajue Temple in Yuquan Mountain today, the Empress and Feng Yunzhao stopped at the Taizi Mansion.
Taizi returned from the palace and learned that the Empress was waiting for him at the water pavilion, so he came straight over.
Empress didn’t intend to delay for too long and got straight to the topic, “Madam Wang of the Left Prime Minister Mansion came to the palace the day before yesterday and asked me to find a reliable marriage for her daughter, Wang Jingyi, who is also your cousin. Madam Wang said that she doesn’t expect the other party to be from a noble family, but rather from a clean family background. The most important thing is character.”
“I haven’t been in the capital for a long time, so I want to entrust this matter to Taizi. Jingyi is a good child. If Taizi has free time, please help to find a good husband for Jingyi.”
Empress rarely took the initiative to trouble Taizi to do things and it was still a matter from her family, the Left Prime Minister Mansion, so it was a bit awkward to speak up.
But Feng Zhan just frowned lightly and nodded as if he agreed.
Feng Yunchao’s attention has been on the plum forest outside the water pavilion. She seemed to remember that a wall was built there by her imperial brother’s order?
“Brother, that wall in the plum grove…” After Empress and Taizi finished talking about Wang Jingyi, Feng Yunchao tried to ask.
As soon as Feng Yunchao’s words came out, Feng Zhan’s face stiffened inexplicably, and Song Zhi’s heart also suddenly froze.
Empress looked at the plum grove outside the water pavilion and couldn’t help but smile. It must be Princess Zhaoren Mansion over there.
After the Empress and Feng Yunchao left, Feng Zhan met with the courtiers and staff at the Taizi Mansion to arrange matters after he left the capital.
When it was time to light the lantern, Lu Chen arrived at the Taizi Mansion.
Feng Zhan instructed Lu Chen, “This time, I will be leaving the capital for about a month. Arrange more guards at the Dajue Temple and the rest don’t have to be too tight, give them enough opportunities to make moves.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Lu Chen responded with clasped fists before leaving.
——
At night, when it was slightly cool, Feng Zhan stepped out of Chenghua Hall but did not go in the direction of the bedroom. Instead, he went straight south and walked through the plum grove that separated the two mansions.
After arriving at the side of Princess Mansion’s plum grove, Feng Zhan stopped and said, “Is your master at home?”
As soon as he finished speaking, a secret guard in black quickly sprang out from the forest.
“Your Highness Taizi, Master is in the reception hall and has passed the message.”
“Lead the way.” Feng Zhan thought to himself, she was actually obedient today.
Feng Zhan entered the reception hall next to the lotus pond and immediately saw Qin Yan leaning on the couch by the window. Qin Yan closed her eyes and had a thin blanket over her body, with her black hair spread on the couch. A few strands of hair hung outside the couch, swaying slightly in the night breeze.
At this time, all kinds of chrysanthemums were in full bloom in the reception hall, and under the clear autumn moonlight, wisps of cold fragrance were in the air.
Feng Zhan took a step forward, and Qin Yan, whose eyes were still closed, suddenly spoke up, “Your Highness, do you think this is the backyard of your Taizi Mansion?”
Feng Zhan paused his footsteps, narrowed his eyes, and said in a deep voice, “Step back.”
Song Zhi had never stepped into the reception hall, and the only one who seemed to appear here at the wrong time was Shen Ying.
Shen Ying asked Qin Yan, “Master.”
Qin Yan lazily raised his hand.
Shen Ying went out immediately, as usual, and even closed the door with her.
——
In the reception hall, Feng Zhan walked towards Qin Yan step by step.
Hearing the steady footsteps walking in, Qin Yan slowly opened her eyes and saw that Taizi Feng Zhan who had already walked over lowered his gaze to look at her.
Feng Zhan leaned over, held Qin Yan in his arms, and sat down on Qin Yan’s couch, holding Qin Yan on his lap. Feng Zhan leaned against the soft cushion and held Qin Yan in his arms.
The comfortable soft cushion under Qin Yan was forcefully replaced by his hard body, the man behind her. Qin Yan frowned and twisted a few times uncomfortably, but her movements were stopped by Feng Zhan’s voice.
Feng Zhan’s voice was slightly hoarse, “Don’t move.”
Only then did Qin Yan realize that she seemed to have bumped into something. She turned her head to look at Feng Zhan with a teasing look in her eyes.
Feng Zhan avoided Qin Yan’s teasing eyes, stretched out his hand to pull up the thin blanket, covered the two of them, hugged Qin Yan’s arms tightly, and then buried his handsome face in Qin Yan’s slender and fair neck, muttering in a muffled voice, “Qin Yan, try again with me.”
Thank you for the chapter! 🥰