The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Chapter 70 Don’t Dissuade
Forbidden City in the Capital City.
Emperor Hui went to Shou’an Palace for three days in a row, but was stopped outside the palace gate by the words “Empress Dowager is not in good health”.
Today Emperor Hui returned to Shou’an Palace but was not stopped. Instead, he was led to the main hall of the East Warm Pavilion by Xia Ying, the eunuch in charge of Shou’an Palace. However, he was kept there for an hour before Empress Dowager Xiao arrived.
In the Warm Pavilion, the atmosphere was not too harmonious.
After a few pleasantries, Emperor Hui went straight to the topic, “Empress Dowager, is the marriage between the Marquis of Yongding Mansion and the Yizhou imperial family somewhat inappropriate?”
Although Empress Dowager Xiao helped Taizi seize power from Emperor Hui, Emperor Hui still held great respect for Empress Dowager Xiao due to his gratitude for her support. At least, on the surface, it seemed that was the case.
Empress Dowager Xiao paused in stroking her cat, raised her eyes slightly, and spoke coldly, “I just changed the concubine that Your Majesty bestowed Xie Changyuan to the legitimate wife. Your Majesty can bestow this marriage, but I can’t bestow it?”
Emperor Hui was somewhat puzzled by Empress Dowager’s vague words, but suddenly he realized something, not what he had guessed.
“The concubine I bestowed to Changyuan before was the sister of Wang Yizhou?” Emperor Hui asked Empress Dowager Xiao.
Empress Dowager Xiao picked up the teacup and sipped it slowly. Through the misty white tea, Empress Dowager Xiao raised her eyes and looked at Emperor Hui, with a hint of sarcasm in her expression.
“When Your Majesty bestowed the marriage, you didn’t find out the identity of the other party?”
When Emperor Hui came out of Shou’an Palace, his face was livid, and he immediately ordered Li Fuquan, “Call Xie Changyuan to enter the palace to see me immediately.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Li Fuquan was outside the Warm Pavilion just now and didn’t know the content of the conversation between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. However, judging from the situation, Shizi Xie must have done something to anger the Emperor.
But Shizi Xie was someone whom His Majesty trusted and relied heavily on, so it would be better if he didn’t do anything to disappoint His Majesty.
——
Shortly after Emperor Hui left, Master Yishan arrived at Shou’an Palace.
Empress Dowager Xiao was unhappy with Yishan. She asked Yishan repeatedly about his behavior that had repeatedly gone against her over the years.
“Yishan, have you forgotten that it was me who arranged for you to be with Taizi?”
“Now, do you only recognize Taizi and not me?”
“Do you remember that you still bear the title of Imperial Master? And how could Qin Yan become your disciple?”
“Yishan, what are you doing?”
The tone of Empress Dowager Xiao’s last question became increasingly cold and stern.
After listening quietly to Empress Dowager Xiao finish speaking, Yishan let out a faint sigh, “What is Empress Dowager talking about? I’m already so old, what else can I do?”
“It’s just, Empress Dowager, there are many things that are predetermined and can’t only be controlled by humans. Why don’t Empress Dowager let go a bit? Perhaps there will be a different outcome.”
Yishan felt very sorry for his old friend, Empress Dowager Xiao.
Empress Dowager Xiao used to be passionate about Great Xia, the imperial court, and the late emperor. But ever since the Empress Dowager was betrayed by the late Emperor, her whole person seemed to have changed, turning into the kind of cold and heartless member of the imperial family that she hated the most.
She even had her hands stained with blood at one point, using her power as a sharp blade and becoming a killer without blinking an eye.
Empress Dowager Xiao’s cold and tired voice sounded in the Warm Pavilion, interrupting Yishan’s thoughts.
“Yishan, don’t encourage others to do good without going through their suffering.”
Yishan was dumbfounded. Indeed, the Buddha said, one couldn’t think about it, it would be wrong as soon as one think about it.
He would never comment or try to dissuade the Empress Dowager in the future.
But would the Empress Dowager understand that she could easily manipulate neither the Taizi nor Qin Yan?
——
When Li Fuquan went to the Northern Yamen Imperial Army Camp to find Xie Changyuan, he had already informed him that His Majesty was in a bad mood, so Xie Changyuan was mentally prepared before he stepped into the imperial study.
In the imperial study room, Xie Changyuan knelt on one knee.
“Your Majesty.”
What responded to him was a teacup that was thrown at him from the direction of the imperial table.
“Bastard.” From the direction of the imperial table, the emperor shouted angrily.
Xie Changyuan closed his eyes and did not dodge. The cup fell to the ground in front of him. The broken porcelain pieces bounced up and cut the side of his face, blood seeped out, and the spilled tea also splashed onto his robe. However, Xie Changyuan ignored it and silently endured the anger from the emperor.
At this time, Xie Changyuan didn’t know what he had done wrong to offend the emperor.
Could it be a matter of purchasing land?
He had indeed recently purchased a lot of land next to Princess Zhaoren Mansion in the western suburbs to expand his mansion. Could it be because of this?
But Emperor Hui’s next words denied his speculation.
“Tell me what’s going with the concubine of yours?” Emperor Hui suppressed his anger and wanted to hear Xie Changyuan explain this messy thing in person.
Xie Changyuan frowned in confusion, concubine? A Yan?
And Xie Changyuan suddenly thought of something, and his eyes changed.
Master Yishan once seriously asked him to cut off his relationship with A Yan. So, who was A Yan?
Emperor Hui squinted his eyes to observe Xie Changyuan’s reaction, unable to determine whether Xie Changyuan was aware of the matter. However, Xie Changyuan was in charge of the Northern Yamen Imperial Army, which was the last line of defense for the Imperial City. Xie Changyuan could not have any disloyalty.
And Yizhou, who had a close relationship with Empress Dowager Xiao, quietly placed such a person next to Xie Changyuan. Did Xie Changyuan know about this?
——
Seeing that Xie Changyuan just frowned and said nothing, Emperor Hui sighed and said again, “You came to me to other day to ask me to withdraw my decree to marry the Imperial Sister of Wang Yizhou as your legitimate wife, do you know that the Imperial Sister of Wang Yizhou who was mentioned in the Empress Dowager’s decree is the concubine you have been hiding away for three years?”
Xie Changyuan’s pupils suddenly shrank, and his face was filled with obvious shock.
Emperor Hui felt a slight relief when he saw that Xie Changyuan seemed unaware of this, but he was still angry at Xie Changyuan’s carelessness in allowing such a risky person to stay by his side for three years.
Empress Dowager Xiao’s eyes today seemed to be warning, but also seemed to be mocking. She was blatantly telling Emperor Hui that the Empress Dowager could easily place spies around Emperor Hui.
“Changyuan, don’t tell me that you have some connection with Yizhou.”
Xie Changyuan immediately prostrated to the ground and kowtowed.
“Your Majesty, I was also kept in the dark and had no idea.”
Xie Changyuan immediately recounted to Emperor Hui the circumstances of his acquaintance with A Yan in Meishan three years ago, and of course, he skipped the part about Qin Yan.
Emperor Hui sighed and shook his head, realizing that Changyuan was careless.
And now the Empress Dowager’s bestowment of marriage was clearly binding the Marquis of Yongding Mansion to Yizhou. Perhaps, the Marquis of Yongding Xie An has reached a consensus with Empress Dowager Xiao.
At this moment, Xie Changyuan actually remembered Xie Zhao’s decisive move to request an order to separate himself from the Xie family genealogy at the Longevity Palace banquet that day. However, Xie Changyuan could not and was not willing to do so.
Xie An, Marquis of Yongding, got his title through his mother, so he could not give it away to others easily.
Xie Changyuan kowtowed his head to the ground again.
“I am loyal to Your Majesty and request Your Majesty for guidance.”
Emperor Hui frowned. This matter was indeed troublesome, but there were not many people he could trust. If he abandoned Changyuan for this reason, would he be following the Empress Dowager’s wishes and cutting off his own arm?
Emperor Hui closed his eyes, then opened them again, with a tired voice he said, “Changyuan, I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
Xie Changyuan left the imperial study with a worried mind and heavy footsteps.
——
When Xie Changyuan left the palace, he first went to the Northern Yamen Imperial Army Camp to hand over official duties and then mounted his horse to gallop to the Marquis of Yongding Mansion. Everyone in the mansion was overjoyed to see the Shizi return to the mansion, but Xie Changyuan only went into the mansion to find A Yan. When he found out that A Yan had not returned, he immediately left.
Xie Changyuan once again rode his horse to the residence arranged by the Empress Dowager for Wang Yizhou in Imperial City.
After announcing his name, Wangfei Yizhou sent someone to welcome him into the main hall.
Wang Yizhou was not in the mansion, and Xie Changyuan only saw Wangfei sitting at the seat of honor in the hall. After a brief greeting, Xie Changyuan got straight to the point, “Wangfei, I want to see A Yan.”
Wangfei Yizhou, Song Yin didn’t realize who A Yan was the first time, and her mind wondered a few times, oh, wasn’t she Ye Qingli?
“Ask the young lady to come over.” Song Yin ordered his servants to invite Ye Qingli.
Song Yin asked someone to serve Xie Changyuan the tea, and then he picked up the teacup and sipped it on his own.
Judging from Xie Changyuan’s appearance today, he didn’t look like he was here to discuss marriage, but rather like he was here to call for punishment.
Ye Qingli didn’t recognize Song Yin as her sister-in-law, so Song Yin wouldn’t take the trouble to take initiative to block trouble for this high-eyed sister-in-law.
After a cup of tea, A Yan held up her skirt and ran into the hall.
“Brother Changyuan.” A Yan looked at Xie Changyuan, with uncontrollable joy on her face.
Brother Changyuan finally came to see her, and she knew that Brother Changyuan would not ignore her.
A Yan’s intention to throw herself into Xie Changyuan’s arms was interrupted by Song Yin who suddenly stood up and spoke.
“Shizi Xie, I won’t be an eyesore here, and you two can talk to each other properly.”
“By the way, Shizi Xie please bear with her, Qingli is still young… Oh, by the way, I’m afraid Shizi Xie doesn’t know yet. Qingli is what Shizi Xie calls A Yan and her original name is Ye Qingli.”
“Qingli is the youngest daughter of the late Wang Yizhou. She has been living away from home since she was a child and was brought back to Yizhou when she was ten years old. Her life is also hard. If there is anything she didn’t do well, please bear with her, Shizi. Oh, looks like I’ve said a few more words. I’ll just let Qingli tell you slowly.”
“Shizi Xie, excuse me.”
Song Yin walked out of the hall. When passing Ye Qingli, the two exchanged a glance. Ye Qingli looked wary, while Song Yin raised her eyebrows slightly, full of sarcasm.
It wasn’t that Song Yin didn’t know these vulgar words and phrases before, she just didn’t bother to use them.
Ye Qingli, wish yourself good luck.
——
After Song Yin left, Ye Qingli’s face was filled with smiles again and she rushed towards Xie Changyuan.
“Stop.” Xie Changyuan’s words were ice-cold, and Ye Qingli’s movements froze midway.
Xie Changyuan stood up and looked at Ye Qingli in front of him coldly.
Ye Qingli had tears in her eyes and looked at Xie Changyuan pitifully. In the past, as long as she looked like this, Brother Changyuan would immediately coax her.
Xie Changyuan walked towards Ye Qingli step by step, his whole body was surrounded by cold air.
“Ye Qingli? Didn’t you say your name is ‘A Yan’? What are your intentions in hiding your identity and staying in the Marquis of Yongding Mansion for three years?” Xie Changyuan spoke with a voice as cold as ice.
“No, I didn’t. Brother Changyuan, I didn’t want Imperial Brother to find me, so I didn’t say my real name. I didn’t have any intention. I just casually mentioned the name that the Master mentioned at that time. I didn’t mean to lie to you on purpose. It’s true, Brother Changyuan, please believe me.”
Ye Qingli said anxiously, walked forward to approach Xie Changyuan, and reached out to hold Xie Changyuan’s arm, but was flung away by Xie Changyuan.
Xie Changyuan sneered in his heart, she casually pulled out the name that the Master had mentioned?
Xie Changyuan took a deep breath and said coldly, “So, not only did you steal the identity as a disciple of Master Yishan and paintings from Qin Yan, but you also stole the former pseudonym from Qin Yan?”
“Where did you get your courage from?”
