The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Chapter 122 Lantern Festival
At the Prime Minister Qin Mansion in the capital city.
“What did you say?” Song Mei looked up in shock at the hurriedly entering Mama Li.
The colorful lotus bowl filled with nourishing soup slipped from Song Mei’s hand, spinning halfway around the table before finally tumbling to the floor.
With a loud crash, the porcelain shattered, causing Mama Li to instinctively shudder.
“Say that again!” Song Mei’s voice was sharp, filled with a mix of anger and disbelief.
Mama Li swallowed hard and stammered, recounting what she had just seen.
“Madam, I saw… I saw two small sedan chairs being carried in through the back door. Inside were two young women, and they said… they said they are new concubines brought in by the Prime Minister…”
Another clatter echoed as Song Mei violently swept the cups and plates from the table to the floor.
Mama Li stepped back, wanting to avoid any fallout.
In the past, the madam had been gentle and virtuous, but recently her temperament had changed drastically. She had become increasingly unstable, often taking her anger out on the servants. It was no wonder the household staff murmured among themselves, eagerly anticipating the drama that would unfold with the arrival of the new concubines.
Song Mei suddenly stood up and strode toward the door, but she halted at the threshold.
Where could she go? To the Prime Minister? To the Old Madam? Or to confront those two women?
She herself had only risen to the status of a primary wife from being a concubine, so what reason could she possibly give to stop the Prime Minister from taking in more concubines…?
With a heavy heart, Song Mei slowly walked back to the low couch, sitting down and staring blankly ahead.
Mama Li called in the maids to clean up the shattered dishes, and everyone remained silent, not wanting to invoke the madam’s ire. They lowered their heads and quietly tidied the room.
Once the mess was cleared, Mama Li and the maidservants left, shutting the door behind them.
Song Mei sat in a daze for quite some time before gradually regaining her composure.
She tried to calm her emotions and organize her thoughts.
Qin Wenzheng had never been fond of women. He hadn’t taken any concubines over the years, nor had he sought out romantic affairs.
It was precisely because of his lack of interest in women that she, as a tutor, had to go through so many challenges to be with him…
So why did he want to take concubines now?
Suddenly, a thought struck her, and her eyes widened.
Could it be… he wanted more children?
But…
If that were the case, he would discover…
———–
“Madam, Madam, it’s bad news…”
Mama Li rushed in, her chest heaving as she caught her breath, clearly having run back.
Song Mei slowly raised her gaze, her heart not stirred too much.
What more could be worse than this…?
Mama Li panted for a moment before speaking, “Madam, someone from the Ministry of War has arrived. They’re in the front hall with the Prime Minister, and it seems… the young master wants to enlist in the army.”
“What?!” Song Mei sprang to her feet, but dizziness suddenly washed over her.
Mama Li quickly stepped forward to support her, helping Song Mei sit back down on the couch.
Song Mei pressed her hand to her forehead and took a sip of hot tea to calm herself. After a moment, with Mama Li’s assistance, she hurried to the front hall.
———–
In the main hall of the Prime Minister Qin Mansion.
Qin Wenzheng sat in the main seat. To his left was Chen Xun, the Deputy Minister of War, and standing in the hall was Qin Ming, who looked down at the ground.
The Ministry of War had been exceptionally busy these days due to the recent attacks on the northern border, so Chen Xun got straight to the point, “Today, your young master came to the Ministry of War to say he wants to enlist. According to Great Xia’s laws, one must be at least fifteen years old to join the military. Young Master Qin is currently just over fourteen years old, so a bit of flexibility is possible, but I still need to confirm this with Minister Qin.”
Indeed, the Ministry was reallocating personnel to the north, and Chen Xun could see that Young Master Qin had come alone to express his intention to enlist, likely without his father’s knowledge. They did not dare easily accept Prime Minister Qin’s beloved son.
Qin Wenzheng furrowed his brows and turned to Qin Ming, “Why do you have this idea?”
Qin Ming raised his head, meeting his father’s gaze with determination.
“I’ve heard that the northern army is recruiting soldiers. As a man, one should protect his homeland. If I don’t go now, then when?”
Qin Wenzheng looked at Qin Ming, pausing in silence for a moment.
He was already aware of the attack on the northern border, but the northern army had not made a large-scale recruitment, they were merely reallocating personnel. Qin Ming’s sources of information must have come from the young masters he associated with regularly.
But was this a fleeting whim on Qin Ming’s part, or something more serious…?
At that moment, Song Mei rushed in with an anxious expression, heading straight for Qin Ming. Just as she was about to speak, Qin Wenzheng interjected.
“Alright.”
Qin Ming’s eyes darkened. Should he feel happy about his father’s consent, or should he feel sorrow?
He was now more certain that perhaps his previous suspicions were indeed the truth.
His father had gone to great lengths to send him to the Imperial Academy, hoping he would pursue a career in officialdom.
If there were no issues with his background, why would his father agree so readily?
Song Mei hadn’t heard the earlier conversation. She didn’t know what Qin Wenzheng’s “alright” referred to, but she felt a sense of unease.
Deputy Minister Chen Xun said, “Young Master Qin will need to go to the Ministry of War for an assessment. If all goes well, he’ll depart for the northern camp in a few days, so please make preparations as soon as possible.”
Chen Xun suddenly remembered that He Xiao, the eldest son of the He family, was the Prime Minister’s son-in-law, and that very few people knew about He Xiao’s situation. Even Qin Wenzheng likely hadn’t received that news yet.
He opened his mouth to say something but ultimately held back. This was not good news, and it was not his place to deliver it.
Chen Xun rose to take his leave, and Steward Zhang Quan accompanied him out.
———-
After Chen Xun left, Song Mei stepped forward to Qin Ming, gripping his arms with both hands, her voice filled with urgency, “Ming’er, you want to enlist?”
At fifteen, Qin Ming had already grown tall. He looked down at his mother, his expression a mix of emotions.
“Yes,” he replied simply, then bowed to Qin Wenzheng.
“I need to go prepare.”
With that, Qin Ming withdrew his arm from her grasp and turned to leave with large strides.
As he turned away, his nose tingled, and his eyes began to well up with tears.
This home, where he had lived for fifteen years, felt unbearable to him now. He didn’t want to stay another moment, nor could he.
“Ming’er!” Song Mei hurried after him a few steps, but he quickly vanished through the door.
Turning back, she looked at Qin Wenzheng with resentment.
“Why didn’t you stop him, Prime Minister? What if he encounters something unexpected on the battlefield? He is your only son…”
At this point, Song Mei suddenly fell silent. She thought of the two women who had been brought into the mansion that day, and it made sense why Qin Wenzheng remained so composed.
With tears welling in her eyes, she questioned him, “You took in two new concubines to have more children, didn’t you?”
Qin Wenzheng looked coldly at Song Mei but did not directly answer her question.
“Do you really not know why Qin Ming wants to enlist?”
With that, he stood up, walked past her, and left the room.
Song Mei froze in place, realizing there was nothing left for her to misunderstand.
That day, when Ming’er had witnessed the confrontation between her and Qin Wenzheng, his demeanor had changed ever since.
Ming’er was beginning to doubt his own origins…
————
The Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month.
In the imperial city, a banquet was held in the Fengtian Hall for officials and their families.
The emperor and empress left their seats in the late afternoon, and the banquet gradually dispersed, but the celebrations were just beginning.
From the fourteenth to the eighteenth of the month, the curfew in the capital was lifted, allowing for lantern displays, marking the Lantern Festival.
And especially on the night of the full moon on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the most magnificent scene was unparalleled.
From dusk onward, the streets were filled with lantern towers, lantern trees, lantern mountains, and various types of colorful lanterns, dazzling the eye. The streets were lit up all night long with vibrant lights, and the sounds of music and performances echoed for miles. People strolled about, enjoying the festivities and celebrating late into the night.
Qin Yan and Feng Zhan had little interest in the lantern festivities and they planned to return home for their own enjoyment.
However, for those who loved the excitement, after the banquet, Qin Xi pulled Qin Lin towards the bustling streets.
The Qin sisters wandered through the West Market for a while before entering Yunfu Teahouse, choosing a cozy room on the second floor with a street view to relax and have some tea.
The second floor offered a great vantage point, providing a unique perspective of the brightly lit streets below.
Qin Xi propped her chin up with one hand, looking excited, while Qin Lin quietly sipped her tea.
“Eh?” Qin Xi suddenly exclaimed as she seemed to spot something.
Qin Lin followed her gaze down, and their eyes locked. Both pairs of deep, expressive eyes meet each other.
It was him.
Standing just outside the bustling entrance of Yunfu Teahouse was Feng Subei, the Shizi of the Duan Wang Mansion.
Feng Subei exchanged a brief glance with Qin Lin before stepping into the teahouse.
Qin Lin averted her gaze, exhaling quietly, lifting her teacup to her lips.
Only she knew the momentary turbulence in her heart.
She had always been wary of holding his gaze for too long. Those focused black eyes had a way of making one feel as if they could easily fall into their depths without realizing it.
“Knock, knock, knock.” Suddenly, the door to their private room was rapped upon.
Qin Lin froze, her teacup halting mid-air, while Qin Xi’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at her sister.
“It can’t be him… can it?”
Qin Lin didn’t move, but Qin Xi, curious, got up and opened the door.
It was indeed him!
“Shizi,” Qin Xi greeted Feng Subei with a bow.
Feng Subei nodded and then directed his gaze toward Qin Lin, who was sitting with her back to him.
Qin Lin let out a soft sigh, what a fated connection…
————
Inside the private room, Feng Subei and Qin Lin sat across from each other at the tea table. Qin Xi stepped outside and gently closed the door, leaning against a nearby elegant seat in the courtyard while ordering a pot of tea, occasionally glancing up to observe the activity within.
Feng Su Bei’s gaze was fixed on Qin Lin’s face as he spoke in a low, rich voice, “Tomorrow, I will depart for Shuobei. Once I leave, I don’t know when I will return to the capital. This isn’t just a chance meeting. I came to explain some misunderstandings.”
What he didn’t say was that before heading to Shuobei, he would first take An Yanxi back to Youzhou. Perhaps his visits to the capital would become rare in the future.
Qin Lin had learned from her father that the northern border was unstable, was it wise for him to go now?
Feng Subei continued, “My relationship with the Shizifei is not as the rumors suggest. Our marriage has its reasons, and we have no true marital bond.”
“I hope you don’t misunderstand. My feelings for you are not driven by mere attraction, nor do I wish to humiliate you. I have tried to suppress my feelings for you, but each encounter has crumbled my self-control.”
“If we are truly fated to be apart, so be it.”
“I wish you peace and happiness, and hope you find a good man.”
After Feng Subei left, Qin Xi quickly returned, noticing Qin Lin seemed somewhat downcast. Not wanting to disturb her, Qin Xi leaned over the window to gaze at the lights and crowds below.
After a moment, Qin Xi suddenly stood up, grabbed Qin Lin, and pulled her outside.
“With your temperament, you’ll drive yourself to sickness!”
Qin Xi led Qin Lin into the bustling crowd filled with laughter and joy, immersing them in the festive atmosphere.
Meanwhile, not far away, the young man, with a serene expression, seemed out of place amidst the merriment. His tall figure gradually faded into the distance, disappearing at the edge of the market.
———–
In the Northern Liang Imperial Palace, Shen Shiying and her companions were ready to set out.
Emperor Xiao Qian of Northern Liang gazed at the stunning woman wrapped in a thick fur cloak with a cold expression.
“Do you feel ashamed to accompany me to Great Xia?” he asked.
Shen Shiying chuckled softly, stepping closer and reaching up to caress the handsome side of his face.
“Last time it was the flood that delayed us. There are some matters I need to confirm before we go back.”
Some grievances, she needed to handle personally…
“Mm…” Shen Shiying was suddenly pulled into a fierce embrace by Xiao Qian, who captured her lips in a deep kiss.
When they finally parted, Xiao Qian narrowed his eyes, fixating on the woman in his arms, his voice harsh, “If you dare to go missing again, the Northern Liang army will march straight to Great Xia’s northwest border.”
Shen Shiying ……