On Our Wedding Night, I Discovered the Crown Prince's Hidden Illness-Chapter 243 - Cultivating Affection

Chapter 243: Chapter 243 Cultivating Affection

As she leaned back, the light gauze of her nightgown slipped from her right shoulder, revealing a large expanse of her delicate, snowy skin as smooth as jade.

Leng Yu Yan lowered her eyes hastily, clutching at her garment’s opening. Feeling it insufficient, she wrapped herself in the blanket, her voice trembling slightly, “Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”

At this moment, she truly couldn’t discuss the issue with him.

In her clear eyes seemed to rise a luster like shimmering water, which, though she lowered her gaze to conceal it, he had carefully noted a moment ago. Ye Yiheng averted his face, shifting his gaze away.

“Then let’s talk tomorrow.”

He tried not to touch her as he leaped off the bed.

Feeling his movement as he turned and got out of bed, she added, “Your shoes are under the bed.”

Indeed, it wasn’t proper to linger here for long. Ye Yiheng gave a light “hmm” in acknowledgment, put on his shoes, and left.

Leng Yu Yan pinched the spot on her leg where his palm had touched, still feeling a trace of stiffness there.

His hand was clearly so cold, yet the spot he touched felt scorching hot.

Back in the Eastern Palace, looking at the bright moonlight, Ye Yiheng unconsciously rubbed the center of his palm, as if the smooth sensation of her skin still lingered there.

He must have been bewitched!

—

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The next day.

The Emperor summoned Ji Qingyu to the palace.

The uncle and nephew took a walk in the Imperial Garden.

“You’ve had the roster of eligible ladies of the Capital City for some time now. Qingyu, have you made your choice?”

“Uncle Emperor, may I choose none at all?”

“I remember you mentioning a girl you liked before. How is that going?”

“This…” Ji Qingyu’s heart tightened, “Let’s not talk about it.”

How could he mention it?

If the Uncle Emperor wanted to meet her and he found someone to impersonate her, and the Uncle Emperor whimsically arranged their marriage, how could he then pursue Ah Yan?

The Emperor laughed heartily, “Then how would you like it if I bestowed the Princess Beilan to you?”

Ji Qingyu could hardly believe it, “Uncle Emperor, are you serious?”

“You don’t believe it?”

“I thought that the daughter of Prince Zhenbei would mostly be married to a Prince.”

Thus, in recent times, he had been thinking about how to confess his feelings to Leng Yu Yan.

“Why sell yourself short?” The Emperor slapped Ji Qingyu on the shoulder, “If I give Princess Beilan to you, then you must find a way to keep both the princess and her heart in the Capital City. After all, your parents wish you to marry and have children in the capital, not in the remote Beilan City.”

Ji Qingyu nodded, “I understand!”

If the Uncle Emperor truly gave Ah Yan to him, he would spare no effort to be good to her!

When she had no family, she thought of traveling everywhere; now that she had a family, it was only right that she wanted to stay with them.

If she married him, given his father and mother’s fondness for her and her own kindness, she would surely stay in the Capital City. In time, as they had more children together, she would have new family ties and certainly could not bear to leave the Capital City.

As for the Prince Zhenbei Mansion, its influence in Tiancheng was so great that even the Uncle Emperor disliked it.

After all, the world belonged to the Ye Family; Prince Zhenbei Mansion had enough honor with a military title as a Prince of Different Surname. Anything more, they shouldn’t hide and keep to themselves, but give it to the Uncle Emperor.

Thinking even more malevolently, if something went awry with Prince Zhenbei Mansion in the future, and Ah Yan was married to him, the blame wouldn’t extend to a married daughter, and he could legitimately protect her.

Seeing Ji Qingyu agree so readily, the Emperor’s face showed a bit more mirth.

Ji Qingyu stood respectfully and bowed deeply, “May I ask when the Uncle Emperor plans to issue the decree?”

“Right now, Prince Zhenbei and the Heir are still unconscious; hasty decrees at this time would be difficult to justify on moral and sentimental grounds. In a while, once the situation with Prince Zhenbei and the Heir has stabilized…”

Once both Prince Zhenbei and the Heir had passed away, he as the Emperor could issue any decree he wished.

Ji Qingyu expressed heartfelt thanks, “I am grateful to you, Uncle!”

—

Prince Zhenbei Mansion.

Leng Yu Yan sat sideways under the veranda, her elbow propping up on the beauty rest, and gazed at the adjacent bamboo forest, her sky-blue scarf loosely draped around her forearm.

A gentle breeze passed through, lifting the scarf into the air, as the bamboo leaves rustled softly.

Father King and older brother had already awakened, unbeknownst to outsiders, with the exception of the Crown Prince.

Mi Xinrong had returned to the capital, and she needed to find an opportunity to meet with her. There was also the ongoing education at the Imperial College, and she had not yet begun her trial at the Ministry of War, despite having scored first place in last month’s archery examination.

These two matters were related to the true reasons behind Leng Yi brother’s death, and she needed to handle them promptly.

However, with so many eyes watching the Prince Mansion, Grandfather had advised that she should stay indoors whenever possible.

And so, there she was, sitting under the veranda, lost in thought.

Li Yuyue approached slowly: “Little sister.”

Leng Yu Yan turned at the sound: “Brother.”

Li Yuyue sat down opposite her, lifting his robe: “If we must use strategic marriage to put the Ye Family at ease, it doesn’t have to be you marrying the Crown Prince.”

“You mean…”

“I can marry the Ninth Princess. She is the Emperor’s most beloved daughter. If I were to marry her, our Prince Mansion would be safe.”

“But if brother marries the Ninth Princess, then he will never return to Beilan City. Being a Prince Consort for a princess is no easy task,”

Especially the Ninth Princess’s Prince Consort.

She had had interactions with the Ninth Princess, a person as capricious as Ye Yiheng.

Brother was the Heir of Prince Zhenbei, destined to inherit the title. Once he stays in the capital, he would in name only be Prince Zhenbei. If so, that would probably please the Tian Family the most.

Li Yuyue offered a wry smile: “And being the Crown Princess Consort is any easier?”

“It’s not a big deal for me to stay in the capital, but you have to return to Beilan City. You are the cornerstone of both the Prince Zhenbei Mansion and the Northern Garrison. You cannot sacrifice the bigger picture on my account!”

“But sister does not like the Crown Prince!”

“And neither do you like the Ninth Princess, right? Ever since brother came to the capital as a hostage, the Ninth Princess has shown her affection multiple times. If brother truly liked her, she wouldn’t still be unmarried.”

The siblings fell into silence.

Just then, Xiaoshan came running.

“Commandery Princess, the Crown Prince has sent someone to fetch you, saying that you had previously arranged a meeting to discuss matters.”

“That’s right!” Leng Yu Yan stood up and said to Li Yuyue, “Brother, I shall go first.”

She paused after a few steps down the veranda and instructed Xiaoshan, who followed at her side: “Tell Grandfather that I will only go to the Eastern Palace, and nowhere else.”

“Yes, Commandery Princess.”

Xiaoshan hurried off.

Li Yuyue leaned heavily against the beauty rest behind him. It was rather disgraceful for him, a grown man, to be protected by his sister, wasn’t it?

Once Leng Yu Yan left the Prince Mansion and boarded the Eastern Palace carriage, she realized that Ye Yiheng was sitting inside.

He had come to fetch her in person.

“Your Highness, why not come to the mansion?”

“Your mansion lately doesn’t entertain many guests; I prefer not to be scorned.”

Ye Yiheng gestured with his hand for her to sit.

His words were true, and Leng Yu Yan smiled faintly: “Are we heading to the Eastern Palace?”

“Does the Commandery Princess wish to go out with me to enjoy ourselves and cultivate our feelings?”

“Your Highness misunderstands. My Grandfather instructed me not to wander around.”

“Indeed, the matter of both Prince Zhenbei and the Heir waking up must be kept secret.”

Seeing his expressionless face outing the secret, Leng Yu Yan chose not to argue and replied with a shallow smile: “Thank you for keeping the secret, Your Highness!”

Ye Yiheng glanced at her sidelong with an indifferent voice: “Commandery Princess, have you ever considered, if I had no interest in the Prince Zhenbei Mansion nor any intention to marry you, what could you offer in exchange for my cooperation?”