novelraw Chapter 655 - 644: The Cuckolded Prince
Chapter 655 - 644: The Cuckolded Prince
Watching Ye Qiu seemingly about to toss the child in the air, Lin Jingxian felt so terrified she was about to collapse on the ground. She swallowed hard, trying to maintain a calm voice as she spoke, "Prince, Ming’er has been crying for so long, and should have her milk now. May the wet nurse take her down?"
Ye Qiu reluctantly looked at the child, and said discontentedly to the wet nurse, "Alright, but next time you must not let the child cry like this again, otherwise this Prince will not spare you."
Seeing the child safely cradled in the wet nurse’s arms, Lin Jingxian finally noticed the cold sweat on her back and couldn’t help but shoot a resentful glance at Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu, completely oblivious, cheerfully said, "Princess Consort, now that there’s no one fussing, come and help me change."
Lin Jingxian pinched her fingers, took a deep breath, then displayed a mild and virtuous smile, "Your concubine is coming. Furong, go see if the maids have prepared the bath water."
Furong anxiously glanced at Lin Jingxian, then, not daring to create another scene in front of Ye Qiu like Mu Jin did, respectfully replied, "Yes."
Ye Qiu had just returned from the brothel, reeking of alcohol and powder. Earlier, Lin Jingxian was too tired to notice, but now, she felt so nauseous she was about to vomit. Thinking that these scents had almost reached her son just now, a surge of anger welled up in her heart. Yet, she did not dare to vent it out and instead suppressed it within her chest.
"Which sister has caught Your Highness’s eye today? Should your concubine redeem her for you?" Lin Jingxian asked considerately.
It was this habitual consideration of hers that led everyone to believe that the Fifth Princess Consort was enduring all sorts of mistreatment under this unruly Fifth Prince. Despite having the capital’s foremost beauty as his Princess Consort, he did not cherish her and instead frequented the pleasure quarters for unclean women. Not merely unresentful, Lin Jingxian even considerately accepted those women into her home, earning herself a reputation for virtue. Meanwhile, the Fifth Prince’s own reputation plummeted even further.
Hmph, who would know that the world’s most virtuous Fifth Princess Consort was in fact the dirtiest of them all? Secretly having an illicit affair with her own husband’s brother and even bearing him twins—a dragon and phoenix. How laughable!
Poor him, his former self was so infatuated that he gave everything for her. As for those women outside, "he" never really touched them; he only wanted to use them to provoke Lin Jingxian’s jealousy. But who would have known that Lin Jingxian never loved "him"? And without love, where would jealousy come from?
Yet claiming Lin Jingxian had no jealousy, she still wouldn’t allow other women to bear his children. He was the Prince, and no matter how fond he was of Lin Jingxian, during her pregnancy there were other concubines attending to him. But throughout the nine months, not a single woman became pregnant. Even the child that Lin Jingxian had before marrying in "accidentally" drowned in water not long after and lost their life.
His Heng’er, his only child, he would never allow that vile woman Lin Jingxian to harm him again in this lifetime.
Ye Qiu looked at Lin Jingxian acting the part of the virtuous wife, his heart brimming with mockery. However, if he were to expose his Princess Consort’s true face now, no one would believe him. They would only think him more ridiculous, not to mention her paramour was the esteemed Crown Prince himself!
Now, in the eyes of his Father Emperor, ten of him would not compare to the Crown Prince. Even if Father Emperor were to learn the truth now, he would only cover up the news. Perhaps, for the sake of the Crown Prince’s reputation, he would even be sent away to the border.
Ha, what a pathetic life the Fifth Prince leads!
"Prince, what are you thinking about? Are you thinking about the sister you just met today?" Seeing Ye Qiu remain silent, Lin Jingxian asked again, "Since you like her so much, why don’t I have someone clean up a courtyard tomorrow and redeem that girl for you?"
"No need." Ye Qiu frowned with disdain, "She’s just a brothel woman, not worth such solemn consideration. I’ve already given her one thousand silver taels today, which is giving her enough face."
"One thousand silver taels, you’re really generous, Prince." Lin Jingxian took a deep breath again, feeling her smile stiffen a bit.
Ye Qiu was well aware of what she was upset about. He sneered inwardly at his Princess Consort, who seemed perfect in every way except for the fact that her father, Lin Hanlin, cared too much about his reputation to engage in business, resulting in their particular poverty. One thousand silver taels; that was roughly the sum of her entire dowry, and the rest of her marital assets were just some ancient books and paintings that couldn’t be sold.
Although these items were valuable, they couldn’t be sold, so what use were they to her? Having seen the wealth of the Imperial Family, Lin Jingxian valued Silver Coin considerably. Yet, like her father, she habitually refused to appear as someone who chases after riches and status, thus outwardly treating money with contempt. In reality, she was quite pained about it behind closed doors.
In the previous life "he" was foolish, entrusting all his Silver to Lin Jingxian for management. In this life, she should not even dream about touching his belongings again.
She and her father looked down on him, the Prince, didn’t they? Despising the wealth he earned? Then they should never touch his filthy money again for the rest of their lives.
"It’s just one thousand silver taels, it’s not a big deal." Ye Qiu said indifferently, "I’m going to take a bath. Just let Little Lu attend to me. Everyone else can leave."
Although he had come to Luoxia Courtyard today with the purpose of displeasing Lin Jingxian, he had no intention of having any relations with her or her maidservants. Since the marriage, she had not let him touch her; it was the former self who was foolish enough to be duped by a few cups of wine, thinking the twins she bore were really "his" own.
After bathing, Ye Qiu conveniently decided to rest in Luoxia Courtyard. Watching Lin Jingxian nervously suggesting he sleep in the outer room, he darkened his face unintentionally, "The outer room is for servants to sleep in. What, I can’t sleep in the inner room now? One day I really must ask my father-in-law where such a rule comes from."
Lin Jingxian was genuinely afraid that if he made a fuss, it would become common knowledge. After all, her father was unaware of her matter with the Crown Prince. If Ye Qiu, on an impulse, sought her father to argue about her not letting him rest in the main quarters, what then would she say?
But what if she let him stay here and he harbored any ideas towards her? She had promised that man that she would never let Ye Qiu touch her body. Moreover, if she really did have relations with Ye Qiu, would that man ever allow her into his harem afterward?
Lin Jingxian’s eyes flickered with resolve, deciding that no matter what happened later, if Ye Qiu truly made a move, she would feign illness. He liked her so much; he surely wouldn’t force her, right?
Ye Qiu closed his eyes, sensing Lin Jingxian’s restlessness, and let out an inwardly sarcastic laugh, then quietly recalled the moves of the Level 8 Body Forging Technique in his mind.