novelraw Chapter 657 - 646: The Cuckolded Prince
Chapter 657 - 646: The Cuckolded Prince
Lin Jingxian saw Ye Qiu’s tone, which outright blocked her own steward’s excuse and once again she felt a surge of anger, why did she feel everything was going against her these days?
She took a deep breath, and her words became more pointed, "Prince, how can we entrust everything to the Historians? What if they are not careful and offend someone? I’m free now anyway, why don’t I help you check the documents?"
Ye Qiu looked at her with surprise: "How can you be free? Don’t you still need to take care of the two children?"
With an enlightened clap he said: "Oh! That’s right, Ming’er and Lingling are both two months old now, they don’t need your care that much. I think I will go to the palace and bring a few nannies back; I will also open two separate courtyards for Ming’er and Lingling, and Princess Consort, you can peacefully educate the servants in your courtyard."
Upon hearing that Ye Qiu wanted to separate her from the two children, Lin Jingxian immediately startled and said anxiously, "Prince, Ming’er and Lingling are still so young, how can they be placed in separate courtyards?"
Ye Qiu naturally stated: "Didn’t Heng’er have his own courtyard right after he was born? Princess Consort, children should not be overly pampered. It’s just opening a separate courtyard, and it’s not like there are no servants to take care of them, why can’t it be done? Rest assured, there won’t be any issue, the servants will fulfill their duties wholeheartedly."
But no matter what he said, Lin Jingxian would never agree. How could that child born by the concubine be compared with the two children she bore? Moreover, Ming’er and Lingling were fathered by that man, they definitely cannot be out of her sight.
Lin Jingxian forced a stiff smile and said to Ye Qiu, "Prince, Ming’er and Lingling are twins and they were premature. They were born weaker than most children, how can you ask me to be at ease letting them move out to separate courtyards?"
As she spoke, she also touched the corner of her eye, seemingly very heartbroken, "It’s all because I was not careful during my pregnancy and let them suffer so much. Prince, please have pity on me as a mother, I want to personally take care of them so they grow up healthy and strong."
Ye Qiu appeared to be in a difficult position, seemingly hard to refuse, "Since Princess Consort insists, then I will comply with your wish."
Seeing him put this matter aside, Lin Jingxian breathed a sigh of relief. The matter of the steward could be postponed, but another matter must be brought up now - the children had been one month old for a month now, why hasn’t Ye Qiu announced the news of appointing the Heir and Commandery Princess yet?
"Prince, did Father Emperor mention when he would grant the titles of Heir and Commandery Princess?"
"Oh, Father Emperor did mention this matter, but I declined," Ye Qiu casually said.
Lin Jingxian clenched her handkerchief, urgently asking, "Why?"
Why? Don’t you yourself know why? You want the children born by another man to take the position of my child as Heir and Commandery Princess? That’s wishful thinking!
But now is not the time to turn against him, and he has no proof either. Lin Jingxian had always had a good reputation in the capital, and others are even less likely to believe him.
Hence, Ye Qiu reasoned as if it was for her and her two children’s good: "Didn’t you yourself say that Ming’er and Lingling are weak because they were premature? I think like this, children who are weak cannot bear too much fortune, let’s wait until they grow older to appoint them as Heir and Commandery Princess."
Lin Xianjing was dumbfounded, she had never expected this to be the reason. She argued, "But other princes have already granted their children titles as Heir and Commandery Princess. If our children go out and are still called young master and miss, doesn’t that automatically degrade them compared to others?"
"What’s there to worry about? Not granting official titles to them is also for their good, and as long as they are my children, they will inherit the titles of Princely Heir and Commandery Princess anyway. There’s nothing to fuss over."
Listening to Ye Qiu’s unconscious tone, Lin Jingxian was startled, fearing that he had long known that the two children were not his. However, seeing that Ye Qiu still had an indifferent expression, she realized she was overthinking. Given his intelligence, how could he possibly know the truth?
But indeed, not granting titles to the Princely Heir and Princess doesn’t really matter. Her children are the offspring of that man, and being a powerless Prince’s Princely Heir and Commandery Princess would be an insult to them!
"I’m leaving if there’s nothing else. I’ll go out to eat," Ye Qiu straightened his collar and left Luoxia Courtyard without any proper reason.
Lin Jingxian watched his retreating figure with a malevolent gaze. Once Ye Qiu was completely out of sight, she hurriedly instructed the servant: "Furong, fetch water, I need to bathe." She couldn’t wait to wash away his scent from her, "Throw out the bedding on my bed and replace them with new ones."
The servants dared not make a sound, they moved according to her orders. Although Ye Qiu mentioned that the servants of Luoxia Courtyard were not dedicated, in reality, these people only listened to Lin Xianjing alone. The master disdained the owner of the mansion, and the servants followed her lead; although Ye Qiu was a Prince, they dared not commit overt transgressions, but in their hearts, there were few who respected him, feeling that their lady marrying Ye Qiu was a degradation to her.
"Remind the servants to be more cautious when in front of the Prince," Lin Jingxian said tiredly as she lay in the bath.
"Yes, Princess Consort."
Elsewhere, Ye Qiu, with Little Lu, made several turns and entered a secluded courtyard. Little Lu, puzzled, asked: "Prince, what are we doing here?"
Ye Qiu chuckled: "Today I am in a good mood, just came to see that unfortunate child borne by the Zhao Family."
The Zhao Family was indeed the mother of his only child, Ye Heng. Saying he was unfortunate was because she died shortly after giving birth. It was also Ye Qiu’s fault for neglecting her, which led to the servants daring to bully her, ensuring that she lacked even a proper midwife and Imperial Physician during childbirth.
Walking into the increasingly desolate courtyard, Ye Qiu’s guilt grew heavier. He felt sorry not only for the Zhao Family but also for his son Ye Heng.
Although Ye Heng was his only child, in his past life, right up until he was assassinated by Lin Jingxian, Ye Heng had not received a single day of favor from him as his father. His life was worse than that of a common rich family’s young master. While Lin Jingxian had a part to play in this, it was mainly his own failure as a father.
"Wet nurse, I’m hungry," in the barren courtyard, a skinny little boy with big eyes eagerly looked at a plump woman.
The plump woman, clearly impatient, grumbled: "Useless little thing, I thought I would find fortune with you, but who would have thought, you are a Prince’s Eldest Young Master yet so unwelcome, bah! Still want to eat, dream on!"
After hearing this, the little boy pursed his lips and stopped talking. He hid in a corner, hugging his knees, staring blanklly at the sky outside the courtyard.
"Just know to keep silent, why don’t you go out and seek favor from your father king? Truly useless, how was I blind enough to become your wet nurse?" The lady poked the little boy’s forehead, her face flushing even redder with anger.