novelraw Chapter 662 - 651: The Cuckolded Prince
Chapter 662 - 651: The Cuckolded Prince
The three brothers had their fill, and since Ye Qiu was with his child, they couldn’t go to their usual spots, so they each went back home.
Thinking about what his fifth brother had said, Ye Kai headed to the jewelry store to pick out a couple of novel pieces for his Princess Consort.
Xia Yixiao looked at the bracelet and hairpin on the table, surprised, and then suspiciously asked her husband, "Why are you being so nice to me today? Did you do something wrong?"
At these words, Ye Kai’s face flushed with anger at Xia Yixiao’s distrust: "Can’t I just treat you well for once? Forget it, I’ll return them."
"Who said I didn’t want them?" Xia Yixiao happily wore the hairpin on her head, continuously asking Ye Kai if it looked good, "Tell me, who gave you the idea?"
As Ye Kai watched his wife’s joyful expression, his gaze softened, but he stubbornly replied: "Why couldn’t it have been my own idea?"
Xia Yixiao scorned him: "You, have the heart for this?"
Ye Kai relented and started to explain today’s discussion: "Fifth brother told me to be nicer to you, saying you care about me that’s why you are so strict."
Astonished by her husband’s words, Xia Yixiao’s view of his Fifth Brother improved: "Really, Fifth brother said this?"
"Of course, would I lie to you? But why would Fifth brother say such things? Fifth Sister-in-law is not that strict with him, even virtuously allowing him to take concubines. Based on this, does Fifth Sister-in-law not love Fifth Brother?" Ye Kai wondered aloud.
Xia Yixiao, curious, asked further: "What exactly did Fifth Brother say about treating me well? Tell me in detail. What was his expression at the time?"
"Today there was a polo match between Imperial College and Honghu Academy, I lost one thousand taels, and fearing your scolding, I complained a bit, Fifth Brother then said you genuinely care and love me that’s why you control me, told me I don’t realize the blessings I have, and encouraged me to treat you better. As for the tone and expression, it seemed rather expressionless." Ye Kai recounted.
Xia Yixiao’s expression suddenly took a menacing turn: "Did you call me a tigress again?"
Ye Kai was startled and quickly replied: "No, no, how could I possibly call you that."
Xia Yixiao, having received jewelry today, didn’t want to argue and simply huffed: "Excuses are useless, don’t I know what you’re thinking? But you behaved well today, I’ll let it slide."
Ye Kai heaved a sigh of relief, patting his chest grateful, thinking that his Fifth Brother’s advice really was effective. If he messed up in the future, just bring home more gifts. Apparently, even a tigress has her soft spots!
Ye Kai was calculating inside, but Xia Yixiao was not concerned about those calculations now. She was concerned about Ye Qiu’s words, skeptically saying to Ye Kai: "What do you think Fifth brother meant by saying that? Is Fifth Sister-in-law not caring toward him?"
Without thinking, Ye Kai immediately retorted: "How is that possible? Fifth Sister-in-law is so good to Fifth Brother, how can she be uncaring?"
"What do you know!" Xia Yixiao glared at her husband, "You think a wife who allows her husband to take concubines is a good wife? As a woman, don’t I know better? If you dare to take a concubine, I’d chop you up in a minute. And why? Isn’t because I care and am jealous? But Fifth Sister-in-law doesn’t mind at all if Fifth Brother is out there enjoying himself. In my view, Fifth Sister-in-law might not be as caring towards Fifth Brother as the rumors say."
The more Xia Yixiao spoke, the more convinced she became that a woman couldn’t possibly help her husband take a concubine without any jealousy, especially voluntarily.
It’s said that Fifth Brother initially didn’t plan to take any concubines, but Fifth Sister-in-law insisted because she couldn’t serve Fifth Brother during her pregnancy, so she brought them in. Everyone initially praised Fifth Sister-in-law for being virtuous. Thinking about it now, it also seems quite unbelievable.
Who in the capital doesn’t know that although Fifth Brother likes to flirt, he also deeply loves Fifth Sister-in-law. He has never brought any outsider women into the mansion; usually, he just gives them some Silver and be done with it. Most young lords in the capital do the same anyway. After all, those women are just after money, and it’s a mutual arrangement, so it doesn’t really matter.
However, Fifth Sister-in-law argued that since Fifth Brother had involved himself with those women, he should take responsibility, otherwise, it’s unfair to them. And so, he took in two concubines.
Xia Yixiao herself says that if Seventh ever messes around outside, she would never allow those women to step through the doors of Seventh Prince Manor. She could never be as virtuous as Fifth Sister-in-law.
If a woman truly loves her husband deeply, would she be this generous?
Moreover, it was Fifth Brother himself who insisted on taking the concubines, but since he loves Fifth Sister-in-law so much, just a single word of reluctance from her surely would have prevented their entry.
Moreover, over the past half year, she had also gleaned some information from her husband’s words. Though Fifth Brother often frequented pleasure quarters, most of the time he would just listen to music or watch dances. How had it come to the point where taking concubines into the mansion became necessary?
Fifth Brother being a prince, doesn’t taking women from pleasure quarters as concubines damage his reputation even more? What on earth is Fifth Sister-in-law thinking?
"Are you saying Fifth Sister-in-law doesn’t like Fifth Brother?" Ye Kai, as if learning some shocking news, exclaimed, "How is that possible? Fifth Brother is so handsome and he loves Fifth Sister-in-law so much; what reason would she have to not like him?"
Xia Yixiao was also puzzled by this, but relationships between men and women are hard to explain, and they didn’t know much about others’ affairs. Guessing wildly wasn’t interesting and might even cause trouble if someone misspoke. Thus, she kept her doubts to herself and warned Ye Kai: "Let’s just keep this talk between us; don’t let it spread."
Ye Kai snorted, "I’m not stupid, why would I spread such false information?"
Hearing his defiant tone, Xia Yixiao felt an itch in her hands, but considering the gifts he brought home today, she managed to hold back.
Seeing her silent, Ye Kai, still bothered by the thought, blushed entirely.
Xia Yixiao felt curious and asked, "What’s wrong? You’re blushing so much just from thinking?"
Ye Kai stuttered and, still thick-faced, moved closer: "Today, Fifth Brother also took his well-behaved nephew out. You don’t know, little Heng’er looks so much like Fifth Brother, and is so adorable."
"Heng’er? Fifth Brother’s eldest son?"
Ye Kai looked at her astonished, "You know? I didn’t even know there was such a nephew until Fifth Brother brought Heng’er out today!"
"Only you, who cares about nothing, wouldn’t know. What does your stuttering have to do with Heng’er?"
Thinking of little Heng’er’s gentle demeanor, Ye Kai blushed even more: "I’m telling you, Heng’er is so handsome, and you are beautiful too. Let’s have a child; I’m sure our child would be as good-looking as Heng’er."
Xia Yixiao didn’t expect him to say this, then she suddenly blushed deeply, her eyes dodging and her expression was awkwardly shy, "Why speak of this in broad daylight?"
Ye Kai got scolded and felt both unhappy and aggrieved.