novelraw Chapter 663 - 652: The Cuckolded Prince
Chapter 663 - 652: The Cuckolded Prince
Recently, another rumor about Ye Qiu has spread through the capital, claiming that he dotes on his illegitimate son while neglecting his legitimate son and daughter. Regarding this rumor, some believe it while others do not.
Those who believe do so because they have all seen how the Fifth Prince personally carries his illegitimate son around the entire capital for fun. Those who disbelieve think that since the Fifth Prince adores the Fifth Princess Consort so much, how could he not love the children she bore him? Moreover, the Fifth Princess Consort gave birth to twins, a dragon and a phoenix, which are considered auspicious signs. It makes no sense for the Fifth Prince not to cherish them.
However, there are many rumors about Ye Qiu in the capital. Ordinary folks simply listen and laugh it off, but there is one person who is extremely attentive to Lin Jingxian and the two children she gave birth to.
In the Eastern Palace, a man exuding nobility dines in silence with the assistance of servants. This man is none other than Dongchen Country’s Crown Prince, Ye Zheng, the second most honored person in the world.
Ye Zheng is the only son of the late Empress Wen Hui. Empress Wen Hui and the Holy Emperor were childhood sweethearts with profound affection for each other. However, she was never physically strong and only after many years of convalescence did she manage to give birth to Ye Zheng with difficulty. The Holy Emperor greatly cherished this son, the offspring of his most beloved woman, and promptly conferred the title of Princely Heir when he was just a month old. Later, when the Holy Emperor ascended the throne, it was only natural that Ye Zheng was named Crown Prince.
But Empress Wen Hui was not blessed with good fortune. She passed away due to health issues just a few years after being conferred the title of Empress. For this reason, the current Holy Emperor grieved for a full year without setting foot in the harem. It was only after the Empress Dowager’s coercion that he once again sought the company of the concubines. Since then, he seemed to have given up on himself, not only increasing the number of concubines in the harem, but also looking for agreeable women outside the palace. The mother of Ye Qiu was chosen by him during that period.
After the death of Empress Wen Hui, her name and palace became taboos in the royal court. For some time, the Crown Prince was neglected by the Holy Emperor, who probably resented that the birth of his son had deteriorated the health of his most beloved woman. Later, for reasons unknown, the Holy Emperor suddenly came to his senses, feeling that neglecting the Crown Prince was a disservice to his most beloved Empress Wen Hui, and thus he began to double his affection towards the Crown Prince.
To this day, the Holy Emperor’s princes and princesses are born one after another, but none pose a threat to his status.
Ye Zheng, tended to by the caring Crown Princess Consort, rinses his mouth and dresses freely, his brow lightly furrowed as he contemplates an issue that preoccupies his heart.
Seeing this, the Crown Princess Consort tenderly smiles and asks, "Your Highness, is there something troubling you? Would you speak to me about it?"
The Crown Princess Consort, Shen Xiu, is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Prime Minister, raised from a young age as the head of the family. Her talents were just beginning to show when she was discerningly bestowed as a bride to the current Crown Prince by the astute Holy Emperor. She and the Crown Prince were childhood spouses, and the Crown Prince has great respect for her, often discussing matters unrelated to state affairs with her. This is why she dares to ask so directly.
"There’s nothing particularly bothering me; it’s just that the recent rumors about Fifth are a bit absurd."
The Crown Princess Consort gently laughs, "Fifth Brother has always been a playful one. I’m unaware of any recent rumors about him. Would Your Highness care to share?"
"It’s nothing much, just that he is rumored to favor his bastard and look down on his legitimate son." Thinking of the woman he loves now married to his own brother as a wife, a wave of melancholy involuntarily rises in the Crown Prince’s heart. However, Jingxian reassured him that she would not let Fifth touch her, which somewhat consoled him. But thinking about his two children registered under Fifth’s name, he felt extremely uncomfortable.
The twins that Jingxian bore for him are his auspicious symbols, but they are unfortunately linked to Fifth, making it really vexing for him to think about. Moreover, Fifth is now even more affectionate towards his bastard son. Who knows what kind of life his children are leading in Fifth’s household?
The Crown Princess Consort casually responded after hearing the Crown Prince’s words: "These rumors indeed sound like something the Fifth Brother could do, but he adores his Fifth Sister-in-law so much, I’m sure he wouldn’t mistreat his legitimate son. Why are you concerned about this today, Your Highness?"
The Crown Prince’s expression revealed nothing out of the ordinary; he looked utterly stern: "It’s precisely because the Fifth Brother commits too many preposterous acts, I fear it might damage the Royal Family’s image."
The Crown Princess Consort nodded in agreement: "You have a point, Your Highness. The Fifth Brother indeed behaves rashly most of the time, but they’re all trivial matters. People will talk and then it will pass; Your Highness needn’t take it too seriously."
How could I not care? Those are his two children!
However, the Prime Minister is currently too powerful, and the Crown Princess Consort always values virtue and propriety, so Ye Zheng would definitely not reveal the truth under such circumstances. Instead, he played the role of a good elder brother: "Regardless, he is my Imperial Brother. You should find time to visit the Fifth Prince’s residence, to see how the Fifth Princess Consort is faring there."
This was a minor matter, and as the Crown Princess Consort, Shen Xiu also had the duty to look after the Princess Consorts appointed by Imperial Decree. Thus, she agreed without a second thought: "Yes, I shall send an invitation to the Fifth Sister-in-law tomorrow."
After giving his instructions to the Crown Princess Consort, the Crown Prince also thought about personally giving Ye Qiu a warning. But with state affairs keeping him busy and Ye Qiu not holding any official position, it was normally hard to meet. Fortunately, in a few days, it would be their Tenth Brother’s birthday, and then not only could he reprimand the Fifth Brother, but he might also take the opportunity to see Jingxian.
When Lin Jingxian received the visiting card from the Crown Princess Consort, she knew that the Crown Prince had contributed to this and felt a wave of comfort. However, thinking about the wife of the man she loved but could not have coming to visit her, she couldn’t help but feel a wave of envy after another.
Why can Shen Xiu walk around bearing the status of his wife, while I can only marry another man? Why must even our children be beneath hers?
Was it really because Shen Xiu was a few years older and a better match for the Crown Prince, or because her father was the Prime Minister, that I had no choice but to marry the good-for-nothing Ye Qiu?
Lin Jingxian seethed with secret resentment but had no recourse. All she could hope for was that the Crown Prince would ascend the throne soon. Then, Ye Qiu could naturally vanish, and she would have the opportunity to enter that man’s harem. Only then could her children compete for that coveted throne.
After reading the invitation, Lin Jingxian composed a reply herself and then dressed up splendidly, waiting in her residence. She absolutely could not lose.
Upon receiving Lin Jingxian’s reply, Crown Princess Consort Shen Xiu, accompanied by her servants, personally paid a visit to the Fifth Princess Consort’s residence. Coincidentally, the Seventh Princess Consort Xia Yixiao was just leaving from having paid her respects to Lady and came to the Eastern Palace to find her, so she invited Xia Yixiao to join her.
Crown Princess Consort and the Seventh Princess Consort came for a visit, and Lin Jingxian personally awaited at the entrance. Today, she wore a light moon-white Su Embroidery Gauze Dress, on her head was a jade hairpin of excellent nephrite quality, and the embroidered shoes on her feet even had eastern pearls the size of dove eggs, truly exuding an Immortal Energy aura.
Although the Crown Princess Consort was stable, virtuous, intelligent, and possessed a good character, her appearance was rather ordinary. The Seventh Princess Consort Xia Yixiao was indeed pretty, but her beauty was different from Lin Jingxian’s ethereal elegance, as she exuded a rich, radiant charm. They represented distinct types of beauty, and according to the aesthetic standards of the court, Lin Jingxian’s appearance and temperament were more favored, which was why she was heralded as the beauty of the capital.