novelraw Chapter 665 - 654: The Cuckolded Prince
Chapter 665 - 654: The Cuckolded Prince
Crown Princess Consort Shen Xiu and Seventh Prince Consort Xia Yixiao sat at Lin Jingxian’s place for a short while before each returned home. Xia Yixiao’s observations today would not be considered for now. As soon as Shen Xiu returned to the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince asked her about the day’s events.
Crown Prince Ye Zheng looked normal, seemingly embodying the concerned and dignified demeanor of a future monarch regarding his brother’s household: "How was it? Did the Fifth Brother mistreat his wife and their legitimate children?"
Shen Xiu smiled lightly as she served him a meal, her tone filled with envy and admiration: "Your Highness is overthinking it. It was only today during my visit to the Fifth Sister-in-law’s place that I truly understood what it means to have wealth and glory presented to her. Although the Fifth Brother is somewhat flirtatious, he treats the Fifth Sister-in-law with nothing but the finest care and precision."
She continued as she recalled: "Just the garden alone, which was specially constructed by the Fifth Brother for his wife, is always meticulously tended to by the servants, all to ensure the Fifth Sister-in-law is never disheartened. Moreover, the accommodations at Luoxia Courtyard, truly a collection of the world’s treasures, rival even those bestowed by His Majesty. Not to mention the Fifth Sister-in-law’s attire and diet, which are indeed the finest among us sisters-in-law. As for the young master and miss, having eight wet nurses and no fewer than twenty servants and maids, how can this be called mistreatment? He truly treasures them in the palm of his hand."
The more Shen Xiu spoke, the more impassioned she became, marveling at Lin Jingxian’s good fortune. Even though the Fifth Brother Ye Qiu is not favored by the Emperor, he has his ways of making money and certainly does treat the Fifth Sister-in-law with wholehearted devotion, much fortune than ordinary women enjoy!
Her words were heartfelt, and her facial expression seemed genuine. Crown Prince Ye Zheng knew she spoke the truth, which only made him feel uneasy.
Knowing about Ye Qiu’s reckless behaviors outside, he feared his children might be wronged in the Fifth Prince Mansion, but knowing that the Fifth Brother cherished Lin Jingxian immensely also filled him with jealousy. Could she truly remain unmoved, truly keep her chastity for him?
A flicker appeared in Ye Zheng’s eyes, as he had long harbored these suspicions. Although Jingxian had previously been able to refuse the Fifth Brother due to her pregnancy, now that the children were almost three months old, could he really restrain himself, given his affection for her?
Ye Zheng was internally struggling, hoping his woman and children were unharmed at the Fifth Prince Mansion, yet also worried about Lin Jingxian changing her heart.
"Your Highness need not worry anymore about the Fifth Brother favoring the bastard over the legitimate children. From what I observed today, the Fifth Brother’s affection for the Fifth Sister-in-law could not be greater, and there’s no neglecting the legitimate children. As I heard from the Seventh Sister-in-law, it’s because of his great concern for the legitimate son and daughter, believing that children’s excessive fortune might lead to early demise, that he has hesitated in officially declaring the Heir and the Commandery Princess!" Shen Xiu unwittingly rubs salt into Ye Zheng’s wound.
Ye Zheng paused a moment, his expression remained calm, but his gaze grew deeper.
"Since that is the case, I can be at ease," he answered indifferently, looking at the lavish spread on the table but without much appetite.
At the Fifth Prince Mansion, Ye Qiu was amusing Ye Heng, when Little Lu came in to report: "Prince, the Princess Consort sent someone to ask you to dine at Luoxia Courtyard."
"Oh?" Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow slightly, his lips curving into a slight smile, as if to say the Princess Consort could no longer contain herself.
Indeed, although Lin Jingxian appeared glamorous and well-cared for, she actually had little backing, and not having been given the power to manage the household, her anxiousness was understandable.
But wasn’t she most afraid of him visiting her Luoxia Courtyard, afraid of tarnishing her chastity? What urgent matter does she have now that she comes to beseech him?
Lin Jingxian sat upright in her chair, her gaze inscrutable as she stared at the courtyard entrance, her fingers tightly clenching a handkerchief, seemingly troubled by something.
Thinking of the message her biological mother had recently sent, once again she couldn’t help internally criticizing her father.
Having already risen to become the Dean of the Hanlin Academy, holding significant authority, why can’t he be more adaptable?
God knows how much she didn’t want Ye Qiu to come to her courtyard, yet because of those trivial matters she had no choice but to deal with him, Lin Jingxian took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to get money from Ye Qiu without having to serve him.
"Play by yourself for a while, Father will be back soon." Ye Qiu ruffled Ye Heng’s hair and handed him over to Yanzhi.
Yanzhi and Little Lu silently listened to Ye Qiu’s casual words and they both remained silent, realizing over these days, even if they were slow, that Prince’s attitude towards the Princess Consort had changed.
But thinking about it, it made sense, although the Prince’s maternal family held no power, he was still a Prince, and he cherished and adored the Princess consort, yet she never responded much; it was natural for the Prince to feel cold-hearted.
It’s just unclear whether the Princess Consort had come to her senses this time; if she had, the Prince would definitely be pleased, but they were also somewhat worried about what would happen to the Eldest Young Master once the Prince turned back? It was indeed difficult.
Little Ye Heng obediently nodded, seriously playing with the toys Ye Qiu had ordered made for him, neither crying nor throwing a tantrum, Ye Qiu seeing him like this, joyfully spent a little more time with him, leaving Lin Jingxian to silently wait for her torment.
Only when the night fell did Ye Qiu arrive unhurriedly.
Lin Jingxian, feeling resentful, spoke in a tone not as gentle as usual: "Why has the Prince arrived only now? I have been waiting for a long time."
Ye Qiu moved past her and sat down on the chair, speaking indiscreetly, "Really? I knew the Princess Consort must be fond of me, since you’ve waited so long, let’s bathe and rest early then!"
Looking at his somewhat fluttered expression, Lin Jingxian’s face stiffened, feeling nauseous inside, what right does he have to be fancied by her?
Thinking about how her matter had not been handled yet, and that Ye Qiu was thinking about making love with her, she felt waves of nausea, and even if Ye Qiu agreed to her matter, she had no intention of accompanying him.
"The Prince is joking, it’s only just getting dark, sleeping too early can cause headaches, and today I’m not feeling well, perhaps the Prince should visit some other sister!" Lin Jingxian typically spoke generously and thoughtfully.
Ye Qiu felt sick at heart, who is she pretending for? Not willing to serve yet still wanting benefits, where is there such a good deal?
Since she disliked it, he simply had to disgust her a bit.
"The Princess Consort is feeling unwell again, huh? With your constant poor health, can you take care of Ming’er and Lingling well? Why not send them to the front courtyard, and you just focus on recuperating in Luoxia Courtyard," Ye Qiu said, mimicking her usual genteel manner as if for her own good.
Lin Jingxian’s heart tightened, her expression stiffened again, quickly saying, "The Prince is once again joking, how could the servants take care of them as well as I could? Even if I am unwell, I will still take good care of our children."
"Isn’t the Prince still here? Look, isn’t Heng’er being raised well by me?"
Raising a child like it’s a pet, can Ye Heng even compare to her own two children? Lin Jingxian scorned in her heart.