novelraw Chapter 672 - 661: The Cuckolded Prince
Chapter 672 - 661: The Cuckolded Prince
"Why has Fifth Sister-in-law been gone for so long?" Xia Yixiao looked suspiciously at the door, as Lin Jingxian had not returned for quite a while.
Crown Princess Consort Shen Xiu considerately said, "Perhaps she truly isn’t feeling well. Shall we go out to look for her? We can also take the opportunity to admire the scenery of Tenth Brother Mansion."
"Even if it’s nice, I guess it can’t compare to Fifth Brother’s mansion."
"I heard that Fifth Prince renovated Fifth Prince Mansion at a great expense to welcome the Fifth Princess Consort. Is it really as splendid as the rumors claim?" An official’s wife asked curiously.
"Isn’t that so?" sighed Xia Yixiao. "I guess apart from the Eastern Palace, Fifth Brother’s courtyard is the prettiest and most exquisite."
Upon hearing this, Shen Xiu chuckled, "The Eastern Palace is mostly filled with items bestowed by the Holy Emperor, which can’t compare to Fifth Brother’s thoughtful arrangements for his wife."
Another high-ranking official’s wife clicked her tongue in amazement: "Fifth Prince really treats the Fifth Princess Consort well!"
Most of the women present showed envious expressions. Although Fifth Prince was usually a bit frivolous, his affection for the Fifth Princess Consort was unwavering. If their own husbands were even a third as attentive to them as Fifth Prince was to Fifth Princess Consort, they would be completely content.
Listening to these ladies’ envious comments, Shen Xiu couldn’t help but think of the Crown Prince. As the Heir Apparent, he naturally did not have the tender affection for her that one would have for a typical wife or concubine, but the Crown Prince had given her the greatest honor, and he never interfered with the affairs of the harem. She thought to herself that the way the Crown Prince treated her was not bad at all.
However, what she didn’t know was that the Crown Prince she loved was embracing another woman at this moment.
After hurriedly making love, Lin Jingxian leaned against Crown Prince Ye Zheng with a flushed face, her expression filled with happiness.
"I really can’t reconcile myself to this," the Crown Prince bit her ear and said. "If only I had been in the capital when Father Emperor arranged the marriage, then you would have been able to stay by my side forever."
Upon hearing this, Lin Jingxian’s eyes also brimmed with loss: "Your Highness, you are not to blame. Who could have predicted such a coincidence!"
As she spoke, she also recalled the time when she first met the Crown Prince. At that time, her father was not yet the Dean of the Hanlin Academy, and she was merely the daughter of a Sixth-Rank Official. Her father was always strict with her, and she had begged for a long time before her father allowed her to go out on the day of Qixi Festival.
Her father was an upstanding official and there was no business at home, she watched other young ladies carrying exquisite festival lanterns and she also wanted one. Without money to buy, she decided to win one instead.
Using her own skills, she won the most beautiful lantern, and by chance, this spectacle caught the eyes of the Crown Prince. Through his arrangements, she developed feelings for this handsome and noble man in front of her.
Later on, she found out that he was the Crown Prince and was quite apprehensive for a while, but he promised her his undivided attention and devotion.
However, at that time, he was already married to the Crown Princess Consort, and her own status was not high enough to be a concubine. With his support, she gained the title of the capital’s number one beauty, and her father became the Dean of the Hanlin Academy.
Just when he was preparing to ask the Holy Emperor to take her as a concubine, the Crown Prince was sent to Jiangnan on inspection. Neither of them took the trip seriously, assuming that once he returned from Jiangnan, they would finally be together.
But who would have known that at that time the Holy Emperor would decree a marriage for her, and to the worthless Ye Qiu.
At that time, Ye Qiu’s fondness for beauties was well known throughout the capital, and the Holy Emperor was rather annoyed with this son. He thought that Lin Jingxian, as the capital’s number one beauty, would surely make his Fifth Prince settle down, and considering her father’s old-fashioned and pedantic nature, he could educate Ye Qiu. In the eyes of the Holy Emperor, Ye Qiu and Lin Jingxian were a match made in heaven.
However, Lin Jingxian was thunderstruck when she received the imperial decree. She wanted to defy the decree but feared that doing so would bring punishment upon her entire family. She wanted to contact the Crown Prince, but had no way to do so.
So by the time the Crown Prince returned from Jiangnan, the wedding was imminent, and there was nothing that could be done to change it.
On the night before Lin Jingxian’s marriage, the Crown Prince couldn’t bear the thought of his beloved woman becoming his brother’s wife and finally made her his.
Luckily, Ye Qiu was foolish enough to be deceived whether his wedding chamber was consummated or not.
"Wait for me, once I ascend to that position, we can be together every day, and our children will have an even more revered status," the Crown Prince Ye Zheng tightened his grip on Lin Jingxian’s hand.
Lin Jingxian smiled sweetly, as if she had already witnessed the scene he promised.
After being intimate for a while, Lin Jingxian hurriedly got up to tidy her clothes and hair ornaments and quietly left the serene courtyard alone.
"Princess Consort, where did you go?" As soon as her figure appeared, Mu Jin and Furong hurriedly asked.
Mu Jin added, "If you hadn’t shown up, Furong and I would have notified Ten’s mansion’s housekeeper Daya to search for you."
"It’s nothing serious, I just walked a bit too far," Lin Jingxian said calmly, "Don’t make a fuss over nothing in the future. Just do as I tell you."
"Yes," Mu Jin bowed, her eyes cast down, hiding her suspicion.
"Fifth Sister-in-law, there you are!" As soon as their conversation ended, a group of people approached from afar, with Xia Yixiao greeting her with a smile, "You must’ve gotten lost among the exquisite scenery of Fifth Brother’s mansion, which looks similar to that of Ten’s mansion!"
"That must be it," the ladies beside chimed in with laughter, appearing quite envious.
Lin Jingxian was caught off guard but went along with it, saying, "I drank a bit too much wine, felt dizzy and wandered off too far."
She stood in front of the path, afraid that Shen Xiu and the others might cross it to reach the Crown Prince’s resting courtyard—even though she knew it was guarded by the Hidden Guard, she still felt a bit guilty.
However, seeing Shen Xiu’s expression that suggested she knew nothing, Lin Jingxian took some pride; what did it matter how high profile Shen Xiu was now? She was just a tool used by the Crown Prince, and when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, Shen Xiu and her child’s places would belong to herself and Ming’er.
Lin Jingxian only prayed that the Holy Emperor would pass away soon, so she could return to his side sooner.
Shen Xiu had been the Crown Princess Consort for many years and was no simple-minded woman. She definitely noticed the look in Lin Jingxian’s eyes but was somewhat puzzled. Just as she felt suspicious, a servant came to report: "Lady Crown Princess Consort."
"What is it?"
"The Fifth Prince is drunk and calling for the Fifth Princess Consort. The Seventh Prince and Prince X suggest calling it a day and disperse for now."
"I understand," Shen Xiu replied, and following her, the ladies with the Imperial Decrees also took their leave, leaving only her, Lin Jingxian, and Xia Yixiao, the sisters-in-law.
Now, only Ye Qiu, Ye Ke, Ye Kai, and Ye Qi, the four brothers, were left in the front courtyard. They were all family, so there was no need for discretion.
Ye Qiu was indeed as drunk as the servants described, continuously calling out "Princess Consort" and "Jingxian," making it clear to everyone his deep affection for Lin Jingxian.
Xia Yixiao only glanced once before turning her gaze away from Lin Jingxian’s face, catching a fleeting look of disgust.
She paused for a moment, but deep down, she wasn’t particularly surprised.