novelraw Chapter 700 - 689: The Cuckolded Prince
Chapter 700 - 689: The Cuckolded Prince
Ye Qiu looked at Lin Jingxian with a mocking gaze. The proud and beautiful woman of yesteryear was now as limp as a puddle of mud on the ground, her skirt covered in stains, her hair unkempt and disheveled, with not a shred of nobility left.
"Have you thought about how to choose? Do you want your children to be safe? Or would you prefer to end things cleanly by yourself?"
"Are you so cruel?" Lin Jingxian said in despair, she could already imagine the consequences of either choice.
If she chose her children, she would never see them again in her lifetime; they would have to abandon the glory and riches of the capital, while she would be scorned and ridiculed for the rest of her life. But if she didn’t let her children escape to safety, her own death would be certain, and the children would suffer mockery in her stead.
"Cruel?" Ye Qiu chuckled lightly, "Aren’t all these consequences brought upon by yourself? Who asked you to be so cheap? Who asked you to be so restless? Lin Jingxian, when you were having your fun with Ye Zheng, did you ever consider my feelings, Ye Qiu?"
Hearing his accusation, Lin Jingxian turned her head away in disgrace, and after a long while, she spoke softly, "Can you really guarantee that Lingling and Ming’er will be safe and wealthy for their entire lives, free from gossip and slander?"
"As long as they never come back to the capital when they grow up."
"Fine, I promise you, I won’t harm myself. Please, spare my children and my father as well..."
"Your father has resigned from his post and returned to his hometown because he raised such a daughter. Oh, and your elder brother and elder sister-in-law have also divorced."
"How could this happen?" Lin Jingxian looked up in shock.
"Why couldn’t it happen? Lin Jingxian, having caused such consequences today, do you have any regrets?"
Regrets? When Lin Jingxian endured torture and insults every day in Rong Royal Mansion, she would look up at the sky, of course, she had regrets.
After the new Crown Prince Ye Ke ascended the throne, life at Rong Royal Mansion became even more difficult. Without Emperor Xingwu’s protection, Ye Zheng’s temper became increasingly capricious, and he vented all his frustration on Lin Jingxian.
He believed that had it not been for Lin Jingxian’s seduction, he would still be the esteemed Crown Prince, and it would be he who ascended to the supreme throne. Had it not been for Lin Jingxian, he would not have fallen to such a state.
But he forgot that it takes two to clap; he was the high and mighty former Crown Prince, and Lin Jingxian was but a secluded woman. Had he not made advances, even if Lin Jingxian lacked shame, things would not have become what they were now.
The most innocent was perhaps Shen Xiu, who thought her husband was an ambitious and wise Crown Prince, who, even if not loving her, had given her honor and dignity, but this honor turned out to be temporary, set aside for another woman.
Fortunately, Ye Zheng never ascended to the throne, otherwise the fate of Shen Xiu and her children would have been even more miserable. It’s only a pity for her father, who diligently served for years in the hopes of seeing the Crown Prince ascend smoothly; now he has fallen from grace. Fortunately, the current Emperor is somewhat wise and hasn’t deliberately taken revenge on the Shen Family, but her family’s former glory is now gone.
She has seen through it all by now; let Ye Zheng go mad if he must. No matter how he torments Lin Jingxian, she will not intervene. She only wishes to quietly raise her children now. Perhaps, after Ye Zheng’s death, her children might still have a world of their own.
She does not crave overwhelming wealth and splendor, only that her children can grow up with integrity, and not be looked down upon because of their father king.
Gu Ling and Gu Ming are a pair of dragon phoenix twins, born into a merchant’s family. Although their parents dote on them extremely, they instinctively feel as if they once lived in a larger residence, with an older brother who played with them.
Their parents said they were overthinking it, that there was never such an older brother in the family. The siblings also only have a vague feeling about this and, after laughing it off, they set it aside. Indeed, if there were really an older brother, would their parents have kept it from them?
Meanwhile, far away in the capital, Ye Heng occasionally wonders how the brother and sister he never met are faring. He too had thought of searching for them in Jiangnan, but whenever he remembers how their biological parents caused such great harm to his Father Emperor, he loses the inclination.
And even if he found them, what then? It would only add to his troubles. Staying in Jiangnan is still better than returning to the capital to face public criticism.
"Prince, Old Prince says he wants to go for a turn in West Wolf, and asks that you need not worry about him," reported Eunuch Lu, looking helpless as he entered while Ye Heng was deep in thought.
Ye Heng sighed upon hearing this: "I know, just let Father go. Anyway, there’s no one in this world who can be his match."
No one expected back then, when the Eldest Imperial Uncle ascended the throne, that he would appoint Father Emperor as Grand Marshal of the World Army, leading a hundred thousand troops to fight against Beihu and West Wolf. Although the Ministers had known for a long time that the Fifth Prince was not as incompetent as the rumors portrayed, no one thought he had the capability to command troops.
Yet in the end, Eldest Imperial Uncle overruled all objections and sent Father Emperor. With just two years, Father Emperor defeated West Wolf, leaving them powerless to retaliate. In another four years, Beihu also signed a peace treaty with them in Dongchen, not only sending their princess to Dongchen for marriage but also promising to pay tribute with countless treasures every year.
Only then did everyone truly realize how formidable the once-ridiculed Fifth Prince really was.
However, Father Emperor had no attachment to power. After winning the battles, regardless of how much the Eldest Imperial Uncle tried to retain him, he resigned from the position of Grand Marshal of the World Army. Carrying the title of leisure prince, he spent his days riding horses and teasing birds, often visiting places of entertainment and generously spending money.
What made Ye Heng feel helpless was that, with a name and fortune now, Father Emperor became one of the capital’s most sought-after bachelors. Yet, Father Emperor avoided remarriage as if fleeing from something.
Everyone sighed about the Fifth Prince being hurt by Lin Jingxian back in the day, preferring the company of courtesans over taking another Princess Consort. Ye Heng vaguely felt that the truth wasn’t so, yet sometimes he couldn’t help but shift the blame onto Lin Jingxian.
He also advised twice, indicating he didn’t care about the Princely Heir title, but Father Emperor still didn’t want to remarry, even often running off to avoid their insistence. And with each year, he ventured further and further away, so Ye Heng stopped persuading.
Upon hearing the news of Father Emperor going to West Wolf, Ye Heng wasn’t surprised at all because Father Emperor had mentioned days ago that, although barren, West Wolf had scenery with a unique charm. He had guessed that Father Emperor wouldn’t stay at home much longer. Having witnessed Father Emperor’s martial arts, Ye Heng wasn’t too worried; now, he only hoped that the distinctive scenery could heal his Father Emperor’s inner wounds.
In the Rong Royal Mansion, upon hearing that the Fifth Prince, yet again, rejected the Empress Dowager’s arranged marriage and decided to flee far away, the emaciated Lin Jingxian laughed tragically at the sky beyond the wall. It was she who was lowly, she who had wronged him, she who had ruined his life. She truly regretted it!