novelraw Chapter 144
Chapter 144
Chapter 144 Extra 1 – He Was WiseThe Crown Prince’s grand wedding attracted envoys from various countries, making the capital city bustling with excitement.
At their homes, the unmarried youths of marriageable age were nagged by their elders — Even the Crown Prince got married, why are you still single?
Muddled by the nagging of their elders, the young ladies and gentlemen of prestigious families had no choice but to go out for a stroll and enjoy the spring scenery. Surprisingly, several loving couples were formed as a result.
The congratulatory gifts from the Daimao Kingdom were more generous than those from other countries. As for the Third Prince, He Yuanting, who was imprisoned in the dungeons of the Ministry of Justice, they didn’t dare to ask about him at all.
As long as the Great Jin Dynasty didn’t send troops to attack them, they were willing to give up on this legitimate heir.
When He Yuanting, who was in prison, learned of this news, he remained stunned for a moment before laughing at himself.
“Don’t laugh. Just move the stones honestly,” Prince A’Wa, with his chubby figure, walked past him, holding a large stone in his hands.
Originally, as a prince of another country, he had the privilege of not participating in labor in the dungeons. However, a few days ago, the prisoners in the dungeons began to cause trouble, saying that they were all prisoners, so why did some people receive preferential treatment?
Once the situation escalated, it eventually led to everyone being forced to perform labor.
He Yuanting had never experienced such days of carrying stones and fighting for food. If it weren’t for the protection of the strategist in the blue robe and Yunhan, he might not even have enough to eat.
Whenever Prince A’Wa felt depressed, he would look up and glance at He Yuanting and would feel that he could barely get through the days.
“During these few days of the Crown Prince’s grand wedding, even the meals for us prisoners have been better than usual,” at lunchtime, the prisoners could rest for a short half hour. Holding their bowls, they sat down and whispered under the supervision of the guards, trying to gather information.
Those who ended up in the dungeons of the Ministry of Justice were all involved in major crimes. Most of them would spend the rest of their lives in prison.
Listening to the prisoners speculating about how grand the Crown Prince’s wedding was, Prince A’Wa sat down next to He Yuanting and sneered, “Ji Yuansu and that girl, are they really together?”
He Yuanting looked at him expressionlessly.
“In light of the fact that we are all unfortunate princes, don’t act so indifferent to me,” Prince A’Wa completely disregarded He Yuanting’s coldness and continued. He quickly finished eating the steamed bun in his hand and glanced at the two people sitting next to He Yuanting, “I knew there was something strange between those two. So, they are your people.”
He Yuanting remained silent.
Prince A’Wa didn’t care about his attitude and continued, “I have to say, you could have stayed as a prince in your Daimao. After your eldest brother’s death, you would have become the next Crown Prince for sure. But no, you had to go and provoke the wrong person. You just had to provoke Hua Liuli, the most treacherous vixen in the world.”
When Prince A’Wa mentioned Hua Liuli, He Yuanting finally deigned to give him a proper look.
“Brother, that look in your eyes…” Prince A’Wa’s expression became subtly intrigued, “Could it be that you also fell into her trap?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Who said we were brothers?” The strategist in the blue robe gave Prince A’Wa a cold glance, not concealing his annoyance towards him.
However, life in prison had made him look extremely desolate, he no longer had the scholarly elegance he used to have.
“Tsk!” Prince A’Wa took a steamed bun from in front of the three of them, stood up, and patted the dust off his buttocks, “We’re all prisoners. There’s no need for discrimination.”
Yunhan glanced at the departing Prince A’Wa, then looked at He Yuanting without saying a word.
He Yuanting stood up silently. He gazed into the distance, in the direction of the Great Jin Dynasty’s palace.
When he first arrived in the capital, he was captivated at first sight by the red-clad girl in the crowd. That vibrant and lively girl only needed one glance to be etched into one’s memory
Since birth, the people around him had always told him that women were only important pastimes for men, that men could like them but should not become obsessed.
When Father Emperor wanted to send his imperial sister as a gift to Great Jin, he did not object.
Now, when he was given as a gift to appease the anger of Great Jin, no one objected either.
In the face of interests, whether it was a woman or a man, they could both become sacrificial pawns. He had desired so much in his life, and for the sake of those things, he had let go of everything, only to end up with nothing in the end.
Closing his eyes, the wind from the mountains still blew past his ears, blowing through his empty heart.
On the viewing platform of the palace, Hua Liuli leaned on the railing, watching the distant mountains with their blushing maple leaves. Occasionally, she would take something to eat from the plate held by a palace maid, appearing completely relaxed.
“Crown Princess, when the maple leaves on the mountain turn completely red, the scenery will be especially beautiful,” a female attendant from the Eastern Palace whispered, “It’s also delightful to enjoy the clear autumn weather while looking out into the distance.”
As they were speaking, the Crown Prince approached Hua Liuli, holding a cloak in his hands. He walked up to her, reaching out to embrace her shoulder, “It’s windy up here. Be careful not to catch a cold.”
Seeing him, Hua Liuli fed the fruit in her hand into his mouth, “Didn’t Father Emperor tell you to go to the Chanyang Palace?”
“You’ve just moved into the Eastern Palace, I’m afraid you’re not accustomed to it,” as he held Hua Liuli’s hand, the Crown Prince ate the fruit she fed him, “Before our wedding, I already talked to Father Emperor and got myself a few days leave so that I can spend some time playing with you.”
Hua Liuli chuckled softly and didn’t persuade the Crown Prince to return to the Chanyang Palace to handle government affairs. The two of them sat on a stone bench, sharing the fruit.
Ying Wang, who just came by, saw this scene. His gaze then met the Crown Prince’s and Hua Liuli’s.
“Sorry for the interruption. Please continue,” Ying Wang turned and walked away.
Is the palace lacking food?
Do they not find it corny to eat from each other’s hands?
He hurriedly walked some distance, looked up to see the plaque of the Lincui Palace, then stopped his steps. Thinking about how his Mother kept talking about finding him a better Wangfei than the Crown Princess, he felt a headache and turned around to leave.
“Your Highness?” The attendant who was serving him hurriedly followed behind him.
Ying Wang, who was walking quickly, suddenly stopped just as he was about to leave the palace. He looked up in the direction of the observation deck, and thought to himself: Ji Yuansu is probably still having a sweet time with the Crown Princess, right?
As the bustling street noises surrounded him, Ying Wang was about to mount his horse when he suddenly remembered how the Crown Princess’s old ailment resurfaced after she was frightened by his cousin’s horse. He paused in his action, threw the reins to the attendant behind him, and continued walking sullenly.
He was not in a good mood, and he knew why, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak.
“Ying Wang.”
Hearing a girl calling him, Ying Wang turned his head, his expression turning somewhat subtle, “Oh, it’s you.”
Lin Wan looked at the man, who had almost become her husband, standing in front of her. She walked up to him and performed a deep bow, “This humble maiden greets Your Highness, Ying Wang. Is Ying Wang doing well recently?”
She had a sensitive personality, so she had long noticed Ying Wang‘s favorable impression of Hua Liuli. That was why she didn’t like Hua Liuli. Even though she understood that if a man had his heart set on someone, it was not the fault of others.
Did she have to admit that she was inferior to Hua Liuli in every aspect, only for Ying Wang to overlook her, his future Wangfei, and instead harbor feelings for Hua Liuli?
Her father had once told her that jealousy was an ugly demon. She remembered it, but she couldn’t comprehend it. Even now, whenever she heard news related to Hua Liuli, she couldn’t calm down.
“Benwang is fine. Do you need something?” Ying Wang raised an eyebrow. Their betrothal had long been broken. It might not look good for an unmarried man and woman to stand together on the street, right?
“No, nothing,” Lin Wan smiled stiffly, “I just came to pay my respects when I saw Ying Wang.”
“You’ve paid your respects. You may leave now,” Ying Wang couldn’t understand the twists and turns in Lin Wan’s mind, nor could he understand her reticent expression.
“Ying Wang, there’s something I want to tell you…”
“What does a young girl like you have to say to Benwang?” Ying Wang looked at Lin Wan warily, “You also know that our betrothal has been dissolved. It’s fine to pay your respects while standing on the street, but if you want to do something else, Benwang is afraid others might misunderstand.”
“I have a clear conscience and am not afraid of others’ slander.”
“Although you’re not afraid, Benwang is,” Ying Wang furrowed his brow, “What if it tarnishes your reputation, and Benwang has no choice but to bring you into the palace as a concubine?”
There’s no way he would fall for this scheme.
He was a remarkably intelligent man in the imperial family.
Lin Wan smiled bitterly. Ying Wang‘s attempt to distance himself was too obvious, she couldn’t pretend to be ignorant. All along, she resented Hua Liuli for causing her misery. She blamed her family background for not being prominent enough, which led her to the current situation where she was mocked and ignored.
But seeing the disdain in Ying Wang‘s eyes, she suddenly understood.
Her betrothal was dissolved because ultimately… Ying Wang simply did not like her.
“You despise me so much, Ying Wang?”
Ying Wang looked at Lin Wan’s tearful face and sighed, “Lin Wan, Benwang knows that you have no interest in Benwang. What you want is to the position of Ying Wangfei. Whether the Ying Wang you marry is tall or short, fat or thin, doesn’t matter. So, there’s no need for you to put on this act.”
Lin Wan bit her lip tightly until it bled, trembling as she asked, “What about Hua Liuli? Even if she doesn’t like you, would you still marry her if you had the chance?”
“Are you foolish?” Ying Wang sneered, “Using the Crown Princess as an analogy?”
Lin Wan glared fiercely at him, seemingly determined to obtain an answer.
Ying Wang didn’t understand what she was insisting on. He also didn’t understand why she had been against Hua Liuli in the first place when the two had no connection whatsoever.
“Just consider it as a favor for our past relationship, please answer me, Your Highness.”
“Benwang would.”
“Why?!” Lin Wan exclaimed, “You really have feelings for her…”
“She’s beautiful,” Ying Wang simply stated and hastily left.
She’s beautiful?!
Lin Wan stood stunned for a moment, all her emotions were replaced by anger. Hua Liuli was beautiful, so did that mean she wasn’t?
It was fine if he criticized her character, but why attack her appearance?!
Ying Wang returned to his estate, leaned against a tree, poured himself a glass of wine, and sipped it slowly.
“Why do you think…” He turned to the eunuch attendant beside him, “Some people are particularly despicable?”
The eunuch attendant didn’t dare to speak.
Ying Wang didn’t seem to have any intention of obtaining an answer from him either and continued, “What one can’t have, what one can never obtain, always seems particularly appealing.”
Autumn leaves fell, and he reached out to catch one.
“But Benwang is wise,” He toyed with the withered leaf and sneered, “Benwang won’t make the mistakes others make.”
The autumn wind mewled as he drank the remaining wine in his cup and tossed away the withered leaf in his hand, “Winter is approaching.”
He only had a slight regret.
Last winter, when his father asked him to marry the girl from the Hua family, he wished he had just nodded back then.
But unfortunately…
It was the biggest mistake he had made in his life.
It couldn’t be undone, nor could it be compensated for.
Fortunately, he was wise enough to know when to let go.