Chapter 157 - We Are Willful!
“What's happening here?” The King of South Jin hurried over and briefly surveyed the scene, not immediately attending to his cherished concubine.
Crown Prince Zhao and Tang Yue stood to the side in silence. They appeared detached from the situation, though it was only tangentially related to them.
“My king, I'm experiencing stomach pains…” The woman clutched her partially exposed abdomen and cried out.
“Madam, given your pregnancy, shouldn't you be resting comfortably in your chambers? Are my attendants all asleep on the job? Hurry, assist them!” The King of South Jin bellowed, prompting the kneeling eunuchs, who had been frozen in place out of fear, to scramble into action.
The woman waved off the offered support and protested, “Your Majesty, I was merely feeling cooped up indoors and decided to take a stroll. Who could have foreseen that the Crown Princess would harm me in the presence of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess? I…”
Crown Prince Zhao's expression darkened considerably, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Indeed, how could a woman of unknown origin be deserving of the Crown Princess injuring you? Quite the spectacle!”
Tang Yue couldn't help but chuckle, offering a respectful gesture to the King of South Jin. “Royal Father, I beg your forgiveness. We were unaware that Merlin couldn't enter this area. We rushed in without caution and inadvertently disturbed this lady. Please accept our apologies.”
Although the King of South Jin was uncertain about the details, he could surmise a rough outline from the exchanged words, and his expression became increasingly intriguing.
He had let his son down after the events of last night. Everyone had witnessed his display of mistrust, and they were all contemplating how to console his son. Now, his beloved concubine had ventured out to stir up trouble here. What an ignorant woman!
Tang Yue had managed to easily escalate the situation. “Royal Father, this lady has been sitting in the snow for quite some time. Despite my attempts to persuade her, she refused to rise and insisted on waiting for you. She is wearing six layers of armor, which can't be good for the child's well-being. Both my son and I are men, making it inconvenient for us to provide assistance.”
In a single sentence, she had branded the woman as a “conniving schemer,” and it wasn't just for her own benefit. She wanted the King of South Jin to see it as well. She disregarded the safety of the royal heir, suggesting that if something happened to the child, the blame would fall on the Crown Prince.
“Take Madam Wu back. She must not step out of her chambers until the child is born!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Your Majesty… Your Majesty… How could you treat me like this, I…” The shrill voice echoed through the Imperial Garden, inexplicably grating.
The King of South Jin cast a disgusted glance in her direction and waved his hand dismissively. “Remove her from my sight!”
His son and daughter had placed great expectations on this child. Were it not for his advanced age, he wouldn't have been concerned about the child at all.
His primary concern was for Madam Wu. She possessed beauty, a charming demeanor, and some unique talents. Even though he was aware of her tendency to be jealous, he chose to turn a blind eye to it.
While he allowed his women to engage in rivalries within the palace, he strictly prohibited them from interfering in external matters or challenging the Crown Prince's authority. It seemed he had been too lenient with Madam Wu, leading her to forget her position.
Suddenly, as the person was being carried away, the King of South Jin adopted a more gentle expression. “Zhao'er, did you come to visit your mother?”
“Yes, my mother isn't feeling well. I thought I'd go check on her.”
“Oh? Your mother is unwell?” The King of South Jin appeared anxious and worried.
Tang Yue had been observing him, uncertain if this display of concern was genuine. He couldn't deny that everyone in the palace was a skilled actor.
“The Crown Princess prescribed a remedy for her after she caught a cold. She should recover soon,” Crown Prince Zhao replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
In his youth, he used to be concerned about his parents' relationship. When he witnessed King of South Jin doting on other women while neglecting the queen, he felt indignation. However, over time, he had lost most of his hopes for his father and preferred to distance himself from his mother.
As Tang Yue had pointed out, both sides had their own ways. Perhaps his mother would find greater happiness.
“That's good,” King of South Jin coughed and shifted his gaze to the blooming plum blossoms. “Your mother planted this Merlin two years after entering the palace. It has become the most beautiful sight in the harem.”
“Is that so? In my memory, my mother has never set foot in this place. In fact, she despises this Merlin,” Crown Prince Zhao's lips curled into a faint smirk.
This was a lengthy tale. In the second year after Crown Prince Zhao's birth, the Queen became pregnant again but tragically lost the child. It was rumored that she suffered a miscarriage in this very Merlin area, and the wife who had been favored by King of South Jin at the time was believed to be the cause.
Although the favored wife had met a grim end, the Queen had lost both a child and King of South Jin's affection thereafter.
A trace of embarrassment flickered across King of South Jin's face. “It's getting late, and I have other matters to attend to. If you have nothing else, you should spend time with your brothers to maintain your relationships.”
Tang Yue muttered silently to himself, feeling that there had never been a genuine relationship to preserve in the first place, right?
“Yes, I understand,” he replied, indifferent to whether he would follow through with it or not.
After leaving the palace, they didn't immediately head back. Instead, they made a stop at the Yueyang Marquis's Mansion. Tang Ya's impending marriage was a matter of urgency, and Tang Yue wanted to check in when he had the opportunity.
While he might not be able to offer much assistance, he could still provide guidance to his soon-to-be-married sister.
Initially, Tang Ya had harbored reservations about this marriage. At that time, the appearance of the Noble Heir of State Duke Heng was probably not something any noble daughter could genuinely appreciate.
Subsequently, though Ping Shun had undergone significant changes and improved his image, he rarely made appearances in front of Tang Ya. Consequently, this young lady had never formed a favorable impression of Ping Shun.
“Your Highness, do you think Ya and Ping Shun are a good match?”
“Your elder brother cares deeply. They are about to be wed, so there's no need for your concern.”
“But they've never met before. Judging by Ya's demeanor, she doesn't appear enthusiastic about marriage.”
“Once they are married, they will naturally grow closer. Isn't that how it is for husbands and wives? I am fortunate to have met you, but how can all the women in the world find their ideal match?”
“I don't mind other women, but I must look after my sisters. I'd rather support them for the rest of my life than see them in unhappy marriages!”
Crown Prince Zhao frowned and asserted dominantly, “You're overthinking it. Since they are your sisters, they are also my family. Who in this world would dare mistreat them?”
Regardless of whether it was due to the power of the crown prince's residence, they would receive respect.
Tang Yue nodded, as long as they weren't mistreated, it would suffice. Matters of love depended on the individuals involved, and no one else should interfere excessively.
The carriage passed by the Crown Prince's Palace. Crown Prince Zhao disembarked first, and Tang Yue proceeded alone to the Yueyang Marquis's Mansion. On the first day of the new year, it wasn't suitable for him to travel extensively.
Upon arriving at the Marquis's Mansion, numerous prominent and minor families came out to welcome them. However, after Tang Yue declined their repeated bows, they eventually ceased their formalities.
“Yue'er, come and have a look. This is a gift sent from someone in the State Duke Heng's Mansion. It's the official betrothal gift.” Yueyang Marquis summoned Tang Yue to his study and presented him with a list.
After reviewing the list, Tang Yue nodded in approval. The State Duke Heng's Mansion had consistently shown great enthusiasm for this marriage, so it appeared unlikely that anything would go awry.
“Father, how has Ya been feeling lately?”
“Why do you inquire?” As the head of the household, the Marquis of Yueyang adored his daughter, but they didn't share a telepathic connection. He genuinely had no idea whether his daughter was suffering from premarital anxiety.
“Never mind. I'll pay her a visit myself.”
“Sigh, wait a moment…” The Marquis of Yueyang halted Tang Yue and inquired, “About the paper that His Highness provided last night. Do we have any more of it?”
“You want that?” Tang Yue turned to face him.
The Marquis of Yueyang grinned sheepishly. “The entire Ye City is now aware of the existence of paper. I want to include some in Ya's dowry. Do you think it's appropriate?”
Tang Yue raised an eyebrow. In his modern perspective, he had never heard of anyone including paper in a dowry. If this were modern times, he might be chased away by his in-laws, wouldn't he?
Nonetheless, at this stage, paper was probably a commodity that couldn't be obtained even with money. It was indeed a valuable item.
“Your idea is reasonable. It's just that the factory currently has no inventory. When the next batch is ready, I'll procure eight to ten boxes for Ya. She can take them back to tear and play with!”
We have plenty of paper, after all!
The Marquis of Yueyang was beaming with delight. “Excellent! Excellent!”
“Then, I'll take my leave now.”
“Go ahead. You two should have a good conversation as well. In this family, only Ya listens to your counsel. Remember to advise her that after marriage, she should control her temper, be dutiful to her elders, and show respect to her husband. She shouldn't be rude and unreasonable anymore!”
Tang Yue rolled his eyes. “You should convey that to her yourself. I'll tell her that she doesn't have to endure unjust treatment. She should be obedient to her elders and respect her husband, but she shouldn't suppress her natural temper. Otherwise, if she's at a disadvantage, she'll have to keep it all to herself.”
The Marquis of Yueyang contemplated this and found it sensible. His daughter belonged to him, and he wouldn't tolerate her being mistreated by anyone else.
At most, he'd allow outsiders to gossip about him; it wouldn't bother him much.
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