Chapter 126 -126: She is Settled
Ye Yuan took advantage of offering wine to the Empress Dowager to jokingly say, “Empress Dowager, since you like Li Qi from the Zheng Family, why not give the lady Yu Yan to Qingyu?”
Hearing this, all the Princes were shocked.
The ugly girl from the Leng Family was actually stunningly beautiful, having just uncovered her veil, she surely had captivated many men’s hearts already.
However, as the fiancée of the Crown Prince, even if they were interested, they would not dare to openly make such a proposal.
At this moment, only the Imperial Aunt dared to make this suggestion.
The Princes, each with their own thoughts, toasted to Ji Qingyu.
...
Ji Qingyu raised his glass, and drank to everyone who offered him wine.
For a time, the Princes’ section was lively.
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Ye Yiheng was the Crown Prince, seated at the right hand side below the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s seats, with Leng Yu Yan seated alone next to him.
The liveliness of the Princes’ seat did not escape Ye Yiheng’s ears.
Today, the Imperial Aunt had spoken up for Leng Yu Yan, her hidden agenda now apparent.
His handsome face remained calm; Leng Yu Yan was his fiancée.
Just a fiancée, nothing more, unrelated to love.
He was the Crown Prince; no matter what, the Father Emperor would designate a Crown Princess Consort for him.
As for who the choice of Crown Princess Consort would be, he had not thought about it before. After learning it was Leng Yu Yan, and that this woman did everything in her power to flee from him, his princely pride compelled him to do the opposite.
It was not that he had fallen for her.
During their interaction these past days, every time he touched her skin, the agitation inside him would rise, sometimes even triggering his cold disease. Given this, there was even less chance of joy between them.
Moreover, he didn’t have many years left to live. Rather than change the Crown Princess Consort candidate, he would prefer Leng Yu Yan, with whom he had already adjusted to over many days.
There had to be a Crown Princess Consort, and since it had been decided, there was no need to change it.
With these thoughts, Ye Yiheng suddenly said out loud, “It looks like I will have to disappoint you, Aunt, as no one should covet my Crown Princess Consort!”
His voice was clear and crisp, his tone neither rushed nor slow.
Because of his blindness and frailty, he was always silent during palace banquets. Silent when he arrived, and silent when he left.
Today, for the sake of the Lady Lai, he had broken his silence several times.
Everyone was extremely astonished.
Could it be that the Crown Prince had taken a liking to the Lady Lai?
Many silently mourned the wasted grace and beauty of Lady Lai, who was to be married off to a blind Crown Prince.
It was bad enough the Crown Prince was blind, but worse still, he was infertile.
For a time, many pitied the dazzling Leng Yu Yan.
Zheng Liqi, seated in the Zheng Family’s section, lowered her eyes and pursed her lips, the long lashes covering a fleeting dark glint in her eyes.
The Empress Dowager glanced at Zheng Liqi, who had a somewhat unsightly expression, then jestingly waved at Ye Yuan: “You, can’t even wine stop your chatter?”
With these words, everyone present laughed, and the atmosphere was somewhat relaxed.
At this moment, shrinking in her seat, apart from Mrs. Feng and her daughters, was one other person, Beauty Wang.
The incident that occurred on the small bridge over the lake today seemed to target her.
Had Leng Yu Yan not saved her today, she would have been the one to fall into the water. Once in, she would have choked on water, likely drowning quickly.
Even if she was lucky to be rescued, considering what happened to her two palace maids, the subsequent moves might have also targeted her.
Beauty Wang grew more and more frightened.
Taking advantage of the crowd at today’s palace banquet, she needed to find the greatest security, so she turned her gaze to the Emperor on the Dragon Chair.
“Emperor, just now when the appointed Crown Prince Consort fell into the water, I was also on the bridge. Had the appointed Crown Prince Consort not saved me, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to attend the palace banquet.”
The voice was poignant and delicate, eliciting a sense of compassion that made one ache for no reason.
Beauty Wang, a little over twenty, was a delicate flower among the harem of concubines.
Seeing her like this, the Emperor was very distressed, and his voice sank as he asked on the spot, “How is the investigation of the incident where someone was pushed into the water going?”
His voice was deep, filled with the oppressive authority of someone long accustomed to high power.
With no Empress in the palace, it had been Consort Xian and a few other concubines managing the harem.
Today’s palace banquet was organized by Consort Xian, so she was the one to speak, “Your Majesty, regarding the water incident, coupled with the case of the palace maids causing chaos in the palace, the case is complicated. Today, as the palace is hosting the banquet, I wouldn’t want Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager to be troubled by this matter. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of locking up all those involved into the dungeons, pending further investigation tomorrow.”
Upon hearing this, the Emperor nodded and hummed lightly, “Investigate thoroughly!”
His intention couldn’t be more clear, and that was to not discuss the water incident any further tonight.
—
The palace banquet came to an end.
Returning to the Eastern Palace, Leng Yu Yan sincerely thanked Ye Yiheng, “Thank you so much, Your Highness!”
Ye Yiheng merely responded indifferently and then returned to his bedroom with the support of Song Guo.
The atmosphere was somewhat strange, and Leng Yu Yan soon realized why.
What she had said at the banquet was partly an act.
Wasn’t he also acting?
If so, this manner of interaction was indeed relaxing.
Leng Yu Yan’s lips curved slightly as she returned to Tingfeng Garden.
An hour later, Grand Doctor Zeng appeared in the study of a small building in the Eastern Palace.
“Your Highness, I have something to report.”
Ye Yiheng pinched the bridge of his nose, “Speak.”
“Miss Lai’s facial spots… The method described by the Eldest Princess to remove them was merely a coincidence.”
Thinking he had noticed something, Ye Yiheng asked, “Oh? Why do you say that?”
“Even without using the Eldest Princess’s method, given some time, Miss Lai’s spots would have fallen off on their own.” Pausing, Grand Doctor Zeng continued, “As for the method of removal, it involves purging the toxins from the body. There are records in the medical texts that the root cause of such spots is poisoning. I have previously taken Miss Lai’s pulse; she is healthy, and there are no toxins in her body. It is evident that her spots were caused by a poisoning five years ago. As for how the toxins were purged, due to my limited knowledge, I do not know.”
“Dismissed,” Ye Yiheng said indifferently, waving his hand.
Grand Doctor Zeng took three steps back and left the study.
Ye Yiheng’s handsome brows furrowed slightly. This meant that Leng Yu Yan’s spots were caused by poisoning, and they fell off after the toxins were purged. After she came to the capital, she reapplied the spots to refuse marriage.
Thus, the poisoning five years ago implicated the Lai Family.
But how were the toxins in her body purged?
Although the poison in his body was different from what she had suffered, the methods to detoxify shared similarities.
If he could help her with something, would she share with him the method to cure the poisoning?
With this thought, Ye Yiheng called out, “Mo Chen.”
Mo Chen responded immediately, “Your Highness, your instructions please!”
“How is the investigation into her falling into the water today?”
“The two palace maids who took the lady to the bridge were the maids in charge of guiding guests at today’s palace banquet. The two who engaged in the illicit act were from Beauty Wang’s side. The lady and Beauty Wang met for the first time today; evidently, there was no grievance or grudge. The only possibility is that the palace maids were bribed.” Bowing, Mo Chen added, “As to who else is involved, I need to investigate further.”
“I want to know the truth by tomorrow,” Ye Yiheng declared.
“Yes, Your Highness!” Mo Chen said respectfully, “Preliminary investigation suggests that today’s incident is largely related to Consort Xian. From this, it is clear that the lady is not an agent of Consort Xian.”
Ye Yiheng nodded slightly, “I have known for some time.”
How could a woman as astute as Leng Yu Yan be used by Consort Xian?
Chances are, Consort Xian found she couldn’t manipulate her and thus wanted her out of the way.