Chapter 221: Waiting for Your Return

The Eastern Palace.

Nan Xueyin knew that the Crown Prince's love for her was surging and torrential; this was usually evident in daily life, but who would have thought that once they reached the bed, it would be even more unrestrained.

Furthermore, the Crown Prince was young and had great stamina.

Even as an Assassin who had been through a hundred battles, Nan Xueyin found it somewhat unbearable.

Nan Xueyin pressed against his chest, her eyes wet as she asked him, "Are you not done yet?"

Xiao Youlan patiently coaxed her, kissing the corners of her eyes delicately, and said, "Very soon."

However, it was not.

Nan Xueyin suspected that he might never be done.

The wedding candles were burning just right.

Outside the bridal chamber, Wei Nian, Wu Zhui, and Shu Yu gathered together to discuss.

The three had just received news that Xiao Mingyu, who had been locked in prison, was dead.

Shu Yu was disdainful: "He hadn't even been sentenced yet, and he was scared to death; what a pathetic coward!"

Wei Nian pondered, "The Duan Prince died in the prison; this matter should be reported to His Highness the Crown Prince."

Shu Yu hurriedly grabbed him, "Don't you go! His Highness the Crown Prince is currently... very happy; if you suddenly go over to disturb him, His Highness will certainly be displeased."

Wei Nian was puzzled, "But His Highness has been inside for a long time; it should be over by now, right?"

Shu Yu smiled mischievously, "You might be quick, but that doesn't mean His Highness is also quick."

Wei Nian:...

Wei Nian didn't know what to say for a long time, he just really wanted to hit him.

Shu Yu looked at Wu Zhui, who had been silent the whole time, "What's wrong? Your old master is dead; are you sad?"

Wu Zhui shook his head, "I'm just wondering... how did the Duan Prince die?"

"The jailer said he kicked the bucket, but the physician went in to examine him and said he died of illness. During this time in prison, although no one tortured him, he exhausted himself to death," Wei Nian said. "The Yan Family already made a deal with the Crown Prince long ago, completely severing ties with the Duan Prince Mansion, so they won't be implicated. Those who were close to the Duan Prince Mansion in the past were either implicated and jailed after being investigated for corruption, or they defected overnight and betrayed the Duan Prince Mansion in exchange for His Highness's trust..."

"It seems the situation was hopeless, and the Duan Prince was in despair," Shu Yu stroked his chin.

But Wu Zhui thought, it wasn't just that the situation was hopeless.

Power was one aspect, but feelings were another.

But Xiao Mingyu not only lost his power, but he was also left completely alone; wouldn't that make life even more meaningless?

His death had long been destined.

The wedding night was truly too exhausting, and Nan Xueyin didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky.

Sitting up in bed, her head still felt a bit dazed.

"Are you hungry?"

Xiao Youlan's voice sounded leisurely in front of the bed.

Nan Xueyin looked sideways, meeting that stunningly handsome face; the ambiguous memories of last night flooded back into her mind, becoming clear inch by inch.

She blushed a little, nodded slowly, and said, "A little bit."

Xiao Youlan gave an 'en', "I'll make you something to eat."

He went to the kitchen himself and made a bowl of duck meat porridge.

It was truly delicious, and Nan Xueyin drank a large bowl in one breath.

Xiao Youlan rested his chin on one hand, sitting to the side and watching her lazily.

Nan Xueyin stopped and asked him, "Are you not busy today?"

"I am the Crown Prince, not a donkey pulling a millstone; on the first day of marriage, I can always take a rest."

Nan Xueyin huffed, "You aren't a donkey pulling a millstone; you are an ox plowing the fields."

Xiao Youlan raised an eyebrow: "Don't you like it?"

Nan Xueyin couldn't say it out loud; after all, it was quite comfortable.

She turned the topic with a red face, "... The porridge is good, another half bowl."

Xiao Youlan served her half a bowl of porridge, and remembering something, he spoke: "There is one thing to tell you."

Nan Xueyin asked out of habit, "Xiao Mingyu is dead?"

Xiao Youlan paused, then gave an 'en', "He is dead."

Nan Xueyin was actually taken aback.

"Last night, he died in prison," Xiao Youlan said, "He died of illness."

Nan Xueyin suddenly had a strange feeling.

It wasn't exactly sadness or regret, but there wasn't any particularly cathartic relief either.

She just felt that it was so sudden.

"My meaning is to demote him to a commoner and then transport him back to Lianzhou for burial," Xiao Youlan said in a calm voice, "After all, we were brothers once."

Nan Xueyin nodded, "He's already dead; we can't drag him out to whip his corpse."

"There is also Hua Lianying."

"What about her?"

Xiao Youlan said: "When Xiao Mingyu was imprisoned, Hua Lianying was also taken in for interrogation. She didn't have any crimes, so she has already been released. Today, she found a way to come to the Eastern Palace, crying outside the gate and saying she wanted to see you."

Nan Xueyin:?

This scene seemed to have been witnessed before.

She swallowed a mouthful of porridge, "And then?"

"I didn't see her; your younger sister Nan Lizhu was taking Xiaoyang for a walk in the Eastern Palace and went out to see her," Xiao Youlan said unhurriedly. "Hua Lianying was given a huge fright by Xiaoyang and was scolded by Nan Lizhu. I heard that Nan Lizhu said she was the one who was your sister, told Hua Lianying to get lost immediately, and said if she dared to come again, she would let Xiaoyang eat her. Hua Lianying fled without looking back."

Nan Xueyin felt instantly relieved.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Feihong called out from outside.

Xiao Youlan gestured: "Come in."

Feihong entered and respectfully bowed to Nan Xueyin, "Crown Princess."

Nan Xueyin nodded and continued eating her porridge.

Feihong reported: "The news of Prince Duan's death, as per Your Highness's instructions, has already been conveyed to the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Virtuous Consort. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager did not say much, but that Virtuous Consort scolded our men, insisting that this was a lie, and clamored to see the Emperor."

Xiao Youlan nodded slightly, "Then let her see him."

He turned to the side and asked Nan Xueyin in a soft voice, "I am going to handle the final major matter; Xiao Xue, do you want to go and join in the excitement?"

Nan Xueyin knew what he wanted to do; wasn't it just to make the Virtuous Consort honestly spit out the truth about plotting to murder Empress Rouyi in front of the Emperor?

She shook her head, "No."

"Go, come on," Xiao Youlan said, as if acting spoiled.

"I'm so tired," Nan Xueyin looked at him, "I want to continue resting after I finish my porridge."

Xiao Youlan recalled last night, and his gaze darkened; she must be tired.

He no longer insisted, gave a hum, "Then wait for me to come back and cook lunch for you."

Nan Xueyin nodded obediently.

Xiao Youlan entered the palace and went to see the Virtuous Consort first.

Since the incident and her imprisonment, the Virtuous Consort had become much thinner and haggard, no longer possessing her former beauty; her eyes bulged slightly, making her look exceptionally sharp-tongued and terrifying.

Xiao Youlan told her: "Xiao Mingyu has already confessed in prison about how you and your son plotted to murder my mother. In a moment, you will tell the Emperor the whole story from beginning to end. Only then will I grant you permission to see him and arrange for you and your son to return to Lianzhou."

The Virtuous Consort stared at him viciously, "Can you be that kind-hearted?"

Xiao Youlan's tone was indifferent, "This is not an act of mercy; this is an order. Virtuous Consort, you have no way out. Unless you never want to see Xiao Mingyu again."

The Virtuous Consort's fierce words came to an abrupt halt in an instant.

Xiao Youlan brought the Virtuous Consort before Emperor Yongzheng.

The Virtuous Consort had no other choice; she knelt on the ground, lowered her head, and slowly spilled out the events of many years ago.

Why she wanted to harm Empress Rouyi, and how she harmed Empress Rouyi.

She stated it clearly and distinctly.

The maidservants and Momo she had bribed—some had already been executed, while others were still alive.

It was also very easy to investigate the evidence.

After many years, the truth about Empress Rouyi's death finally came to light.

"Poisonous woman..."

Emperor Yongzheng furrowed his brows tightly, squeezing out a reprimand, "Plotting to murder the Empress, you poisonous woman! It was a waste of the favor I have shown you all these years!"

The Virtuous Consort, however, still felt aggrieved: "But what choice did this concubine have? If the Empress had not died, when would Your Majesty have ever noticed this concubine and my son? This concubine was merely of humble birth, but in what other way was I inferior to the Empress? If we really want to talk about it, it was Your Majesty who harmed the Empress. If Your Majesty had shown more concern for the Empress, she would not have fallen into such a plight, and Your Majesty would have been able to discover my poisoning much sooner!"

Emperor Yongzheng was so angered by her that he could not speak.

The Virtuous Consort turned to Xiao Youlan, "Can you let me see Mingyu now?"

Xiao Youlan nodded, "Naturally."

He turned his head and ordered, "Someone, take the Virtuous Consort down to see Xiao Mingyu's remains."

"Remains?!"

The Virtuous Consort widened her eyes, "Didn't you say you would let me see Mingyu and let our mother and son return to Lianzhou?"

Xiao Youlan said indifferently, "Is seeing the remains not seeing him? I have already granted you special permission to take Xiao Mingyu's remains back to Lianzhou for burial; this is already an act of grace beyond the law."

The Virtuous Consort glared with rage and lunged toward Xiao Youlan.

But she was seized by the guards who had been prepared, had her mouth covered, and was dragged away.

In the vast hall, only Emperor Yongzheng and Xiao Youlan, father and son, remained.

After a long silence, Emperor Yongzheng suddenly spoke: "Did you know about your mother being poisoned long ago? Yet you never said a word to me..."

"If I had said it, would Your Majesty have believed me?" Xiao Youlan asked.

Emperor Yongzheng was stunned and could not refute him.

"Your Majesty would not have believed me, and would have thought I was being unreasonable. In the past, when Your Majesty felt a cat was hindering my studies, you let Xiao Mingyu drown it. If I had told Your Majesty that the Virtuous Consort had murdered my mother, Your Majesty would likely have felt that someone was whispering nonsense in my ears and would have executed those serving me. Actually, Your Majesty, you should have forgotten what my mother looked like long ago. Your anger just now was only because the Virtuous Consort dared to plot to murder the Empress right under your nose, which violated your dignity. Furthermore, you pretended to stand on my side and rebuke the Virtuous Consort because you know that I am about to inherit the throne, and you do not want to offend me." Xiao Youlan tugged at the corner of his mouth, "Look, Your Majesty, I actually understand you very well."

Emperor Yongzheng sat there listening, his body hunching a little more with every sentence he heard.

In the end, he transformed from a towering Son of Heaven into an inconspicuous ruin.

His pale lips quivered, and with a pained expression, Emperor Yongzheng muttered: "Later... after you ascend the throne, you will eventually understand the true difficulties... Being an emperor is not that easy; you have to weigh the interests of all parties, and you will always have to compromise..."

Xiao Youlan turned away, "Your Majesty, rest well; I am going back. The Crown Princess must be hungry; I am going back to cook lunch for her."

Emperor Yongzheng was dazed, all his words stuck in his throat.

The seventh day of Nan Xueyin and Xiao Youlan's new marriage.

Early morning.

The news of Emperor Yongzheng's passing spread rapidly into the Eastern Palace.

Nan Xueyin was eating breakfast; it was Bo-tao noodles that Xiao Youlan had cooked. His culinary skills were becoming increasingly refined, and this bowl was incredibly delicious.

The palace servant delivering the message waited anxiously outside the door.

Xiao Youlan, however, intended to wait until Nan Xueyin finished eating before dealing with it.

Waiting for him outside was a majestic yet cold throne, as well as a complex and vast world.

He was, more or less, still a little nervous.

"You should go." Nan Xueyin finished a bowl, paused, and wiped the corner of her mouth.

"And you?" Xiao Youlan's gaze lingered on her for a long time.

"I want to eat another half bowl; I'm not full yet."

Xiao Youlan nodded slightly and asked again, "And then?"

"And then," Nan Xueyin's eyes curved into crescents, "of course, it's staying at home, waiting for you to return."

Xiao Youlan was stunned for a moment, and that nervous feeling of facing an unknown future vanished in an instant.

He chuckled softly, "Alright."

He served Nan Xueyin half a bowl of noodle soup and placed it in front of her.

Nan Xueyin tilted her face up and whispered a reminder: "Come back early."

Xiao Youlan felt an incredible softness in his heart, "Alright."

Xiao Youlan was the fourth emperor of the Ye Dynasty, with the era name Yuanyin.

He was politically enlightened, pragmatic and decisive; he rectified the civil service, strictly punished corruption, opened up channels for public opinion, and focused on the selection of talent.

Many famous officials from humble backgrounds appeared in the imperial court, and there even appeared a female general who expanded the territory and achieved illustrious military exploits.

He paid particular attention to the people's livelihood, curbed land annexation by powerful families, and reduced taxes.

Under the rule of Emperor Yuanyin, Ye Dynasty society was stable, the people's livelihood improved, the economy developed, national strength gradually grew, and the common people lived and worked in peace and contentment.

History calls it the Prosperous Age of Yuanyin.

Especially worth mentioning is that Emperor Yuanyin was the first emperor of the Ye Dynasty to have only one Empress in his inner palace.

He never selected or took in any Consort, and he and Empress Nan were deeply in love their entire lives, with one son and two daughters born to them.

Emperor Yuanyin passed away peacefully of old age at seventy-three.

Late on the night he passed away, Empress Nan held his hand and followed him in death.

The Crown Prince buried the Emperor and Empress together in the imperial mausoleum.

That year, the Crown Prince was seventeen years old.

Facing the clear and bright realm left behind by his imperial father and mother, he was about to ascend the throne and show his talents.

And this, is another story.

-Main Text Finished-