Free Web NovelChapter 1273: Chapter 1262: Illegitimate Son
"Brother!" Ye Jing and Ye Sihui called out to Ye Qiu almost simultaneously, and then the atmosphere became a bit tense.
Just as Ye Qiu was about to respond to Ye Jing, Prince An suddenly spoke up: "It’s almost time, let’s go inside first. There will be plenty of time to catch up in the future."
Ye Qiu readily agreed: "Prince An is right; please, both Princes, lead the way."
However, Prince Kang’s face darkened with slight irritation once again. Ye Jing kept her gaze straight ahead as she boarded the carriage, as if Prince Kang had no effect on her whatsoever.
Seeing this, Ye Qiu lowered his head and slightly curled his lips. It seemed his sister was doing better than he had imagined, at least she wasn’t putting men first, which was a promising sign.
Though Prince Kang was not favored, he was the legitimate eldest son, so he had everything he should have had since childhood. Women naturally wouldn’t be lacking in his life. If one were to invest sincere emotions in him, getting hurt was inevitable. He was relieved that his sister could remain uninfluenced by emotions.
As for the future, he couldn’t make decisions for his sister. If she wanted to leave Prince Kang, he would try to help her so she could live a peaceful and happy life. If she desired the highest power, he would do his utmost to support her.
In fact, someone like Prince Kang is easy to deal with. He wasn’t worried about being betrayed or used by him in the future.
The palace banquet was grand. The reason the Holy Emperor went to such lengths to host it was because their Rui Dynasty had suffered several years of defeats, and suddenly they could hold their heads high, which naturally delighted the Holy Emperor.
"Lord Ye, step forward to receive the decree." As the wine flowed, the old Emperor conducted the customary rewards. This Lord Ye being called was Ye Qiu, not Ye Sheng, who nearly caused a scene, but fortunately, Ye Qiu stepped in timely.
"Your humble servant hears the decree."
"Come closer, let me have a good look at you." The old Emperor said with a hearty laugh.
Ye Qiu stepped forward as instructed, until he was just ten steps away from the old Emperor. Kneeling, he keenly sensed something amiss in the old Emperor’s breathing. He thought he might have a way to get Prince Kang to please the old Emperor.
"Minister Ye, indeed, as Minister Lin said, you are young and promising." The old Emperor was pleased today, "How old are you?"
"In reply to Your Majesty, your humble servant has just come of age."
"Oh, only twenty!" The old Emperor laughed with the Noble Consort beside him, "Are you betrothed?"
"Not yet, but Old General Lin has agreed to find me a good match." He said, appearing bashful as a hint of red crept onto his jade-like cheeks.
"Oh, feeling shy now, are we? Minister Lin, have you truly promised to find a match for Minister Ye? Which family’s daughter is it?" the old Emperor asked with interest.
Meanwhile, Ye Sheng regretted bitterly in the back, wondering why his son had agreed to the Old General Lin before, and why he had told the truth today. Anyone could tell that the Emperor was about to bestow a marriage. What if he granted a Princess...
Ye Sheng’s heart thundered with anxiety, but it was too late to regret now. Had he known that the marriage of a bastard was so coveted, he should have advised his son to refuse Old General Lin.
"Does Your Majesty still remember Zhong Jian?"
"Minister Zhong, alas!" The old Emperor remembered and sighed heavily.
"Indeed, when he departed in haste years ago, he left behind only a daughter. Seeing his orphaned daughter bullied by relatives after his passing, the old minister couldn’t bear to see the little girl suffer, so I took her in, raised her as my granddaughter. Does Your Majesty think Zhong Jian’s daughter would suit Ye Qiu?" Old General Lin slowly explained.
Hearing this, Ye Sheng regretted even more, feeling that marrying not a Princess but an orphan girl was a pitfall for the Ye Family.
"Recalling Minister Zhong’s spiritedness back then, I never expected he would be treacherously harmed while quelling bandits, leaving his daughter bullied by her clan. I truly felt I let him down." The old Emperor sighed.
"Your Majesty overly esteems it. If Minister Zhong’s scion knew that Your Majesty still cared for him, he wouldn’t be able to bear it even in the underworld. As a courtier, to serve Your Majesty with utmost devotion is the duty of a minister."
"What devotion!" The old Emperor praised Old General Lin, "Though it is as you say, I cannot chill my ministers’ hearts. Thus, today, I bestow marriage upon Minister Zhong’s niece and Minister Ye, and grant Zhong Jian’s daughter the title of Lord of Anhe County, to marry as a Commandery Princess."
Overjoyed at this, Old General Lin said: "I thank Your Majesty on behalf of Zhong Jian’s daughter for this great grace."
Ye Qiu followed by kneeling: "Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for the marriage grant, long live the Emperor."
As the Holy Emperor arranged a marriage for his recently most favored minister, the courtiers below had their own thoughts, though none showed it, all smilingly offering congratulations.
Only Ye Sheng seemed the least happy, though he laughed, that smile was too fake, causing Ye Sihui to feel stifled.
In the past at home, because Ye Sheng was domineering, Ye Sihui always felt helpless, thinking her father was the mightiest in the world.
Yet whether in her past life or this life, not until she was married did she realize that her father, who dictated everything at home, was not all that respectable among the capital’s noble families. Even her and Ye Jing’s marriages were due to others not wanting to marry off their daughters, so they chose them instead. They were merely bargaining chips, intended to be sacrificed whenever necessary in others’ eyes.
In her previous life, she was just such a sacrificial pawn, but in this life, no one could force her to do what she didn’t want to do. Now, with her son and a brother favored by the Emperor, who else dared to see her as a pawn besides Prince An?
Prince An was destined to be the future Emperor. Being his pawn meant there was room for her to be valued, a sought-after opportunity. Looking at the seat beside the Holy Emperor, Ye Sihui seemed to envision herself sitting there not long from now.
Yet seeing her father being a bit pitiful, Ye Sihui felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. She even dared not look at what expression Prince An wore, would he disdain her because of this?
In contrast, Ye Jing’s thoughts were much simpler. The Emperor’s marriage grant to an orphan girl indicated her future sister-in-law had no legitimate family ties, though lacking many supports for her brother, it also meant fewer troubles, right?
Moreover, she believed that a woman who had faced so many setbacks would understand things better than other noble families’ young ladies. Perhaps it truly was a good match, at least one that wouldn’t disdain a concubine. Since both had endured hardships, they would rely on her brother for their future life.
With Old General Lin vouching, the Emperor personally granting the marriage without the pressure of marrying a Princess or noblewoman, it was truly the best choice for a brother unwilling to be constrained.
Perhaps her brother didn’t realize it himself; compared to her and the concubine, he was the one who disliked trouble and rules the most. Because he felt oppressed, he subconsciously thought they wouldn’t be able to bear it, that they would be wronged.
