17 Thorn

◎This king wants to marry him.◎

After the court session, Jiang Yan and Ye Guifan went together.

"Gui Fan, at the morning court today it was mentioned that someone would take over the position of Ding Diangfu. Do you have any candidate?" Jiang Yan asked.

"There is indeed a candidate. Your Highness should know that person. He is a second-class Jinshi who graduated from Danji in the 20th year." Ye Guifan turned his head to look at Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan slowed down his pace. "I remember her, but she's the one you were friends with?"

Ye Guifan smiled. "Your Highness remembers it well, but I have no selfish motives. She currently works at the Ministry of Rites. She has both means and determination. She abides by the rules and respects the bottom line, but she's not a stickler for convention. After weighing the pros and cons, she's a suitable candidate."

Jiang Yan pondered for a moment, "I have a good impression of her, so please draft a memorial and submit it tomorrow."

"Okay," Ye Guifan changed the subject, "Now that we've finished discussing business, how about some personal matters?"

"What private matter?"

"Just tell us what happened recently that made our Prince Yi so happy?" Ye Guifan teased Jiang Yan with a smile.

Jiang Yan just smiled and said nothing.

"Let me guess... He's probably hiding a beautiful woman in a golden house, intoxicated by the gentleness of life, right?"

Jiang Yan chuckled, "Yes and no."

Ye Guifan smiled and patted Jiang Yan. "Don't be so confused. Seriously, everyone in the capital knows that your Highness Prince Yi has found a man who looks very similar to the late eldest son of the Cui family and has raised him in his mansion. He dotes on him. His name is Chen Qingyue, right?"

Jiang Yan chuckled softly and said, "I won't hide anything from you. Chen is his father's surname, and Qingyue is his courtesy name, not his given name. As for their appearance, they're not exactly alike, but identical."

"Ah?" Ye Guifan was confused, but slowly she tasted some differences.

"You, you can't, Cui..." Ye Guifan's eyes widened.

Jiang Yan still smiled calmly, "Yes."

Ye Guifan found it difficult to digest the truth she said for a while, but considering her obsession with Cui Huaifeng, it seemed reasonable for her to do this.

She shook her head helplessly. "Your Highness Prince Yi's actions are indeed extraordinary. I'm afraid you asked Zhu Jin to spread this news."

"Yes, I want to marry him in a dignified manner, and I don't want him to be burdened by rumors and gossip."

Ye Guifan looked at Jiang Yan, who had remained calm and composed from beginning to end. He didn't know what to say. After a while, he smiled and asked her, "What are your plans next?"

Jiang Yan thought for a moment, "This prince wants to propose again on his birthday. After he agrees to marry me, I will ask the Queen Mother and the Empress Father for permission to grant the marriage."

"Is that so? Okay, then you have to be the first to send me an invitation to the wedding."

"No problem," Jiang Yan agreed readily. "Come to think of it, it's time for you to calm down."

Ye Guifan had always been a playboy, dealing with men from different families, and had made countless men cry.

Jiang Yan couldn't help but raise the corner of her mouth, "It's really different after you have a husband. You should find someone to take care of you."

A figure flashed through Ye Guifan's mind. She paused and laughed, "Instead of caring about me, you should care about Mr. Cui...Mr. Chen."

"Don't tell me, I missed him so much after not seeing him this morning."

Ye Guifan looked disgusted.

Jiang Yan laughed upon seeing this, "Then I will return home first."

"good."

————

Palace.

Cui Huaifeng actually had a vague feeling about it before, but he didn't think about it as pregnancy. Zheng Pu's words completely woke him up.

After being stunned for a moment, he placed his hand on her soft belly and stroked it carefully.

He actually got pregnant with their child...

Before this, he thought he would never be able to have children in his lifetime.

When he fought with his family over Jiang Yan's affairs, he injured his body and had to rely on medicine to recuperate.

Afterwards, he was forced to marry into the Zhao family. No one in the Zhao or Cui family cared about his physical condition. Only Zhao Qiuxin was kind-hearted and asked her servants to help get medicine for him, which made his condition gradually improve.

Seeing Cui Huaifeng's solemn and grim expression, Zheng Pu asked anxiously, "Master, does the prince know?"

"She probably doesn't know," Cui Huaifeng shook his head. "Besides, we're not sure yet. Let the imperial physician confirm it first."

Zheng Pu observed Cui Huaifeng's reaction and guessed that the relationship between the two seemed to be pretty good. Now his master was pregnant with her child. When he thought of this, Zheng Pu frowned with worry.

"Master..." Zheng Pu hesitated to speak, looking worried.

"What's wrong? Just say it if you have something to say." Cui Huaifeng raised his head.

"Alas..." Zheng Pu sighed heavily.

Zheng Pu glanced at Cui Huaifeng, then at Cui Huaifeng's abdomen, turned around and took out a jade pendant of excellent quality from his bag.

When Cui Huaifeng saw the jade pendant in Zheng Pu's hand, his heart skipped a beat. This jade pendant was entrusted to him by Zhao Qiuxin before his death.

Zhao Qiuxin had secretly been engaged to a man from an ordinary family, but the Zhao family had forcibly separated them. Not only was her health declining, but the Zhao family was closely monitoring her closest associates, making it difficult for her to contact the man. With her dying breath, Zhao Qiuxin could only place her hopes on this man, someone who escaped the Zhao family's notice, asking him to find a way to give the jade pendant to the man she loved, as a token of her affections.

Zhao Qiuxin owed Cui Huaifeng a favor, and he couldn't refuse, nor did he want to owe anyone a favor. Most importantly, once he completed the task, he would owe Zhao Qiuxin nothing, and his ties with the Zhao family would be completely severed.

However, there was still one troubling issue. He wasn't sure whether to tell Jiang Yan. Whenever the Zhao family, especially Zhao Qiuxin, was mentioned, Jiang Yan would become emotionally agitated, which would not only lead to an argument but might also delay the matter.

Cui Huaifeng took the jade pendant and couldn't help sighing.

The master and servant were in a dilemma when Shi Liu gently knocked on the door, "Zheng Jun, the prince is back."

Cui Huaifeng was shocked.

【Author’s words】

Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2024-04-02 11:05:26 and 2024-04-03 11:05:26~

Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: 10 bottles of Pinellia;

Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!