Chapter 9 Visiting Home "Your Highness is such a heroic figure, how could you possibly lower yourself to such a position..."

Su Yiyi's face turned deathly pale instantly.

He slowly raised his head in disbelief and saw Prince Rui sitting gracefully at the head of the table. He was wearing a black, narrow-sleeved python robe with auspicious cloud patterns embroidered in gold thread at the cuffs. He had a jade belt with a five-clawed silver dragon carved around his waist, and a palm-sized white jade pendant with a gold-painted dragon on it. He had a beautiful face with delicate eyebrows, bright eyes, and a cloud-like hairstyle.

The nobles, dressed in magnificent robes, simply sitting there inspired an urge to bow down in reverence.

Who else could it be but the woman he saw on the bridge that day?

Su Yiyi was filled with remorse.

Yuan Mingjin did not appear at all on the day of the flower viewing banquet, so Su Yiyi had no way of knowing what she looked like.

If she came that day...

"Sit down," Yuan Mingjin said succinctly.

The hall was filled with guests, and everyone was enjoying themselves. Su Aoshuang calmly exchanged pleasantries with Yuan Mingjin, while Xin Yaning kept her company. Su Xiaotang, meanwhile, sipped her tea with her head down like a turtle, and for a moment, no one paid any attention to the absent-minded Su Yiyi.

If he hadn't insisted on having Su Xiaotang marry in his place, the person standing beside her today would be—no, His Highness Prince Rui, known for his fierce and infamous nature. Su Xiaotang would have suffered countless hardships, though she herself hadn't witnessed them.

Look, even though he's become a royal consort, Su Xiaotang is still as timid as ever, truly disgracing His Highness Prince Rui.

In this way, Su Xiaotang will eventually be disliked by Prince Rui.

Thinking about it this way, Su Yiyi's resentment subsided a little, and her face gradually regained some color.

Just then, Xin Yaning suddenly smiled and said, "The Prince Consort is still young, with a childlike heart and a mischievous nature. If he causes trouble for Your Highness, I hope you will not be soft-hearted and will just restrain him."

When His Highness Prince Rui appeared just now, he was so surprised that he almost couldn't control his expression—

On the day this prince returned to the capital in triumph, he rode a large horse, carrying a cold sword, his face smeared with blood and his body covered in mud. Although he was in a glorious state, he was also in a sorry state.

No one could see what her face looked like. The scene was like a demon descending to earth, inspiring fear in people. As the story spread, it became known that His Highness Prince Rui had a blue face and fangs, and was ugly as hell.

The noblemen in the capital often held tea parties at home. The Su family was powerful, and their eldest son had just been betrothed to Prince Rui by the Emperor. They were enjoying unparalleled prestige. Xin Yaning received at least eight hundred or a thousand invitations. How could she not know that while the noblemen congratulated him verbally, they pitied him behind his back, as he was about to marry his son to such an ugly woman with strange quirks?

What does it matter if you're of noble birth? Ultimately, only you can truly love and cherish your own child.

Normally, Su Aoshuang wouldn't question how Xin Yaning punished Su Xiaotang, because of her guilt over what happened back then. However, things are different now. Su Xiaotang has not only become the Prince Consort, but the lives of his entire family are also in his hands. Yet Xin Yaning remains incorrigible, currently praising one while subtly criticizing another in front of Prince Rui. Does she really think this prince is a barbarian who can't understand?

Su Aoshuang's right eyelid twitched suddenly, fearing that this foolish husband would say something he shouldn't. Just as she was about to smooth things over, she heard Yuan Mingjin smile and say, "You're mistaken. Xiaotang is kind-hearted, innocent and cute. She knows when to advance and retreat and is sensible. She hasn't caused me any trouble. On the contrary, she has added a lot of laughter to the palace."

Most of those present were shrewd individuals. After hearing His Highness Prince Rui address his consort as "Little Sugar," they knew exactly how to respond. So, they went along with it and addressed Su Xiaotang as "Consort" or "Young Master." Even Xin Yaning forced a smile, called him "Young Master" twice, and recounted a few amusing stories of Su Xiaotang's childhood that had infuriated him. Su Xiaotang's eyes widened as she listened, almost believing that her eighteen years of torment had been nothing but a dream.

Su Yiyi was stunned, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles. She made an excuse to leave the table and returned to her room. She was filled with regret and anger, and almost ground her teeth to powder. She raised her hand and overturned the antique display shelf full of glass and porcelain. Listening to the crackling sound of the shattering pieces on the floor, she was still not satisfied.

The idea of ​​tying up Su Xiaotang to marry in her place can only be described as "losing both the wife and the army"—it not only cost him the opportunity to marry his beloved, but also his status as the eldest son of the Su family. It was truly a case of shooting himself in the foot.

Seeing his extreme anger, the servant in the room was afraid of incurring his wrath, so he hurriedly went to fetch Hong Liao, who was by the master's side.

—As luck would have it, this Hongliao was the servant who accompanied Su Yiyi to the lakeside for a stroll that day. However, Hongliao hadn't seen Yuan Mingjin's face clearly then, and just now in the hall, she only felt that he looked somewhat familiar.

It was Xin Yaning's idea to send him out for a walk to clear his mind, but unexpectedly, it caused Su Yiyi to fall in love with him. Unable to win his heart, she grew thinner and thinner.

If Xin Yaning had known he would be so distraught, she would never have let Su Yiyi go out that day.

"Oh, what's wrong with the young master?" As soon as Hong Liao entered, she almost stepped on a broken piece of porcelain depicting an old woman fishing, and was startled.

He recognized the vase; it originally belonged to his father's family and was said to have been bought from a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan for four hundred taels of silver—a masterpiece by a renowned artist. During a visit home, Xin Yaning saw it and fell in love with it, so she brought it back to the Su residence.

One tael of silver can buy 2,500 catties of rice. If we calculate that 500 catties are consumed per year, 400 taels is enough for an ordinary family to eat for two thousand years!

Now, all that silver and rice is shattered at his feet...

"Hongliao!" Su Yiyi didn't care about the four-hundred-tael porcelain vase. Upon hearing the words "Eldest Young Master," tears welled up in her eyes. "The woman that day was His Highness Prince Rui! The one who should have married His Highness was—"

"Young Master, be careful what you say!"

Hong Liao was so frightened that she quickly stopped him, and after waving away her attendants, she lowered her voice and cautiously warned Su Yiyi: "Young Master, this is a crime of deceiving the Emperor. You must not let anyone else hear this, or we will both be doomed..."

Most noblemen in the capital rarely ventured beyond their homes, so few knew what the eldest son of the Su family looked like. To prevent damage to their reputation and avoid being used for personal gain or slander, a man's name was always a closely guarded secret—which gave Xin Yaning the opportunity to switch her new husband.

Now, by a twist of fate, it has become a lifesaver for the entire Su family to escape the crime of deceiving the emperor.

"Mine! Mine!" Su Yiyi cried out, completely unlike his usual composed and dignified demeanor. "His Highness Prince Rui is mine! The title of Prince Consort is mine! The identity of the eldest son of the Su family is mine too! Now he has taken it all away! Do you expect me to just stand by and watch him usurp my place?!"

Hong Liao thought to herself: Isn't this your own fault? Now you're suddenly anxious.

If he hadn't been so clever as to insist on marrying Su Xiaotang in her place, he wouldn't be in this predicament today, needlessly dragging hundreds of people into this mess.

Although she had this thought in her heart, Hong Liao wouldn't dare to say it aloud even if she had eight hundred lives. She could only coax him, saying, "Young Master, don't be anxious. Although it is criticized by the world for brothers sharing a wife, there are quite a few of them. As long as you can successfully enter the Prince Rui's mansion, how could a mere Su Xiaotang be no match for you?"

"You mean..."

Su Yiyi was still dazed from crying and couldn't quite process what she heard. Hong Liao then whispered some advice in her ear, which made Su Yiyi's cheeks burn and her head spin, but a glimmer of hope secretly arose in her heart.

...

Now that we've arrived at the Su residence, we can't help but visit the place where Wang Fu grew up.

Su Aoshuang's expression was subtle, but she remained silent; Xin Yaning twisted her handkerchief tightly as she watched Prince Rui leave in a grand procession with his consort and a large retinue, her face no longer able to conceal her resentment and anger.

He had heard everything Hong Liao had said about what happened in Su Yiyi's room. Shocked, he couldn't help but feel resentment towards Su Xiaotang and the long-deceased Feng Langjun.

A scoundrel begets a scoundrel. Feng Qin stole his wife back then, and now his son is trying to steal his son's wife. Like father, like son!

Look, Su Xiaotang's complexion is not only rosier, but she is also surrounded by a large entourage of servants, numbering at least eight hundred or a thousand, all adorned with gold and silver and wrapped in silk. She looks quite impressive! She is being addressed as "Royal Consort" at every turn. Even a hunchback should stand up straight and be full of pride by now!

But all of these should have belonged to his Yiyi!

How hateful, truly hateful!

Xin Yaning was so angry that her eyes were bloodshot, her molars were grinding, and she almost twisted the handkerchief in her hand to shreds.

...

Yuan Mingjin strolled leisurely, passing by a crescent moon gate. Inside, he saw lush green bamboo, its shade like a canopy, and a small lake. Pavilions and towers were built on the water, their eaves soaring and their roofs so elegant.

She felt a surge of affection and turned to ask Su Xiaotang, "Is this your courtyard?"

Su Xiaotang stammered, "No... it's my third sister's courtyard. She did something wrong and was confined by our mother, so she can't come out to pay her respects to Your Highness today."

Yuan Mingjin was somewhat surprised, but said nothing and turned to leave.

After walking a few steps, another courtyard came into view. The carved beams and painted rafters were a given, and there were also several chinaberry trees planted inside. Many light purple flowers bloomed on the branches, like a light purple mist floating among the green branches. If you smelled it closely, you could also smell a refreshing fragrance that was soothing to the soul.

Yuan Mingjin joked, "This should be your courtyard now, right?"

Su Xiaotang was so embarrassed she almost cried: "No, this is my... second younger brother's yard."

That was close, I almost let it slip.

If this were in the Prince's mansion, Yuan Mingjin had never been to a place so far from the main courtyard, so she casually asked, "Why is your courtyard farther away than your younger siblings'? Could it be that your mother favors the youngest son?"

His mother didn't favor her youngest son, but she just didn't favor him at all. Su Xiaotang replied, "Your Highness is too kind. As the eldest brother, of course I should defer to my younger brother and sister-in-law."

Even so, he has never been one to hide his feelings; his eyebrows drooped, and his unhappiness was practically written all over his face.

The two, along with their servants, walked for another quarter of an hour before finally arriving at Su Xiaotang's residence in the Su family mansion.

Yuan Mingjin frowned as soon as he entered.

Although she had never served as the Director of Works, she was not blind to the value of things. She could tell that this courtyard was more than half the size of the two places she had just passed. Moreover, the flowers and trees were sparse and crooked, as if no one had taken care of them, and therefore they grew rather haphazardly.

"Hmph..." Yuan Mingjin sneered, "How can people live in a place like this?" Even the stables of Prince Rui's mansion are more lavishly decorated than this.

However, as soon as she said it, she realized she had misspoke and quickly looked at Su Xiaotang's face. Sure enough, she saw that his eyes were red and he was about to cry, but he was still holding back his tears.

What are you doing?

Yuan Mingjin quickly wrapped one arm around his strong waist, half-embracing him, and took out a handkerchief with the other hand to wipe away his tears. He changed his words and said, "Why can't people live here? Of course people can live here. If I say it's okay, then it's okay. I'll stay here tonight."

"Don't try to fool me..." As soon as someone comforted her, Su Xiaotang couldn't hold back any longer. She buried her face in her neck and shoulders, wrapped her arms around her, and sobbed softly, feeling more and more aggrieved as she cried.

A chill ran down her shoulder. Yuan Mingjin sighed, gave him a look, and her confidants led the others away, leaving only the two of them in the courtyard.

“I’m not kidding you.” Yuan Mingjin stroked his head like a dog’s, running her fingers through his cool, soft, dark hair. “It’s late spring, but why can’t I see a single flower in your yard? It’s so shabby.”

"My dad gets a runny nose whenever he's near flowers and plants," Su Xiaotang said sullenly.

His father had passed away, and his mother rarely visited. Everyone in the household was shrewd and astute; how could they not know what the master's intentions were towards him?

The sparse flowers and trees are a minor matter; he should be grateful that his monthly allowance wasn't withheld.

Not wanting her to see him in his disheveled state with tears streaming down his face, he took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped his face clean in that position before letting go of her.

My eyelids were a little puffy, and I couldn't hide it no matter what, so I had to cover them with my hands so she wouldn't see.

"You still look good even with swollen eyes," Yuan Mingjin coaxed him softly. "Aren't you tired of holding it up like that? Be good, put it down, listen to me."

Despite the sweet words, Su Xiaotang was still a little timid, but in the end, she obediently lowered her arm.

When those swollen, peach-like eyes were revealed, Yuan Mingjin's lips trembled violently, and he couldn't help but burst out laughing, making Su Xiaotang both embarrassed and angry. She pulled away and strode into the room, leaving Su Xiaotang alone on the spot.

Why are you angry just because I laughed at you a couple of times?

Yuan Mingjin, his smile still lingering, hurriedly chased after him, "When I was fifteen, I led troops to defend against the invasion of the Nine Luminaries, yet many old ministers called me a 'paper tiger' and a 'wet-mouthed brat,' mocking and ridiculing me relentlessly, their words clearly expressing their disbelief that I could achieve a great victory. However, I defeated the Nine Luminaries, leaving those old ministers speechless and forcing them to retire and return to their hometowns, allowing me to vent my anger—if you were to hold a grudge like this, wouldn't you have no need to fight at all, and could you just go home and cry to your mother?"

“Your Highness is such a heroic figure, how can you lower yourself to compare yourself to me?” Su Xiaotang said with a hint of resentment. “Xiaotang is just a weak man, of course I can’t compare to Your Highness.”

Yuan Mingjin laughed heartily, delighted by his flattery. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed two wild ducks embroidered on the screen that served as a partition wall, swimming and foraging for food. She couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "The decorations in your room are truly all interesting. These wild ducks—"

"Your Highness is mistaken."

When Su Xiaotang heard her say that the pair of mandarin ducks on the screen were wild ducks, she hurriedly strode out of the inner room to argue with her. Unexpectedly, she heard a familiar voice coming from the doorway before her, sweet and melodious like a nightingale emerging from a valley. It was none other than Su Yiyi.

A note from the author:

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(Words fail me)

In short, the imperial court's disaster relief grain has been distributed, and another four thousand taels were distributed today. I'm awesome! [pats head]