Chapter 5 Returning Home

So much happened today, so much information.

First, she inexplicably took over the management of the Prince's mansion, then buried herself in organizing the storeroom, only to be personally "caught" by the Prince to have dinner. Finally, she was seemingly sidelined but actually given real power, and then there were Lou Jin's words that were hard to tell whether they were true or false...

This King of Ash is definitely not as weak and harmless as he appears on the surface.

He turned over and looked at the top of the tent.

However, it seems that the other party has no ill intentions and has given him a great deal of freedom. It would be great if he could leave the mansion at will, but maybe it would be easier if we just mentioned it to him.

"But can his illness be cured?"

But then I thought, I can go home to see my parents tomorrow, which isn't so bad.

The next morning, before dawn, Ye Xunyang was awakened by his maid.

Today is the day for returning to one's parents' home, and one must also go to the palace to express gratitude. The etiquette is complicated and cannot be neglected.

He sat up with a yawn, looking at the hazy sky outside the window, thinking that being a princess was more tiring than military training.

At least we don't have to get up so early for drills, and we don't have to wear such complicated clothes.

Several maids filed in, carrying the formal attire to be worn that day.

The princess's dress, with its crimson and gold patterns, was layered upon layered, magnificent and solemn. Ye Xunyang was manipulated like a puppet as she dressed, combed her hair, and put on her crown, feeling as if her neck was about to be broken.

"Where is the prince?" he couldn't help but ask the maid who was adjusting his sash.

"Your Highness, the Prince is already waiting in his carriage outside the mansion gate," the maid replied respectfully.

Ye Xunyang was somewhat surprised that Lou Jin, who was still recovering from his illness, had gotten up earlier than him.

He thought Lou Jin wouldn't go with him, after all, he even had a rooster represent him during the wedding ceremony.

After getting ready, Ye Xunyang strode towards the gate of the mansion.

As dawn broke, a luxurious carriage adorned with the prince's insignia waited there, heavily guarded.

Upon his arrival, the guards silently bowed and lifted the carriage curtain.

The carriage was spacious, with thick, soft mattresses, and Lou Jin was indeed already inside.

He was still sitting in his wheelchair, with a thick, soft pillow under him and a thin blanket covering him. His face looked particularly pale in the dim light inside the car. He closed his eyes to rest, and his long eyelashes cast faint shadows under his eyes.

Hearing the noise, he slowly opened his eyes.

Ye Xunyang climbed into the carriage and sat down opposite him, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"Your Highness, thank you for keeping you waiting."

Lou Jin's voice was hoarse from the early morning, sounding weaker than it had been the night before.

"It's alright, the timing is perfect."

Ye Xunyang noticed the pale blue under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept well last night. Who knows what's wrong with him?

The carriage started smoothly and headed towards the Zhenguo General's Mansion. The carriage was silent for a moment, with only the rumbling of the wheels on the road.

Ye Xunyang felt a little awkward and tried to make conversation: "Your Highness, are you still feeling alright? If you're feeling tired, I can go back to my parents' home alone..."

Lou Jin interrupted him, his tone calm yet firm.

"Propriety should not be disregarded. Since it is the return visit to the bride's parents' home, we should go together. Moreover, we should also pay our respects to the bride's parents."

The words "father-in-law" and "mother-in-law" made Ye Xunyang's lips twitch slightly, but seeing Lou Jin's matter-of-fact expression, he couldn't refute them.

Even the sickly person insisted on coming according to etiquette, so if he were to refuse, it would seem like he was being inconsiderate.

The carriage stopped in front of the general's mansion.

Ye Xunyang jumped off the carriage first, and servants from the General's Mansion came to greet him. When they saw the wheelchair and Lou Jin behind him, they were all stunned, and then hurriedly knelt down to pay their respects: "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Jin, greetings... Princess Consort."

Hearing the word "Princess" still made Ye Xunyang's scalp tingle, but he was able to nod without changing his expression.

He turned around and walked naturally to the back of the wheelchair, saying to the guard pushing it, "Let me do it."

The guard looked at Lou Jin, and seeing Lou Jin nod slightly, he respectfully withdrew.

Ye Xunyang pushed Lou Jin and stepped into the house amidst the surprised gazes of the crowd.

General Ye and his wife were already waiting in the main hall.

Upon seeing her son return, Madam Ye's eyes instantly reddened, and upon seeing King Jin in his wheelchair, her feelings became even more complex and indescribable.

"This humble general/your wife pays respects to Your Highness and Your Highness's wife." General Ye and his wife bowed in accordance with etiquette.

Even though she felt sorry for her son, she couldn't disobey the rules of propriety.

"Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, please rise. You're making me too proud." Lou Jinxu raised his hand, his tone gentle, even showing a hint of junior humility.

This address of "son-in-law" not only stunned Ye Xunyang, but also surprised General Ye and his wife.

They had thought that the prince would be extremely cold, distant, or even disgusted by this matter, but they never expected him to be so approachable.

Everyone took their seats and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Lou Jin handled the situation with composure. Although he did not look well, his demeanor and manners were admirable.

He made no mention of the Imperial Preceptor's words, only saying that he was destined to be with Ye Xunyang and had found such a good match. He thanked the General and his wife for entrusting their beloved son to them and promised to treat Ye Xunyang well.

Ye Xunyang listened from the side, thinking to himself: This prince is quite the actor, he speaks as if it were the truth.

However, seeing his respectful attitude towards his parents, Ye Xunyang's resentment from being forced into marriage dissipated considerably.

Madam Ye embraced Ye Xunyang and inquired carefully whether he had settled into the Prince's residence and whether he had suffered any grievances. Madam Ye had always doted on this youngest son. When she heard that he had been betrothed, she almost crashed into the palace gate and died, but in the end she still compromised.

Ye Xunyang naturally reported only good news and not bad news, only saying that everyone in the Prince's mansion was very respectful to him, the Prince was very kind, and even entrusted him with the management of the mansion's affairs.

Upon hearing this, Madam Ye glanced at Lou Jin in surprise. Seeing him nod slightly, she felt even more uncertain and surprised.

Entrusting the affairs of the royal palace to a newly arrived old man? What exactly is this Prince Jin planning? But seeing her son's normal expression, even a little smug, she was completely baffled.

The homecoming banquet was held in the family banquet hall and was not a big affair. Only a few close relatives of the Ye family were present. Ye Xunyang's eldest and second eldest brothers were far away on the frontier and did not return.

During the meal, Lou Jin offered tea instead of wine to General Ye and his wife, displaying a very humble attitude.

General Ye was a forthright man. Seeing that Lou Jin, though sickly, had no airs of arrogance befitting royalty and possessed unique insights into military and political affairs, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of admiration and regret.

After the banquet, they sat for a while longer, and Lou Jin then showed signs of fatigue.

Seeing this, Ye Xunyang took the initiative to say goodbye, since he still had to go to the palace to express his gratitude that afternoon.

After leaving the general's mansion and getting into the carriage, Ye Xunyang let out a long sigh of relief.

We finally got through the homecoming hurdle smoothly.

He looked at Lou Jin, who was resting with his eyes closed, and said sincerely, "Thank you very much, Your Highness, for today."

Lou Jin didn't open his eyes, only giving a faint "hmm".

The carriage turned towards the palace.

Ye Xunyang lifted the curtain and looked at the gradually bustling street scene outside the window, feeling a headache coming on from the upcoming court etiquette.

Rather than dealing with those imperial relatives and dealing with all the social niceties, he would rather go to the storeroom and check the accounts ten more times.

In a corner he couldn't see, Lou Jin's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Today's return visit to his parents' home had an even better effect than he had expected. The Ye family might be a more usable force than he thought.