Turning around, Ye Cunjin saw Prince Ding waiting outside and immediately stepped forward to bow. Prince Ding said, "Minister Ye, there's no need for such formalities."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Ye Cunjin straightened up.

Prince Ding said, "Judging from Minister Ye's good complexion, he must have had a very pleasant conversation with the Emperor?"

Ye Cunjin smiled faintly and said, "His Majesty is benevolent and will not hold a grudge against the Marquis's family."

"Very good!" Prince Ding felt much more at ease. He immediately stepped past Ye Cunjin and entered the imperial study. He then lifted his robe and knelt down to pay his respects.

"Your subject has come to apologize to Your Majesty and accept punishment!" Prince Ding said firmly, kowtowing three times to the ground.

The emperor stood up, put his hands behind his back, looked at the Prince Ding who was performing the grand salute, and after a long while, said in a drawn-out tone, "What crime has the Prince Ding committed?"

Prince Ding took a deep breath, thinking that Ye Cunjin had left the imperial study with a smile, so his father's anger shouldn't be that serious.

He then said, "Your Majesty, I was furious because I mistakenly believed that the eldest daughter of the Ye family had been having an affair with another man all night. I couldn't help but go to her door to break off the engagement. This was a mistake."

"Your Majesty, I have fallen in love with the second daughter of the Ye family. Without informing Father Emperor, I proposed to marry her and have already signed a marriage contract. This is my second mistake."

"Your Majesty, I have failed to live up to your teachings and have disappointed the eldest daughter of the Ye family who has waited for me for so many years. Therefore, I have come to apologize to you and ask for your punishment."

After King Ding finished speaking, he prostrated himself on the ground again.

The emperor asked, "Anything else?"

Prince Ding believed he had already admitted everything and could not think of any other mistakes. He said, "Please enlighten me, Father."

The Emperor said, "The Marquis of Zhongyong died saving you back then. He asked you to marry Ye Qingxue and take care of her for the rest of your life. As a prince, you have gone back on your word. How can you face your savior?"

Prince Ding said, "Father, I will never forget the kindness of Marquis Zhongyong in saving my life. The Second Miss is also Marquis Zhongyong's biological daughter. Marrying her is my way of repaying Marquis Zhongyong."