"The Eastern Palace closed its gates early tonight and will not receive any guests."
"His Highness the Crown Prince instructed Xie Chang'an before entering the palace that no matter what important matter was tonight, he should not be disturbed."
The palace maid spoke with trepidation, and with each word she uttered, the emperor's expression grew increasingly grim.
What are two grown men planning to do alone in a room on their wedding night?
Is it for the wedding night?
The emperor was disgusted by the thought that suddenly popped into his head.
However, some things cannot withstand close scrutiny. Once he starts thinking in strange and unusual directions, all the details he had previously overlooked will resurface in his mind.
The emperor belatedly realized that his rebellious son had agreed to the marriage far too readily.
Not only did he agree readily, but he also attached extraordinary importance to this marriage!
Given the rebellious son's character, if he really didn't want to marry Xie Chang'an, he would definitely try every means to stop the marriage, instead of obediently accepting his fate.
When he was a child, he would cry, make a scene, and pretend to be sick to avoid going to school. When he grew up, he used all sorts of tricks to avoid getting married. So how come he readily agreed to Xie Chang'an's request after just a few verbal refusal?
The emperor thought that the two of them had studied together in the Wenhua Hall since childhood, then studied military strategy together with the Duke of Zhenguo, and then went to the northern frontier together. They were clearly such close friends, so why had he never found it strange before?
Especially considering Xie Chang'an's handsome face, why was he wary of even the chubby boy from the Marquis of Zhongyong's family, yet never wary of Xie Chang'an?
The emperor couldn't understand it no matter how hard he thought about it. The more he thought about it, the angrier and angrier he became. He wished he could rush into the East Palace immediately and see what those two people were doing in the bedroom!
But he was also worried that the two of them might have some shady relationship. As the saying goes, "Don't wash your dirty linen in public." They might be shameless, but he still had his pride!
That night, some people were in their element, some were so drunk they were unconscious, some were preoccupied and tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and some were so angry they couldn't sleep in the middle of the night.
When the sun rose as usual the next day, the gloom that had shrouded the hearts of everyone in Daeyueh for more than a month was swept away.
Bathed in sunlight, almost all the common people were grateful to His Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, but the atmosphere in the Da Yuan court was even more somber than before, and the emperor's expression could be described as 'ferocious'.
Ye Jingchen was absent from the morning court session.
Although Ye Jingchen had skipped court for half a month under the pretext of preparing for his wedding, the emperor was only focused on disgusting and humiliating Xie Shaoling and restraining the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. He felt guilty about Ye Jingchen marrying a man as the crown princess, so he let it go.
Now that the wedding is over and the sun has risen, why hasn't Ye Jingchen come to court yet?
What will the court officials think?
"Zhang Shunde, go to the Eastern Palace and convey my imperial edict: summon the Crown Prince to see me immediately!" the emperor said to Zhang Shunde after the court session.
Zhang Shunde dared not delay and jogged all the way to the East Palace.
He was then told that His Highness the Crown Prince was still asleep and that His Highness had given orders yesterday that no one was allowed to enter his bedchamber to disturb him without his summons.
The emperor's summons was a major event, and Fangfei dared not delay. However, she also dared not push the door open directly, so she could only knock on the door outside the bedroom in hopes of waking Ye Jingchen up.
Zhang Shunde waited anxiously on the side.
As a result, the people in the bedroom were not woken up, but Ye Jinghe was attracted over.
Ye Jinghe, who had been drinking heavily last night, woke up late, which was unusual for him. He had only been awake for a short while when he heard the commotion here.
"What happened? Why are you making a fuss at the entrance of your brother's bedroom?" Ye Jinghe asked coldly.
The palace servants in the Eastern Palace, including Fangfei, were somewhat afraid of Ye Jinghe, the Fifth Prince, because they all knew that the Fifth Prince had two faces. He was obedient and well-behaved in front of His Highness the Crown Prince, but he had a completely different cold and gloomy face when dealing with others.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned Your Highness, but Your Highness has not yet risen," Fangfei said, glancing at Zhang Shunde.
“Since my brother hasn’t woken up yet, what’s wrong with waiting a bit?” Ye Jinghe said to Zhang Shunde with a look that said, ‘You’re really insensible.’
Not only were the palace servants in the Eastern Palace afraid of Ye Jinghe, but Zhang Shunde was also afraid of him.
The Fifth Prince doesn't even respect His Majesty, let alone a servant like him.
However, the world is vast, but His Majesty is the greatest, and His Majesty is currently on the verge of exploding with rage, so Zhang Shunde dared not delay.
“Fifth Prince, His Majesty has summoned the Crown Prince for important matters, and there is no time to lose. I hope Your Highness will understand. If His Majesty is angered, it will not be good for the Crown Prince either,” Zhang Shunde said cautiously.
"Are you threatening me and my brother?" Ye Jinghe stared at Zhang Shunde with icy eyes.
Zhang Shunde felt a chill run down his spine, but he had no choice but to bite the bullet and speak again, "This old servant is also acting on His Majesty's orders."
Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, the door to the bedchamber opened, and Xie Chang'an walked out calmly.
"Fangfei, His Highness is ill. Go quickly and invite Imperial Physician Zhang to examine him!" he instructed.
Fangfei was startled, answered "Yes!" and quickly left.
"How could my brother be sick? What are you doing here—"
Ye Jinghe originally wanted to ask Xie Chang'an why he was in his brother's bedroom, but before he could finish speaking, he thought that Xie Chang'an's relationship with his brother was no longer what it used to be, so he couldn't help but glare at Xie Chang'an.
“Eunuch Zhang, please go back and report to His Majesty that His Highness the Crown Prince is currently unwell and may not be able to go to Chengqian Palace to see His Majesty immediately. I hope His Majesty will understand.” Xie Chang’an ignored Ye Jinghe and spoke to Zhang Shunde instead.
Zhang Shunde was at a loss when facing Xie Chang'an, because he didn't know how to address him.
Logically speaking, Xie Chang'an had already married His Highness the Crown Prince, and his name was even recorded in the imperial genealogy. He should address her as Crown Princess. However, the Emperor clearly did not like Xie Chang'an and did not acknowledge this male daughter-in-law. As a man, Xie Chang'an himself might not like the title of 'Crown Princess' either.
"Young Master Xie," Zhang Shunde said after considering for a while before using this form of address.
A hint of displeasure flashed in Xie Chang'an's eyes.
She's already married to Ye Jingchen, doesn't she deserve to be called the 'Crown Princess'?
Ye Jingchen already calls her Crown Princess, so why don't these other people?
"Young Master Xie, how is His Highness the Crown Prince's health? His Majesty has always favored His Highness the Crown Prince. If he knew that His Highness was ill, he would surely be worried. Perhaps we should wait until Physician Zhang has examined His Highness and learned about his condition before this old servant reports back to His Majesty." Zhang Shunde put on a worried expression.
"Whatever." Xie Chang'an's displeasure was written all over his face.
Ye Jinghe was worried about his brother's health and immediately wanted to enter the bedchamber, but Xie Chang'an stopped him.
"Fifth Prince, His Highness is currently unwell and has no energy to see you. Why don't you wait until he has recovered a bit before visiting him?" Xie Chang'an said coldly.
Ye Jinghe's expression turned grim. "Do I need your permission to see my brother?"
"Chang'an, let Jinghe in." Ye Jingchen's voice came from the bedchamber, weak and hoarse, as if he were truly ill.
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