He just wanted to ask for a few days off to take care of Xie Chang'an. How did this escalate to him giving up the position of Crown Prince for Xie Chang'an?
Although Ye Jingchen didn't understand the emperor's thought process, he wouldn't let go of this rare opportunity.
"Your subject has never been interested in the position of Crown Prince. How can this position be compared to the one I love?!" he said without hesitation.
"Good! You're very good! I grant your request! From now on, don't come to Chengqian Palace unless necessary. You may leave!" The emperor turned around, his back to Ye Jingchen, and said calmly.
Ye Jingchen was a little confused.
He won't even let him come to Chengqian Palace anymore. Has his father been heartbroken by him?
That won't do!
Family affection and romantic love are not inherently contradictory, so there's no need to make it so tragic.
In such critical moments, people absolutely need to have a mouth.
"Father, putting aside the matter of ruler and subject, aren't we still the closest of father and son? Can't a son come to see his father?" Ye Jingchen asked, feigning confusion.
If the emperor's accumulating disappointment was like an ever-expanding balloon, then Ye Jingchen's words were like a needle that punctured the balloon with a 'pop'.
The emperor's disappointment and anger were completely released in an instant.
But then another wave of anger surged up instantly.
"Get out! I don't want to see you right now!" the emperor roared.
"Your subject will come to see you another day!" Ye Jingchen was very satisfied to see that the emperor had finally returned to his familiar irritable state, and quickly got up and left.
After obtaining a considerable amount of medicinal herbs to nourish his body from Imperial Physician Zhang and packing several changes of clothes, Ye Jingchen left the palace.
Before leaving the palace, he told Fangfei and the others that if they had nothing to do, they could go and help Ye Jingshu.
Since His Highness the Crown Prince returned from the Northern Frontier, Fangfei and the others have found that they can no longer get involved in many of His Highness's affairs.
After the Crown Princess married into the Eastern Palace, she took over all the personal services for the Crown Prince, making the senior palace maids even more idle.
Now that the Crown Prince has moved into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, without bringing a single personal servant, Fangfei and the others are completely out of work.
Although the Eastern Palace still has a master, His Highness the Crown Prince is not here, and that master may not come back to live there, so they will be unemployed again.
"Her Highness said that we should be people of value. Are we wasting our time like this?" Fangrong asked.
With nothing else to do, they could only gather together and chat.
“The Crown Prince’s Palace doesn’t really need so many palace servants anymore. His Highness isn’t someone who craves luxury, and he’ll dismiss another batch of servants sooner or later,” Fangfei said.
“We were chosen by the Empress from a young age and personally taught so that we could take good care of His Highness the Crown Prince. If we leave, who will understand His Highness’s preferences as well as we do? Who will be as considerate as we are?” Fanghua asked worriedly.
“I think the Crown Princess really enjoys taking care of His Highness the Crown Prince, doing everything herself, so there’s really no need for us,” Fangcao said.
Everyone stared at her intently.
"Don't speak," Fangfei said to Fangcao.
Fangcao retorted, "I'm telling the truth."
But sometimes, the truth is the most hurtful.
"Let's take turns helping the Princess, and only one or two people can stay at the Eastern Palace on standby," Fangfei finally decided.
When Ye Jinghe returned to the East Palace, he felt that the palace was inexplicably deserted, as if many people were missing.
Those who remained in the East Palace were Fangxi and Fangrui, who had always been responsible for taking care of Ye Jinghe.
"Where's my brother?" Ye Jinghe asked, puzzled.
"Your Highness, the Crown Princess is injured, and His Highness has gone to the Duke of Zhenguo's residence to take care of her," Fang Xi replied with a bow.
Ye Jinghe was a little confused, and after a long while, he asked, "Then isn't brother coming back today?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince said he would stay at the Duke of Zhenguo's residence for a while."
This sudden separation left Ye Jinghe feeling bewildered and helpless.
He felt abandoned.
At dinner, the table was laden with food, but he was all alone, with no appetite whatsoever, and the food tasted like wax.
"Oh no, I forgot to tell Jinghe about my visit to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion." Ye Jingchen suddenly realized this while feeding Xie Chang'an dinner that evening.
Xie Chang'an felt a little smug. Finally, one day Ye Jingchen cared about him more than Ye Jinghe. However, he did not show it on his face. Instead, he gently comforted Ye Jingchen: "It's okay, the palace servants will tell him."
The palace servants will indeed tell Ye Jinghe, but given Ye Jinghe's sensitive nature, he will definitely feel disappointed or sad.
"After dinner, I'll go back to the palace and tell him," Ye Jingchen said.
Xie Chang'an grabbed Ye Jingchen's hand as he fed him, "Why bother you to make the trip yourself when you could just send someone to tell him?"
“He will only feel at ease if I tell him in person,” Ye Jingchen said.
Xie Chang'an felt incredibly sad, but he was injured and unable to move, so he couldn't stop Ye Jingchen.
"Then go ahead," he said, feigning magnanimity.
"If it gets too late, I can stay in the palace for the night and come back tomorrow. I can manage on my own." There was a hint of disappointment in her voice.
Ye Jingchen understood and saw through Xie Chang'an's little trick, but since his original plan was to go and come back quickly, he didn't expose Xie Chang'an. Instead, he leaned down and kissed Xie Chang'an's lips, assuring him, "I will definitely come back, and I will never let you sleep alone tonight."
Xie Chang'an was extremely satisfied and wanted to deepen the kiss, but now his back was in excruciating pain if he made even the slightest movement, so he could only passively accept Ye Jingchen's light, fleeting kisses.
Ye Jingchen went out through the side door and was about to enter the palace when he found Ye Jinghe waiting outside.
"Jinghe?"
When did you arrive?
"Why don't you come in now that you're here?"
Ye Jingchen asked in surprise.
"Where is brother going?" Ye Jinghe asked instead of answering.
"I plan to go back to the East Palace to find you," Ye Jingchen said.
"Then my brother and I really are on the same wavelength," Ye Jinghe said with a smile, most of the disappointment and sadness in his heart disappearing.
"Since you're here, let's go inside and talk." Ye Jingchen led the person to Chang'an Residence.
"Why did you come back so soon? Were you reluctant to leave—?"
Xie Chang'an stopped talking after seeing the little tail following Ye Jingchen.
Actually, he can no longer be considered a little tail now, because Ye Jinghe has grown taller than Ye Jingchen.
"Why is Jinghe here?" Xie Chang'an asked deliberately.
"I came to visit you because I learned that you were injured and unable to move," Ye Jinghe retorted calmly.
“Chang’an’s injury is indeed quite serious this time, so I will stay at the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion for a while until he can walk again, then we will return to the East Palace,” Ye Jingchen said to Ye Jinghe.
"Okay, brother." Ye Jinghe obediently agreed, then changed the subject and looked at Xie Chang'an, asking, "I understand that brother wants to stay with sister-in-law, but why is there not a single servant in this courtyard? Does brother need to take care of sister-in-law himself?"
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