Chapter 49: Rumors about Concubine Mei
"When the right opportunity comes, I will have him come and kowtow to you in person to thank you for saving his life," said the third prince.
"Third brother, you really don't have to..." Ye Qingyu didn't know how to respond for a moment. It seemed that the Third Prince really liked the so-called "male favorite", otherwise he would not have said such words.
"I don't know why I'm so infatuated with him. Ever since I met him three years ago... Alas, it truly is a fate untoward!" The Third Prince sighed, his face filled with melancholy. Just now, he had been harshly scolded by his mother for refusing the marriage proposal for a male favorite, infuriating the Emperor of Chu. In the eyes of others, he looked like a fool.
"What's the logic behind liking someone? If you like someone, then you like him." Ye Qingyu's mind flashed with Qing Yi's figure, and he blurted out involuntarily.
The Third Prince was already worried because of the uproar in the city caused by this incident. He did not expect Ye Qingyu to say this. Everyone around him advised him to give up that person, listen to his father's arrangements, be a well-behaved prince, and compete for the position of crown prince in the future.
"Qing Yu!" The third prince felt sympathetic, his eyes turned slightly red, and he almost shed tears.
"Third brother, what's wrong with you?" Ye Qingyu didn't expect that his sigh would move the third prince so much.
"It's okay, it's okay. I said I didn't make a mistake! We brothers are scheming and suspicious of each other all day long, and there is no brotherhood at all. No wonder father favors you alone, you really deserve it." The third prince was filled with emotion.
"Third brother, my uncle was just watching me being poisoned since I was little, and he couldn't bear it, so he took extra care of me. As his prince, he values you just as much as I do."
"Didn't the Sixth Prince just mention that I refused the arranged marriage in order to marry Xue Ruoxi and compete for the position of Crown Prince?" asked the Third Prince.
"..." Ye Qingyu remained silent. He knew very well that this matter was sensitive and he must not comment on it casually.
"I think that's the case. The sixth brother is obsessed with competing for the position of crown prince, and so are the second and fourth brothers. Although the fifth brother, like me, has no intention of doing so, the people around him keep instigating and tempting him for their own interests." The third prince sighed helplessly, his brows full of annoyance.
"The struggle for imperial power has always been cruel and ruthless. If Third Prince has made up his mind, then don't hesitate any longer." Ye Qingyu has always had a good impression of the Third Prince. The Third Prince is an elegant man who likes poetry and songs, and is proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. He is completely different from the Sixth Prince, whose scheming and interests are written nakedly on his face.
"Alas, I originally had no interest in that position, but..." The Third Prince hesitated, as if he had something to hide. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Qingyu, in your opinion, which prince would the Emperor value more?"
In fact, everyone in the court knew that the reason why the Emperor of Chu had not appointed a crown prince for so many years was either because he did not have a candidate he liked among the princes, or because he was waiting for a child born to his favorite concubine.
Ye Qingyu naturally wouldn't discuss such a sensitive matter with the Third Prince without reservation. She simply responded, "I've lived outside the capital for a long time, so I don't really understand the situation in the court."
"Haha, you don't dare to say it! I'm afraid that the emperor is not satisfied with us brothers, otherwise he would not have kept the throne of the crown prince vacant. In the past two years, the emperor has been extremely fond of Concubine Mei. Now that she is pregnant, it is exactly what the emperor wants." The third prince was quite frank and spoke his mind.
"What kind of person is Concubine Mei?" Ye Qingyu asked. He had not expected that the missing jade case would involve Concubine Mei, and might even trigger a future struggle for the throne. It seemed that he had to act more cautiously.
"She is the most beautiful woman in the harem, and my father dotes on her alone. Since she entered the palace two years ago, my father has rarely visited other concubines. As for her personality, as my mother said, 'Concubine Mei is gentle, modest and polite.' Although the people in the harem are jealous of her favor, they also think she is a good person." said the third prince.
"How could she receive such an evaluation?" Ye Qingyu had only heard of the name of Concubine Mei, but had never seen her in person. Even at the royal family banquet, Concubine Mei had never attended.
"That's true. So when my brothers heard that Concubine Mei was pregnant, they couldn't sit still. Unless the Queen can also get pregnant, no one can compete with her."
"What is her background?" Ye Qingyu asked. He had just received some information about Concubine Mei from the Sixth Prince. Since the Third Prince also mentioned Concubine Mei, he would take the opportunity to find out more.
"Her father is Zhao Xing, the prefect of Xihua Prefecture. Oh, and she has a younger brother who works in the palace. He's the deputy commander of the imperial guards, Zhao Quan. Have you ever met him?"
"Zhao Quan is now the king's uncle. Instead of staying at home to enjoy the wealth and glory, why does he come here to serve as a guard?" Ye Qingyu asked in confusion.
"That's not very clear. I heard that it was Concubine Mei who asked father for it. Maybe he wanted him to gain some experience and seek a position of real power in the future. After all, her mother's family is just a small prefect and has no merits. If she falls out of favor one day, wouldn't it be miserable without her mother's family background?" The third prince analyzed.
"What kind of person is Zhao Quan?" Ye Qingyu continued to ask.
"He looks very different from his sister, who was a concubine. There's a large birthmark on his eye socket. It's hard to imagine that siblings from the same mother could look so different. But Zhao Quan is a skilled martial artist. It's said that he learned from a famous teacher. Otherwise, it would be difficult for him to become Shen Yan's deputy just by relying on connections. As you know, Shen Yan is very arrogant and has no tolerance for useless people."
The Third Prince was probably grateful for Ye Qingyu's previous intercession, so he told everything he knew without reservation.
However, the third prince did not know as much as the sixth prince, and he did not know that Concubine Mei and Zhao Quan were not biological siblings.
"So that's how it is." Ye Qingyu's mind was already clear.
"Young Prince, Eunuch Duofu has arrived," a maid from Luohua Palace came to report. Eunuch Duofu was Eunuch Chang's godson and a close attendant to the Emperor.
Upon hearing this, the Third Prince immediately stood up and said, "Qingyu, you are busy now. I will leave first and continue when I have time."
"Goodbye, Third Brother." Ye Qingyu stood up to see him off. In order to avoid meeting Eunuch Duofu, the Third Prince went through the door of the side hall to avoid being suspected of forming a clique.
After the Third Prince left, he returned to the palace and ordered the young eunuch, "Let Eunuch Duofu come in."
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