Chapter 44 Confrontation
Ever since he met the Imperial Concubine, Chen Yunyi felt like he was going crazy. He knew clearly that this was someone he shouldn't have any illusions about, but every night, that beautiful figure would always break into his dreams for no reason.
Some were laughing, some were crying, some were just staring at him silently. Until last night, he even dreamed of something more outrageous.
The chaotic breathing, the tightly clasped fingers, the rosy red corners of her eyes, and her low moan of "Your Highness" were like a dense web that completely entangled and surrounded her from body to soul, making it impossible to escape.
"Zenzhen..." He called her name over and over again, as if he wanted to engrave it deeply into his soul.
After waking up in a sweat, he stared at the curtains above his head, quietly feeling the aftereffects. After a while, he couldn't help but raised his hand and slapped himself.
That is my father's woman.
He repeated it over and over in his mind, as if it was a warning, but also as if it was unwilling.
She is my father's woman, your nominal mother. Chen Yunyi, my father values you so much, you can't be a beast who covets my father's concubine.
But the more he repeated the whispers, the more vivid the details of the dream became. He couldn't help but rub his fingertips, as if he could still feel the touch of his fingers sliding across her skin.
It didn't seem like a dream, but rather like a fact that I had personally experienced.
A hint of self-mockery suddenly appeared on his calm face.
How could that be possible? He clearly hadn't met the Imperial Concubine many times. Counting their first encounter at Taiye Lake and the time at the palace banquet, it had only been twice.
It turned out that he had only met the imperial concubine twice, but he was already tossing and turning in bed, missing her to the bone.
Why couldn't he have met her first, held her in his arms first? If his father had changed his mind during the Southern Tour, and he had gone to Jiangnan first, would he have been the one sleeping beside her now?
Chen Yunyi was previously the most proud prince in the court and had never had any regrets, but now he understood for the first time what it felt like to have endless regrets.
If only he could meet her before his father...
Chen Yunyi looked at the beautiful woman in front of him, his eyes filled with suppressed emotions, appearing very dark and deep.
Chan Zhen was a little dazed. His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin looked very similar to His Majesty. After not seeing him for a while, even his expression and eyes were almost the same as His Majesty's. It was as if he had suddenly matured a lot overnight. However, his face was younger and more immature than His Majesty's, and his aura was slightly lacking.
Are they really father and son?
She had a vague premonition that even the child she gave birth to would not be as similar to His Majesty as the Prince of Jin.
With outsiders present, Chen Yunyi didn't dare act too blatantly. He simply took a step back and said with a calm smile, "According to the rules, Yunyi should address the Empress as 'Noble Mother'. As a younger generation, respecting the elders is only natural. Your Majesty, don't mind."
As soon as he said this, Chen Yunyi realized that his status as a Noble Consort actually gave him an advantage. He could treat her well in the name of "filial piety" without being criticized. The Noble Consort was currently in favor. Even the Prince of Yu and his wife had been punished by their father for offending the Noble Consort. He was terrified by the example of his brother and sister-in-law, so he began to show his kindness to the Noble Consort. Who could say that was wrong?
No one would dare to think about the truth as long as he controls his words and actions and does not act out of line.
He comforted himself.
When Chan Zhen heard the word "Noble Mother", his heart seemed to be burned by fire. It twitched inexplicably and at the same time, endless disgust and resistance surged up.
"Don't call me that." She frowned unconsciously and muttered again as if she had lost control, "Don't call me your mother."
Why? Why did she hate hearing that title from His Majesty the Prince of Jin? She had long since accepted the fact that His Majesty already had several children. Even when she heard that Princess Yu was pregnant and that she would become a grandmother, she had never resisted the title so much.
Prince Jin was slightly startled, and after a while he whispered, "It was Yun Yi who was presumptuous. Please don't blame me, Your Majesty."
He was delusional, thinking that he could get closer to her by relying on this status, but he forgot the discord between the imperial concubine and his mother. She herself had not even been pregnant, so how could she be willing to recognize him as her son?
Princess Yuzhen also misunderstood, so she tried to appease him, saying, "Your Highness is young, and it's her first time hearing someone call her mother. Besides, we're all family, so why should we blame her?"
She stepped forward, took one of Zenjin's hands, and winked at her.
That's just how the royal family is. Whether they like it or not, they always have to put on a facade of intimacy. The Imperial Concubine is innocent, and there's no telling what rumors this might spark. Besides, Yun Yi is a thoughtful child, and it wouldn't be good if he developed a grudge against the Imperial Concubine. Her brother had asked her to help look after the Imperial Concubine; she couldn't allow the woman His Majesty now loves to clash with his once-favored son.
Chan Zhen also realized that he had said the wrong thing, and nodded stiffly in agreement with Princess Yu Zhen's words.
"That's exactly what I meant. I have no intention of blaming Your Highness."
She was secretly angry with herself in her heart. How could she lose her composure like this in front of His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin? His Royal Highness had always treated her with respect. This was really inappropriate.
Chen Yunyi smiled slightly: "I'm glad that the Queen doesn't blame Yunyi."
If you don't blame me, I can have the fantasy that you have a little affection for me, even if this affection is just out of the love of an elder for a younger person.
His tolerance and generosity made him seem even more petty, but he made such a fuss over a "title".
Zen Zhen was even more embarrassed to face his gentle gaze, so he lowered his eyes and looked away.
Fortunately, someone rescued her from this embarrassing situation.
"I was only away for a moment, why is Yuzhen so bustling?"
Chen Dingyao lifted the hanging door curtain with one hand and looked around the room with a smile. When he saw Yun Yi, his gaze paused for a moment and the smile on his face faded slightly.
Zen Zhen's eyes lit up: "Your Majesty, you are back!"
Unable to contain her excitement, she passed Yun Yi and walked towards him. Because there were others present, she didn't cling too closely to him, but her admiring gaze hadn't left him since the moment he entered the room.
Chen Dingyao didn't care about so much. He stretched out his arms and held her in his arms, with a smile in his voice.
"Why, are you getting impatient waiting for Zen?"
Your Majesty asks knowingly.
Zen Zhen glared at him slightly with some embarrassment, but let him hug her without any resistance.
The Princess of Xuanyang looked at them with some envy: "Your Majesty and the Empress have a very good relationship."
After saying this, she looked at Chen Yunyi with a sense of loss. When will His Highness understand her feelings?
Chen Yunyi was completely unaware of the gaze that Princess Xuanyang was casting on him. He just stared at the two people hugging each other and silently clenched his fists.
From the moment the emperor appeared, it was as if the imperial concubine no longer saw anyone else in her eyes. She passed by him so easily and threw herself into the emperor's arms like a young swallow flying into the forest.
As if he had been stung by a poisonous scorpion's stinger, a wave of pain and aching instantly overwhelmed his entire heart. Despite this pain, he stared at their loving scene in a self-torturing manner.
Noticing his gaze, Chen Dingyao looked over and asked casually, "Why is Yun Yi here too?"
At the same time, he tightened his grip on Zenjin's slender waist.
Zen Zhen felt the tightening force on his waist, and when he looked up, his eyes were filled with confusion. What was wrong with His Majesty? But in the end, he let him do it without any resistance.
You can't let your father know what you are thinking, not even a little bit.
Chen Yunyi suppressed the jealousy surging in his heart, and remained calm as he replied, "Your Majesty, I've been unable to sleep at night lately due to overthinking court events, so I wanted to seek guidance from Taoist Xuanwei. It just so happened that I hadn't seen Aunt Yuzhen for many years, so I came to bother you."
Having trouble falling asleep because you're thinking about everything that happened in the morning?
Chen Dingyao's eyes showed a hint of coldness, but he did not expose him. He only asked calmly: "Have you asked the imperial physician to see you if you feel unwell?"
Chen Yunyi replied calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Father. I have already consulted the imperial physician, but the results were not very good, so I thought of asking Taoist Xuanwei for some prescriptions."
The whole country believes in Taoism, and Taoist Master Xuanwei has been regarded as a Taoist master since the previous emperor. There is nothing wrong with what he said.
"I just returned from Taoist Xuanwei's place," Chen Dingyao's expression eased slightly. "Taoist Xuanwei has gained some new insights into Taoism. Starting today, he will be practicing in seclusion for several months and will not be seeing anyone. Yun Yi's arrival is unfortunate."
Princess Yuzhen was unaware of the confrontation between the father and son, and looked at her nephew worriedly.
"What should I do? Is Yun Yi's condition still serious? How about I ask another Taoist priest to take a look at you?"
Chen Yunyi didn't know whether the news that Taoist Xuanwei was about to go into seclusion was true or not, but since his father said so, he could only treat it as true even if it was false.
"Thank you for your help, Auntie. There are many masters in Ziyun Temple. It would be my honor to ask other Taoist priests for guidance."
"Is Taoist Xuanwei going into seclusion?" Chan Zhen's face showed a trace of regret. "What a pity! I haven't had the chance to meet such a great master yet."
Rumor has it that this Taoist priest Xuanwei is about to ascend to heaven and attain enlightenment. He is well versed in the past and present and knows reincarnation. There is nothing in the world that he doesn't know. Chan Zhen was originally looking forward to having the opportunity to meet him.
Chen Dingyao gently raised his hand and touched the top of her head, saying in a gentle voice, "Wait until Taoist Xuanwei comes out of seclusion, and I'll bring you here."
Zen Zhen naturally believed what His Majesty said, so he said "hmm" softly and nodded to him with a smile.
Having temporarily put his worries to rest, Chen Dingyao no longer stopped her from walking around Ziyun Temple. He said, "The scenery in Ziyun Temple is quite beautiful. I'd like to accompany you for a walk to relax."
Chan Zhenzhen thought that although she failed to meet Taoist Master Xuanwei, it was her first time to see such a prosperous Taoist temple. Since she was here, she should pay her respects more, so she nodded.
Chen Dingyao looked at the others and said, "I will take the imperial concubine for a walk. Yuzhen and Yunyi will be left to you."
Princess Yuzhen naturally responded to everything.
"Your son respectfully bids farewell to the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine." Chen Yunyi bowed and watched his father and the Imperial Concubine leave hand in hand.
No matter how unwilling he was, he couldn't say anything to stop it. He knew his father's character. He was very strong and tyrannical, and he would never allow anyone to covet what he loved.
When he was young, Prince Yu mischievously damaged a painting that his father loved. Even though Concubine Xian knelt on the ground and cried for mercy, his father still cruelly punished Prince Yu by making him kneel all night. From then on, Prince Yu began to be disliked by his father. If he could treat a painting he loved like this, how much more so the person he held dear to his heart?
Before he has enough strength to confront his father, he must keep his feelings for the Imperial Concubine hidden and never reveal them at all.
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