"Once Xiao'er becomes emperor, the two of us can be reunited."
Empress Dowager Chen looked at the moon, which was already high in the sky and as bright as a painting, and couldn't help but feel longing for her beloved.
As dawn broke, the city gates opened wide, and many envoys had already entered the capital.
"I never expected that the envoy from Yan would be Prince Heng. I heard from others that when Prince Heng was young, he was another regent, and countless women in the court were in love with him."
“I’ve heard that too. And some people say that the former emperor of Yan wanted to pass the throne to Prince Heng, but the empress disagreed and insisted that the current emperor inherit the throne. I also heard that Prince Heng broke his leg so that his elder brother could inherit the throne smoothly.”
The woman listening intently nearby had admiration in her eyes. "I didn't expect that Prince Heng is not only handsome, but also so appreciative of family ties. I wonder if Prince Heng has taken a wife or concubines yet?"
The gossipers who had been chatting earlier burst into laughter upon hearing this. "Even if you're going to take wives and concubines, you have to be from a prestigious family. You're just a commoner, dreaming!"
"Tch, even if it's just a dream, it's worth it to dream of such a handsome man."
...
In the blink of an eye, the envoy's carriage arrived at the feet of Yuelaike. On some important occasions, Yuelaike in Yuexiyuan would also serve as a place to receive envoys.
A man was helped down from the carriage by a servant and sat in a wheelchair. It was clear that he had indeed lost a leg.
"Look, it's Prince Heng!"
Throughout history, people with compassion and righteousness have always been loved and respected, especially someone like Prince Heng, who was wholeheartedly devoted to the people, fought for the country, and frequently gave alms; such a person was even more beloved by the people.
Prince Heng's features were gentle and kind, his eyes were calm and serene, his uneven hair swayed lightly between his brows, and his dark hair, which was flying in the wind, shimmered with a slight warmth in the sunlight, as if it were inlaid with a layer of shining gold.
Wow~ So handsome!
Many of the women present were already swooning over him.
Yan An, upstairs, could see Prince Heng alighting from his carriage perfectly. His movements and atrophied muscles indeed suggested that he had been paralyzed for many years.
After An Er returned yesterday, he learned that Yue Xiyuan had gone to the Southern Border, and then he reported everything to Yan An.
"Your Highness, I have thoroughly investigated Xu Huai, and he is indeed suspicious. He has a woman who claims to be his cousin, and she has amassed considerable wealth in the Southern Territory. Xu Huai has also visited her multiple times under the guise of returning home. According to the local people, these two people do not seem like family, but rather like..."
"couple?"
"Yes, yes! They were a couple. Their behavior was very intimate, and many people around them thought they were a couple."
"Yes, there is indeed a problem."
"I have also checked the merchant ships that have passed through the moat over the years. Indeed, there are quite a few merchant ships and passenger ships from the Southern Territory and the Yan Kingdom. And they are very frequent, with a few ships passing by every other day. But the documents of each ship passing by are very complete and there are no problems."
"So this further confirms that Xu Huai is problematic. You should go and rest first. There is still a tough battle to fight tomorrow. Since Yue Zhixiao has chosen to make his move tomorrow, a mere river governor can't cause any trouble in the next two days."
"Your Highness, there is something else I just learned about, concerning the envoy from Yan."
"What's up?"
"I just returned and learned that the envoy sent by the Yan Kingdom this time was not the Crown Prince of Yan, but the Prince of Heng."
“Prince Heng? Is that the same Prince Heng who loves his people like his own children, who lost a leg for his brother and even took away the Tianshan River? Doesn’t he always dislike participating in these kinds of activities?”
"Indeed, this Prince Heng seems to have nothing to do, both externally and internally. Since he broke his leg, he has never even been to the court."
"I understand, you may leave."
"Yes, Your Highness. I shall take my leave."
Yan An sat in the room, constantly thinking about the Prince Heng. "Why did you lose a leg? Why did you bid for the waters of Tianshan? Why did you come to Yue Kingdom? What is your relationship with Yun Yao?"
A series of questions burst into Yan An's mind. "It seems that I really need to meet this Prince Heng tomorrow."
Just as Prince Heng sat in his wheelchair, as if sensing someone watching him, he looked up at the upstairs. In that instant, their eyes met, and Yan An left Yuelai Guesthouse.
Yan An walked down the street, listening to the everyday conversations of passersby, never expecting Liu Xuening to act so quickly.
"Have you heard? This Prince Xiao is actually gay."
"Impossible. He's already married a concubine, and on his wedding day, quite a few people saw Prince Xiao eagerly wanting to go to the bridal chamber."
"Hey, don't you believe me? All of this is just Prince Xiao trying to silence the gossip. You don't know, the rumor that Prince Xiao is gay actually originated from his own residence."
"really?"
"It's absolutely true. I have a cousin who works there, and he heard it with his own ears. This Prince Xiao is... fond of men."
“Hmm… what you said makes sense. Prince Xiao is in his twenties, so he should have quite a few children by now, but apart from a concubine, he doesn’t have a single other concubine in the Prince Xiao’s mansion.”
"See? That just goes to show there's no smoke without fire."
"you're right."
Yan An returned to the palace from Yue Lai Ke, having overheard at least ten people discussing Yue Zhixiao's homosexuality. It seems Liu Xuening really is a case of "you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub."
Actually, this matter wasn't entirely Liu Xuening's doing. It was all because a gossipy old woman in the manor overheard Liu Xuening talking to Cheng'er in the room.
Liu Xuening didn't trust Yan An that much, so she naturally wouldn't risk her life. She never expected that an old woman would take advantage of her.
Liu Xuening managed to get this done by accident.
When Yan An returned to Shou Kang Palace, he saw a group of people preparing to eat.
"An'an, come here quickly, are you hungry? Come and eat."
The Empress Dowager was just about to begin her meal when she saw Yan An returning from outside. She immediately invited him to sit down.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, when do you have time to cook me something delicious again? I've been craving your cooking for so long."
Yan An looked at Yue Xi, who was a little older than herself. She was sure that this girl would become good friends with Qi Yan Yan, since both of them were foodies.
Before Yan An could answer, the Empress Dowager took it, saying, "Your fourth sister-in-law is busy. If you want to eat, come to your mother's place, and I'll have the imperial kitchen make it for you."
"But the food made by the imperial kitchen is not as good as what Fourth Sister-in-law makes."
"Since Yuexi has praised me so much, how can I refuse? When I have time, I'll cook you something delicious without telling your aunt."
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