Chapter 40 "Your Highness Prince Cheng, when Wanwan married..."
Chapter 40: Leaving the Capital
"Your Highness, this way please." Their conversation had stretched past lunchtime. As Xiao Yu left, he unconsciously glanced at the Jiangnan water town screen inside the room. Mo Yu had been waiting outside. Seeing his master come out, Mo Yu hurriedly went to greet him. Passing the second floor, the young master also greeted them with a smile.
The young master of the Water Fetching Pavilion dares not be careless today, as it is a rare occasion to have two distinguished guests.
Once Qin Jue was certain Xiao Yu had left, she spoke in a clear, gentle voice, "Did you hear what he just said?"
A figure suddenly appeared behind the screen; it was Lu Qingchen, a man of exceptional talent and elegance, who was unusually silent.
Long before the marriage alliance between the two countries, Qin Jue had already learned what kind of person Prince Cheng was. He was intelligent and resourceful from a young age, excelling in both literature and martial arts. His only flaw was that he was not interested in women and had a cold personality. If the position of Crown Prince of Beili had not already been determined, Prince Cheng Xiao Yu would have been the one with the best chance of becoming the Crown Prince. And as it turned out, Xiao Yu had the ambition, dared to compete with the Crown Prince in the court, and was even more capable than the Crown Prince. When people talked about the princes of Beili, the one they talked about the most was Prince Cheng Xiao Yu.
Qin Jue knew that the other party was the same kind of person as him, and that the other party was far superior to him in terms of temperament and strategy. Therefore, when his father and mother decided to marry Wei Yang to the Prince of Bei Li, Qin Jue did not object. Among the most outstanding young men in Nan Qiong besides the Crown Prince and the Prince of Xiang, Lu Qingchen was gentle and refined, and Zhou Heng was handsome and capable. However, both of them already had girls they liked. The Prince of Bei Li was even more outstanding than these two. Wei Yang would definitely not suffer if she married him. But who knew that Wei Yang would be so willful, betraying the love of the Emperor and Empress of Nan Qiong for their daughter, and also betraying Qin Jue's plans for her.
However, Qin Jue never expected that Prince Cheng would guess Wanwan's identity first. If Wanwan were a girl from a family in Beili, and the Emperor had bestowed her upon Prince Cheng, then it wouldn't be surprising if he could easily guess her identity. But Wanwan was not a woman from Beili at all, and she had never even met Prince Cheng before the marriage. How could he still guess Wanwan's identity...
The smile on Qin Jue's face vanished instantly when Xiao Yu pointed out Su Wanyue's identity so incisively. He put down the gilded teacup in his hand and carefully observed Xiao Yu's expression, trying to determine if he truly knew. "How did Your Highness find out?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu chuckled and, without hesitation, exposed Qin Jue, "The person who went to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion in Nanqiong last year to investigate was the head of the secret guards of the Prince Cheng's mansion."
Qin Jue's heart sank, his lips curled into a stern expression. He had guessed it would be like this. It turned out that less than half a year after Wanwan married into Beili, he had already become suspicious of Wanwan's identity, while Wanwan remained completely unaware.
Of course, they were completely unaware of it.
Now that Xiao Yu already knows Wanwan's identity, it's pointless for Qin Jue to keep it a secret any longer; it's like throwing an egg against a rock. He put down his folding fan, his expression serious, and began to talk to her about Su Wanyue's past. "Wanwan's father was the Emperor's younger brother. He played a significant role in the Emperor's ascension to the throne and was able to reside permanently in Nanqiong Capital. Wanwan's mother was the daughter of a marquis and had a very close relationship with the Emperor. However, when Wanwan was born, her aunt fell ill and passed away a few years later. The Emperor has never remarried."
"As for Wanwan and Weiyang, they are the same age and cousins, so their relationship is naturally very good. When the envoy from Beili came to the capital, I was in the capital. However, there was a flood in the Hengyang area, so I took two ministers sent by my father to Hengyang. After returning, I learned that Weiyang had run away from the wedding on the day of the wedding. My father and mother were worried that it would damage the harmony between the two countries, so they asked Wanwan to marry in place of Weiyang. The marriage was not Wanwan's choice. She was forced to do it. Please do not blame Wanwan for this."
Forced into a corner...
Xiao Yu's eyes suddenly darkened as he began to ponder those four words.
Qin Jue had been observing Xiao Yu's expression. Seeing that his face had changed, Qin Jue assumed he was displeased about Princess Weiyang's elopement. He said, "Weiyang has been found. If Your Highness..."
He knew that the Prince Cheng in front of him would definitely not agree, but since they were in the wrong, they had to put on a good show. Qin Jue said, "If Your Highness is willing, once this matter is announced to the world, Nanqiong is willing to send the real Princess Weiyang over."
Xiao Yu's face immediately turned cold. His expression was cold, and his tone was even more indifferent, exuding a bone-chilling coldness. "She is very smart and stubborn. All she wants is not to implicate others, but those things should not become the sharp blades that others use to hurt her."
Suddenly a noise came from behind the screen, like a gust of wind making the hinged window rattle.
Upon hearing this, Qin Jue fell silent. Wanwan was a little girl he had watched grow up. They were supposed to be her family, protecting her from behind. But in her marriage, they pushed her into the abyss. If Wanwan had met someone else instead of Prince Cheng, Qin Jue couldn't even bear to think about it. His breath became slightly damp.
"This matter was a momentary misunderstanding between Father and Mother. As for Weiyang, I have been making her reflect on her actions and repent." After this incident, Qin Jue no longer showed the same favor to Princess Weiyang. Ultimately, this matter was caused by Princess Weiyang; her spoiled and willful behavior led to the current situation.
Qin Jue simply couldn't bear the King Cheng's address of "elder brother".
But he could roughly guess why the King had invited him over. Seeing that he hadn't taken his anger out on Wanwan because of her, Qin Jue breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Qin Jue would rather send Princess Weiyang over than let his most innocent cousin suffer any harm.
As expected, King Cheng told him his purpose: Su Wanyue was unaware that Xiao Yu already knew her identity.
Qin Jue straightened his back, his handsome face devoid of any smile, only solemnity. "Given the current situation in Beili Capital, if His Majesty knew Wanwan's identity, he probably wouldn't let her go."
The recent affair between the Seventh Prince and a female physician has caused quite a stir. Although the physician was of low status, she was still a disciple of Abbess Jinghui and had saved the Seventh Prince's life. Why couldn't she even be a concubine of the prince?
The original plan of the Southern Qiong Kingdom was to marry Princess Weiyang to them, but in the end, it was a princess from the royal family who was married to them. Based on Qin Jue's assessment of the Emperor of Northern Li, once Wanwan's identity is exposed, the current emperor will definitely think that the Southern Qiong Kingdom does not take Northern Li seriously. The best outcome would be for the Southern Qiong Kingdom to send Princess Weiyang to them again, so that the two sisters could share one husband. The worst outcome would be for Wanwan to bear all the consequences alone, and for the Southern Qiong Kingdom to cede other benefits to Northern Li.
Now is not the best time to reveal Wanwan's identity; this was Qin Jue's first thought.
Qin Jue coughed, covering her mouth, and told Xiao Yu her thoughts.
This matter concerns the stability of both countries. He may not care that the person he was sent to marry has been replaced, but will the Emperor of Beili care? Will the officials and powerful families of Beili care? Moreover, this matter also involves Lu Qingchen. Wanwan was originally Lu Qingchen's betrothed. If others find out about this, it is hard to guarantee that they won't use it to make a fuss.
Qin Jue gave a wry smile; he hadn't expected the matter to be exposed so quickly.
After a brief silence, Xiao Yu spoke, asking Qin Jue to agree to one condition. Under these circumstances, Qin Jue readily agreed, but what he never expected was...
He meant that the future new queen of Beili would only be Su Wanyue, and if that time came, he hoped that Qin Jue could lend him a hand.
Qin Jue was taken aback, staring wide-eyed at the calm man in front of him. He was composed and collected, his eyes serene. As if sensing Qin Jue's expression, he added casually, "Not too long."
Qin Jue knew he would keep his word, and he understood why he said that, because only when he ascended the throne would Wanwan be truly safe.
Qin Jue was both shocked by his words and happy for Wanwan. At least he did not hate Wanwan for deceiving him because of her identity, and he was willing to protect her all the time.
He truly regarded Wanwan as his wife.
Qin Jue: "Your Highness, do you love Wanwan?"
“She is my wife.” When he mentioned his wife, Xiao Yu’s expression softened. Then, he changed the subject and said quietly, “Even if her heart is still with someone else, and she was engaged to someone else before, that will not change.”
These words seemed to be addressed to Qin Jue, but also to the "person" behind the screen.
Qin Jue picked up his folding fan again and said with a refined smile, "With Your Highness Prince Cheng's words, I, as your elder brother, can rest assured. I will be leaving the capital soon, and I will entrust Wanwan to Your Highness Prince Cheng's care."
Qin Jue had been worried when he left, but now that King Cheng had laid everything out in the open, Qin Jue felt a little more at ease.
At least with King Cheng around, Wanwan won't be harmed by others.
After exchanging pleasantries, Xiao Yu got up to leave, and Qin Jue also got up to watch him leave. When they were just a step away from the door of the private room, Xiao Yu suddenly said, "Wanwan and I have been married for almost a year and are planning to have a child. Before long, my elder brother should become an uncle."
Qin Jue almost coughed up the tea he had just swallowed; it seemed that his last sentence was deliberately said to someone.
After Qin Jue spoke, Lu Qingchen, dressed in a blue robe and embroidered with a jade belt, emerged from behind the screen. He said with certainty, "His Highness Prince Cheng knows I am behind the screen."
In just two short hours, Lu Qingchen had figured out what kind of person the Prince of Beili was. He was strong-willed but also kept his true intentions hidden. He knew perfectly well that Su Wanyue's former fiancé was behind the screen, but he pretended not to know and deliberately said those things to Lu Qingchen.
In the end, it was Lu Qingchen who suffered the most.
Lu Qingchen realized it, and so did Qin Jue. Cheng Wang's meaningful words were not meant for him at all. He must have guessed the moment he entered that someone was behind the screen.
“This marriage is not something Weiyang is fortunate to have.” Qin Jue’s gaze suddenly turned serious. He pondered for a while before speaking: “Lu Er, your fate with Wanwan is shallow. It was due to Weiyang’s momentary spoiled and willful behavior. I am here to apologize to you again on behalf of Weiyang, the Emperor and the Empress. But there is only one Wanwan. I believe that Wanwan would also like you to let go as soon as possible.”
Since learning that the woman he loved had married into Beili, Lu Qingchen had heard this sentence countless times. Not only did the Crown Prince say it to him, but the Prince of Xiang and Princess Weiyang also said it to him. Even on the night of the Lantern Festival, she said "I'm sorry" to him.
The words of His Highness Prince Beili before he left echoed in Lu Qingchen's mind once again. As Lu Qingchen thought about what Prince Beili had said before he left, his thoughts lingered on the banquet for the top scholar that year, when everyone was gathered together. Among them, a scholar smiled and said, "Princess Weiyang is truly a beauty of unparalleled grace. There must be as many men in the world who want to be Princess Weiyang's consort as there are fish crossing a river."
At that time, Crown Prince Qin Jue, Lu Qingchen (the second young master of the Lu family), Zhou Heng (the vice minister of the Dali Temple), and the Prince of Xiang were all present. Upon hearing this, Qin Jue raised his eyebrows, clearly disagreeing with the young masters' words.
The Prince of Xiang favored his sister, and upon seeing this, he asked the Crown Prince Qin Jue what he meant by shaking his head. Qin Jue shook his expensive folding fan and said, "If Wei Yang is said to be a beauty of unparalleled grace, then Wan Wan can be called a 'peerless beauty.' She has both beauty and talent, and is also intelligent and perceptive. She can talk about anything that others say."
The Prince of Xiang muttered something about Qin Jue being biased as his elder brother, but everyone present knew that the Crown Prince was telling the truth. After a brief moment of internal grumbling, the Prince of Xiang patted Lu Qingchen's shoulder heavily and said, "Lu Er, you're in luck. You'll be marrying the best woman in Nanqiong in the future."
Under the warm sunshine, the gentle and refined Second Young Master Lu blushed.
His beloved woman truly deserved the title of "peerless beauty." Lu Qingchen lowered his eyelids and smiled. "In this life, I do not seek titles or high positions, but only wish to share the burdens of the people."
Lu Qingchen heard everything the Prince Cheng said. Compared to being a lady in a secluded mansion, she was indeed more suited to be an empress, the mother of the nation. His Highness the Prince Cheng did not care whether she was the real Princess Weiyang or not, and was still willing to protect her. Lu Qingchen had nothing to worry about. This time when he came to Beili, Lu Qingchen also saw her with his own eyes, so he had no regrets.
A thought suddenly popped into Qin Jue's mind: Lu Qingchen might never marry again in his life.
“These days, the capital of Beili is a chaotic place, the court is shrouded in mystery, and the Crown Prince is eyeing us covetously. Wanwan’s identity is really not suitable to be discovered at this time. The longer we stay here, the more likely people will find a pretext to use against us. I will inform the Emperor of Beili that we will leave the capital in the next few days.” Qin Jue thought of Princess Zhaoning, whom he had bumped into on the night of the Lantern Festival, and the recent unrest in the Beili court due to the Seventh Prince. They really should not stay here any longer and should return to the capital as soon as possible.
The Emperor and Empress were right about one thing: Wei Yang's temperament is indeed not suitable for His Highness Prince Cheng. Given the current complex environment in Bei Li, Wei Yang cannot understand it and is easily manipulated and plotted against.
"I will follow the Crown Prince's orders." Lu Qingchen's expression was gentle as he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.
Qin Jue sighed inwardly. Three days ago, he received a letter from Prince Cheng's residence, saying that His Highness Prince Cheng had invited him to have tea at the Water Fetching Pavilion in three days. Qin Jue had a bad feeling. He had many guesses in his mind, and he guessed that Prince Cheng might already know his sister's identity. But he never expected that Prince Cheng would come to him to discuss how to protect Wanwan. This surprised Qin Jue and made him fully understand His Highness Prince Cheng's determination to protect Wanwan.
No sooner had Xiao Yu left than Qin Jue and Lu Qingchen also prepared to leave.
At this moment, the luxurious carriage was slowly making its way to Prince Cheng's residence. Halfway there, Mo Yu gently tapped the wooden edge of the carriage. "Your Highness, when Crown Prince Qin came out, he was accompanied by someone. That person was dressed in a blue robe and had a handsome appearance, like a young gentleman."
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