Qing Yang and Qing Yun had long heard from their mother that it was this aunt who had saved them and their mother; otherwise, they would have been dead. Therefore, upon descending from Grand Prince’s embrace, they walked over and knelt to kowtow to Yang Mengchen.
Yang Mengchen instructed Sister Hai Tang and others to help the two children up and smiled at Long Yilin and his wife, "Imperial Uncle just said we are one family, we should love and support each other. If my cousins continue to be distant, then you’re not treating me as family!"
Long Yilin, fully aware of Yang Mengchen’s temperament, no longer insisted on these formalities and helped his wife back to their seats.
"Cousin, don’t you think you should hold a grand wedding ceremony for your wife?" Yang Mengchen teased.
Previously, due to the situation, Duan Muyao had no choice but to marry Long Yilin as a concubine. Now that the Duanmu family had been exonerated, Duan Muyao, being the legitimate daughter of the Duanmu family, continuing as Long Yilin’s concubine was inappropriate, especially since she had given birth to two sons.
Seeing the expressions on his son and Jiujiu, Grand Prince understood that this was no simple matter, but he did not inquire further. Upon hearing Jiujiu’s remarks, he nodded in agreement, "A wedding should indeed be held, and it should be celebrated grandly!"
Duan Muyao, of course, wished to marry Long Yilin legitimately. It did not matter to her whether she was a concubine or upgraded from concubine to wife, but such status was not beneficial for the reputation of the two sons. Yet, worried about Long Yilin and Grand Prince’s feelings, as she was about to say something, she suddenly caught Yang Mengchen’s reassuring glance and ended up keeping her mouth shut.
Feeling he already owed too much to Yao’er and his sons, Long Yilin was determined to compensate them. Seeing the expression on his father’s face, his eyes moistened. He blinked away the tears and spoke, "Father, please choose an auspicious day for me to marry Yao’er in style."
"Very well! Your mother will surely be thrilled," Grand Prince said cheerfully, looking at his legitimate son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, incredibly satisfied, "But before this, Liny’er must first recognize his ancestors and return to his family name."
"We will follow Father’s command in everything!" Long Yilin and his wife replied tearfully.
The always silent Long Xuanmo spoke, "Ah Jiu must be tired from sitting for so long. Let’s take a walk in the garden. It’s a good time for Imperial Uncle and his family to enjoy some time together."
Yang Mengchen nodded to Grand Prince’s family, who returned the nod. She then rose from her seat in Tingfeng Courtyard with the aid of Long Xuanmo.
Sister Jin and others followed closely.
"When has Father decided to execute Long Yiming and Long Yisi?" Yang Mengchen asked.
Carefully supporting his beloved wife, Long Xuanmo replied, "Seven days from now, but they won’t live to see that day."
Yang Mengchen understood. The Emperor did not wish to bear the stigma of executing his sons and would surely have his undercover agents take action beforehand, just like with Prince Duan.
"What about their families?"
"The Emperor has allowed Princess Jing to divorce Long Yiming and return to her parental home with her dowry. One of the three concubines was found dead in Long Yiming’s secret chamber and had been dead for some time. The other two concubines and the rest of the concubines were executed. The wife and secondary wives of Long Yisi, as well as his concubines, were also executed."
Yang Mengchen inwardly sighed with relief. She had a good impression of Su Xiran, and it was better for her to divorce and return home now. As for the others, she did not care.
"And Prince Hui?"
"His eldest legitimate son and all related adult male members of the family will be beheaded publicly, while he and his female family members will be executed secretly."
They brought it upon themselves!
Yang Mengchen silently remarked and changed the subject.
Indeed, within a few days, Long Yiming and Long Yisi committed suicide in fear of their crimes in Sky Prison. The Emperor arranged for their burial, and when the time came for Prince Hui and other traitors to be buried, the Emperor invited Master Jingkong to perform Buddhist rites. No one could fathom the Emperor’s intentions.
The next day, Grand Prince brought Long Yilin to the palace to see the Emperor. The visit served two purposes: for Long Yilin to recognize his lineage and for the Emperor to bestow marriage upon Long Yilin and Duan Muyao.
The Emperor immediately had the Astronomical Observatory choose two auspicious days, one for Long Yilin to recognize his ancestry on the twenty-sixth of November and simultaneously issued an imperial edict bestowing marriage on Long Yilin and Duan Muyao. The wedding was set for another auspicious day, the eighteenth of December, and the Ministry of Rites was instructed to arrange the wedding.
With the Duanmu family’s wrongful case cleared, the Emperor returned their property, including a residence not far from Grand Prince Mansion. Duan Muyao planned to leave for her wedding from that house. Yang Mengchen not only arranged for servants to assist Duan Muyao but also requested Princess Ning and other close female relatives to help. Duan Muyao was so moved that she was brought to tears.
The news of Yang Mengchen’s pregnancy had already spread. Everyone realized why the Crown Princess had not been seen leaving the Prince Mansion recently, and they were also delighted. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess were both exceptionally talented; the child they would have was sure to be extraordinarily intelligent. Everyone happily discussed it, inadvertently dispelling the gloom brought about by the rebellion.
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