Chapter 37 The Third Prince Returns
After Ye Wanqing left, Ye Wanning realized that her hand holding Su Wenzhen's was already sweaty. Sure enough, acting is physically demanding. She sighed and turned around to find Qiushan still kneeling on the ground. She was taken aback and immediately went forward to help her up. "Why are you still kneeling?"
"No...no...no one woke me up..." Qiu Shan replied timidly.
"You silly girl..." Ye Wanning sighed softly, and flicked Qiu Shan's forehead with her hand, "So if no one tells you to get up, you'll just keep kneeling?"
Qiu Shan lowered her head, looking extremely aggrieved, "Yes..."
"You! You're such an inflexible person!" Ye Wanning said irritably. After a while, she seemed to remember something and asked with some confusion, "Why did you interrupt me just now?"
“Yes…” Qiu Shan blushed, “This… is… there’s a rule in the palace… masters can’t do what servants do… if they’re caught, they’ll be punished with a beating…”
"Huh?" Ye Wanning was stunned. What kind of weird rule is this?
Qiu Shan glanced at Su Wenzhen cautiously, and seeing nothing unusual, continued, "I heard that back when Consort Wen was still a Noble Lady... she pretended to cook for the Emperor, but instead set fire to the Imperial Kitchen in an attempt to commit suicide... She was later rescued, and the imperial physician discovered that she was pregnant with the Emperor's child. Since then, the Emperor has established this rule... Although it's a bit strange, it's for the safety of the masters..."
So that's how it is. Ye Wanning nodded, looking at Su Wenzhen who was nestled beside her. Her affection for him grew even stronger. Just as she was about to say something, she heard a high-pitched voice from outside the hall: "The Crown Prince has arrived!"
Ye Wanning was taken aback. She sneered. What a busy day it has been!
Ye Wanning reached out and pulled Su Wenzhen behind her, then turned to greet Su Wenzhen, who was walking towards them, "Your Highness."
Just as she was about to bow, Su Wenyi stopped her, saying, "Sister-in-law, there's no need for such formalities. We're family after all."
Ye Wanning couldn't help but find it a little funny. This couple was quite good at putting on an act in front of others and behind their backs. It's true what they say, birds of a feather flock together! She looked up and smiled at Su Wenxuan, "Your Highness is right."
Su Wenxuan nodded, glanced around seemingly casually, then stroked his chin thoughtfully. After a long silence, he asked, "Are your sister-in-law and second brother comfortable living here?"
"Aside from feeling a bit constrained since it's not the Prince's residence," Ye Wanning smiled, "everything else is quite nice." As she spoke, she pursed her lips and chuckled, "Speaking of which, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess really have a great understanding."
Su Wenyi was taken aback, clearly puzzled by Ye Wanning's words. He looked at Ye Wanning, somewhat confused, and asked, "What do you mean by that, sister-in-law?"
"The Crown Princess came to see me just now and asked me about these things too!" Ye Wanning smiled and said meaningfully, "Speaking of which, the Crown Princess really cares about the Crown Prince."
Hearing this, Su Wenxuan's face darkened. Although Ye Wanning hadn't explicitly stated it, he guessed the implication: life in the Crown Prince's residence was probably too leisurely, which was why so many troubles had arisen! After a pause, Su Wenxuan smiled and said, "I've made you laugh, sister-in-law." He smiled, "Actually, I came here today to tell you some good news!"
Ye Wanning was taken aback. Good news? What good news? She couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Don't be fooled by Su Wenxuan's usual gentle and refined appearance; everyone knows what he's thinking. She didn't believe there was any real good news. She glanced at Su Wenxuan, feigning confusion, "What does the Crown Prince mean?"
Su Wenzhen raised an eyebrow and glanced at Su Wenzhen. "The Third Prince, Su Wenliang, will be returning to the capital today. Wenzhen and Wenyan are both in the palace now. It's been so long since the four of us brothers have gathered together. Don't you think this is a good thing?"
Ye Wanning was taken aback. The Third Prince? She couldn't help but frown. This Third Prince was the only person she didn't know. It was said that he was the son of the current emperor and the princess of the neighboring Qiang Kingdom. The Qiang Kingdom was a nomadic people, and the Third Prince inherited his mother's free-spirited nature, always showing no interest in the power struggles within the palace. He was sent to the Qiang Kingdom for upbringing at a very young age, only occasionally returning to the Chu Kingdom. The older he got, the fewer times he returned to the Chu Kingdom. Now he's back? Ye Wanning's heart sank. Was he here to fulfill his filial duty or to get involved in this mess? It seemed the situation was becoming increasingly unclear!
Ye Wanning's lips curled slightly. Never mind, she'd deal with whatever came her way! She covered her mouth and chuckled, "The Crown Prince is right, this is indeed a good thing! I just wonder when the Third Prince will arrive?"
"We'll arrive in about an hour or two." Su Wenzhen smiled and glanced at Su Wenzhen behind Ye Wanning. "I'd like to host a welcome dinner for my third brother tonight, and I hope you'll bring Wenzhen along, sister-in-law."
"Of course." Ye Wanning smiled. She had already noticed Su Wenzhen's gaze. He probably came today just to see Su Wenzhen's reaction. Thinking about it, Ye Wanning couldn't help but feel a little puzzled. Why was this guy, who was clearly a fool, so wary of him? She turned to look at Su Wenzhen, and although she was a little confused, she still asked with a smile, "Wenzhen and I will definitely go, Wenzhen, you agree, right?"
Su Wenzhen held Ye Wanning's hand, looking like a submissive wife, "Wherever my wife goes, I will go."
Seeing that Su Wenzhen had no reaction, Su Wenxuan couldn't help but feel a little bored. He had come up empty-handed after all, but if he were to give himself away so easily, he wouldn't be his good second brother, would he? Su Wenxuan sneered, then said, "Very well then, it wasn't a waste of my trip." He chuckled, still maintaining his gentle and refined demeanor, "Then I will have someone come and take you there. I just hope that my sister-in-law won't refuse."
"What are you saying, Your Highness?" Ye Wanning said with a smile, "I absolutely have to go. Although Wenzhen is immature, I can't be ignorant, can I?"
Su Wenyi didn't speak, but looked at Ye Wanning meaningfully. After a long silence, he said, "It's getting late. I'll go and prepare to welcome my third brother. Sister-in-law, you should take this time to rest. The Crown Princess is also coming today, so you must be a little tired."
Ye Wanning slowly bowed and said, "Yes."
After Su Wenlan left, Ye Wanning returned to her room, but something still felt off. "Autumn fan."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Shan walked in from outside, somewhat flustered, and asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Ye Wanning frowned. "Has anyone come looking for you after the Crown Princess left?"
"Ah?" Upon hearing this, Qiu Shan blushed and waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "Of course not, Your Highness...you...you...you mustn't doubt me...I am..."
"That's not what I meant." Ye Wanning waved her hand impatiently, hesitated for a moment, then shook her head and said to Qiu Shan, "Of course I believe you, but..." Ye Wanning sighed, "Never mind, you can go now..."
As the door closed, Ye Wanning looked at Su Wenzhen, who was sitting to the side playing with something, and her unease grew stronger... The Third Prince had returned at this time... The calm of the past few days... Thinking about this, Ye Wanning half-closed her eyes. It seemed that tonight was destined to be a restless night!
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