Chapter 4 There's Still a Long Way to Go
Ye Xunyang was taken aback by Lou Jin's abrupt question and subconsciously replied, "My dowry? Not yet... No, Your Highness, why are you asking this?"
His dowry of 120 loads consisted mostly of gold, silver, jade, antiques, and calligraphy and paintings, plus land deeds that his mother had stuffed into the trunk as a last resort, saying it would give him some confidence in the Prince's mansion.
But what does a grown man like him need all that confidence for?
He never intended to occupy the position of princess for long. He left those things untouched in the dowry chest, never thinking of moving them. He planned to move them after the divorce, let alone register them in the palace's storeroom.
Lou Jin propelled his wheelchair forward slowly, his voice devoid of emotion: "Now that you've entered the Prince's mansion, your dowry should naturally be registered and managed in a unified manner to avoid any unnecessary trouble or disputes in the future."
Ye Xunyang followed beside him, somewhat reluctant to agree: "Oh, this... okay, I'll have someone around me take inventory tomorrow and make a list for the housekeeper to keep on file."
Well, since we're nominally a family now, it's good to have a clear breakdown of assets to avoid disputes during a divorce later.
Lou Jin glanced at him and saw that he agreed readily, seemingly not taking the huge dowry to heart. His eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't say anything more.
The two arrived at the dining hall, where the food had indeed been reheated and was exquisite and delicious.
Ye Xunyang was starving and didn't care about etiquette. He sat down and began to eat heartily. His eating style was bold but not rude, showing the straightforwardness of a military family.
Lou Jin ate very little, mostly just slowly drinking the soup in his bowl, his gaze occasionally falling on Ye Xunyang, who was wolfing down his food across from him.
Seeing how much he enjoyed his meal, Lou Jin felt his appetite improve as well, and ate an extra half bowl of rice.
After dinner, a maid served tea.
Holding his teacup, Ye Xunyang felt it was time to bring up his plans again.
He cleared his throat, about to speak, but Lou Jin spoke first: "Thank you for your hard work today. Now that the warehouse accounts have been sorted out, I will have the steward and accountant handle the subsequent verification and confirmation. You don't need to do it yourself anymore."
Ye Xunyang blinked: "Does Your Highness mean... I don't need to manage the accounts anymore?"
His tenure in charge of the central administration ended after only one day?
Lou Jin put down his teacup and said calmly, "It's not that I don't care, but there's no need to waste so much energy. The Prince's Mansion has its own rules and people to handle things. As the mistress of the house, you only need to focus on the big picture and leave the trivial matters to the servants. If you do everything yourself, what use are they?"
Ye Xunyang thought about it and felt that it made sense.
He gets a headache from having to stare at the ledgers every day. It would be much easier for him to be a hands-off manager, just listening to reports and making decisions.
"Your Highness is right."
"Tomorrow you will have to return to your parents' home and go to the palace to express your gratitude. After that, I will have all the stewards in the mansion come to pay their respects to you. From now on, you will be in charge of the daily affairs of the mansion."
"If you encounter any difficulties, you may come and ask me, or discuss it with the steward." Lou Jin's tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable entrustment.
Ye Xunyang suddenly felt the burden on his shoulders grow heavier.
Looking at Lou Jin's pale yet serene profile, his doubts deepened: Was this prince trusting him, the one brought to him for good luck, a little too quickly? Was he really delirious from his illness?
Or... is there another motive?
But what did he have that was worth coveting? The Ye family's power?
Although his father was a general who protected the country, he never participated in the struggle between the princes and maintained a neutral stance.
As for him? Aside from his decent martial arts skills, there doesn't seem to be anything special about him.
"Your Highness," Ye Xunyang asked, holding his teacup.
"You're so comfortable entrusting the Prince's mansion to me? We... we've only known each other for two days."
Lou Jin raised his eyes, his deep gaze meeting his, a faint smile curving his lips, which gave his sickly face a breathtaking beauty.
"The imperial decree has been issued; you and I are now legally husband and wife. We share both glory and ruin. If I don't trust you, who else can I trust?"
These words were perfectly crafted, invoking both the emperor and the status of husband and wife, leaving Ye Xunyang speechless and even somewhat moved by them.
But he always felt that Lou Jin was hiding something else in his heart that he couldn't see through.
"As for what you mentioned yesterday..." Lou Jin changed the subject, bringing up the issue that Ye Xunyang was most concerned about.
Ye Xunyang immediately sat up straight and pricked up his ears.
"The words of the Imperial Advisor must be heeded. This matter of a marriage to bring good fortune concerns my life; it is better to believe it than not."
Lou Jin's tone carried a hint of helplessness and solemnity.
"Until I recover from my illness, our marriage must continue. This is for you and me, for the Emperor, and for the people of the world. However, if I pass away in the future, I will petition the Emperor to grant you your freedom."
The little flame of hope that Ye Xunyang had just ignited was extinguished in an instant.
He opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but seeing Lou Jin's expression when he mentioned the illness and death, he swallowed his words.
Compared to a patient's life, my own discomfort seems insignificant.
Lou Jin looked at his shoulders slump instantly, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, and added.
"but,"
"How we get along is none of the business of outsiders. If the Princess feels bored, she may use the training ground and library in the manor at will. If she wishes to spar, there are also several skilled guards in the manor."
Is this... a sweet treat?
Ye Xunyang's eyes lit up again. Being able to move his muscles and bones was better than being confined to the backyard all day. It seemed that King Jin was quite reasonable.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Ye Xunyang's thanks this time were much more sincere.
After sitting for a while, Lou Jin looked tired. Seeing this, Ye Xunyang offered to take him back to rest.
This time, Lou Jin did not refuse.
After escorting Lou Jin back to the main courtyard, Ye Xunyang watched as the guards helped him onto the bed. Standing at the door, he hesitated for a moment before asking.
"Your Highness, tonight...do you still need me...um...that...to share a bed?"
After asking the question, he felt his face burning. It was strange to think about two grown men discussing sharing a bed.
Lou Jin leaned against the headboard, his face showing weariness in the candlelight. Upon hearing this, he looked up at Ye Xunyang, remained silent for a few moments, and then slowly spoke.
"I'm tired today, and I'm sure my beloved concubine is tired too. Let's both rest."
Ye Xunyang breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Alright, Your Highness, please rest well! I won't disturb you!"
After saying that, he left the main courtyard almost as if he were fleeing.
Watching Ye Xunyang's almost hasty retreat, Lou Jin coughed lightly a few times, and the barely perceptible smile in his eyes reappeared.
Sure enough, it still scared him.
However, there's plenty of time in the future.
He slowly lay down, feeling the dull pain in his body, which was still there but much milder than before, and closed his eyes.
I wonder if my condition will worsen after I get away from him tonight? Or will it remain the same?
Ye Xunyang, who had escaped back to his new house, washed up and lay on the large, soft bed, but found it hard to fall asleep.
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