Chapter 9: Promotion, Wealth, and the Death of Her Husband
With Lou Jin's permission, Ye Xunyang felt like an eagle released from its cage, finding even the air outside the palace exceptionally fresh.
Accompanied by two attendants, he headed straight for the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, his favorite restaurant in the East Market, with great enthusiasm.
The manager and staff of Zuixianlou all recognized General Ye. Seeing the extraordinary demeanor of the attendants behind him, and knowing that news had already spread that the young master of the Ye family had married the sickly King Jin, their attitude became even more respectful, even somewhat cautious.
Ye Xunyang didn't pay attention to these details; his target was the jar of fifty-year-old pear blossom wine that the shopkeeper had kept hidden away.
This wine is mellow and sweet, with a long-lasting aftertaste. He had been craving it for a long time but had never been able to bring himself to buy it.
I was in a good mood today, so I decided to buy some for Lou Jin to try. He doesn't go out much, so he probably doesn't know about this fine wine. Besides, he drinks bitter medicine all day long. Maybe tasting this delicacy will whet his appetite.
He was asking the innkeeper to fetch some wine when he suddenly heard a familiar commotion coming from the private room next door.
Turning his head, he saw several playboys who used to drink and fight together, led by Zhao Pan, the son of the Vice Minister of War.
Ye Xunyang frowned slightly. He used to drink and hang out with these people, but their relationship was superficial. Since he focused on military affairs, they had rarely interacted.
However, since they had run into each other, he decided to go up and say hello as a matter of courtesy.
He asked the shopkeeper to wait a moment, then walked over and patted Zhao Pan on the shoulder: "Brother Zhao, Brother Wang, Brother Li, it's been a long time. What a coincidence!"
The group of men, their faces flushed from drinking, were taken aback when they saw Ye Xunyang, and then exchanged a few ambiguous glances.
Zhao Pan put down his wine glass, looked Ye Xunyang up and down, and curled his lips into an exaggerated smile, his tone filled with undisguised sarcasm.
"Who do we have here? It's Princess Consort Jin! My apologies for not recognizing you! What's wrong, Princess Consort? Instead of serving the Prince at the palace, you have the leisure to come to this tavern in the marketplace?"
The young master surnamed Wang immediately chimed in, laughing sarcastically, "Brother Zhao, you don't understand. Who is our Princess Ye... oh no, who is she? She is the eldest son of the General Who Protects the Nation, and now she is also a member of the imperial family. Her status is very noble. It's not uncommon for her to come out and observe the people's conditions."
Ye Xunyang's smile froze, and his eyes turned cold.
Young Master Li took another step closer and lowered his voice, but it was enough for people at the surrounding tables to hear.
"Brother Xunyang, oh no, Princess Consort, you really know how to scheme. By staying by the side of a sick prince who's about to die, and enduring a few years, you'll be able to benefit from both sides once Prince Jin kicks the bucket!"
"On one side is the power of the Ye family, on the other is the royal family's compensation, and maybe even inherit the vast estate of the Prince Jin's mansion... Tsk tsk, what's that called again? Promotion, wealth, and the death of one's husband, what a brilliant plan, brother, I admire you, I really admire you!"
"Hahahaha!" The group burst into laughter, drawing the attention of the other customers in the restaurant.
Ye Xunyang felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and his fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white.
He hated these kinds of malicious people who gossiped behind his back. It was one thing for them to slander him, but they even cursed Lou Jin!
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Ye Xunyang roared, his voice silencing the private room for a moment.
His gaze was like a knife, slicing across those repulsive faces. "If you dare to spout nonsense and slander the Prince again, believe me, I'll tear your mouths apart!"
Zhao Pan was taken aback by his sudden imposing manner, but emboldened by the alcohol and the number of people around him, he puffed out his chest and sneered, "What? Has your temper grown since you became a princess? Did we say something wrong?"
"Exactly! Who doesn't know that His Highness Prince Jin is terminally ill and only clinging to life with elixirs? Ye Xunyang, what are you pretending to be so devoted to your spouse for? It's just an embellishment, yet you actually think you're something special!"
"You..." Ye Xunyang trembled with anger, wishing he could immediately punch that ugly face flat.
But if he really takes action, it will only bring trouble to Lou Jin and the Ye family.
He suppressed his anger and forced out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Lou Jin will definitely get better! He'll at least outlive all of you good-for-nothings!"
These words were resounding, but they only drew more laughter from the others.
"Oh dear, are you in a hurry?"
"Live longer than us? By what means? By your masculine vigor, Ye Xunyang? Hahaha!"
"Alright, alright, Your Highness, please calm down. We wouldn't dare offend you. What if you whisper in his ear and make Prince Jin... oh no, Prince Jin probably won't have the energy to listen to your whispers?"
That last sentence was like ice water poured over his head, instantly replacing Ye Xunyang's burning anger with a cold sense of powerlessness.
Continuing to argue is pointless and will only make you look more like a joke.
He didn't look at those people again, turned around and strode away from Zuixianlou, not even bothering with the jar of pear blossom liquor he originally wanted to buy.
"Shopkeeper, I don't want the wine anymore!"
He left those words behind and quickly disappeared at the entrance of the restaurant.
On the way back to the Prince's Mansion, Ye Xunyang's face was ashen, and he felt a burning sensation in his chest, making his internal organs feel uncomfortable.
His attendants could tell he was in a terrible mood, so they didn't dare to breathe and followed silently behind him.
Those foul words lingered in his mind like maggots clinging to his bones.
What gives them the right to say that?
They know nothing, they just chatter away like rats in a stinking ditch!
"Who says King Jin's lifespan is short? I'll heal him and show you!"
Once the thought arose, it spread rapidly like wildfire.
Yes, he wants to cure Lou Jin!
Not only must heal him, but Lou Jin must also regain his former glory, silencing all those snobbish bastards!
But... how do we treat it?
Even the imperial physicians were helpless; he was a martial artist and knew nothing about medicine…
But the world is vast, and as long as he seeks out people among the common folk, there will always be capable people who can cure Lou Jin.
Ye Xunyang thought it was feasible more and more. When he returned to the Jinwang Mansion, he went straight to the study in the main courtyard.
Wang Quan was somewhat surprised to see him return with an unhappy expression, but still bowed respectfully: "Your Highness."
"Is the prince inside?" Ye Xunyang asked urgently.
"Here I am."
Ye Xunyang took a deep breath, calmed his turbulent emotions, and pushed open the door to enter.
Lou Jin was sitting by the window reading a book. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating his slender figure.
Hearing the noise, he looked up and saw Ye Xunyang walking in with a serious expression, raising his eyebrows slightly.
"What's wrong? Did something happen when you went out?" Lou Jin put down his book, keenly noticing that something was wrong with him.
Ye Xunyang walked up to him, opened his mouth, but didn't want to repeat those unpleasant words, afraid of affecting Lou Jin's mood.
He ultimately just shook his head, looked at Lou Jin with unwavering eyes, and said with utmost seriousness.
"Your Highness, starting tomorrow, I will supervise your medication, meals, and... appropriate exercise!"
"Your illness will definitely get better!"
Lou Jin was slightly taken aback, looking at Ye Xunyang's firm and confident eyes.
He remained silent for a moment, not asking why, but simply nodded slowly, trying to suppress the urge to smile.
"good."
He was secretly thinking to himself that it seemed he didn't need to do anything; the person would come to him on their own.
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