Chapter 93 Going Home to Admit My Mistake
The next morning, as dawn broke.
The three little ones were still fast asleep, but Lou Jin and Ye Xunyang had already gotten up.
Ye Xunyang carefully instructed the nanny and maid to take good care of the three young princes. After having a quick breakfast with Lou Jin, he changed into more formal robes and prepared to go to the General's Mansion.
Before leaving, Ye Xunyang looked at Lou Jin, a hint of hesitation still in his eyes: "How about I go alone..."
Lou Jin grasped his hand, interrupting him, his gaze steady and firm: "Your affairs are my affairs. If I don't go, wouldn't it seem like I lack sincerity?"
He paused, his fingertips gently stroking the back of Ye Xunyang's hand, conveying a reassuring strength: "No matter what the old general's attitude is, I will stand with you."
Ye Xunyang nodded, his mind made up. With him by his side, it felt as if he had the courage to face even the biggest storms.
The carriage stopped in front of the Ye residence. The gatekeeper, seeing that Prince Jin and the Third Young Master had arrived together, dared not delay and hurriedly went in to announce their arrival.
This time, the butler did not directly block them at the door, but led them inside, all the way to the outside of the main courtyard.
At the courtyard gate, Madam Ye was waiting. Upon seeing them, her eyes reddened slightly, and she whispered, "Your father... is still angry, you..."
"Sigh, speak properly."
The two bowed to Madam Ye, took a deep breath, and entered the quiet courtyard.
The main house door was tightly closed, and there was no sound coming from inside.
Lou Jin and Ye Xunyang exchanged a glance, and without any hesitation, walked side by side to the open space paved with bluestone in front of the door, lifted their robes, and knelt down straight.
Ye Xunyang bowed deeply and kowtowed: "Father! Your unfilial son has come to beg your forgiveness!"
The courtyard was completely silent, with only the faint sound of the wind rustling through the old trees and leaves.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the kneeling figures of the two.
Time passed slowly, the sun rose higher, the bluestone slabs became warm from the sun, and my knees began to feel a stinging and numb sensation.
Sweat dripped down their foreheads, but the two remained kneeling, their postures upright, their gazes fixed firmly on the door.
Inside the main house.
Ye Qing stood with his back to the door, his hands behind his back, his body stiff.
Madam Ye stood behind him and kindly advised, "We have three sons, and Xunyang has always been the most obedient and sensible. You've kept him by your side and not let him go to the frontier, and he hasn't blamed us. Let's just go along with him this time."
"Even if you don't agree, the deed is done, the palace has already agreed, there's nothing we can do about it."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qing sighed heavily.
After an unknown amount of time, so long that Ye Xunyang felt his knees were almost numb and his body was swaying slightly, the door that had been tightly closed finally made a soft sound.
The door was slowly pulled open a crack from the inside.
Ye Qing still didn't turn around, but his deep, cold voice came from the crack in the door, carrying a suppressed weariness and a hint of relaxation.
"Come in and talk."
Lou Jin and Ye Xunyang exchanged a glance, both seeing hope in each other's eyes.
They got up, straightened their clothes, and stepped stiffly into the house.
Ye Qing stood with his back to them by the window, gazing at the old tree in the courtyard. His figure was upright, yet he exuded a heavy weariness.
Madam Ye stood aside, watching her son and Lou Jin enter, her eyes filled with heartache, but she remained silent.
"Father."
The two stopped and bowed again.
Ye Qing did not turn around, and remained silent for a moment.
Ye Xunyang spoke at the opportune moment, his voice choked with sobs and regret: "Father, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have concealed it, letting you find out from others, which only added to your sadness and anger. My relationship with the Prince was absolutely unintentional, and I had no intention of disobeying or disgracing our family."
"Your son will always be a son of the Ye family, and heaven and earth can bear witness to that! I beg you, Father... to forgive your son this time."
The room fell silent again, with only the heavy breathing of a few people.
Lou Jin didn't speak. He knew that no matter what he said, it would be unrealistic for the Ye family. The important thing was to lower his stance and show a good attitude.
After a long while, Ye Qingcang finally turned around slowly.
His expression remained solemn, his gaze lingering on Ye Xunyang's face for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly as he looked at his pale complexion.
Immediately, that gaze fell upon Lou Jin, filled with scrutiny and complex inquiry.
Lou Jin met his gaze calmly, without flinching or avoiding it.
“Your Highness,” Ye Qing’s voice was hoarse, “Your status is so noble, this old minister cannot bear to kneel like this today.”
"Before the general, there is only the junior Lou Jin, not a prince," Lou Jin immediately bowed and replied respectfully.
Ye Qing stared at him, remained silent for a long while, and then sighed.
"That's enough..." He waved his hand, his tone filled with weariness, yet also with a sense of relief that everything had settled. "You... get up and sit down to talk."
Upon hearing this, Madam Ye finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stepped forward to support Ye Xunyang, who was still somewhat unsteady on his feet. She then said to Lou Jin, "Your Highness, please have a seat."
Lou Jin did not sit down immediately, but instead bowed deeply to Ye Qing again: "Thank you, General."
Seeing his respectful posture, Ye Qingcang gestured to the chair beside him and sat down in the main seat, his tone much gentler: "Please sit down. Tell me, what are your plans for the future?"
The three sat down, and although the atmosphere was no longer as tense as before, it still carried a hint of cautious probing. A maid served hot tea, and the rising steam slightly dispelled the awkwardness.
Ye Qingcang picked up his teacup but didn't drink it. His gaze fell on Lou Jin, and he said in a deep voice, "Your Highness..."
"His Majesty... is aware of and approves of your affair with Xunyang?"
"Yes." Lou Jin nodded, his expression calm. "Father is already aware of the whole story. The imperial decree of commendation the other day was Father's attitude."
He paused, then added, "My father knows my heart. I have clearly declined the position of Crown Prince. My life's ambition is to protect the land of Sheng Kingdom and stand shoulder to shoulder with Xunyang, rather than be confined to those nine-layered palaces."
These words struck Ye Qing and his wife like another heavy blow.
He naturally understood what giving up the position of crown prince meant; it was practically relinquishing supreme power that was within his grasp. The fact that he could go this far was enough to prove that Lou Jin's feelings for Ye Xunyang were not a spur-of-the-moment decision or something with ulterior motives.
His gaze towards Lou Jin became even more complex. He had initially thought that if Lou Jin was dragging Ye Xunyang into this situation for the sake of gaining the Ye family's power, he wouldn't agree even if it meant sacrificing the Ye family's lives. Now, it seemed that his last bit of hesitation had dissipated.
Seeing that his father's expression softened, Ye Xunyang quickly seized the opportunity to recount in detail how he and Lou Jin met, became acquainted, and fought side by side in the Northwest.
As Mrs. Ye listened, she wiped away tears from time to time, both out of heartache for the dangers her son had endured and out of bittersweet relief for this hard-won relationship.
Ye Qing listened silently, his expression shifting, but he also felt a sense of approval in his heart.
After Ye Xunyang finished speaking, the room fell silent again.
Ye Qing put down his teacup, raised his head, and his gaze swept over the two of them again before finally settling on Lou Jin's face. His gaze was still sharp, but much less hostile.
“Your Highness,” he spoke slowly, his voice carrying the steadiness of someone who has experienced many hardships, “I have seen your sincerity in your words and actions today.”
Lou Jin's heart tightened; he knew the most crucial moment had arrived.
“Xunyang is my son, and I know his temperament well.” Ye Qingcang’s tone carried a hint of helplessness, but also a fatherly understanding.
"He went to such lengths for you, even going so far as to keep it a secret from me, his father... You must truly love him too."
He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming extremely serious, even carrying a hint of the ruthlessness of a veteran general: "But if one day you betray Xunyang, or cause him to fall into danger and suffer injustice because of you, even if you are a prince, my Ye family will never let it go, no matter what."
Lou Jin immediately stood up, solemnly bowed to Ye Qing, and said in a resolute voice, "General, rest assured, Lou Jin hereby swears that I will do everything in my power to protect him."
Ye Xunyang quickly stood up and knelt down in front of him: "Thank you for your kindness, Father."
"Alright, get up, everyone." Ye Qingcang's tone softened completely.
Seeing this, Madam Ye finally stopped crying and smiled, and quickly said, "Please sit down and talk. I'll have the kitchen prepare some wine and dishes, and we'll have a good meal today."
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