Nangong Xuan had never considered in advance what he would say to Yan Yi Ming when he saw her again. He only knew that he wanted to meet her. Now that they were finally face to face again, some words escaped his lips before he knew it.
Indeed, it was simply because he could no longer hold himself back.
Under the guise of Mother Empress’s name, he tricked her into coming out of Yan’s residence. After all this time of estrangement, the attachment he felt upon seeing her again exceeded his expectations.
Her face, her posture, the faint fragrance emanating from her, and the way she spoke, were all things he never thought he would yearn for.
Nangong Xuan’s gaze remained fixed on Yan Yi Ming, and he did not miss a moment of her momentary shock and disbelief upon hearing his words. This unexpectedly calmed his heart.
When he learned of the intimate rendezvous between Yan Yi Ming and Nangong Ye that day, he became sleepless at night. The next day, when Jian Yu Yan came to the Eastern Palace, he was startled and asked what had happened. Nangong Xuan was already very irritable and did not want to talk about it. However, Jian Yu Yan was an annoyingly clever person and he was able to accurately guess the heart of the matter.
“If this official was to take a guess, this matter is related to Young Lady Yan?”
Nangong Xuan did not like others prying into his thoughts and immediately frowned, “Nosy!”
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Lydtsdt Dwyd bye dlhla nsdpkelale vbkp rsppkckzkvu clqsal.
Now, as he listened to Jian Yu Yan’s words, his heart surged with boundless waves.
Initially, he could not understand how Yan Yi Ming could suddenly fall for Nangong Ye. However, with Jian Yu Yan’s explanation, everything now made sense.
Previously, when she walked away from him, she had said that she wanted to give up on him because she was too fond of him. But now, she was with Nangong Ye, and it was also because of him.
In Yan Yi Ming’s heart, there was only him.
Those words lingered in Nangong Xuan’s mind for a long time. The restlessness and jealousy he had felt these few days gradually dissipated.
That’s right, this theory would not have stood if it were someone else, but why choose someone who resembled himself so much, like Nangong Ye? Yan Yi Ming’s increasing fondness for Nangong Ye only proved that she only ever liked him.
Jian Yu Yan glanced at Nangong Xuan, who was lost in thought. A smile danced at the corners of his lips. As if Jian Yu Yan just suddenly remembered something, he added, “Does Your Highness remember the day when we encountered Young Lady Yan at Fuyu Mountain? That day, I was instructed by Your Highness to escort Young Lady Yan back home. And before she left, she said something to me.”
Nangong Xuan was slightly surprised, “What did she say?”
“Young Lady Yan thanked this official for the pearls I gifted. At that time, I was extremely surprised, only to belatedly realize that Young Lady Yan had known all along that the pearls were from me. Yet, she never admitted to knowing this to Your Highness.”
Hearing about this again, Nangong Xuan felt a sense of clarity, as if it had happened in a different lifetime.
Perhaps because Yan Yi Ming had always been trailing behind him, he had long forgotten that she was actually a very intelligent woman. She often pretended to be foolish to avoid displeasing him. Yet, in her heart, she understood everything clearly.
On that day, what kind of feelings were surging in Yan Yi Ming’s heart when she accepted those pearls? What must have gone through her mind when she ascended Fuyu Mountain alone only to see him and Jian Yu’er together?
Thinking of this, a tinge of remorse appeared on Nangong Xuan’s handsome features. “Gu has broken her heart. And yet, Ye’er swears to marry only her in this lifetime…”
Jian Yu Yan knew that Nangong Ye liked Yan Yi Ming, but when he heard those words it still shocked him. For an Imperial Prince, someone who was so prestigious and noble, to swear never to take in concubines or bedservants all for the sake of one woman, even a steel-hearted person would inexplicably be touched by this.
“Zi An,” Nangong Xuan slowly enunciated Jian Yu Yan’s courtesy name, “In this life, Gu has never regretted anything I did. But now Gu truly regrets letting go of Ah Ming. Gu… wants to win her back.”
Jian Yu Yan suppressed the joy fluttering in his eyes and looked at Nangong Xuan. “As it should be so. But allow this official to boldly ask one question. Since Your Highness is planning to win Young Lady Yan back, then what of Yu’er?”
Yu’er?
Jian Yu’er.
Nangong Xuan felt ashamed once more.
Yu’er, ah…
Nangong Xuan had always wondered why he had fallen for Jian Yu’er so quickly and inexplicably as if it was love at first sight. Why was that? Was it because Jian Yu’er was exactly the type he was attracted to, gentle and virtuous? Sometimes, even he, himself, could not understand or pinpoint exactly why. It was as if someone was whispering in his ear, telling him to love Jian Yu’er. It was as though their fates had been predestined from the very beginning.
Previously, when Nangong Ye asked him why he strung Yan Yi Ming along when he already had Jian Yu’er. At that time, his true feelings were that he was reluctant to let go of Yan Yi Ming. Yet, for the life of him, he did not know why he blurted out that he wanted both of them.
Thinking back now, Nangong Xuan realized that his attachment to Jian Yu’er was not as deep as he had initially thought. Even those share memories that he thought were very sweet, could only be counted on two hands.
As for Yan Yi Ming, this woman who had followed behind him for so many years, so many days and nights. All the things that she had done for him, even Nangong Xuan could not recall every single thing.
There were just too many…
If he could not have both, Nangong Xuan still had a clear answer in his heart.
He missed that straightforward woman who had trailed behind him all those times, who had proclaimed that she wanted to marry him and no other.
At this moment, within the carriage, Yan Yi Ming appeared to be stunned by his words and was momentarily speechless, but she still continued to struggle out of his grasp. Nangong Xuan recalled the bruise he left on Yan Yi Ming’s wrist from the last episode when she tried to break free from him. His heart ached at the thought and he finally let go of her hand.
Yan Yi Ming lowered her head and swiftly took a seat opposite Nangong Xuan.
Both of them remained silent as the carriage drove further away. Yan Yi Ming finally asked him, “Your Highness, where are we going?”
Nangong Xuan smiled gently, “Ah Ming already knew that it was not Empress Mother who called.”
“Currently, the Empress probably doesn’t wish to see me at all. Moreover, with so many eunuchs and palace maids, even if Her Majesty really had such intention, there’s no need for Her Majesty to ask Your Highness to personally escort me over.”
She was a very clever woman indeed. Nangong Xuan looked at her with a softened gaze and chuckled, “Since you’ve already guessed it, why didn’t you expose Gu?”
Yan Yi Ming pursed her lips and gave a faint smile, “I just didn’t want to startle others, lest Fifth Highness misunderstands.”
Nangong Xuan’s face suddenly lost its smile and it was soon covered in a layer of frost. “Don’t want Nangong Ye to misunderstand? Misunderstand what? Nangong Ye isn’t even here. Yan Yi Ming, what are you trying to demonstrate by saying these words?”
“Did you think I said those words to spite you? It’s just that Fifth Prince promised me that he would marry me once he returned to the capital. So in return, I’ve also promised him that from now on, I’ll have nothing to do with anyone else, and that includes Your Highness. From now on, ‘bridges will be bridges, and roads will be roads’2It means that there both parties will have nothing to do with each other.…” Yan Yi Ming replied. She looked at Nangong Xuan and smiled softly, “Perhaps not long from now, I’ll have to address Your Highness as ‘Royal Brother’ as well.”
As expected, after hearing Yan Yi Ming’s words, Nangong Xuan was deeply infuriated. But soon the anger turned into a mocking smile as he fixed his gaze on Yan Yi Ming and said word by word, “Keep. Dreaming.”
Ignoring Yan Yi Ming’s livid expression, Nangong Xuan sneered, “You want to marry Ye’er? Do you believe that my Mother Empress will agree? Do you think my Father Emperor will approve of this marriage? Ah Ming, Ye’er’s and your thought processes are too naive and simple.”
Yan Yi Ming leaned against the carriage wall expressionlessly, “So, what is Your Highness trying to say?”
Nangong Xuan leaned closer to Yan Yi Ming and whispered, “So, the most appropriate path for you is to marry Gu.”
Little Apple began to frantically inform her that Nangong Xuan’s favorability was skyrocketing. Yan Yi Ming calmly glanced at Nangong Xuan before silently gesturing to Little Apple to shut up.
She lowered her voice, appearing to sound fatigued, “Your Highness already has Young Lady Jian. So why is Your Highness still forcing me into a corner? Your Highness knows that there can only be one, either Duke Ding’s residence or the Prime Minister’s residence. Are you willing to give up Young Lady Jian and give me the position of Crown Princess Consort? You won’t.”
As Yan Yi Ming spoke, she gradually revealed a sweet smile, her voice softening, “But the Fifth Prince is willing to do so.”
Upon hearing this, it was as though he heard a hilarious joke and Nangong Xuan sneered. He mocked Yan Yi Ming and Nangong Ye’s naivety. “The marriage of Fifth Brother is never up to him to decide for himself. Apart from himself, no one else will agree to it. Ah Ming, what he promised you is nothing but his own fantasy.”
“Your Highness, from the beginning, the one who doesn’t understand the situation has always been you, not me.” Yan Yi Ming sighed and explained, “Even if this matter is difficult to achieve, even if it might be impossible between us. The main thing was that Fifth Highness had thought about it. As for Your Highness, you’ve never even given it any consideration.”
After saying these words, Yan Yi Ming turned her face away as if she did not wish to speak another word to Nangong Xuan. She leaned against the carriage wall, looking weary as she shut her eyes.
Nangong Xuan finally understood Yan Yi Ming’s words. It suddenly dawned on him that Yan Yi Ming understood everything clearly. It was just that she did not care, all she ever wanted was just a sincere heart.
Much time had passed, Yan Yi Ming almost suspected that her words had dealt too big a blow to Nangong Xuan. She then heard Nangong Xuan speak in a low voice, “Gu has thought about it.”
Nangong Xuan reached out and gently caressed Yan Yi Ming’s cheek, his eyes filled with unprecedented affection.
“Gu has thought about it. In Gu’s life, I’ve never regretted anything. But after you left, I regretted letting you go. Ah Ming… I really missed you, come back to me. There will be no Jian Yu’er, I won’t marry her. I promise you the position of Crown Princess, the position of Eastern Palace’s consort will only belong to you.”
Yan Yi Ming’s head jerked up and her beautiful eyes were filled with surprise.
She stared at him, her lips moved but no words came out. Perhaps she was touched or maybe she found it heartrending, or perhaps she was agitated. But in the end, everything turned into nothingness.
Nangong Xuan’s heart softened further and he was about to continue pleading his case. He did not expect Yan Yi Ming to calmly push his hand away and cut him off, “But it’s already too late.”
Nangong Xuan’s hand froze mid-air.
“If Your Highness had said these words to me before, I would have no more regrets in this life. But these words came too late,” she showed a faintly contented smile on her exquisite face as if she remembered something, “I already have someone else whom I like.”
“Someone else whom you like? Is it Nangong Ye?” Nangong Xuan could not hold it in any longer and blurted out the words he initially did not intend to say, “Yan Yi Ming, when you look at that face that bore so many similarities to mine, are you truly seeing him or me? Why are you deceiving yourself like this?”
“Deceiving myself?” Yan Yi Ming’s voice sounded somewhat ethereal. She looked at Nangong Xuan, “I have never deceived myself. Even if you two shared similar features, all I see now is Nangong Ye. The person who only had eyes for Your Highness had long disappeared and no longer exists.”
The author has something to say:
I never said that the Crown Prince was the male lead. Little friends, who gave the novel a negative rating, what were you thinking?
This is my first time writing a quick transmigration story and it seems like I couldn’t control the flow properly, it’s turning into a slow transmigration story.
The translator has something to say:
Not sure what Author-sama meant considering this arc is ending in 5 more chapters~
Blistz hopes that Nangong Ye is the male lead~
(≖⌣≖)
NX is so self centered, I hope he will wake up and let her go. Too many disappointments.