Chapter 21 [TCFCPC 21]

After receiving news that Nangong Ye was heading to Duke Ding’s residence, the Crown Prince’s expression changed abruptly. He immediately set aside the calligraphy brush that was in his hand and headed straight to Duke Ding’s manor. Unfortunately, by the time he arrived, Nangong Ye had already left the place.

Although the Crown Prince did not see Nangong Ye, he managed to encounter Yan Yi Ming. Noticing that she seemed unaffected, Nangong Xuan could not help but feel relieved.

When Yan Yi Ming said that she was not feeling well, Nangong Xuan knew that her discomfort was most likely due to the stifling feeling in her heart. Though he was displeased, he forcefully suppressed his irritation, choosing not to confront her on it. Instead, he instructed the maidservants to take good care of her and ensure she was well-rested.

Only then did he coldly order someone to go and search for Nangong Ye.

Little did Nangong Xuan know, Nangong Ye would not be at anywhere else as he had returned to his residence.

Nangong Ye did nothing but sit there, waiting in silence, lost in his thoughts. No one knew what was going through his mind. The servants dared not disturb him and silently withdrew after preparing tea for him. When Nangong Xuan reached, this was the scene that greeted him.

Nangong Ye seemed to snap out of his reverie upon hearing the approaching footsteps. He briefly turned his cool gaze towards Nangong Xuan. As he turned his head away, he sneered, “Is Elder Brother here to revel in the spectacle of my misfortune?”

Throughout Nangong Xuan’s life, there were few people whom he truly treated sincerely, and Nangong Ye was undoubtedly one of them. After scrutinizing Nangong Ye with a stern look, perhaps seeing his once-spirited younger brother appearing so disheartened, Nangong Xuan softened slightly and replied, “Gu is your Elder Brother; why would Gu seek pleasure in your misfortunes?”

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However, Nangong Ye seemed to be venting, and the more furious Nangong Xuan became, the more it urged him to continue, “Her hands, her face, her lips, even her body, I’ve touched before.” Catching a glimpse of the veins throbbing on Nangong Xuan’s temple, an indescribable sense of recklessness and delight surged in Nangong Ye’s heart as he continued, “This is what real intimacy of skinship is!”

This knave!

Nangong Xuan suddenly grabbed Nangong Ye’s collar, sternly shouting, “Shut up!” 

There was no trace of fear in Nangong Ye’s eyes. He stared directly at Nangong Xuan and jeered, “Royal Brother, Ah Ming had liked you for so many years, yet she had never shared such intimacy with you. Does Royal Brother have regrets?”

Nangong Ye’s gaze was fixed on Nangong Xuan’s almost frenzied expression due to his anger. After the previous sense of reckless delight subsided, all that remained was a hollow feeling of despair and hopelessness.

So what? Yan Yi Ming would never be his anymore.

In a moment of madness, he had once thought of telling Father Emperor everything that had transpired between them. Believing that Father Emperor’s rage might lead to the dissolution of this arranged marriage, preventing Yan Yi Ming from marrying the Crown Prince.

However, at the same time, it would ruin her.

Just a few months prior, the fragrance and warmth of her were still vividly present in his memory. Her smile was still deeply imprinted in his mind. She was so delicate that he could not bear to touch even a single finger on her hand. Ruin her? How could he bear to do that?

In the end, Nangong Xuan chose not to say anything more to Nangong Ye. What was the point of such verbal sparring? After all, Ah Ming was going to marry him, and every bit of her from now on would belong to him.

====

The Empress was afraid that Nangong Ye could not handle the stimulation and might cause a scene, but unexpectedly, Nangong Ye remained surprisingly silent. So much so that his calmness made the Empress uneasy. The servants informed her that the Crown Prince had intentionally sought out Prince Yue, but neither Nangong Xuan nor Nangong Ye revealed what they had discussed that day.

One day when he visited her, the Empress found an opportune moment to subtly hint to him, mentioning that now that the Crown Prince was about to be married, and Prince Yue’s residence was also nearly completed, it was about time for Nangong Ye to consider his marriage prospects as well.

However, there was no hint of emotion on Nangong Ye’s face. While his lips seemed to curve in a smile, there was no trace of amusement in his eyes. After taking a sip of tea, he calmly replied, “There’s no rush. For now, your son has no intention of getting married.”

The Empress hesitated but ultimately did not express her thoughts. She sighed and let the matter drop.

As the days passed, the Crown Prince had changed significantly compared to his former self. He showered Yan Yi Ming with gifts, and whenever he had free time, he would personally visit Duke Ding’s residence. He even commissioned a skilled artisan to meticulously craft a hairpin from the most precious variety of jade and personally adorned Yan Yi Ming’s hair with it. Yan Yi Ming did not shy away from him when he did that and after he slid the accessory in place, she smiled and asked him if it looked good.

Her radiant smile lingered in Nangong Xuan’s eyes. He had forgotten how long it had been since he last saw Yan Yi Ming smile like that. With a somewhat dazed expression, he took her hand and said, “Of course, you look beautiful.”

Yan Yi Ming did not withdraw her hand, allowing him to hold it. In the eyes of onlookers, it was a scene of enviable warmth.

It seemed that the relationship between the two was progressively warming up. Nangong Xuan gradually felt that she was a very intelligent woman, she was able to grasp the things he said with ease and their conversations flowed effortlessly. Her face regained its stunning smile and she was no longer as distant as before. She would now occasionally initiate conversations with him, wearing a charming and cheerful grin as she tilted her head towards him.

Nangong Xuan increasingly felt that keeping such a woman by his side was the right choice. He brought her to the palace to meet the Empress. The Empress, who initially had some doubts and suspicions, discreetly tested Yan Yi Ming several times but found nothing unusual. Yan Yi Ming spoke with both deference and intelligence.

The Empress suddenly felt that after going through certain experiences, Yan Yi Ming seemed to have become much more quick-witted. The image of an ideal daughter-in-law in her mind seemed to align more and more with Yan Yi Ming’s appearance.

After that episode, Yan Yi Ming rarely saw Nangong Ye again. Even if they occasionally crossed paths in the palace, they only exchanged polite greetings and courtesies.

Yan Yi Ming did not notice how stiff Nangong Ye’s back was as he turned and left. Neither was she aware of the sorrowful expression on his face as he watched her figure recede into the distance after she departed.

In the blink of an eye, it was the Crown Prince’s coming of age ceremony, and their wedding date was set to be one month after.

====

The Crown Prince’s coming of age ceremony was a grand event. Due to the open-minded customs of the current dynasty, Yan Yi Ming, as the soon-to-be Crown Princess Consort, was allowed to participate in the day’s festivities. However, she was not allowed to be seen by others and was arranged to be seated in the bamboo grove behind the Eastern Palace, sipping tea in solitude.

Nangong Xuan, thoroughly intoxicated, stumbled over to her. With blurry eyes, he sat in front of her, reaching out to caress Yan Yi Ming’s face. His handsome features, under the effects of alcohol, gained a hint of foolishness. In a nonsensical manner, he praised Yan Yi Ming, “You are truly beautiful.”

“…Thank you.”

For the first time, Yan Yi Ming was surprised to discover that the Crown Prince, when drunk, had the potential to become quite a chatterbox. It seemed like he had been holding in a lot of things, and now his words were unusually plentiful.

Nangong Xuan expressed how happy he was not to have lost Yan Yi Ming, how delighted he was that she still liked him, and how he would not blame her for whatever had happened between her and Nangong Ye in the past…

Yan Yi Ming’s expression changed from initially being fine to gradually turning unpleasant.

Despite her noble status, he still dared to disdain her?

Suddenly, Yan Yi Ming seemed to recall the memories she received from the original Young Lady Yan when she first transmigrated to this world. The overwhelming joy and unbearable sorrow of Young Lady Yan were almost suffocating.

She told him, “So, in actuality, you’ve already lost ‘me’.”

Nangong Xuan did not comprehend her words. Yan Yi Ming, with her chin propped up by her hand, spoke slowly, “Someone once loved you and gave up everything for you. However, you abandoned her without a second thought. You’ve lost her, and now, you can never get her back.”

Unfortunately, Nangong Xuan was too drunk and had fallen into a deep slumber.

However, what Nangong Xuan did not hear, another person did. With Little Apple by her side, Yan Yi Ming had long been aware of Jian Yu Yan’s presence. Nevertheless, she still decided to verbalize all her previous words before calling out to him, “Does Young Master Jian enjoy sneakily eavesdropping on others’ conversations?”

Jian Yu Yan did not show the slightest hint of embarrassment at being caught. His tall figure gracefully emerged from the shadows as he stepped into the light. He observed Yan Yi Ming with a complex expression and asked, “Do you know what you were saying just now?”

Yan Yi Ming studied the handsome man before her. He was likely to be her next or after next capture target. Suddenly, she felt the urge to tease him a little before the end of this storyline, finding it to be amusing. With a smile as brilliant as blooming flowers, she replied, “Of course, I do.” 

She then blinked and continued, “Young Master Jian, do you remember the supposed tribute pearl from the South China Sea that you sent to me in place of His Highness? Why don’t you take a guess where that pearl is now?”

Jian Yu Yan raised an elegant eyebrow and replied, “Since Young Lady Yan knew it was a gift from me, you’ve probably already tossed it away.”

“How clever,” Yan Yi Ming nodded appreciatively. “Young Master Jian’s guess is correct. The pearl was thrown into the lake the moment it was delivered.  Now, it’s probably one with the muddy mush at the bottom of the lake.”

Jian Yu Yan stared at her in surprise, his gaze suddenly becoming complicated.

He thought Yan Yi Ming might have forgotten about the pearl, but now she revealed that she had actually discarded it the moment she saw it.

So, did that mean at that moment, Yan Yi Ming not only learned about the origin of that pearl but also ruthlessly gave up her feelings for Nangong Xuan?

Just now, Yan Yi Ming claimed that Young Lady Yan, who was once devoted to the Crown Prince, was no longer present. At that point in time, Jian Yu Yan indeed did not understand Yan Yi Ming’s words, but in this instant, everything suddenly became clear to him.

Since she had already decided to let go on that day, was the tearful scene on Mount Fuyu afterwards just an act?

If so, then was approaching Prince Yue a deliberate move as well? 

What about the fall into the pond at the imperial gardens that finally sent her to the position of Crown Princess Consort, was that staged too?   

At that moment, Jian Yu Yan felt a chill creeping up his spine. This woman before him, with a smile on her face, seemed entirely inscrutable to him.

Jian Yu Yan took a deep breath and looked at her intently, as he asked, “Aren’t you afraid that I’ll tell the Crown Prince about today’s events?”

Yan Yi Ming patted the seat beside her, gesturing for Jian Yu Yan to come over. After a moment of hesitation, he complied. Yan Yi Ming smiled, lowering her voice “After all, I am Young Lady Jian’s lifesaver. Shouldn’t Young Master Jian express your gratitude instead?”

At the sudden mention of Jian Yu’er, Jian Yu Yan’s heart skipped a beat.

While the statement may have sounded perfectly innocent, meeting Yan Yi Ming’s meaningful gaze, Jian Yu Yan knew that her words were far from simple.

Jian Yu Yan cast a glance at the already blackout Crown Prince and casually uttered a word of thanks.

“Does Young Master Jian have nothing else to thank me for?” Yan Yi Ming probed.

Jian Yu Yan remained composed, “I can’t think of anything else that I need to thank Young Lady Yan-“

“What about the fact that the Crown Prince is no longer entangled with Jian Yu’er?” Yan Yi Ming interrupted Jian Yu Yan before he could finish his sentence. Seeing how Jian Yu Yan could no longer maintain his calm countenance, she continued the rest of her sentence with a cheerful smile, “Clearly, you are Jian Yu’er’s brother, yet Young Master Jian has never treated Jian Yu’er as a sister. Now that the Crown Prince has finally lost interest in her, Young Master Jian should be thanking me, no?”

Yan Yi Ming stared intently at Jian Yu Yan, who was evidently struggling to conceal his panic, under her amused gaze. She recalled the one aspect of the plot that had puzzled her the most in recent days.

The Jian family clearly sided with the Crown Prince, so why were they vehemently against Jian Yu’er marrying the Crown Prince? Jian Yu Yan’s objection was one matter, but why was Prime Minister Jian opposed to it as well? Yan Yi Ming could not help but find this baffling.

Little Apple mentioned that Prime Minister Jian probably did not want his daughter to marry into royalty, but Yan Yi Ming noticed the momentary panic in Little Apple’s tone.

Therefore, she concluded that the reason was not that simple.