Ye Qiu and Ye Heng’s figures faded into the distance, the delicate little faces of Ye Ling and Ye Ming beca unusually despondent, Lin Jingxian felt a deep resentnt but was powerless to do anything.
"Mother, I don’t want to go study at uncle’s, I want to stay with big brother," Ye Ming whined to Lin Jingxian.
"Good boy, Ming’er." She lovingly embraced the two children in her arms, "Your big brother is older than you; it’s not proper for you to study together. We all live in the mansion, and there will be plenty of ti to see each other in the future."
She actually couldn’t wait to draw a clear line between her children and Ye Heng, yet she couldn’t bear to let them be sad and disappointed, so she could only say this.
After soothing her two children and returning to the Luoxia Courtyard, she began to write letters, needing to let those in the capital know of her return.
As Xia Yixiao was reading the letter, Seventh Prince Ye Kai happened to be beside her, he expressed his surprise: "Fifth Sister-in-law finally deigned to return? She really is strange, to go away for three years just for recuperation - it’s no wonder Fifth Brother hasn’t ntioned her in the past couple years."
"Does Fifth Brother no longer like Fifth Sister-in-law?" Xia Yixiao asked.
"How odd is that! Although Fifth Sister-in-law is beautiful and virtuous, she’s been quite heartless towards Fifth Brother. Fifth Brother told he visited the hot spring manor several tis, but each ti Fifth Sister-in-law was sick and couldn’t attend to him, not even allowing Fifth Brother to see the children." Ye Kai scoffed, feeling Lin Jingxian was just being pretentious with her little bit of fa.
How great a person is Fifth Brother, what all hasn’t he done for Lin Jingxian? Yet she appears to be the most considerate on the surface, in reality, she is cold-hearted. If it weren’t for Fifth Brother drunkenly rambling, he would not have known that Fifth Brother has gone nearly four years without indulgence - a prince in such a state, how can that be proper?
"That’s hardly surprising," Xia Yixiao shook her head.
"What do you an? You seem to know sothing?"
"It’s not really knowing anything, just so guesses. A woman’s intuition is most sensitive. Even before Fifth Sister-in-law went to the hot spring manor, I vaguely felt that she wasn’t as considerate towards Fifth Brother as the rumors suggested. Now that Fifth Brother can let go, this is a good thing."
"Let go my ass," Ye Kai was indignant, "I sent so many beauties to Fifth Brother, and not once did I see him enjoy any of them!"
"Beauties?" Xia Yixiao arches an eyebrow at him, "And you sent them? Where did you get these beauties to give away? How co I wasn’t aware?"
Sensing danger, Ye Kai imdiately put on a flattering smile: "They were all sent by people below , rest assured, I haven’t touched a single one, and sent them all away."
On hearing this, Xia Yixiao frowned, "You should avoid dealing with these matters in the future, passing around these girls, they are pitiful."
"My dear, spare your pity for them, most of them are willing, and sotis in official interactions, you can’t refuse even if you want to," Ye Kai explained.
"You are the esteed Seventh Prince, who would dare to force you?"
"But can we refuse the ones sent by the Crown Prince?"
"The Crown Prince?" Xia Yixiao was taken aback, "Why is he doing these things?"
"What else could it be? Isn’t it because the double is quickly becoming a threat to him?" Ye Kai curled his lips, "Empress Mother said that Consort Hui definitely has a mastermind advising her, her every move and expression are just like the late Empress."
"She’s so bold? Isn’t she afraid Father Emperor will grow to detest her?"
"Disgust?" Ye Kai sneered, "Now Father Emperor cherishes her like a treasure! He’s convinced that she is the reincarnation of the late Empress, do you think there’s another reason why the Second Prince has been making bigger moves lately? He’s anxious, worrying about what will happen once the fifteenth brother cos of age."
Xia Yixiao also sighed upon hearing this, recalling the days when the Crown Prince’s glory outshone all the other princes combined, but now, his plight revolves around a common girl who erged out of nowhere—it’s truly a testant to the unpredictability of life.
"But no matter how much Father Emperor favors Consort Hui, she is still basking in the late Empress’s light. After all, the Crown Prince is the true child of the late Empress, and Consort Hui shouldn’t be able to shake his status."
"Whether she can shake it or not is not for us to decide. In just a re three years, the Second Prince has already beco panicked, and Father Emperor looks still young and vigorous. Who knows what other moves Consort Hui might have up her sleeve?"
Ye Kai analyzed rationally, devoid of the ignorance he usually displayed while playing with Ye Qiu: "After all, the late Empress has passed away, and now it’s Consort Hui who is by Father Emperor’s side. Even if initially a substitute, prolonged favor will definitely earn real affection in Father Emperor’s heart—what choices will he have to make then?"
"What you said makes sense." Xia Yixiao nodded in agreent, "But Consort Hui has no backing, who do you think is supporting her from behind?"
Ye Kai was at a loss too, shaking his head in silence.
"I just feel sorry for the Empress. She was out of favor even when the late Empress was alive. Hardly had she finally co into her own when Consort Hui appeared. She’s been confined to her palace for two months now, and I heard that even the Imperial Hospital has been perfunctory in their dealings with her."
"How dare they be so bold?"
"Aren’t the people in the palace always like this? They’ve always been keen on kicking the downtrodden and flattering the favored. The Eldest Prince has gone to the border, and with Consort Hui in high favor, who would dare to cross her? I’ve heard that the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue have rejected the Eldest Prince’s request for military funds again. I don’t know if he and his n can survive this bitter cold weather," said Ye Kai, his voice tinged with worry.
Xia Yixiao’s father was the Great General, and he couldn’t stand hearing about soldiers suffering: "They want a great victory but are unwilling to provide the funds, where’s the justice in that?"
Weariness filled Ye Kai’s eyes: "What can we do? Father Emperor reluctantly agreed when the Eldest Prince resud command of the troops, and the Second Prince is also wary of the Eldest Prince. Now, with Consort Hui coveting the position of Empress, who would dare speak up for the Eldest Prince at such tis?"
"It’s so infuriating, it makes want to swear!" fud Xia Yixiao, as if she wanted nothing more than to rush out and beat soone up.
"Regardless of whether the Fifth Sister-in-law truly cares for the Fifth Brother or not, having not returned to the capital for three years, she certainly needs to pay a visit to the Empress Mother. Let’s go together when the ti cos, to properly comfort the Empress Mother. As for the Eldest Prince, I’ll think of sothing," Ye Kai said.
"Alright, I understand."
Lin Jingxian had written to Xia Yixiao with the intention of inviting her to accompany her on a visit to the Empress and Consort Hui in the palace. With Consort Hui gaining favor during Lin Jingxian’s absence from the capital, she was unsure how to behave, and having Xia Yixiao by her side would be best.
"Fifth Sister-in-law, why didn’t you bring Lingling and Ming’er?" At the palace gate, Xia Yixiao, holding her own son, smiled at Lin Jingxian.
Lin Jingxian, looking at the radiant Xia Yixiao and thinking back to how she had spent a long ti choosing her own clothes and jewelry that morning, felt a renewed sense of indignation.
Ye Qiu was actually the wealthiest among all the princes, yet Xia Yixiao’s attire was even more luxurious than hers.
Yet she forgets that it was Ye Qiu who had once bestowed upon her the highest honor and favor—it was she herself who had refused it.
"Lingling and Ming’er have just recovered from their illnesses; it’s better not to pass on any sickness to the Empress Mother," Lin Jingxian said with a light smile, actually fearful that taking the children out might reveal abnormalities, as not everyone was as easy to deceive as Ye Qiu.
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