Gu Yan frowned as he listened to Yun Xiangye’s words and asked, “Which maid gossiped that I would take a concubine?”
Yun Xiangye looked at Gu Yan and, afraid of waking her already sleeping daughter, lowered her voice angrily, “Do I need a maid to gossip? You are the Prince Ning’s heir, the Princess Royal’s son. With such a noble status, how could you not take concubines in the future?”
Gu Yan said firmly, “No, I will not take concubines.”
Yun Xiangye scoffed, “Are you trying to deceive me again? Haven’t you deceived me enough for three years?”
Gu Yan asked in confusion, “How have I deceived you for three years?”
Yun Xiangye said, “Why didn’t you tell me clearly about your background for three years? Isn’t that deception?”
Gu Yan sighed, “Three years ago, I went to Jiangnan because His Highness sent me to investigate the tea tax there. I couldn’t easily reveal my identity, so I simply didn’t tell you. Later, when the tea tax matter was resolved, there was no opportunity to discuss this with you.”
Yun Xiangye found it laughable. What lack of opportunity? It was simply that he didn’t care about her at all.
Gu Yan pulled Yun Xiangye into his arms and said, “You must be tired from the journey. Rest early today and don’t overthink. I will not take concubines.”
Yun Xiangye pushed Gu Yan away and said, “I’ve heard that among noble families and official households, they often arrange maids for the young masters. Those four maids of yours are all as beautiful as flowers. Are they the maids the Princess Royal arranged for you?”
Gu Yan replied, “No, my mother would never arrange such maids for me. My grandmother hates infidelity the most. I have never had any such maids, and I won’t have any concubines in the future either. You can rest assured.”
“Also, don’t keep talking about divorce. Nuonuo is so young. Why would you want her to grow up without a father?”
Yun Xiangye took a deep breath. Nuonuo was only two years old. If life could go on, she would have to endure for her daughter’s sake.
“Gu Yan, if you truly intend to take a concubine, I will take Yun Ran and divorce you.”
Gu Yan said softly, “I will not take concubines.”
Yun Xiangye lay on the inner side of the bed and placed their daughter between herself and Gu Yan.
Gu Yan called out, “Nurse Chen.”
Yun Xiangye quickly said, “Lower your voice. Don’t wake Nuonuo. Nurse Chen didn’t come ashore with us. She has children in Yongxing City and doesn’t want to stay in Chang’an for long. She only came to Chang’an because she was afraid Nuonuo would fuss after being on the boat for too long. Now that we’re in Chang’an, Nurse Chen will return to Yongxing.”
Gu Yan got up and said, “Jingru should have a few nurses there. Let a maid call one over to take care of Nuonuo while she sleeps.”
Yun Xiangye said, “Nuonuo is new to Chang’an and unfamiliar with the place. Let me take care of her for a few nights first. It won’t be too late to hire a reliable nurse to look after her later.”
Hearing Yun Xiangye say this, Gu Yan had no choice but to let Nuonuo sleep between them.
Yun Xiangye lay on the bed, gazing at the exquisite carvings on the bedpost by the candlelight. She still felt as if she were dreaming. Everything that had happened today was too unbelievable.
Yun Xiangye closed her eyes but couldn’t fall asleep no matter how hard she tried.
Until she felt movement beside her. Opening her eyes, she saw Gu Yan carrying Nuonuo to the innermost side of the bed before pulling her into his embrace.
Yun Xiangye opened her eyes and looked at Gu Yan before her. “Gu Yan, my eldest cousin from my uncle’s family serves in the palace. Since you are the emperor’s nephew, could you help me find out about my cousin’s whereabouts? She is almost twenty-five, and I’ve heard that palace maids are usually released from service at twenty-five. If you find her, could you arrange for her early release?”
Gu Yan asked, “What is your cousin’s name?”
Yun Xiangye replied, “Ye Wanhe—’Wan’ as in gentle, ‘He’ as in seedling. I don’t know if she was given another name by her mistress after entering the palace. She entered the palace thirteen years ago, and her birthday is in the first month. It will be her birthday soon.”
Gu Yan said, “I’ll inquire at the palace for you tomorrow. Sleep now.”
In Gu Yan’s embrace, Yun Xiangye gradually drifted off to sleep.
In the Eastern Palace.
As Crown Prince Zhao Cheng entered his bedchamber, the head palace maid took the cloak he removed.
Hanging up the cloak, the palace maid caught a whiff of alcohol and said, “Your Highness, have you been drinking today? Shall I prepare a sobering soup for you?”
Zhao Cheng took the wrist of the beautiful palace maid before him, pulling her into his embrace and seating her with him on a small couch. “Today, Brother Yan returned from Jiangnan. We held a welcoming banquet for him, and I ended up drinking a few extra cups.”
Ye Wanhe’s eyes lit up with joy. “Prince Ning’s son has returned to the capital?”
Zhao Cheng narrowed his eyes slightly, displeased. “Why are you so happy about Prince Ning’s son returning to the capital?”
Ye Wanhe chuckled softly. “It’s been a long time since there was any excitement in Chang’an. With Prince Ning’s son returning this time, there’s bound to be a big spectacle.
Back when Prince Ning’s son left Chang’an, it was because the daughter of Minister Lin, the young lady of the Wei family, the cousin of the Crown Princess, the princess of the Chu Prince’s household, and the daughter of the Marquis of Zhenbei all insisted on marrying him and went to the princess’s residence to propose. He had no choice but to flee to Jiangnan for some peace.
Three years have passed, and these five noble ladies are still unmarried, having waited faithfully for Prince Ning’s son all this time. I wonder which young lady he will choose to marry now? I heard there were even gambling pools outside the palace back then, betting on which noble lady would become Prince Ning’s son’s consort. Now that the son has returned, I suppose the gambling pools will start up again in the city?”
Zhao Cheng said, “Brother Yan is already married, and his daughter is almost two years old.”
Hearing this, Ye Wanhe was slightly surprised. “Married? Which family’s daughter is the consort? She must be as beautiful as a fairy.”
Zhao Cheng replied, “Her looks aren’t particularly stunning, and her background is humble. Her family runs a small embroidery workshop in Yongxing City. Back then, if Brother Yan hadn’t been critically ill and needed a marriage for good luck to save him, she wouldn’t even be fit to be his concubine.”
“Yongxing City?” Ye Wanhe murmured softly. “So she’s from Yongxing.”
Zhao Cheng asked, “What about Yongxing City?”
Ye Wanhe lowered her voice. “Yongxing City is my hometown. My aunt’s family runs an embroidery workshop there. When I was young, I often played in the workshop with my cousin.”
Ye Wanhe glanced toward the door, thinking that by the third month, she would turn twenty-five and could be released from the palace. She wondered how her family was doing.
After being transferred to the Eastern Palace, where security was strict and palace maids and eunuchs were forbidden from privately communicating with the outside, she hadn’t been able to send or receive letters from home for a very long time.
Moreover, sending letters as a palace maid required money, and the cost of a single letter was almost equivalent to a year’s worth of her salary.
Ye Wanhe still hoped to save more silver, as the journey from Chang’an back to Yongxing City was long, and the expenses along the way were likely to be considerable.
Moreover, she was already twenty-five years old and long past the age of a maiden. If she were to marry, she would likely only become someone’s second wife or stepmother.
Once she left the palace, she would undoubtedly need money to rely on.
Her cousin Yun Xiangye, who used to play with her, must be around twenty-three by now…
Her cousin must have already married, and perhaps her nephew was quite grown by now.
Seeing Ye Wanhe lost in memories, Zhao Cheng asked, “Missing home?”
Ye Wanhe replied softly, “Your Highness is this servant’s master. Wherever Your Highness is, that is this servant’s home.”
Zhao Cheng reached out and stroked Ye Wanhe’s face, saying, “So obedient.”
Ye Wanhe said, “This servant will go prepare sobering soup for you…”
Zhao Cheng wrapped his arm around Ye Wanhe’s waist and kissed her red lips, saying, “No need. A bit of wine’s influence is just right.”
Ye Wanhe suppressed her homesick thoughts and placed her hands on Zhao Cheng’s neck…
From the first day she entered the palace, Ye Wanhe knew she was merely a servant. A servant could not have her own joys or sorrows.
Especially since the Crown Prince despised disobedience the most. She could only be obedient, obediently serving as his secret, unseen favorite…