Ye Wanhe said, “Not many people know about Prince Ning’s heir getting married. As for whether those young ladies know that Prince Ning’s heir is already married, I’m not sure about that either.”
Yun Xiangye recalled what the four maids had said yesterday—that the heir had only married her for good luck and would surely divorce her to marry a daughter from a noble family. It turned out they weren’t just talking nonsense.
The five noble ladies her cousin had mentioned earlier were all from imperial or noble lineages, well-matched with Gu Yan in status and very close to him.
A faint ache stirred in Yun Xiangye’s heart. Three years of marital affection had all been nothing but a joke.
“Sister Wanhe, is this where you live in the palace? It truly befits the imperial palace—even palace maids can live in such luxurious quarters.”
Ye Wanhe chuckled softly, “This is His Highness’s bedchamber. How could a palace maid be worthy of such fine accommodations?”
Yun Xiangye was slightly surprised. “Since this is His Highness’s bedchamber, why are you brewing medicine here?”
Ye Wanhe smiled. “I am His Highness’s senior palace maid and must stay by his side at all times, keeping watch at night as well. That’s why I have no other residence. Fortunately, His Highness is lenient and allows me to brew medicine here.”
Yun Xiangye looked at Ye Wanhe. “Sister, are you ill?”
Ye Wanhe paused briefly, concealing the emotions in her eyes as she gave Yun Xiangye a helpless smile. “It’s nothing serious, just medicine to nourish my health.”
Yun Xiangye smiled gently. “His Highness treats you well. I’ve already pleaded with him, and he has agreed to let you leave the palace early. Your parents at home are waiting for you to return and reunite.”
Ye Wanhe quickly asked, “How are my parents? And my younger siblings?”
Yun Xiangye replied, “Everyone is well. It’s just that you haven’t written home, so they’re very worried about you. The letters they sent you have also gone unanswered.”
Ye Wanhe sighed. “Sending letters from the palace to the outside is truly difficult. It’s impossible without thirty or fifty taels of silver. Later, when I entered the Eastern Palace, the palace rules became even stricter, making it impossible to send letters.”
In the Eastern Palace study.
Gu Yan looked at Zhao Cheng and said, “I never imagined that Aunt Ye would be Yun Xiangye’s cousin. Thank you, Your Highness, for being willing to let Aunt Ye leave the palace.”
Zhao Cheng picked up his teacup and glanced at Gu Yan. “I have no intention of letting Wanhe leave the palace.”
Gu Yan said, “You just promised Yun Xiangye that you would allow her cousin to leave the palace early. A ruler’s word is not to be taken lightly…”
Zhao Cheng replied slowly, “I am not yet a ruler.”
Gu Yan looked at Zhao Cheng, who was speaking with a straight face yet acting shamelessly. “Your Highness… you don’t want to let Aunt Ye go? Could it be that you intend to make her your consort?”
Gu Yan was one of the few who knew about the relationship between Zhao Cheng and the Eastern Palace’s senior palace maid, Aunt Ye.
Zhao Cheng was now twenty-three years old. Five years earlier, at eighteen, he had been betrothed to the Crown Princess, Fu Qianran.
However, Fu Qianran was unfortunate. Shortly after being betrothed as Crown Princess at sixteen, her mother passed away. After observing three years of mourning, her stepmother, who was also her aunt, also passed away, leaving her with one more year of mourning.
The Crown Princess had not yet entered the Eastern Palace, and Zhao Cheng had not taken any consorts or concubines into the Eastern Palace. The only woman by his side was Aunt Ye.
Zhao Cheng said, “I have no intention of taking a consort either. At Wanhe’s age, life outside the palace may not be better than in the palace. Staying in the Eastern Palace as the senior palace maid in charge…”
Gu Yan said, “I’ve met her parents a few times. They now run a cloth business in Yongxing City, and the family is quite wealthy. Her life back home might not be worse off.”
Zhao Cheng said slowly, “I will not let her leave.”
Gu Yan replied, “If you truly intend to keep Aunt Ye, you must at least give her a proper title. Even if not as a consort, grant her the status of a Liangdi. If you only let her stay in the palace as a maid, I don’t know how to explain it to Xiangye…”
Zhao Cheng said, “As the chief palace maid in the Eastern Palace, how has she ever been mistreated? Rather than making her a Liangdi in the Eastern Palace’s rear courtyard, it’s better for her to remain the chief palace maid by my side. Even after the Crown Princess enters the Eastern Palace, Wanhe will not be treated unfairly.”
Gu Yan frowned slightly, unsure how to relay these words to Yun Xiangye.
In the Crown Prince’s bedchamber.
Yun Xiangye and Ye Wanhe chatted about their time in Jiangnan.
Upon hearing that Yun Xiangye’s parents had passed away, Ye Wanhe’s eyes reddened as she said, “Your aunt and uncle were ill-fated, and you’ve suffered too. It must have been very difficult back then, wasn’t it?”
Yun Xiangye replied calmly, “Fortunately, my uncle, aunt, and cousin helped me a great deal. Even the hardest days have passed. Shuangbai got married the year before last, and her child is already a year old.”
Ye Wanhe couldn’t help but sigh, “Little Shuang is already married? When I left, she was just a child.”
Yun Xiangye smiled and said, “When you return to Jiangnan this time, you’ll be reunited with your family.”
Ye Wanhe looked toward the door, her heart filled with anticipation.
The two chatted for a long time until a palace maid came to announce that Prince Ning’s son was about to leave. Only then did Ye Wanhe realize she had talked with Yun Xiangye for too long.
Ye Wanhe said to Yun Xiangye, “It’s already dusk outside. You should hurry back.”
Yun Xiangye held Ye Wanhe’s hand and said, “Sister, come with me. His Highness has already agreed—you can leave the palace early. Let’s return to Jiangnan together…”
Ye Wanhe chuckled and said, “What nonsense are you talking? How can we return to Jiangnan together? You are Gu Yan’s wife—how can you go back to Jiangnan?”
Yun Xiangye sighed softly, “You’re right.”
Ye Wanhe smiled gently and said, “Hurry back now. Even if I were to leave the palace, I’d need to pack my belongings first. Once I’m out, I’ll come find you at the Princess Royal’s residence.”
Yun Xiangye said, “Then, sister, I’ll wait for you to leave the palace.”
Yun Xiangye left the Crown Prince’s bedchamber and met Gu Yan just outside the palace gate.
Gu Yan looked at Yun Xiangye with a hint of guilt in his eyes. “Let’s go, it’s time to return.”
Yun Xiangye raised her eyes to look at Gu Yan. The man was indeed exceptionally handsome.
Three years ago, after her parents had passed away, she had established a household under her own name and resolved never to marry. Yet, she still ended up marrying Gu Yan.
Partly out of gratitude for his life-saving kindness, and partly because he was truly peerlessly handsome.
No wonder her cousin had said that many noble ladies had set their hearts on Gu Yan.
Once inside the carriage, Yun Xiangye said to Gu Yan, “What a coincidence indeed. I never thought we’d find my cousin without any effort. Coming to Chang’an wasn’t entirely bad—at least I got to see my cousin and help her leave the palace before the new year.”
Gu Yan said, “Aunt Ye, your cousin, is the chief palace maid of the Eastern Palace, a first-rank female official. If the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, she will become the chief palace maid in the imperial presence. Therefore, she cannot leave the palace at the age of twenty-five.”
Yun Xiangye said angrily, “But Your Highness just promised me that he would let my cousin leave the palace before the New Year. How could he go back on his word?”
Gu Yan covered Yun Xiangye’s mouth and said, “Shh, you must not disrespect His Highness.”
Yun Xiangye blinked and looked at Gu Yan, “But it was His Highness who broke his promise first.”
Gu Yan said slowly, “Earlier, His Highness did not know that your cousin was his chief palace maid. The East Palace’s head stewardess is not an ordinary palace maid, and there is no rule that she must leave the palace at twenty-five.”
Yun Xiangye said, “Can’t you plead with His Highness?”
Gu Yan replied, “I did plead with His Highness, but the East Palace’s head stewardess is His Highness’s confidant and cannot easily leave the palace. Your cousin holds power and influence in the palace as His Highness’s trusted confidant. Staying in the East Palace will not be difficult for her.”
Yun Xiangye frowned slightly. How could it not be difficult? After all, she was still serving as a servant.
Yun Xiangye looked at Gu Yan and said, “Is there really no way to get my cousin out of the palace?”
Gu Yan shook his head, “Xiangye, that is the East Palace.”
“But aren’t you also His Highness’s cousin? His Highness has so many servants and palace maids. Why must he keep my sister?” Yun Xiangye said anxiously, “Gu Yan, please help my sister leave the East Palace, won’t you?”
Thinking of her uncle and aunt waiting in Yongxing City for her cousin’s return, Yun Xiangye suppressed her anger toward Gu Yan and pleaded humbly.
Ever since coming to Chang’an City, nothing had gone smoothly.
She had thought herself fortunate to find her cousin without much effort, only to receive such devastating news.
Gu Yan sighed and said, “Xiangye, I cannot help Aunt Ye leave the East Palace.”
In the Crown Prince’s bedchamber.
Ye Wanhe placed the dregs of the contraceptive medicine into a gauze cloth. Once the dregs dried, she would grind them into powder and scatter them in the East Palace garden, ensuring no one would discover she was taking contraceptive medicine.
Creak.
The door was pushed open.
Seeing Zhao Cheng enter, Ye Wanhe bowed and said, “Your Highness.”
Zhao Cheng looked at Ye Wanhe’s reddened eyes and said, “Seeing your family should be a joyous occasion. Why are you crying?”
Ye Wanhe hurriedly wiped her tears with the back of her hand and knelt down, saying, “This servant should not shed tears in the palace. It is… it is merely because I heard from my cousin that my aunt and uncle passed away young, and grief overwhelmed me. My aunt treated me very well when I was young.”
Zhao Cheng reached out to help Ye Wanhe up. Looking at her tear-streaked face, a flicker of pity flashed in his eyes. “Later, write a letter to your parents to reassure them. Also, tell them that after you turn twenty-five, you will remain in the palace and not leave.”
Ye Wanhe exclaimed in shock, “Your Highness!”
“What is it?” Zhao Cheng’s tone was indifferent.
Ye Wanhe realized she had lost her composure. She quickly lowered her head and knelt on the ground again, saying, “Your Highness, this servant… this servant…”
The words “I want to leave the palace” lingered on Ye Wanhe’s lips, but she did not know how to say them, nor did she dare.
The Crown Prince before her appeared gentle on the surface but was, in truth, the most indifferent and ruthless.
“This servant obeys the command.”
Ye Wanhe kowtowed, slowly closed her eyes, and tried her best to hold back her tears.