“It is my fault, Your Highness. You are magnanimous and do not hold it against me, but I cannot forget such grace. I have prepared some gifts. I know you lack nothing, but these are tokens of gratitude for saving my life, and also an apology for my delay. Please, Your Highness, accept them.”
“Mm. Jiangbei.”
Commander Jiang entered, collected the gifts one by one, and carried them out.
The deep, cool voice carried a trace of helplessness. “You may rise now. Sit.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Ye Qingyu stood and took a seat to the side. She lifted her gaze directly to him, her eyes filled with profound gratitude.
Prince Chu, Shen Yanli, son of the late Empress, was once the dazzling Crown Prince. But after leading troops north to suppress a rebellion, he was gravely injured, and his legs were crippled.
A Crown Prince who could no longer stand could not remain heir—memorials to depose him piled high on the emperor’s desk. After much hesitation, Shen Yanli himself requested to be stripped of the title. From then on, he was Prince Chu.
Ye Qingyu’s mind flashed with memories from her previous life—when he had stood before her. Could it be that his legs were not crippled?
She looked at his face, as flawless as jade. In his youth, he had been radiant, elegant, and admired by every young lady. Who did not dream of marrying the Crown Prince?
“Why does Miss Ye look at me so intently?” His deep, cool voice broke her reverie.
Ye Qingyu snapped back to herself, her delicate face suddenly flushed crimson. She had just been staring at Prince Chu’s face in a daze! How mortifying!
“Forgive me, Your Highness. I was discourteous.” She stole a nervous glance at Shen Yanli. His fine brows furrowed slightly, but his handsome, ethereal face showed no displeasure.
“Mm. Miss Ye has delivered her thanks. You may leave.” His tone was faint, his expression calm.
Ye Qingyu lightly bit her rosy lips, rose to her feet, and bowed. “Your servant takes her leave.”
Shen Yanli lowered his gaze to the teacup in his hand. Only when Ye Qingyu turned to depart did his dark eyes lift, following her retreating figure.
“Your Highness, why didn’t you invite Miss Ye to stay for lunch? What a perfect opportunity that would have been,” the old steward, who had been standing nearby, spoke anxiously.
Just yesterday, when his lord received Miss Ye’s visiting card, that face—usually as cold as an iceberg—had softened with the faintest smile. He hadn’t imagined it; his eyesight was still sharp. Never before had he seen his master deliberate so long over what clothes to wear before meeting a young lady. And yet today, upon seeing her, he had spoken only a handful of words—one of them to dismiss her!
Shen Yanli’s voice was calm, deep, and cool, carrying a distant, ethereal quality tinged with weary resignation. “It would harm her reputation.”
The steward pressed urgently, “My lord, if you truly feel affection for Miss Ye, then request a marriage decree from His Majesty. Surely the emperor would agree.”
Shen Yanli gave a short, bitter laugh. His exquisite, otherworldly face curved with a trace of mockery. His dark eyes seemed to sink into a bottomless abyss, cold enough to chill the bone. “Uncle Tang, I am a cripple. How could I ever be worthy of her?”
Uncle Tang’s face was full of sorrow. “What are you saying? You will recover, my lord—you must!”
Shen Yanli stared straight ahead, his gaze empty and lifeless. His refined, handsome face carried a pallor of helplessness.
Ye Qingyu hurried out of Prince Chu’s residence and climbed into her carriage. Her delicate face was still flushed with embarrassed shame, her clear eyes shining like a sky full of stars.
“Miss, slow down, don’t trip,” Wan Qiu cautioned.
“It’s fine. Let’s return to the estate.” Ye Qingyu fanned her heated cheeks with her small hand. She had just disgraced herself before Prince Chu—staring at his face in a daze! How mortifying!
Two days later, when Chunhui Hall could no longer contain its impatience, Old Madam Ye sent someone to summon Ye Qingyu. She strolled over at a leisurely pace.
Old Madam Ye suppressed her inner anxiety, wearing a kindly smile. “Qingyu, you’ve come. Come sit by Grandmother.”
Ye Qingyu stepped lightly inside and saw Marquis Ye seated below Old Madam Ye.
“Grandmother, I wish you health,” Ye Qingyu greeted respectfully before sitting.
Old Madam Ye asked urgently, “Qingyu, how have your discussions with your grandfather gone these past few days? Has the matter of adoption made progress?”
Ye Qingyu met her anxious gaze and replied calmly, “I have spoken with Grandfather. He agrees that I should have an elder brother adopted.”
Old Madam Ye instantly relaxed, her eyes softening with relief. “That’s good, that’s good. Your grandfather loves you dearly, just as I do. Naturally, he would grant your request.”
Marquis Ye added proudly, “The Duke has good judgment to agree to adopt Shuwen as your elder brother.”
Ye Qingyu quickly shook her head. “Not Ye Shuwen. Grandfather said he will only agree if my eldest cousin is adopted as my elder brother.”
“What!” Marquis Ye’s expression changed at once. “Did you not tell him it was to adopt Shuwen?”
The peaceful, kindly expression on Old Madam Ye’s face vanished, replaced by sharp questioning. “Didn’t I tell you it was to adopt Shuwen? Why didn’t you tell the Duke? Your eldest cousin would never agree to be adopted. How could he possibly become your elder brother?”
“Ye Qingyu, did you even try to persuade the Duke properly? Adoption is not a matter to be treated lightly!”
Marquis Ye added reproachfully, “Qingyu, we already discussed this, and you agreed. Why did you change your mind once you went to the Duke’s household? Shuwen is such a fine young man—having him as your brother would be your blessing. He doesn’t even hold your past mistakes against you, and he agreed to be adopted as your elder brother. But you—do you even understand what integrity means? Once you’ve given your word, you should see it through.”
Ye Qingyu looked coldly at the two of them, their expressions as though they wanted to devour her alive. Yet in her heart, she felt no ripple at all.
She had long since seen through their true faces. In the future, she would never soften her hand against them.
Outwardly, she put on a look of grievance, her voice weak. “Grandmother, didn’t you say everything would follow my wishes? How is it wrong for me to choose my eldest cousin?”
Old Madam Ye’s expression stiffened, twisting slightly. She had only spoken so broadly at the time to coax Ye Qingyu into agreeing to the adoption. She hadn’t expected Ye Qingyu to take her words literally.
Marquis Ye looked at Old Madam Ye with dissatisfaction.
Old Madam Ye straightened her neck, her face stern. “I did say that, but didn’t you already agree to adopt Shuwen as your elder brother?”
Ye Qingyu’s eyes shimmered with tears, her voice full of helplessness. “Grandmother, at the time, I only said I would discuss it with Grandfather. This isn’t something I can decide alone. Grandfather said Ye Shuwen’s conduct is improper, and adopting him under Mother’s name would disgrace her reputation. He agreed to the adoption, but said the candidate can only be my eldest cousin.”