Ye Yun looked at the person before her and sat up. With Empress Dowager backing her up and the marriage alliance dissolved, she now felt completely at ease. As for a man like the Crown Prince, she disdained having any connection with him.
Empress Dowager Xiao spoke gently to Ye Yun, “Why are you up already? Lie down and rest a while longer.”
Ye Yun smiled faintly, “Your Highness, Yun’er has rested well and should return to the residence now.”
“Are you truly alright?” Empress Dowager Xiao still felt somewhat uneasy.
“Yes,” Ye Yun affirmed. She naturally understood the underlying concern in the Empress Dowager’s words and added, “Yun’er knows Your Highness cares for me deeply, but what’s past is past. Yun’er will let it all go.”
Empress Dowager Xiao sighed softly but said no more. Though this child had been frail since childhood, daughters raised in the Protectorate Duke’s Residence possessed their own inherent pride. “Very well, I shall have someone escort you back to the residence.”
“Your Highness, that won’t be necessary. Lingzhi can attend to me. Today’s matters have already disturbed Your Highness’s peace and troubled you greatly. Merely returning from the palace to the residence won’t be a problem for Yun’er.”
“You are far too sensible, child.”
Ye Yun rose and performed a curtsy to the person before her. As she turned to leave, she saw Yu Momo entering.
“Your Highness, the matter has been settled. His Majesty is handling state affairs in the Imperial Study and said everything should be handled according to Your Highness’s discretion. When Her Majesty the Empress heard of this, she immediately ordered the dancer who seduced the Crown Prince to be beaten to death. Regarding the marriage with Miss Yun’er, she suggested further discussion. Her Majesty originally intended to visit you, but I conveyed your wishes that she need not come.”
“The Empress acts quite swiftly. Send someone to inform her that the dissolution of the marriage alliance between the Crown Prince and Yun’er means there will be no further connection between them. The Crown Prince remains the Crown Prince—this changes nothing. But if the Crown Prince engages in any further foolishness, she ought to carefully consider the consequences.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Your Highness, Yun’er will take her leave now.” After Yu Momo stepped aside, Ye Yun bowed once more before turning to depart. As she walked away, she pondered Yu Momo’s words. The Empress’s actions were indeed shrewd—shifting all blame onto that dancer while thinking she could salvage something. But Ye Yun wasn’t foolish enough to fall for it. As for that worthless Crown Princess position, whoever wanted it could have it.
“Ah—ouch!” Ye Yun stumbled, her forehead throbbing with pain.
Lingzhi, seeing her young lady falter, hurried forward to support her.
Ye Yun looked up at the man who had appeared before her. Damn, this man was extraordinarily handsome! In her previous life, she’d encountered many attractive men, but compared to him, they all fell short. His icy demeanor, jade-like elegance, and divine handsomeness were truly unparalleled, making one’s mouth water. Her forehead had collided squarely with his chest, and upon reflection, his physique was undoubtedly impressive.
“Miss Ye, when walking in the future, refrain from lowering your head in thought. Remember to watch your path.”
A cold voice abruptly interrupted Ye Yun’s reverie. Did he know her? Searching her original host’s memories, she found no recognition.
“This servant pays respects to Prince Chen.” Lingzhi gently tugged at her young lady’s sleeve, whispering urgently, “Young Lady.”
Prince Chen—Mo Qingchen? Ye Yun pondered for a moment and recalled: indeed, this man was the Emperor’s full-blooded younger brother, both born of the Empress Dowager. He was the late Emperor’s youngest son, still in the Empress Dowager’s womb when the late Emperor passed away. Now, he was merely around twenty years of age. Despite his youth, he was the legitimate imperial uncle to all the princes, a figure of incomparable nobility.
The original host of this body had mostly fixated her attention on the Crown Prince when she entered the palace. Although she had seen Prince Chen during visits to the Palace of Everlasting Joy to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, she was hardly familiar with him. Ye Yun inwardly exclaimed, What a waste! With such an exceptionally handsome man right before her eyes, how could she have set her sights on the Crown Prince instead?
Wasn’t he far more appealing than the Crown Prince? The only drawback was his icy demeanor, which gave off an aura of keeping others at a distance.
Snapping back to reality, Ye Yun calmly said, “Thank you for the reminder, Prince Chen.” Just as she was contemplating how to strike up another conversation with Mo Qingchen, an angry voice rang out from afar: “Ye Yun!”
She glanced at the person approaching and found him all too familiar—none other than the Crown Prince, Mo Heng, the very man she had just broken off her engagement with. How shameless of him to seek her out now.
“Ye Yun, if you want to break off the engagement, so be it, but how dare you have my mother execute my people!”
“Ridiculous. I no longer care to marry you, so why would I care who you fool around with?” Ye Yun’s tone was cold.
Mo Qingchen had come to the Palace of Everlasting Joy to pay respects to his mother. He had no interest in the affairs of these two and intended to stay out of it. Yet, hearing Ye Yun’s words and observing the pale, frail young girl before him, he found it somewhat intriguing. Someone usually perceived as delicate and sickly could utter such sharp, icy remarks.
Mo Heng, upon hearing Ye Yun’s words, clenched his fists tightly, his eyes blazing with anger. “How impressive you are! I wonder who it was that clung to me, insisting on this engagement? If not for…”
“If not for witnessing it with my own eyes and hearing it with my own ears, I would never have realized how blind my past affections were.” Ye Yun met Mo Heng’s glare coldly, let out a light laugh, and then added, “Who would cling to you now? The person standing right here is far more to my liking. Putting everything else aside, his looks alone suit my taste better than yours.” As she spoke, she pointed directly at Mo Qingchen, who was standing nearby.
Hearing this, Mo Qingchen was slightly taken aback. How amusing…
“Imperial Uncle?” Mo Heng sneered at Ye Yun. “Hah, do you even hear yourself? Dreaming of latching onto Imperial Uncle? If not for your status as the legitimate daughter of the Protectorate Duke’s Residence, and the favor Grandmother and Father Emperor shower upon you, who would want you with your sickly body? Even if you have some looks, who would genuinely wish to marry you?”
“Who wants me or not is my business. My marriage has always been my decision. Rest assured, I won’t be blind again.”
Ye Yun shot a disdainful glance at Mo Heng, scoffed, and brushed him off entirely. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, if you have so much leisure to worry about me, why not focus on your own affairs? A Crown Prince, cavorting with dancers in broad daylight in the Eastern Palace—if word gets out, I wonder how much dignity you’ll have left!”
Mo Heng roared, “Ye Yun!”
“The Crown Prince has certainly grown bold, to act so recklessly even in my presence. It’s a pity your mother had to clean up your mess so thoroughly.”
Everyone gathered at the palace entrance heard the voice that reached their ears and promptly bowed in respect.
Empress Dowager Xiao helped Ye Yun, who had been maintaining proper etiquette beside her, to stand up. She glanced at Mo Heng kneeling before her and said, “Go back and reflect carefully. Your matters with Yun’er end here. If I ever hear again that you’ve caused Yun’er any trouble, you’d better watch out.”
“Your grandson wouldn’t dare, Imperial Grandmother.”
“Dismissed!”
“Your grandson takes his leave.” Though frustrated in his heart, Mo Heng had no choice but to accept this. After rising, he departed from the place without delay.