Volume 2 Chapter 48
Chapter 48: The Luminescent Prince's Jade Pendant
"Then Mowan would like to ask what identity Prince had used to investigate Eldest Sister's pulse records? And why were you investigating her pulse records?" Yao Mowan lifted the bowl in front of her as she glanced over at Ye Junqing.
"This prince just suspects…" Before Ye Junqing could even finish his words, Yao Mowan had suddenly set down her bowl.
"Prince suspects what? Suspects that someone in the imperial hospital had been trying to harm Eldest Sister? Forget the fact that they wouldn't dare for now, even if they did dare, they wouldn't leave any incriminating evidence! Has Prince every thought about the fact that since everyone in Chu knows that Prince admires Eldest Sister, what would the fact that you stormed right into the imperial hospital to ask for Eldest Sister's pulse records indicate? What was that saying about His Majesty? If there was something odd with Eldest Sister's death, His Majesty would've already sent people to look into it. How could he possibly have waited until now? Since even His Majesty hadn't found anything, Prince, don't you feel that your actions were pointless and excessive?" Yao Mowan's calm voice slowly filled with cold fury.
"This prince just wanted proof. Is there a need for you to get so stirred up? In addition, this prince has never cared about what other people thought." When Ye Junqing saw that Yao Mowan was angry, he became annoyed as well.
Yao Mowan's heart felt heavy. That was right, when had Ye Junqing ever cared about what other people thought? It was just like how he had held fast to his love despite everyone's disapproval. He hadn't even cared about Ye Hongyi's disapproval. His firm devotion and endless passion, back then, to her, had just been a burden. She truly had been a fool in the past.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" asked Ye Junqing when he saw Yao Mowan fall silent.
"Meals should be eaten silently," said Yao Mowan coldly. Right now, the one she was angry with wasn't Ye Junqing, but herself.
"Why!? I insist on talking! This prince just wanted to figure out why Moxin ended up having a difficult birth and why those imperial physicians hadn't noticed anything. Is there anything wrong with that? Is there?" Ye Junqing abruptly got to his feet and started shouting angrily. He had always been annoyed with how Yao Mowan would always hurl a bunch of reasoning at him without giving him the chance to refute.
Just as Ye Junqing was about to speak again, Yao Mowan suddenly got up and she looked over at Ye Junqing emotionlessly.
"What… what do you want?" Ye Junqing swallowed hard and reflexively took a step backwards as he looked at her warily.
"If Eldest Sister was still alive, she'd probably hate to see you like this," said Yao Mowan coldly. Before Ye Junqing had a chance to react, she smashed her bowl and headed into the bedroom.
"This prince also hates to see you like this! You're always leaving right after saying what you want to say! You never give people the chance to voice their opinions! What's wrong with this prince the way this prince is now? Come back here and clear things up!" Ye Junqing was so angry that he wanted to throw his bowl too, but he forced down the impulse and quickly drank the porridge. He was already suffering from pent up anger, he couldn't make his stomach suffer too!
When Yin Xue handed Yao Mowan the jade pendant Ye Zixiao always kept on him, she toyed with it contemplatively.
If she hadn't remembered wrong, Duan Zirou had once told her that she had personally grinded the jade pendant that Ye Zixiao always kept on him, so it held significant meaning. According to what she knew, Ye Zixiao and Duan Zirou's feelings for each other weren't that of a normal imperial family couple. They had gone through much trials and tribulation together.
Yao Mowan suddenly really wanted to know how much weight these memories held in Ye Zixiao's heart…
"Duan Zirou's in the palace?" Yao Mowan placed the jade pendant in her sleeve and looked over at Yin Xue.
"Replying Master, Duan Zirou has already entered the palace. She's currently meeting with Noble Lady Duan in Intoxicating Fragrance Residence," replied Yin Xue.
"Intoxicating Fragrance Residence… Duan Xiaoyan's tolerance for alcohol has always been so high that she rarely ever got drunk. Back then, Ye Hongyi would often drink with her and would always end up being so intoxicated he'd stay there for days, which was how Duan Xiaoyan's resting palace got its name. However, sadly she lost favor before her beauty even faded. Ever since Senior Prince Duan got dementia, Duan Xiaoyan has fallen from favor. However, she was born of a concubine from the start. If it weren't for the fact that Ye Hongyi had been wanting to win over Senior Prince Duan and Duan Zirou had already become Ye Zixiao's wife, there was no way she would've had a chance to enter the palace. She looked as if she had managed to fly up to the highest branch and become a phoenix, but sadly a fallen phoenix can't even compare to a fowl…" Yao Mowan sighed. Internally, she was thinking that Duan Xiaoyan was still lucky. At the very least, her existence wasn't a threat to Ye Hongyi.
"Master, you want to do it today?" asked Yin Xue.
"There's a limit to how many times Duan Zirou can enter the palace. Since it's rare for her to visit, this consort naturally can't let this opportunity slip by." Yao Mowan leisurely got up and had Yin Xue withdraw before walking out of Guan Osprey Palace.
Intoxicating Fragrance Residence, located on the west side of the imperial palace, was surrounded by the intense fragrance of wine. In the main hall, Duan Xiaoyan was currently holding a slender neck celadon wine pot and taking a swig from it.
"Sister, drinking too much is bad for the health, hurry and stop." The one speaking was Luminescent Princess Duan Zirou. She reached out to take the wine away from Duan Xiaoyan, but Duan Xiaoyan stopped her.
"What can this consort do besides drink? Older Sister isn't going to take away Xiaoyan's only remaining joy, right?" Duan Xiaoyan's eyes were filled with sadness as she clenched the wine.
"Older Sister has heard as well that His Majesty has lately been doting on the daughter from Prime Minister Yao's residence a lot, but just because he dotes on her a lot doesn't mean that he'll dote on her forever. You can't abandon yourself to despair. As long as you work hard, you'll definitely be able to regain imperial favor." Duan Zirou looked at her sister worriedly and tried to persuade her.
"Work hard? Ha! No matter how hard Xiaoyan tries, it's useless. Before that imbecile entered the palace, His Majesty would at least enter this Intoxicating Fragrance Residence a few days every month, but now? It's already been half a year since His Majesty has stepped inside this palace. Perhaps His Majesty has already forgotten that a Noble Lady Duan exists in this inner palace…" Duan Xiaoyan lifted the wine pot again as her tears spilled out.
"How's that possible? You're a daughter of Prince Duan's residence. No matter what, His Majesty has to maintain a respectful attitude towards Father." Duan Zirou walked over and helped Duan Xiaoyan over to a seat.
"Father now has dementia, so what would His Majesty need to still act polite for? Older Sister, no need to try to console me. This consort understands her current situation. It's just a shame that I'm currently in the prime of youth, so I don't even know how long I'd have to face this solitary life. If I knew earlier that this would happen, I wouldn't have entered the palace. Even if I had to marry into an ordinary citizen's home, it'd still be better than living like a widow!"
"This consort envies you, Older Sister, the most. Luminescent Prince treats you like a precious pearl. Even though you two have already been married for so long, your affection for each other hasn't dimmed in the slightest. Some things are truly so perfect, all one can do is envy." Duan Xiaoyan tilted her head back for another swig only to find that the pot was already empty, so she tossed it to the ground.
"That's not the case at all. Zixiao and I are just an ordinary couple." When Ye Zixiao was mentioned, Duan Zirou couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Older Sister is being unfair towards Luminescent Prince by saying this. Who in the imperial city isn't aware of how Luminescent Prince loves his wife more than life? As long as it's something that Older Sister likes, even if it's a star in the sky, Luminescent Prince would get it for Older Sister. There's a saying that one envies a pair of mandarin ducks more than one envies celestials. It seems that the saying isn't without reason." Duan Xiaoyan's voice contained faint resentment.
"It's just that rumors tend to exaggerate…" Duan Xiaoyan's words caused Duan Zirou to blush. She knew better than anyone how good Ye Zixiao was to her. Even now, she believed that the best choice she had ever made in her life was marrying Ye Zixiao.
Right at this moment, Duan Xiaoyan's personal maid, Qiao Ling, hastily ran in.
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Credits: Translated by Chiyomira