It seemed as though the wind around them had suddenly stopped, and the scenery beside them ceased to move. After a long while, Zhou Weizhao continued walking outward without stopping, his voice carried by the wind into the Crown Prince’s ears: “Aunt will probably come tomorrow.”
In the end, he did not relent and say those three words “it doesn’t matter.” Even if he wanted to, he did not have the standing to do so. The Crown Prince had wronged far more than just him alone. He was not magnanimous enough to treat everything that had happened to his mother in the past as though it had never occurred.
The Crown Prince did not receive his definitive answer, yet he was not angry either. Some things, once done, could not be treated as though they had never happened. Now that Zhou Weizhao was willing to treat Prince Dongping better for the sake of Emperor Jianzhang and the overall situation, he was already content. Turning back to look at Prince Dongping, his eyes flickered: “From now on, you must conduct yourself well.”
The Crown Prince might have done countless wrong things, but toward Prince Dongping, he had never been even slightly unkind. Even during the period when he could not speak, he had single-mindedly made plans for the prince at every turn. Now he even had to swallow his pride and seek help for him from the other son he had always looked down upon. Prince Dongping felt somewhat bitter. Looking at the Crown Prince who had become so emaciated as to be barely human, he also felt unbearable compassion, and with tears in his eyes, he emphatically agreed.
When Song Chuyi heard of this matter, she was at Mingcui Palace keeping the Crown Princess Consort Lu company in conversation. The Crown Princess Consort’s hope of being a matchmaker had come to naught. Although the Cui family had already expressed their interest, unfortunately Ye Jingchuan did not like the match. She sighed somewhat wistfully: “What a pity, otherwise it would have been a match made in heaven.”
Song Chuyi knew the Crown Princess Consort was soft-hearted, so she smiled at these words and personally prepared tea to hand to the Crown Princess Consort: “Mother, you will still get to be a matchmaker. Although the Cui family match didn’t work out, I’m afraid the Princess Consort of Zhennan will be entrusting this matter to you.”
The Crown Princess Consort raised her eyebrows in great surprise, not understanding why Song Chuyi would say this. Hadn’t it been said that Ye Jingchuan didn’t like the Cui family young lady and had no intention of marrying? How could the Princess Consort of Zhennan be coming to ask her to be a matchmaker? Or was it about those two county princesses?
Song Chuyi did not keep her in suspense and explained Ye Jingchuan’s intentions. Seeing the Crown Princess Consort’s bewildered expression, she couldn’t help but laugh along: “This is also fate at work. The bond of sharing hardships together is ultimately something others cannot compare to.”
The Crown Princess Consort had not expected that Ye Jingchuan liked Lu Chonghua. She was just about to drink her tea but even forgot to drink, hesitating for a long time before asking: “Is it really true?”
While others might not know clearly, surely the Ye family knew what situation the Lu family was in? Could they really not care about the Lu family’s affairs and not fear that Emperor Jianzhang would take his anger out on them because of this?
Recently, aside from being busy completing Old Madam Cui’s request, she had been thinking about how to arrange for her niece in the future. She had not expected these two matters to intersect, and for a moment did not know whether she should be happy or worried.
“It’s true.” Song Chuyi nodded affirmatively. “Second Young Master Ye told His Highness personally, saying he likes Chonghua and asked His Highness to have me inquire about Chonghua’s feelings. My intention was to first come and tell you.”
As for fate… the Crown Princess Consort had nothing to say about it. She was someone who had been through it all and knew too well how important a suitable marriage was for a young woman. Since Ye Jingchuan liked Lu Chonghua, even if the Cui family match had succeeded, it would not have been a good thing.
The next day she summoned Old Madam Cui and Princess Duanhui into the palace, and in Song Chuyi’s presence, told them both that Ye Jingchuan already had someone in his heart. She added somewhat apologetically: “Old Madam finally entrusted me with a matter, yet I cannot accomplish it. Please don’t be angry with me, Old Madam.”
Old Madam Cui hastily said she wouldn’t dare. She had only been moved to make the suggestion because she knew Ye Jingchuan well and felt he was a good person. After all, nothing had been made explicit, so it wasn’t as though any face had been lost, and she truly wasn’t unhappy.
The Crown Princess Consort smiled and shook her head: “There’s another matter I must tell you. Second Young Master Ye has taken a liking to my natal family’s niece.” She looked frankly at Old Madam Cui and Princess Duanhui. “So this really is unfortunate timing. I’m also telling Twelfth Madam and Old Madam in advance, fearing you might think later that I…”
Before Princess Duanhui could speak, Old Madam Cui had already hastily waved her hand: “How can Your Highness say such things? How could our Cui family be so ungrateful? This is merely a matter of children’s marriage. Naturally it should be mutually willing to be good. Marriage is about forming a good bond between two surnames, not about creating enmity. We still understand this principle. Your Highness must not worry.”
Princess Duanhui also nodded in agreement and couldn’t help but add: “Actually, I was too embarrassed to tell Mother, but Hualuan doesn’t particularly like Second Young Master Ye either.” Having said this, she breathed a sigh of relief. “If I may speak without offense, I’m actually relieved. I was still hoping this girl would find someone she herself likes. The days ahead are hers to live, so naturally she should be willing to live them.”
With everything spoken openly, the Crown Princess Consort’s heart was also unburdened. She smiled and invited Old Madam Cui and Princess Duanhui to stay for a meal, but they both declined and had Song Chuyi lead them to Yong’an Palace first.
Princess Duanhui was somewhat curious but seemed to truly not take it to heart as she looked at Song Chuyi: “Xiaoyi, this is quite a wonderful matter I’ve never heard of…” Halfway through speaking, she immediately stopped—only then remembering that previously Ye Jingchuan had been single-mindedly devoted to liking only Song Chuyi.
Old Madam Cui still felt it was somewhat regrettable: “Second Young Master Ye truly is an excellent young man.”
Song Chuyi helped Old Madam Cui sit down, ordered tea to be served, and only then explained in detail how Lu Chonghua had been rescued by Ye Jingchuan in Huizhou. She added: “This matter still hasn’t been settled. I haven’t yet gone to ask Chonghua’s side for news.”
Princess Duanhui actually quite liked Lu Chonghua. After all, Lu Chonghua got along quite well with the sisters Cui Huaying and the others. Hearing this, she asked no more questions but instead brought up something else with Song Chuyi: “I’ve also mentioned it to my in-law Old Madam, asking her to write a letter when she has the opportunity to ask Shen Yang on my behalf and see what her son intends.”
Old Madam Cui was truly surprised now: “You already had a candidate in mind before? Then why didn’t you tell me?”
Princess Duanhui, who had always had an excellent relationship with her, linked arms with her coquettishly: “I saw Mother was very satisfied with the Ye family, so I thought to have Hualuan interact with Second Young Master Ye a few more times before considering it. Since Second Young Master Ye now has no such intention and the Ye family has no such intention either, naturally I thought of Shen Yang. I was planning to mention it to you before, Mother. That young man from the Guo family is also excellent.”
In the end, she still did not want to go against Old Madam Cui’s wishes, only fearing that once she had leisure time, she would be worried and frightened for Cui Yingtang and the others in Jinzhong.
Song Chuyi had already smilingly agreed: “Since that’s the case, then I’ll go and inquire. However, Grandmother and Aunt, you should also ask more about Cousin Hualuan’s thoughts. Didn’t Aunt say that our family doesn’t practice blind marriage arrangements? Since this is a lifelong matter, naturally Cousin should also be willing.”