The scent of a young girl assailed the senses...
This woman actually dared to probe him and stand so close to him.
Ye Yiheng's form remained motionless, while the hand behind his back gathered Inner Strength.
At that moment, the little eunuch became infuriated, "Miss Lai, watch your words. Where would there be dog shit in the Imperial Palace?"
Leng Yu Yan retreated a few steps, pointed at two dogs frolicking not far away, and smiled without a word.
The little eunuch's face turned white then red, as he knelt down to carefully inspect the Crown Prince's boots. Finding the brocade boots spotless, he wiped the fine sweat from his forehead.
Leng Yu Yan's gaze swept over Ye Yiheng.
The man before her was cloaked in a white brocade robe, his eyes covered by a white veil. He had a high nose bridge, thin lips lightly pursed, and a finely sculpted jawline.
He was extremely tall, his skin a cold white – truly peerless in his handsomeness and noble aura. He appeared abstinent and refined, yet there was an inexplicably fragile beauty about him.
In her dreams, she had never seen his face clearly.
Now, before her, his eyes were covered by the veil, and she still could not behold his whole visage.
Was it coincidence, or was it all just a dream?
Not wanting to recall those dreams anymore, Leng Yu Yan curtsied and left.
The little eunuch pointed at her retreating figure, trembling with rage, "Your Highness, she dares to fabricate such stories."
Ye Yiheng said calmly, "Let's return to the East Palace Study Room."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Back in the East Palace Study Room, Ye Yiheng removed the white veil covering his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
The little eunuch named Song Guo and Jian Lecheng had mentioned that the Leng Family girl was downright ugly. Had he not coincidentally suffered from an acute eye disease that rendered him temporarily blind today, seeing her repulsive features might have made him vomit continuously, just like Jian Lecheng.
Just now, after coming out from Xiande Hall, Jian Lecheng had been suppressing the urge to vomit. Unable to hold it in any longer, he had found a secluded spot in the Imperial Garden to throw up. Ye Yiheng had been forced to keep his distance, only to unexpectedly encounter her.
What a stroke of bad luck!
At that moment, someone entered the study room and knelt on one knee, saying respectfully, "Your Highness, Madam Lai and Consort Xian's mother are sisters. Consort Xian must be using this to deal with Your Highness. It's one thing to offer you an ugly woman, but a spy, that truly cannot be tolerated!"
"The Leng Family is Marquis Mansion, relying not only on Consort Xian whispering to the old Emperor, but the old man isn't a fool. He values another branch of the Leng Family."
"Your Highness means Prince Zhenbei Mansion?"
"The old man seeks the Leng Family's support to tell Prince Zhenbei that he can make him a Prince of Different Surname, and also promote another branch of the Leng Family. Without Prince Zhenbei, an offshoot of the Leng Family wouldn't qualify to be ennobled."
"Your Highness's analysis is very sharp. What about the Lady Lai?"
"Set her aside for now. If she doesn't keep to her place, we'll just get rid of her," Ye Yiheng said with an air of nonchalance.
The Imperial Palace was vast, and Leng Yu Yan had only just exited the palace gate.
Seeing Miao Zhu eagerly waving at her by the horse carriage, she quickened her steps and walked over.
"Miss, you came out so soon?"
"Yeah, let's go. We're heading to the tea house."
The tea house was the best place to gather information.
"What about your father?"
"My father is discussing matters with the Emperor. Let's go ahead."
They had come in two horse carriages, so leaving now was not a problem.
In the morning, the streets were bustling with people, and the sides were lined with taverns, tea houses, and inns.
The mistress and servant found an impressive tea house, entered, and took a seat in a private room.
On stage, a storyteller was engaged in his craft, discussing the much-talked-about marriage of the Crown Prince.
"They say a blind man to an ugly woman, a fitting match."
From below someone cheered, "Because no matter how ugly, the blind man can't see it."
Someone else commented, "However, I've heard Miss Lai isn't just ugly, but she's also built like a barrel. The moment that blind man hugs her, won't the truth come out?"
The laughter became even more unrestrained, "The blind man is frail and sickly, he probably can't even lift her!"
Miao Zhu trembled with anger, rolled up her sleeves wanting to rush over and argue, but was held back by Leng Yu Yan, "Just treat it as a play; I'll buy you some candied fruit snacks later."
At the mention of food, Miao Zhu's temper somewhat subsided.
As the unbridled talk persisted both on and offstage, Miao Zhu began to harbor many doubts.
The Imperial Hospital was filled with highly skilled physicians, and considering the Crown Prince's status, those imperial physicians must be dedicating themselves to treating him entirely.
The fact that the rumors of the Crown Prince's frail health were not being suppressed by the court suggested that he really was weak.
After all, they were in a teahouse with a cacophony of voices, so Miao Zhu lowered her voice to ask a most vital question, "To put it bluntly, if the young lady marries over and that man kicks the bucket in a few years, what would the young lady do?"
With the jade token in hand, Leng Yu Yan responded indifferently, "Then I could inherit quite a substantial fortune."
What's wrong with being a wealthy widow?
Who says women must have a man to live?
In the East Palace Study Room at this moment.
Ye Yiheng was covering his eyes with a medicinal plaster, resting with closed eyes when he heard some wobbly footsteps approaching and asked, "Have you vomited enough?"
"Serve Young Master a cup of tea." This was directed at the little eunuch Song Guo.
Jian Lecheng waved his hand, "No more tea for me, I'm afraid it will just come back up."
In the midst of the conversation, he collapsed onto the chair in front of the desk, "Let me tell you, it's good that you didn't see it. Even behind the screen, I could see everything clearly. Those spots on her face were as big as duck eggs, red with a hint of black, and it seemed like there were even hairs growing on the black, ugh—"
The little eunuch hastily served a cup of tea, "Young Master, please rinse your mouth."
In the motion of raising his hand, a palace maid brought over a series of dishes and a handkerchief to attend to Jian Lecheng.
"Is she really that ugly? I thought her voice was quite pleasant," Ye Yiheng teased as it was rare for him to do so.
"Voice and appearance should not be conflated," Jian Lecheng finally regained some strength, "Your Highness, let's not talk about her anymore. Shall we go out for some fresh air?"
Ye Yiheng adjusted the white gauze over his eyes and tied it behind his head with practiced ease, then rose to his feet, "Sounds good, let's have lunch outside.
"Right, to make up for what I've thrown up."
The weather in early spring was chill in the mornings and evenings, but the wind was mild at noon.
In a private room on the second floor of the Zuixian Building, Ye Yiheng and Jian Lecheng sat by the window.
"I'm not boasting, but the food here is extremely fresh. No wonder it's called the Zuixian Building," Jian Lecheng said as he poured wine for both of them.
Ye Yiheng nodded slightly, and the next moment, his ears perked up.
"Is there a horse carriage speeding down the street below?"
Jian Lecheng leaned out of the window and looked around, "No, there isn't."
After leaving the teahouse, Leng Yu Yan and Miao Zhu had bought quite a lot of candied fruit and pastries.
The master and servant were just stepping out of the candied fruit shop when they caught Jian Lecheng's eye.
"Ah, it's like a bad penny that keeps turning up!" Jian Lecheng quickly withdrew his body and drank some wine to soothe his shock.
What was it that scared him so much?
"What's the matter?" Ye Yiheng turned his head slightly, hearing the laughter of children and the increasingly near sounds of horse carriages from below.
"Nothing, nothing," Jian Lecheng waved his hand. He couldn't say it; saying it might spoil the mood for drinking.
Just then, a horse carriage raced down the street, sending the children playing to scatter, leaving only a little girl standing bewildered and uncertain. As the carriage drew nearer, the little girl burst into tears.
Ye Yiheng stood up, discerning the direction from the sound, his chopsticks ready in his hand to be thrown at a moment's notice.
Just then, a familiar voice rang out, "Don't be afraid, little girl, look, the horse carriage has already gone far away."
Ye Yiheng's slender, jade-like fingers paused noticeably.