Chapter 588: Chapter 588: Pomegranate with Many Seeds The Emperor slowly nodded his head, “The Crown Prince speaks sense.” Ye Shi quickly said, “Father Emperor, the journey back to Beiliang is long, and I am only hurrying back out of necessity.” “Ah Shi, you are to be commended for representing Ah Ju in the marriage arrangement with Beiliang,” Ye Yiheng spoke unhurriedly. “Today is the ninth day of the fourth lunar month, not many days before Ah Ju’s wedding. Ah Shi, stay for a few more days.” Pausing slightly, Ye Yiheng added, “Our wedding with Beilan will also take place, but you two need not attend if it might delay your journey.” The Emperor repeatedly nodded, “Ah Shi, Haoyuan, you should stay a few days more. It would be good to partake in Ah Ju’s wedding feast before you depart.” Yu Haoqiong pondered for a moment; Prince Beiliang, being blind, could not play any tricks. So, he might as well stay a few more days. “Then I will respectfully obey,” Yu Haoqiong made a bow to the Emperor and then turned to ask Ye Yiheng, “Your Highness, how did you come here?” Ye Yiheng said indifferently, “I had some matters to discuss with Father Emperor alongside Beilan.” Leng Yu Yan had not expected Yu Haoqiong to become suspicious. Thinking about it, it wasn’t surprising. Their sudden arrival would certainly have raised doubts. Considering this, Leng Yu Yan followed what Ye Yiheng had said and spoke up, “Emperor, I have found some clues regarding the matter of my mother from the years gone by, so I have come here with the Crown Prince.” Yu Haoqiong and Ye Shi had naturally heard that Leng Yu Yan was not born of Prince Zhenbei Mansion’s Princess; her birth mother, having given birth to her with Prince Zhenbei, must have had a tarnished reputation. Hearing this explanation now, their suspicions were allayed, and they bowed to the Emperor and took their leave. The Emperor looked at Ye Yiheng and Leng Yu Yan, asking, “What have you found?” Leng Yu Yan lowered her gaze, “Father King recalled drinking wine that had been tampered with at the time of the incident. As for who drugged the wine, that still needs to be investigated.” The Emperor raised an eyebrow, wasn’t this the same as saying nothing? Before, they had said both were framed, and now it was the wine that was problematic. “The wedding is only a few days away; you should quickly clarify anything that needs investigating.” After speaking, he waved his hand impatiently. Leng Yu Yan then helped Ye Yiheng take their leave. Ye Yiheng first escorted Leng Yu Yan back to Prince Zhenbei Mansion and then returned to the Eastern Palace. Miao Zhu, supporting Leng Yu Yan as they walked through the mansion’s rear courtyard, murmured softly, “Commandery Princess, the Crown Prince acts a bit strangely. The Eastern Palace is right next to the Imperial Palace. Why didn’t he just go straight back there and leave you with us?” “He has important matters to attend to in the Eastern Palace, and I have my own affairs to deal with back at the mansion.” “Oh,” Miao Zhu nodded. “What matters does the Commandery Princess have?” Leng Yu Yan sighed, “Naming the residence, choosing celebration gifts.” These days had been so busy, she hadn’t met with Lai Jiajia, Mi Xinmei, Luo Meng’er, and the others for a long time. “I’ll write a few invites; send someone to deliver them for me,” Leng Yu Yan added. “Yes, Commandery Princess.” Returning to her own residence, Leng Yu Yan stepped into the study, picked up her brush, and began to write names for the residences on fine paper. Her paternal grandparents’ residence was named Jifu Hall, and her father King and mother’s was called Zhaohui Courtyard. As for the residences of her four brothers, she would name them based on a character from their names. Her eldest brother Lai Yuyue’s residence would be Yeyu Garden; her second brother Lai Yuqing’s would be Jingning Village; her third brother Lai Yuxing’s would be Xingyi Residence; and her fourth brother Lai Yusheng’s would be Shenglin Pavilion. As for her own residence, it would be named Yanyue Residence. Having named the residences, Leng Yu Yan took the stack of fine paper to Lai Taihong. “Grandfather, please review!” Lai Taihong took the papers and examined each one carefully, smiling broadly as he read, thoroughly satisfied, he lavished praise, “Excellent, truly excellent. Not only is the calligraphy superb, but the names chosen are also wonderful.” With that, he ordered the names be made into plaques. “The time is pressing, we must finish before the fifteenth!” He thought, on the wedding day of the Ninth Princess and the Princely Heir, there would be many guests in the mansion. Putting up these courtyard names early would also showcase the deep cultural heritage of the Prince Zhenbei Mansion. Servants took the rice paper with both hands and bowed in agreement. On the other side, Ye Yiheng returned to the Eastern Palace and ordered Song Guo to take out the Dragon and Phoenix wedding robes. Song Guo led a team of eunuchs and palace maids, displaying the wedding robes from the inside out on the long table. After dismissing his subordinates, he softly asked, “Your Highness, is there any problem with the wedding robes?” “I have no issues with my set.” After a pause, Ye Yiheng reached out and pinched the phoenix robe, “Yanyan’s set needs to be modified. You are to visit Huayang Hall.” “Sure, may I know what changes are required?” Song Guo asked. Ye Yiheng thought about the recent occasions he had embraced a certain lady and after a moment of stern contemplation, he said coldly, “Increase the bust by one inch and reduce the waist by one inch.” “Understood, I will remember that.” Song Guo nodded and carefully placed the wedding dress from the tray into a large brocade box. Meanwhile, he muttered inwardly, wondering if the measurements taken by His Highness previously were incorrect. Even so, he dared not voice this thought aloud. Ye Yiheng interrupted Song Guo’s thoughts, instructing, “Time is quite tight; tell the shopkeeper to not only be meticulous but also to make it exquisite.” Song Guo agreed and left the bedroom carrying the large brocade box. More than half an hour later, Song Guo arrived at Huayang Hall. The female shopkeeper, upon seeing the wedding dress made by Huayang Hall on the orders of the Crown Prince being returned, broke out in a cold sweat. In front of the other customers in Huayang Hall, she could only feign calm. Once she led Song Guo to the secret room of Huayang Hall, her voice trembled uncontrollably, “Mr. Song, have I been negligent?” Song Guo glanced at her, “Why so nervous? His Highness has not blamed you, it’s just a simple alteration of the wedding dress.” The female shopkeeper sighed with relief, “May I ask what the alterations are?” “Increase the bust by one inch and reduce the waist by one inch—these are His Highness’s exact words.” The female shopkeeper nodded, “I understand.” “What are you smiling at?” Song Guo was puzzled, “I was thinking, could it be that His Highness made a mistake with the measurements last time and is too embarrassed to admit it?” The female shopkeeper laughed and said, “Princess Beilan is in the prime of her life, with an increasingly graceful figure. That is a blessing from the heavens that most can only envy.” Song Guo nodded repeatedly, “I understand now.” The Commandery Princess was his master, and he harbored not a single improper thought about her. But for some reason, he could not help picturing Miao Zhu’s sturdy waist. He couldn’t help but wonder why Miao Zhu couldn’t emulate the Commandery Princess, instead doing the exact opposite. From what he had seen lately, it seemed Miao Zhu’s waist had thickened by more than just an inch. Song Guo quickly dismissed the image of Miao Zhu’s thick waist and said to the female shopkeeper, “His Highness said that although time is short, the wedding dress must be made with care and it must be exquisite!” The female shopkeeper smiled and nodded, “Please be assured, Your Highness, and I hope Mr. Song conveys my message!” “Mhm.” Song Guo waved his hand, “I’m off.” That night, the moon shone brightly, and the stars were sparse. Leng Yu Yan gazed at the gifts selected on the table, resting her chin in contemplation. Suddenly, someone leapt in through the window. She didn’t have to look to know that it was that shameless person. She beckoned, “Your Highness, help me look, how are these for Ah Ju’s wedding gift?” Ye Yiheng walked over slowly and saw two sets of jewelry and a jade decoration on the table. “Are you also going to give away this jade decoration?” he asked. “Yes, pomegranates symbolize many children, quite suitable for Ah Ju,” Leng Yu Yan touched the finely crafted jade pomegranate, “Your Highness, do you think it’s inappropriate?”