Chapter 595: Chapter 595: Because of Her Charm Lai Jiajia embraced Leng Yu Yan’s shoulders, “Sister, you are the best to me!” Several young girls were chatting heartily around a stone table under the trees in the courtyard. Yet Ye Yiheng, who had intended to accompany Leng Yu Yan, was nowhere to be found, as the front courtyard was extremely noisy. The noise was one thing, but the main issue was that the guests were constantly comparing Li Yuyue and Ye Jiu’s wedding arrangements with his and Yan Yan’s. In truth, he never cared about the rumors over the years. But now that Yan Yan was about to become his Crown Princess Consort, he was worried that she might be unhappy if she heard them. After wandering around the Prince Mansion, Ye Yiheng eventually went to Lai Taihong’s study to avoid the noise. Song Guo, noticing his master’s preoccupied mind, voiced the question that had been on his mind during their walk to the study, “Your Highness, are you thinking about the wedding with the Commandery Princess?” There were no others in the study, and Ye Yiheng took off his eye veil. “On the day of our grand wedding, what if I tell everyone that my eye disease is cured?” “Didn’t the Commandery Princess say it should be public knowledge after the wedding?” “On the day of the wedding, I want to personally receive Yan Yan.” Hearing this, Song Guo murmured, “Indeed it is a problem. If Your Highness wishes to ride a horse to fetch her, wearing an eye veil while riding could arouse suspicion.” This issue required careful consideration, and Ye Yiheng sat down in the Taishi Chair, massaging his temple. Bowing respectfully, Song Guo asked cautiously, “Your Highness, since the founding of Tiancheng, no Crown Prince has ever fetched his bride in person. The Ministry of Rites always handles the wedding reception on their behalf.” “I will marry her, and we must adhere to all the Six Rites,” Ye Yiheng suddenly opened his eyes, his tone firm and authoritative. Having her in his heart, he could not slight her in any way when marrying her. After staying in the study for a while, someone came to summon them. “Crown Prince, the noon banquet is starting, please proceed to the main hall!” Ye Yiheng put on his eye veil again and with Song Guo’s assistance, left the study. After the noon banquet, Li Yuyue, dressed in a red robe and adorning a big red flower, embarked on a parade surrounded by crowds from Prince Zhenbei Mansion. The grand procession to fetch the bride circled the main streets of the Capital City before making its way to the palace. Ye Jiu had been waiting in Xingning Palace for a long time. Today was her wedding day. The unmarred sisters in the palace came to congratulate her, along with her former study companions who followed protocol, all because she held the status of the most favored princess. These people were insincere, none truly wished her well. In the past, she would have shamed them, but now she let go. And because of this, she truly realized that not every so-called friend was sincere. In life, having one confidant like Leng Yu Yan was enough! Unfortunately, Leng Yu Yan was her sister-in-law, and it was inappropriate for her to enter the palace today as she should be at the Prince Mansion waiting for her, making Ye Jiu even more eager to marry into Prince Zhenbei Mansion. “His Majesty has arrived—” A loud chant came from outside Xingning Palace. Soon, the Emperor arrived with several concubines. The concubines each made some trivial small talk, which Ye Jiu listened to distractedly. Her fingers hidden in her sleeves counted anxiously, eagerly anticipating Li Yuyue’s arrival. Seeing her covered with a bridal veil, seemingly reluctant to leave the palace, the Emperor advised, “Ah Jiu, a woman must marry when it’s time. Out of all my daughters, letting you go is the hardest for me.” Ye Jiu’s lips curved slightly, her voice unexpectedly hoarse, “Father probably finds it hardest to let go of Ah Shi, right? Even when she wanted to kill me, Father merely let it pass lightly. Today is my grand wedding, not a marriage alliance, there is no need for such consolation from Father.” Caught off guard by her bluntness, the Emperor was not annoyed but slowly explained, “Ah Shi, after all, is the Seventh Prince Consort of Beiliang; to keep the international relations intact, I had no choice. You are marrying the Heir of Prince Zhenbei. Although you are currently residing in the Capital City, when Li Yuyue returns to Beilan City one day, you will follow him. By then, it will be hard for your Father to see you.” This was indeed the truth. Hearing this, Ye Jiu suddenly felt sentimental. Her mother was long gone, and her father was ultimately the person closest to her. Thinking of this, she called out, “Father Emperor!” Her voice subtly held a cry, causing the Emperor’s nose to feel somewhat sour. “Xingning Palace has always been reserved for you. If that boy Lai Yuyue dares to bully you, come back to the Palace!” Father Emperor had many daughters, yet none who had married were allowed to keep a palace, even if Ye Shi came back, she only stayed temporarily in a corner of an unused side palace. Ye Jiu nodded heavily, her crying tone deepened, “Thank you, Father Emperor!” Just then, a cheer rose from the palace servants outside; Lai Yuyue had arrived on horseback. Today, Lai Yuyue was dressed in red, even the brocade boots on his feet faintly glimmered red. He hurried into Xingning Palace, not yet inside the room, when he urgently called out, “Ah Jiu!” His voice was slightly magnetic, somewhat hoarse, yet exceptionally pleasant to hear. The Emperor clenched his fist to his mouth, coughed, and said, “Lai Yuyue, did you not see me?” Lai Yuyue promptly stopped, respectfully knelt to the Emperor, “Your son-in-law pays respects to Father Emperor!” The Emperor laughed heartily, commanding Eunuch Ma to deliver a red envelope. Lai Yuyue got up, took a few steps forward, received the red envelope, and then went to grasp Ye Jiu’s hand. Ye Jiu couldn’t see his face, but first spotted his boots and then saw a beautiful large hand reaching towards her, quickly enclosing her small hand in his palm. One of the concubines joked, “Emperor, the Ninth Prince Consort’s face is blushing red, yet his actions show no signs of shyness at all.” “Such is the love between husband and wife!” The Emperor seemed in good spirits and laughed heartily again. As he laughed, reminded by Eunuch Ma, the Emperor solemnly said, “Alright, hurry off to Prince Zhenbei Mansion, do not miss the auspicious time!” Hearing this, Lai Yuyue led Ye Jiu to perform a grand courtesy before the Emperor, then promptly departed. The concubine who had spoken earlier, seeing the couple leave and growing bold, asked, “Emperor, you just mentioned being reluctant to part with the Ninth Princess, but now it seems like you’re in a hurry to send her off?” “The old maid Ah Jiu is finally getting married, a great weight has been lifted from my heart.” He was naturally happy, and yet he felt reluctance too. Ah Jiu and Lai Yuyue were not young; they absolutely couldn’t miss the auspicious time. If they missed the auspicious time and Ah Jiu was sent back, where would his face as the Father Emperor be? Some time ago, he heard the commoners talking about a princess who hadn’t married at nineteen. As commoners, they could follow suit, believing women needn’t rush to find a husband and it’s fine to marry late. He was the Lord of Tiancheng and had to consider all aspects of Tiancheng. The foundation of the nation was its population; if all Tiancheng women took Ah Jiu as their example, the population would surely decline over time. To prevent that, it was best for Ah Jiu to marry early! Ye Jiu boarded the bridal carriage, while Lai Yuyue rode ahead. The bridal procession, along with the sending-off party, was immensely formidable, majestically departing from the Imperial Palace and proceeding towards Vermilion Bird Street. In a dimly lit alley, a young woman with her face covered by a veil was hidden, her eyes nearly bursting with jealousy as she looked up at Ye Jiu seated in the carriage. When she had married off to Beiliang, her departure from the Capital City had not been as grand. To this day, she had become a commoner while Ye Jiu remained a high and lofty princess. Why would Lai Yuyue fancy an old maid like Ye Jiu? Could it be because of her charm? But the real drama was yet to come. Ye Shi sneered. Inside the screen that Fourth Prince and Yu Yinglei had sent for Ye Jiu, she had hidden something. As long as the screen was in the room when Ye Jiu and Lai Yuyue consummated their marriage, Ye Jiu would never be blessed with many children.