Chapter 676: Chapter 676: Yearning for One’s Heart Ye Yiheng’s voice was low and deep, “I did not purposefully abstain from eating.” Leng Yu Yan cried, not because he wouldn’t eat, but because the squeezing of her fingers wounded her. Nevertheless, the man hadn’t realized, embracing her with one hand while tightly gripping her slender fingers with the other. Therefore, she went with the flow and said, “The Princess of Nandian was born noble, unlike me. Not to mention my origin, I was thrown into the mountains as a child, so naturally, I would have the manners of the wild. It is only reasonable that Your Highness looks down on me.” “What nonsense are you talking about?” Ye Yiheng slightly loosened his grip, “If you feed me now, I will definitely eat.” Leng Yu Yan took the opportunity to pull her hand out of his palm, “My hand hurts.” Only then did Ye Yiheng notice the wound on her fingertip. He felt a twinge in his heart, grabbed her finger and placed it in his mouth. “Ah, stop!” The tingling sensation on her hand made her very uncomfortable, “It’s dirty.” “It’s not dirty.” He sucked again and said, “It tastes of peach.” Leng Yu Yan couldn’t help but chuckle softly, but inwardly she scoffed; how wonderful it would have been if he had been born in modern times like her. Then he could share her thoughts, the idea of being with only one person for life. Monogamy, without any other concubines, was simply a fairy tale for a Heavenly Family Prince of this era. At this thought, the smile at the corner of Leng Yu Yan’s lips turned bitter. To the people of this era, she was far too greedy, coveting one person’s affection for her, disregarding his status, wanting to monopolize his liking for her. But she held the ideals of a modern person, craving the heart of just one… One that was devoted solely to her! Much like her grandfather, Father King, and brother, who were all good only to their wives. Stop thinking, she couldn’t think anymore! She took a deep breath, pulling her thoughts back. Acting in accordance with the duties of a Crown Prince Consort should make her happier. “Your Highness, let’s go outside, I’ll feed you a piece of peach. Please stop gnawing on my fingers for now.” Her tone was pleasant, her eyebrows and eyes playful. She buried her thoughts deep, letting none show to the exceptionally intelligent and nearly bewitching man before her. Ye Yiheng nodded, saying warmly, “Alright.” Together, they left the bedroom, walking slowly out of the quarters. All the bamboo platters on the ground had been gathered, with Miao Zhu and others ready to move several jars of dried peaches into the storeroom. Leng Yu Yan hurried to Miao Zhu, took a piece of dried peach from the clay jar she was holding, then returned to Ye Yiheng’s side, offering the peach to his lips just as before, “Your Highness, please have a taste!” Ye Yiheng took a bite and, after a long moment, uttered two words, “Not bad.” “Then I’ll take it as a compliment from Your Highness.” Leng Yu Yan’s smile was constant, yet only she knew the sadness hidden beneath it. She had told him that she made these for him, but he had refused to eat earlier and now reluctantly ate, only to give a “not bad” verdict. As the Heir of Tiancheng, what delicacies hadn’t Ye Yiheng tasted? How could he care about the so-called dried peaches and peach preserves she made? After all, he was different from her; the things she loved to eat were affordable for the common people. Like the crunchy peaches she loved, they were too ordinary. Preserves made from peaches were even more common. Last night, she cooked lotus leaf chicken, and today, she’s making peach pastes. In his eyes, it must seem like she’s just idling away her time in the Eastern Palace… Even a Princess of Nandian, regardless of being someone like Zheng Liqi, would they ever engage in such activities? There’s a saying that isn’t wrong: only after marriage can one truly tell if they are suited for each other. She and he are fundamentally different! Half an hour later, Eunuch Ma, who serves by the Emperor’s side, came to summon Ye Yiheng. “Princely Heir, just now the Emperor ordered someone to stop the Princess of Nandian who was about to return to the hostel, and announced there will be a banquet in the palace tonight. The Princess of Nandian said that she would only attend if the Princely Heir does, therefore, this old servant has come to invite Your Highness.” “A banquet?” Ye Yiheng inquired. Eunuch Ma bowed and replied, “The Princess of Nandian brought several fine wines this time. The Emperor was delighted after tasting them and thus decided to hold a banquet where everyone can appreciate the best wines of Tiancheng and Nandian together.” Ye Yiheng responded indifferently, “I need to dine with the Crown Princess Consort this evening.” Eunuch Ma’s face broke into a smile, “Your Highness, Crown Princess Consort, I have heard that you cannot hold your liquor, therefore the Emperor also said that for this banquet, you should stay in the Eastern Palace.” Leng Yu Yan offered a faint smile, “I indeed do not drink, so it is better not to go.” The Emperor did not want her to go, and that Princess specifically requested Ye Yiheng, so why should she interfere? Ye Yiheng stood up and turned to Leng Yu Yan, “I’ll return as soon as possible.” Leng Yu Yan nodded with a sweet smile, “Okay.” Ye Yiheng originally wanted to take Song Guo with him, but thinking he needed someone to help him avoid drinking too much, he asked Mo Chen Ruofeng to go to the Imperial Palace instead of Song Guo. After everyone had left, Leng Yu Yan sent Miao Zhu to find Song Guo. Song Guo’s mouth moved as she approached Leng Yu Yan and bowed. “What are you eating?” Leng Yu Yan asked. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✶𝓷𝓮𝓽 “I’m eating the peach you gave earlier, Crown Princess Consort. It’s so delicious that I’m eating it slowly, trying to not finish it all too quickly.” It was rare for those around him to enjoy her cooking; Leng Yu Yan genuinely smiled, but her thoughts drifted to him, and she reined in her laughter, “His Highness is not in the Eastern Palace at the moment, and I have some questions for you. If you wish to answer, then answer, but if you prefer not to, I won’t force you.” Song Guo hurriedly swallowed the piece of peach in her mouth, her expression turned solemn, “Please ask, Crown Princess Consort!” Leng Yu Yan’s fingertips slowly swept over the teacup as she asked in a soft voice, “What is the given name and the surname of that Princess of Nandian? How old is she?” “The Princess of Nandian is called Baili Wenyi, she’s eighteen this year. She is known across the world, along with our Ninth Princess, as a maiden of age who’s yet to find a suitor.” Song Guo paused briefly, then corrected herself, “No, that’s not right. Now, only Princess Wenyi remains, for our Ninth Princess has joyously wedded the Princely Heir.” Could it be that this Princess is a leftover woman of the Nandian Royal Family? Leng Yu Yan frowned, fearing that this Princess purposefully chose to remain unmarried, waiting for someone. Putting that aside, she asked again, “What is Baili Wenyi’s standing in the Nandian Court?” Song Guo explained, “Her mother is an Imperial Concubine of Emperor Nandian, and her maternal family wields great power, plus the Princess indeed possesses exceptional talents and strategies. The most crucial point is that Emperor Nandian’s sons have all died young, and now he is left without a single son. This has made Princess Wenyi’s status quite extraordinary.” “I see.” Leng Yu Yan lifted the teacup and took a sip, then directly asked with a cold voice, “What is the relationship between His Highness the Princely Heir and Baili Wenyi? Has Baili Wenyi not sought a Prince Consort for so long because she is waiting for our Princely Heir?” Finally getting to the heart of the matter, Song Guo started sweating profusely, her knees gave way, and she instantly knelt down, “Crown Princess Consort, His Highness the Princely Heir only has you in his heart!” “Rise,” said Leng Yu Yan, glancing at a scar on her fingertip that had already healed. Scars on the surface heal easily, but those in the heart are difficult to mend. Fortunately, she had withdrawn her feelings, and it didn’t hurt much anymore—less so than being pricked by bamboo. Song Guo got up, wiping her sweat, “Crown Princess Consort, I swear everything I said is true!” Leng Yu Yan asked indifferently, “Baili Wenyi visited Tiancheng two years ago; what happened between her and His Highness?”