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After the wedding, aside from putting on a show on the wedding night, Ye Zixing and I have been sleeping in separate beds.
It was clear that he did not easily trust others.
After Wen Xiang pledged his loyalty, Ye Zixing began to subtly share some matters from the court with me and occasionally sought my opinion. Gradually, our communication increased.
Sometimes he would make a joke or two, and I would turn my head away, pretending not to hear.
Recently, the Fourth Prince has been quite popular. It’s no surprise, considering the novel items brought by Wen Qing; it would be hard not to win the Emperor's favor.
In contrast, Ye Zixing remained as calm as a still pond, without any ripples.
The next time I saw Wen Qing was at the Emperor's birthday banquet.
Her makeup was exquisite, and her beauty was even more striking. When she saw me, she merely smiled slightly, like a proud peacock.
The gift presented by the Fourth Prince and his wife was a beautifully crafted box inlaid with golden silk on sandalwood. An inner servant respectfully accepted it and presented it to the Emperor. Under the reflection of the red silk at the bottom of the box, four clusters of plump golden wheat and three clusters of rice looked particularly delightful.
"This rice is produced in Jiangnan, and this wheat comes from Jiangbei. With my father's blessings, our Da Qing will prosper with favorable weather, abundant harvests, thriving livestock, and bountiful grains year after year..."
Fourth Brother's words indeed pleased the Emperor greatly; he exclaimed "good" four times in quick succession.
Ye Zixing held my hand tightly, his palm slick with a thin layer of sweat.
Seeing the Emperor so pleased, supporters of the Fourth Prince immediately stepped forward to echo his sentiments, each one extolling his virtues to the heavens.
Suddenly, someone remarked, "I never expected that His Highness the Fourth Prince, at such a young age, would already be concerned for the nation and its people. The esteemed officials here possess great insight; this is indeed a blessing for our Da Qing, how fortunate we are."
The banquet fell silent in an instant, and the Emperor's previously cheerful expression froze for a moment.
The Emperor, who had no ailments or troubles, was particularly wary of factionalism within the court. Just that one statement had thrust Fourth Brother into the spotlight.
Ye Zixing turned his head slightly, unable to hide his delight as he asked, "Was this person arranged by you?"
His breath brushed against my neck, sending shivers down my spine.
The Emperor took in the expressions of his ministers and suddenly smiled from his dragon throne, diffusing the awkward situation.
The Da Qing Emperor had seven sons; the Eldest Prince had died young, leaving only three who had reached adulthood. The Second Prince was born of a palace maid and was not given much attention due to his mother's low status.
In contrast, both Ye Zixing and Fourth Brother were born to mothers among the Consort Four's ranks, their families wielding considerable influence, making them the most popular candidates for the crown prince. However, Ye Zixing had remained exceptionally low-key over the years, allowing Fourth Brother to gather quite a bit of support.
Perhaps it was this remark that finally reminded the Emperor of Ye Zixing, prompting him to assign him to handle affairs in Jiangnan.
Since the founding of the nation, Jiangnan's tax revenue had been a major source of income for the court. However, due to its remote location, it was rare for taxes to be collected in full; this year had seen particularly significant shortfalls.
Everyone understood that if this task were accomplished well, it would be a great achievement; even if it were not done perfectly, it would still be excusable.
As soon as the words were spoken, Fourth Brother's eyes turned red with jealousy.
That night, Ye Zixing was in high spirits. He held me tightly in his arms and leaned down to kiss me.
I quickly turned my head away and raised my hand to block him, nearly losing my temper.
Ye Zixing awkwardly withdrew his hand, gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. He then placed a soft kiss on my head before turning my face back to him, seriously saying, "Wen Yan, one day, you will accept me."
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