After the Crown Prince Ho Ling returned, before long, for some reason he provoked the Emperor, who had always remained placid in joy and anger, and even disregarded his dignity to beat the Crown Prince thoroughly... Before Ho Ling, who maddeningly found himself being inexplicably beaten again, returned to the East Palace, both those who should know and those who shouldn't know were already aware.
When Ho Ling returned to the East Palace, he was greeted by the Crown Princess, who, having received the news, thought that Ho Ling had been abandoned by the Emperor. However, she did not find it surprising.
Even though she was worried and apprehensive, the slightly red-eyed Princess Yuexin, upon seeing Ho Ling for the first time, subconsciously put on a smile, and even went as far as to comfort Ho Ling, "Your Highness, you have suffered."
Ho Ling: "....?" Was there something he didn't know that had happened?
With a puzzled look on his face, Ho Ling's expression changed, and he didn't even bother to secretly rub his buttocks, which had been hit many times with a little hammer by Empress Yi. Instead, he hastily hugged the Crown Princess inside, "Aye, don't cry, please don't cry. Hold back your tears, you must hold them back! If your tears flow, your makeup will be ruined, please don't cry."
His hasty and disoriented words had a significant effect.
The Crown Princess, who had been concerned about what to do if Ho Ling was rejected but was suddenly flushed with joy when she saw him, even managed to suppress the tears that were about to fall from her eyes, and even unconsciously followed Ho Ling's words, tilting her head to let him check if her makeup was fine.
"Your Highness, look and see if there is anything improper about me."
After seating the Crown Princess on the bed, Ho Ling did not sit down with her—his sore butt didn't want to make intimate contact with the bed. Standing at the bedside, he hugged her shoulder, and almost like consoling a child, said, "No, no, my Aye is always beautiful. There's no such thing as makeup being ruined." Seeing the smile spreading in her eyes that he had missed before, Ho Ling felt relieved and finally had the chance to figure out what his wife's actions meant. "Aye, did you hear some news?"
For some reason, Ho Ling's expression suddenly turned cold, "Who dares to make you unhappy? Tell me, I'll let them understand what it means to be truly unhappy." Did they think he had learned how to behave after being gilded in Yanchi County? Impossible, no matter where he went, he was still the same Ho Ling.
Huo Ling thought that someone was deliberately provoking Liu Yue, but the fact was that Liu Yue's judgment, based on the reports from his subordinates, had startled himself.
The Prince Consort, who was usually composed, lost his composure for a moment, as he saw the Crown Prince's uncoordinated movements resembling real beatings. Liu Yue, who was startled by her own various speculations, couldn't hold back her expression and lost control in front of Huo Ling.
After hearing Liu Yue's account of the various rumors about him being beaten by the Emperor, Huo Ling didn't know what expression to show.
He had just come out of Qianqing Palace not long ago. It was one thing for the news to spread like wildfire, but it had also turned into rumors such as "His Highness the Crown Prince is disfavored by His Majesty, and His Majesty wants to give up on him." Even the reason for his mother's beating had turned into Ye Guifei being unwilling to lose her position as the future empress and reprimanding her unruly son.
Since when did his mother need a reason to beat him?
No, no, no, what he wanted to ask was—since when did Qianqing Palace become a sieve?
Forget it, walking around the palace confidently, he had no need to hide. Coupled with his father's roaring voice at the time, which was indeed too loud to be ignored, the leaking of the news of his being beaten was reasonable, but the speed at which it spread was another matter. What did it mean to be beaten by the Emperor, with a bruised and swollen face, losing all face?
Forgive his frankness, even with just one hand, Father the Emperor absolutely couldn't handle him, and to be bruised and swollen...Huo Ling felt that he had sufficient reason to suspect that his father was deliberately giving hım a hard time and trying to save face.
Isn't it just because he didn't let the emperor catch him and give him a thorough beating? Is it really necessary to be so petty?
After that, his mother, who always said things like she couldn't stand the sight of his father and couldn't eat when she saw him, ended up not wanting her own son just to restore her husband's reputation...the so-called "couldn't stand the sight of each other" doesn't exist at all. Women's mouths, eh.
Unconsciously rubbing the swollen buttocks through the fabric, Huo Ling was full of indignation.
Thinking of the Ye Guifei, who chased him around Yushu Palace with a small hammer, he couldn't help but grit his teeth, "She still said she was too lazy to bother with that man, and in the end, she still came to help that man restore his reputation."
"I'm her own son, and I'm probably just someone she picked up randomly." Huo Ling had begun to speak nonsense, feeling angry at being deceived by his mother again, and feeling a sense of inexplicable injustice, "Too much! Too much!"
Huo Ling was so angry that he couldn't help but pound the bed, muttering "too much" and "way too much" over and over again, showing that he was so angry that he couldn't find the right words to curse anymore.
Facing Huo Ling's emotional outburst, Liu Yue sat beside the bed, reaching out to smooth the phoenix and pearl ruby hairpin that Huo Ling had inserted into her hair that morning.
Oh, her Highness...
Quietly watching the seemingly unhurt Huo Ling, whose appearance didn't reveal how badly he had been beaten by Ye Guifei, a kind of emotionally exhausted yet laughable feeling swept over Liu Yue's entire mind.
After calming down, Liu Yue regained her rationality. As the mistress of the Eastern Palace, she already knew many things that others did not. In addition, she had personally participated in some of the events during the time they spent in Yanchi County. After calming down, Liu Yue, combined with the detailed explanation of everything by Huo Ling, quickly figured out everything and also understood the tacit understanding between Ye Guifei and the Emperor formed over many years of dislike and the reasons for it.
But,
Facing the genuine feeling that Mother Consort had deceived him and the genuinely feeling that Father the Emperor was being petty, Prince Consort really didn't know whether his Highness was truly foolish or just pretending to be.
After all, according to the logical scenarios and the speculations made by Huo Ling, the "love and hatred" between the Emperor and Ye Guifei, and the "unjust misfortune" suffered by the Crown Prince Huo Ling... from the logical and rational perspective, everything made complete sense.
If she had not been a witness to certain things, Liu Yue would have believed Huo Ling's words.
She was very eager to tell Huo Ling the truth, but thinking of the Emperor, who deceived her emotions genuinely, and the Father the Emperor, who felt petty genuinely, Liu Yue suddenly realized that not saying anything was the best choice.
Her Highness, just do what he wants to do.
The rest, she's there for him.
Sighing silently, Liu Yue stood up, and directly hugged Huo Ling, who was expressing his disdain for Ye Guifei, who had deceived his mother again, tightly, "Your Highness, are you tired?”
Suddenly being asked by Liu Yue, who was still emotional, Huo Ling was somewhat unresponsive for a moment. "Hmm?"
"I'm tired," Liu Yue raised her face, lightly curved her lips at Huo Ling, and there was a tender smile in her gentle eyes, "Would you like to accompany me for a while?”
Blinking, the slight redness still in Liu Yue's eyes added a touch of charm, but her voice carried some vulnerability that only Huo Ling could detect, "I've been very worried about you, so would you accompany me?”
"Your Highness, will you?"
Being softly called "Your Highness," the confused Huo Ling had already forgotten his dissatisfaction and grievances towards Ye Guifei and the Emperor. Other than nodding and telling the Crown Princess, "Okay, okay, whatever you say is fine," he had forgotten what anger even was.
However, after the anger subsided, the desire to understand whether Mother Consort and Father the Emperor were truly "loving and fighting" between themselves could not be suppressed.
But Liu Yue, who had been prepared, stabilized Huo Ling.
When Huo Ling went to Qianqing Palace or Yushu Palace, knowing that Liu Yue couldn't accompany him, she softly reminded him as she saw him off, "Your Highness, you wouldn't want to see me cry, right?"
Realizing Liu Yue's implication, the curious and conflicted Huo Ling was a bit torn, but just being looked at softly by her, he lost his bearings, "Okay, okay, I definitely won’t."
"Rest assured, I won't inexplicably get beaten again." Huo Ling felt that the previous time had been entirely due to his carelessness, and in a prepared situation, he wouldn't go looking for trǵble again. Truly, he definitely wouldn't. "You can rest assured."
After patiently comforting Liu Yue and assuring her that he definitely wouldn't say anything he shouldn't, Huo Ling left the Eastern Palace under her gaze.
So, in her own way, Liu Yue managed to prevent Huo Ling from getting into trouble with the Emperor or Ye Guifei, and causing the rumor of "the Emperor being disappointed in the Crown Prince" to become reality, or even causing a tragedy where Huo Ling was finished before the matter with the Emperor was resolved.
As for the little things like being criticized by the Emperor or being slapped by Ye Guifei from time to time, as long as Huo Ling didn't truly go to question their love and hatred, it would truly just be a trivial matter.
In trying to understand the real relationship between Mother Consort and Father the Emperor and always being stopped, Huo Ling didn't notice how quickly ten days had passed by. It wasn't until Ye Guifei had someone bring the red coral basin that looked unbearable when viewed that Huo Ling finally remembered—he had to go to the palace to congratulate someone on their birthday.
Ye Guifei had been very considerate, completely ensuring that when Duke Ding's wife turned sixty, Huo Ling could appear at Duke Ding's residence refreshed and show the proper demeanor expected of a Crown Prince.
The slightest cough from a superior could cause many speculations among the subordinates, let alone such a significant matter as the Crown Prince being beaten by the Emperor. Even the Crown Princess in the Eastern Palace was initially anxious because of these groundless rumors, let alone when such rumors spread outside the palace and stirred up much turmoil.
Whether in public or in secret, whether with good intentions or bad intentions, when Huo Ling arrived at Duke Ding's residence, he was completely unaware of how many people were waiting to see him, and even some who had not intended to appear had changed their minds at the last minute.
Crowned with a jade crown and dressed in a black robe embroidered with golden cloud patterns, Heng Ling, with his exceptional looks and tall figure, carried himself with such grace that anyone would think, "This prince looks pretty good."
Leading Liu Yue, Heng Ling stepped down from the carriage. As they ascended the steps, the harmonious greetings of the crowd filled their ears.
"Your Highness, peace be with you!"
All eyes were on him, for he was the Crown Prince.
Given the solemnity, simply because he was the Crown Prince.
Bathed in the gaze of the crowd, Heng Ling suddenly understood why his brothers were so determined to fight to the death – he would rather be the center of attention for cats and dogs than for the public.
Heng Ling's mind churned, but his face remained unchanged. In fact, he appeared even more composed, prompting many to secretly admire his "grace."
Before the Duke and Duchess of Dingguo could greet him, Heng Ling hurriedly supported the Duke in front of him. "Grandfather, this is not right. Am I that kind of person?" In between his words, Heng Ling also exchanged a knowing look with the Duchess of Dingguo, who also responded with a knowing glance.
It is said that old age brings charm, and the sixty-year-old Duchess of Dingguo not only disliked wearing blue or dark gray robes, but also possessed a "childlike heart" comparable to Heng Ling's.
Seeing this, the Crown Princess Consort, Madame Liu, nodded and held the Duchess of Dingguo, stopping her from paying her respects. "Grandmother, do you really want to act as an outsider?" The term "grandmother" encapsulated everything.
Before Liu Yue could finish speaking, the Duchess of Dingguo stood up decisively in her bright red dress. "It's all because of that old man talking about the importance of etiquette." With that, she gave the Duke of Dingguo a glare, then proceeded to whisper to Liu Yue about their daughter's life in the palace and criticize how "etiquette should not be forsaken," a sentiment that had even influenced her grandson, the Duke of Dingguo, to talk about "upholding traditions."
Even though the distance was great, the voices were hushed, and even those nearby could hear. Faced with his wife's open contradiction, the Duke of Dingguo felt helpless. Considering himself superior to women, he snorted and turned to chat with Heng Ling.
Standing behind the Duke of Dingguo, Ye Xiao, rarely dressed in imperial guard attire, wore a simple blue brocade robe with his hair loosely tied with a similar-colored hairband, presenting a refined and elegant appearance. However, no noblewoman dared to glance at him, nor did the palace maids dare to meet his eyes, as if avoiding eye contact would somehow explain why the imperial guards were the imperial guards.
Noting that Ye Xiao was still devoid of female companions, Heng Ling, in the midst of chatting casually with his long-lost grandfather, couldn't help but smirk at Ye Xiao, only to receive an emotionless gaze in return, and the helpless gaze of the Duke's heir, Ye Zhizhang.
Despite his outstanding appearance and talents, Ye Xiao, who was almost thirty, remained single. This was an unspoken and untouchable pain, and if not for him being in casual attire without a sabre, his hand would have been on the hilt by now.
Patting Ye Xiao's shoulder, Ye Zhizhang reminded everyone - especially his garrulous father, who got carried away when speaking - to enter the mansion. The guests behind him were all living people, not decorative vases.
Interrupted by the insinuation from Ye Zhizhang, the Duke of Dingguo, looking somewhat annoyed, gave his son a displeased look, then gestured to Heng Ling, "Your Highness, please."
Moving aside, the Duke of Dingguo gestured for Heng Ling to go first. However, instead of taking the lead, Heng Ling reached out to support the Duke of Dingguo, while the Crown Princess Consort Liu Yue also supported the Duchess of Dingguo. The four of them walked side by side into the mansion.
While trying to show off his maturity, the Duke of Dingguo took advantage of Heng Ling's actions to walk in. He sporadically answered Heng Ling's questions about their well-being and the life of Ye Guifei in the palace, all the while carefully assessing him.
The setting for the Duke's mansion to entertain guests was very thoughtful. The veranda, covered in purple orchids, sat in the middle of a lake, dividing the lake filled with lotus flowers in half. It implied the Tai Chi and Bagua concepts, while also separating male and female guests.
The banquet halls on either side were so far apart that people with unfamiliar faces couldn't recognize each other. On the basis of waiting staff, it was a different story, so that nothing that happened on one side would go unnoticed on the other.
As they reached a junction, Heng Ling and Liu Yue exchanged a glance, then quietly proceeded to their respective destinations - the female guests led by the Crown Princess Consort and the Duchess of Dingguo to the right, and Heng Ling and the Duke of Dingguo leading the male guests to the left. The two groups silently and calmly walked toward their assigned areas.
As they settled in, Ye Tianding, who had been observing Heng Ling quietly all along, couldn't help but smile as a rare wave of amusement washed over him.
The day Heng Ling became the Crown Prince happened so suddenly, like a scalding hot pie falling from the sky as they were just strolling down the street. They didn't even know what the filling of the pie was, and yet, it had become a reality.
Due to this unexpected event, the Duke of Dingguo, who had thought he could spend his years in peace, had to start considering the retreat of the Ye family, their attitude towards Heng Ling, and evaluating his abilities. However, even after spending the whole day in his seldom used study, he still couldn't figure it out.
In addition to Heng Ling being his grandson, Ye Tianding was also an ally of the emperor and the head of the Ye family. He simply couldn't fathom whether Heng Ling was qualified to be the Crown Prince, let alone ascend to the throne. The complexity of the matter did not allow him to think deeply about it. Nevertheless, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't imagine that the mischievous boy who used to cry after being scolded would eventually become the ruler of the country.
However, at this moment, as he watched Heng Ling deflecting others' attempts at probing him and leaving them speechless, he thought of what Ye Xiao had told him about Heng Ling's performance in Yanchi County. Ye Tianding felt that he could still have some hope for Heng Ling's future - there was no other choice, as the fact that Heng Ling had become the Crown Prince was already set in stone.
The real reason, which gave Ye Tianding genuine peace of mind, was the fact that Heng Ling, apart from becoming more mature, had not changed much from before, and the determination of Ye Xiao who insisted that "His Highness is the best."
The intertwining of blood relations and the relationship of interests could either be very strong or very fragile. However, as long as Heng Ling was still himself, the Ye family would still be the Ye family.
Thinking of his legitimate eldest grandson's unwavering determination that "even though he is the Crown Prince, Heng Ling is still Heng Ling," Ye Tianding couldn't help but glance at Ye Xiao, who had no one to talk to except Heng Ling.
Observing the completely indifferent manner in which Ye Xiao sipped his tea, and his casual attitude of treating Heng Ling first as Heng Ling and then as the Crown Prince, Ye Tianding couldn't help but shake his head and quietly tell his son Ye Zhizhang, "I hope these two children won't change their relationship, but who knows what the future holds?"
Ye Zhizhang smiled, fully aware of his father's habit of idly pondering when he had spare time. He seemed to pay no heed to Ye Tianding's concerns, "Just look at it. Wouldn't it be clear then?"
Although the expression of the Duke of Dingguo's heir was calm, and his voice was even calmer, Ye Tianding didn't feel the same way.
"What?" Ye Tianding raised an eyebrow, and his displeased mood quickly surfaced. "Am I someone you can make fun of?" The irascible nature of Ye Tianding was apparent, and he wouldn't hesitate to teach Ye Zhizhang a lesson, even if others were present.
With a slight movement of his eyes, Ye Zhizhang saw Ye Xiao and Heng Ling talking animatedly on the side and passing by, as if he didn't notice his father's threat. He maintained his smile and remained calm in his tone, "Father, you're just kidding. How could your son dare?"
The other's reaction was too mundane, so much so that Ye Tianding felt like he had punched into cotton.
Seeing Ye Zhizhang's calm appearance, Ye Tianding, annoyed that Ye Zhizhang didn't seem to care, couldn't help but roll his eyes. "If we didn't resemble each other for seventy percent, I would really start to doubt if you're my son. Looking so soft and still being like a despicable fox." While it was true that Ye Zhizhang remained unfazed even when outnumbered by five, who would have guessed that the impeccably upright figure would harbor an inconsistent son? It was exasperating for Ye Tianding to think about it, "Really, as they grow older, they become less fun." Only Heng Ling could still bring him a lot of joy, but unfortunately, he was already His Royal Highness, and there were some things he couldn't do anymore.
Unwilling to acknowledge his son and grandson when they constantly outwitted him, Ye Tianding got up and decisively went to another table to find solace from his group of old friends, who were not very agile in mind and often ended up thanking him despite being outwitted.
As for his much younger son and grandson, talking to people of a similar age was more appropriate. He, as an old man, would refrain from needless meddling.
Heng Ling, deeply engrossed in complaining to Ye Xiao about how His Majesty was becoming increasingly difficult to deceive, didn't even notice the departure of the Duke of Dingguo, Ye Tianding. He became so excited that he couldn't help but grab Ye Xiao's sleeve, asking for his judgment, "Ye Xiao, isn't my mother very conniving?" As he spoke about the troublesome things done by the noble Consort Ye, Heng Ling couldn't help but slam the table, "How can she treat me like this when I'm her son?" Asking for Ye Xiao's judgment on His Majesty's actions and Ye Noble Consort's behavior, Heng Ling saw nothing wrong with it. Having grown accustomed to Ye Xiao's erratic thoughts, it wasn't surprising that Ye Xiao didn't see any issue with it.
However, Ye Xiao didn't express any hostility towards Heng Ling's complaints. Instead of saying something completely out of character for him, like "Noble Consort Ye is really out of line," he just sat quietly, concentrating on Heng Ling, being the most loyal listener he could be.
Whether it was a question, a doubt, or a request for a verdict, Ye Xiao chose to remain silent, and in reality, Heng Ling didn't need him to offer any response.
Despite saying he wanted Ye Xiao's judgment, Heng Ling only asked the question and immediately pointed out something else. "The person just now was really strange. If he wanted to support me, why didn't he just come straight to me instead of skirting around? Wasn't that tiring?" Speaking too much made his mouth dry, so Heng Ling lifted the cup placed in front of him, but before he could remove the lid, a passing maid, who had stumbled while walking past, accidentally knocked his elbow, spilling the tea. Fortunately, it wasn't hot, but it soaked his sleeve. Heng Ling was almost taken advantage of if he hadn't risen quickly and dodged.