He could not marry Yan Qingqing, and he had no interest in any other young lady either. To avoid his father and mother arranging a match for him in the future, he decided it was best to prepare an escape route early on.
"I understand, Mother. You would never agree to let Yan Qingqing marry me, so today's conversation will remain between us. Please, do not concern yourself with my marriage anymore."
Because, in this lifetime, he only wished to live a carefree life alone in his fief.
"I am not worried about your marriage, but I cannot guarantee that someone might not suddenly rush out from behind the screen and demand..."
"I heard you say you like me."
Yan Qingqing jumped out from behind the screen, grinning foolishly as she approached the Fifth Prince. "I heard every word clearly. You can't take it back now!"
The Fifth Prince's pupils contracted sharply, and he looked at Jiang Xinyue with disbelief. "Mother, you..."
"My child, you are overthinking things."
Jiang Xinyue reached out and ruffled the Fifth Prince's hair. "I have said before that all of you are my and the Emperor's children. Whatever you desire, as long as it is within my power, I will grant it. This applies not only to the Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince but to all of you."
Yan Qingqing clung to the Fifth Prince's hand, refusing to let go. "Auntie never intended to arrange a marriage between me and the Crown Prince. It was all a misunderstanding on your part, Fifth Brother!"
"If Yan Qingqing were destined to marry the Crown Prince, do you think I would let her become his concubine?"
In other words, if Yan Qingqing were to marry the Crown Prince, what place would there be for Meng Yixuan?
Would Jiang Xinyue ever allow her own niece to suffer such an injustice?
This was something the Fifth Prince had failed to understand.
If the Empress Dowager wanted to strengthen the Crown Prince's position, why not simply have him marry Yan Qingqing as his principal wife? Why was Meng Yixuan chosen instead?
That night when Yan Qingqing confessed her feelings to him, he had thought... he had thought it was because the Crown Prince had not chosen her, and she was acting out of spite.
But it turned out that, from the very beginning, Yan Qingqing had never liked the Crown Prince and had never aspired to be his principal wife?
"It seems you two still have much to discuss. Once you have sorted everything out, come back to me, and I will arrange your marriage. Now, off you go!"
Young people are so complicated. They clearly like each other but refuse to admit it.
They have plenty of time to nurture their feelings.
As soon as they stepped out of Kunning Palace, the Fifth Prince tried to make a quick escape, but Yan Qingqing grabbed his belt and wouldn't let go. "Hey! You just confessed your feelings to me, and now you're running away? Do you have no sense of responsibility?"
The Fifth Prince pursed his lips and glared at her. "No respect for your elders. I am your Fifth Brother."
"Then, Fifth Brother, hurry up and come with me to see my parents. Tell them you want to marry me."
What?
The Fifth Prince leaned closer to her. "Are you in such a hurry to get married?"
No wonder, during the Spring Banquet, she had looked at the Third Prince as if she wanted to devour him.
At this thought, his lighthearted mood turned heavy again. "If you're in such a rush, you can go to the Third Prince. He's older and already of marriageable age. He won't delay you."
The Great Yan Dynasty had clear regulations regarding marriageable ages: men at twenty and women at eighteen.
He was only seventeen this year and would have to wait three more years before he could marry. The Third Prince, on the other hand, was already in his twenties and of the right age.
"Third Brother?"
Yan Qingqing tilted her head, genuinely considering it for a moment. "Oh no, that won't do! Third Brother is too old! I'm only fourteen this year, and I have to wait four more years before I can marry. By then, Third Brother will be pushing thirty—an old man! Fifth Brother, you're much better. Just marry me! Marry me! Marry me! Marry me..."
She hopped around like a little rabbit, circling the Fifth Prince and chanting incessantly. "Marry me! You marry me! I promise I'll treat you well, you... ah!"
Her foot caught on something, and the young girl slipped backward. In her panic, the Fifth Prince caught her by the waist and pulled her into his arms.
"Hmm?"
Their lips accidentally brushed against each other once again.
"Goodness!"
The Crown Prince was leading his younger siblings, the Seventh Prince and the Third Princess, to Kunning Palace to pay their respects to their mother when they happened to witness the Fifth Prince and Yan Qingqing in an intimate moment.
As the eldest brother, he felt it was his duty to cover the eyes of the Seventh Prince and the Third Princess. "What is improper should not be seen, what is improper should not be seen."
Xiao Yuezi, standing nearby, widened his eyes at the Crown Prince: Your Highness, your "what is improper should not be seen" only applies to others, right? Your own eyes are wide open and not missing a thing!
Hearing the noise, the Fifth Prince pushed Yan Qingqing away as if electrocuted, his face red as he stood to the side.
The first time had been an accident, but this time, it was a little intentional.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk..."
In broad daylight, under the clear blue sky, the Crown Prince's mocking "tsks" echoed loudly.
Yan Qingqing was so embarrassed that she wished she could dig a hole and disappear. She didn't dare lift her head, covering her face with her hands as she sneakily hid in the Fifth Prince's arms. "Please, take me away from here."
Take her away from this world. Let her die.
Wuwuwu...
So humiliating!
The Fifth Prince waved at the smirking Crown Prince. "Hurry up and leave!"
The young girl in his arms was extremely shy, and the Fifth Prince used his sleeve to shield her from view, his eyes clearly telling the Crown Prince to go away.
Shen Mingye knew when to stop. He quickly led his younger siblings past them. "Oh? I wonder who it was that used to tease me and my Crown Princess all the time. Now that they've fallen in love themselves, they won't even let others watch. How grown-up, finally learning to feel embarrassed!"
Yan Qingqing buried her face even deeper.
She mentally punished herself three times for her past boldness. Please, Crown Prince, just leave already.
She was wrong. From now on, she would never tease Yixuan again.
The Crown Prince was definitely taking revenge.
So mean!
Outside Kunning Palace, the roses were in full bloom, their fresh fragrance attracting butterflies. Everything was peaceful and serene.
On the Emperor's desk, a sheet of white paper was covered with tally marks, each stroke representing a month. Another stroke was added just now.
Tang Shiliang brought him a fresh cup of tea. "Your Majesty, this is the newly presented Junshan Silver Needle tea from the Imperial Household Department. The leaves stand upright in the water without falling. The Empress Dowager praised this tea highly. Would Your Majesty like to try it?"
Anything that made it to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had to be of the highest quality. If Jiang Xinyue said it was good, then he certainly had to try it.
The tea was at the perfect temperature. The Emperor took a small sip and found the brew to be fresh and elegant, with a unique fragrance.
The liquor was a bright yellow, the leaves plump and tender, and the taste light without any bitterness.
"Indeed, it is excellent tea."
The Emperor praised it and then ordered, "Send some to the Jiang Chief Minister and the Yan Family."
One was the head of the civil officials, the other the leader of the military. Historically, civil and military officials were at odds, but who could separate these two families, bound by marriage?
