H! GVCP Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The Most Hated

It was known by everyone in the palace just how much the Empress Dowager fretted over the Marquis of Changling’s marriage.

This was something Xie Hengyuan himself understood well.

"Grandmother, if I had someone in my heart, I would certainly inform you early on," Xie Hengyuan said in a gentle tone that nonetheless brooked no argument. 

"Until then, I have no other intentions."

The Empress Dowager had hoped for a long time and had never heard him yield before; hearing a definitive word from him today, she allowed the matter to pass lightly.

Zhenglan knelt on the ground, her heart turning cold. Summoning her courage, she looked up at Marquis Xie Hengyuan and pleaded, "Marquis please accept this slave. This slave promise to never cause any trouble for the future Marchioness."

Xie Hengyuan was unwilling to spare her even a glance. 

He said indifferently, "Forgive my meddling, but Grandmother's servant has grown too bold in her own ideas. I ask Qin Momo to discipline her properly."

The Empress Dowager actually liked this little maid, Zhenglan, quite a bit; she had fine looks and usually spoke appropriately.

But compared to a future granddaughter-in-law, the Empress Dowager hadn't even considered her as a candidate; even when she thought of sending someone to Xie Hengyuan’s side, it was merely as a servant.

The future?

There certainly was no future for her.

The Empress Dowager had two very prestigious nannies by her side: one was Jiang Momo, and the other was Qin Momo, whom Xie Hengyuan had just mentioned. 

At this moment, the Empress Dowager didn't even need to speak, with one look from Qin Momo, palace attendants stepped forward and dragged Zhenglan away.

Qin Momo curtsied and said, "This old servant understands."

Having received a word of affirmation from her dear grandson today, the Empress Dowager could hardly stop smiling. "Go tell the small kitchen to prepare several dishes that Xuanhui likes."

Xie Hengyuan smiled and sat beside the Empress Dowager. 

"Thank you, Grandmother."

After the meal, Xie Hengyuan stayed to chat with the Empress Dowager for a while until it was time for her afternoon nap, at which point he took his leave.

The Empress Dowager did not try to keep him. Watching her grandson’s retreating back, she felt more and more that Xie Hengyuan resembled her son who died young, Crown Prince Yuanxi.

As Qin Momo assisted her in lying down, she said softly, "Tell me, don't you think this child looks more and more like his uncle?"

The Empress Dowager had given birth to a son and a daughter, Crown Prince Yuanxi and the Eldest Princess Dingjia—both of whom had passed away early. 

Emperor Jianyuan was the Empress Dowager’s adopted son.

Qin Momo froze for a moment before realizing that this "uncle" definitely did not refer to the current Emperor.

Although the Emperor and Crown Prince Yuanxi both shared the bloodline of the late Emperor, Crown Prince Yuanxi had been peerless in grace and talent, whereas the Emperor's appearance was merely average.

The Marquis of Changling was so outstanding because he resembled his mother, the Eldest Princess Dingjia, and even more so, Crown Prince Yuanxi.

"It is a common saying among the people that a nephew resembles his uncle. However, regarding these words of yours, please be careful not to let others overhear them."

Qin Momo had shared many years of bond as master and servant with the Empress Dowager; how could she not know what was in the Empress Dowager’s heart?

The Eldest Princess Dingjia had died testing poison for Emperor Jianyuan, which led to the young Marquis losing his mother at a tender age.

Although Emperor Jianyuan claimed to look after him, over the years, he had nonetheless used the young Marquis as a sharp sword.

If that were not the case, why would His Majesty not entrust those sinister, bloody, and cruel tasks to any of the princes instead?

Qin Momo didn't need to say these words; the Empress Dowager already knew.

Hearing Qin Momo’s words, the Empress Dowager closed her eyes, appearing a few years older. 

"Only you and I know. I must see Xuanhui start a family before I can truly close these eyes of mine."

The Empress Dowager’s current situation was naturally constrained by others. After all, she was not Emperor Jianyuan’s biological mother; both in the imperial court and the inner palace, there were things she still had to rely on him for.

All she could strive for was to protect her precious grandson for a few more years. Once his wings were fully grown, she could finally depart from this world.

He Xuan’s arrival in the capital greatly increased Yu Lingzhao’s happiness.

On the second day after He Xuan’s arrival, the Empress sent someone with an invitation to a flower-viewing banquet. He Xuan’s name was also on the invitation, proving that the palace was already aware of her arrival in the capital.

On the third day after He Xuan's arrival in the capital, news vaguely spread from the First Prince's mansion about some sort of haunting; word was that the First Prince's Consort was so terrified that she invited a Buddha statue back to the mansion. 

However, whether it was effective afterward remains unknown.

Yu Xunyang looked at his sister-in-law, second brother, and younger sister, his gaze drifting uncertainly between the three of them. For a moment, he couldn't tell whose idea the incident at the First Prince’s mansion had been.

He Xuan gave a small smile and said, "Whose idea it was is not important."

Yu Lingzhao nodded. "What is important is that when the First Prince and his wife wake up in the middle of the night, they always see some indistinct afterimages of limbs. It is, after all, quite frightening."

Yu Qizhi spoke dismissively, "It's the afterimages of someone else's severed limbs, not his own. What is there to be so scared of?"

After listening, Yu Xunyang felt like he was hearing a horror story. It took him a moment to react before he jumped up in a fright: "You guys dismembered someone and hung them in the First Prince's bedroom!?"

Yu Qizhi frowned, took a sip of tea, and looked at his brother with disdain. "Look at you, all jumpy and startled. How pathetic."

Yu Lingzhao followed with a nod: "Third Brother's courage indeed still needs training."

Leaving only He Xuan, she looked at the badly shaken Third Brother and explained, caught between laughter and tears, "How could it have been us who did it?"

Yu Xunyang took her at her word and sat down naively. "I knew it couldn't have been Sister-in-law or Second Brother."

Yu Lingzhao grinned at her brother, baring her teeth: "For something like this, of course we arranged for Luochuan to do it!"

Yu Xunyang blinked, and the smile on his face suddenly froze.

He Xuan shook her head. "Xunyang has the courage of a kitten."

Yu Qizhi was contemptuous. "A cat has more courage than him; whose cat hasn't caught a mouse?"

Listening to her sister-in-law and second brother teasing her third brother like this, the corners of Yu Lingzhao's mouth curved slightly upward. This feeling of being protected by family was truly wonderful.

On the day He Xuan learned that the matter was the First Prince's handiwork, she had Luochuan prepare to go to the First Prince's mansion to scare them. People who only dare to strike from the shadows mostly have 'ghosts in their hearts'.

*To have a guilty conscience

She hadn't expected that by the third day, the First Prince and his wife would be scared out of their wits, with the Consort even sending someone to Huguo Temple to invite a Buddha statue back.

Yu Qizhi’s intent was naturally not to let the First Prince off so easily; he would let him have just one day of peace. If that man managed to get a good night's sleep this month, Yu Qizhi would write his name backward.

The Second Young Master of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion: protective of his own, and a holder of grudges.

After He Xuan, the Consort of the Zhennan Prince's Heir, entered the capital, the Zhennan Prince's Mansion no longer kept its doors closed. 

In just a few short days, besides the First Prince's mansion, the Fifth Prince and the Duke of Lu’s mansion also sent gifts, and several imperial concubines in the palace bestowed items as well.

Since Emperor Jianyuan had not yet appointed a Crown Prince, the gifts sent by these people likely carried ulterior motives. The Duke of Lu's mansion was related by marriage to the Second Prince, who was currently away on official business and had not yet returned to the capital.

Emperor Jianyuan had six sons. From the First to the Third Prince, all were married. The First Prince's birth mother did not have a high status and was merely ordinary in front of Emperor Jianyuan. 

The Second Prince, however, was quite favored by Emperor Jianyuan, who often entrusted him with important tasks; the Second Prince's in-laws were also heavily relied upon.

The Third Prince had a physical disability, his right hand was born with only four fingers—and because of this, he was not favored by Emperor Jianyuan. 

As for the remaining Fourth and Fifth Princes, they were only half a year apart in age, while the Sixth Prince was younger and had not yet reached adulthood. 

Among these unmarried princes, the Fifth Prince was the one Emperor Jianyuan liked most.

Yet, from just a few words spoken by his sister, Yu Qizhi could tell that she hated the Fifth Prince most o sf all.

>>H! GVCP Chapter 31