Second Marriage

Xiao Youning was nervous when she lay down, but Ye Shen just hugged her and did not make a move. Thus, she fell asleep peacefully.

Truthfully, he just had so much energy that she couldn’t endure all of it. After hearing her breathing slow down, Ye Shen slowly opened his eyes without a trace of drowsiness and looked at the top of the alcove with a wry smile.

No matter how gentle he was yesterday, he still lacked control. Today, he had frightened her so much that she was guarded against him like he was a wolf. How could that be good in the future… when they had just gotten married.

Ye Shen was not sleepy at all, a delicate person was in his embrace and her breathing was warm. He didn’t know how long it took before he really fell asleep

The next day they needed to enter the palace. Yuan Guo woke the couple up early.

They washed up quickly and went to greet Old Madam Ye. Afterwards, they headed out to the place. Ye Shen’s younger cousin was also in the carriage with them. Along the way, his cousin’s discussion with them was wonderful. Xiao Youning felt that this cousin was a lovely person and could not see how he was naughty when he was a child.

Could it be like the saying that men changed when they turned eighteen?

With the permit from the Emperor, the carriage went straight through the palace gate and down the road for a while before it stopped.

The eunuch who served the Emperor was already waiting for them. He was all smiles when he bowed to them. It was at this time that Xiao Youning heard the eunuch’s closeness with the younger cousin as he said, “I haven’t seen the Feudal Princ 1 for many years. The Feudal Prince has grown so tall. Is the Marquis well? You promised this servant that you would come to the capital again and bring Xining’s barley wine for this servant. Did you bring it, Feudal Prince?”

She was shocked to hear the word Xining. The Marquis of Xining, Marquis Xining?

If she remembered correctly, Marquis Xining was a cousin of the emperor with the surname Chen. How was it… Ye Shen’s cousin?!

Xiao Youning was confused, but the dialogue between the Feudal Prince of Marquis Xining and the eunuch made her sure that this was really the eldest son of Marquis Xining from the Chen Family.

Marquis Xining’s son came to the capital when he was a child and there was no lack of care from Eunuch Xue. When the Feudal Prince heard him begging for his gift, he felt closer to him. He laughed and said, “Haha, I’ve brought it with me. How could I forget? I’ll have someone bring it to your room later.”

Eunuch Xue’s smile grew even wider as he took them to Qianqing Palace.

Ye Shen whispered to her at this time, “Don’t be surprised with what His Majesty will say soon. Father-in-law already knows about it, so don’t worry.”

Those words made Xiao Youning nervous. Her mind was full of thoughts about the relationship between the Emperor and Marquis Xining, and thereafter about the relationship between Old Madam Ye, Ye Shen, and the son of Marquis Xining. Afterwards, she thought of how Ye Shen had not lived with the Ye Family since he was a child… and how Old Master Ye didn’t like the youngest son very much.

Could it be… She was so shocked that she pinched herself quietly. She slowly calmed down, and behaved impeccably when she was in front of the Emperor.

After the Emperor granted them a seat, he naturally asked Ye Shen, “You are married now. When will you recognize your ancestors and clan? Your wife has not been to the ancestral hall yet to pay her respects. If you give me an exact time today, then zhen will fulfill your father’s last wish. Zhen has already drawn up a decree to grant you your father’s title of prince of the first rank.”

Upon the Emperor’s words, Xiao Youning finally took a deep breath. Had it not been for Ye Shen’s warning, she would have been uncontrollably frightened at this moment!

“My cousin and his wife are too careful. Who would dare to speak of any nonsense unless they want their family torn down!” Marquis Xining’s son snorted.

The Emperor raised his hand and pointed at him, “How dare you say that! You almost demolished my private storage once! You haven’t grown even after so many years!”

Marquis Xining’s son’s head shrank, and he became silent.

At this moment, Xiao Youning’s mind was in a state of total confusion. There was only one thought coursing through: Ye Shen is the son of a prince. 

But which prince is that? 

The residence where they lived now was Prince Rui’s place… Is it possible that Prince Rui, who never married and died in battle, is Ye Shen’s biological father?!

Back then, the Emperor took the plaque from Prince Rui’s residence and had it sent back to the palace. Everyone said that the Emperor was grieving and could not bear the bad news that his own brother was no longer alive. He took all the plaques so that he could keep it in memory of his brother.

That plaque was written by Prince Rui and the Emperor!

So… Ye Shen and the emperor were uncle and nephew.

Xiao Youning felt a little dizzy.

Footnotes

He’s using the same term most people translate as Crown Prince. It also means heir. Since I don’t want any confusion with who is who, so I’ll be using Feudal Prince.