Chapter 110: Clash Between Ex-spouses
Yue Tang wrote two things in the memorial she handed to the Emperor.
The first was the role Chu Yan played in the conspiracy she carried out at the Chu Family three years ago.
The second was Yue Huan’s background.
Yue Tang was an innocent victim from beginning to end, and the Emperor had no reason not to stand up for her. As a new Emperor who had just ascended the throne three years ago, this was also a good opportunity to show his imperial demeanor.
So for the first matter, Chu Yan, as the elder sister-in-law, actually colluded with her maternal home to murder Yue Tang. How could she, as an accomplice, escape the crime?
It wouldn’t make sense either emotionally or rationally.
Just this one matter was enough to strip her of the Heir Apparent’s Consort title.
On top of that was Yue Huan’s background.
Because Chu Yan had previously used it to accuse Chu Ying of killing Yue Huan, the child’s corpse was still kept at the Supreme Court.
And his household registration file had already been returned to the Imperial Clan Court along with Yue Tang’s.
After receiving the memorial, the Emperor heard that the Chu Family had committed such a deed and immediately sent someone to the Imperial Clan Court to retrieve the household registration file, and also had someone take it to the Supreme Court to compare with the corpse.
Not long after, the eunuch returned with a palm print that was completely different from the one on the household registration file to report back. This usually mild and benevolent young Emperor was so angry that he slammed the table!
“This Chu Family has simply rebelled against heaven! Yan Brother, go and pass on my decree right now: strip Chu Yan of her Prince Duan’s Heir Apparent Consort title, expel her from the imperial clan, and demote her to a commoner!
“A person with such a vicious mind—if I let her inherit Prince Duan’s Mansion’s lineage, I would be letting down Uncle Prince and letting down Elder Cousin!”
Yan Bei accepted the decree.
The Emperor saw him tuck the imperial edict into his bosom and was about to leave, so he asked him another question: “How did Yan Brother and Elder Cousin meet?”
Yan Bei had already retreated to the threshold. Hearing this, he looked up.
The Emperor walked out from behind the curtain: “From last night until now, I’ve been thinking it over in my mind, and the more I think, the more frightened I feel.
“If Elder Cousin hadn’t found Yan Brother for help at that time, or if Yan Brother hadn’t believed her, how difficult would her journey have been.”
Ever since the case was made public last night, why Yan Bei became Yue Tang’s backer had also become one of the topics of discussion among people in the imperial court.
It was just that he was the first to ask directly like the Emperor did.
Yan Bei paused, then said steadily: “Because my father had a friendship with Prince Duan from their youth, and our two mansions are considered family friends, so after the Princess entered the capital city, she came to me for help.
“At first, I didn’t believe that the accident, which had long been concluded, was actually deliberate murder, so I chose to start from the He Family’s blood case. Unexpectedly, this investigation not only proved that all the cases were true, but the mastermind behind it was also Chu Ying.”
“I see.” The Emperor said slowly, “Elder Cousin is also blessed by the lucky star. It was already not easy for her to survive that murder three years ago, and after returning to the capital city, she received your help, which shows that even heaven is pitying her.”
Yan Bei said: “It might also be the Former Emperor and the Former Empress protecting her from heaven. When the Former Emperor was alive, he made many exceptions for the Princess. Even before the Former Empress passed away from illness, she specially summoned the Princess back to the palace to attend to her herbal medicine.
“This favor is unique among all the women in the court.”
Hearing this, the Emperor seemed to wake from a daze and murmured: “That’s right.
“I also remember that when I was a child, Mother Empress often held Elder Cousin on her knee and spoke to her in gentle, soft tones.
“Father Emperor personally named her ‘Tang’, and everyone thought it was taken from ‘begonia’, but in fact it was taken from ‘the love of Gantang remains’…”
“The love of Gantang remains” is used to praise officials of high moral character, yet the Former Emperor had such expectations for Yue Tang.
Not only did the Emperor feel it was unusual, Yan Bei was also stunned to hear it.
……
Chu Yan’s aftermath was no difficulty. After Yue Tang handed the memorial to Gao An, Lan Qin also returned, so the master and servants began packing their luggage.
Not only her own luggage, but also A Li’s.
When it really came to this step, Yue Tang slowed down her actions.
These days, she had seen the love from everyone in Prince Jingyang’s Mansion for A Li and kept it in her heart.
Undoubtedly, the little one had lived very steadily and happily in the prince’s mansion for these three years.
If she hadn’t appeared, he would probably continue like this for the rest of his life.
So, was it a bit cruel for her to suddenly interrupt his happiness?
After dinner, A Li clung to her bosom as usual and refused to leave, his little mouth kept asking what Prince Duan’s Mansion was like? Could he sleep with Mother when he went back? Was the place for A Niu and Ru Yi far from him? Would there be a lake for Little Duck too?
The child didn’t understand parting and was full of yearning to explore the unfamiliar environment. After all the worries were affirmed by Lan Qin and Hua Lin, he immediately clapped his little hands and cheered.
Gao An and Yun Niang watching from the side felt their stomachs full of sourness.
After watching for a moment, Gao An spoke first, stood under the door for a bit, saw the lights bright in the outer room of Yangrong Zhai, knew that Jin Yu was sorting notebooks in the small side hall over there, and walked over.
As soon as he entered the door, he sighed.
Jin Yu said: “What’s wrong with you?”
“Uncomfortable!” Gao An sat down, holding his whisk with both hands, head drooping, “The sapling we raised for three years will become someone else’s from now on.”
Jin Yu stopped his hand and smiled: “Where does this come from? He will always be the bloodline of our Prince Jingyang’s Mansion. In the future, could he not recognize you as Grandpa Gao?”
“That’s not certain.” Gao An drew out his tone and sighed mournfully, “Haven’t you noticed? Ever since Doctor Hua came, the child calls him Grandpa Hua one after another, and doesn’t even eat my braised goose anymore.
“Once he’s out of the prince’s mansion, how could he still remember an old man like me?”
Jin Yu laughed: “Impossible. The Young Heir Apparent was raised by us taking turns watching over him; no one can compare to this bond.
“You’ve eaten too much of your braised goose and gotten tired of it; maybe he just doesn’t feel like it recently. When I have time later, I’ll make a few more ducks for him; it’ll guarantee he forgets that Grandpa Hua.”
“Don’t be too confident.” Gao An glanced at him, “If you end up with a rebuff later, don’t blame me for not reminding you.”
As soon as the words fell, a little eunuch walked in: “The Prince is back!” He pointed in the direction of Hua Qing Garden and said: “He went straight to the Princess’s courtyard!”
The two half-old men who added up to nearly a hundred years old suddenly bounced up from their chairs and stepped out of the threshold in unison.
After Yan Bei entered the prince’s mansion, he actually dawdled in the front courtyard for a long time before coming in.
The journey from the front gate to the inner quarters was far, and by the time he arrived under the gate of Hua Qing Garden, the new moon had already peeked out.
Xiao Huo, who was boiling medicine for Yue Tang by the small stove in the corner of the wall, saw him and shouted “Prince”.
The young man’s voice was clear and bright, drawing the heads under the corridor to turn at the same time. Yan Bei had no choice but to steel himself and walk in the door: “Has your Princess gone to sleep?”
“Not yet,” Huo Yun put down the palm-leaf fan and hurried in to report: “The Prince is here!”
Yue Tang lifted the curtain and came out. With her hairpins and rings removed, her face was as smooth as jade, the loose strands of hair falling on one shoulder, shaking out a curtain of inky waterfall in front of her chest.
“Go brew some tea.”
She turned her head to instruct Xiao Huo, then led Yan Bei into the side hall. “You must have been delayed in the palace? The Emperor didn’t say anything else, did he?”
“No.”
Yan Bei watched a strand of her hair tip swaying behind her, like wielding a brush on paper, and his steps unconsciously became lighter and slower.
“The imperial edict expelling Chu Yan from the imperial clan has already been delivered to the Imperial Clan Court. It should be handled by dawn tomorrow.”
Once the tea and snacks were served, he extended his right hand again: “Where’s my antidote?”
Yue Tang looked up, suddenly remembering that she had fed him a Yang Rong Pill before.
She slightly raised her brows and took out a few small pills from her sachet: “Take them three times a day, morning, noon, and evening, one each time. It can clear all the remaining poison from your body.”
Yan Bei examined them for a moment: “No tricks, right?”
“Eat or not, up to you.” Yue Tang glanced at him.
Yan Bei then swallowed one with tea.
The sweet and bitter taste of the medicine went straight down his throat to his stomach. He savored it for a moment, then picked up the cup again: “I heard you’ve decided to go back tomorrow. As your ally, I wish you all the best.
“If you have any difficulties in the future, of course you can come to me anytime.
“I’ve seen what Princess Yongjia is capable of. Just as you promised me back then, then our two mansions will have each other’s backs in the imperial court, together protecting the country and serving the Emperor loyally.”
He took a sip of tea and said slowly: “I won’t see you off tomorrow. Once you’re done with this, I’ll bring A Li to visit.”
They were all smart people; these words were enough to show his attitude toward the child’s belonging.
Yue Tang slowly trimmed the lamp wick and looked coolly at him: “You can come visit; isn’t A Li the Heir of my Prince Duan’s Mansion? Prince Duan’s Mansion is his own home.”
“Then you’re wrong!” Yan Bei leisurely crossed his legs, “He was enfeoffed as the Heir Apparent of my Prince Jingyang’s Mansion when he turned one full year old!
“It was by the Emperor’s own golden words; how could he change his name and surname to go to your Prince Duan’s Mansion?”
Yue Tang sneered: “Enfeoffed as Prince Jingyang’s Mansion Heir Apparent at one year old, but when he was just a month old, he was personally enfeoffed as Prince Duan’s Mansion Heir by the Former Emperor. Now he’s just returning to his original position; how is that changing name and surname?
“Unless you go to the imperial court and say the Former Emperor’s imperial edict doesn’t count.”
Yan Bei’s back straightened up at once: “After he was born, I wiped his shit and urine, washed his clothes, and from his hundred-day celebration, I fully took over raising him. For these three years, I’ve poured my heart and soul into it; I am his biological father!”
“And I am his biological mother!” Yue Tang said unhurriedly, “When I was pregnant with him, you ran away. For those ten months, I carried him alone; when I was vomiting bile, you weren’t by my side. When he kicked me in my belly, you weren’t by my side either.
“And when I carried him and my back and waist ached, when I nursed him day and night after birth—these don’t count as effort?
“If I hadn’t gritted my teeth to give birth to this child, and if I hadn’t wanted this child, you deserter, would you still want to come back and play daddy?
“Didn’t your running away mean you gave up on me and gave up on the possible child?”
Yan Bei was speechless.
Yue Tang composed her expression and continued: “Besides, you were a son-in-law at the time; the child we had should naturally take my surname.
“You don’t need to fight me over the child’s belonging.”
“Son-in-law?!” Yan Bei couldn’t hold back, “You never told me from beginning to end that you wanted me to be a son-in-law! Our marriage certificate doesn’t have the words ‘son-in-law’ either!
“I clearly married you; I married you!”
Yue Tang sneered: “When we got married, did you ever give me betrothal gifts? Were your parents and elders present?”
She raised her eyes: “The one who gave the betrothal was me, and the ones present to witness the wedding were also elders from my side.
“If that’s not being a son-in-law, what is it?
“Does Prince Jingyang dare to do but not admit it?”
Yan Bei pursed his lips tightly.
Back then, he indeed hadn’t given betrothal gifts!
After agreeing to marry, he indeed hadn’t arranged for elders or relatives to be present to witness!
Even the place where they bowed to heaven and earth was Yue Tang’s, which meant he hadn’t spent a penny to marry a wife and got a child without any effort!
He really couldn’t argue this point.
This was truly hard to refute.
What to do now?
After drinking several sips of tea, a moment later his gaze shifted to Yue Tang: “Where’s A Li?”
“Asleep.” Yue Tang gave him a sideways glance, “Why?”
He set down the cup: “You are his biological mother; you are right, and I wronged you. But since you’re taking him away tomorrow, let our father and son spend one more night together tonight; that’s not too much, is it?”
Yue Tang was full of suspicion.
Giving in so quickly?
Clearly suspicious.
“No, he’s already asleep; why wake him?” Yue Tang didn’t budge.
“Why not? I’m his dad; we have deep father-son bond!”
Yan Bei raised his voice again.
Yue Tang sat for a moment, then set down her cup: “Wait in the courtyard.”
Yan Bei nodded.
Yue Tang went out and returned to the room, lifted the bed curtain and sat at the head of the bed, looking at the little piglet sleeping soundly.
A moment later, she gently shook the little piglet awake.
“A Li, Father King is here to take you to his room to sleep.”
“I don’t want to.” A Li turned over and hugged her arm. “Mother’s bed smells so good…”
Yue Tang picked him up: “Father King is waiting outside; you have to go. But after you go, remember one thing.”
A Li opened his eyes a bit, then manually pried open both eyes with his hands: “What?”
Yue Tang leaned close to his ear and told him.
After finishing, she straightened up: “Got it?”
A Li patted his chest heavily: “Leave it to A Li!”
……
Yan Bei wasn’t so foolish as to clash head-on with Yue Tang.
He definitely wouldn’t let go of the child, but the strong achieve their goals with brains.
Right now, the Emperor urgently needed to let the world know how much he respected and pitied this elder cousin. If she complained in the palace, even if the Emperor coveted Prince Jingyang’s Mansion’s power, he couldn’t disregard the Former Emperor’s decree; he would still be the one at a loss.
The son was raised by him.
Still that saying: raise a son for a thousand days, use him for a moment!
If he couldn’t win over the mother, he could only rely on the son.
“Father.”
A hoarse child’s voice came from under the corridor.
It turned out that at this moment, Yue Tang had already led A Li out.
Yan Bei strode forward and picked him up in his arms. “Why did you fall asleep before Father King came back?”
A Li hugged his neck: “Now I’ll sleep with Father King.”
Yan Bei’s heart warmed.
Yue Tang looked at him: “Send him back at dawn tomorrow.”
“Got it.”
Yan Bei walked out without looking back.
After they disappeared outside the courtyard gate, Yue Tang went to the doorway to look, then lightly leaped onto the wall top and followed behind them.
