Chapter 12

When good fortune arrives, everyone feels it. Lately, everyone had noticed that the Fifth Prince, Nan Gongye, was in an exceptionally good mood.
At first, no one could guess the reason, assuming it was because the Emperor had finally allowed the Fifth Prince to participate in state affairs. They thought to themselves that the Fifth Prince wasn't as indifferent to worldly matters as he appeared, but that was the extent of their speculation.
Only those close to Nan Gongye knew that this was clearly not the reason.
Ever since Prince Nan Gongye had asked her for that pair of bracelets, the Empress knew her youngest son had someone in his heart. Seeing him brimming with joy every day recently, she found it quite amusing. During a casual chat with Nan Gongxuan, she even teased that their youngest son was adorably foolish and asked if Nan Gongxuan knew which young lady Ye'er had taken a liking to.
Nan Gongxuan had no desire to discuss his dear younger brother these days, let alone mention Nan Gongye and Yan Yiming. He simply replied that he didn't know and changed the subject. The Empress, being observant, noticed Nan Gongxuan's coldness.
The two brothers had always been close since childhood and understood the importance of sibling bonds in the imperial family. Over the years, they rarely argued, let alone displayed such blatant indifference as they did now. Though puzzled, the Empress did not press further.
In the following days, even without paying close attention, the Empress could easily detect the signs. Both Nan Gongxuan and Nan Gongye avoided mentioning each other entirely. This made the Empress worry that a rift had formed between her two sons. Since Nan Gongxuan had been named Crown Prince at a young age and hadn't grown up as closely with her as Nan Gongye had, she decided to find an opportunity to ask Nan Gongye what had happened.
However, the Emperor had recently assigned Ye'er to participate in court affairs, keeping him so busy that he was scarcely seen. Later, she heard that it was the Crown Prince's suggestion to involve Ye'er in politics, which gradually put her mind at ease.
The Emperor was also very pleased with Ye'er's performance these days, remarking that despite his youth, the boy was unexpectedly reliable. Though not explicitly stated, the Empress understood the Emperor's implication: once Nan Gongye achieved further merits, he could be granted a princely title and establish his own residence outside the palace ahead of schedule.
The Empress was overjoyed by the Emperor's favor. Discussing the establishment of residences outside the palace naturally led to the topic of the princes' marriages. Like any ordinary couple, the Emperor and Empress chatted about their children's marital prospects, especially since the Crown Prince was nearing his capping ceremony, and the selection of a Crown Princess needed to be settled soon.
During their last conversation, Nan Gongxuan had mentioned the daughter of the Jian family. The Empress recently took the chance to discreetly observe this young lady. Though not as beautiful as Yan Yiming, she was gentle, sensible, well-educated, and indeed fit for the position of Crown Princess.
Yet, it was a pity for the Yan family. She had heard that the Third Prince once intended to seek Yan Yiming's hand in marriage, which was truly unsettling.
Some days later, before the Empress could make a decision, she learned that her youngest son, Nan Gongye, had been spending a great deal of time with Yan Yiming recently.
Startled, the Empress wasted no time and summoned Nan Gongye to the Kunning Palace. Unsure if the rumors were true, she did not ask directly but probed indirectly. To her surprise, Nan Gongye, who had been eager to share his joy with everyone lately, confessed everything to her outright.
The Empress was stunned for a long moment before pulling Nan Gongye closer. “Ye'er, Yan Yiming is your elder brother's...”
“Mother, my elder brother hasn't married yet, and A'Ming hasn't married either. They have no relationship right now.”
The Empress couldn't bring herself to say such words, but this feeling of a younger brother fancying his designated sister-in-law...
No matter how she thought about it, it felt strange. Although Yan Yiming hadn't married the crown prince, the Empress had always regarded her as the most promising daughter-in-law over the past two years. With an uncomfortable expression, the queen asked Nan Gongye, “Ye'er, when did you develop these feelings?”
After all, she was Nan Gongxuan and Nan Gongye's biological mother. Even though she had previously held an excellent impression of Yan Yiming, her first reaction now was to wonder if Yan Yiming had done something to make Nan Gongye so determined to have her.
“Speaking of this is somewhat embarrassing,” Nan Gongye smiled with a hint of shyness. “Actually, I couldn't help but like her from the first moment I saw A'Ming. But A'Ming only had eyes for my elder brother, so knowing there was no hope, I never mentioned it.”
The Empress's heart raced with anxiety as she urgently asked him, “Then why are you bringing this up now?”
Nan Gongye looked at the Empress with some surprise. “My elder brother is about to marry Miss Jian, so naturally A'Ming has no place in this matter. Why can't I like her then?”
Only then did the Empress realize that Nan Gongye also knew about Nan Gongxuan's interest in Jian Yu'er.
Yan Yiming did indeed like Nan Gongxuan, but after accidentally learning that Nan Gongxuan favored Jian Yu'er, she became completely disheartened. As a result, her younger son finally saw an opportunity, leading to the current situation?
After sorting out this messy chain of events, even the Empress didn't know what to say.
But putting all that aside and just looking at the current situation, the Empress truly didn't want Nan Gongye to be with Yan Yiming.
Seeing Nan Gongye sinking deeper into his feelings, the Empress couldn't help but speak seriously, “Ye'er, your mother will never agree to this matter.”
Nan Gongye's handsome face immediately lost its smile. “Why?”
“Everyone in the capital knows that Yan Yiming likes your elder brother. If she could marry into the Eastern Palace, Yan Yiming would become the mistress of the Eastern Palace, the future crown princess, respected by all. If she cannot marry into the Eastern Palace, her reputation will be ruined, and everyone will avoid her. Ye'er, you must remember your status. Your mother will never agree to you marrying someone like...”
“Mother!”
Nan Gongye suddenly spoke sharply. Even though he knew it was disrespectful, he didn't want to hear such insulting words about Yan Yiming from his mother's mouth.
The Empress was somewhat taken aback, having never seen Ye'er so angry before.
“Mother's words are too heartless. I don't care what others say about A'Ming, but why would you say such things too? When you say A'Ming's reputation is ruined, why don't you think about who caused her reputation to be ruined?”
The Empress stared directly at Nan Gongye and said word by word, “No one ever forced her to be like this.”
“Why must Mother deceive everyone? If Mother hadn't privately met with A'Ming and given her hope back then, if my Imperial Brother hadn't been ambiguous and never gave a clear answer, dragging her along until now only to suddenly say he wants to marry Jian Yu'er - what right does he have!” These words had been suppressed in his heart for a long time. Nan Gongye originally thought he would never say them, but seeing his mother now avoiding the main issue and shifting all the blame onto Yan Yiming made him feel utterly disheartened.
“This matter should never have been borne by A'Ming alone. A'Ming has her faults, but Mother and Imperial Brother are not without blame either.”
The Kunning Palace fell into complete silence, no one daring to utter a word. The Empress stared blankly at her youngest son, who had never been so enraged before. She wanted to refute him but found herself at a loss for words.
Yan Yiming's coming-of-age ceremony had already passed three years ago. Indeed, it was she who had personally taken Yan Yiming's hand back then, hinting how wonderful it would be if this child entered the Eastern Palace. Even His Majesty, and even the Duke of Ding's household, had thought the same.
Yet unexpectedly, this delay had stretched into three years.
But even so, how could she bear to let Nan Gongye suffer from public criticism? And more importantly, how could she bear to let her son marry a woman whose heart belonged entirely to someone else?
The Empress softened her stance. After comforting Nan Gongye with a few words, she said, “It is indeed I and your Imperial Brother who have wronged her. If possible, Mother would also like to properly compensate her. But even so, it should not be you. Listen to your mother, you have liked her for so long, how could you not know of her feelings for your Imperial Brother? How can you guarantee that, even if she is with you, her heart won't still hold your Imperial Brother? If one day you two truly marry, how will she face you and your Imperial Brother?”
Nan Gongye fell silent. Clearly, these words had struck a chord within him. The Empress breathed a sigh of relief and continued in a gentler tone, “Ye'er, I am your mother. No matter the reason, everything I do is for your sake. How could I ever harm you? You hold such sincere feelings for her, but what about her? Ye'er, you must think clearly, is she worth it for you...”
“Worth it.”
Nan Gongye lifted his head and met the Empress's gaze, answering with certainty.
All the Empress's words were choked back in her throat.
“Mother, I understand what you mean. But I have yearned for too long, thought of her for too long. Your son truly... likes her too much.”
Back when he had begged her to turn and look at him, hadn't Nan Gongye thought the same? But now that he had finally gained such an opportunity, finally been able to laugh with her these past days as they had...
Having experienced it, how could he bear to let go?
Firmly gazing at his stunned mother, Nan Gongye smiled again. “Actually, Mother might consider other aspects. Initially, your fondness for A'Ming was indeed because of the Duke of Ding's household behind her. Now that Imperial Brother is set to marry that Miss Jian, the Duke of Ding's household will not agree to their legitimate daughter becoming a secondary wife, and thus we will lose the support of the Ding household for nothing. I have heard that Third Imperial Brother has also been eyeing the Ding household covetously. Wouldn't it be a pity to let Third Imperial Brother pick up what we drop? It would be better to let your son take it over.”
The Empress: “How could Mother let you suffer for such a reason?”
“Your son does not suffer,” Nan Gongye replied swiftly, a smile appearing on his still somewhat youthful face. “Mother, as long as I can marry A'Ming as my wife, I have never cared how others see it. I only know that A'Ming is wonderful, and I truly like her very much.”