Chapter 20

A widely known heroic rescue among the capital's nobility firmly sealed the fate between Yan Yiming and the Crown Prince.
In the past, the young lady of the Yan family had harbored a deep affection solely for the Crown Prince, wasting three years for his sake. Now, she had finally achieved her wish to marry him. Despite the twists and turns, it could be considered a beautiful tale.
The scene from that day spread like wildfire, the Crown Prince bravely diving into the water to save Yan Yiming, and Yan Yiming, moved to tears of joy. The story was recounted in detail, while the earlier rumors of Yan Yiming and Nan Gongye were selectively forgotten from memory.
Just as Nan Gongxuan had predicted, the Emperor, upon hearing of the incident, greatly praised Yan Yiming and Nan Gongxuan. He declared that since the Crown Prince had already compromised the young lady's purity, he had no choice but to take responsibility. Moreover, it was a heaven-sent match, a talented man and a beautiful woman, and the Emperor could find no fault. He immediately issued an edict for the marriage, setting the wedding date after the Crown Prince's capping ceremony.
To outsiders, this seemed a perfect match, but the Duke of Ding's household was shrouded in gloom. Had it not been for Nan Gongye, they would have been overjoyed. But now, having privately promised Yan Yiming to Nan Gongye, an imperial decree had irrevocably decided the matter.
The crime of deceiving the Emperor was one the Duke of Ding's household could not bear.
After the previous incident of falling into the water, even without Little A informing Yan Yiming of Nan Gongxuan's gradually increasing favorability, she could feel his recent concern. The rare pearls and jewels he had once been reluctant to give her were now continuously sent to the Duke of Ding's household.
Lu Mei, dazzled by the array of jewelry, cautiously asked, “Didn't you used to love these things, Miss?”
Yan Yiming picked up a jade hairpin, then placed it back in the box. “No matter how much I once loved something, if it comes past its time, it no longer holds the same meaning. From now on, anything the Crown Prince sends, hand it directly to Madam and let her deal with it.”
Nan Gongye rushed back to the capital without stopping to bathe or change clothes, heading straight to the palace to see the Emperor.
Although the mission had been troublesome, Nan Gongye had handled it exceptionally well. The Emperor, who already held this son in high regard, praised him even more for his courage and skill.
After the corruption case was handed over to the Censorate, the officials responsible for the matter were finally rewarded.
The emperor personally ordered the granting of land and the construction of a mansion, and bestowed upon the fifth prince the title of Prince Yue, making him the most esteemed prince after the Crown Prince and the eldest prince.
Once the rewards were distributed, the emperor, like any ordinary father, began chatting with his son about family matters. He mentioned that it was a fortunate coincidence that his elder brother’s household would soon be celebrating a joyous event, and with his own relocation to a new residence, it would be a double blessing.
Nan Gongye assumed it referred to the union of Jian Yu’er and Nan Gongxuan. A faint smile appeared on his handsome features as he said, “After I pay my respects to Mother Empress, I will naturally go to my elder brother’s residence to offer my congratulations.”
The emperor had always cherished the close bonds among his children. Pleased with Nan Gongye’s response, he patted his shoulder approvingly. “It is wonderful that you and your brother share such a deep bond. The Yan family’s young lady has known the Crown Prince since childhood, they are childhood sweethearts. Now, by a twist of fate, their union has become a beautiful story, as if it were meant to be…”
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, Nan Gongye’s face, which had been full of smiles moments before, instantly turned deathly pale. As if unable to believe what he had heard, he asked uncertainly, “Father… who are you referring to?”
“Who else could it be? It’s none other than the eldest daughter of the Yan family, Yan Yiming,” the emperor said, finding the matter quite amusing. He even elaborated to Nan Gongye, “On the day of your mother’s birthday celebration, the child accidentally fell into the water, and it was your elder brother who personally rescued her.”
Though it was the height of summer and Nan Gongye was still in his court attire, which should have been unbearably hot, at that moment, he felt as if he were plunged into an icy abyss, his heart chilled to the core.
The emperor finally noticed Nan Gongye’s distress and asked with concern, “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
Nan Gongye clenched his fists so tightly that his teeth nearly shattered.
“Perhaps the journey has left me too exhausted. Allow me to rest for a while and change my clothes before heading to Kunning Palace to see Mother Empress.”
Nan Gongye’s complexion was indeed poor at that moment. The emperor said nothing more and waved him off to rest. Later, when the emperor mentioned the matter to the empress in Kunning Palace, she was so startled that she dropped the teacup in her hand. Forcing a smile, she excused herself, claiming she would send a physician to check on Nan Gongye. After leaving, she urgently dispatched someone to summon the Crown Prince.
In the heat of midsummer, Yan Yiming enjoyed seeking shade by the lakeside to cool off. She was listening to Lu Mei recount the most popular opera in the capital when hurried, chaotic footsteps approached from a distance, followed by an anxious voice calling out, “Your Highness…”
For a moment, Yan Yiming couldn’t recall who “Your Highness” referred to. After a brief pause, she suddenly remembered that Nan Gongye was no longer the fifth prince but a prince of the first rank.
Lu Mei immediately fell silent in fear, nervously watching the furious figure approaching.
They had just heard that Nan Gongye had entered the palace. By all accounts, he should have met with the emperor and empress and still been in the palace. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, he had stormed into the Duke of Ding’s residence, revealing just how urgent the matter was.
The maids behind them cried out, insisting that their young lady was not at home, but Nan Gongye seemed not to hear them. As if guided by some unspoken understanding, he had already found Yan Yiming directly.
It had been over a month since they last met. Nan Gongye seemed to have grown taller, and his features had shed some of their boyishness, making him even more strikingly handsome. However, his face was contorted with rage, so terrifying that no one dared to breathe. He resembled a wild beast, poised to pounce and tear Yan Yiming apart.
Yan Yiming stared at him for a long moment before finally setting down the fan in her hand. She bowed properly to Nan Gongye and said, “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Nan Gongye gazed at the woman before him, whose beauty remained as dazzling as ever. The words “Your Highness” felt like a hand crushing his heart to pieces in an instant.
The pain was excruciating, tearing him apart inside.
He stepped forward, one step at a time, his throat choked with unbearable agony and despair. His beautiful eyes were now bloodshot.
“I rushed back with a heart full of joy, only for you to give me such a surprise.”
Yan Yiming remained silent.
Madam Yan and Yan Yiqi, among others, quickly arrived upon hearing the commotion. Just as they arrived, they caught those words, and Yan Yiqi immediately grew anxious. “Fifth... no, Your Highness, it’s not that my sister has wronged you. My sister fell into the water while trying to save Jian Yu'er, and the Crown Prince happened to rescue her...”
Yan Yiming had saved Jian Yu'er from drowning but ended up falling into the water herself, and the Crown Prince had rescued Yan Yiming.
What a perfect “hero saving the beauty.”
But it was this very “hero saving the beauty” that severed everything between him and Yan Yiming.
Why did he have to leave the capital at this time?
Why didn’t he return in time for the Empress’s birthday celebration?
Why wasn’t he the one who saved her?
Why did the Crown Prince have to save her? Why did she have to save that Jian Yu'er?
Everyone thought these words had finally calmed Nan Gongye, but they never expected that these very words tore another deep wound in his heart.
Yan Yiqi was about to say more, but Nan Gongye could no longer control his rage and roared, “Get out!”
No one had ever seen Nan Gongye so distraught. Yan Yiming turned her face away and whispered to Duchess Yan and the others, “I have some words to say to His Highness. Mother, there’s no need to worry.”
Nan Gongye looked up at her face, still unreadable. He recalled how Yan Yiming had once said that she wouldn’t make things difficult for Jian Yu'er because she didn’t want to displease the Crown Prince. So now, why had Yan Yiming risked falling into the water to save Jian Yu'er? Was it to please the Crown Prince?
He reached out and gripped her chin, his gaze locking tightly with hers as he asked her,
“Why did you save Jian Yu'er?”
Yan Yiming seemed not to feel the sharp pain in her jaw. After a long moment, she lowered her eyelashes.
“It is exactly as Your Highness thinks.”
Hatred instantly flooded his mind. Nan Gongye lost control and roared, “Do you love him that much?!”
“I don’t love him...”
“Everything you’ve done tells me you still love him!”
With a bang, a gust of wind swept past her ear. Yan Yiming instinctively closed her eyes. The man’s heavy breathing lingered in her ear for a long time. Yan Yiming did not open her eyes until a sharp pain shot through her lips. Nan Gongye kissed her fiercely, as if he wanted to devour her. In his rage, he bit down hard, and only when he heard Yan Yiming’s muffled groan did he pull back, his gaze still locked on her face.
Yan Yiming tugged at her sore, swollen lips and whispered softly, “Your Highness, please believe me. I will only marry you. I won’t marry the Crown Prince.”
Nan Gongye let out a mocking laugh. An imperial decree personally issued by the Emperor, how could she refuse? Was she planning to defy the imperial order? Impossible.
Besides, marrying the Crown Prince was exactly what she had always dreamed of, wasn’t it?
Now, she could finally have her wish fulfilled.
He no longer wanted to see her or hear her voice. Nan Gongye strode away without looking back.
He could no longer trust a single word this woman said.
Yan Yiming slowly opened her eyes, reached out to touch her bitten lips, and caught sight of the bloodstains Nan Gongye had left on the rockery after punching it earlier. She called for Little A to tend to the wound on her lips.
She couldn’t afford to keep this injury visible these days, it would only invite unnecessary trouble.