Chapter 220: Will You Marry Me?
Yun Chu held Lin Shi's hand.
She had kept it from her mother before, fearing she might reveal something in front of Prince Pingxi.
Now that the misunderstanding between her and Prince Pingxi had been cleared up, there was no harm in her mother knowing.
"It was my fault..." Yun Chu said softly. "I should have told you earlier, Mother. Actually, my children are still alive, living well. They're over four years old now, soon to be five."
"What did you say?" Lin Shi widened her eyes. "Chu'er, you're not talking nonsense, are you?"
"It's true, Mother." Yun Chu smiled gently. "The children are really alive. In a few days, I can take you to see them."
Lin Shi was overjoyed: "Wonderful, wonderful! The children are alive! All these years, your father has been blaming himself. He protected thousands of common people but failed to protect you. This has been his greatest regret in life. Now that they're alive, your father can finally rest easy! Chu'er, quickly tell me, where are the children? Why aren't they living with you?"
"The children..." Yun Chu paused. "Their father is Prince Pingxi."
Lin Shi covered her mouth: "So Yu Ge'er and Changsheng are our Yun family's bloodline! Heavens, no wonder I liked those two children so much at first sight, no wonder Changsheng looks exactly like you... The children are alive, there's nothing better than this! Chu'er, now that you have children, what do you need a man for? It's fine to be alone from now on, this is just fine. Let's not meet that Marquis Zhou Nan's wife!"
Yun Chu smiled: "Yu Ge'er and Changsheng are in the palace accompanying Yin Pin. They'll be back in a couple of days, Mother, don't be impatient."
"I must go back and tell your grandfather this good news!" Lin Shi stood up hurriedly. "Chu'er, stay calm for now. Our family will discuss how to get the children back properly!"
After saying this, she left.
After she went out, Chu Yi emerged from the inner room.
This was his first time entering a woman's bedchamber. The scent belonging to Yun Chu lingered around him, and he breathed it in freely, though he didn't dare let his eyes wander too much.
He had finally endured until Lin Shi left.
"I've wronged you, Your Highness."
Yun Chu looked at him apologetically.
Originally, there was nothing between her and Prince Pingxi, but by hiding him like this, it seemed as if there was something.
It felt inexplicably awkward.
"Yun Chu." Chu Yi called her name directly. "If, I mean if, His Majesty permits me to marry you as my Princess Consort, would you agree?"
Yun Chu shook her head without hesitation: "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I've never thought about remarrying."
This answer was within Chu Yi's expectations. After being lost in thought for a moment, he continued: "Not even for the children's sake?"
"If it's for the children..." Yun Chu paused. "For the children, I'm willing to do anything."
Chu Yi looked at her deeply: "Good, I understand."
He had developed feelings.
But she had no such intention.
Even if he did marry her, it would only be for the children's sake.
He wouldn't force her to marry him.
There would come a day when she would willingly marry him.
Not for any other reason.
"It's getting late, I should take my leave now."
Chu Yi picked up the already cold osmanthus cakes and stepped over the threshold.
By now, the sky had completely darkened.
Chu Yi rode to the palace gate and went straight to the Imperial Study on foot.
"You unfilial son, how dare you come here!"The Emperor was so enraged that he glared at Chu Yi with fiery eyes.
Chu Yi lifted his robe and knelt straight on the ground: "Your son has committed an unforgivable offense. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"
"You actually know it's unforgivable!" The Emperor smashed a teacup. "The Empress Dowager is advanced in years yet you provoked her into serious illness! What punishment do you deserve?"
The Crown Prince spoke up: "Third Brother, quickly explain to His Majesty why you beheaded Grandmother's seven close aides, why you severed Granny Qin's arms, and why you caused Young Master Feng to fall from his horse and die. If you clarify everything, His Majesty will surely not punish you."
Prince Gong Xi's eyes flickered slightly: "I heard the eldest daughter of the Pillar of the Nation Great General, Miss Yun, was also present. Is this true?"
"Indeed it is." Chu Yi didn't evade the question, raising his head to say, "The eunuch was acting under the Empress Dowager's orders, leading Miss Yun to the Golden Glory Hall with the intention of taking her heart's blood to treat Prince Zhuang's illness. If Miss Yun were to die in the palace, the Yun Family Army would surely riot! Everyone in the Great Jin Dynasty knows the Yun Family Army can fight tenfold their number - a mere hundred troops could breach enemy camps and take their commander's head. What would such a valiant army do to seek justice for Miss Yun?"
"Outrageous!" Prince Gong Xi Chu Mo said coldly. "How could a mere Yun Family Army possibly breach the city gates and storm the imperial palace?"
"Second Imperial Brother is mistaken." Chu Yi's voice remained firm. "The crucial point isn't the Yun Family Army, but the Empress Dowager! The Empress Dowager intends to provoke conflict between the Yun Family and the court. If Second Imperial Brother cannot comprehend her motives, I believe the Crown Prince should understand."
The Crown Prince said coldly: "Grandmother is not that kind of person."
The Emperor glanced at his eldest son, shaking his head almost imperceptibly.
The Crown Prince he had appointed, being his firstborn and born of the main palace, had become master of the Eastern Palace from birth.
In reality, the Crown Prince relied entirely on the Empress's support.
Even the younger seventh and eighth princes could likely discern such simple court dynamics, yet the Crown Prince still trusted the Empress Dowager.
Chu Yi continued: "I personally overheard Granny Qin and those seven palace attendants plotting major schemes. Beyond taking Miss Yun's heart's blood, they also targeted the daughters of the Right Censor-in-chief, the Minister of War, and the Grand Tutor... all to stir conflict between court heavyweights and Your Majesty... If it were the Crown Prince or Second Imperial Brother in my position, I believe neither would tolerate such plotters scheming against Your Majesty right under our noses! Sparing Granny Qin's life was to warn the Empress Dowager that anyone daring to scheme against Your Majesty - even elders - will receive no mercy from me!"
Prince Gong Xi gritted his teeth, unable to voice any denial.
He never expected this damned third brother could argue so cunningly. Having committed grave errors and provoked the Empress Dowager into illness, he should face severe punishment.
Yet with this explanation, the Emperor would be too moved to consider punishment.
"Good!" The Emperor clapped and sighed, then sobered. "Even so, Yi'er, you shouldn't have taken up the sword yourself. You must personally apologize to the Empress Dowager!"
The Crown Prince stared in shock.
Just moments ago His Majesty kept calling him an unfilial son - how had he suddenly become "Yi'er"? What had happened?
Prince Gong Xi watched the Crown Prince coldly.
Look - the foolishness in the Crown Prince's eyes is so transparent. How could someone like this be fit to sit on the dragon throne...Chu Yi left the Imperial Study and headed to Kunning Palace.
Upon arriving at the entrance of Kunning Palace, the matron serving the Empress Dowager went inside to report before coming out to say, "Her Majesty is resting at the moment. Would Your Highness please wait for a while?"
"As it is already completely dark, Grandmother should rest well. I shall take my leave now."
Chu Yi turned and left immediately.
The Empress Dowager, who had intended to make Chu Yi obediently stand outside all night, was so enraged that she smashed the medicine bowl.
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