WMSG Chapter 88

The scene became very awkward, even Gong Xunwu’s situation should be a bit embarrassing, but he remained calm and composed, as if no matter how Ye Yueshen treated him, he wouldn’t be angered. He was ready to accept any emotional impact from Ye Yueshen.

Ye Yueshen didn’t say anything harsher. Under the gaze of several pairs of eyes, he took a few steps forward. Gong Xunwu’s fingers slightly curled on his knees, as if hesitating whether to reach out to him in front of Ye Yueshen’s family.

His hands and embrace would always be open to Ye Yueshen, but this idea wasn’t a consensus among everyone present.

The Junzhu felt that her youngest son was indeed impeccably beautiful, but he didn’t possess the qualities that would make people continue to like him after getting to know him. He was naive, even foolish, and persistent, even blind.

He took acts of kindness towards him for granted, and instead used them to curry favor, or to put it more aptly: he generously squandered the support of his family on those who coveted his advantages.

The Junzhu wasn’t sure how long it would be before Ye Yueshen exposed his previously stubborn nature, but she was certain that Gong Xunwu had simply met a well-behaved and beautiful facade when Ye Yueshen was restraining himself—unaggressive but not entirely compliant.

Easy to control and interesting. What a perfect little lover, but her son shouldn’t be in this kind of position.

The Junzhu’s gaze turned cold again.

And Marquis Ye had a similar view, but his thoughts didn’t reach such profound levels as qualities. Instead, it was a shallow understanding between men. He was convinced that no one would be deeply in love with a beautiful person for a lifetime, or more precisely, this kind of feeling could probably only last for half a year.

Even with his youngest son’s beauty, he didn’t think Gong Xunwu could extend the time limit to more than a year.

However, Marquis Ye had lost the energy to refute this matter. He wasn’t willing to pay too much of a price for his son, perhaps because he had never invested too much in raising his children.

Ye Lingshen’s gaze towards Gong Xunwu revealed hostility. He did what Gong Xunwu wanted to do but didn’t do after weighing the considerations of more people: reaching out to Ye Yueshen.

“Come here.” Ye Lingshen said.

So Ye Yueshen walked over to him, pinched his arms, shoulders, and abdomen to confirm that his older brother wasn’t injured, then his eyes turned to the Junzhu.

The Junzhu told him: “Mother is fine, your father is also fine.”

Then Ye Yueshen felt that out of courtesy, he should ask the last person present. He looked at Gong Xunwu, and just as he was hesitating how to speak, Gong Xunwu had already presumptuously answered: “I’m fine too.”

“Didn’t you check him over as soon as you came in?” Ye Lingshen looked at Gong Xunwu somewhat impolitely.

Ye Yueshen suddenly remembered the scene when the three of them first appeared in the same place. Ye Lingshen was still the guilty guy who stole the jade, and he still had to be in awe and fear of Gong Xunwu.

But now, it’s a complete mess.

The Junzhu glared at Ye Lingshen, and Marquis Ye was also forced to smooth things over, changing the subject: “Your Highness, now that you’ve left the palace, the Emperor and Empress Dowager must be worried, right?”

Gong Xunwu answered very frankly: “I’m worried about Yueshen. If I can’t come out immediately, I’ll be just as anxious wherever I am.”

Ye Yueshen wanted to run away a bit. Just then, Ye Yuanshen walked in. He looked at Ye Yueshen, who looked like he was about to cry, and then at Gong Xunwu, who had a determined look in his eyes, stubbornly sitting on the chair, not even wanting to leave tactfully even in the silence and awkwardness.

Ye Yuanshen thought for a moment: “Your Highness, it’s getting late.”

“Yes, it’s getting late.” Gong Xunwu looked at Marquis Ye: “Lord Marquis, I wonder if it’s convenient for me to stay overnight at your residence?”

Marquis Ye had only just returned to the manor not long ago. He and Gong Xunwu hadn’t had a good rest for a long time, and besides, it was all for the sake of the country. Marquis Ye was embarrassed to chase people away: “Of course, it’s convenient.”

Marquis Ye beckoned, asking people to clean up the guest room in Ye Yuanshen’s courtyard, the one used to entertain colleagues. Although it wasn’t very appropriate, Gong Xunwu wasn’t the type to fuss over formalities anymore.

Marquis Ye and Ye Yuanshen personally sent Gong Xunwu to rest. As soon as they went out, Ye Yueshen looked at the Junzhu. His eyes showed worry about being blamed and fear of being disliked.

But the Junzhu felt that his eyes were full of grievance and pity. What else was this if not asking her for help?

Ye Yueshen and the Junzhu sat closely together on the soft couch. The Junzhu used her hand to wipe away the tears that were about to fall from the corners of his eyes. It would have been better if she hadn’t wiped them, as wiping them brought out a string of tears.

Ye Lingshen breathed out a heavy sigh: “Don’t worry, your thoughts are the most important.”

Ye Yueshen was even more touched and wanted to cry: “I…”

He couldn’t speak for a moment. The Junzhu and Ye Lingshen coaxed him for a long time. After they coaxed him, Marquis Ye and Ye Yuanshen also returned. The whole family gathered together and didn’t intend to leave, obviously wanting to discuss the matter between Ye Yueshen and Gong Xunwu.

“Judging by the looks of it, Qi Wang isn’t willing to let it go.” Marquis Ye’s face was grave.

The Junzhu snorted coldly: “Can he still act like a bandit and forcibly snatch my son?”

“Father, Mother, please calm down.” Ye Yuanshen said: “I don’t think Qi Wang’s attitude is one of coercion. It seems like he can listen to anything Xiao Yue says.”

Ye Lingshen clicked his tongue: “Shouldn’t we be asking what Third Brother means now? Why bother with what Qi Wang does?”

Ye Yueshen was stared at by several pairs of eyes, and his whole body tensed up. He had a sense of urgency as if he was making an important decision in life. Then, with this realization, he suddenly hesitated.

Did he really not love Gong Xunwu at all?

Obviously, not necessarily. He just couldn’t accept Gong Xunwu at this time, whether it was due to the accumulation of past conflicts or to his respect and distance from Gong Xunwu’s cold personality. He couldn’t immediately make a decision to accept him.

But if he cut ties completely… he had no doubt that his mother would do everything she could to achieve this result, as long as he spoke.

He was afraid to speak instead, unable to figure out his own heart.

In the long silence, Ye Yueshen only let out a sound similar to a sob, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t.

Soon they understood what Ye Yueshen meant. The Junzhu took a deep breath, pulled Ye Yueshen over, and stroked his back. Ye Lingshen stood up and said: “It’s not a big deal.”

Ye Yuanshen straightened his wide sleeves: “Don’t think too much, Xiao Yue. Take your time.”

Marquis Ye didn’t say anything, but nodded, also meaning not to put pressure on Ye Yueshen.

Ye Yueshen felt a warm current flowing through his heart. No matter what the ending between him and Gong Xunwu would be, he was already hopelessly happy at this moment. Making a decision also became easier. Perhaps he could have a lot of time to consider.

This was a relaxation he had never experienced in his previous life. The feeling of not needing to take heavy responsibility for his ignorant choices made him very relaxed.

That night, Ye Yueshen stayed in the side room of the main courtyard. He was the only one in the Ye family who slept until noon the next day. The Junzhu and Marquis Ye only caught up on sleep until before breakfast. They still had to entertain guests.

Ye Yuanshen went to the palace early in the morning to help the Emperor share his worries. Ye Lingshen, on the other hand, stayed up all night. Staying up all night was nothing to him, who often lived a life of drunken revelry.

Ye Yueshen put on his clothes, yawned, and pushed open the door. Gong Xunwu was standing in the inner corridor, not knowing how long he had been waiting for him.

Ye Yueshen stopped and looked at him. There was a smile in Gong Xunwu’s eyes. He said somewhat uncertainly: “Do you want to have a meal?”

Ye Yueshen opened his mouth: “This is my home.”

“I know.” Gong Xunwu looked at him with lingering eyes: “Imperial Brother has sent people to urge me three times. I have to go. Have a good meal. I will come to see you soon.”

Ye Yueshen wanted to say there was no need, but he didn’t think it was necessary to say that, so he just watched Gong Xunwu leave.

In the evening, Ye Yuanshen brought back news that the Crown Prince and the Consort Gui had completely lost any chance of turning things around this time. The Consort Gui’s maternal family had all been convicted, and almost in the blink of an eye, the imperial family was left with only two princes, Gong Xuyin and Gong Shengyin.

Ye Yuanshen said that the Emperor seemed to have aged ten years, and his eyes would often wander and become sluggish while he was speaking. The Junzhu sighed: “His own son, how can he not be heartbroken.”

“But now Qi Wang’s position is incredibly stable.” Ye Yuanshen sighed casually.

Soon it was the second day of the second lunar month. There was a Lantern Festival in the evening, and Ye Yueshen was urged by the Junzhu to go out and join in the fun. Ye He, who had recovered from her injuries, also came out to play. To avoid prying eyes, they bought masks at a stall.

Ye Yueshen wore a gilded fox mask, while Ye He took a fancy to a blue-faced fanged monster mask at first glance. The two walked and listened to Xuédōng speak: “The master used so many favors before to get the young master out of the palace. I heard that he was involved in the Crown Prince’s rebellion this time.”

Ye Yueshen was taken aback: “Didn’t he go back to Mangzhou?”

“Mangzhou is at war, so it’s not conspicuous for him to recruit soldiers.” Xuédōng explained.

Ye Yueshen asked: “Then what should we do?”

“The auntie is so worried that half of her hair has turned white. The master is actually clearing relationships behind the Junzhu’s back. Actually, the Junzhu has known for a long time.” Xuédōng lowered his voice: “After all, whether it’s a real sister or a real nephew, the master always feels that he didn’t teach him well.”

Ye Yueshen didn’t want to worry about Yuan Bianyin’s affairs too much, so he didn’t say anything else. Xuédōng said again: “The young master has attempted suicide several times in Mangzhou. Their family is in chaos. The auntie’s life is hard.”

Ye He pulled Ye Yueshen to a crowded place to join in the fun. A circle of people surrounded an open space. There were few men but many women. Ye Yueshen also stood on the side to join in the fun.

Several foreign men were dancing. Four young men with only a few strips of cloth on their upper bodies were dancing a very exotic dance. Their skin color was darker, and their faces were mysterious and indifferent.

The four stood in each corner, and after dancing, they flocked to a box in the middle that was covered with cloth on all sides. Through the light, you could see that the box inside was open, and a person slowly stood up.

Ye Yueshen and Ye He were very focused on watching, and didn’t notice that there were more people behind them.

The mysterious cloth was pulled away, and a foreign man stood in the box with his head down and his eyes lowered. He had a gauze ribbon slanting from his shoulder, and his muscular arms and abdomen were almost completely exposed.

The man had deep eyes and high brow bones, making people feel both feminine and intensely masculine and aggressive.

The man’s skin color was much lighter than his companions, and it was a textured honey color in the night light. Ye Yueshen gasped.

Because many bright red roses were stuck on the man’s skin. The roses had a section of stem, and the thorns on the stem were hanging directly on the man’s skin. The man walked out of the box and walked around the onlookers at close range.

When he walked closer to Ye Yueshen, his gaze seemed to pause for a moment. Ye Yueshen could see the coagulated blood scabs on his small wounds.

Ye Yueshen’s eyes followed him, feeling phantom pain in his own skin.

“Is it beautiful?” A low inquiry came from behind.

Ye Yueshen was startled and looked back. Gong Xunwu looked at him with resentful eyes.