WMSG Chapter 43
by VolareGong Xunwu ignored the little princess’s question. He tore off a rose petal from the flowers beside the road, but once he held the petal in his hand, he didn’t understand why he had done so.
Ye Yueshen, on the other hand, shifted the blame onto Gong Xunwu: “Princess, I didn’t mean to exclude you, it was him who insisted on whispering to me.”
The little princess snorted and hopped forward, stomping her feet to express her dissatisfaction.
Gong Xunwu heard the sound and turned back to look at Ye Yueshen, recalling the scene of Ye Yueshen eating flower petals. Then, he crushed the petal between his fingers.
Although the little princess was angry, she still went to the Consort Gui’s palace. Ye Yueshen also witnessed her dramatic change of face. Outside the door, she was still sulking, but as soon as she entered and saw Consort Gui, she smiled: “Consort Gui, I saw an incredibly beautiful brother, and brought him for you to see.”
Ye Yueshen: “…”
Consort Gui warmly rose to greet Gong Xunwu. Although Gong Xunwu didn’t say much, he was very polite and well-mannered.
Compared to Consort Shun, Consort Gui’s expression and demeanor were much more amiable. She generously praised Ye Yueshen’s beauty, and asked when the Junzhu would enter the palace to chat with her.
The little princess tugged at Consort Gui’s sleeve: “Your Majesty, I just looked at Consort Shun’s incense box.”
Consort Gui readily understood: “You want to see my incense box?”
The little princess nodded. Consort Gui gestured for a servant to fetch it. After the servant returned and handed the incense box to the little princess, he said to Consort Gui, “Noble Lady Yu is here to see you, Your Majesty.”
Consort Gui nodded, took a sip of tea, and said to Gong Xunwu, “Prince Qi, please keep the little princess company for a while. I’ll go see Noble Consort Yu.”
As soon as she left, Ye Yueshen moved his shoulders, which were stiff with tension. Gong Xunwu had an almost imperceptible smile on his lips: “Tired?”
Ye Yueshen looked at the little princess. The little princess held the incense box, with all its small compartments open, out to Gong Xunwu: “Royal Uncle, smell this scent. Buy it for me.”
Gong Xunwu nodded: “I will definitely buy it for you.”
They didn’t wait for Consort Gui to return. Gong Xunwu asked a servant to tell Consort Gui that they had to leave. As soon as he finished speaking, Consort Gui entered.
The little princess handed the incense box back to Consort Gui: “Consort Shun has incense with a ylang-ylang scent. I like that one.”
Consort Gui asked her with a smile: “Did Consort Shun give you some?”
The little princess shook her head: “I wanted to play there for a while, but Consort Shun said she was going to see the Imperial Grandmother and it wasn’t convenient for her to keep me.”
Ye Yueshen was filled with admiration.
As expected, Consort Gui generously said: “If you like any kind of incense, just take some back with you.”
The little princess said “Thank you, Consort Gui” in a crisp voice, and then very restrainedly chose two round incense balls, smiling at Consort Gui in a bright and adorable way: “I like Consort Gui.”
Consort Gui was very happy to be flattered by her. She raised her head and glanced at Gong Xunwu, hoping that Prince Qi would be a gossip and tell the Emperor about this, and by the way, say a few good words for her.
The little princess then pestered Consort Gui about the ylang-ylang incense. Consort Gui explained to her, “The incense you’re talking about is called ‘Warm Tent Incense.’ Only consorts and above can use it. In addition, low-ranking concubines who raise princesses and princes also have a share. I don’t like ylang-ylang, so I don’t use it.”
After bidding farewell, the little princess held the incense out to Ye Yueshen: “I’ll give it to you.”
Ye Yueshen was a little flattered. He was very uneasy about receiving gifts from others for no reason, and repeatedly refused: “No, no need. Thank you for your kindness, Princess.”
Gong Xunwu silently watched him, and strangely discovered that this kind of inferiority and shyness didn’t seem like it should appear on the son of a marquis. He was sure that Ye Yueshen wasn’t being polite, but subconsciously felt that he didn’t deserve it.
Just two small incense balls. Gong Xunwu was certain that after every rainy season, the Marquis’s residence had to throw away a large pile of damp and moldy incense that hadn’t been properly stored. Was Ye Yueshen so uneasy?
Gong Xunwu had only seen this kind of reaction when a master suddenly rewarded a servant with valuable items.
He supported Ye Yueshen’s waist: “Since she’s giving it to you, take it if you like it.”
Ye Yueshen also realized that his reaction had been a bit excessive. He reached out with both hands to accept the two small incense balls. The little princess didn’t notice his abnormality and said very innocently and seriously, “When I grow up, be my male concubine.”
Ye Yueshen’s expression froze. He recited in his mind, “Children’s words are without offense, children’s words are without offense.”
In fact, the little princess didn’t even know what “male concubine” meant. She only knew that it was a handsome and gentle boy, because the servant had explained to her: “A boy with a good temper, who will play shuttlecock and embroider with you.”
Gong Xunwu’s face darkened and he scolded her: “Who taught you to talk nonsense?”
The little princess was startled and ran to hide behind Ye Yueshen, only showing her face and looking at Gong Xunwu warily.
Ye Yueshen guessed that she didn’t know what it meant either, and smiled to comfort her: “It’s okay, we won’t tell anyone. Just this once, don’t say these kinds of things to others in the future, okay?”
The little princess still felt lingering fear, and carefully looked at Gong Xunwu.
Seeing how scared she was, Ye Yueshen joked to tease her, “But I’m a little sad, I can only be a male concubine.”
Gong Xunwu’s eyes flickered, knowing that these words were actually meant for him to hear.
The little princess explained, “Because I think you’re very good-looking, and I also like playing with you. But I can’t guarantee that I’ll always like you, so you can’t be ahusband of a princess. When I don’t like you anymore, I’ll let you go home, and you can marry someone else.”
“She even knows about parting on good terms.” Ye Yueshen smiled.
Gong Xunwu taught her again not to say these kinds of things to others, and then called two maids to send her back.
After sending off the little princess, they no longer had an excuse to visit the concubines. Moreover, seeing too many concubines in one day would seem too purposeful and easily arouse suspicion.
They strolled out of the palace. Having not walked so much in a long time, Ye Yueshen felt a slight pain in his ankles. He walked very slowly, and Gong Xunwu also accompanied him, walking very slowly.
“Do you know why your elder brother hasn’t married yet?” Gong Xunwu asked him.
Ye Yueshen didn’t think it was a strange thing. In his view, his elder brother was still young, and casually asked, “Aren’t you unmarried too?”
Gong Xunwu was silent for a moment. Ye Yueshen thought he didn’t want to talk to him anymore, but Gong Xunwu then told him, “Because your elder brother was originally going to marry the Eldest Princess.”
Ye Yueshen hadn’t heard of this matter. It wasn’t written in the original book either. It wasn’t out of curiosity about the plot, but purely out of gossip about his family. He asked, “Then why didn’t he marry her? Did my elder brother refuse?”
According to his impression of Ye Yuanshen being dignified to the point of being almost rigid, Ye Yuanshen seemed like he could really do something decisive if he didn’t like it.
Gong Xunwu glanced at him: “What makes him think he could?”
Hearing him speak of Ye Yuanshen this way, Ye Yueshen was a little angry. He had already taken the people of the Ye family as his own family. Being mocked by others for his elder brother, Ye Yueshen’s gaze towards Gong Xunwu had a bit more hostility.
“The Eldest Princess is engrossed in studying astrology, neglecting food and sleep, and has no intention of getting married.” Gong Xunwu looked at Ye Yueshen: “Originally, the Emperor still wanted your second brother to marry the Little Princess, but your second brother is too outrageous, so the Emperor still prefers your eldest brother.”
Ye Yueshen was surprised: “The Little Princess is still so young. By the time she grows up, my eldest brother will be an old man.”
Originally, Gong Xunwu brought up this matter to knock Ye Yueshen into shape. Although it wasn’t strange for a couple to be more than ten years apart in this place, and Ye Yuanshen’s character was sufficient. But it was hard to guarantee that the Emperor wouldn’t one day pity his little daughter and dislike Ye Yuanshen for being old.
It was very likely that he would place the choice on Ye Yueshen. This was of course not possible. Gong Xunwu would not allow such a thing to happen.
But Ye Yueshen very seriously told him that his eldest brother was an old man, so what about himself, who was of a similar age to his eldest brother? Gong Xunwu couldn’t help but overthink.
He coldly glanced at Ye Yueshen and didn’t say another word the whole way. Midway, Ye Yueshen asked him, “Can I go home today?” He didn’t receive any reply.
When Ye Yueshen emphasized, “If I don’t go back, my family will suspect,” he only received a cold glare.
After returning to the Prince’s estate, Ye Yueshen ate lunch alone. He spent the entire afternoon alone in Gong Xunwu’s bedroom. He felt that Gong Xunwu’s possessiveness was a bit too much. He had actually just brought him back and left him in the bedroom, without even seeing him.
But when Gong Xunwu came back in the evening and wanted him to take off his clothes, Ye Yueshen regretted it again, thinking that it would be better if he hadn’t come back, and just let him stay alone.
Ye Yueshen imagined himself as a vase on the carved flower stand at the head of the bed, separating his soul from his body.
Gong Xunwu was very fierce tonight, preventing Ye Yueshen’s imagination from continuing. He kept enduring, convincing himself that it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable.
At one pause, Gong Xunwu asked him in a low, slightly panting voice, “Am I old?”
So that’s what it was about. Ye Yueshen suddenly understood. He almost wanted to laugh, but laughing during such a time would be a bit strange. He was afraid of angering Gong Xunwu, so he pursed his lips.
In Gong Xunwu’s eyes, he was like a flower swaying precariously, battered by wind and rain, especially with his tearful eyes and pursed lips, reminding Gong Xunwu of the rose that had a petal torn off.
Gong Xunwu felt that his thoughts had been strange lately. The sentence “Am I old?” that he had just asked was something he had blurted out when he was mentally relaxed. Now he felt a bit embarrassed, so he became even fiercer in his movements, trying to make Ye Yueshen have no time to think back.
Afterwards, Ye Yueshen lay on the pillow, feeling sweat dripping from his forehead, but he had no strength to care.
He quietly spaced out, sorting through the current clues in his mind. Consort Shun was the birth mother of the Third Prince, Gong Yiyin. There was a scent of assassins in Consort Shun’s palace.
But concubines above the rank of pin in the palace all had a share of Warm Tent Incense. Temporarily excluding Consort Gui, who claimed not to like Warm Tent Incense, there was also Virtuous Consort, who was mentioned in the original book.
Virtuous Consort was Gong Xuyin’s adoptive mother. It wasn’t that his friendship with Gong Xuyin was that real, but intuitively, his guess still leaned towards Consort Shun and the Third Prince.
But it would be best to visit Virtuous Consort’s place. Ye Yueshen kept recalling the details of his interactions with Gong Xuyin. When he was in Yousu Ward, it might have been a good opportunity for assassination, but he didn’t die there.
Gong Xunwu scooped him into his arms. He changed from a lying position to lying on his side, with his back to Gong Xunwu.
“When the little princess gave you the incense, why did you have that kind of expression?”
Ye Yueshen was stunned by Gong Xunwu’s question. He would rather Gong Xunwu press him about whether he was old or not, than have him bring up this matter and remind him of the past.
Ye Yueshen prevaricated: “What kind of expression?”
“That… the expression that you didn’t deserve it.” Gong Xunwu turned him around to face him, his eyes filled with a faint exploration.
Ye Yueshen felt his mood become much more depressed. After a long silence, Gong Xunwu wondered if the question he asked was that difficult. Ye Yueshen suddenly reached out and wrapped his arms around his neck, burying his face in his neck.
Ye Yueshen hugged him with considerable force, so Gong Xunwu could be sure that he hadn’t been sleeping the whole time. This kind of close proximity made the frequency of both hearts beating almost the same. Gong Xunwu hugged his waist, feeling that it was good to just lie like this.
But the hug lasted a bit too long. Gong Xunwu wanted to lower his head and kiss him, but he refused to raise his head. This made Gong Xunwu a little dissatisfied. He asked, “Are you not tired?”
Ye Yueshen slapped him on the chin, then moved upwards, finally covering his mouth, turned his back to Gong Xunwu, and warned, “I’m going to sleep.”
Gong Xunwu somewhat doubted if he was such a good-tempered person, but didn’t dwell on it for the sake of enjoying himself tonight.
Because Ye Yueshen wasn’t very comfortable, many of the lights had to be turned off during bed matters, leaving only two lamps on at the head of the bed.
Ye Yueshen couldn’t sleep. Through the gauze curtains, he could see objects outside, some dark, some light.
Looking at them for a long time would trigger some imagination. Gong Xunwu felt the person in his arms trembling. He hugged Ye Yueshen tighter and asked in his ear, “What’s wrong?”
Ye Yueshen stubbornly said it was nothing. He took a few deep breaths, using his willpower to suppress the trembling.
About an hour later, Gong Xunwu had already fallen into a deep sleep, but was poked awake by Ye Yueshen on the shoulder.
Gong Xunwu found that Ye Yueshen’s eyes in the candlelight were radiating grievance and fear. He was leaning next to Gong Xunwu in a half-sitting posture, his whole body trembling very badly.
“What’s wrong?” Gong Xunwu asked again, his voice a little sleepy and hoarse.
Ye Yueshen’s eyes suddenly filled with tears, his voice a little choked: “Over there, in the partition, go see who’s by the gauze curtain…”
Gong Xunwu’s heart, which had risen, fell back down, feeling that Ye Yueshen was a bit childish. He patiently got out of bed to take a look. There was nothing beside the gauze curtain. Outside the window, a shadow of a dark guard appeared, hearing the sound inside the room, meaning there was no danger.
Gong Xunwu’s senses were very sharp. He didn’t feel anything unusual in the room. He returned to the bed, picked up the huddled-up Ye Yueshen, and patted him: “There’s no one there, don’t be afraid.”
Ye Yueshen’s breathing was very rapid. He choked for a while, managing to make a little sound: “Du, Du Ru… Xiang…”
“Don’t be afraid.” Gong Xunwu hugged him tightly, sighing silently.