WMSG Chapter 61
by VolareChapter 61: Rising Untainted from the Mud
Crown Prince Gong Ruiyin was four years younger than the eldest prince, Gong Jinyin, and two years older than the ninth imperial uncle, Gong Xunwu.
When he could speak, he called Gong Jinyin “Big Brother” and the Gong Xunwu lying in the crib “Ninth Uncle.”
At that time, he was too young, so young that even the palace rules didn’t restrict him. No one would be so strict as to require a child who didn’t understand anything to salute a crib.
He didn’t even know that “Ninth Uncle” was a kinship term, and thought that the baby’s name was Ninth Uncle.
At first, his big brother Gong Jinyin took him to play, and then they had a little tail. When he was four years old, he learned etiquette and was required to salute and greet the “Ninth Uncle” who couldn’t even speak clearly.
The late emperor, whom he used to call “Imperial Grandfather,” would only pick up his eldest grandson, ask about his studies and tease him a few times. He was only mentioned by the late emperor when he said, “I will reward Jin’er with sweet cakes, go and enjoy them with your second brother.”
But the late emperor would hold his “Ninth Uncle” in his arms, prick his face with his beard, and call him “Ya’er” with loving eyes.
At that time, his birth mother was not yet a Noble Consort, but only a Consort of Grace, and would encourage him to please the emperor. He mustered up his courage and called out “Imperial Grandfather,” but the late emperor only glanced at him and said to his attendant, “I’m busy, take him out.”
He remembered the servant pinching his armpits and picking him up, quickly taking him away.
Later, the late emperor passed away, and then even the eldest prince, Gong Jinyin, died.
On the day he was made Crown Prince, it was the end of winter. He wore a brand-new Prince’s python robe and held the edict of conferment in his hand. He took off the crown and held it in his arms, the smell of incense ash lingering in his nose.
Gong Xunwu came out of Zhaoyang Palace, wearing a bright yellow cloak, which showed that the emperor had told him to wear it to avoid catching a cold.
Gong Xunwu nodded to him and said coldly, “Congratulations, nephew, for getting what you wanted.”
Gong Ruiyin’s teeth itched with anger. When he was a child, he couldn’t even speak clearly, and followed him anxiously, afraid of being left behind, only able to blurt out single words: “Rui… Rui…”
After his conferment ceremony was completed, he actually gave him such a look.
Gong Ruiyin saluted him respectfully, “Greetings, Ninth Imperial Uncle. It has just snowed, Ninth Imperial Uncle, be careful where you step.”
He no longer remembered when he had overcome his contempt and shame, and humbly greeted his “Imperial Uncle,” who was two years younger than him, with diligent greetings.
But watching Gong Xunwu pull up his cloak and leave in front of him, he poked his palm with the edict again and again, envying the identity of the late emperor’s youngest son. He wouldn’t trade the position of Qi Wang, who could quarrel with the emperor without restraint, even for the position of Crown Prince.
Gong Ruiyin sat on the soft couch in the elegant room on the third floor of the Yuguang Xuan, watching Ye Yueshen being led in by the attendant. Even though he had seen countless beauties in the palace, he was still amazed by Ye Yueshen’s face.
He once again sighed in his heart, Gong Xunwu really had a good life.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.” Ye Yueshen saluted him.
Time passed little by little, and the attendant beside the Crown Prince reminded him, “Your Highness?”
Gong Ruiyin came back to his senses and found that there was another person behind Ye Yueshen, dressed simply and elegantly, not like an attendant.
Gong Ruiyin smiled, “Zherong is here, please sit down.”
Ye Yueshen sat down on a wooden stool not too close and not too far away. Yuan Bianyin saluted again and said in a humble but firm voice, “Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Gong Ruiyin looked over at the sound and smiled very faintly, “Which brother is this from your family?”
“A cousin from my aunt’s family.” Ye Yueshen recited a passage from the original book: “My mother is a daughter of the Marquis’s Mansion, and my father was a Tan Hua scholar, who once served as a Judicial Officer, and is now posted to Yanzhou, serving as the prefect of Mangzhou.”
Gong Ruiyin nodded, and then looked at Ye Yueshen again, not caring much.
That day in the temple, Gong Ruiyin had wanted to be cruel and suffer some injuries in order to clear himself of certain suspicions about appearing near the villa.
He didn’t expect that Ye Yueshen, who looked weak, would have the courage to overcome his fear and turn back to save him, which was completely unexpected.
A person who can risk his life to save the Crown Prince must be rewarded and trusted. But the timing of their appearance near the villa was not right, so large-scale rewards were not possible, and trust was not easy to achieve, because Ye Yueshen was Gong Xunwu’s man.
Gong Ruiyin looked at Ye Yueshen, and the more he looked at him, the more he liked him. Now was the time to be surprised and moved after being rescued, and he couldn’t help but give him some benefits.
Anyone with a bit of conscience would find it difficult to hate someone who wanted to save them. Although Gong Ruiyin didn’t need him to save him, it was good that he had this intention.
“Your Highness.” Ye Yueshen called out, “Yueshen went to the Du residence.”
“You’ve been there?” The Crown Prince wasn’t very interested in this matter, “It’s nothing to go and see. You came early, have you had dinner?”
Ye Yueshen said softly that he had eaten, and Yuan Bianyin next to him looked at him in surprise. He didn’t expect that even the Crown Prince could show such an approachable side to him.
He couldn’t help but size up his unambitious cousin, who used to hang out with gangsters and got a reputation for being chivalrous.
But Yuan Bianyin looked down on him. Later, he offended the fourth prince for the sake of the fifth prince and was beaten. Yuan Bianyin felt that he deserved the beating. He acted righteously in the palace, making the prince his enemy of justice. Not to mention getting beaten, he would only be unlucky if he died.
But unexpectedly, he got lucky because of the disaster. Not only did he become close to the princes, but he also got in touch with Qi Wang.
The more Yuan Bianyin looked at Ye Yueshen, the more he felt that he was nothing more than this. The people who praised him were only praising his good-looking face.
Apart from his innate appearance, Ye Yueshen was really not good enough. Thinking of this, Yuan Bianyin straightened his back and turned to the attendant and said, “Please give me a bowl of noodles, I came out in a hurry this morning and I’m hungry.”
The attendant looked at the Crown Prince, who tapped his finger lightly, which was considered a permission, and the attendant went out.
Ye Yueshen pretended not to see it, and didn’t care about Yuan Bianyin’s personality and thoughts, which were no different from those described in the original book. He just grabbed the Crown Prince’s attention back, “Your Highness.”
“What’s wrong, Zherong?” The Crown Prince even got up and walked to his side.
Ye Yueshen looked at Yuan Bianyin, “Cousin, eat your noodles first, I’ll be back soon with His Highness.”
Yuan Bianyin’s eyes darkened, and he cursed Ye Yueshen hundreds of times in his heart.
The Crown Prince didn’t mind Ye Yueshen making decisions for him and followed Ye Yueshen out the door.
The two strolled around in a secluded place in the courtyard. Ye Yueshen thought for a while and said with feigned guilt, “I troubled Your Highness that day. Yueshen feels very sorry.”
The Crown Prince said indifferently, “How can you be blamed for this? Don’t think too much.”
Ye Yueshen sighed, “Actually, Yueshen came here today with a chaotic heart, fearing that something bad will happen again and affect Your Highness. To tell you the truth, Yueshen has been having bad luck recently, and I’m an ominous person.”
The Crown Prince was amused by him, “How can there be such a thing as an ominous person? You’re just a child at heart, thinking too much.”
“I originally wanted to invite Your Highness to go hunting and stay in the manor at night.” Ye Yueshen said regretfully, “But I think I should forget it.”
“Why forget it?” The Crown Prince was a little interested in his words. Ye Yueshen knew that the Crown Prince, like Gong Xunwu, liked hunting. Gong Xunwu liked hunting at night, and the Crown Prince liked hunting in winter.
Ye Yueshen sighed, clearly concealing something, “I can’t explain it clearly for a while.”
“You don’t have to be afraid of everything, what bad luck? What if the bad luck is gone?” The Crown Prince patted Ye Yueshen on the shoulder, “Don’t think too much, just go with me, I’ll take responsibility if something happens.”
The Crown Prince’s tone was firm, and there was a hint of arrogance.
His arrogance was different from Gong Xunwu’s. Gong Xunwu’s arrogance was reflected in his indifference and disregard for everyone.
The Crown Prince’s arrogance was more acute. His indifference had turned into undisguised ruthlessness. His attitude towards everyone was contempt that surpassed indifference. His arrogance had an active aggressiveness.
“Your Highness doesn’t know, Yueshen needs to get my mother’s permission before doing anything.” Ye Yueshen didn’t continue talking about hunting. He walked forward silently, thinking about what excuse to use to go home. He was a little tired of it now.
The Crown Prince stopped at the door of a small pavilion, and the attendant understood and stepped forward to open the door. In the small pavilion was a large water tank, and a few withered lotus leaves floated in the water tank.
Ye Yueshen vaguely felt that he could smell the rancid smell of taro paste and asked softly, “Does Your Highness want to rely on a small pavilion to keep the summer lotus in winter?”
The Crown Prince smiled meaningfully, “Does Zherong think I can’t keep it?”
Why don’t you open your eyes and take a look, the leaves are rotten. Ye Yueshen smiled, “It depends on human effort.”
“This is a blue water lily, a precious flower that was presented as tribute.” If the Crown Prince didn’t say it, it would be difficult to tell what kind it was.
Since it was a precious variety presented as tribute, why not keep it in the East Palace? Keeping the water lily in the Yuguang Xuan, a restaurant used to collect information, and showing the precious water lily to the diners who were drinking and having fun, wasn’t this a bit too condescending for the Crown Prince? How could he do something to please others? Except for the Emperor, weren’t all the common people and dignitaries in his eyes just lowly people?
Ye Yueshen stepped forward and took a look. The attendant next to the Crown Prince’s heart was in his throat, and his eyes immediately followed.
Ye Yueshen understood the importance of this tank of water lilies. He asked, “Do the Crown Princess and the nobles of the East Palace all like water lilies?”
“They don’t like it.” A moment of impatience appeared on the Crown Prince’s face, “They are all unrefined people, or they may pretend to be elegant, but they won’t sincerely like it. They always follow my preferences.”
Ye Yueshen stepped back, “Then does Your Highness like it?”
“I like it.” There was some seriousness in the Crown Prince’s eyes, “‘Rising untainted from the mud,’ the good character of the lotus.”
Ye Yueshen stepped back a few steps and distanced himself from the tank of precious water lilies, “Presumably, the noble who likes water lilies also has such a character.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes softened, and the corners of his mouth also slightly curled up, staring at a pot of withered lotus leaves in a daze.
Ye Yueshen withdrew his gaze. The Crown Prince claimed to like lotus flowers, and Ye Yueshen intentionally praised him, but the Crown Prince did not respond with modesty or other expressions.
Judging from his reaction and expression, the Crown Prince was thinking of someone else who liked lotus flowers, and did not include himself.
Also, judging from the Crown Prince’s reaction when Ye Yueshen mentioned the nobles of the East Palace, this tank of lotus flowers was not kept in the East Palace. Perhaps the one who liked lotus flowers was the Crown Prince’s confidante?
When Ye Yueshen left, Yuan Bianyin claimed that he hadn’t finished his noodles, and said very considerately, “If you’re busy, cousin, you don’t have to wait for me. I’ll go back by myself later.”
Ye Yueshen glanced at the Crown Prince next to him. Since Yuan Bianyin had a plan, Ye Yueshen had no reason to stay and interfere.
Ye Yueshen got into the sedan. He called out, “Xuewen?”
Xuewen pushed open the sedan door and looked over, “What’s wrong, Third Master?”
Ye Yueshen originally wanted to order Xuewen to drive to Qi Wang’s Mansion. He wanted to ask Gong Xunwu if the Crown Prince had a confidante he often met, but after calling out Xuewen, he remembered that he was no longer in a position to go to Qi Wang’s Mansion at will.
And he had taken the initiative to cut it off. He was stunned for a while, and in Xuewen’s questioning gaze, he said, “Let’s go home.”
Ye Yueshen had dinner with his father and mother. The matron next to his mother came over and said, “Your Ladyship, Lord Marquis, the young master hasn’t come home today. The servant next to him said that the young master will stay out for one night, but didn’t say where he’s staying.”
Marquis Ye wasn’t worried, “Yin’er is a child who knows what he’s doing.”
The Junzhu didn’t react much either, “When he comes back tomorrow, ask him clearly where he went.”