On Our Wedding Night, I Discovered the Crown Prince's Hidden Illness

Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Hiding Alone in Bed Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Hiding Alone in Bed Lai Ran slapped the armrest and rose to leave, “No, I must bring her back!”

“Come back!” Lai Taihong shouted at his retreating figure, “Now that it has come to this, do you really want everyone to know you have awoken?”

“The Crown Prince’s attendants are all skilled. You won’t be able to stop them halfway. Do you also plan to follow her to the Imperial Palace? How will you explain it to the Emperor then?”

Lai Taihong pointed at his son from head to toe, “A person who has just awoken from a ten-day stupor wouldn’t look as vigorous as you do now.”

“Wait a few days before going out and say you’ve recovered. That will be more believable.”

Lai Ran returned to his seat, “Father, do you think the Crown Prince won’t tell the Emperor about my awakening?”

“Don’t underestimate the Crown Prince for his blindness; his ‘vision’ is sharp.” Lai Taihong paused before adding, “Since he wishes to marry Yan’er, he won’t mention it for now.”

“Moreover,” Lai Taihong continued, “the Emperor might not agree to his request for marriage.”

Lai Ran was puzzled, “Why do you say that?”

Lai Taihong explained, “The Emperor has the final say on granting or annulling marriages. To discover the same person is concerned in two marriage decrees would be a loss of face for him. That’s why he didn’t enforce the second decree.”

Lai Ran calmed down, reflecting on when his daughter had become fond of the Crown Prince.

He immediately summoned Leng Yu Yan to the study.

As soon as Leng Yu Yan entered the study, Lai Taihong and Lai Ran took turns questioning her about how she could have fallen for the Crown Prince.

Faced with her grandfather and Father King’s anger, Leng Yu Yan didn’t know what to say.

The Old Princess Consort heard the news and came to the study, pulling Leng Yu Yan aside and whispering, “Yan’er, the Crown Prince is not only blind and frail but also impotent. Do you really like him, wanting to marry him?”

Upon hearing this, both Father King and grandfather turned to look at her.

Leng Yu Yan forced a smile, realizing her family was already aware.

At that moment, Li Yuyue also arrived in the study and said gravely, “Sister must have been coerced by the Crown Prince!”

Lai Ran looked at Leng Yu Yan, “Is that true?”

Leng Yu Yan pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

Li Yuyue recounted all the unpleasant encounters between Leng Yu Yan and the Crown Prince during her stay in the Eastern Palace.

“My sister’s relationship with the Crown Prince was nothing but turmoil and mutual dislike. The only possible reason for her firm decision to marry the Crown Prince must be…”

“What is it?” Lai Ran urged impatiently, “Out with it, lad!”

Li Yuyue’s expression turned grave, “The only possibility is that she agreed to marry the Crown Prince to protect our Prince Mansion.”

Understanding the situation of the Prince Zhenbei Mansion in the capital, everyone suddenly realized.

“Isn’t this just selling off the daughter for safety?” Lai Ran roared lowly, flailing his arm, “I refuse to comply!”

“Father King, don’t be angry!” Leng Yu Yan stepped forward, grasping Lai Ran’s arm, “It is my own wish to marry the Crown Prince.”

Her elder brother, the Heir of Prince Zhenbei, was indeed astute and strategically brilliant, unearthing her careful considerations completely clean.

“Is this what you call voluntary?” Lai Ran pinched Leng Yu Yan’s shoulder with a pained expression, “Child, you have suffered since you were young, and sometimes your Father King truly hopes you weren’t so sensible, that just living carefree would be enough. Protecting our home, that’s your brother’s duty!”

Leng Yu Yan softly explained, “Father King, rest assured, the Crown Prince merely wants to keep me by his side obediently as his Crown Princess Consort. Meanwhile, he will protect the Prince Mansion. It’s a worthwhile trade.”

The Old Princess Consort, shaken, asked, “Yan’er, haven’t you thought about what your future husband would be like?”

Leng Yu Yan shook her head, “Grandmother, to be honest, I never thought about marrying. Since that’s the case, marrying the Crown Prince isn’t unthinkable.”

Additionally, it could be beneficial for the Prince Mansion.

The family fell into contemplation.

Before long, they all came to the same conclusion; if the Emperor indeed issued a decree for marriage, the Crown Prince being impotent might actually be good news.

—
Imperial Palace, Xiande Hall, Imperial Study.

Ye Yiheng bowed, “Father Emperor, your son wishes to take Princess Beilan as his wife. Please grant your approval!”

The Emperor frowned and looked up, feigning solemnity, “It’s not that I refuse. You know the standing of Prince Zhenbei Mansion in Tiancheng. I must give them some respect as well.”

He shifted the main reason for rejecting the marriage to the Prince Zhenbei Mansion while planting an image in the Crown Prince’s mind that the Prince Zhenbei Mansion considered themselves above others.

Ye Yiheng stood erect, “Father Emperor, your son has already obtained the approval of the Old Prince. He has agreed to let the Princess marry me.”

To prevent Father Emperor from being overly suspicious, he did not mention Prince Zhenbei.

The Emperor was visibly surprised, “He agreed?”

“Indeed, the Princess herself is also willing to marry your son!”

The Emperor’s expression darkened, “By all accounts, I should agree, but Princess Beilan’s mother has a tarnished reputation. If I were to grant marriage now, wouldn’t it make us the laughingstock of the entire realm?”

“So, Father Emperor means that if I can restore the reputation of the Princess’s mother, you would agree to the marriage between her and your son?”

Ye Yiheng’s eyes, hidden beneath his eye veil, shifted subtly, capturing the change in the Emperor’s demeanor, with a trace of mockery fleeting through his gaze.

The Emperor nodded faintly, “Exactly.”

Given Princess Beilan’s age, it had been sixteen years; how could it be possible to clear the matter up now?

Of course, it couldn’t be done.

If it couldn’t be done, then the Crown Prince’s wish to marry Leng Yu Yan would never come to fruition.

“If the Crown Prince has nothing else, you may leave,” the Emperor said, picking up a petition and starting to read.

Seeing the Emperor pretending to be busy, Ye Yiheng did not intend to expose him. After bowing, he took his leave.

Once the Crown Prince had departed, the Emperor, filled with anger, threw the petition at Eunuch Ye’s feet.

“All of them are good for nothing, can’t even find a Divine Doctor?”

He did not want to pass the throne to any Prince. What could be more solid than holding the power within his own hands?

Eunuch Ye picked up the petition, “Please calm your anger, Emperor. The Divine Doctor comes and goes without a trace; indeed hard to find.”

—
That night.

The moonlight was like water, the shadows of the trees were swaying, and the light cast a mottled pattern.

Leng Yu Yan lay on her back on the bed, her eyes wide open as she stared at the ceiling of the tent.

Suddenly, a creaking and rustling sound came through; she hurriedly opened the brocade tent.

Bathed in the moonlight streaming through the window, she saw Ye Yiheng clad in dark garments, climbing through the window.

“The esteemed Crown Prince, acting like a common thief!”

Ye Yiheng let out a short laugh and walked over to the table, helping himself unceremoniously to a cup of tea.

Leng Yu Yan was only wearing her nightgown at the moment, not in a position to get out of bed. She could only snuggle in her blanket and glower at him, “What are you here for?”

“The Emperor said he will grant marriage only if the reputation of the Princess’s mother is restored. This problem is somewhat tricky, so I’ve come to seek the Princess’s counsel.”

Ye Yiheng idly played with the teacup in his hand. Under the moonlight, his pale skin radiated a captivating glow. Holding the cup, he looked both elegant and indolent, a sight for sore eyes.

Just then, Miao Zhu’s voice came from outside, “Why has the Princess come over?”

Yun Family smiled and said, “Hearing that Yan’er is to marry the Crown Prince, this Consort couldn’t help but worry. I’ve come to have a heart-to-heart with her.”

Not caring that she was wearing only a nightgown, Leng Yu Yan jumped out of bed and grabbed someone, “Quick, hide!”

Ye Yiheng glanced at the pale small hand on his dark robe and then looked up leisurely, sizing her up.

“Where should I hide?”

Leng Yu Yan looked around. With the man’s tall frame, neither behind a screen nor in a wardrobe could he hide. Seeing the bed with the brocade tent hanging down, she urgently said, “Under the bed!”