Troublemaker Prince C42
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 42
It was almost impossible to achieve a peaceful separation from someone of the royal family. At least since the founding of the Great Jing, You Yusui had never heard of anyone successfully separating peacefully from a member of the imperial family. However, You Yusui had heard of cases where women remarried after their husbands died.
"If she is willing to become a blade in my hand aimed at the Third Prince," You Yusui said while reaching out to gently wipe away the sugar crumbs from the corner of Huo Xiling's mouth, "then whether she remarries or establishes her own independent household, I will help her."
"Your Highness truly has a kind heart," Huo Xiling said as he took You Yusui's fingers that were at the corner of his mouth into his mouth.
According to the deal, You Yusui only needed to help Su Yingying escape from You Yushan. Whether Su Yingying remarried afterward or went far away to live alone had nothing to do with You Yusui.
You Yusui's face flushed red as Huo Xiling held his fingers in his mouth, and he turned his head away, saying, "She's just a pitiful person, that's all."
Su Yingying was indeed a pitiful person, innocently caught up in this game of chess. When he saw her persisting in integrity and uprightness, believing she could break free from her constraints through her own strength, You Yusui seemed to see his first life's self.
Demanding everything of oneself according to the conduct of a gentleman—what did that get him? He could only hope that Miss Su wouldn't be too foolish.
Finally, You Yusui let out a sigh.
Huo Xiling held him in his embrace and said softly, "Your Highness, sleep. I am here."
"Mm."
On the other side, Su Yingying had already dried the tears on her face, though her eyes were still somewhat red.
At this moment, Xiao Yue was already waiting for Su Yingying at their agreed-upon location, carrying the lotus cakes.
"Miss, what happened to you?" Xiao Yue couldn't help but ask when she saw Su Yingying's appearance, her expression both worried and anxious.
Su Yingying said calmly, "I'm fine. I was splattered with oil while making the lotus cakes earlier. It hurt, which is why my eyes became red from crying."
"I understand," Xiao Yue nodded.
"Let's go deliver the lotus cakes to His Highness." After saying this, Su Yingying took the lotus cakes from Xiao Yue's hands and slowly walked toward her bedchamber.
At this moment, You Yushan had already fallen asleep on Su Yingying's bed due to the calming incense. It wasn't until Su Yingying pushed open the door and entered from outside that You Yushan woke from his sleep.
"How did I fall asleep?" You Yushan asked, rubbing his forehead.
Su Yingying placed the lotus cakes to the side and helped You Yushan sit up from the bed, saying, "Perhaps Your Highness has been too tired these past few days."
"Mm." You Yushan responded noncommittally.
Then You Yushan raised his head and noticed Su Yingying's slightly reddened eyes.
"What happened to your eyes?" You Yushan asked.
Su Yingying lowered her head and said, "When frying the lotus cakes, oil accidentally splattered on me. I'm delicate and couldn't help shedding tears."
You Yushan couldn't help but frown, and finally said, "Such tasks should be left to the servants."
"Yes."
After lunch ended, Su Yingying finally endured through the painful wait and found an opportunity to be alone with her grandfather.
In Minister Su's study, Su Yingying looked at Minister Su and called out, "Grandfather."
"What brings you to me?" Minister Su looked at his granddaughter with gentle eyes.
Su Yingying asked with a serious expression, "Does Grandfather truly know who the real culprit was that ruined my reputation at the Spring Banquet?"
Minister Su remained silent. He did not agree with the claim that the real culprit was the Eldest Prince. Although Su Zhou and the Imperial Noble Consort did not have a good relationship, the Imperial Noble Consort wouldn't be foolish enough to harm her own people.
However, the evidence uncovered by the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Administration pointed to this, and His Majesty had said so as well. Even if Minister Su had doubts, he had no choice but to accept it as such.
"You know?" Minister Su straightened his expression and looked at Su Yingying.
Su Yingying bit her lip and said, "I saw the evidence. I learned the truth."
Then Su Yingying looked at her grandfather, the only person capable of helping her. So Su Yingying said, "Grandfather, I want a peaceful separation."
As her words fell, Minister Su's face showed shock, anger, and gravity—everything except tenderness and support.
It wasn't until Minister Su spoke that Su Yingying's heart completely died.
"Do you know what you're saying?"
"Your marriage to the Prince of Wu was personally bestowed by His Majesty. You've only been married to the Prince of Wu for three days and already want to make a fuss about divorce—how will His Majesty view the Su family? How will the people of the realm view the Su family?"
"But Grandfather, you taught me to be upright and honest. I don't want to be husband and wife with such a disgusting and vile person. I'm disgusted!" Su Yingying couldn't help but argue.
"Enough!" Minister Su shouted sternly.
"Today, you never came to see me. Forget all these words you said and properly return to be your Princess of Wu." Minister Su said, breathing heavily.
Su Yingying stared blankly at the grandfather who had taught her to conduct herself like a gentleman. Finally, she knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Minister Su, saying, "This granddaughter understands. I will never mention this matter again."
Hearing this, Minister Su's breathing finally became somewhat smoother. He then waved his hand and said, "You may leave."
Just like that, Su Yingying left Minister Su's study like a wandering soul.
Did she really have to spend her entire life with the despicable and contemptible Third Prince? She instantly felt nauseous.
This outcome was absolutely not what she wanted!
So Su Yingying turned her gaze toward the separate residence not far from the Su family estate. She thought that as long as it didn't harm her family, she was willing to make this deal with His Highness the Crown Prince.
Soon, Su Yingying had sorted out her emotions. She was still that Miss Su of the Su family who knew nothing, who had just married the Prince of Wu to become his principal consort.
However, looking at herself in the mirror, Su Yingying couldn't help but think: How hypocritical.
Night had fallen deep. After Su Yingying and You Yushan had dinner at the Su residence, they returned to the Prince of Wu's estate. Meanwhile, You Yusui at the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace also received news from Su Yingying.
"She agreed," Huo Xiling said, opening the secret letter.
She agreed to become the Crown Prince's eyes and ears beside the Prince of Wu, collecting evidence of the Prince of Wu's crimes. And You Yusui would need to give her the freedom she desired after three years.
This deal was worthwhile for Su Yingying—three years in exchange for a lifetime of freedom was better than spending her entire life locked beside the Prince of Wu in melancholy.
"That's good." You Yusui was very satisfied with this result.
Huo Xiling burned the letter in his hand using the brazier, then said to You Yusui, who was lying on the bed, "Your Highness, you should rest. Starting tomorrow, you'll need to attend morning court."
You Yusui rolled over on the bed and sprawled out like a salted fish, saying, "If you didn't mention this, I would be very happy."
Huo Xiling reached out to stroke You Yusui's long hair that had spread out behind him, saying, "Then Your Highness should sleep even earlier, lest you can't get up tomorrow morning."
The Great Jing's morning court began at the Hour of Mao, which meant You Yusui had to get up before dawn.
The previous You Yusui might have been very willing to attend court, to shine brightly in the court hall, suppressing the Eldest Prince and Third Prince until they couldn't breathe, even if he had to support his sick body.
But now, You Yusui had absolutely no interest in attending court. Every day he had to crawl out of bed before dawn, put on his court robes, and then arrive at Xuanzheng Hall in the main hall of Weiyang Palace before You Fengyun arrived, waiting for You Fengyun to come, and then stand for one or two hours.
Although You Fengyun was now willing to give him a chair to sit on, going from luxury to frugality is difficult. You Yusui had already enjoyed sleeping in and Huo Xiling's embrace—how could he care about a broken chair in Xuanzheng Hall?
"If I could, I really don't want to attend court. I'd rather just stay in bed with you forever," You Yusui said, grabbing Huo Xiling's hand.
"There will be plenty of opportunities in the future," Huo Xiling said, stroking You Yusui's head and softening his voice, trying to lull You Yusui to sleep.
You Yusui was very cooperative with Huo Xiling. As long as Huo Xiling was by his side, he could always fall asleep peacefully.
Early the next morning, before dawn, the entire Eastern Palace had already awakened. This was their Crown Prince's first day attending court, so Eunuch Fubao naturally paid special attention to it.
Huo Xiling pulled You Yusui out from under the covers, and then the palace attendants dressed You Yusui, who hadn't even opened his eyes, in his Crown Prince's court robes. Finally, amid all the commotion, Huo Xiling lifted You Yusui onto the palanquin.
Despite all this fuss, You Yusui still didn't open his eyes.
"Your Highness can doze off for a bit," Huo Xiling said. "I'll escort Your Highness to court."
"Mm." You Yusui, with his eyes closed, responded, but showed no signs of opening his eyes.
Huo Xiling smiled, then personally covered You Yusui with the cloak in his hands to prevent You Yusui from catching cold.
"When we reach Xuanzheng Hall, there's a long section of white jade steps. Except for the Emperor's imperial carriage, nothing else is allowed up there. But I can't climb them, so will you carry me up?"
The Crown Prince acting spoiled with his eyes closed was especially adorable. After hearing this, Huo Xiling naturally agreed without hesitation.
When You Yusui's palanquin arrived at Xuanzheng Hall, some officials had already gathered outside Xuanzheng Hall.
When they saw that the Crown Prince's palanquin had actually stopped at the bottom of the steps before Xuande Hall, they all showed expressions of disbelief. Next, they saw a young man lift the Crown Prince who was sitting in the palanquin, then walk straight toward Xuanzheng Hall.
"This, this, this... How improper!" Some officials couldn't help but scold.
Hearing this, You Yusui couldn't help but curl his lips slightly. How improper? Did they know that his good Father Emperor had even placed a chair for him in Xuanzheng Hall?
"The Crown Prince is so extravagant and debauched, I must certainly impeach him!"
After they entered Xuanzheng Hall, they discovered that there was actually a chair placed in Xuanzheng Hall, with soft cushions on it, and the Crown Prince was sitting on it lazily.
"Go ahead and impeach this prince. This prince will sit right here and listen to your impeachment," You Yusui said lazily. "Anyway, it was Father Emperor who told this prince to sit, not that this prince insisted on sitting. This prince doesn't want this either."
Hearing this, the officials' expressions twisted. Looking at the delicate Crown Prince before them, they felt he was like a completely different person from the previous Crown Prince.
"When the time comes, the one troubled will certainly be Father Emperor. Not only do you not share Father Emperor's burdens, but you even add to Father Emperor's troubles," You Yusui accused.
The officials: …..
"Forget it, this prince is at fault. Why don't this prince leave now? This prince won't have to force his sick body to attend court in the future either." You Yusui covered his face and wept.
The officials: ... You've said everything there is to say, haven't you?
Meanwhile, You Fengyun, who had been in the rear hall of Xuanzheng Hall organizing his court robes, looked at An Hai beside him and said, "He just wants to go back and sleep, doesn't he?"
An Hai: "This..."
"Hmph." You Fengyun gave a cold snort, then walked out.
An Hai quickly called out, "His Majesty arrives."
The majestic and solemn Emperor walked out from the rear hall and sat on the dragon throne, then swept his gaze across the officials.
"Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!" The officials paid their respects.
"All officials may rise." After speaking, You Fengyun looked at the Crown Prince, whose bottom had returned to sitting on the chair, and called on the officials to learn from the Crown Prince—to learn from the Crown Prince's spirit of crawling to court even when gravely ill and bedridden.
You Yusui: ...
If this weren't morning court, You Yusui would have wanted to curse already.
Only Xie Tan, spacing out, thought: His Majesty is truly eloquent—he both irked the Crown Prince and made all the officials work diligently for him, not even daring to request sick leave.