Chapter 40: Terminal Stage of Love-Struck? Beyond Saving, Awaiting the End

Qin Ye ordered the construction of relief institutes in the major county cities to aid orphans, widowed mothers, and elderly people with no children. Because this was a long-term, bottomless endeavor, Qin Ye felt even the money at hand was insufficient.

If Huayang had mentioned her desire for children earlier, he would have found her a whole courtyard full of them, calling her "mother" every day.

Qin Ye rubbed his brow. "Is there anything else?"

"Your Highness fears His Majesty and the Empress will not approve of her marriage, so she has already been intimate with Young Master Xue. She returned to the palace and met the Empress, claiming she carries Xue family's child. If she is not allowed to marry, she will starve herself to death—two lives lost."

Well. Well, well, well. How wonderful.

The Empress had revealed nothing, which showed she knew Huayang's actions were disgraceful. Not only Qin Ye, even the Emperor himself would not be able to help Huayang; hence, she instinctively concealed the truth.

No wonder, now that her own son's claim to succession was lost, the Empress made no fuss, simply accepted her fate.

Qin Ye had thought the Empress was so wise and selfless, not greedy for power. Turns out, she was waiting for this moment.

Yang Lao, though he said nothing, surely knew the Empress could not defy Huayang, nor could she truly watch her die, or let her reputation be damaged.

Thus, Huayang’s threat worked. The Empress would find a way, ensuring Qin Ye remained ignorant of the truth, and blindly grant marriage between Huayang and Young Master Xue.

And it must be quick, for if Huayang’s condition showed, the matter would not stay hidden.

Sure enough, the next day, Qin Ye received word from the Empress’s palace: she had arranged a banquet to discuss Huayang’s marriage.

Huayang’s marriage had never been settled; the Empress was more anxious than Qin Ye. When Qin Ye named Qin Ming as Crown Prince, the Empress did nothing. She even restrained ministers who had previously sided with Qin Yun, preventing them from causing trouble.

Who would not owe her a debt for this?

So, when the Empress invited him, Qin Ye naturally gave her face.

Huayang had grown into her beauty, her features following the Empress, like a peony in full bloom, noble and radiant.

With beauty and power, how could Huayang be so muddled? Qin Ye sighed with regret.

The Empress noticed and cautiously probed, "Is Your Majesty troubled?"

"I worry over Huayang’s marriage," Qin Ye replied.

The Empress smiled, "Your Majesty need not worry. Huayang has finally found a suitable match. Please look—here is his portrait."

The Xue family was not of noble descent; their ancestor, at best, held a third-rank post. Now, with Xue Yulang, the family had fallen further. But Xue Yulang was talented and handsome, an elegant gentleman.

The Empress smiled graciously, speaking praise without pause. Huayang blushed shyly, demure as a young maiden.

Qin Ye glanced at the portrait—it was the feminine features of a young man, attractive, the type favored by women nowadays.

He looked past the portrait, gazing meaningfully at Huayang. "Huayang, are you certain you must have Young Master Xue?"

"Father, you once promised I could choose my own beloved."

"Do you know Young Master Xue well, his character?"

"No matter how Yulang is, I am determined."

The Empress grew anxious; Huayang’s demeanor was not that of someone innocent with Young Master Xue.

If the Emperor grew suspicious and investigated, it would all be over.

Qin Ye stared intently at Huayang. "Are you sure?"

Huayang nodded, "I am sure. I beg you, Father, grant me this marriage."

She rose, knelt on the floor, head bowed.

Qin Ye clicked his tongue. Raising children was truly exhausting.

He had arranged for Huayang to be educated in all manners, including love between men and women, given her storybooks of romance, then had them reveal the truth behind those pretty facades.

Yet, her obsession with love remained so deeply rooted?

No matter. Put aside the urge to help, respect others' destinies.

Children have their own fortunes.

They grow up, their wings strengthen, they can fly; as parents, it’s time to let go.

A jumble of thoughts flashed through Qin Ye’s mind, but his expression remained unreadable.

The atmosphere became tense; the palace attendants dared not breathe, the Empress held her breath, not daring to speak.

After a long while, Qin Ye finally said, "This is your last chance. If you insist, so be it. I grant you your wish. Issue the decree: Xue Yulang, handsome as Pan An, is to marry the princess."

He gave the decree carelessly, not even bothering to mention virtue or talent, simply praising Xue Yulang’s looks.

This told everyone that Xue Yulang had become consort thanks to his face.

The Empress’s heart skipped a beat, worried. Men cared deeply about their dignity.

The decree shredded Xue Yulang’s pride; he could not complain to the Emperor, so his resentment would fall upon Huayang.

Moreover, Huayang lost her virtue before marriage; even the Xue family would look down on her.

This marriage would hardly be happy.

Huayang, however, thought nothing of it. She immediately thanked him joyfully.

When Qin Ye granted the marriage, Huayang felt a strange sense of loss, but paid it no mind, her heart full only of joy at finally being with her beloved.

Qin Ye saw it clearly. The banquet was unappetizing, and he left with a sullen face.

He did not even bother with an excuse, clearly unhappy, but Huayang was oblivious.

Qin Ye: ...

Love was truly cloying.

The trouble was, this was not true love at all.

A man with ambiguous relations with his cousin, entangled with his own maid, defying his parents for her sake.

What redeeming quality did he have?

If Young Master Xue had sought the maid’s hand as wife, Qin Ye could at least respect him as a passionate soul.

But he merely wanted her as a concubine.

As his personal maid, he could bring her into his household openly; no one would object.

Such an easy matter, and yet his mother believed the maid was arrogant, refusing to agree to her becoming a concubine. Thus, the two fell out.

He handled household affairs like a mess, so nothing else could be expected.

Emperor Yong’an was one thing.

But Qin Ye, wise and capable, could not believe his own child was so foolish.

Oh, the child was not raised by him from young?

That explains it.

Of course, as wise and capable as he was, how could he fail at raising his own offspring?

Having found the root of the problem, Qin Ye felt relieved.

Until Huayang was married with great pomp and moved to the Princess’s mansion, Qin Ye’s mood remained fairly good.

Then, Yang Lao came rushing in, panic-stricken. "Your Majesty, this old servant has just learned that Prince Chu has secretly left the capital. He is no longer in the city. The Crown Prince discovered it."

Qin Ye: "Oh."

He responded blandly, then asked Yang Lao, "Does he not know that leaving the capital without permission is a capital offense?"

"Prince Chu must have some urgent matter..."

Qin Ye looked annoyed. "What about the Crown Prince?"

"He has already entered the palace."

"Bring him to me."

"Yes."

Why had Qin Yun left the capital?

Oh, wasn’t the Xie family exiled to the frontier? Lady Xie was imprisoned.

Later, Qin Ye lost interest, but Qin Yun worked tirelessly and managed to get Lady Qin released.

He believed that however flawed his parents were, as a son, one should not resent them.

Moreover, he was convinced that the girl he loved must share his views.

With such conviction, Qin Yun not only rescued Lady Qin—whose true status was that of a concubine—but also cared for the Xie family, ensuring their safe passage to the borderlands.

His main concern, of course, was Xie Fanghua.

Yet, Lady Xie and Xie Fangzhi blamed Xie Fanghua for the family’s misfortune.

Lord Xie, easily influenced, also began to believe it was all Fanghua’s fault.

Had she not wandered during the palace banquet and become involved with the hostage prince from Yun, disgracing herself, none of this would have happened.

Everyone knew that after the Emperor’s illness, he was magnanimous—even those who shouted abuses at him were forgiven and released.

Such a generous ruler would not be enraged by a woman’s improper words.

It must have been Fanghua’s affair with the Yun prince that led the Emperor to suspect the Xie family’s loyalty, causing their downfall.

Thus, all Qin Yun’s efforts benefited the Xie family, except Fanghua, who received nothing and suffered harsher abuse.

After Qin Yun’s arrangements, even the white steamed bread given to the Xie family by generous servants was discarded and never shared with Fanghua.

She hovered at death’s door several times, surviving only because sympathetic servants secretly helped her.

Eventually, Fanghua found a chance, faked her death with her maid, and escaped.

The servants had no idea Qin Yun’s true concern was Fanghua. For her reputation’s sake, he claimed only to be an old acquaintance of Lord Xie.

Xie Fangzhi, meanwhile, presented herself everywhere as Qin Yun’s woman, further confusing the servants.

So, after more than half a year, the news of Fanghua’s ‘death’ reached Qin Yun.

He was struck as if by lightning, dazed, snatched the horse from a servant, and rode out, heading straight for the borderlands where the Xie family was exiled.

His father and master had done such a reckless, deadly thing without a word. What were the servants to do?

They tried every means to conceal it.

Fortunately, Prince Chu had long since moved out of the palace and established his own residence, unlike before, living under the watchful eyes of the Emperor and Empress.

Outside the palace, pretending to hunt or travel, he could hide it for a while.

They covered it up as best they could, desperately searching for Prince Chu, but failed to find him.