Chapter 66: My Wife

Proofread By : Mim

The Crown Prince had arrived this early? Chu Jinxian was surprised. Both she and Chu Jinyao had to stop their conversation, stand up, and prepare to greet the Crown Prince.

 

However, the two Momos serving the Empress Qi frowned when they saw this and said, “Fifth Young Lady, you cannot meet the Crown Prince. This is not something a properly raised girl should be doing.”

 

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Qin Yi was accompanied by Changxing Marquis, Zhao Jiazhi, and others as they made their way to Rongning Hall. The Marquis asked the Crown Prince, “Your Highness, what brought you to Taiyuan?”

 

“I was on my way to Datong to transfer military power and, while passing through Taiyuan, I decided to stop by,” Qin Yi responded casually.

 

“Passing through?” The Marquis and his son-in-law silently responded with an “Oh” but didn’t press further on what kind of “passing by” this was. The Marquis continued, “Does this mean that Your Highness will stay in the capital afterward?”

 

Qin Yi responded with a simple “Mm,” signifying agreement. Although Qin Yi was theoretically the Marquis’ future son-in-law, the Marquis didn’t dare act like a father-in-law in front of the Crown Prince. He adhered strictly to the etiquettes of a subject toward his lord, standing respectfully by Qin Yi’s side while accompanying him toward the back hall. Behind them trailed many others, including the younger male members of the family and some guest officials.

 

After they crossed a threshold, Qin Yi casually asked, “Marquis, what are your plans afterward?”

 

Qin Yi thought it inappropriate to call his future father-in-law by his first name, Chu Jing, and addressing him as “father-in-law” was premature, so he opted to address him by his title. The Marquis didn’t mind the detail, but was momentarily taken aback by the question. What did the Crown Prince mean by asking about their plans? Was he asking about their future arrangements for his daughter or the educational plans for the younger generation?

 

After a brief hesitation, the Marquis cautiously asked, “Does Your Highness mean our household’s plans for the marriage of the younger generation or the educational direction of our juniors?”

 

Qin Yi didn’t answer directly. “I remember that the first Marquis of Changxing was granted a noble title in the capital, and after serving there for ten years, he moved his entire family back to their ancestral home. Did the old Marquis leave behind any instructions for the Chu family to stay in Taiyuan?”

 

There were no such instructions—the old Marquis had wanted to return to the capital himself. However, the capital’s official positions were hard to come by, and despite several attempts, they couldn’t secure a high enough post. The current Marquis replied, “My late father left no such instructions. He urged us, his descendants, to keep striving for excellence. Unfortunately, we have failed to live up to his expectations.”

 

Qin Yi murmured an acknowledgment and then suddenly said, “If you, Marquis, are willing, returning to the capital would not be an issue. I recall that there are vacancies in the Five Armies Camp, and you, with your distinguished service in defending Taiyuan, would be well-suited for such a position. What do you think?”

 

The Marquis was stunned. Behind him, some of the Chu family’s younger members were unsure what the Five Armies Camp was and whispered to one another. But those who were already in government service were left slack-jawed when they heard the offer.

 

The Marquis suddenly realized that the Crown Prince was offering him a prestigious military position and that he had hesitated in accepting! Regaining his composure, he responded without delay, “Your Highness, I am humbled and grateful beyond words. I accept.”

 

“There’s no need to be so formal,” Qin Yi said casually as they continued walking. “After our wedding, you will be my father-in-law. I wouldn’t dare accept such excessive thanks.”

 

The Marquis felt his legs grow weak at hearing the Crown Prince address him so respectfully. It was only now that the Marquis truly understood what it meant for his daughter to become the Crown Princess. This wasn’t just about his peers’ praise—problems that had plagued the family for years, such as their future in the capital, were solved in an instant by a single word from the Crown Prince. The Five Armies Camp was an elite force that protected the capital, and now the Crown Prince was offering this coveted position to the Marquis without any competition.

 

All of this, simply because his daughter would be the Crown Princess. The Crown Prince was giving face to Chu Jinyao, but he was also doing it for his own face as her future husband.

 

The Marquis finally grasped the enormity of the situation: their family was about to become part of the imperial lineage.

 

“The transfer orders will take some time. Do you have a residence in the capital?”

 

“Yes,” the Marquis quickly replied. “When my grandfather was granted the title of Marquis, the palace also bestowed upon us a residence. However, we have lived in Taiyuan for many years, and the capital residence has been unoccupied for a long time. Only a few old servants keep it cleaned from time to time.”

 

Qin Yi acknowledged this with a nod but didn’t dwell on the matter. Instead, he asked for the location of the old residence. The Marquis provided the address without much thought, focusing instead on his excitement and anticipation regarding the Five Armies Camp. He was still reeling with disbelief over the Crown Prince’s offer. Could it really be true?

 

With such thoughts swirling in his mind, the Marquis, both elated and anxious, followed Qin Yi into Rongning Hall. They had just entered when they saw Chu Jinyao standing at the side entrance, her expression showing mild frustration. Opposite her were two elegantly dressed, sharp-eyed momos who appeared to be chastising her.

 

Seeing this, Qin Yi’s expression immediately turned cold. The change in his demeanor was so noticeable that even those standing near him, such as the Marquis and Zhao Jiazhi, sensed it. The Marquis, sensing the situation, hurried forward and raised his voice, “Jinyao, what are you doing here?”

 

It wasn’t hard to guess—the two momos were angry with Chu Jinyao for not cooperating and were lecturing her about “proper behavior.” Upon hearing the voice behind them, the two momos were startled. When they turned around and saw the group of men, particularly the familiar face of the Crown Prince, they were terrified.

 

The momos quickly rushed forward, kneeling before Qin Yi. “This humble servant greets the Crown Prince. May the Crown Prince live long and prosper!”

 

As they knelt, they cursed inwardly. Why hadn’t they been informed that the Crown Prince was arriving? The maid who had passed on the message had said that the Crown Prince and the Marquis were making their way from the front courtyard. How had he appeared at the rear so quickly?

 

Realizing the gravity of their mistake, the momos began to feel dread creeping up on them. While kneeling, they sneaked a glance at Chu Jinyao, only to see her bowing gracefully in a perfect curtsy. “Father, brothers, brother-in-law… Greetings to the Crown Prince.”

 

The Marquis was scared half to death upon hearing that Chu Jinyao had placed the Crown Prince’s greeting last. However, Qin Yi didn’t seem to care about the order of her words. He lowered his gaze slightly, his cold and sharp eyes sweeping over the momos. “Who are you?”

 

The momos didn’t dare to think that the Crown Prince was genuinely interested in their identities. Bowing even lower, they answered respectfully, “We are servants of the Empress Qi, sent to instruct the Fifth Young Lady on palace etiquette by her orders.”

 

“You were sent to instruct her?”

 

“Yes,” the maids responded obediently, but they were starting to feel nervous. They couldn’t figure out why the Crown Prince seemed displeased.

 

“Indeed, you were sent to teach her,” Qin Yi said with a cold laugh. “But who gave you the authority to act so arrogantly toward my betrothed?”

 

The momos were taken aback, not expecting such words from the Crown Prince. Had they done something wrong? Why did it seem like the Crown Prince was angry?

 

The older, more rigid momo cautiously replied, “This humble servant acknowledges our mistakes. However, we were acting under the Empress Qi’s orders to instruct the Crown Princess in the proper palace etiquette. It’s customary for all royal consorts to undergo such training.”

 

Qin Yi’s cold gaze fell on the momo, and though his expression wasn’t particularly harsh, it was enough to make her feel as though she had been pierced by ice. “You are nothing but servants of the Empress Qi, and being assigned to teach her is already a great honor for you. Yet you dare act so arrogantly and condescendingly toward her? Who gave you the right?”

 

The momo was stunned and suddenly realized that the Crown Prince had witnessed their earlier reprimands of Chu Jinyao. He was now defending his future wife. The maids were terrified, inwardly cursing their bad luck. They had been relying on their status as senior palace servants, confident in the Empress Qi’s backing. But now, with the Crown Prince personally intervening, they realized the gravity of their error. If they offended the Crown Prince, not even the Empress Qi could save them from punishment.

 

Panic set in, and the momos fell to their knees, repeatedly begging for mercy. However, in their hearts, they were also harboring resentment toward Chu Jinyao. Who could have predicted that the Crown Prince would defend her so fiercely?

 

Everyone was taken aback by the Crown Prince’s reaction, including the Marquis. He had known that the momos had been strict with Chu Jinyao, but he never imagined that the Crown Prince would react so strongly. Although the Marquis’ family was marrying into the royal family for the first time, he had heard that it was common for royal consorts to be disciplined by palace momos before entering the palace. It was considered part of the process of humbling newcomers. The Marquis had never thought it was a big deal when the momos scolded Chu Jinyao, but why was the Crown Prince so furious?

 

And what was that? “My betrothed”?

 

Chu Jinyao had not anticipated this turn of events either. While she had endured hardships over the past few days, she had resigned herself to quietly accepting the situation, knowing she couldn’t do much to change it. But she had also learned from her experiences that her suffering should not go unnoticed. The Crown Prince, as her future husband, needed to be aware of the challenges she faced.

 

If Chu Jinyao had still been the simple, straightforward country girl she once was, she would have endured the mistreatment without a word and tried to fix the situation on her own. However, after spending a year navigating the intricate politics of the Marquis’ household and her time at the Prince Huailing’s estate, she had become much more astute. She understood that sometimes, the one who cries the loudest gets the most attention.

 

It wasn’t that Chu Jinyao wanted to manipulate the Crown Prince, but after enduring days of mistreatment, she felt it was only fair that he knew about it. She might not expect him to react, but at the very least, he should be aware of the situation.

 

Still, a small part of her felt guilty. Was she manipulating the Crown Prince? After all, she hadn’t expected him to take her side so strongly. His anger and defense of her caught her off guard, and it made her feel even more conflicted.

 

Qin Yi, on the other hand, was fuming internally. Chu Jinyao had lost a significant amount of weight in just a few days—evidence of how poorly she had been treated. Having grown up in the palace, Qin Yi was all too familiar with the underhanded tactics of senior momos who often “trained” newcomers in the name of discipline. He had never paid much attention to such matters before, but seeing these cruel methods used on Chu Jinyao ignited a fury in him.

 

Looking at the momos, Qin Yi’s expression grew even colder. Turning to Linglong, the maid standing behind Chu Jinyao, he asked, “Did these two lay a hand on her?”

 

Linglong hesitated, glancing toward Chu Jinyao, who gave her a subtle shake of the head.

 

Qin Yi glanced at Chu Jinyao and then repeated his question to Linglong, “Speak the truth.”

 

Linglong was torn, unsure of what to say. Despite the fact that Chu Jinyao and the Crown Prince weren’t yet married, Linglong felt an odd sense of loyalty to both. Eventually, she decided to side with Chu Jinyao. “No, Your Highness. They did not.”

 

The two momos sighed in relief. “Your Highness, as you can see, even the Crown Princess says we have done no wrong.”

 

However, Qin Yi, observing both Linglong and Chu Jinyao’s expressions, was not fooled. He coldly replied, “Their arrogance alone is enough to warrant punishment. Who thought it appropriate to assign such unworthy people to teach my fiancée proper etiquette? Escort them back to the palace and inform the Empress Qi that they are unfit for the task.”

 

The momos cried out in despair, nearly fainting at the implication of their dismissal. They realized the severity of the situation—they could lose their lives if sent back to the palace in disgrace. Falling to their knees, they begged for mercy, “Please, Your Highness, spare us! We have done no wrong!”

 

Qin Yi’s gaze swept over them indifferently, and he turned to his attendant. “What are you waiting for?”

 

A group of eunuchs stepped forward, ready to drag the momos away. Desperation filled their faces as they realized there was no escape. They kowtowed frantically, their foreheads hitting the ground with a loud thud, pleading for their lives. But Qin Yi didn’t even spare them a glance.

 

Chu Jinyao, despite her initial satisfaction at seeing the momos punished, began to feel uneasy. She hadn’t expected things to escalate so severely. While she had endured their mistreatment, she hadn’t wanted their lives. What would happen now? Wouldn’t the Empress Qi just send more people?

 

Bravely, though somewhat uncertainly, Chu Jinyao stepped forward. “Your Highness, these two momos have been diligent in their duties. They did nothing beyond their orders. Please don’t punish them so harshly.”

 

The eunuchs and servants were stunned. Was someone actually daring to question the Crown Prince?

 

Qin Yi turned his gaze toward her. “They have been disrespectful to you, and that alone is enough reason for them to lose their lives. I haven’t even accounted for their other misdeeds yet.”

 

The weight of his words sent a chill down Chu Jinyao’s spine. The Crown Prince’s calm but deadly demeanor left her shaken. For the first time, she realized that the man in front of her was not just a prince—he held the power of life and death over others. His authority was absolute, and human lives meant little in the grand scheme of things.

 

Chu Jinyao had heard tales of the Crown Prince’s military exploits, of how he had wiped out entire enemy clans in battle. She had admired these achievements from afar, but now, standing before him, she felt an overwhelming sense of fear.

 

The Crown Prince, the man she was supposed to marry—this was the true extent of his power.

 

Summoning her courage, she stepped closer and looked up at him with pleading eyes. “Your Highness, their lives may seem insignificant to you, but they were sent by the Empress Qi to instruct me. If you send them away, it will seem as though I have disrespected her authority. How can I face the Empress Qi afterward?”

 

Qin Yi’s gaze softened slightly as he turned his head toward her. She was standing close to him now, her eyes bright with sincerity. After a brief pause, he sighed imperceptibly. “Very well. I’ll spare their lives this time. But if they ever cross the line again…”

 

The momos, sensing an opportunity for mercy, immediately kowtowed, their heads hitting the ground repeatedly. “Thank you, Your Highness! We swear there will be no next time!”

 

“It’s not me you should be thanking,” Qin Yi said coldly.

 

Understanding the hint, the momos turned to Chu Jinyao and began to bow before her, “Thank you, Crown Princess! Thank you for your kindness!”

 

Caught off guard, Chu Jinyao instinctively took a step back. She wanted to correct them, to remind them that she wasn’t yet the Crown Princess. But with the Crown Prince standing right there, she didn’t dare say a word.

 

With the matter settled, Qin Yi continued to watch Chu Jinyao. His gaze remained on her, unblinking. She noticed and awkwardly blinked back at him.

 

Why wasn’t the Crown Prince leaving? Why was he just standing there?

 

Chu Jinyao finally realized that he was waiting for her. Hastily, she curtsied again and, along with Linglong, turned to leave the courtyard.

 

But Qin Yi called after her, “Where do you think you’re going?”

 

Startled, Chu Jinyao stopped in her tracks, turning to Linglong for help. Linglong discreetly gestured toward the main hall, signaling that Chu Jinyao should head inside. Realizing what was expected of her, Chu Jinyao awkwardly nodded and made her way into the main hall.

 

Once she was out of sight, Qin Yi resumed walking, and the group of attendants followed suit.

 

It dawned on Chu Jinyao—he had been waiting for her to go inside before moving on. How peculiar.

 

In the courtyard, the eunuchs scolded the momos as they escorted them away. “You’re lucky the Crown Princess has a soft heart. If not for her mercy, you’d be dead by now. Consider yourselves fortunate and get out of here!”

 

The momos, shaken but relieved, quickly scrambled away, grateful to have escaped with their lives. Never again would they underestimate Chu Jinyao.

 

Once the momos were gone, Qin Yi’s personal attendants exchanged glances, marveling at the rare sight of the Crown Prince retracting an order. It was the first time they had ever witnessed such a thing.

 

.

 

Inside the main hall, Old Madam Chu, Chu Jinxian, and the other women of the Chu family had witnessed the entire scene unfold. Chu Jinxian had quietly returned after watching part of the drama from outside, and Old Madam Chu had heard enough from the maids’ report to feel uneasy.

 

The female members of the Chu family gathered in the main hall, nervously awaiting the Crown Prince’s entrance. When Qin Yi finally entered, they all curtsied in unison, “This humble servant greets Your Highness.”

 

Qin Yi, attending in his capacity as the future husband of Chu Jinyao, was unusually affable as he asked the women to rise and invited the Old Madam Chu to take her seat.

 

Old Madam Chu hesitantly took her place, and the others followed suit, with Chu Jinyao standing by Chu Jinxian’s side. Given the earlier commotion, no one dared mention the custom that unmarried couples shouldn’t meet before the wedding.

 

The young ladies of the Chu family, despite their curiosity, kept their heads down, too afraid to steal even a glance at Qin Yi. The Crown Prince didn’t need to do anything—his mere presence in the room was enough to fill it with an air of intimidation. No one even dared to breathe too loudly.

 

The silent power he exuded was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

 

Almost the entire Chu family was gathered in the room, and Old Madam Chu nervously made small talk with the Crown Prince. After a while, Qin Yi asked casually, ” Old Madam Chu, is there a place in the house where I can play chess?”

 

Chess?

 

The moment Chu Jinyao heard this word, she felt a sense of foreboding. Old Madam Chu, however, was still in the dark. She replied, “Of course, Your Highness. But if I may ask, what purpose does this serve?”

 

Qin Yi, leisurely sipping his tea, didn’t respond. After some thought, Old Madam Chu seemed to catch on. “Ah, I see! My apologies, I hadn’t realized Your Highness was tired. Let’s have someone prepare the rear study for you, and we’ll set up the finest glass chess pieces from the storehouse.”

 

Turning to her attendant, Old Madam Chu instructed, “Go ahead and make arrangements for the Crown Prince to rest in the back study. And bring out the glass chess pieces for His Highness.”

 

The marquis also caught on and gave a meaningful glance toward Chu Jinyao, standing still like a picture beside Chu Jinxian. Though he felt a twinge of displeasure, he realized that, as a father, he couldn’t say anything.

 

With that, Qin Yi rose and left the room. A short while later, a servant’s voice could be heard outside, “Young Lady, this is the new batch of pastries from the kitchen. Old Madam Chu asked me to bring them to His Highness.”

 

The eunuch standing guard at the door greeted her with a smile, “Thank you, Fifth Young Lady. Please, come inside.”

 

Chu Jinyao hesitated, dragging her feet toward the Crown Prince with a tray of pastries. She signaled for her maid to place the new pastries on the table in front of Qin Yi. “Your Highness, Grandmother asked me to bring these to you.”

 

“Hmm,” Qin Yi responded indifferently, gesturing with his chin. “Sit.”

 

Reluctant, Chu Jinyao didn’t want to sit. She had seen a new side of the Crown Prince today—his authoritative, fearsome demeanor. Her earlier fear had resurfaced, and she had no desire to sit across from him.

 

But Qin Yi, holding a glass chess piece between his fingers, tapped it against the chessboard three times, urging her to sit.

 

With no other choice, Chu Jinyao complied. Qin Yi casually gestured toward the chessboard. “Pick up your pieces. I taught you this last time, remember?”

 

“I… think so.”

 

Qin Yi wasted no time and made the first move. Before long, Chu Jinyao was so engrossed in the game that her earlier fear of the Crown Prince began to dissipate.

 

As Qin Yi watched her struggle to keep up with the game, furrowing her brow in concentration, he couldn’t help but feel that he had his work cut out for him. Now that he was observing her closely, he noticed how much weight she had lost. Her delicate face had become even more slender, and her pointed chin tugged at his heartstrings.

 

Chu Jinyao, unaware of his gaze, finally found the courage to speak. “Thank you, Your Highness, for what you did earlier.”

 

To her surprise, Qin Yi chuckled softly. “You don’t need to thank me. After all, you are my wife now. No one will ever mistreat you.”

 

Chu Jinyao was stunned. The word “wife” coming from the Crown Prince caught her completely off guard. She froze for a moment, and Qin Yi noticed her reaction, narrowing his eyes slightly. “What’s wrong?”

 

“Nothing,” Chu Jinyao quickly composed herself, bowing her head to hide her flustered expression. “Thank you, Your Highness. I just wanted to explain that when I contradicted you earlier, it wasn’t out of disrespect. As your future wife, I simply didn’t want to offend the Empress Qi by dismissing her maids.”

 

“You were afraid of offending the Empress Qi, but you weren’t afraid of offending me?” Qin Yi teased, his voice playful.

 

“No!” Chu Jinyao quickly lifted her head, stumbling over her words in an attempt to explain herself. But when she looked up, she found Qin Yi smiling at her, his eyes sparkling with amusement. His expression was so dazzling that she couldn’t look away.

 

Unaware of her own reaction, Chu Jinyao stared at him in a daze. For the first time, she realized just how handsome the Crown Prince was. Sure, his personality wasn’t the best, but there was no denying his looks.

 

Qin Yi’s grin widened as he watched her stunned expression. Finally, he couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “You really are clueless, aren’t you?”

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Translator’s Note: Awww our little clueless kid Jinyao!

This is the end of the mass release i.e 10 chapters. I hope you enjoyed reading it and thank you for voting on the poll. Happy Holidays!!!