Chapter 67: The Crown Prince Teaches His Wife
Proofread By:- Mim
Chu Jinyao only realized at that moment that she had been staring blankly at the Crown Prince! Humiliated, she lowered her head quickly, her face flushing red, almost all the way to her ears.
How embarrassing! How could she have been distracted by his appearance, just because he resembled Qi Ze? And to make things worse, she had stared right at him in his presence!
Qin Yi, on the other hand, had been in a foul mood due to matters in the capital. In particular, he was displeased earlier after dealing with those palace Momos and being contradicted by Chu Jinyao. However, seeing her reaction now, his mood inexplicably brightened.
Qin Yi silently thought to himself: maybe teasing Chu Jinyao is particularly delightful.
His mind felt clearer, and even the issues in the capital and with the Inner Cabinet seemed less pressing. Perhaps he should urge the Imperial Astronomers to set the wedding date sooner. After all, Chu Jinyao, this delightful source of amusement, should be kept close, especially considering the many headaches in the court and palace.
Chu Jinyao, still feeling humiliated, noticed that the Crown Prince’s mood had visibly improved. His eyes sparkled, and his lips curved into a slight smile, showing he was clearly in good spirits.
She glared at him for a while but eventually gave up in defeat. Well, the Crown Prince is the pillar of the nation, the future emperor, and the hope of all the people. If letting the hope of the empire smile means being teased, then so be it.
As they took turns placing their chess pieces, the atmosphere in the room gradually became warmer, and the sound of the glass pieces tapping the board seemed to carry a sense of timeless tranquility. Unconsciously, Chu Jinyao began to feel that the Crown Prince across from her didn’t seem so distant anymore. She had even been wanting to ask a question that had been on her mind for a while. “Your Highness, why did you choose me as the Crown Princess? There are so many noble girls in the capital and even here in Taiyuan. Why me? Although I am a daughter of a marquis household, my family background is not exceptional. Moreover, I grew up outside. My family is not as prestigious as many others, and I am not particularly brilliant, nor am I especially virtuous or clever. While I might be considered pretty, I wouldn’t say I’m a rare beauty—Hey! Why are you laughing?”
Qin Yi tried to suppress his laughter, but it was evident. He asked her, “Can you repeat what you just said about your looks?”
Annoyed, Chu Jinyao glared at him. Seeing her reaction, Qin Yi quickly restrained himself and, still smiling, said, “As you said, your family background isn’t particularly distinguished. But is there a family more distinguished than mine? Naturally, no. So why should I care about the background of my wife? You mentioned you’re not particularly clever—well, that’s true.” Qin Yi noticed her eyes widen again, looking like an indignant little hamster, puffed up and filled with irritation. She was so endearing. After enjoying the sight for a moment, he continued, “Although you might not be the most brilliant, you’re not dull either. You won’t hold me back, and that’s enough—I’m not expecting you to sit for the imperial exams. As for your personality, as long as I find you agreeable, that’s all that matters. Now, what was next? What else were you worried about…”
Qin Yi pretended to think deeply, and Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but lean over the chessboard, reaching out to press down on his arm. “Your Highness, please stop teasing me.”
She only realized after she had touched his sleeve what she had done. The fabric felt soft and smooth, clearly luxurious. Beneath the fabric, she could feel his strong, muscular arm. Qin Yi, though he appeared slim, had a surprisingly firm and muscular build…
Startled, Chu Jinyao quickly withdrew her hand, her face turning even redder, and she stammered, “Your Highness… I-I didn’t mean…”
Qin Yi didn’t seem bothered at all. After all, when he was still Qi Ze, Chu Jinyao had been quite casual in her actions around him. Seeing her now blushing furiously, he couldn’t bear to tease her any further and said, “There’s no need to be so reserved. In a short time, you will become my Crown Princess. As my wife, you won’t need to treat me like everyone else does.”
Chu Jinyao dumbly nodded. In truth, she hadn’t really processed what he said. After a moment, once she felt her face cool down a bit, she said, “Thank you, Your Highness. You’ve spared me from much awkwardness during this engagement, and now you’re even kind enough to comfort me. Without you, I wouldn’t know what to do…”
Qin Yi quickly tapped the chessboard with a piece, his tone displeased. “You’re daring to mention other men in front of me?”
“…That wasn’t my intention.”
“So you wanted it to be?”
Chu Jinyao realized this Crown Prince wasn’t always the most reasonable. She had initially wanted to ask what he had discussed with Lin Xiyuan after witnessing their private conversation at the governer’s residence. But now, seeing how things were, she decided it was best not to ask. She wisely changed the subject. “Your Highness, I owe you a great debt. After we… well, after the wedding, I will be sure to repay you properly.”
Chu Jinyao was sincere. Although the Crown Prince was complex and could no longer be judged by simplistic standards of good or evil, he had undoubtedly been extremely kind to her. When her reputation was tarnished due to the affair with Huailing Prince’s mansion, leaving her nearly unmarriageable, it was the Crown Prince who had extended a hand and granted her the title of Crown Princess. When she was tormented by the two Momos, it was again the Crown Prince who had stood up for her. No matter what others might say about him, she was determined to treat him with the utmost respect and gratitude. If the Crown Prince wanted concubines, she would handle the arrangements; if he favored someone, she would ensure they were well-treated. She would repay him in every way possible.
Qin Yi had no idea what was running through her mind, and Chu Jinyao certainly didn’t know what he was thinking either. When he heard her say she would repay him, his eyes shifted slightly, and he coughed lightly into his hand, looking away for a moment. Even so, his eyes sparkled.
Neither of them voiced their inner thoughts, but the atmosphere between them became surprisingly harmonious. After a moment, Qin Yi, perhaps feeling he should offer some kind of response, said, “Repaying me can wait until after the wedding. Chu Jinyao, being my wife is not like being the wife of an ordinary man. Your role will be different from your mother’s and sisters’. Ordinary couples worry about their livelihood and careers, but I must consider many things at once. Due to my position, you will not only be my wife, but also the Crown Princess. For example, those two Momos today—they won’t be the first, and they certainly won’t be the last. Do you understand?”
Chu Jinyao’s expression became serious. She understood that Qin Yi was giving her important advice, so she bravely met his gaze and solemnly nodded. “I understand. I will learn quickly and become a proper Crown Princess. I won’t let Your Highness down.”
“There’s no need to wait to start learning. You can begin right now,” Qin Yi said with a meaningful smile. “Did you know that when I arrived, I ran into several people along the corridor—people delivering things, pretending to be lost, all sorts.”
Chu Jinyao was shocked. “They dared to…” She immediately stood to apologize, but Qin Yi reached out and gently but firmly pressed her back into her seat. “I wasn’t blaming you. Why are you apologizing? I’m telling you this not because I have an issue with you or your family’s conduct. It’s just that I’ve seen this sort of thing too often. If it were someone else’s family, I would simply have them removed. But this is the Changxing Marquisate. Their behavior today showed a lack of respect for you, the Crown Princess. Do you understand?”
“I understand,” Chu Jinyao replied softly.
“These are matters that I can’t handle personally, so it’s up to you. You need to remember that you are the Crown Princess, my rightful wife. In front of the imperial family, there is no hierarchy among relatives. Everyone in the Changxing Marquisate must bow to you first as subjects before recognizing any family ties. I won’t always be by your side to help, so you’ll have to manage this yourself.”
It was the first time in her life that someone had patiently guided Chu Jinyao in this way. She felt a wave of gratitude not only for Qin Yi’s willingness to teach her but also for his trust in her. He was right. Even now, Third Young Lady Chu had been secretly trying to leverage her connection to Chu Jinyao to gain entry into the East Palace, and while the other young women of the household hadn’t said anything directly, they had subtly tested the waters when the Crown Prince visited. As for Old Madam Chu, she had done nothing to stop them. Perhaps she even thought that if more of her granddaughters could enter the East Palace, there would be a greater chance of securing favor.
What this boiled down to was that none of them truly respected her. They wanted to use her, but they didn’t fear her. Was this the kind of treatment a Crown Princess should receive?
Qin Yi’s eyes gleamed with approval. “I’ll leave a few people here to assist you. For those you can’t handle, just blame me.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Chu Jinyao sincerely thanked him. “But this is my own failing, and it has already troubled you enough. How could I take your people?”
Qin Yi, however, seemed completely unfazed. “I’ll have them come in and bow to you later.”
“Your Highness…”
Qin Yi turned to look at her. After a brief moment of eye contact, Chu Jinyao relented. “Alright.”
Qin Yi smiled, as if he had wanted to reach out and pat her head but restrained himself. Instead, he lowered his hand and said, “You don’t need to be anxious. You handled today’s situation well.”
Chu Jinyao was startled. “Your Highness…”
“It’s fine,” Qin Yi interrupted with a smile, his gaze warm and bright, almost glowing. “You’ve learned how to use your resources and take advantage of the situation. That’s excellent.” Even if those resources included himself.
Someone called softly for Qin Yi from outside, and he stood up to leave. Just before he exited, Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but take a few steps after him and ask, “Your Highness, I still don’t fully understand that initial question.”
“Out of all the noble girls in the city, some are more intelligent, more beautiful, or more capable than I am. Why me?”
Yes, why her?
Qin Yi paused but didn’t offer the usual, formal explanations. Instead, he lightly tapped her forehead and said, “You’ll have to figure that out for yourself. Think about why I chose you.”
Translator’s Note :- Thank you Dear Muffin for the Ko-fi and supporting me❤️. The next 2 chapters are sponsored by (Dedicated to) Muffin. ❤️❤️
