Imperial Husband Chapter 11

A few days later, at the Prince of Dingbei's mansion.

Due to the tight schedule, Gu Rulan's funeral was arranged for the day before Li Shiyun was to leave the capital. However, there was no shortage of the requisite pomp or funeral musicians, and the burial goods of gold and silver jewelry, precious gems, porcelain, and so forth were too numerous to count, with every item being of the finest quality. All of this was arranged by Wei Shiwan, who had just ascended to the position of Princess Consort.

Wei Shiwan's reputation for virtue also gradually spread throughout the capital.

"Your Highness, the Third Young Master is here."

Xiao Tao, who had been assigned to secretly keep an eye on Li Jin's movements, immediately ran to Wei Shiwan's side to report as soon as she saw Li Jin, dressed in mourning clothes, step into the spirit hall.

Wei Shiwan nodded. "Good, you may go attend to other matters."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Xiao Tao quickly withdrew.

"Mother..."

Li Jin walked in slowly, his feelings complicated. Raising his head to look at the spirit tablet of his mother, with whom his kinship in this life had ended, a hundred emotions stirred in his heart.

Before unexpectedly arriving in this world, Li Jin had been an orphan who had to rely on himself for everything. Gu Rulan's existence had allowed Li Jin to experience maternal love.

Although this maternal love was brief, Li Jin had always kept Gu Rulan in his heart, both in his previous life and in this one.

That Li Jin's name did not follow the generational character was also something Gu Rulan had insisted upon against all opposition; the name itself contained her beautiful wishes for Li Jin.

[A generational character (字辈谱, zì bèi pǔ) is a traditional naming custom used in Chinese families, especially prominent lineages and clans, to indicate a person's generation. Li Yanshen and Li Yanchen, the generational character for their generation: 彦 (Yàn).]

[瑾 (Jǐn) means "a fine type of jade". So, the name "Li Jin" implies he is precious and valued, like a beautiful piece of jade.]

Wei Shiwan walked over to Li Jin's side. "Jin'er, you're here. Where is Ping'an? No, I must have a good talk with Ping'an later. Your health hasn't recovered yet, and you are his master. How could he, a servant, fail to take good care of you?"

"Ping'an has been assigned by me to handle other matters," Li Jin replied mildly.

Before coming, Li Jin had sent Ping'an away.

Because in his previous life, Wei Shiwan had seized the opportunity to make trouble and had Ping'an beaten half to death.

"Is that so." Wei Shiwan smiled. Seeing one plan fail, she hatched another. "Jin'er, your health is not good now. With only Ping'an as a servant, I'm afraid the care might be insufficient. How about..."

"This matter does not trouble the Successor Princess Consort," Li Jin interrupted. "Ping'an alone is sufficient. I do not like having many people around."

Wei Shiwan initially intended to concede, but after inadvertently glancing at the door, she changed her mind and continued to persuade him. "But the present situation is different. I'm afraid that if something were to happen to you, Jin'er, and Ping'an wasn't by your side, what should we do? You are the only child of the late Princess Consort. I cannot let anything happen to you no matter what, otherwise how could I face the spirit of the late Princess Consort in heaven?"

Li Shiyun entered the door and happened to hear Wei Shiwan's conversation with Li Jin. He also agreed with Wei Shiwan's words. "Jin'er, your mother is right. Even if you dislike having many people around, you cannot joke about your health like this. Very well, tomorrow, you arrange for two new servants to be sent to Jin'er's courtyard."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Wei Shiwan nodded in assent. The matter of adding people to Li Jin's courtyard was now inevitable.

"Yes."

Li Jin knew this matter could not be pursued further and had no choice but to assent.

Not long after this small interlude, the other concubines of the mansion, the illegitimate sons and daughters, and Wei Shiwan's children also arrived at the spirit hall. Even the grandmother, Wei Rong, who rarely showed her face, came.

This Wei Rong was not only Li Shiyun's mother but also Wei Shiwan's paternal aunt.

"Mother."

"Greetings to Grandmother (the Dowager Lady)."

Everyone, including Li Shiyun, hurriedly paid their respects the moment Wei Rong entered.

"Good, good, all rise. There's no need for so much formality among family." Supported by Wei Shiwan, Wei Rong sat down next to Li Shiyun. "Where is that little rascal Shen'er?"

Hearing Wei Rong call him, Li Yanshen quickly trotted over, his little face slightly red as he defended himself. "Grandmother, Shen'er is here. And Shen'er is very well-behaved, not a rascal at all."

"Yes, yes, our Shen'er has grown up."

Wei Rong affectionately reached out and gently rubbed Li Yanshen's head, not sparing a single glance for Li Jin.

Li Jin also seemed accustomed to Wei Rong's disregard and did not take it to heart.

"Grandmother, Yan'er is here too. Grandmother can't only dote on Brother." Wei Shiwan's daughter, Li Ruoyan, ran up puffing her cheeks and acting coquettishly towards Wei Rong.

"How could that be? Grandmother treats everyone equally." Wei Rong reached out and rubbed Li Ruoyan's head too. Clearly, she was also quite fond of this granddaughter.

Li Ruoyan glanced provocatively at Li Jin.

Unfortunately.

Li Ruoyan's provocation was destined to fail, Li Jin simply didn't care. But Li Shiyun's other children did not think the same, they all cast envious looks at Li Yanshen and Li Ruoyan in unison.

Before Li Shiyun could speak, Wei Shiwan took the initiative to thoughtfully remind Wei Rong, "Mother, Jin'er is still here."

Mentioning Li Jin, Wei Rong's face instantly darkened slightly. However, the expression lasted only a moment before Wei Rong quickly hid it and put on a concerned expression to ask, "I heard earlier that Jin'er injured his health. Is he better now?"

Li Jin stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. Your grandson is already fine."

"Mm."

Wei Rong nodded, once again ignoring Li Jin, and turned to inquire solicitously after Li Yanshen's well-being.

From the day Gu Rulan entered the household, Wei Rong had disliked her intensely. However, because Gu Rulan had the support of the Empress, she did not dare to go too far.

But now, everything was different.

Gu Rulan was dead, Li Jin's health was ruined, her niece Wei Shiwan had successfully taken the position of Princess Consort, and Li Yanshen would sooner or later become the heir. She no longer needed to hold back against Li Jin.

Wei Rong suddenly asked, "Shiwan, this old one heard that these days Shen'er's temperament has become much more steady, and he has taken the initiative to study with the mansion's tutor?"

Li Yanshen cut in and replied, "Of course it's true, Grandmother!"

"Oh? Then tell Grandmother, Shen'er, why have you suddenly had this thought?"

Wei Rong's words were full of doting and pride.

"Because Shen'er is not young anymore. I don't want to trouble Grandmother, Father, and Mother with worries about Shen'er's lack of understanding."

"Good... good, good, good, good..."

Wei Rong was overjoyed by Li Yanshen's words and repeatedly said 'good'.

Even when Li Yanshen was mischievous before, Wei Rong had favored him. Now, seeing Li Yanshen so sensible, she liked him even more, and even planned to discuss the matter of the heir apparent with Li Shiyun after Gu Rulan's funeral was over.

Li Shiyun also nodded with satisfaction, but he thought more deeply than Wei Rong. Although he was inclined, he still planned to wait until his next return to the capital to report on his duties before making a decision. "Shen'er, as a young man, you must persevere in what you say. You must not give up halfway."

Suddenly, Lin Zhong hurried in and reported, "Your Highness, there is an imperial decree."

"An imperial edict?" Li Shiyun raised his eyebrows in puzzlement.

Why would an imperial decree come at this time?

"Yes, Your Highness." Lin Zhong nodded. "It's Eunuch Yang from His Majesty's side."

Yang Shaochuan?

Li Shiyun's pupils constricted. He then swept his gaze over the people present. "Everyone, come with me to receive the imperial edict."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Wei Rong asked, puzzled, "Shiyun, why would an imperial edict come at this time?"

Li Shiyun reassured her. "Your son does not know either, Mother. Let us go together to see. His Majesty sending an imperial edict at this time must have a purpose."

"Mm."