Imperial Husband Chapter 49

Ying Xichen gave Ying Ziheng an exasperated look. "Brother Ziheng, you've practically written your longing for Ningyu all over your face. What is there to deny? You might as well take this chance to explain clearly to Grandmother and have her bestow the marriage. Then Ningyu won't be able to run away."

Ying Xichen was truly fed up with her brother. He was quite intelligent in other matters, yet when it came to Shen Ningyu, he became timid and hesitant, forcing his younger sister, who couldn't stand to watch any longer, to actively help him.

Although Ying Xichen and Shen Ningyu had grown up together since childhood, in matters between the two, Ying Xichen still sided with Ying Ziheng.

Furthermore, in Ying Xichen's view, how could Shen Ningyu's so-called beloved possibly compare to her own Crown Prince brother in status and importance? Therefore, for both public and private reasons, Ying Xichen hoped Shen Ningyu would choose Ying Ziheng. 

Ying Xichen was aware that Shen Ningyu had another beloved in her heart, but Shen Ningyu had stubbornly kept the specific name of that person from Ying Xichen. This led Ying Xichen to suspect that Shen Ningyu's beloved was someone without power or influence; otherwise, why would she refuse to reveal any information?

Empress Dowager Wei also became interested. "Is what Xichen says true?"

Ying Ziheng smiled wryly. "Yes, Grandmother, but... Fa... Father refused me."

Ying Ziheng had liked Shen Ningyu since he was a child and naturally hadn't forgotten to ask Ying Zhengjing to bestow the marriage upon him. Unexpectedly, Ying Zhengjing showed no intention of agreeing and even scolded him, saying he only understood romantic affairs and not the suffering of the common people.

But Ying Ziheng felt he had already done his best. Da Xia still faced annual disasters, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Hearing that Ying Zhengjing had refused Ying Ziheng, Empress Dowager Wei's pupils instantly constricted. Understanding the situation, she comforted him, "Ziheng, since your Father disagrees, let the matter of you and Shen Ningyu rest. Besides, there are many other noble daughters in Da Xia who are no worse than Shen Ningyu. You must not become estranged from your Father because of her."

Actually, Empress Dowager Wei had just heard about the refusal. She guessed that Ying Zhengjing was guarding against Ying Ziheng becoming too close to the Shen family, which could potentially threaten his own imperial power. It was for this reason that she had subtly hinted with her words, hoping Ying Ziheng would grasp the underlying implication.

Unfortunately.

Ying Ziheng, deeply immersed in matters of the heart, completely failed to grasp the hidden meaning in Empress Dowager Wei's words. He simply thought she was comforting him and nodded dejectedly.

Seeing Ying Ziheng still in this state, Empress Dowager Wei shook her head helplessly and decided to change the subject. "Alright, I think the time is almost right. Xichen, you accompany me to find the Master. Ziheng, the offerings will be your responsibility."

"Yes, Grandmother."

With Empress Dowager Wei's command, neither dared to disobey and quickly nodded in assent. Soon, Ying Ziheng's figure disappeared.

Is Brother going to be alright?

While supporting Empress Dowager Wei to find the Master, Ying Xichen glanced worriedly at Ying Ziheng's gradually receding figure.

Ying Xichen knew how much Ying Ziheng liked Shen Ningyu. Before today, she didn't know that Ying Ziheng had not only spoken to Ying Zhengjing about it but had been refused on the spot. It was easy to imagine how deeply hurt Ying Ziheng must be.

"Xichen, we've arrived. Where else are you taking me?"

"Uh... We're here already..."

"Enough." Empress Dowager Wei patted the back of Ying Xichen's right hand. "I know you are worried about Ziheng. Go and have a good talk with him, so he doesn't dwell on it."

Ying Xichen was overjoyed. "Thank you, Grandmother. Xichen will return quickly."

"Go on."

"Mm."

Ying Xichen performed a bow to Empress Dowager Wei and then hurried away.

____

Having just finished praying for Gu Rulan, Li Jin walked out into the courtyard and instructed, "Ping'an, first go and take care of the matter I just assigned to you. Yunting, you closely follow the person Li Yanchen sent secretly to tail us."

"Yes, Young Master."

Ping'an and Zhou Yunting simultaneously nodded in agreement and withdrew.

Scanning the deserted surroundings, Li Jin looked with complex emotions at Gu Rulan's memorial tablet. "Mother, I've come. Are you well? Since I was reborn and returned, I have changed my original fate. But why do I always feel lost inside... However, this rebirth hasn't been without its benefits. At the very least, I have gotten to know Ying Yuan all over again..."

Li Jin was not someone who could easily share secrets with others, but facing Gu Rulan's memorial tablet, he felt compelled to speak of the experiences of the past seven years.

It felt like a century had passed.

Li Jin slowly stood up and walked outside, intending to get some fresh air.

No sooner said than done.

As soon as Li Jin stepped out of the courtyard, a young girl with a white veil covering her face bumped into him head-on. The girl was directly knocked to the ground.

"Are you alright?"

Li Jin turned around to look at the veiled girl.

"It's... it's fine... It was my fault to begin with... Ah... My veil..." The veiled girl—Ying Xichen—accidentally let the veil covering her face fall off. Then a gust of wind blew, and the veil landed beside Li Jin's feet.

"Here you are."

Li Jin picked up the veil and handed it to the flustered Ying Xichen.

Seeing this, Ying Xichen quickly took it. She had just uttered her thanks when she was startled by Li Jin's appearance. "Thank you... Thank you... You are the Heir of the Prince of Dingbei, Li Jin?"

"You know me?"

Li Jin raised an eyebrow and instinctively began searching his memory, but found nothing.

"Yes." Ying Xichen couldn't help but lower her head and replied softly, "We have seen each other a few times at palace banquets, but we haven't had much contact. It's normal that you don't remember me."

"Wait, you are the Fifth Princess?"

With Ying Xichen's reminder, Li Jin finally remembered the Fifth Princess who attended the grand New Year palace banquets every year, always veiled and appearing alongside Empress Dowager Wei.

"You remember me... No, the veil, my appearance is too unsightly..." At first, hearing that Li Jin remembered her, Ying Xichen's cheeks flushed. But when she recalled that her face veil was gone, her complexion instantly turned pale.

Damn it, how could I let Li Jin see me in such an unsightly state? Will he be disgusted by me? Will he distance himself from me because of this?

The more Ying Xichen thought about it, the paler her face became.

Ying Xichen had always had a secret crush on Li Jin. But because of her face, she didn't dare confess to him, didn't dare get too close to him, fearing that Li Jin would despise her. Often, she even felt jealous of Ying Yuan, who could be openly together with Li Jin.

"Uh, Fifth Princess, what's on your face are merely freckles. You don't need to be so afraid."

Speaking of this Fifth Princess, Ying Xichen, Li Jin had only seen her a few times since his rebirth. In his previous life, his health was truly poor; he was often ill and naturally couldn't attend palace banquets. He only knew that she always wore a veil.

Upon hearing this, Ying Xichen was stunned. "You... don't think I'm ugly?"

"I do not."

Li Jin shook his head.

To Li Jin, who had once lived in the modern era, freckles weren't considered ugly at all.

"Really? You're not lying to me?" Ying Xichen couldn't help but confirm repeatedly. Simultaneously, the intense infatuation that she had only dared to harbor in her heart began to surge forth uncontrollably upon hearing Li Jin's words.

"I have no enmity or grievance with the Fifth Princess. Why would I lie to you?"

"Th... thank you..."

Receiving Li Jin's affirmation, Ying Xichen was immediately overjoyed, and even the matter of being angered by Ying Ziheng earlier was completely forgotten.

"Apologies, Fifth Princess, I have other matters to attend to. I must take my leave now."

Not wanting to keep Ping'an and the others waiting, Li Jin nodded without waiting for Ying Xichen's reply and quickly walked away.

"Li... Never mind... We will meet again."

Watching Li Jin's retreating figure, Ying Xichen stopped her impulse to call out to him. A determined glint quickly flashed in her eyes.