Chapter 1589 - 1436: Fake Commandery Princess 46
Ye Shuangshuang held a thick stack of letters from the Ye Family, filled with words expressing their longing, but in the end, all stated they did not wish to return to the Capital City.
Ye Shuangshuang had long anticipated this outcome and was not surprised. However, rejecting the Emperor’s goodwill required a certain finesse and couldn’t be done clumsily.
Before sending a letter, Ye Shuangshuang had already instructed Ye Fangchen on how to respond to the Emperor without inciting anger if he did not wish to return to the Capital City.
After receiving the decree, Ye Fangchen did not return to the Capital City but instead wrote a memorial and had the Imperial Envoy bring it back. The memorial started with an extensive and heartfelt expression of gratitude for the Emperor’s benevolence.
Ultimately, it stated that he would not return to the Capital City to cause more trouble for the Emperor. The crime he committed was treason—a grave offense—and the Emperor had already spared no effort to pardon his death sentence.
If he returned to the Capital City at this time, it would undoubtedly stir up a commotion, only making things more difficult for the Emperor; how could he bear to do that?
He would rather wait for a day when war arises, and he could once again take to the battlefield to cut through the dangers for Your Majesty, then return to the Capital City openly without putting Your Majesty in a difficult position.
This memorial was a rejection of the Emperor’s benevolence, yet it was also an acceptance, and after reading it, the Emperor indeed didn’t blame the Ye Family for their reluctance to return to the Capital City; rather, he was deeply moved.
The Emperor expressed to the Empress with a sigh, "Ye Aiqing is always so considerate, always worried about putting me in a tough spot, even willing to endure grievances himself. How could I be incapable of protecting even my beloved minister?"
The Empress gently brewed tea for the Emperor, her voice tender, "But isn’t this precisely what makes General Ye so valuable? The Emperor cares for him, and he too always thinks of the Emperor.
As long as the Emperor keeps General Ye in his heart, there will always be an opportunity in the future to have General Ye return to the court; there’s no need to rush, Your Majesty."
The Emperor took a sip of the tea, smiled, and said, "Zitong’s tea-making skills have improved again. I am well aware of this rationale.
It just pains me that this loyal subject is always kept afar, while those old, crafty folks stand before me daily, troubling me with their presence."
After a moment of regretful emotions, the Emperor eventually abandoned the decision to summon the Ye Family back to the Capital City. Although he had purged many from the court through a great cleanup, leaving an atmosphere of unease and tension,
Suddenly summoning Ye Fangchen back to the Capital City at this time would, even for no reason, lead the skittish ministers to speculate endlessly. The tension is indeed too tight and needs some relaxing.
The Emperor’s health no longer required Ye Shuangshuang’s daily supervision, giving her the leisure to leave the Imperial Palace, thus necessitating her to prioritize visiting the Prince Nan Mansion.
Initially, Ye Shuangshuang believed she would spend her entire life in Nanzhao, practically worlds apart from the Prince Nan Mansion. In the future, she planned to annually and anonymously send the Prince Nan Mansion gifts via the escort agency, without personal visits to avoid abruptness.
Although during that time, Ye Shuangshuang considered returning to the Capital City to save the Emperor, it was merely an idle thought. After all, she was far away, unlikely to return easily, and besides, the Capital City was teeming with Imperial Physicians, each highly skilled.
Even if the Emperor was ill, with so many Imperial Physicians around, he wouldn’t think of someone as uncelebrated and unknown as herself. Even if she happened to gain fame by then, by the time she reached the Capital City, the Emperor’s condition might have already worsened, unlikely to recall her.
However, fate dictated otherwise, and plans couldn’t keep up with changes. Ye Shuangshuang hadn’t expected her later fame to grow so large, that when the Emperor fell critically ill, with even the Imperial Physicians at a loss, she would be the first thought.
Most crucially, the Emperor’s ailment was poisoned-induced yet appeared perilous beyond belief but miraculously afforded enough time for her arrival.
A series of unexpected happenings and coincidences led to the current outcome; Ye Shuangshuang appeared in the Capital City, and it’s unlikely she would depart the Capital City for long during this lifetime, meaning the relationship with the Prince Nan Mansion could no longer remain cold.
The relationship between Ye Shuangshuang and the Prince Nan Mansion could never be entirely severed, especially in an era that valued filial piety. Moreover, Ye Shuangshuang had acquired all her skills in the Prince Nan Mansion.
If Ye Shuangshuang did not wish to be criticized for ingratitude and arrogant triumph, she needed to enact a continuous drama of parental affection and filial piety with Qin Peijun and Zhao Wan.
Fortunately, this play wasn’t difficult to perform; although Qin Peijun and Zhao Wan were somewhat indifferent, they were incredibly clever people.
Their greatest pleasure was saving face; being Prince Nan and Princess Consort Nan, in a superior position, their glory reached its peak. Although devoid of real power, no one dared provoke them; life henceforth was merely about flaunting their prestige.
Performing a play of filial daughter and loving parents with these two wasn’t challenging. As long as Ye Shuangshuang could maintain superficial cordiality, they would naturally join in, acting out with empathy and sincerity.
Besides, even though Qin Peijun and Zhao Wan were somewhat indifferent and unfeeling, the Old Princess Consort of the Prince Nan Mansion was indeed genuinely kind to Ye Shuangshuang. For the Old Princess Consort’s sake, Ye Shuangshuang would not sever ties with the Prince Nan Mansion.
The event of Ye Shuangshuang being conferred as Princess Renxin was known widely in the Capital City, and when Ye Shuangshuang traveled, her carriage was specifically commissioned by the Emperor, luxuriously opulent.
Ye Shuangshuang’s carriage, once on the move, was simply ostentatious. Initially, Ye Shuangshuang hadn’t intended to be so ostentatious; she never imagined the Emperor would have her carriage specifically customized this way.
Ye Shuangshuang merely instructed the Steward of the Princess Mansion regularly, requesting a carriage be prepared for a trip to the Prince Nan Mansion, then proceeded to the storeroom to prepare gifts.
The storeroom, needless to say, was also filled by the Emperor for Ye Shuangshuang, containing jewels, trinkets, curios, and paintings of all kinds; however, what Ye Shuangshuang valued the most were the ten or so large boxes filled with medical books.
Upon preparing the gifts and stepping out, Ye Shuangshuang discovered this rather extravagant carriage, accompanied by a procession responsible for the ceremonial pomp following behind.
Additionally, there were guards responsible for protecting the Princess’s safety, and numerous palace maids and eunuchs serving, amounting to scores of people!
Ye Shuangshuang’s mouth twitched; not even a Prince’s excursion would be this ostentatious. She couldn’t help but cough awkwardly as she glanced at the Steward Eunuch, "This carriage is too ostentatious. Switch it for a regular one for me.
And there are too many people following; there’s no need for so much pomp, too disruptive to the commoners. Just one palace maid to assist will suffice; there’s no need for so many people."
The servants of the Princess Mansion weren’t mere household slaves but eunuchs and palace maids trained by the Internal Affairs Bureau, and Ye Shuangshuang’s Steward was a eunuch.
Throughout the Princess Mansion, except for the guards responsible for patrol and security, all attendants were eunuchs and palace maids, which was a privilege exclusive to the Royal Family’s Princes and Princesses, a symbol of status.
To prevent situations of servants overpowering their masters or neglecting duties, all eunuchs, palace maids, and nannies serving in Ye Shuangshuang’s Princess Mansion were personally selected and meticulously overseen by the Emperor and the Empress.
As a result, everyone was extremely respectful toward Ye Shuangshuang, without the slightest neglect, including the Steward Eunuch.