On Our Wedding Night, I Discovered the Crown Prince's Hidden Illness-Chapter 882: Illustrations in the Secret Manual
Ye Zhenyu learned of this matter and sent a message to Ye Zhengmo, saying it was urgent and they needed to discuss major affairs.
When Ye Zhengmo received the message from Ye Zhenyu, he was carefully examining the imperial decree.
He originally thought the decree would be delayed for some time, but unexpectedly, his mother stepped in, and the decree was established.
Upon hearing that Ye Zhenyu urgently wanted to see him, Ye Zhengmo thought for a moment. Although he didn’t know what the Fourth was planning, the words "discuss major affairs" warranted a trip to Prince Liang Mansion.
The Fourth is currently reflecting, there’s no major event that would easily bring him out of the mansion, so going once is reasonable.
Having thought this, Ye Zhengmo discreetly went to Prince Liang Mansion that evening.
Ye Zhenyu awaited him for a day. Upon seeing Ye Zhengmo, he led him to the study.
"Congratulations on being granted the title of Prince Qi, Seventh Brother!"
Ye Zhengmo directly asked, "Fourth Brother, why did you call me here for?"
Ye Zhenyu gestured for him to enter. Once inside the study, he commanded his confidants to keep watch and personally closed the study door.
"Seventh Brother, please sit." Ye Zhenyu sat behind the desk, only speaking after Ye Zhengmo lifted his robe to sit. "I called you today because indeed there is a major affair to discuss."
Ye Zhengmo’s brows slightly furrowed, "A major affair?"
Ye Zhenyu lowered his voice: "I have a plan to bring down the Crown Prince; I’m curious if Seventh Brother can cooperate?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Zhengmo smiled: "The Crown Prince isn’t blind, nor does he have any hidden illnesses, is Fourth Brother anxious?"
Ye Zhenyu replied, "Seventh Brother, are you not anxious either?" He straightforwardly pointed out, "Seventh Brother seems unperturbed about being granted a title, because you know you’ll be granted one eventually. Now that you’ve been titled a prince, wouldn’t you want your position to be more secure?"
Ye Zhengmo’s smile remained unchanged: "If I cooperate with Fourth Brother to bring down the Crown Prince, what’s the immediate benefit?"
Ye Zhenyu made it clear: "If Ye Yiheng is stripped of the Crown Prince title, anyone could sit in that position. Currently, you and I are ranked lower than him, which makes him our enemy. Regardless of who among us sits as Crown Prince, that’s a matter for later; now we should together deal with the Crown Prince." He sighed deeply, "Frankly, every prince harbors this thought, but I am aware of my mediocre talents. Since our mother raised me, I must consider my brother’s well-being, which counts as repaying her nurture and guidance."
His words were half-truths, Ye Zhengmo laughed brightly: "Fourth Brother is exceptionally wise, how can you call your talents mediocre? If the Crown Prince title went by seniority, Second Brother is already a eunuch, so it naturally falls to Fourth Brother. If Fourth Brother becomes Crown Prince later, you must protect your brother. How does Fourth Brother want me to cooperate?"
"Seventh Brother recently became a prince; choose a day to host a celebratory banquet at your mansion. The Crown Prince didn’t initially agree to your title, but if you invite him, he’ll certainly attend." Ye Zhenyu noticed Ye Zhengmo’s flattering words weren’t enough to show willingness to cooperate, so he further added, "Seventh Brother’s mansion hosting a banquet would also clarify to our brothers that the women in your mansion weren’t seized forcefully."
Ye Zhengmo suppressed his smile and asked: "Fourth Brother makes sense, but I’m curious how you’ll bring down the Crown Prince?"
Seeing his serious expression, Ye Zhenyu knew cooperation was possible, so he explained: "Recently, I’ve found a woman with some resemblance to Leng Yu Yan. If we can get the Crown Prince drunk at the banquet and have that woman serve him, we could sow discord between Leng Yu Yan and the Crown Prince. Once their marital relationship breaks down, the alliance between the Eastern Palace and Prince Zhenbei Mansion will collapse. Without Prince Zhenbei’s support, his position isn’t stable. Then we can let that woman cause a scandal and ruin the Crown Prince’s reputation. For instance, Seventh Brother could say the woman is his concubine, and the Crown Prince took his concubine. Without Prince Zhenbei’s support, wouldn’t the Crown Prince seat be vacant sooner?"
Ye Zhengmo said: "Let me guess why Fourth Brother is so anxious. Previously, the Imperial Physicians said the Crown Prince had limited time before the poison took effect, but now the Crown Prince shows no signs of weakness, so Fourth Brother is anxious?"
Ye Zhenyu openly nodded: "The Crown Prince’s eye condition got cured, and even his hidden ailments are gone. There might be an expert next to him, making me fear the earlier diagnosis from the Imperial Hospital might be false."
The pair quickly reached a consensus and decided to send invitations tomorrow, hosting the banquet the day after at Prince Qi Mansion.
--
The next morning, the banquet invite from Prince Qi Mansion arrived at the Eastern Palace.
When the gatekeeper presented the invitation to Ye Yiheng, he was reviewing petitions.
"Leave it aside; I’ll look at it later."
The gatekeeper nodded and quickly bowed out.
Once the gatekeeper returned to the entrance of the Eastern Palace, the person who delivered the invitation from Prince Qi Mansion eagerly asked with a smile, "What’s the Crown Prince’s decision?"
"We servants dare not speculate His Highness’s intentions." The gatekeeper glanced at the person from Prince Qi Mansion. "The invitation is accepted; whether His Highness goes or not is his decision. If you have no other business, please leave!"
The messenger nodded and bowed, repeatedly thanking before turning to leave, his smile quickly fading as he turned.
"Humph! Acting so high and mighty, has even the gatekeeper at the Eastern Palace risen above others?"
At lunch, Ye Yiheng returned to the bedroom to dine with Leng Yu Yan.
During the meal, he casually mentioned, "Ye Zhengmo sent an invitation, saying he’s hosting a banquet tomorrow and inviting us both."
Leng Yu Yan asked, "Another trap banquet?"
"Why do you say so?"
"Wasn’t the previous banquet hosted by Prince Liang Mansion so?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
"No need for us to attend."
"We’ll go!" Leng Yu Yan insisted solemnly, "Clearing obstacles early helps us have children sooner."
Ye Yiheng felt a surge of happiness and laughed softly, "As you wish."
Leng Yu Yan continued seriously, "If the enemy wants to strike, avoiding them will only embolden them. Ye Zhengmo is too arrogant; hosting a banquet to invite His Highness clearly aims to embarrass him."
Ye Yiheng nodded: "After all, I initially disagreed with his title, and openly stated he seized civilian women; his purpose in hosting the banquet is very clear."
The couple chatted a bit, not considering Ye Zhengmo’s affairs at all.
After the meal, Ye Yiheng returned to the study to continue reviewing petitions, while Leng Yu Yan worked on contraceptive pills she hadn’t finished the previous day.
The contraceptive pills were made rather quickly, finished a small bottle by bedtime.
Upon hearing the news, Ye Yiheng returned to the bedroom, pulled off the bottle cap, and swallowed one pill.
Leng Yu Yan glared at him: "It’s enough if I take them."
The man hugged her soft body, his voice deep and pleasant: "Yanyan doesn’t like bitter medicine, and besides, any medication has some toxicity, so naturally, I’ll take them."
She promised to have his children, enduring a bit more discomfort wasn’t a big deal.
With that said, he took out a box from somewhere.
Leng Yu Yan took it, opened it, and saw two small bells tied with red thread. As she lifted them with her fingers, they emitted a crisp and pleasant sound.
"Where did this come from?" she exclaimed joyfully, "These bells are so beautiful!"
Ye Yiheng turned her around in his embrace, so they were facing each other.
"Yanyan doesn’t know what they are for?"
Leng Yu Yan said, confused: "What are they for?"
He leaned down to whisper in her ear: "Mother-in-law mentioned there are illustrations and techniques on two secret manuals. Does Yanyan want to experience them?"
