Qi Yanzhou understood Ye Chutang's concerns and readily agreed.
"Alright, I’ll convince Father and Mother, but I’d like to keep the matter of the child a secret for now. We’ll tell them after the marriage and exile. Prince Chen's Mansion is full of gossip, and I’d rather avoid unnecessary trouble."
Ye Chutang had no objections. "That’s fine."
"Miss Ye, please wait here for a moment. I’ll go speak with Father and Mother now."
After Qi Yanzhou left, Ye Chutang poured herself a cup of over-steeped jasmine tea.
The tea leaves were sparse, sweetened with honey, carrying a faint bitterness that gave way to a lingering sweetness—much like her current predicament.
She gently touched her flat stomach. "Be good these days. Don’t give your mother any trouble."
With that, she turned her thoughts to the matter of exile.
Qi Yanzhou had just reclaimed the southern borders, so he certainly wouldn’t be sent to the southwest.
The Qi family’s army was stationed in the northeast, ruling out Ningguta as well.
That left the coastal regions of Lingnan or the desolate northwest.
The coastal climate was harsh, but seafood was abundant—hardly a place the despicable emperor would choose.
The northwestern desert, however, was both unforgiving and resource-scarce, with brutal winters. It was the obvious choice!
Realizing this, Ye Chutang knew she needed to stockpile supplies.
In the northwestern wastelands, even silver would be useless!
As she mentally listed the essentials to prepare, Qi Yanzhou went to see Concubine Chen.
Together, they headed to the Old Prince’s courtyard.
The Old Prince was feeding the koi in the pond, an arm wrapped around his concubine.
Seeing his wife and son approach together, he knew they had important matters to discuss.
"Ping'er, return to your quarters. I’ll come find you later."
Before leaving, Concubine Su deliberately pressed a kiss to the Old Prince’s cheek.
"I’ll be waiting for you, my lord."
Concubine Chen was long accustomed to such provocations and paid them no mind.
Once Concubine Su had left, the Old Prince dismissed all the servants in the courtyard.
To avoid eavesdroppers, the three of them retreated to the study.
The Old Prince asked, "Yanzhou, what’s the matter?"
Concubine Chen, equally curious, ventured, "Does it concern Miss Ye?"
Qi Yanzhou nodded. "I intend to marry her. Tomorrow at court, I’ll request the emperor’s decree for the marriage."
Concubine Chen was overjoyed but puzzled.
"Yanzhou, didn’t you say before that you had a hidden ailment and little time left? That you didn’t want to burden Miss Ye? Why the sudden change?"
Then, realization struck her.
"Was it her idea? Why would she suddenly agree to marry you?"
She had once probed Ye Chutang’s feelings, only to find the girl utterly indifferent to her son.
Qi Yanzhou trusted his parents completely and told them everything—except for Ye Chutang’s pregnancy.
Concubine Chen clutched his arm, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Yanzhou, you’re not lying to me? Can Miss Ye truly save you?"
"If the southern border’s witch doctor arrives in time, she can."
"You nearly died reclaiming those lands—the witch doctor will surely come to break your curse."
The Old Prince, relieved his son might yet escape death’s grasp, patted his shoulder approvingly.
"This daughter-in-law of ours is a good one!"
Then, he turned to the matter of exile.
"Yanzhou, the emperor has always wanted to destroy Prince Chen's Mansion. Exile won’t be easy—too lenient, and we’ll be imprisoned; too harsh, and it’ll mean execution for the entire family."
Qi Yanzhou smiled. "With Miss Ye’s help, we’ll succeed."
He explained how the emperor had schemed against Ye Chutang—and how she had pretended to fall for it, becoming their inside informant.
After listening, Concubine Chen grew even more satisfied with Ye Chutang.
"Who says women are inferior to men? Miss Ye is both courageous and resourceful—few men in this world could compare. Zhou'er, since Miss Ye is willing to endure exile and hardship with you, you must not betray her."
"Mother, rest assured. I would rather betray the world than betray her!"
After Qi Yanzhou made his stance clear, he mentioned the conditions Ye Chutang had requested.
Concubine Chen had no objections. "Miss Ye saved your life. Asking for a lifelong commitment of mutual devotion is not excessive. She has a noble heart and doesn’t wish to be confined to the inner chambers—that’s only natural."
The Old Prince nodded in agreement. "The Qi family still has your elder brother and your half-brother. Losing one more to carry on the lineage isn’t a big deal."
Qi Yanzhou immediately ground ink and wrote down the two conditions Ye Chutang had demanded.
He intentionally left a blank line to add matters related to children later.
After signing and stamping the document, he said, "Father, Mother, please."
The Old Prince and Concubine Chen promptly signed and stamped it as well.
Qi Yanzhou picked up the still-damp paper and blew on it lightly.
He then asked, "Mother, I believe that before requesting the Emperor’s decree for marriage, you and Father should visit the Minister's Mansion first."
Concubine Chen nodded. "You’re absolutely right. We must inform Minister Ye beforehand to show Prince Chen's Mansion’s sincerity toward this marriage."
The Old Prince said to Concubine Chen, "After lunch, pick out some valuable gifts, and we’ll go to the Minister's Mansion."
"Very well. I’ll go to the storeroom right away to take a look."
Concubine Chen left with Qi Yanzhou, heading to the rear garden.
She took Ye Chutang’s hand and slid the jade bracelet from her own wrist onto Ye Chutang’s.
"Tang’er, this is the Qi family heirloom. Keep it."
Ye Chutang felt it was too precious and was about to refuse when Concubine Chen gently pressed her wrist.
"I once thought you and Zhou'er were fated to part, and I considered adopting you as my daughter. But now, against all odds, I’m overjoyed—and grateful to you for giving Zhou'er a second chance at life."
With that, she released Ye Chutang’s hand.
"You two talk. I’ll prepare the gifts for our visit to the Minister's Mansion later."
Ye Chutang bowed. "Your Highness, take care."
After Concubine Chen left, Qi Yanzhou led Ye Chutang to his study.
He added a line to the first clause of the pledge before handing it to her.
Ye Chutang glanced at it—the two promises were clear and straightforward.
"First: I pledge that after marriage, I will remain devoted to Ye Chutang for life, never betraying her. If I break this vow, may I be struck by lightning, and Ye Chutang may divorce me at any time, taking our children with her."
The last sentence was freshly added by Qi Yanzhou, the ink still wet.
"Second: I will not interfere with any of Ye Chutang’s decisions, respecting all her choices and protecting her with all my strength. If I violate this, may I die a wretched death."
After reading the pledge, Ye Chutang said, "Your Highness, there’s no need to make the consequences so severe."
Parting amicably—staying together if it works, separating if it doesn’t.
Qi Yanzhou gazed at Ye Chutang with burning intensity, his eyes filled with deep affection.
"The severity reflects my determination, Miss Ye. Spending a lifetime with you—I mean every word."
Ye Chutang accepted the contract and kissed Qi Yanzhou on the cheek.
"Consider this my seal. You’re mine now. If you keep your promises, I’ll never leave your side."
Qi Yanzhou flushed at Ye Chutang’s boldness and initiative.
"To find a soulmate in this lifetime—I am content."
Then, he pulled Ye Chutang to sit beside him and asked nervously, "Miss Ye, shouldn’t we… adopt more intimate terms of address between us?"
Ye Chutang nodded in agreement. "You can call me A-Chu or A-Tang. Should I call you A-Yan or A-Zhou?"
"You must have heard of the 'Shatang Boat.' From now on, I'll call you A-Tang, and you can call me A-Zhou."
Ye Chutang thought "A-Yan" sounded nicer, but she didn’t argue.
"Alright, A-Zhou."
Her soft, tender voice drifted into Qi Yanzhou’s ears, making the tips of them flush pink.
He told Ye Chutang about the Old Prince and Concubine Chen’s upcoming visit to the Minister's Mansion.
"A-Tang, though our marriage came about unexpectedly, I won’t let you lack even an ounce of dignity or respect."
Ye Chutang didn’t care much for formalities, but she was deeply moved by Qi Yanzhou’s thoughtfulness.
"A-Zhou, tell me about the other members of Prince Chen's Mansion."
