As Qi Yanzhou lifted the gauze curtain, Concubine Chen seized his arm.
"Yanzhou, do you need something from the maid waiting outside the pavilion?"
Hearing it was just a maid, Qi Yanzhou withdrew his hand.
"Nothing important."
Concubine Chen: "If it’s nothing, then sit down."
Qi Yanzhou turned and glanced at the six young ladies seated around the table but remained standing.
"Mother, what is the meaning of this?"
Rushing to summon him back, even insisting he bathe and change—was all this just to force him into selecting a consort?
Concubine Chen rose with a smile, introducing the noble daughters of the capital to Qi Yanzhou.
"Yanzhou, this is General Luo’s second daughter, Luo Rou. This is the eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites, Xu Qingyin. And this is—"
Qi Yanzhou interrupted her. "Mother, regarding marriage, I have my own plans."
He then addressed the young ladies with an apologetic bow. "My apologies, ladies. I have official matters to attend to. Farewell."
With that, he freed himself from Concubine Chen’s grasp and strode out of the pavilion the way he had come.
Concubine Chen hadn’t expected her son to embarrass her so openly.
She quickly reassured the young ladies, "Please enjoy some refreshments. I’ll return shortly."
Then she hurried after Qi Yanzhou.
Outside the pavilion, the finger pressed against the maid’s lips withdrew.
Regaining her composure, the maid gestured politely.
"Miss Ye, please."
Ye Chutang smiled in explanation. "You misunderstand. I’m not here for the selection."
Having said this, she too set off in the direction Qi Yanzhou had gone.
The maid nearly called out to stop her but remembered the gatekeeper mentioning Ye Chutang was an honored guest of the prince, so she let it go.
Ye Chutang hadn’t gone far when she overheard the young ladies in the pavilion gossiping about her.
"Who does she think she is, eavesdropping like that?"
"Why would Concubine Chen invite someone with such poor character?"
"Miss Ye? Could she be the famous Ye Chutang of the capital?"
"After the prince publicly rejected the imperial marriage arrangement, how does she dare show her face?"
Ye Chutang rolled her eyes.
I’ll deal with you backbiting clowns later!
She caught up near the rock garden but paused upon hearing Concubine Chen’s furious outburst.
"Yanzhou, the emperor’s decree cannot be defied! Whether you like it or not, you must take a wife. The noble ladies I’ve chosen are all suitable!"
"Mother, I’ve told you—I have my own plans regarding marriage."
"If you had plans, you wouldn’t still be unwed at twenty! Forget about that Miaojiang Witch Doctor. Within half a month, you must choose a bride!"
The imperial family had long sought to undermine the Chen estate. They couldn’t afford to give them grounds for accusations of defying the emperor’s order.
Qi Yanzhou had no interest in explaining that his supposed affection for the witch doctor was merely an excuse to stall the emperor.
"Mother, I have a way to decline the marriage. Trust me."
Seeing her son’s unyielding stance, Concubine Chen softened her tone.
"Yanzhou, the lives of everyone in the Chen estate rest on your shoulders. If you truly have a way to refuse the selection, at least tell me what it is."
Qi Yanzhou answered gravely, "I am afflicted by a deadly poison—not only am I living on borrowed time, but I am also incapable of consummating a marriage. No noble lady would willingly wed me under such circumstances."
Concubine Chen: "..."
She knew about the first two claims, but what was this last part?
Ye Chutang: "..."
To preserve his love for the Miaojiang Witch Doctor, Prince Chen is willing to go this far?
Such undying devotion—I almost want to ship them for real.
Concubine Chen refused to believe her tall, imposing son could be... lacking in that regard.
Her gaze involuntarily dipped downward, lingering there as her lips trembled. "Son... is this truly the case?"
Qi Yanzhou nodded firmly. "It is. Thus, I’ve no wish to bring misfortune upon any lady. Once the emperor learns of this, he’ll cease insisting on the marriage."
At this, Concubine Chen threw her arms around him, tears streaming.
"My poor child!"
She knew the fire poison in his system was nearly incurable, leaving him little time.
Her hope had been to secure an heir through the emperor’s coercion, but now...
Qi Yanzhou gently disentangled himself. "Mother, please trouble yourself no more over my marital affairs."
Concubine Chen wiped her tears. "Very well. Whatever you say, Yanzhou."
If her son’s days were numbered, his happiness was all that mattered.
With that, she turned back toward the pavilion.
Spotting her approach, Ye Chutang pretended to have just arrived and walked forward to meet her.
Concubine Chen started at the sight of the unfamiliar woman. "Who are you? How did you enter the inner courtyard?"
Hearing this, Qi Yanzhou swiftly moved to his mother’s side.
Recognizing Ye Chutang, he was visibly surprised.
"Miss Ye, what brings you here?"
Ye Chutang curtsied gracefully. "Greetings to Prince Chen and Concubine Chen."
From her son’s address and the young woman’s striking beauty, Concubine Chen immediately guessed her identity.
"You are the renowned eldest daughter of the Ye family?"
"I am."
Concubine Chen, appreciating Ye Chutang’s unpretentious demeanor, smiled. "Yanzhou has always held you in high regard. Truly, you live up to your reputation."
An outsider entering the inner courtyard unchallenged—Ye Chutang was the first!
Ye Chutang: "You flatter me, Your Highness."
"I’ll leave you two to talk."
As Concubine Chen walked away, she glanced back repeatedly, growing more pleased with what she saw.
Qi Yanzhou sidestepped to block his mother’s nosy gaze. "Miss Ye, this way, please."
Knowing Ye Chutang never visited without purpose, he escorted her to the library tower housing his study.
The moment they entered the library grounds, Ye Chutang sensed the presence of numerous skilled guards.
She feigned ignorance, calmly following the prince into the study.
Qi Yanzhou called out, "Nan Xiao, tea."
A black-clad man with a dagger at his waist entered silently, carrying a teapot. He poured two cups without a sound.
Ye Chutang raised a brow. "Impressive."
Qi Yanzhou chuckled. "Not as impressive as you, Miss Ye. To what do I owe this visit?"
Her eyes drifted to his desk. "Grind the ink."
Nan Xiao: "..."
This woman has nerve, ordering the prince around!
"Such a trivial task—allow me," he interjected.
But Qi Yanzhou waved him off. "No need. I’ll do it."
He added a few drops of water to the inkstone and began grinding. Once the ink thickened, he glanced at Ye Chutang, who was sipping tea.
"Miss Ye, the ink is ready."
She rose, took several blank sheets, and swiftly wrote out prescriptions for preventing and treating plague, along with instructions.
"Your Highness, send these to Jiangnan at once. Entrust them only to reliable hands, as a precaution."
Though no medical expert, Qi Yanzhou had picked up basics through his own prolonged illness.
After reviewing the prescriptions, he handed them to Nan Xiao.
"Have Xi Ze deliver them personally."
He didn’t know how effective the remedies would be, but he trusted Ye Chutang.
