Have You Written Your Will Today?
Chapter 81 No Matter How the Abandoned Prince is, He is Still a Prince

Chapter 81: Chapter 81 No Matter How the Abandoned Prince is, He is Still a Prince

"Meow."

Xue Tuan softly rolled over, exposing her belly which clearly had a patch of fur missing, her paws gradually seemed to be accusing as Cui Yun looked on.

She had been raised too delicately. Cui Yun picked up the medicine bottle and methodically applied medicine to the visibly swollen spot where the fur was missing.

"Usually when I scold you a little, you bare your claws and get annoyed with me, and now you’ve been bullied."

Cui Yun’s gaze shifted downwards, landing on the sharp claws.

"Grown in vain?"

His eyes and brows were exceptionally handsome, but before Shen Hua could take a closer look, his vision blurred. Cui Yun’s figure was shrouded in a vast, white mist, vague and dim, and the piercing light turned to darkness; soon, she was engulfed in darkness.

Back to reality.

————

Marquis Yangling Mansion

Cui Rong felt cold and kept exhaling rapidly. She was anxiously stomping her feet.

"Uncle lied!"

"He said he would take me out to buy lanterns once he returned from the palace. Grandfather has come back, but he hasn’t!"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Si spoke soothingly: "Don’t talk nonsense, when has your uncle ever deceived you? He must be delayed by official duties. It’s late, come back inside with Mama."

As she spoke, she glanced uneasily at the sky.

Cui Yun was usually reliable, never failing to send a message if he was detained, but could it be that something had happened at the Ministry of Justice this time?

Just as Cui Rong, feeling wronged, was being led back by Qiao Si, she saw an old woman from the gatehouse running towards them.

"little princess, the Marquis has returned."

Cui Rong was delighted and quickly struggled free from Qiao Si’s grasp, rushing out.

Qiao Si watched the little girl’s retreating figure, helpless.

"This child."

They say a daughter takes after her father, but Cui Bai’s steadiness was nowhere to be found in Cui Rong.

She instructed a servant: "Hurry and follow her, the roads are slippery with snow, don’t let her fall again and cry in pain."

Cui Rong ran quickly, and when she saw Cui Yun leisurely walking ahead, her eyes brightened and she threw herself at him.

"Uncle!"

Cui Yun quickened his steps and caught Cui Rong.

"Why did you only come back now!"

Cui Yun squinted his eyes, suddenly realizing. Perhaps he was so occupied these past few days that he spent the entire night with Shen Hua.

He paused, a slight sigh escaping his lips.

"Rong, it’s my fault for making you anxious."

Cui Rong initially felt aggrieved, but after hearing this, she wasn’t mad anymore.

"Uncle is busy, I understand."

Then, excitedly pointing at the lantern Cui Yun was holding.

"Is this for me?"

Cui Yun nodded his head.

Seeing the pattern, she pouted.

"Uncle, how did you forget, I like lions."

Cui Yun remained silent.

Cui Rong found an excuse for him: "I know, it must be that the lions were sold out."

Cui Yun’s eyes were deep, and after a long pause, he hummed in agreement.

"Then I forgive you, Uncle."

Ji Qing: ...

little princess, there are plenty of lions.

But the master unusually matched up with Lady Shen tonight. He insisted on this rabbit.

After sending Cui Rong back, Cui Yun returned to his study. The study was lit brightly as if it were daylight. Before entering, he saw Ji Xin dutifully waiting outside,

Cui Yun kept his expression unchanged and slowly stepped inside.

"Grandfather."

The Old Master was holding a cup of brewed tea, standing to the side, quietly observing the painting on the wall. Hearing the footsteps, he did not turn around.

"The brush dances on the paper like clouds and flowing water, your painting skills have improved a lot."

Cui Yun smiled faintly and remained silent.

Old Master Cui sipped his tea and pondered for a moment, "What the Emperor did today, though the senior officials did not speak out, they were still discontent in private. Imperial Censor Shu wanted to leave his seat and advise right there, but was stopped by the civil servant beside him."

What he referred to was naturally the matter of the arranged marriage.

Cui Yun had no opinion on this.

As long as they didn’t shove a mess of people onto him, that would suffice. The things Princess Le Jia does in private are not something ordinary people could endure.

"I saw the Third Prince today."

The voice of Old Master Cui became softer.

"Prince Huai’an Mansion used to be so prestigious, Prince Huai’an was personally appointed by the late Emperor, he was carefree and very righteous. He once saved your Daddy’s life."

"If he knew the sort of life the Third Prince was leading now, he might as well have rebelled back then."

The Third Prince’s mother is Consort Shao, who is the legitimate sister of Shao Wu.

Back then, Consort Shao was favored above all others in the palace, Ji Teng was even more prized than the Crown Prince.

If Prince Huai’an wanted to rebel, at that time, half the court’s power would have gone over to him; even the martial heroes would gather around Prince Huai’an. Would there even be a place for Emperor He then?

But now it’s too late to say anything.

Marquis Huai’an Mansion has fallen.

Old Master Cui was grim, his expression towards Cui Yun turned abstracted.

After a long time, he heaved a deep sigh.

"You should take more care of the Third Prince for your Daddy’s sake. At least, let him not wear such thin clothes."

At the banquet tonight, even the palace eunuchs were dressed warmer than Ji Teng.

Cui Yun subconsciously reached for the bracelet at his wrist, but touched nothing.

Unsurprisingly, Princess Le Jia is also to be made a consort, the Observatory will choose an auspicious time for the enthronement ceremony. And the envoy will only return after the ceremony is concluded.

He inadvertently furrowed his brows, "The Empress has cleared out Yanxi Palace."

Yanxi Palace was previously inhabited by Consort Shao, after her incident, it had been unoccupied, left unattended, even quieter than the Cold Palace.

The Empress did this intentionally.

She wanted the deceased Consort Shao to see with her own eyes that her past glory amounted to nothing in the end.

Now, it has been tidied up for Princess Le Jia.

It’s known that Yanxi Palace is splendid and magnificent, every brick and tile took painstaking effort from the Ministry of Industry over many years.

"What are her motives?" Old Master Cui frowned.

Cui Yun looked down, "The Third Prince has returned and is of age to marry, the Empress will of course not hold a grudge against the deceased anymore."

So, in front of Ji Teng, she wants to personally erase the memories Ji Teng had since his youth about his mother and Yanxi Palace.

Cui Yun’s voice did not reveal any hint of joy or anger, he said, "A prince takes a wife, the bride cannot be too low, nor too high in status."

How could the Empress bear to send a girl from a good family background to Ji Teng? Yet, she favors maintaining superficial appearances and assuming the posture of a compassionate mother.

Of course, she can’t choose a girl from a small household or a concubine daughter from a prominent family.

If so, she would be criticized by the officials.

This matter involves the face of the Imperial Family; even if the Empress is willing, Emperor He is not.

"Now, there is a suitable candidate."

Old Master Cui gleaned some understanding.

A scowl formed on his face.

"Are you talking about the daughter of the Minister of Ministry of Industry?"

Indeed, it is Wei Yingying.

Cui Yun nodded.

He spoke slowly, but his words had a profound impact, like cold jade striking stone.

"She was abducted for several days during Buhuo, although still innocent, her reputation is completely ruined, enough to humiliate the Third Prince."

Who cares if Wei Yingying is truly innocent or pretending; since she was abducted, in people’s eyes, she is tainted.

As a daughter of the Minister of Ministry of Industry, born under damaged circumstances, she is more than fitting for an abandoned prince.

This, Emperor He naturally would not oppose.

And what the Empress does, will earn her more praise.

After all, the Imperial Family is showing such compassion to a frightened courtier’s family member by specifically decreeing a marriage for consolation.

Regardless of the abandoned prince or not, he is still a prince.

This is a grace from the heavens.