Chapter 365 – The Sweet Princess Was Here – After the Grand Wedding (10)
The Crown Prince’s wedding filled the entire palace with joy. The Empress even granted three extra months of stipend to the staff of Kunning Palace and those attendants of Guangyang Hall who had followed the Crown Prince out of the palace.
When good things happen, spirits naturally rise. The Empress was in fine form, and Emperor Jude couldn’t help feeling moved; for several days in a row, he spent the night in Kunning Palace.
Consort He was recuperating, Imperial Concubine Liang was under confinement, and the Empress’s faction was flourishing, her influence unmatched.
Pleasant days always pass quickly. On the third day of their marriage, Wu Chenyi and Bai Tang entered the palace hand in hand to offer their thanks.
Wu Chenyi lifted the slightly sore and inconvenienced Bai Tang into the carriage. Sitting on the soft cushions, Tang Tang grew drowsy.
Over these three days, Wu Chenyi had behaved like a starving wolf finally allowed to feast. Bai Tang had been tossed about endlessly and had barely left the bridal chamber.
A large hand gently pressed and massaged Bai Tang’s lower back. Exhausted, the youth’s soft and milky voice murmured, “A little higher… yes, right there… that’s the sorest spot…”
“Is the Crown Princess satisfied with her husband’s service?”
The two were very close; Wu Chenyi’s warm breath brushed the rim of Bai Tang’s ear—itchy, teasing, seeping straight into his heart.
“You’re the worst~” The young man puffed up angrily, thinking of everything his alpha had done to him these past three days, and tried to push him away.
But Wu Chenyi was steady as a rock and had no intention of letting go. His hands didn’t stop, continuing to gently massage Bai Tang’s waist.
“Yes, yes, it’s all my fault. Your husband’s willpower was too weak and made Tang Tang suffer.” Though he said so, Wu Chenyi had absolutely no intention of giving up his blissful married life.
“Hmph~ At least you know.” The little squirrel pouted, shifting his weight against Wu Chenyi’s body.
The carriage wheels clattered as they rolled toward the palace. Upon reaching the palace gate, they had to disembark—such was the rule.
Wu Chenyi half-supported Bai Tang as they stepped out of the carriage. After the guards saluted them, Nanny Li of Kunning Palace arrived with a palanquin, having waited for quite some time.
“Your servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Crown Princess.”
Wu Chenyi called out, and Nanny Li couldn’t help secretly laughing when she noticed the faint bluish tint under Bai Tang’s eyes. The Empress’s guess had truly been correct.
“By order of Her Majesty the Empress, this servant has brought a palanquin to receive the Crown Princess,” Nanny Li announced loudly. She wanted the nearby guards to hear—just because the Crown Princess was from the Huan Kingdom and had weak foundations in the Wu Dynasty did not mean anyone could look down on him or bully him.
“Your Highness, the Empress cherishes you. There’s still a distance from the palace gates to Kunning Palace, and walking would take a while. Please, Crown Princess, board the palanquin.”
“Then I’ll trouble you, Nanny Li.”
Wu Chenyi had someone take a soft cushion from the carriage and place it inside the palanquin. Then he lifted Bai Tang in and lowered the curtain, blocking the guards’ prying eyes.
…
Kunning Palace
When Wu Chenyi and Bai Tang stepped through the gates of Kunning Palace, the Empress’s face lit up with joy. After they finished their formal greetings, she ordered the servants to present the wedding gifts prepared for them.
Palace attendants carried several trays, each holding top-grade Hetian jade, silk… all fine treasures.
Qiu’er quickly calculated their value, his eyes turning into golden coins. “We’re rich, we’re rich…” If they sold these items—most of which they wouldn’t use—in the system shop, they could exchange them for a considerable amount of energy.
All the wealth Bai Tang accumulated in each world was managed by Qiu’er. Anything given by the male lead was kept; gifts from others were sorted, and the less useful or lower-grade items were selected and sold back for energy.
“Thank you, Mother.”
After Bai Tang sat down, the sharp-eyed Empress immediately noticed the faint dark circles beneath his eyes. She glanced at Wu Chenyi with mild disapproval. “Chenyi, you must learn to show restraint…”
Hearing the Empress’s blunt remark, Bai Tang’s little face flushed red, and Wu Chenyi quickly responded with a respectful “Yes.”
Mother- and daughter-in-law were getting along harmoniously. When Emperor Jude arrived at Kunning Palace after court, the scene he walked in on was warm and peaceful.
“His Majesty arrives—!” a young eunuch shouted, interrupting the trio’s conversation.
“You’re all here,” Emperor Jude called out before he even entered.
Once he approached, the three bowed to him.
“Rise,” the Emperor said kindly. He looked at Wu Chenyi. “In the blink of an eye, you’ve already grown up and started your own family. I still remember when you were only this tall.” He gestured along his thigh to show the height.
“Yes, time flies. The children are grown now, and I’m getting old,” the Empress sighed.
“Mother, you’re not old at all. If you walked down the street with me, people would believe we were siblings,” Bai Tang said sweetly, coaxing a wide smile out of the Empress.
Before long, a young eunuch entered from outside to report, “Consort He has arrived.”
…
Bai Tang and Bai Fangxin were both siblings and “mother and son.” After Bai Fangxin entered the palace and became Emperor Jude’s consort, she was technically considered a “mother-consort” to both Wu Chenyi and Bai Tang.
Bai Tang turned his head and saw Bai Fangxin being helped in by palace maids, looking frail and sickly.
“Your concubine greets Your Majesty and greets Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Greetings, Consort He,” Wu Chenyi and Bai Tang said as they bowed to her.
“How could I possibly deserve such courtesy…” Bai Fangxin said weakly, pressing a hand to her chest like the beauty Xi Shi—pitiful and delicate.
Since she did not tell them to rise, Bai Tang simply maintained his bow.
In his memories—back in the Huan Kingdom—similar things had happened before. If Bai Tang stood up without being dismissed, he would soon be dragged before the Huan Kingdom’s monarch and accused of disrespecting sibling propriety.
“Consort He, my daughter-in-law is still waiting for you to dismiss him,” the Empress said impatiently, watching Bai Fangxin being helped up by Emperor Jude. If she was sick, she should rest properly—why wander around disturbing others’ good mood?
“Brother, quickly rise. There’s no need to be distant with me,” Bai Fangxin said. Even now, she still refused to give up, attempting to use seniority to draw closer.
Wu Chenyi supported Bai Tang, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“Since Consort He has arrived, Tang Tang and I won’t disturb you all. We will take our leave.”
It wasn’t just Bai Tang who disliked Bai Fangxin—Wu Chenyi did too. The woman always looked at him with mournful, accusing eyes, as if he had committed some unforgivable sin against her.
“Chenyi, don’t leave yet. I have something for you,” Emperor Jude said, instructing Bai Tang to remain in Kunning Palace to chat with the Empress and Consort He. He then took Wu Chenyi to the imperial study.
…
Bai Tang ate a meal at Kunning Palace—a lunch without Wu Chenyi, but with the story’s female lead acting as the supporting character.
During the meal, Bai Fangxin spoke of some of Bai Tang’s “terrible childhood deeds” in the Huan Kingdom, trying to build up her image as gentle and virtuous.
To those at the table, it simply sounded like a mischievous boy being playful. But to Bai Tang, it was obvious Bai Fangxin was deliberately smearing him. And even though the stories were true—things the original Bai Tang had done before he arrived—her tone, plus the implied comparison to herself, made his skin crawl.
“So Tang Tang was this mischievous as a child?” The Empress’s maternal instincts flared. Wu Chenyi had been disciplined and flawless as a boy, rarely giving her any trouble. Hearing Tang Tang’s childhood mischief, she instead felt as though she had finally experienced a child’s growth.
“It seems I should put a few bird nests in the trees of Kunning Palace’s courtyard,” the Empress laughed. “That way I won’t have to worry about Tang Tang not coming to visit me.”
Everyone laughed, and Tang Tang lowered his head in embarrassment.
“There’s no need to put up bird nests. I’ll visit Mother often.”
When Wu Chenyi arrived to take Bai Tang home, he informed the Empress before leaving that the day after tomorrow he would travel incognito to inspect the common people’s livelihood on behalf of Emperor Jude.
The Empress was naturally delighted that her child had been entrusted with such responsibility. If he performed well, it would not only earn him more favor in Emperor Jude’s eyes, but also show the court officials who was truly the most worthy heir to support.
Just because a crown prince had been chosen did not mean he would certainly become the next emperor. Until he stepped onto the throne, everything remained uncertain. The backing of the officials was a crucial force that helped a prince ascend to imperial power.
“But…” The Empress looked at the young man beside Wu Chenyi. “You’ve only just married, and Tang Tang is still unfamiliar with the Wu Dynasty. Why not let him stay in the palace with me? Then you can carry out your duties for your father without worry.”
Unconsciously, Bai Tang tightened his grip on Wu Chenyi’s sleeve and looked up at him, lips pressed together.
“Mother, I intend to take Tang Tang with me,” Wu Chenyi said. “He hasn’t been in the Wu Dynasty for long. It’s a good chance for him to see our customs and lifestyle, and to adapt as soon as possible.”
“If you’ve decided, then so be it.”
Wu Chenyi had always been decisive, and once he made up his mind, it was difficult to change it. The Empress did not force the issue, merely reminded them repeatedly of the precautions for their journey.
…
The next day, Wu Chenyi brought Bai Tang to bid farewell to the King of the Huan Kingdom.
The king looked at Bai Tang, who was dressed in splendid ceremonial robes, and sighed.
“Tang Tang, don’t blame your father for being heartless. This is for the people of the Huan Kingdom—I had no other choice.”
The autumn wind was bleak and chilly. Bai Tang shrank his neck slightly.
“Your son understands.”
It remained true: the King of the Huan Kingdom was not a good father, but he was a good ruler. For the Huan Kingdom to have him as king was the people’s blessing.
Wu Chenyi stepped forward and pulled Bai Tang gently into his arms.
“Your Majesty, rest assured. I will treat Tang Tang well.”
No matter what else, the man was still Bai Tang’s father. For that alone, he earned Wu Chenyi’s respect.
“Very well. I’ll be on my way,” the king said.
The King of Huan boarded the carriage, and the large entourage began returning along the road they had come from. They had brought plenty of supplies when they arrived, but they were taking away even more. Some materials hadn’t yet caught up with the convoy; officials of Wu Dynasty would need to check the inventory before sending those items to Huan Country.
The wind was bleak, the clouds somber. Bai Tang watched as the King of Huan departed, the silhouettes of the carriages slowly disappearing into the horizon.
Wu Chenyi did not disturb him. Perhaps, for the rest of his life, Tangtang would never be able to return home—and Wu Chenyi would certainly never let him go back.
After a long time, the young man finally spoke. “A-Yi~”
Wu Chenyi replied, “I’m here.”
“M-My leg… it’s numb…”
It wasn’t that Bai Tang refused to go back to the residence—he had simply stood for too long, all his weight resting on one leg. The moment he moved, it felt as if tens of thousands of ants were gnawing on his left leg, spreading numbness everywhere.
Wu Chenyi lifted the young man into his arms. “Let’s go home. I’ll give Tang Tang a massage, alright?”
“N-No, no massage… it’s numb and sore…” Earlier, he’d secretly pressed on it himself, and the numbness had shot through his whole body. That feeling was terrifying. Absolutely not.
“I’ll use my internal energy to ease your tendons and bones. It won’t hurt.”
“Really?”
“Really. I might lie to others, but I’d never lie to Tang Tang…”
The setting sun dipped toward the west, painting a beautiful scene, while the voices of the man and the young boy drifted farther and farther away.
The guards left behind to await orders: Your Highness the Crown Prince… have you forgotten us? Should we stay? Should we return to the palace? Please give us a clear answer…
Author’s Note :
Guard: Our lives are so hard…
Wu Chenyi (eyes only on Tang Tang): “Today I had the kitchen make Tang Tang’s favorite nuts.”
Bai Tang (cheering): “A-Yi is the best!”