063. I Have a Wonderful Father
Zhan Lianjing had noticed something as well; he glanced at her coolly and said, “You seem quite interested in my background.”
Le Qianxue gave a faint smile, propping her chin on her hand. “Indeed, I am very interested. Prince Zhan, you earned your name at fifteen, the youngest prince in Tianlong. How could I not be intrigued? Even my father is curious, always wanting to know more about you.”
“It’s not worth mentioning,” Zhan Lianjing replied. “I’ve made arrangements—you’ll return to the general’s manor shortly.”
Realizing Zhan Lianjing wouldn’t reveal a thing, Le Qianxue had no choice but to let the matter drop.
Zhan Lianjing’s so-called arrangements meant she was secretly taken to the outskirts and then Le Yongcheng was notified to collect her.
Le Yongcheng had been extremely worried upon learning that Le Qianxue was abducted from the Crown Prince’s palace yesterday. Now that he had found her, he nearly wanted to offer thanks to the gods.
No sooner thought than done, Le Yongcheng actually took Le Qianxue to the ancestral hall of the general’s manor, leading her to offer incense to their ancestors.
He sighed, “Xue’er, I don’t know what bad luck has plagued you this year. Trouble seems to follow you everywhere. I really need to keep a close eye on you, or your mother will blame me if something happens.”
Le Qianxue looked at the memorial tablets. Her mother’s name was Tong Qianqian. When Le Qianxue was named, the character “Qian” was deliberately chosen at her mother’s request.
Le Yongcheng had readily agreed, thinking the character “Qian” was quite nice.
“Father, you’ve never spoken of Mother before,” Le Qianxue said.
Even in her predecessor’s memories, there was little about her—Tong Qianqian had died of illness.
Le Yongcheng’s expression darkened, as if recalling some painful memories.
He waved his hand. “She passed too early. I’d rather not speak of it, lest I sadden myself.”
Le Qianxue sensed something odd about her father and wanted to press further, but Uncle Zeng announced from outside, “Master, the Crown Prince has arrived.”
Le Yongcheng glanced at Le Qianxue and asked, “When you were taken from the Crown Prince’s palace, did anything else happen?”
“Father, actually, that person saved me. He’s known as the Silver-Masked Hero in the martial world, always standing up for the weak.” Le Qianxue fabricated a half-truth.
Le Yongcheng’s face grew darker. “So the Crown Prince had ill intentions toward you?”
“Yes...” Le Qianxue replied. “I don’t know why he’s come. Father, you should just send him away quickly.”
Le Yongcheng snorted, muttering to himself, “She was right after all...”
Le Qianxue couldn’t catch what he said, but watched as her father left the hall and quickly followed behind.
She didn’t show herself, instead hiding in a side parlor to observe what Yu Guhan had come for.
“Greetings, Your Highness,” Le Yongcheng saluted, and Yu Guhan hurriedly helped him up.
Le Yongcheng subtly avoided his touch. “Your Highness, what brings you to the general’s manor today?”
“I heard Qianxue has returned and wanted to make sure she’s safe,” Yu Guhan replied, his face full of concern. If Le Yongcheng hadn’t known the truth, he might have believed him.
He nodded. “Your Highness is thoughtful. My daughter is unharmed, but she still needs rest.”
“That puts my mind at ease. General Le, do you know who dared to abduct Qianxue?” Yu Guhan asked, probing for information.
He wasn’t sure if Le Qianxue knew the truth, so he wanted to test the waters.
Judging by Le Yongcheng’s reaction, it seemed he was unaware. Otherwise, Le Yongcheng would have lost his temper by now.
“I do not know, but I will investigate thoroughly,” Le Yongcheng replied.
“There’s a woman in the capital known as the Ghost Physician. I suspect she may be an accomplice. General Le, you might want to look into that,” Yu Guhan suggested.
Le Qianxue frowned slightly at this, helpless. First it was Zhan Lianjing, now the Crown Prince—she would not be foolish enough to use her Ghost Physician identity again.
Le Yongcheng replied, “Rest assured, Your Highness, I will remember your advice.”
Yu Guhan sipped his tea and ordered a brocade box to be presented.
Le Yongcheng opened it as directed, his expression changing. “Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?”
“As you can see, General Le, my intentions are clear. This phoenix hairpin belonged to my birth mother, and only my official consort is worthy of it,” Yu Guhan declared. “I have come today to propose marriage to Qianxue!”
The phoenix hairpin in the box was indeed magnificent.
What father would not want to see his daughter marry well? And to become the Crown Prince’s consort—the temptation was great.
Le Qianxue nearly rushed out; she hoped her father would not agree, or she would be in real trouble.
Yu Guhan thought no one would refuse him. After all, the Crown Princess would one day become Empress.
But Le Yongcheng simply closed the box, saying, “Your Highness, how could my daughter possibly be worthy? Besides, your marriage should be decided by His Majesty. Moreover, I have someone else in mind as my son-in-law.”
As a military man, Le Yongcheng spoke bluntly.
In other words, I simply don’t want you as my son-in-law!
Yu Guhan hadn’t expected to be refused. He frowned slightly. “General Le, I have truly cared for Qianxue all these years—you must know this.”
“That may be true, Your Highness, but I spent many years stationed at the border and know little of it. Besides, my daughter has no wish to marry at present, and as her father, I will not force her. I must decline, Your Highness.”
Yu Guhan’s face turned cold. He had anticipated Le Yongcheng would not be easily swayed, but to be given no chance at all!
He had mentioned his choice for Crown Princess before, but the Emperor seemed to have other plans.
Though simply making Le Qianxue his woman would suffice, she had previously stated she would never be a concubine, so Yu Guhan had offered her the position of official consort as bait.
He never expected the Le family would remain unmoved!
He had planned to secure the engagement, but now Le Yongcheng refused, and his father did not want Le Qianxue as Crown Princess either...
Yu Guhan’s mood darkened at the thought.
Thus, the meeting ended in displeasure.
Le Qianxue breathed a sigh of relief. Her father had always wanted to marry her off quickly, so his rejection of Yu Guhan was odd.
She came out and asked, “Father, I thought you’d agree. You’ve always wanted me married as soon as possible.”
Le Yongcheng snorted, “You think I didn’t want to? But your mother once said your fate and the imperial family’s are incompatible; you must not marry into the Yu clan! Luckily, the Fourth Prince never cared for you; otherwise, if you had insisted on marrying him, I wouldn’t have known how to dissuade you.”
Le Qianxue was puzzled. “Mother said that?”
Why did this match what Master Wenzhi had said? Both advised against marrying into the imperial family.
Le Yongcheng nodded slightly. “Yes, your mother consulted a great seer, who said if you married into the royal family, your later years would be filled with misery.”
Such things are better believed than ignored.
Le Qianxue murmured assent, though she found it all too coincidental.
Unfortunately, Master Wenzhi had left the Thousand Buddha Pagoda and had not returned.
Back at Qingyu Court, she was still mulling over the matter.
Yin Susu prodded her. “Xue’er, don’t drift off. Let me tell you something.”
Le Qianxue’s mind returned. Yin Susu had spent so much time in the general’s manor that she had grown plumper.
Yin Susu smoothed her hair and spoke seriously, “This morning I discovered Le Linglong met with people from the Crown Prince’s palace—they even quarreled.”
Le Qianxue frowned. “I’ve been wondering who tampered with my incense and how that mother bug ended up in my room. Now it seems we have a suspect.”
She hadn’t had time to deal with Le Linglong lately, but unexpectedly, Le Linglong came to provoke her instead.
“What suspect? It’s obviously her! I’ve already asked Huatao—she said Le Linglong visited Qingyu Court that day! But at the time, Huatao thought nothing of it and forgot to mention it,” Yin Susu said angrily. “She nearly harmed you! Le Linglong cannot be let off!”
Le Qianxue replied, “She’s lost the Fourth Prince as her patron and now is trying to cozy up to Yu Guhan. She must be desperate.”
“In the end, she just wants to marry into the imperial family,” Yin Susu concluded, then her eyes brightened. “Oh, I just remembered—soon, the Mu Kingdom will send tribute and propose a marriage alliance. Their Crown Prince himself is coming! What do you think?”
Le Qianxue knew her friend’s mind and smiled. “Very well, you arrange it. But it must succeed—don’t let my dear sister miss such a great opportunity.”
Yin Susu nodded; this was exactly her specialty.
Le Qianxue went to rest for a while before rising again.
Yin Susu asked, “Aren’t you going to rest longer? Yuan Tianci said your vitality was injured.”
“I need to prepare a medicine to deal with Yu Guhan,” Le Qianxue answered. “He schemed against me—I can’t just let it go.”
Yin Susu said, “Then while you’re at it, see if you can get him to reveal where Mr. Yuan is.”
“I’ll find a way; don’t worry,” Le Qianxue replied, then went off to her work.
She had never prepared this kind of medicine before, so it took her longer. And once it was ready, she couldn’t test it.
Still, it was a fine thing.
Le Qianxue was wondering how to use it when Yu Zhiyang arrived.
“Third Prince, weren’t you sent by His Majesty to handle affairs recently? How did you return to the capital so soon?” Le Qianxue was surprised.
She didn’t know why, but after Yu Zhiyang returned to the capital, he was burdened with many tasks, as if someone were deliberately pressing him.
Yu Zhiyang looked weary; he had hurried back.
“I heard you were in trouble, so I was worried and came to check on you,” Yu Zhiyang said.
Now, seeing Le Qianxue safe and sound, he was finally at ease.