Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

The words that followed she almost didn’t dare to say aloud, but in her heart she already understood what Yu Wenye wanted. He refused to toil only for others to reap the reward, especially now that the relationship between them and the Crown Prince was already like water and fire. If they truly conquered vast lands and glorious territory, only for the Crown Prince to sit back and enjoy the fruits and inherit the throne in the end, she feared they wouldn’t even be allowed a peaceful death.

So he had to fight for it!

But the way he was acting now, wasn’t he in fact blackmailing the Emperor?

Shang Ruyi said worriedly, "Is... this really okay?"

Yu Wenye glanced at her and said in a low voice, "Things have come to this point; I have no way to retreat. If Father Emperor only thinks of protecting him, then what will become of our future—you should be able to imagine that."

"..."

"The only one who can protect you, forever, is yourself."

"..."

"While we are still of use right now, naturally we have to sell ourselves for a ’good price.’"

Seeing the resolute look in his eyes, Shang Ruyi still felt somewhat uneasy. After all, blackmailing the Emperor was no ordinary matter; it wasn’t even the same as them going to the battlefield to kill the enemy and risk their lives. But things had indeed come to this; they truly had no way back. She could only nod hard and say, "All right!"

Once their minds were made up, the two of them put aside all other distractions.

By the usual procedure, since there was already an imperial edict for him to lead troops on campaign, Yu Wenye should immediately begin preparations—for example, going to the Ministry of Revenue to have grain and fodder allocated, then to the Ministry of War to collect deployment orders, and making full use of these few days to drill the soldiers. Yet that afternoon, Yu Wenye did not go out; instead, he remained in Qianqiu Palace. He took out the Luoyang City Defense Map that Jiang Chong’en had presented when he feigned surrender, spread it out on the table to examine it, and Shang Ruyi leaned in as well. The two of them picked up a handful of chess pieces and toyed with them on the map for half the day.

Seeing that dusk was drawing near, Shang Ruyi told the wet nurse to bring Little Yuanzi up.

Little Yuanzi, seven months old, still matched his name—round and plump. After spring began, the wet nurse had personally made two sets of soft pink clothes for him. When he wore them, he was white and chubby, as adorably delicate as a porcelain doll. Though fat, this little fellow was especially strong. As soon as he sat on the couch he started restlessly howling, then flipped himself over and began crawling back and forth, just like a little fat puppy.

Watching him crawl to the edge of the bed and look down twice, he actually looked like he was about to lunge forward. Yu Wenye reached out in one smooth motion and scooped this little ball of meat into his arms, laughing. "Silly boy, you don’t even know what danger is."

Shang Ruyi was so scared she broke out in a cold sweat at his side, shaking her head again and again.

But Little Yuanzi, being held by his father, kept giggling. As soon as he was put back on the bed, he tirelessly continued crawling toward the side.

Shang Ruyi shook her head and said, "We need to let this little fellow skip a couple of meals, he’s got far too much energy."

Yu Wenye glared at her, "What are you saying—what kind of mother starves her own child?"

"But he’s really growing too fat. Don’t you think so?"

As Shang Ruyi spoke, she saw Little Yuanzi crawl to the other edge of the bed and try to lunge down again. She hurriedly grabbed his chubby little legs and dragged him back. The child muttered and struggled, still trying to crawl forward, but in the end could not overcome his mother’s strength and was dragged back. His two chubby hands were still clutching the bedding on the couch, and Shang Ruyi slapped the backs of his hands twice before he let go. Then she picked the child up and said, "In the daytime he has to eat four or five times, and at night he wakes Nanny Feng in the middle of the night for two more feedings. If this keeps up, he really will get fat as a ball."

Yu Wenye shot her a look and snatched Little Yuanzi over, saying, "What’s wrong with being fat now? Once he grows older, when he can wield sabers and swords, you’ll be afraid he doesn’t eat enough."

Shang Ruyi said crossly, "And how many years will that take?"

"..."

"Besides, why must he wield sabers and swords? What’s wrong with just studying properly?"

Yu Wenye raised a brow. "My son—could he only just study?"

Shang Ruyi also gave him a look.

While the two of them were bickering over these trivial little things, Chang Wan walked in from outside and said softly, "Your Highness, Princess, Eunuch Yu has come to deliver a message."

At this, Shang Ruyi immediately sensed something. The two exchanged a glance, then hurriedly rose and walked out. Sure enough, they saw Eunuch Yu coming in from outside the hall. Seeing the two of them, he immediately stepped forward to salute. Yu Wenye raised his hand and said, "There’s no need for such formalities, Eunuch."

Eunuch Yu smiled and said, "Your Highness, Princess, the Emperor has issued an order, asking the two of you to come dine together this evening."

Shang Ruyi’s eyes immediately brightened.

Yu Wenye said calmly, "Only the two of us?"

Eunuch Yu smiled. "Naturally not. The Emperor said to bring the Young Master along as well—the Emperor misses him."

Hearing this, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help laughing. "Then please wait a moment, Eunuch. I’ll take Yuanyuan to change his clothes."

Eunuch Yu smiled. "Princess, please go ahead."

So Shang Ruyi took Tushere, who was carrying the heavy Little Yuanzi, back into the inner hall, leaving only Yu Wenye and Eunuch Yu outside, not knowing what they spoke of. When they had changed their clothes and came out again, they looked in high spirits. Even Little Yuanzi seemed to know there was something good happening tonight; he was so excited he kept bouncing in Tushere’s arms.

The group left Qianqiu Palace.

After walking for a while and passing through Hundred Blessings Gate, they found Bai Fu Hall here dimly lit, with no sign of a banquet being prepared. Shang Ruyi turned to look at Eunuch Yu, and before she could speak, Eunuch Yu immediately smiled and said, "Tonight the Emperor is in Liangyi Hall, having some home-style dishes with King Qin and the Princess."

Shang Ruyi’s eyes glimmered as she smiled.

The Emperor’s "home-style" meals were not ordinary home-style fare. At a time like this, inviting the two of them to dine at Liangyi Hall was not just about a family meal; it was a display of familial closeness, a deliberate effort to draw them in.

Only, she didn’t know what exactly he planned to say to them.

Shang Ruyi did not say much, and simply followed Yu Wenye all the way forward. By the time they reached Liangyi Hall, the setting sun was already close to the horizon. Little palace maids and little eunuchs were bustling back and forth inside Liangyi Hall, and before long they had lit all the candelabras in the hall. In the side hall, Yu Wenquan’s study was already brightly lit from the start. The two walked over and bowed deeply to Yu Wenquan. "Your son and daughter-in-law pay respects to Father Emperor."

"Rise, both of you."

Yu Wenquan was standing before his desk, a brush still in his hand as though he had just finished writing. A faint hint of a smile touched his face.

Turning his head, he saw Little Yuanzi, who looked extremely excited, his eyes round and wide. The smile on his face deepened a bit as he said, "Come here, let Grandpa hold you."

Tushere hurriedly passed Little Yuanzi to Eunuch Yu, and Eunuch Yu carried the child into the Emperor’s arms. Yu Wenquan gathered the child up with one arm, weighed him, and immediately laughed. "Oh my, you’re even fatter than before."

Shang Ruyi straightened up and smiled. "I also say he’s gotten fat—he has endless energy and does nothing but make trouble."

Yu Wenquan smiled. "For a little child, being naughty is only natural."

Just as he spoke, Little Yuanzi turned and saw the brushes and rice paper laid out on the desk in front of him, and at once reached out to grab the paper. Yu Wenquan caught his chubby little hand and laughed. "Hey now, don’t tug, don’t tug—that’s your name!"