The eunuch by the Emperor's side came over and bowed respectfully, "Crown Prince, the Emperor invites Your Highness over. Today, Lady Lai has entered the palace, and Your Highness should come and take a look."
Realizing he had used the wrong wording, he quickly corrected himself, "Your Highness should come and listen. It is said that a woman's voice is also very important."
Jian Lecheng picked up a black piece and played with it, "Yes, let's go and see. You use your ears, and I use my eyes. If that Lady Lai is really ugly, it's never too late to refuse the marriage."
The eunuch bowed again and said, "Young Master speaks truly, the Emperor is gravely concerned about Your Highness's marriage!"
"It's unnecessary to go. Lady Lai's reputation precedes her, how ugly can she be?" Ye Yiheng slightly furrowed his brows.
"That's also true, the title of the ugliest woman under the heavens is well known." Jian Lecheng laughed loudly and waved to the eunuch, "You may go first, I will stay here and speak for His Highness, we will come over later."
Jian Lecheng, the Prince Consort of Duke Dingguo and known as Young Master, was the study companion of the Crown Prince. The two of them grew up together and shared a deep bond.
"Yes, thank you, Young Master!"
Seeing the eunuch leave, Jian Lecheng dismissed the others around and whispered, "They say the Divine Doctor can rejuvenate. Many nobles have sent people to find him, hoping to become the Ninth Princess's Prince Consort. Should we also send someone? Perhaps your eyes can still be cured."
Ye Yiheng made a move on the board, "Fishing for fame!"
--
Two hours later, Leng Yu Yan and Leng Zongfa followed the Imperial Decree Eunuch into the palace to give thanks.
In the Xiande Hall, the Emperor sat on the Dragon Chair with a consort beside him, and a folding screen was positioned off to one side beneath the chair.
Leng Yu Yan bowed her head and when she lifted her eyes, she noticed the silhouette of three people behind the screen, one of them possibly the Crown Prince, as her infamous ugliness had made everyone curious about just how ugly she was.
But if rumors of the Crown Prince's blindness were true, how could he see?
Or perhaps the others were describing her to him?
At this moment, she felt a sharp pair of eyes staring at her from behind the screen. Curiosity piqued, she resolved to test this if an opportunity arose.
Much like the Leng Family had just witnessed in Leng Yu Yan, the Emperor and his consort did not expect the so-called ugly woman to have such a graceful figure. They were simultaneously curious why she chose to wear a veil over her face.
The Emperor cleared his throat, "Why does the little Lai lady wear a veil?"
"I reply to the Emperor, previously I developed some unknown spots on my face that have not yet faded, and I wore the veil fearing that I might frighten the Emperor and the Princess."
"What kind of spots necessitate a veil?" the Consort inquired.
To her, they seemed like mere freckles that should not need covering.
The Emperor laughed loudly, "A small blemish is nothing serious. Lady Lai, you may lower your veil."
The one reputed to be the ugliest woman in the world, as far as Lady Lai was concerned, apart from her veiled appearance, bore no resemblance to an ugly woman. Even if indeed her face were ugly, she could just wear the veil all the time.
Besides, the Crown Prince couldn't see, a few spots were of no consequence.
Leng Yu Yan hesitantly said, "The spots on my face are as large as duck eggs, dark red, and truly frightening."
Hearing this, the Emperor and his consort grew even more curious, insisting that she remove her veil.
With no other choice, Leng Yu Yan removed the veil and bowed again, "I, the ugly woman known around the world, humbly state that I am no match for the Crown Prince, and I beseech the Emperor to retract the marriage decree."
This statement took Leng Zongfa aback, who, after turning his head and seeing his daughter's face, was shocked once more.
The hideous spots on her face seemed to have tiny black hairs faintly moving, which shocked him into immobility. After regaining his composure, he immediately knelt down, "Emperor, my daughter is ignorant, please forgive her!"
Seeing Lady Lai's face, even the widely experienced Emperor was shocked by the horrifying spots, such was the ruination of a good girl into an ugly woman!
The Emperor averted his gaze and covered it slightly, "Lady Lai, you should wear your veil again quickly! The marriage decree has been issued, how can I retract it?"
He paused, feeling his implication was all too clear, and added, "From now on, you are my daughter-in-law, and no one will dare to laugh at you."
Leng Yu Yan replaced her veil, her lip corners twitching slightly beneath it, her mind whispering critiques. The current Crown Prince was already the butt of jokes in secret, not to mention her?
Fine, since the marriage decree could not be withdrawn, I had no choice but to make further plans.
Behind the screen, Ye Yiheng raised his eyebrows. He had not yet refused the marriage, yet this woman dared to refuse before him.
He stood up and bowed to the Emperor on the Dragon Chair, "I take my leave, Father."
Jian Lecheng and the little eunuch followed suit, bowing as well, then led Ye Yiheng around the screen.
Upon seeing the Crown Prince, Leng Zongfa hurried to bow, "This humble official greets Your Highness." As he bent over, he constantly signaled his daughter with his eyes, urging her to perform a bow as well. Her appearance was already unsightly; perhaps some literary grace could salvage her dignity.
Yet she just lowered her gaze and stood still, as if she saw nothing.
Leng Yu Yan was quietly distinguishing a faint medicinal scent that drifted her way.
Even though the scent was masked by fragrant incense, she still recognized it as medicine for treating eye ailments.
Ye Yiheng ignored Leng Zongfa and directly left the great hall under the guidance of the eunuch.
For a moment, the atmosphere turned somewhat awkward.
A concubine smiled and smoothed things over, reminding, "Emperor, weren't you going to discuss the wedding date with Marquis Lai?"
With a wave of his hand, the Emperor summoned Leng Zongfa to the Imperial Study to discuss the wedding date, leaving Leng Yu Yan to talk with the concubine.
Fearing that his daughter raised in the mountains would be ignorant of propriety and lose her manners again, Leng Zongfa began, "This is Consort Xian."
His gaze warned Leng Yu Yan to behave intelligently.
Leng Yu Yan nodded and performed a bow, "Consort Xian."
Consort Xian's smile was gentle, "My mother and your grandmother were sisters, so technically, you should call me 'Aunt.'"
Lately Yu Yan sensed that this so-called aunt had ulterior motives.
Once the Emperor and Leng Zongfa walked away, Consort Xian's smile faded and she pulled her aside, whispering, "You were only ten when you left the capital, too young to understand much. Now that you are grown, it is time you learned about the Leng Residence."
"The Lai Family is vast and prominent, the most distinguished branch being the distant Prince Zhenbei Mansion, whereas your father's branch is merely a collateral line. Fortunately, through your father's decent scholarly achievements and the relationship between my mother and your grandmother, the Marquis Mansion was bestowed."
"Don't be nervous, I am just chatting idly with you. Seeing your articulate speech earlier, ponder this conversation when you return."
With that, she had a palace maid take Leng Yu Yan for a walk in the Imperial Garden.
Leng Yu Yan expressed her thanks and followed the palace maid out of Xiande Hall.
Essentially, Consort Xian's words were to remind her of the Consort's importance to the Lai Family, so crucial that she must obediently assist in her endeavors.
Oh, the capital city, truly surrounded by foes!
However, although surrounded by foes, one cannot deny the stunning beauty of the Imperial Garden within the Imperial Palace.
Spring flowers blossomed extravagantly, with bees and butterflies fluttering lightly.
Just so happened, quite ironically, to run into the Crown Prince.
With no escape possible, Leng Yu Yan could only kneel and bow, "I greet Your Highness."
Ye Yiheng remained expressionless, "No need for formalities."
His voice was cold and distant.
Like a block of solid ice atop an iceberg, emanating a chill.
If the medicinal scent was meant to deceive, then his instinctive reaction...
Suddenly, Leng Yu Yan stepped forward, tiptoed, and whispered in his ear, "Your Highness, you've stepped in dog poop."