Chapter 83: Qi Yanzhou’s Inability to Marry

Qi Yanzhou lifted the gauze curtain, and Princess Chen immediately grabbed his arm.

“Yanzhou, did you find the maidservant outside the pavilion?”

Upon hearing it was a maidservant, Qi Yanzhou withdrew his hand.

“No, I didn’t find her.”

Princess Chen sighed, “If you didn’t find her, then sit down.”

Qi Yanzhou turned and glanced at the six young ladies sitting around the table, yet he stood still.

“Mother, what do you mean by this?”

She hurriedly called him back and even asked him to bathe and change clothes—was this all to make him choose a wife?

Princess Chen smiled and stood up, introducing the noble ladies from the capital to Qi Yanzhou.

“Yanzhou, this is Luo Rou, the legitimate second daughter of General Luo. This is Xu Qingyin, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites. This is…”

Qi Yanzhou interrupted, “Mother, I have my own ideas when it comes to marriage.”

He turned to the young ladies and said, “I’m terribly sorry, but I still have matters to attend to. Please excuse me.”

After speaking, he pulled his arm away from Princess Chen’s grasp and quickly left the pavilion.

Princess Chen didn’t expect her son to be so disrespectful.

She hastily turned to the young ladies and said, “Please help yourselves, the royal court will be here soon.”

With that, she rushed after Qi Yanzhou.

Outside the pavilion.

The maidservant’s hand, which had been covering her lips, was removed.

She immediately regained her composure and made a gesture of invitation.

“Miss Ye, please.”

Ye Chutang smiled and explained, “You misunderstood, I’m not here to participate.”

She said this as she hurried to follow Qi Yanzhou’s direction.

The maidservant was about to stop Ye Chutang but recalled that the gatekeeper had mentioned she was a distinguished guest of the prince, so she didn’t intervene.

After Ye Chutang had walked a few steps, she overheard the young ladies from the pavilion gossiping about her.

“What kind of person eavesdrops like that?”

“How could Princess Chen invite someone with such low morals?”

“Miss Ye? Could it be the renowned Ye Chutang from the capital?”

“Prince Qi publicly rejected a marriage proposal. Does Ye Chutang even have the face to show up here?”

Ye Chutang rolled her eyes.

She would deal with these gossiping fools later!

She moved toward the artificial rockery and heard Princess Chen arguing with Qi Yanzhou. She didn’t approach.

“Yanzhou, imperial orders are hard to defy! Whether you like it or not, you must marry one of these ladies. The noble ladies I’ve chosen are all very suitable for you!”

“Mother, I’ve told you before, I have my own plan for marriage.”

“If you had a plan, you wouldn’t still be unmarried at your age! That so-called Miaojiang witch doctor, forget about her already. You must choose a wife within half a month!”

The royal family has been trying to deal with the Chen Wangfu, and they couldn’t let him hold onto any excuse to defy imperial orders.

Qi Yanzhou didn’t bother explaining that the Miaojiang witch doctor was merely an excuse he used to placate the emperor.

“Mother, I have a way to avoid marriage, so don’t worry!”

Princess Chen looked at her son’s determined attitude and softened her tone.

“Yanzhou, the lives of hundreds in the Chen Wangfu are tied to you. If you really have a way to refuse choosing a wife, you must tell me.”

Qi Yanzhou spoke seriously, “I’m poisoned, my life is short, and I’m unable to perform as a husband. I don’t think any noble lady would be willing to marry me.”

Princess Chen was taken aback, especially at the last part.

“…”

Ye Chutang blinked in surprise.

To avoid marriage and preserve his love for the Miaojiang witch doctor, Qi Yanzhou really didn’t care about anything!

Such unwavering love made Ye Chutang almost want to ship them as a real couple!

Princess Chen refused to believe that her strong and imposing son was just a facade. Her gaze immediately shifted downward, locking onto something. Her lips trembled as she asked, “Son, is it true that you’re unable to perform?”

Qi Yanzhou nodded with certainty. “It’s true. I don’t want to harm any young lady. If the emperor finds out, he will no longer insist on my marriage.”

Upon hearing this, Princess Chen suddenly embraced him, tears streaming down her face.

“My poor son!”

She knew that his fire poison was difficult to cure and feared he didn’t have much time left. She thought of using the emperor’s forced marriage to ensure he had an heir before his death.

Qi Yanzhou immediately pushed her away. “Mother, please don’t worry about my marriage anymore.”

Princess Chen wiped the tears from her face. “Fine, whatever you say, Yanzhou. I will accept your decision.”

Her son didn’t have much time left; as long as he was happy, that was enough.

She turned and went back to the pavilion.

Ye Chutang immediately pretended to have just arrived, walking toward them.

Princess Chen was startled to see the unfamiliar woman. “Who are you? How did you get into the inner courtyard?”

Upon hearing this, Qi Yanzhou quickly rushed over to his mother’s side.

When he saw Ye Chutang, he was surprised.

“Miss Ye, what brings you here?”

Ye Chutang curtsied. “Greetings, Prince Qi. Greetings, Princess Chen.”

Princess Chen noticed the way her son addressed Ye Chutang and, looking at her beauty, immediately realized who she was.

“You’re the eldest daughter of the Ye family, the one famous throughout the capital?”

“Yes.”

Princess Chen, seeing that Ye Chutang was so natural and unpretentious, smiled and said, “You are the only woman Yanzhou admires. You truly stand out.”

In the inner courtyard, no outsider had been allowed in so freely. Ye Chutang was the first!

Ye Chutang smiled, “Your Highness flatters me.”

“You two talk. I’ll excuse myself.”

Princess Chen turned to leave but kept glancing back.

The more she looked, the more satisfied she became.

Qi Yanzhou sidestepped to block his mother’s curious gaze. “Miss Ye, this way, please.”

He knew that Ye Chutang was no ordinary person, so he took her to the library.

As soon as Ye Chutang entered the library, she sensed the presence of many experts.

She pretended not to notice and calmly followed Qi Yanzhou into the study.

Qi Yanzhou called out, “Nanxing, bring the tea.”

A man dressed in black, with a dagger at his waist, entered carrying a teapot. He poured two cups of tea.

His steps were so light that they were almost inaudible.

Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow. “An expert.”

Qi Yanzhou smiled, “Not as good as Miss Ye. What brings you to see the Prince?”

Ye Chutang looked at the desk where Qi Yanzhou worked. “I came to grind ink.”

Nanxing was stunned. “Miss Ye has such boldness to instruct the Prince to do such a thing!”

“Grind ink? This task is beneath me. Let me do it.”

Just as he finished speaking, Qi Yanzhou said, “No need. The Prince will do it.”

He walked over to the inkstone, added a few drops of water, and began grinding the ink.

Once the ink became thick, he turned to Ye Chutang, “Miss Ye, the ink is ready.”

Ye Chutang stood and walked to the desk. She took several blank sheets of paper and wrote down prescriptions for preventing and treating the plague, along with the methods for use.

“Your Highness, please send these prescriptions to Jiangnan immediately and entrust them to a reliable person, just in case.”

Though Qi Yanzhou wasn’t skilled in medicine, he had learned a little from visiting doctors for his own illness.

After reading the prescriptions, he handed them to Nanxing. “Have Xize take these personally.”

He wasn’t sure how effective the prescriptions would be, but he was willing to trust Ye Chutang.