dognovel Chapter 2: Disagreeing to annul the engagement
Chapter 2: Disagreeing to annul the engagement
His anxious voice, like a boulder falling into a lake, startled all the guests in the hall.
Ye Gengxin's cheerful smile froze instantly, his eyes widening as he angrily asked, "How did Prince Cheng end up in the pond?" After asking, he added sternly, "What are you all standing there for? Prince Cheng has a leg ailment, hurry up and check if he's alright!"
Seeing him lead his men towards the pond, the visiting officials followed suit. Although most of them expressed their confusion as to how Prince Cheng, who was unable to walk due to a leg ailment, could fall into the pond, they absolutely could not miss this spectacle…
The Wei family also rushed towards the pond along with the other officials.
Wei Yonghuai, in particular, ran the fastest and soon caught up with Ye Gengxin.
Speaking of this side of the pond...
Having calculated the exact time from her past life, Ye Shishu saw the man struggling in the pond as soon as she arrived. Although she wasn't familiar with Prince Cheng, she recognized him at a glance as Prince Cheng, Yuchi Ling!
Recalling her past life, she jumped into the pond almost without hesitation, swam towards the man, and hugged him tightly around the waist—
But the next moment, her eyes widened uncontrollably as she looked at the scars on the man's face that were about to fall off, and she was suddenly at a loss for what to do.
The entire capital knew that a year ago, Prince Cheng returned from the battlefield, not only crippled in both legs and unable to walk upright, but also his once-praised, unparalleled beauty was completely disfigured on the battlefield.
In her previous life, she had seen the scar on Prince Cheng's face. It was a long, slanted scar that ran from the corner of his left eye to his right chin, so hideous and terrifying that it made people tremble with fear as if they had seen a ghost even in broad daylight.
But right now, who can tell her what's going on with the scar on Prince Cheng's face that's about to fall off?!
and also!
The moment she tightly embraced his waist, his legs rhythmically flexed and extended in the water. Because her appearance was so sudden, his legs couldn't stop in time and bumped into her!
How can legs that have lost the ability to walk move powerfully and forcefully in water?!
A chilling sense of dread, as if a shocking secret had been discovered, shot straight to Ye Shishu's head...
At the same time, the man stared at her, a look of surprise flashing in his cool, dark eyes, as if he hadn't expected someone to suddenly appear and jump into the pool to save him so recklessly...
Footsteps echoed from the shore.
Ye Shishu snapped out of her daze, freed one hand from his waist, and swiftly pressed the scar that was about to fall off back onto his face.
The man froze again.
"Your Highness, hold me tight, I'll take you up!" Ye Shishu didn't look at his expression, and continued to hold his waist with one hand as they swam towards the shore.
"Shu'er!"
"Shu'er!"
At the same time, Ye Gengxin and Wei Yonghuai's tense calls came from the shore.
Seeing that she had swum to the shore with Prince Cheng, the two of them pushed aside the servants on the shore and worked together to pull her and Prince Cheng ashore.
"Prince Cheng, are you alright?" Seeing that Prince Cheng was weak and exhausted, Ye Gengxin quickly ordered the old steward, "Hao Fu, quickly call the royal physician!"
Then, he personally picked up Prince Cheng and carried him to the nearest courtyard.
Looking at her father's strong and powerful back, and then at the tall and slender Prince Cheng held in his arms, Ye Shishu's eyes twitched slightly. Amidst the spectators watching the spectacle, she felt not only ridiculous but also inexplicably disgusted.
She didn't understand why Prince Cheng would pretend to be disabled and disfigured.
His mother, Consort Lan, had held sway over the inner palace since the Empress's death, wielding immense power. He, on the other hand, had achieved great things from a young age, repeatedly distinguishing himself in battle; his literary and military talents even surpassed those of the current Crown Prince. With his own accomplishments and Consort Lan's support, why would he want to ruin himself?
"Shu'er, how are you? Are you alright?" A man's concerned voice came from beside her.
When Ye Shishu looked over, he almost spat the water he was drinking in the pool onto the other person's face!
The events of her previous life were still vivid in her mind. This beast in human form, when she saw Wei Yonghuai's extremely hypocritical face again, Ye Shishu even felt that Prince Cheng's ugly, scarred face was so handsome.
Seeing her cold face, Wei Yonghuai assumed she had fallen into the water and caught a chill, and was about to reach out to help her.
Dongqiao rushed over in a panic and quickly helped her up. "Miss, why did you come here? I didn't see you when I went back to the courtyard, and then I heard that you had fallen into the water. I was so scared! Miss, you are soaking wet. Please go back inside quickly and don't catch a cold!"
Ye Shishu was supported by her and headed towards the nearest courtyard without looking back.
Her father took Prince Cheng there, and she happened to have something to say to him...
In the room next to where Prince Cheng was resting, Ye Shishu changed into the clean clothes that Dong Qiao had brought. Hearing that Prince Cheng had refused the royal physician's treatment, Ye Shishu was not surprised at all.
Ye Gengxin was very nervous and kept advising Prince Cheng to take care of his health and not to catch a cold from falling into the water.
Two guards who were standing by Prince Cheng's side appeared out of nowhere, politely declined Ye Gengxin's offer, and even offered to take Prince Cheng away.
Ye Shishu listened to their conversation through the wall.
Knowing the true situation of Prince Cheng, she worried that Ye Gengxin's good intentions might backfire and reveal Prince Cheng's secret. So she went to Prince Cheng's room and knelt down to divert everyone's attention.
"Father, I know the purpose of your banquet today, but after what happened today, I have had physical intimacy with Prince Cheng. If I were to marry someone else, it would not only bring shame to the Wei family, but also cause criticism to our General's Mansion. Therefore, I beg you, Father, to annul my marriage with Wei Yonghuai!"
Ye Gengxin was worried about Prince Cheng's condition. If something happened to Prince Cheng, he would have no way to explain it to the Emperor and Consort Lan.
Faced with his daughter's sudden request to annul the engagement, he was stunned for a moment. "Shu'er...you...you want to annul the engagement?"
Ye Shishu looked up at Prince Cheng on the bed, then said firmly, "Father, I have had intimate relations with Prince Cheng, and I cannot marry anyone else. I can only marry Prince Cheng!"
on the bed.
Yu Chi Ling's thin lips pressed into a straight line, his tightly closed eyes staring at her coldly.
The two guards beside the bed stared in disbelief, as if they had heard something earth-shattering.
Ye Gengxin retorted, "Nonsense! Your marriage to Yonghuai was arranged by your mother and Madam Wei. Your marriage is to live a happy and harmonious life together. This is also your mother's last wish. How can you just cancel it like that?"
Even if it wasn't his deceased wife's last wish, he would never have allowed his daughter to marry the useless Prince Cheng, even if they weren't engaged to the Wei family!
What is Ye Shishu's purpose in entering the water to save Prince Cheng today?
Isn't he just trying to make a big fuss about this and then break off the engagement with Wei Yonghuai?
Knowing her father would find it difficult to accept, she had prepared a plan. She got up from the ground and rushed to Prince Cheng on the bed, embracing his dark-faced face. Turning to Ye Gengxin, she said, "Father, whether you agree or not, I'm determined to marry Prince Cheng! There's something I've never told you: Prince Cheng is a hero of our Great Ye Kingdom. I've admired him since I was a child, and even though he's become like this, my love for him remains as firm as a rock. I will marry no one but him, and I will never waver!"
Ye Gengxin's eyes widened in disbelief. After years of fighting, he had finally returned to the capital in triumph, and all he wanted was for his daughter to marry the Wei family's son, so as to fulfill his deceased wife's last wish.
But now he's being told that his daughter's heart belongs to another...
"I do not agree to annul the engagement!" A figure in a deep blue suit suddenly burst in, filled with rage.