The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 154: Cooperation

Xie Yunzhen still wanted to say something.

Just then, Eunuch Fu walked in, "Your Highness, Consort Xu is looking for you."

The Crown Prince slightly furrowed his brow.

Quickly, he relaxed, "What’s the matter?"

Eunuch Fu shook his head, "The Consort didn’t say, perhaps she wants to tell you personally."

"Let her in."

Xie Yunzhen stood up, dusting off nonexistent creases on his brocade robe, "Your Highness has urgent matters, so I shall take my leave."

The Crown Prince reminded him, "Keep calm, don’t spoil it."

"Hmm."

The Crown Prince continued, "I’ve arranged protection for your wife, she won’t come to any harm."

Xie Yunzhen cupped his hands in thanks, "Many thanks, Your Highness."

Ms. Xu was led in by Eunuch Fu, Xie Yunzhen nodded in acknowledgment, did not linger, and quickly walked out of the grand hall.

Finding someone, he asked, "Where is my wife?"

"Madam Xie is in the garden."

Xie Yunzhen was quite familiar with the Eastern Palace, so he went looking on his own.

Inside the grand hall.

The Crown Prince sat behind the table, looking warmly at Consort Xu.

Consort Xu bit her lip, her face full of conflict.

After waiting a long time without her speaking, the Crown Prince proactively asked, "Did you encounter a thorny issue?"

He cares so much for her, surely she holds a place in his heart.

Consort Xu thought to herself this way.

She took a deep breath, asking, "Your Highness, are you choosing a Crown Princess today?"

The Crown Prince’s upright posture relaxed, leaning back against the chair, "Did you come just for this?"

Though he smiled, his eyes carried a chill.

Consort Xu paused, involuntarily bringing up matters of the past.

As if trying to evoke his memories.

"Your Highness, there was a time when we got along well."

The Crown Prince was pursued, injuring his leg, it was her who step by step carried him home.

During those days of recovery, they got along pleasantly.

He even cooked for her.

As time went on, she developed delusions.

Upon hearing he was still unmarried, she offered to come to the capital with him.

At that time, she did not know his true identity.

Initially, he disagreed, saying he did not want to delay her and even tried to send her away with silver.

It was her who used reputation to persuade, crying that she might be drowned in a pig cage, and only then did he bring her to the capital.

Granted her the title of concubine.

Pinching her clothes, Consort Xu asked, "Could you temporarily not marry a Crown Princess?"

Wait a bit longer.

Until she adapted to palace life.

Until she no longer yearned for him, no longer viewed him as her whole life, she wouldn’t mind him marrying.

The air seemed to stagnate, Consort Xu’s eyes inexplicably grew sour.

She resisted with effort, so she didn’t cry.

The Crown Prince disliked women who sobbed; a concubine once tried to use this method to gain favor and was punished with confinement.

Still hasn’t been released.

Gathering courage, Consort Xu continued, "Give me a year, if by then you still wish to marry another woman, I won’t cause you trouble."

She knew she was not up to the task, but still wanted to try.

Maybe he would really compromise?

Just like back then.

The Crown Prince chuckled softly, seemingly in a good mood.

The emotion in his eyes was hard for Consort Xu to understand, but intuition told her that the Crown Prince was angry.

She opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.

They could only look at each other in silence.

His long fingers unconsciously tapped on the table, "He He, I must marry." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Not a concubine.

Not Ms. Xu.

He called her by her nickname once more, but under such circumstances.

The tears welling in her eyes couldn’t be held back, falling quietly.

Xu He choked, "Then why did you keep it from me before, wasn’t it because you feared I’d be saddened?"

The Crown Prince sighed, "Mother entrusted you with organizing the banquet’s responsibilities, I simply wanted you not to be distracted; the success or failure of this banquet concerns your status in the Eastern Palace, He He, you should understand my intentions."

Xu He was deeply saddened.

What grand scheme, what power dynamics, she didn’t want to consider any of it.

She only knew the man she liked was going to marry!

Her tears flowed more fiercely, "So, should I be grateful for your kindness?"

Xu He cried, her vision blurred.

In the tearful haze, she saw the Crown Prince furrow his brows and see the displeasure in his eyes.

"If you don’t love me, why marry me?"

The warmth on the Crown Prince’s face faded, "Staying by my side, isn’t this what you want?"

He spoke the truth, yet Xu He felt as if she couldn’t breathe.

She wanted not only to stay by his side but to become the only one in his heart.

Even if she couldn’t be the primary wife, as long as she had a place in his heart, she’d be content.

She didn’t want glory or riches.

Could even such a simple wish not be realized?

In the vast palace, only her sobbing was heard.

After who knew how long, a brocade handkerchief appeared in front of her, his voice as pleasant as ever.

"Wipe your tears and don’t delay important matters."

Xu He’s tears became uncontrollable.

Does he truly not have her in his heart?

If not, why treat her so well?

The Crown Prince was somewhat troubled; he disliked women who cried at the drop of a hat.

Why can’t words be spoken properly?

Leaving the handkerchief, he said, "Listen to Mrs. Ji’s cues, don’t make mistakes at the banquet; if someone seizes a handle, it’ll be troublesome."

With that, he left the grand hall first.

Xu He’s heart was filled with frustration, yet she had no outlet to vent.

All that happened was a solo performance.

The Crown Prince hadn’t taken it to heart!

Feeling awful, on the way back Xu He didn’t allow anyone to attend to her closely.

Seeing tears on her face, palace attendants could only follow her from a distance.

She stumbled upon a palace maid.

The maid bowed to Xu He, "Consort, there’s a mistake with the banquet, the servant came to ask for your opinion."

Seeing it was her, Xu He’s heart skipped a beat.

She nervously scanned the surroundings, then had the palace attendants stop at a distance.

"What’s the matter?"

The maid asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Do you still refuse to cooperate?"

Xu He pinched her palm, "Please convey to the Noble Consort that I am the Crown Prince’s person, I will never betray him."

The maid’s eyes showed pity, "If you miss this opportunity, the Eastern Palace will welcome the Crown Princess soon, and you have no support, are you sure you can stay by His Highness’s side?"

"The noble ladies in the capital are not simple, and deaths occur often in this palace; Consort, aren’t you truly unafraid?"

Xu He bit down hard, "I won’t do anything to harm His Highness."

"Consort, you’re overthinking; Noble Consort’s target is Ji Mingzhu, it won’t harm His Highness. As long as the banquet is disrupted, won’t the matter of selecting the Crown Princess be postponed?"

Xu He hesitated for a moment.

But she still shook her head, "Mr. Xie and His Highness are like brothers; if something happens to Madam Xie, His Highness will certainly blame me."

"Noble Consort’s aim is to relieve frustrations for her niece, and won’t harm Ji Mingzhu’s life; at most, His Highness will scold you a bit."

Seeing the hesitation on Xu He’s face, the maid’s lips curled slightly.

"It doesn’t matter if you’re unwilling, the servant won’t bother you again in the future."

She turned to leave, but was stopped.

Xu He’s gaze was firm, "I agree."