The Prince Consort Takes the Role of a Kept Man - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Yan Chenshuang in this state was truly terrifying. For both public and private reasons, I had to get him back to normal as soon as possible.

In my desperation, I actually came up with an idea.

Before he married me, Yan Chenshuang had once been the eldest young master of Anguo Marquis Manor.

I say once because there was a ridiculous story behind it.

Yan Chenshuang was not the Marquis of Anguo’s biological son. During the upheaval in Shangjing years ago, the Marquis of Anguo had switched two children in order to protect his own flesh and blood.

So after the true heir was brought back into the family and acknowledged by the clan, Yan Chenshuang’s position in Shangjing became rather awkward.

Yan Chenshuang himself was extraordinarily talented. He had never relied on his family’s shadow, but entered court service on the strength of his own abilities.

But the Marquis of Anguo wanted to vent his anger on behalf of his real son, so in court he inevitably went out of his way to make things difficult for Yan Chenshuang.

And so those who had once envied him, those who disliked his aloof manner, and those hoping to profit from his downfall all began kicking him while he was down.

Back then, Yan Chenshuang had nearly been trampled into the mud by those people.

And I was no good person either. I took advantage of his plight and proposed a deal, using marriage to bind Yan Chenshuang to me and turning him into a blade of the imperial family from then on.

That humiliating period must have left a deep impression on him.

And perhaps Anguo Marquis Manor, where he had lived for more than twenty years, might help Yan Chenshuang recall some things from the past.

So I made the decision on the spot and brought Yan Chenshuang straight to Anguo Marquis Manor.

…

The Marquis of Anguo was an old fox, after all. Faced with our sudden visit, he displayed a full ten parts of affection and respect.

As if the person who had once maliciously targeted Yan Chenshuang had not been him at all.

“Your Highness, Chenshuang, what brings you back to the manor today? If there is anything this old minister can help with, Your Highness need only say the word. This old minister will not refuse.”

As he spoke, he even had a plate of peach blossom pastries served, saying they had been Yan Chenshuang’s favorite in the past.

Hm?

Weren’t those my favorite?

“The Marquis of Anguo must be getting on in years. Your memory is failing,” Yan Chenshuang said coldly, giving him no face at all. “I have never liked overly sweet things. I only used to make those pastries because the princess liked them.”

My fingers paused on the lid of my teacup.

I knew Yan Chenshuang didn’t like sweets, and I knew he often cooked at the Princess Residence, but I had always thought that was just a personal hobby of his…

Before I could think any further, Yan Chenshuang said something that almost made me lose control of my expression.

“Since the Marquis of Anguo handed me over to the princess as a plaything for the sake of power, don’t stand here pretending we share some deep father-son bond.”

The Marquis of Anguo, who was indeed not a good person but truly had never done anything quite that immoral: “?”

I had suppressed the matter of Yan Chenshuang’s confused memories, and very few outsiders knew of it. As a result, the Marquis of Anguo was left stunned by this black pot that had fallen from the sky.

“I… you…”

The Marquis of Anguo gaped, wanting to refute him. But then he remembered that Yan Chenshuang was now the head of all officials, and in the end, he did not dare say a single word.

The scene was absurdly funny.

But when I thought of how, back then, the Marquis of Anguo had done the same in court-joining hands with others to slander Yan Chenshuang and denying him any chance to explain himself-I could no longer laugh.

“Fortunes do change hands, Marquis of Anguo.” I squeezed Yan Chenshuang’s palm.

Yan Chenshuang fell silent, and when the Marquis of Anguo heard me say that, he became even more convinced that Yan Chenshuang was deliberately trying to disgust him.

“Yes. Your Highness is right to reprimand me.” The Marquis of Anguo’s back bent a little lower, and there seemed to be more white hair at his temples. “This old minister was foolish.”

Wasn’t that the truth?

He had cast aside such an obedient child with limitless prospects, all to make his blood-related son happy. He personally ground Yan Chenshuang into the filthy mud, then stepped on him twice for good measure.

Now that he had tried to draw water with a bamboo basket and come up empty, it was far too late for regret.

I turned to look at Yan Chenshuang. “Are you happy now?”

Seeing the person who had once abandoned you, who had treated your sincere heart like a worn-out shoe, lower his head and admit his mistake-did that make him feel even a little better?

“I am.”

Yet Yan Chenshuang did not even look at the Marquis of Anguo. From beginning to end, his eyes held only me.

“Everyone else is unimportant.”

“As long as I can stay by Your Highness’s side, I am happy no matter what.”