Wrapped In Golden Branch - Chapter 5

Chapter 5
It’s jealousy and unwillingness

At the same time, Pei Yujin walked around the garden a few times. After confirming that no one was following him, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

First, Princess suddenly mentioned his “bastard brother,” Pei Yizhi, yesterday. Today, Pei Yizhi became the General of the Cavalry. The string in his heart was always tight, fearing one would discover something.

After personally testing Du Ruoqing and confirming that she knew nothing about that matter, he finally felt relieved. When he returned to Lecheng Pavilion, the atmosphere in the main hall was as stagnant as ice, and one could hear a pin drop.

Huai’an Marquis was staring at the bastard before him and gritting his teeth. He was already a head taller than him. After several years of training and fighting on the battlefield, Pei Yizhi was already nine chi (*) tall, handsome, strong, and extraordinary. He exuded a sharp and cold aura that made people speechless. All of them showed that he was no longer the humble bastard who allowed his father to scold and beat him at will.

T/N: Chi is a unit of length in Chinese.

Noticing the arrival of his eldest son, Huai’an Marquis’s face looked better. He smiled kindly: “Yujin, did the Princess have any instructions? Why did you come back so late?”

Pei Yujin did not return with his father because the Princess summoned him. “No. I just accompanied her to stroll around Cheng Lake for a few laps.” Pei Yujin quickly followed.

As soon as the word “Princess” came out, Pei Yizhi’s gloomy eyes suddenly flashed with clarity. He looked up at his brother beside him. Some unknown emotions in his heart were taking root and sprouting rapidly. It was jealousy and unwillingness, flowing rapidly and surging in his blood veins.

Pei Yujin smiled and greeted his brother, “Yizhi has made great contributions this time. He is making our Huai’an Marquis Mansion proud!”

The more Pei Yizhi looked at his brother’s smiling face, the more annoying it was. Half a year ago, the rebels besieged him for several months while transporting food at the northern foot of Tianshan Mountain. After several months of desperate fighting, he broke out, pursued the enemy, and annihilated the enemy leader. He thought that as long as he made military achievements, he would have a slim chance to get closer to her, even a bit. But what greeted him was the news that his brother was about to marry the Princess. The Emperor was devoted to Empress Kang and had a harem in name only, with only two sons and one daughter. Who else could his brother marry except her? He tried to suppress his emotions, nailing his fingers deeply in his palm.

“It is Yizhi’s fortune to be able to fight on the battlefield and serve the country.” He spoke word by word.

Pei Yujin looked very proud of his brother and patted his brother’s shoulder with satisfaction.

“Has the Ministry of Internal Affairs arranged accommodation for you? The west wing of Lecheng Pavilion is still empty. Do you need someone to clean it up so you can move in?”

Yizhi declined lightly and then said goodbye.

“Oh, this evil creature is so arrogant!” Huai’an Marquis was infuriated.

His brother had always taken care of him and arranged everything properly. This evil creature was not only ungrateful, he also dared to refuse!

Pei Yujin smiled and comforted his father. “Yizhi is a second-rank Cavalry General granted by the Emperor, so it is normal for him to be arrogant…”

This sentence undoubtedly added fuel to the fire.

“So what if he is a second-rank general? Yujin, you are the successor of Huai’an Marquis, the future Prince Consort, and the son-in-law of the Emperor!”

After hearing his father’s words, Pei Yujin’s smile became more natural. Yes, he was the Heir of the Marquis, the Prince Consort, about to marry the Princess.

Two days later, in the warm east room of the Qinzheng Palace, the Emperor frowned in the middle of the dragon throne. His expression was cold and stern, revealing his sovereignty.

Li Kangning sat beside her mother, looking helpless and at a loss. Empress Kang saw this and felt so distressed that her eyes were red.

“Don’t be afraid, Ningning. Your mother will take care of you.” She hugged her daughter.

Li Kangning felt even more guilty and nodded obediently.

Du Ruoqing, kneeling below, was sobbing as if she was about to faint at any time. As soon as the father and son of Huai’an entered the palace, the scene greeted them.

Pei Yujin’s pupils suddenly shrank—— Why is Du Ruoqing here?!

Huai’an Marquis was at a loss, not knowing why the Emperor summoned him.

The Emperor said straightforwardly and coldly, “Since Heir Pei has feelings for someone else, the marriage plan will be canceled.” He added in an unquestionable tone, “I have ordered the Ministry of Rites to return to the Huai’an Marquis’ Mansion in the capital and withdraw the imperial decree of marriage.”

Pei Yujin froze as if something had hit his head hard.

Empress Kang’s voice was soft and sweet but enraged, “Although many men in the world have three wives and four concubines, I don’t like this, and I don’t allow my daughter’s husband to have such a bad habit of being affectionate everywhere!”

There were so many people in the world who secretly ridiculed her for being a jealous woman and dominating the harem, so she put this out in the open.

“This… Your Majesty, Empress, is there any misunderstanding?”

Huai’an Marquis’s temples were throbbing, and his face was full of disbelief.

“Miss Du, report what you just said truthfully.” Empress Kang said coldly.

Du Ruoqing glanced at the Princess quietly, and only after getting her approval did she feel relieved.

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