Chapter 50: My Ex-husband Is the Crown Prince
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Qiao Jinniang’s birthday was on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, and she and Qiao Ruoyun were born on the same day.
The Duchess was preparing to hold a big birthday party for the two sisters to make up for her regret that she could not hold a coming-of-age ceremony for Qiao Jinniang.
Qiao Ruoyun was already married, and the conflict between her parents’ family and her husband’s family was the topic of gossip amongst the nobles in Chang’an.
The noble ladies and girls who came to the birthday banquet today more or less expected to laugh at their predicament.
“Why is Qiao Ruoyun still assuming airs? She’s not even a daughter of the duke! How dare she divorce Young Master Qin?”
“She must be stupid to give up the position of a future Duchess!”
“I think Qiao Jinniang is more stupid. That village girl actually engaged to an obscure young scholar! I thought that the Duke doted on her.”
“Li Yun is the Prime Minister’s favorite disciple, and his mother has just gained the attention of the Crown Prince. I heard that His Royal Highness asked His Majesty to appoint Lord Li as a Hanlin Bachelor!
“Li Yun has a bright future. Many noble girls who were born by concubines in Chang’an want to marry him. Who knows how Qiao Jinniang beat them to him?”
Li Lingling’s lips curled slightly. “Just like you said, only noble girls who were born by concubines want to marry him, but Qiao Jinniang was born by Duchess Anyuan… Besides, it’s still unknown whether he can pass the Imperial Examination or not!”
“She is really unlucky. If she wasn’t swapped at birth, not to mention the disciple of the Prime Minister, she can even marry the son of the Prime Minister!”
“By the way, Young Master Lin is a year older than His Royal Highness. Why isn’t he engaged yet?”
None of Lin Mo, Zhou Siming, and Junior Duke Rong were engaged although they were old enough…
Everyone in Chang’an guessed that it was because the Crown Prince had been missing, and as his good friends, they were not in the mood to find fiancées.
But now that the Crown Prince had returned, and Lin Mo and Zhou Siming were already old enough, they still had no intention of finding a fiancée.
In the entire Chang’an, there weren’t many outstanding young men. As for the rest, some were from powerful families but had shortcomings either in terms of appearance or personality.
Some had good looks and good character, but their family background was not good enough.
There were only a few women who could marry into the East Palace.
Therefore, there were many women who wanted to marry Lin Mo and Zhou Siming.
Li Lingling looked at the girls who were discussing Lin Mo and Zhou Siming with disdain. She believed that she was going to marry into the East Palace, so she had no interest in other men.
Her biggest rival was the daughter of the Xie Family in the South…
“Shh, Qiao Jinniang is coming over!”
Qiao Jinniang was wearing a red long breast-length dress with a golden crown on her head, which made her skin look snow-white. She walked gracefully over, making all the guests feel that her bearing was no lesser than that of those raised in the Duke Mansion.
Princess Fulu jumped up to Qiao Jinniang. “Your red cloud-brocade dress is so beautiful. I haven’t seen this fabric in Chang’an. The Duchess really loves you!”
Qiao Jinniang smiled and said, “This cloth was produced by my cloth factory in the South. If you like the cloth, I can give you some.”
Li Lingling sized up Qiao Jinniang with her eyes and whispered to the girls beside her, “She is not worthy of this dress at all! If it weren’t for the Duchess, who would have come here to celebrate her birthday?”
“She should be glad that she can still wear a cloud brocade dress. Although Li Yun may have a bright future, she may have to suffer poverty for many years before Li Yun rises to prominence!”
“No matter how much the Duchess loves her, she won’t be able to wear such fine fabrics after marriage.”
Qiao Jinniang noticed the contemptuous looks of Li Lingling and the others. She knew that although Chang’an women were more interesting, there were also many with snobbish eyes.
She didn’t mind what they said. They were just jealous of her.
“Miss, the old madam, madam and third young master of the Li Family have come.” Yuyan came over and said, “Madam asked you to go to see them!”
Qiao Jinniang went to the Duchess’s courtyard. There, Second Madam and her sister, Mrs. Li were chatting happily.
After Li Yun saw Qiao Jinniang, he was so amazed by her beauty that he couldn’t look away from her.
Second Madam joked, “Jinniang, in this dress, you look so stunningly beautiful that a certain someone simply can’t look away from you!”
When Li Yun heard this, the tip of his ear turned slightly red, and he handed a box and said, “Cousin, this is a birthday gift for you.”
“Thank you, Cousin.”
Qiao Jinniang didn’t open it. After careful consideration, she decided to tell Li Yun about her and Lu Chen.
Since the two were already engaged, the Duchess said to Jinniang, “The peonies at our home are in full bloom. Take your cousin to see it.”
Qiao Jinniang nodded.
Li Yun followed behind Qiao Jinniang, his eyes attracted by the red mole on Qiao Jinniang’s earlobe.
Qiao Jinniang stopped by the shade of a tree and asked all the maids to leave.
She said slowly, “Cousin, I have something to tell you. Can you swear that you won’t tell anyone else about this matter?”
Li Yun raised three fingers and said, “I swear I won’t. If I violate this oath, I won’t be able to pass the Imperial Examination!”
Qiao Jinniang turned the fan embroidered with orchid in her hand. “Cousin, you should know that I was once married to a jerk, right?”
Li Yun cupped his hands and said, “I know, but it’s not your fault. It would be a lie to say that I don’t mind it at all, but I will cherish you even more. I will never let you be wronged again.”
Qiao Jinniang took a deep breath. “My ex-husband is indeed a jerk, but…”
Qiao Jinniang heard some sounds from the tree above her head. She looked up, but saw nothing, and continued to say, “It’s just that his identity is a little troublesome.”
Li Yun asked, “Didn’t you say that you can’t find him?”
Qiao Jinniang shook her head and said, “I lied to my parents. In fact, not long after I came to Chang’an, I met that b*stard. He is actually the Crown Prince… Lu Chen!”
When Li Yun heard this, it was as if a thunder had exploded in his ear!
Lu Chen!
The Crown Prince!
“Cousin, you can’t joke about this…” Li Yun said, clenching his fists.
Qiao Jinniang shook her head slightly. “I’m not joking. His Royal Highness was missing for three years because he married into my family and was my husband for three years. But, Cousin, I have nothing to do with him now, and His Majesty has granted me the freedom to marry.
“However, if you think this will affect your future, then I will go to my mother and discuss the matter of cancelling the engagement.
“I’ll also make it known that the engagement was cancelled because of me, and make sure it won’t affect your reputation.
“But please keep this matter a secret. I don’t want to reveal this secret! ”
After Qiao Jinniang finished speaking, she looked up at Li Yun’s eyes.
Only then did Li Yun understand why the Crown Prince gave him two beautiful imperial maids…
It turned out to be because of Qiao Jinniang.
“Cousin, this matter is very important. Can you give me some time to think about it?”
Qiao Jinniang nodded. “Okay, if you have an answer, just come to the Duke Mansion to find me.”
Li Yun lowered his eyes and asked, “Jinniang, is the Little Imperial Grandson your child?”
Qiao Jinniang nodded again.
Li Yun asked, “Since you’ve already given birth to a child for His Royal Highness, why don’t he admit you to the East Palace? His Highness gave me two beauties a few days ago. I think he still has you in his heart…”
Qiao Jinniang said indifferently, “But I despise that jerk who divorces his wife, seizes her son, and demotes his wife to a concubine.”
Li Yun pondered for a moment before looking at Qiao Jinniang’s beautiful face with determined eyes…
If he missed out on Qiao Jinniang, he might never meet such a cheerful and beautiful woman again.
Seeing that Qiao Jinniang was about to leave, Li Yun came up and held Qiao Jinniang’s hand.
“Jin’er, I don’t mind that your ex-husband is the Crown Prince. I will definitely treat you well in the future, and I won’t let you be wronged again.
“His Majesty is wise and benevolent. Since he has promised you freedom, he won’t pick on me. You can marry me without having to worry. ”
On the big tree, a pair of phoenix eyes was staring at their hands that were clasped together with a gaze that was filled with icy blades!
How dare he call her Jin’er?!
