I have suffered enough in my previous life, my cousin will never marry me

Chapter 161 Escaping Yuezhou
Stepping out of the room, Ye Wanshu carefully closed the door. She had only taken a few steps when she suddenly saw her adoptive father walking towards her with a sullen face.

"Father, let's go," Ye Wanshu urged.

Ji Yuan put his hands into his wide sleeves and said hesitantly, "Wanwan, after much thought, your father still wants you to stay in Yuezhou."

Ye Wanshu raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong, Father? Didn't we already discuss it?"

Ji Yuan took a deep breath: "Your Highness is right. The current situation in the court is really unpredictable. I am worried that if you go back, you will not be tolerated by Empress Dowager Gu. If she forcibly arranges for you to go to the northern border for a marriage alliance, how can I protect you then?"

"A marriage alliance?" Ye Wanshu smiled, her expression nonchalant. "If I alone can save the lives of 100,000 Mu family soldiers, it's not impossible."

“Wanwan, your father absolutely cannot agree to this.”

Thinking of what Prince Yongning had said today, Ji Yuan felt ashamed: "I have already missed your past, and I cannot let you suffer in misery for the rest of your life."

After thinking for a moment, he continued to persuade him: "His Highness has already made arrangements for you. The Duke of Ningguo will soon come to Yuezhou to take command of the Yuezhou army. Father and he will work together to assist you in managing the Yongning Prince's Mansion. We will guard Yuezhou, so even if His Highness goes to Lin'an alone, the court will not dare to act rashly against him."

"Do you believe what Father says?" Ye Wanshu felt a pang of sadness. "Since he sent the Duke of Ningguo to Yuezhou to oversee things, he was clearly prepared not to return. Without His Highness, Father and His Majesty's plans over the years will all be in vain."

Ji Yuan sighed helplessly: "But if you go, it will only make His Highness resent you. He will think that you are unwilling to share the joys and sorrows with him, and that you are deserting your post."

“I misunderstood him and even almost caused him to lose his life. If this makes him feel better, then it’s not a bad thing.”

Gazing at her adoptive father, Ye Wanshu solemnly said, "Father, if I had listened to your advice and married a man from an ordinary family, I could have just focused on the affairs of the inner quarters. But since I chose to marry into the imperial family, I should take on the responsibilities of a member of the imperial family and should no longer yearn for a peaceful and comfortable life."

Looking back at the tightly closed door, Ye Wanshu pulled her father forward: "Let's go, Father, don't be late. Taowu Ayin and Mother Yan will take care of everything."

Seeing that his daughter was determined, Ji Yuan had no choice but to follow her out of Fuyatang.

Upon arriving outside the courtyard, Zhu Wencai and Chu Yin were standing at the gate exchanging pleasantries. Seeing the father and daughter leading Qin Chulin, Chunhong, and Xingtao out with their luggage, Zhu Wencai immediately became wary.

"Your Excellency, Miss Ye, where are you headed?" Zhu Wencai asked, squinting as he quickly sized up the group.

Hearing the commotion, Yan Jin and Yu Bai rushed over and hurriedly asked, "Miss Ye, where is our prince?"

"He was a little tired, so I let him rest in the room for a while," Ye Wanshu said evasively.

Ji Yuan had no time to explain to them anymore and simply ordered, "Let's go."

Seeing this, Zhao Yun immediately ordered his guards to draw their swords and said sternly, "Prime Minister Ji, Miss Ye, you wouldn't be trying to run away when you see a formidable enemy at hand, would you?"

Yu Bai's heart tightened: "Miss Ye, my prince has risked everything for you, are you really going to abandon him at this time?"

"That's not how it is," Chu Yin hurriedly explained, "Generals, please don't misunderstand Wanwan and Uncle Ji."

"I am indeed returning to Lin'an," Ye Wanshu interrupted Chu Yin, "Please trouble the generals to convey to His Highness that he should govern Yuezhou well and not worry about him."

After saying that, he picked up Qin Chulin and was about to leave.

The wedding dates for both families had already been set. If they let her leave now, wouldn't that cause the Yongning Prince's Mansion to lose face? Yu Bai and Yan Jin drew their swords almost simultaneously, blocking everyone's way.

"Miss Ye, my Dowager Consort and His Highness have treated you well. The Dowager Consort even went against all odds to welcome you into the family. Is this how you repay the Dowager Consort and His Highness?" Yan Jin rebuked, her face full of anger.

Zhu Wencai was somewhat at a loss and loudly advised, "Miss Ye, although I do not agree with His Highness's entry into Lin'an, I know that His Highness has deep feelings for you and I cannot bear to hurt him. I have not dared to persuade him. Since you understand His Highness's good intentions, why do you still want to leave him?"

With a solemn bow, Zhu Wencai pleaded earnestly, "This humble general has never yielded to anyone in his life. Today, this humble general begs you, please do not leave Your Highness at this time."

"General Zhu, how can you still be so stupid? Do you want me to stay in Yuezhou and wait to die with everyone?" Ye Wanshu roared. Seeing the tense atmosphere around them, Ji Yuan immediately spoke up: "Chief Clerk Zhao, please have your men clear the way immediately."

Zhao Yun's face was ashen, his eyes filled with endless rage.

Although he didn't want the Ye family girl to marry into the royal family, he couldn't afford to lose face like that.

Seeing that he was still standing there unmoved, Ji Yuan clapped his hands in displeasure, and Ting Feng led the Divine Might Army to quickly surround him.

"Do you all really intend to rebel?" Ji Yuan stared straight at Zhao Yun and coldly reminded him, "You generals are ignorant of the bigger picture. Chief Secretary Zhao is a scholar; does he not know the danger involved? Do you really want His Highness to enter Lin'an alone?"

Looking into his meaningful eyes, Zhao Yun seemed to understand something.

At this point, letting the father and daughter leave would undoubtedly be the best outcome.

Zhao Yun waved his hand at the crowd and ordered with a stern face, "Let them pass."

"Chief Secretary, we cannot make this decision for His Highness," Yan Jin advised.

Zhao Yun angrily said, "What, are you planning a rebellion?"

Yan Jin was speechless.

Seeing this, Ye Wanshu carried Qin Chulin and walked straight ahead.

Tingfeng led the Divine Might Army to cover the rear, and no one in the Prince's Mansion dared to continue to obstruct them. Yan Jin and Yu Bai had no choice but to rush into Fuyatang to check on His Highness's condition.

They called out to His Highness for a long time inside the house, but he didn't wake up, so everyone had no choice but to wait anxiously outside.

It wasn't until late at night that Fu Mingchi slowly woke up.

Recalling everything that had happened during the day, he suddenly realized that there was something wrong with Wan'er's lip rouge, which had made him faint.

Rushing out of the room, he saw Yan Jin, Yu Bai, and others waiting outside, and a bad feeling arose within him.

"Where is the Princess Consort?" Fu Mingchi asked sternly.

The crowd looked at each other, then lowered their heads, none daring to answer.

"Your Highness, we've all been deceived by that father and daughter," Zhao Yun explained, forcing a smile. "They clearly wanted to escape Yuezhou a long time ago."

"Impossible." Fu Mingchi's dark eyes were filled with anger. He could still feel Wan'er's tender words in his ear and her burning body temperature.

She said she would be a good queen and stay in Yuezhou, so why would she suddenly be so heartless as to abandon me?

"You can know a person's face but not their heart." Zhao Yun earnestly advised again, "All the generals are here today, and everyone has seen the heartlessness of that father and daughter. Your Highness has no choice but to believe it."

Fu Mingchi looked at Yan Jin, Yu Bai and the others with resentment. They gritted their teeth but couldn't bring themselves to speak.

"Your Highness was previously favored by His Majesty, and that father and daughter thought that Your Highness would be welcomed to Lin'an sooner or later, so they were eager to agree to the marriage. But now that the imperial army is pressing in, how can the father and daughter be willing to take risks for Your Highness?"

Zhao Yun shook his head and sighed, "They're just putting on an act to lull Your Highness into a false sense of security and make it easier for you to leave Yuezhou."

“My queen is definitely not that kind of person,” Fu Mingchi said sternly. “Bring her back immediately. I want to hear her tell me herself.”